Exploring Seoul

Old and New Seoul

Our first full day in South Korea was a tour around Seoul. It is an impressive city with a mix old and modern. K-pop/culture everywhere.

We started at a Gyeonbokgung Palace which was home to the Joseon dynasty. We arrived in time for the changing of the guards which was an excellent ceremony. We were impressed by how big the temple grounds were. Also although not Japan it really remined us of Shogun. In the temple and around the other place we saw lots of people in traditional dress and we also lots of shops which seemed to hire or sell this.

After this we had a look round the Korean folk history museum, again interesting as stuff from the past up to recent electronic things. These were mixed in with a Wii like game where you tried to copy the traditional dances.

We then visited Indasong Alley, which is a few rows of old buildings, with a great backdrop of the modern city. The houses are still lived in so lots of signs telling people to stay quiet and if the signs were ignored there were guides reminding people.

We also spent time in Tapgol Park which commentates the Independence Movement against Japanese colonial rule.

Culinary Yucks and Delights

For lunch it was again cook the food at your table but this time diy . My attempts to cook shrimp and veg went well but the octopus was a nightmare. We had a pot of boiling broth and it seemed if I left it in over a second after the octopus changed colour then I had over cooked chewy octopus. I wasn't the only one having this problem and I don't think anyone who had octopus managed to get a decently cooked bit! The 5 Yorkshire folk on the tour managed to find a beer house as well.

After a bit of spare time the 3 of us went for dinner and we found an Italian and the food was great. The taxi back was interesting as was really unclear to us which were available and the first guy wouldn't take us we thought this was going to be a long walk back to the hotel. Luckily the second chap did and we got back OK.

Tomorrow is the bullet train.