Oct 2011 : Around Seoul City, Shopping & Food

Title: Trip To South Korea

When: October 2011

About The Trip:

Purpose: Year-end trip to South Korea and to have a glimpse of North Korea at DMZ (Demilitarized Zone).

Days/Nights: 8 Days 7 Nights

Arrangements: Travel Agent / Self-guided Tour

Route: Kuala Lumpur MALAYSIA – Incheon SOUTH KOREA – Nami Island SOUTH KOREA – Sokcho SOUTH KOREA – Soeraksan National Park SOUTH KOREA (1 night) – Yongin SOUTH KOREA – Suwon SOUTH KOREA – Seoul SOUTH KOREA (1 nights) – Dae Jang Geum Theme Park SOUTH KOREA – Seoul SOUTH KOREA (3 nights) – Northern Limit Line / DMZ SOUTH KOREA – Seoul SOUTH KOREA – Incheon SOUTH KOREA – Kuala Lumpur MALAYSIA

Traveling Method & Time:

Kuala Lumpur – Incheon = aeroplane (≈ 8 hours reaching Incheon next day)

Incheon – Nami Island = in a hired car + driver (≈ 2 hours)

Nami Island – Sokcho = in a hired car + driver (≈ 2 hours)

Sokcho – Soeraksan National Park = in a hired car + driver (≈ 30 minutes)

Soeraksan National Park – Yongin = in a hired car + driver (≈ 3 hours)

Yongin – Suwon = in a hired car + driver (≈ 1 hour)

Suwon – Seoul = in a hired car + driver (≈ 1 hour)

Seoul – Dae Jang Geum Theme Park = in a hired car + driver (≈ 1 hour)

Dae Jang Geum Theme Park – Seoul = in a hired car + driver (≈ 1 hour)

Around Seoul = in a hired car + driver (whole day)

Seoul – Northern Limit Line / DMZ = in a hired car + driver (≈ 1 hour 30 minutes)

Northern Limit Line / DMZ – Seoul = in a hired car + driver (≈ 1 hour 30 minutes)

Seoul – Incheon = in a hired car + driver (≈ 1 hour)

Incheon – Kuala Lumpur = aeroplane (≈ 8 hours)

Details:

Seoul, officially the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea with a population of over 10 million. The megacity has been a major settlement for over 2,000 years, with its foundation dating back to 18 B.C. when Baekje, one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea, established its capital in the south-eastern part of Seoul. It continued as the capital of Korea during the Joseon Dynasty and the Korean Empire. Seoul is home to four UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Changdeokgung, Hwaseong Fortress, Jongmyo Shrine and the Royal Tombs of the Joseon Dynasty. Its current name originated from the Korean word meaning “capital city,” which is believed to be derived from the word, Seorabeol, which originally referred to Gyeongju, the capital of Silla.

Among the interesting structures and buildings every tourist should see when in Seoul are the statues of King Sejong and Admiral Sun-sin at Sejongno (a street that cuts through Jongno-gu in downtown Seoul), Jongno Tower and Seoul Post Tower. Cheonggyecheon, an 8.4 km long, modern public recreation space in downtown Seoul, is another famous tourist spot in Seoul. The controversial stream was opened to the public in September 2005 and was lauded as a major success in urban renewal and beautification.

Seoul is a world-class city with numerous amenities and shopping districts such as Myeong-dong, Namdaemun, Hoehyeong Underground Market, Dongdaemun Market, Yongsan Electronics Market (for electronic items only). While you are shopping at any of these markets, do try out some Korean desserts like the green tea pancakes and the kkultarae (known as Korean court cake, is a Korean dessert made of fine strands of honey and maltose, often filled with crushed sweet nuts). Seoul boasts some high-class shopping malls too such as Shinsegae, Avenue L, Maxtyle and Doota. If you come with a tourist guide, you will definitely be taken to factories and stores like the kimchi factory and school, the seaweed factory and stores selling ginseng, amethyst stones and jewellery, cosmetic items, herbs medicines and souvenirs. However, things sold at these places are very expensive, so purchase wisely. While at the kimchi factory and school, you can try out the traditional Korean costume called hanbok and have your photo taken in it for free.

Apart from shopping and sightseeing, Seoul offers a varieties of local cuisines. Bibimbap is a signature Korean dish and the word literally means “mixed meal”. It is served as a bowl of warm white rice topped with namul (sautéed and seasoned vegetables) and gochujang (chili pepper paste). One can also try the hanjeongsik, a full-course Korean meal with a varied array of banchan (side dishes) which is served at most restaurants in the city. Udon, not only it is popular in Japan, it also as popular in Korea too. It is an instant or homemade noodle dish made up of a thick, wheat-based type of noodle, served in a mildly flavored broth which is seasoned with soy sauce and mirin. Don’t miss out the Ginseng Chicken Soup at the ginseng restaurant located on the 3rd Floor of Woori Technology Incorporation Building. The chicken meat is halal, obtained from a Muslim district called Itaewon, Seoul. Also, do try out the Korean BBQ and Steamboat at any of the restaurants (some restaurants do serve halal chicken meat). It’s simply delicious!

For a different shopping atmosphere, one should check out the unique areas called Insadong and Samcheongdong. The Insadong-gil at Insadong is well known as a traditional street to both locals and foreigners. It represents the “culture of the past and the present” as it contains a mixture of historical and modern atmosphere. While at Samcheongdong, the antique beauty of Korean traditional houses are still maintained.

Image Gallery:

Seoul city

Seoul city

Jongno Tower @ Seoul

Seoul Post Tower, Seoul (near Shinsegae Mall)

Statue of King Sejong @ Sejongno, Seoul.

Statue of Admiral Yi Sun-sin @ Sejongno, Seoul.

Ginseng Chicken Soup @ Woori Technology Incorporation building, Seoul. Halal chicken meat guaranteed.

Ginseng Chicken Soup @ Woori Technology Incorporation building, Seoul. Halal chicken meat guaranteed.

Ginseng Chicken Soup @ Woori Technology Incorporation building, Seoul. Halal chicken meat guaranteed.

The toothpicks made from sweet potato starch (edible) @ Woori Technology Incorporation building, Seoul.

Bibimbap (vegan) for lunch @ the foodcourt, Building 63, Seoul

Lunch @ Choi’s Garden, Seoul

Lunch @ Choi’s Garden, Seoul

Korean BBQ & Steamboat @ a restaurant in Seoul. Halal chicken meat guaranteed.

Korean BBQ & Steamboat @ a restaurant in Seoul. Halal chicken meat guaranteed.

Korean BBQ & Steamboat @ a restaurant in Seoul. Halal chicken meat guaranteed.

Korean seafood udon @ a restaurant in Seoul.

Korean seafood udon @ a restaurant in Seoul.

Korean seafood udon @ a restaurant in Seoul.

Doota Mall, near Dongdaemun, Seoul

Maxtyle Mall, near Dongdaemun, Seoul

Shinsegae Mall (elite shopping area), very near to Myeongdong, Seoul

Shinsegae Mall (elite shopping area), very near to Myeongdong, Seoul

Shinsegae Mall (elite shopping area), very near to Myeongdong, Seoul

Shinsegae Mall (elite shopping area), very near to Myeongdong, Seoul

Shinsegae Mall (elite shopping area), very near to Myeongdong, Seoul

Shinsegae Mall (elite shopping area), very near to Myeongdong, Seoul

Avenue L Mall, (very near to Myeongdong), Seoul

At a kimchi school & factory, Seoul

One can have his/her photo taken in a hanbok here for free @ the kimchi school & factory, Seoul

At a kimchi school & factory, Seoul

At a kimchi school & factory, Seoul

A visit to a store selling seaweed products, Seoul

A visit to a store selling seaweed products, Seoul

A visit to a store selling seaweed products, Seoul

A visit to a store selling ginseng products, Seoul

A visit to a cosmetic shop, Beauty Face, Seoul

A visit to a cosmetic shop, Beauty Face, Seoul

A visit to M&D Gift Shop, Seoul

A visit to a shop selling herbs medicines, Seoul

A visit to an amethyst shop, Seoul

A visit to an amethyst shop, Seoul

@ Electronics Market, Yongsan, Seoul

@ Electronics Market, Yongsan, Seoul

@ Electronics Market, Yongsan, Seoul

@ Electronics Market, Yongsan, Seoul

Green tea pancakes @ Electronics Market, Yongsan, Seoul

@ Dongdaemun, Seoul

@ Dongdaemun, Seoul

@ Dongdaemun, Seoul

@ Dongdaemun, Seoul

@ Dongdaemun, Seoul

@ Namdaemun Market, Seoul

@ Namdaemun Market, Seoul

@ Namdaemun Market, Seoul

A stall selling ‘kkultarae’ @ Namdaemun Market, Seoul

@ Namdaemun Market, Seoul

@ Namdaemun Market, Seoul

A row of shops selling camera and videocameras @ Namdaemun Market, Seoul

@ Myeongdong, Seoul

@ Myeongdong, Seoul

@ Myeongdong, Seoul

@ Myeongdong, Seoul

@ Myeongdong, Seoul

Myeongdong Theatre @ Myeongdong, Seoul

@ Hoehyeong Underground Market, Seoul

Original Time Walker luggage bags sold @ Hoehyeong Underground Market, Seoul

@ Samcheongdong, Seoul

@ Samcheongdong, Seoul

Shops @ Samcheongdong, Seoul

Shop selling old paintings and calligraphic arts @ Insadong, Seoul

Souvernir shop @ Insadong, Seoul

Shops selling local dessert ‘kkultarae’ @ Insadong, Seoul

@ Insadong, Seoul

Temple food store @ Insadong, Seoul

Grilled chestnuts @ @ Insadong, Seoul

One of the hofs @ Insadong, Seoul

Inside the ‘hof’ @ Insadong, Seoul