Exploring Seoul
Seoul Korea – part of Asia 2009 trip
6 days side trip – originated from Hong Kong
Word of advise – always book via hong kong travel agencies when going to asian countries! they offer a lot of packages that include flight from HK and hotels at a much reduced rate than anything you can find in North America or directly with airlines/hotel websites.
We picked the standard package – which is 3 days, 2 nights, and got an extension for 3 more days, staying at the Ritz Carlton in the district of Kangnam. During the day it’s primarily a business district. at night it’s a great area for dining and entertainment – people are out all night long.
(the cost of this side trip from Hong Kong, including hotel for 5 nights is approx $500 Cdn a person)
a few notable places that we loved:
- Dongdaemun market – the 24 hours 10 stories shopping mall – it’s a shopping heaven. majority clothes and accessories with lots of street food vendors outside. we came back to this once..or twice…in hindsight – should have gone back for more!
- Myeong-dong Shopping Area – lots of shops, bars, restaurants – very lively – day or night
- Insadong – artists neighbourhood with lots of cool art shops
- Sexy Pig Korean bbq restaurant – meat is cooked over an open wood pit. Delicious!
- Go to local korean restaurants that only have 4-5 items on their menu.
- fyi – high end shopping is the cheapest in Seoul.
- DMZ tour is a must – it’s the only one time you will ever get to sort of step foot in North Korea
- subway stations are surrounded by underground shops – which is where the good and cheap finds are!
From Korea 2009, posted by Out Exploring on 2/02/2011 (41 items)
- First stop on our South Korea tour is to the Peace Bell Pavilion at Imjingak Park
- Video explaining the "peaceful coexistence" between the north and south ove…
- DMZ museum – lots of history and interesting facts
- model depicting bridge of no return
- entrance to the 3rd tunnel
- symbolic statue of the unifications between North and South.
- hard hats required beyond this point!
- (it was too dark to take pics beyond this..we snuck this one in). the tunnel was pre…
- at the DMZ platform where you can look into the North side
- beyond the yellow line – no cameras/video devices allow! (there were lots of military…
- South Korean military
- Unification station – pre-built in the event that the occasion happens.
- it’s actually a fully operational station – with ticket booth and security already!
- Next tour – the secret garden palace tour – Changdeokgung Palace
- the famed pond. too bad it was frozen and couldn’t see the beauty as depicted by our…
- Exploring on our own to find a traditional restaurant with 2 items on the menu – all …
- this is what we got – check out the size of it! it was DELICIOUS
- 3rd tour – Korean Folk Village – Hangook Minseokcheon – about 1 hour away
- traditional art performers
- many villages depicting the old way of living
- common eating area
- traditional lunch – served in our own bungalow
- more performers
- back in Seoul – finding more korean food
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