Exploring Seoul

Because of its relative proximity to the Holiday in Korea Hostel, I think it should be easy enough to get to so that it will be a relaxing end to my first day in Seoul.

Again, this site is pretty close to the hostel at which I'm staying, and judging my the way it looks on maps, it should be easy enough to cover in one morning - still leaving me time to get to (and ascend) Seoul Tower in the afternoon.

I've heard from some of my friends who have visited Seoul Tower that climbing the mountain atop which it sits can be quite a daunting task - even during the spring and fall (when the temperatures are more moderate than in late August). As a result of my despising the heat, I'll probably climb the mountain partially, and then take the cable car to the top.

My friends tell me that there are a couple restaurants at the top of Seoul tower, but that they tend to be rather expensive. Instead of going to one of those, I figure that I'll stop by Arirang Folk Restaurant on my way back to the hostel.

Even though Yahoo! has butchered the Romanization of its name (as well as the different admission prices - they are 3000won and 1700won, respectively), I have read that "Gyeongbokgung" is one of the largest palaces in Seoul. Also on the palace grounds is the National Folk Museum of Corea - admission is free if you've yet to throw out your ticket from the entrance.

As one of the largest shopping malls/convention centers in South Corea, COEX is apparently a really great way to spend a hot Corean-summer afternoon. I've read in different travel books (and been told by a couple friends) that there are litterally hundreds of stores and restaurants; however, I think I'll only make it to a few before I decide to sit back and enjoy some Hwamisu (pine pollen and honey) tea at one of their pleasantly air-conditioned tea shops.

While I've both heard and read that this place is rather expensive (though not so much as some would have you believe), I think that after a long day of walking around the Corean Folk Village, I will be deserving of a little treat - in the form of a deliciously well-prepared and (like most Corean food) surprisingly low-calorie banquet - even if it is a little bit on the pricey side... :)

While I've heard that some D.M.Z. tours tend to be rather long and boring - due to the fact that you never actually even come within a mile of the actual D.M.Z. - this one looks rather interesting because you get to actually cross the border into North Corea. I've been told that you enter a building with no dividing walls, with North Corean troops on one side, South Corean on the other, and there is just a large table in the center of the room. Your tour group slowly progresses around the table, and once you've passed the center point, you're actually standing in North Corea! All of this for the less-than-reasonable-but-understandable-in-light-of-this-company's-ralative-Panmunjeom-monopoly price of 75,000 won!

While (hopefully) the D.M.Z. will have offered a (well-deserved) break from the tireless string of culturally-oriented trips I have planned, I imagine that close to 7 hours under heavy military scrutiny will certainly have prepared me for my reentry into Corean culture in the form of a night of Joseon Dynasty-styled dining at Jiwaja Restaurant.

This palace is about a 5 minute's walk from the hostel at which I'm staying. I will have walked past it a couple times on the way to other items on my itinerary - the 6th day seems as good as any to finally wander in. Well, "wander" is used rather loosely - my friends tell me that this is the only palace at which it is mandatory that you pay for a tour guide (i.e.- you can't just walk in and explore like at other palaces). Tours last an hour and a half, and estimating that by this point in my trip I should be waking up around 10, I should be done just in time for lunch.

This place looks pretty interesting - I heard about it from some Corean exchange students that I met in America. They said that it's not really a place to go for dinner (as it's rather casual), but would make for a really great place to have a quick lunch or snack.

After what would appear to be a fully-scheduled day, I imagine that I will want to do nothing more than to eat more than I should, drink more than I should, and subsequently, sleep more than I should. Located near Hongik University, this place should be ideally suited for exactly such things - not to mention probably being filled with beautiful [female] Corean University students who won't think twice when I tell them that I'm 21. Or, well - I won't hold my breath for anything but the good food. Anyway, anticipating (rather, hoping for) a rough night-out, I will start tomorrow's itinerary around mid-day (just to allow room for any "difficulties" arising from tonight's activities).

The Corean (romanized) name of this museum (the one to use if you want directions) is Gookrib Joongang Bakmulgwan. Several people I've spoken with have told me that this is the most interesting museum in Seoul, and gives visitors (both Corean and English-speaking) a solid understanding of Corean history and culture (as well as offering several rooms with hands-on exhibits - my favorite type, lol). Figuring on spending a couple of hours wandering around the museum, I should be finished just in time for dinner and [maybe] a movie.

Ok, first of all, let's get one thing straight - it's Myeong-dong, NOT Myung-dong or Myoung-dong nor is it any hybrid of the two (three)! Ok, now that we've cleared that up, let's talk about Myeong-dong. It shouldn't be hard at all to find at least one (or, for that matter - 10) restaurant(s) here that suit(s) my taste. I figure that I'll do a little looking around, and then sit down for dinner at an overly-priced "dining institution" so that I can mingle with some of Seoul's most interesting people (read: young women).

Seeing as I'll already be in Myeong-dong, I might as well continue south towards Samseong-dong and visit the largest cineplex in Seoul. I figure maybe I'll see something like Goe-Mul (Water Monster) - it's about a large, mutated sea creature in the Han River which causes wide-spread panic (obviously - what are the Corean people supposed to do, embrace it?). Despite its being in Corean, it should prove to be entertaining, at least. And, because it's only an hour and a half in length, I should have enough time to get back to the Holiday in Korea hostel in Jongno before the subway shuts off at 12:15. :-D

While many Coreans don't necessarily support their current president, Roh Moo-Hyun, this still looks like a good place to get a feeling for what the daily life of a Corean president is like. I've seen it several times in photos and it looks to be really pretty. Should make for a nice afternoon stroll (tour).