Finally back in Singapore-town! I touched down yesterday after 5 too-good-to-be-true days in Hongkong. And I'm back to this blogging thang, continuing from where I left off; Seoul!
Day 14- Yeouido
I had previously gone to Yeouido, but I decided to go back there because I was really missing doing my daily 5-mile walks I used to do in London and thought Yeouido would be the perfect place to walk!
It was sunny out and the sky above me was cloudless, and it was perfect! But how deceived I was, cos it was absolutely freeeeezing! It was by far the coldest day I experienced in Seoul, but everything else definitely compensated for it. It was still perfect.
There wasn't a person in sight apart from the occasional ahjumma and ahjusshi decked out in their brightly coloured couple winter jackets brisk walking and the occasional male jogger who made me trip on the pavement and gawp because of how good they looked.
If I was korean, I would have a korean flag on my boat too...
I thought this swing set really looked like a sad sleeping/sulking child.
After Yeouido, I actually planned to go to see Gangnam by night and the Garosu-gil in Sinsadong and Apujeong-dong. But I embarrassingly chickened out because of how extremely cold it was. I felt like the cold was piercing every cell in my body. And you know the feeling when ice is stuck on your tongue? That was how it felt. I resorted to the comfort of my warm floor heated guest house and spent the rest of the day with pots of ramen. Pots, plural not singular, take note.
Day 15- Insadong and N Seoul tower by night
My favourite day in Seoul! I loved this day, it made me happy. I wish I could've planned this day while Jolene was with me, so she could've shared the joys of this day. I don't really know why I enjoyed this day so much, I think it was just very much right up my alley.
I decided to explore Insadong. I think Insadong is pretty underrated as a place to visit in Seoul, but since experiencing it first hand, I highly highly recommend it.
Immediately outside the Subway station is the Bosingak Bell pavilion. There hung a bell which was hit to notify the citizens of the opening and closing of the city gates very long time ago, it was build in 1396. And also to notify them of fires, but ironically, it was burnt down a couple of times. When the gates were opening, the bell was struck 33 times and when it was closing, 28 times. Imagine that! That's a lot of hits!
Jongno tower, interesting no?
Few minutes down the road was Jogyesa Temple! One of the 'most magnificent' temples in Korea, and it definitely lived up to its reputation. This was the only temple I saw on Seoul, I know there's one in Gangnam. I knew that Korea was a very christian part of Asia, but I was very shocked at how few temples there were. Walking up the road leading to the temple, you see many shops selling prayer beads, the costumes worn by monks, incense and stuff.
So beautiful!
Wish I could've come at a time where the whole tree was decorated with lanterns!
I then went on a hunt for Ssamziegil! And the street leading to it is so pretty! Shops were mostly selling souvenirs, but they were really awesome souvenirs! If you're one to buy souvenirs for people (I'm not...) this is the place to go.
Bon Chuk!
They have branches all over Seoul. And I couldn't get enough of it! I ate it for breakfast almost everyday in the branch near the guest house! Its so so yummy, and cheap, and hearty, and healthy, and warm for winter! I so-extremely-highly recommend it. You'll find porridges with ingredients you'd NEVER think of putting into porridge, but so perfectly complimenting each other.
Found it! Ssamziegil! The highlight of my shopping life in Korea.
Ssamziegil is a unique shopping centre, very artsy, very indie. My sister would've loved everything there! What's unique about ssamziegil is that its just one massive spiral walkway. There are stairs connecting the 'floors' if you don't want to walk round and round. And on the top floor, it offers a really awesome rooftop view of Seoul! So perfect!!
Even the sitting down area is artsy. Please, stop!
People, probably mainly teenagers, go there and write all over the walls. Such a nice touch to a very young, hipster place.
One. massive. spiral. walkway.
All the shops actively shot down any forms of photography of their shops and products. Understandable cos most of the products sold were handmade and crafty stuff. But I found the most awesome earrings and accessories there! It still baffles me to this day why I didn't buy any! But if you have time, GO! And spend money.
I wish for many things in life. But one of the things I wish for is to draw like that!
Of course, some English speaking fool of a person had to ruin something.
Another couple thing. I couldn't escape! You buy one of those what looked like luggage tags and you write something and you hang it there.
So sweet.
One thing I couldn't understand was why Insadong was so obsessed with anything poop related! They had stalls selling poop bread and everything.
After a very difficult departure from Ssamziegil I headed to Hoehyeon to ride the previously mentioned elevator up Namsan!
It was pretty easy to find, I saw this bright thing in the distance and just walked towards it.
Back here again.
MYGARSH! My soft-spot for night-light views was going insane!
Oh mai gat.
OH MY GAT.
Love the silhouette the trees produced!
I stood at the bottom of the tower for a long time deciding if I should go up. I finally decided to. There were options to just go to the observatory, or go to the revolving restaurant and the bear museum etc. I chose just to go to the observatory. It took me a long time to decide because the view standing was Namsan tower was awesome enough, with no glass in the way and a railing to place your camera for long exposure shots (lol). But I went anyway, just in case I regretted.
These were the best pictures produced. D: A bit disappointed
Shocking!
The view was definitely to die for! The photos do not do it any of its deserved justice because of the glass and grainy-ness.
They had a really cool thing from the observatory where you can write and send postcards from the tower. They provided really cool stamps showing that you sent the postcard from the tower itself. I thought that was a great idea.
Last photo because I took the cable car back down and headed back.
This day will forevvvvver be remembered! I already want to relive it. I'm glad this blog can help me preserve my memory. ^^
Stay cool! xxx
