Advertisement
Published: October 4th 2010
Edit Blog Post
We had three full days in Seoul. I didn't really scour websites for an itinerary so I let dad pick the sites.
We spent our first morning getting our ID's that let us off an on Post without having to check in every time making things much more flexible on coming and going. After picking up a couple subway cards we headed out for some site seeing. I was wanting to try some authentic Bibimbap (Korean wellness food) and the little hole in the wall we stopped at had some. I don't have much of a refined palette so I couldn't tell that much difference than what I've had at home, very tasty. Kelly had something fried, I thought mine was better.
After waiting an hour for an English tour guide we visited Changdeok Palace, one of the five grand palaces built in Seoul during the Joseon dynasty. The highlight was the gardens in the back (which we paid extra to visit). Our next stop was the Seoul Tower located on Namsan Mountain. The cable car took us up most of the way, we hiked the rest and took an elevator to the top. We bought a lock for
gate on the observation deck for the "locks of love". They don't allow you to "throw away the key" as it could hurt pedestrians below so we carted them off in our pocket. I guess when the lock falls off our marriage will instantly dissolve but until then we have nothing to worry about.
Picked up a new charger for my camera battery for $25 at the electronic mall after dinner. A bit pricey for sure but I needed it. Since it has the Korean style plug it'll always need an adapter. The mall where I bought it was counter after counter of electronic gadgets, mostly digital cameras and camcorders. I'm not sure how they are competitive with a stall next to each other with the same merchandise for sale, especially with so many.
The other days (I'm a little hazy here writing this a few weeks later when writing this) we visited the Korean War National Museum - Dads military id's got us into a special section 60 year anniversary for free but it had virtually nothing in English, the rest of the museum was interesting but we ran out of time before it closed to see
it all.
We did have lunch back on Post one day at the Dragon Hill Lodge, they were serving lunch outside for Oktoberfest. Nothing like going to Korea to eat sauerkraut!
Another temple we visited Gyeongbukgung Palace, another of the five palaces in Seoul. They have soldiers in era appropriate dress that everyone was getting their pictures with, it was fun to watch. They also got to see the changing of the guards with the banging of the huge drum and I guess trumpets of some kind.
We walked along the Cheonggyecheon River Walk. Not enough water flows to keep the flow at it's current rate so they pump the water in to keep it going. It was a pleasant walk.
We missed the being able to go to the DMZ, something I really wished we had time for. We also didn't get to walk along the city walls, something we can do if we ever get back to visit.
Link to Kodak Gallery Photos. Video Gyeongbukgung - Changing of the Guards 1 (YouTube). Resolution can be changed to 720 (HD).
Video Gyeongbukgung - Changing of the Guards 2 .
Video Gyeongbukgung - Changing of the Guards 3 .
Video Gyeongbukgung 2.
Video Gyeongbukgung 3.
Video Gyeongbukgung 4.
Video Gyeongbukgung 5.
Video Gyeongbukgung 6.
Advertisement
Tot: 0.105s; Tpl: 0.018s; cc: 7; qc: 44; dbt: 0.0521s; 1; m:domysql w:travelblog (10.17.0.13); sld: 1;
; mem: 1.1mb
Larry
non-member comment
Korea
Great pix and video clips. I enjoyed reliving the great time we had when you all were in Seoul. I wish it could have lasted a lot longer.