Seoul and Gangnam Style

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Gangnam Style in Seoul

Detail of a carving from Bongeunsa Temple

Jeonju to Seoul

Inside the Seoul Railway Station

Outside of Seoul StationYesterday we took the train from Jeonju to Seoul. It was a dull, cool rainy day.

In Seoul we are staying in an Airbnb. We are able to check into our apartment right away. It is a very comfortable, modern apartment with kitchen and washing machine. We are still tired from our COVID-19 but are feeling better. We head out for supper, do laundry and have an early night.

Inside our apartment in Seoul
Gangnam District

Kimberly at the Gangnam Style Statue

Starfield LibraryThis morning we take the subway to the trendy Gangnam district. Seoul’s population is 9.6 million and it has 23 subway lines. You can get anywhere by subway but John needs to write out line #, station, direction of travel, transfer station and street exit for each of our subway rides so that we can navigate correctly.

The Gangnam area is the starting point for Psy and for …Opam Gangnam Style! To refresh your memory, click here for the video.

This is a big shopping area.

The first place we check out is the Starfield Library. This is not your normal library but a very cool, public place where people can take a break and read.

Our next stop is the Gangnam Style statue. The hands are placed in the style of the dance. Psy’s video is playing on a nearby screen.

 

Bongeunsa Temple

Buddha at Bongeunsa Temple

Seoul Buddhist TempleOur last stop in Gangnam is the Bongeunsa Temple, one of the only Buddhist temples is Seoul. It is really peaceful here and I enjoy sitting in the sun, watching the pretty, blue Oriental Korean Magpies eating fruit out of the trees.

 

Namsan Park

Namsan Tower

Gipbap LunchIt’s back to the subway as we head to Namsan Park, the largest park in Seoul.

We grab some Gimbaps (kind of a Korean version of cooked sushi and veggie rolls, wrapped in seaweed) at a local restaurant before heading to Namsan Tower.

View from the topWe get up to the base of the tower on a funicular type elevator. You have to have reservations to get to the top of the tower but the view from the top of the hill/mountain is pretty awesome. The city is sprawled below on all sides of the park. We can see Seoul’s tallest building, Lotte World Tower, in the distance.
Lots of love locks on the fence
We watch a cultural Korean Martial Arts demonstration. Click here for a short video.

Love locks are literally all over the place and there is no shortage of places where one can buy more love locks.

We check out the views one more time before heading down.
Kim and John at the top

Myeong-dong Street and the Night Market

Crowded Streets of the Myeongdong Night Market

Night Market food stallWe walk to the Myeongdong Street shopping area and night market. John goes to a coffee shop and let’s me loose in the stores. Korea is known for their skin products. Lots of skin care stores; tons of clothing and souvenir stores. I buy a few things but can’t buy too much because we are traveling light.

John and I take our time checking out many, many street food stalls. So much to choose from. Sooo delicious. I have a grilled seafood skewer from one stand and a cob of corn from another. John has a chicken kebab wrap.

 

 

 

Cheonggyecheon Stream and Gwanghwamun Square

Cheonggyecheon Stream at night

Statue of Admiral Yi Sunsin at nightLeaving the crowds of Myeongdong we walk to Cheonggyecheon Stream which is a 12 km stream that runs through downtown Seoul, it is a pretty walk, day or night.

Soon we arrive to Gwanghwamun Square with its statues of King Sejong the Great and Admiral Yi Sunsin.

Gwanghwamun Square is right in front of Gyeongbokgung Palace. We enjoy the illuminated Gwanghwamun Gate that announces the entrance to the palace before heading back to the apartment.

Gyeongbokgung Palace at night

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