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.

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.

I've heard that it's really great at nighttime (lit up with different colored lights and such) and is a wonderful place to bring dates. O:-)

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.

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