Continuing my Seoul adventures (Part 1 recapped here), Day 3 ended with an evening stroll along the Cheonggyecheon Stream, a popular attraction for residents and visitors alike. The stream runs for about 11 kilometers (or about 7 miles) and has well-lit walking pathways on both sides of the stream, as well as several bridges at street level. It is a great place for an active lifestyle, whether running, walking, or simply people-watching. The stream is magical at night, illuminated by bright city lights, large neon signs, and high-rise buildings. The stream water dances with light and color, and when you’re several feet below street level at the stream, you can easily forget that you’re in the heart of a major metropolitan area. On the evening of my visit, I was lucky to have witnessed a live musical performance by a local artist. I highly recommend visiting in the evening.
Day 4 was action-packed and full of adventure. My ad-hoc “itinerary” took me to N Seoul Tower, a communication tower located in the heart of Seoul. An iconic trademark of South Korea, you may see photos of the high tower surrounded by cherry blossoms in guidebooks and official travel and marketing materials. United Airlines uses this image on its international flights to Seoul.
There are several ways to reach the tower entrance. My spontaneous decision on the morning of my visit was to hike to the top of Namsan Mountain on foot. I thought it would be a leisurely, short trek to my destination while enjoying the journey at the same time. I realize now that I was mistaken. Very mistaken. Despite the heat and humidity, I thought, “What the heck? Let’s walk!” and overall, it was a nice (albeit sweaty) walk. That was until I realized that the actual walk was much longer than anticipated, and Google Maps’ estimate turned out to be highly inaccurate. This was all before I discovered the Naver app – definitely a lesson learned the hard way!
During my morning walk, I walked past outdoor parks equipped with exercise equipment. These parks were predominantly filled with active senior citizens, who were either exercising solo or in a group. Socializing was also a key and very important part of their daily workouts. I noticed a very active lifestyle among the senior population in Seoul. Walking, exercising, hiking, or even working in active jobs well past the retirement age. Their preference to remain active is admirable and likely to keep both their minds and bodies sharp, warding off future mental and physical health issues. I imagine it is healthy to have a core social group past the retirement age to ward off loneliness.
For those who prefer a more convenient way to the tower without the uphill trek, the Namsan Cable Car is an option (at a cost). The cable car takes visitors to the top of Namsan Mountain, near the tower’s entrance. The cable car station is easily accessible from the center of Myeongdong. There’s also the city bus and tour bus options.
I finally reached my destination and paid 19,000 won (about $13) for a discounted ticket to the observation deck. The ticket included a complimentary N Seoul Tower Popsicle, much needed to cool down given the current weather condition. To get the discounted ticket, visitors need to visit Trip.com to purchase tickets. I guess it is good promotion for the website. The observation deck is a nice visit but it is entirely enclosed by windows. You can still enjoy views of Seoul, especially on a clear day. However, there are plenty of spots a bit lower down where one can experience fresh air and still enjoy the views. Unless you’re particularly interested in observation decks or have goals to dine at the top of Seoul at 380 meters above sea level, you might want to skip this attraction to further take advantage of the complimentary outdoor activities, including the opportunity to take a photo with the large teddy bear, Bellygom. That being said, one memorable moment from my time at the observation deck was selecting and purchasing a postcard to send to my parents. I enjoyed writing the postcard, buying local postage, and dropping it in the mailbox. It turned out to be a success—the postcard arrived in the USA and is now displayed on my parents’ refrigerator! Ironically, they had no idea it was from me until I told them, as a mailing label covered my name at the bottom of the postcard. I’m glad they did not end up throwing it away! What a memorable way to summarize my trip in a 4 x 6 postcard 🙂
On Day 4 of my adventures, I also encountered an unexpected situation. Due to a bus accident on the mountain, bus service was suspended indefinitely. The timing couldn’t have been worse, as I was preparing to head back down after my visit. Police cars and officers were present at the bus stop near the tower. I had to use Google Translate to communicate and understand the situation and what was going on. Visitors were stuck for about an hour, and to make matters worse, it started to rain. Walking down was not an option, as the roads and walkways were closed halfway through. Although Namsan Mountain isn’t a terrible place to be stranded, it was unclear when the bus service would safely resume. Fortunately, bus service did restart heading down on the other side of the mountain.
After visiting the tower, dealing with the bus situation, and grabbing a quick lunch at Subway (yes, the chain sandwich shop), I ended up at Namsangol Hanok Village. Although this stop was not part of the original plan, the village is conveniently located near Myeongdong Station and is free to enter. The rain had stopped, and the weather was cooling down a bit.
Namsangol Hanok Village is an outdoor cultural museum that transports visitors back to the traditional Joseon era. It features several hanoks (traditional Korean houses), pavilions, and various exhibits showcasing daily village life. The village also includes an auditorium that hosts scheduled live events and traditional performances, which are available for a fee.
Before entering the outdoor pavilions, visitors are required to remove their shoes and socks as a sign of respect and to maintain cleanliness, a common tradition in many Asian cultures. Compared to Bukchon, Namsangol offers a more in-depth and transparent look into traditional village life featuring artifacts from a different era. Not only does it offer valuable insights, but it also provides a richer educational experience for visitors seeking that out. In my humble opinion, it’s less authentic than Bukchon as it’s a replicated design of historical villages and not an actual neighborhood or village. For visitors who prefer a less crowded place, Namsangol is much more spacious and significantly less crowded – another positive when compared to Bukchon. At times, I felt like I had the place to myself especially when walking around the Time Capsule Square, which I highly recommend visiting. It was built in November 1994 and is expected to be released and opened in November 2394, which is coincidentally Seoul’s 1,000-year anniversary of the designated capital of South Korea. The capsule features messages from various world government leaders, congratulating the city on building the capsule on Seoul’s 600th anniversary as the capital. One of my favorite areas in the Village was the Cheongnyujeong Pavilion right by the water. It’s a smaller outdoor pavilion where visitors can sit in peace and hear the water flow or insects buzz, admire nature’s beauty or eavesdrop on visitors’ chit-chat and gossip. The variety of different sounds was much appreciated. The village also offers free guided tours, but due to extreme weather conditions, they were canceled that day. I’m glad to have discovered the village and one can easily spend 1-2 hours here. Entry is free, so if you don’t like it, you can leave at no cost.
To conclude my Day 4, I took the Seoul metro for the first time to visit Dongdaemun Design Plaza. At night, it offers a stunning, modern view of the city, with high-rise buildings and luxury malls lighting up the skyline with their contemporary, interactive and high-tech designs. Dongdaemun is a neo-futuristic cultural center designed by architect Zaha Hadid. Although the design labs and museums are closed in the evening, the area serves as an outdoor museum, inviting visitors to independently explore on their the plaza on their own. The plaza is enormous, and visiting at night to see the projected colors and dynamic light show is an experience worth witnessing firsthand. I did not visit during the daytime, so I cannot comment on that experience from my own personal observation. Interestingly, I noticed many visitors lying down and napping in the area – a great way to relax and gaze up at the changing colors and design on the plaza’s curved exteriors. What a wonderful way to end an eventful day.
Day 5‘s itinerary includes another metro ride to the National Museum of Korea. I arrived before the museum opened for the day at 10 AM local time and so did many other visitors. Interestingly, everyone was queued up outside to enter the museum. Very organized and disciplined and indicative of local culture and customs. Interestingly there were many groups of excited schoolchildren visiting, presumably on a school field trip. The museum is free of charge for standard exhibitions (special exhibitions require purchasing tickets) and offers a free one-hour guided tour by a museum curator. They walk the group through various exhibits and provide interesting facts on the history, artwork and national treasures. The tour ends at the unique Room of Quiet Contemplation. As the name states, it’s a room dedicated to silence and contemplation, meaning no talking, and features two bodhisattva statues, designated as national treasures. The Bodhisattva inspiration extends to the tea room “Space of Contemplation”, a cafe where visitors can purchase vegan desserts and drinks overlooking the museum garden grounds. While the name includes “contemplation” it’s ironically not a very quiet space and you’ll find groups of friends socializing over tea and small bites.
Day 5 concluded with an enjoyable blend of K-Pop, music, and art! While I’m not a huge K-Pop fan, I was introduced to the genre thanks to Kitty from “To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before” and can understand the appeal. I was keen on watching a live performance and decided something modern and fun was needed to end my Seoul trip. The Painters Season 2 is an interactive show that combines popular K-pop songs with live dancing and painting by several performance artists. If you’re interested in art, you’ll recognize famous works by Vincent van Gogh, such as “Starry Night” and van Gogh’s self-portrait. There are also references to movies and pop culture. One of the more expensive activities during my Seoul trip, I paid $43 online for VIP seats. The VIP seats are center seats offering a better view of the stage. After the performance, a meet-and-greet is held where audience members can take photos with the performers. A unique activity suitable for all ages, tickets can be easily purchased online or at the box office. I recommend this activity if you appreciate contemporary music, dance, and art. Before the end of Day 5, I won’t deny visiting Olive Young and the night markets to browse and buy skincare products. I may or may not have visited the stores daily.
Pro-Wannabe-Tip: If you make a single shopping purchase of 15,000 won, you can receive an instant tax refund at the retailer’s store. Just remember to bring your passport when you make the purchase. Alternatively, refunds can also be processed at the airport with proof of purchase (e.g. receipts).
Day 6 began with a self-imposed wake-up call at 5 AM. I chose to cap off my final day in Seoul with a morning run before heading to my next destination in South Korea. The early wake-up was necessary to complete my run before the heat and humidity became unbearable. Even at 6 AM, running was challenging, but the quiet city streets and iconic landmarks made the 4-mile run worthwhile. As I always say ad nauseam, the best way to see and experience a city is on foot, especially at a pace of 6 miles per hour (MPH). During my run, I passed several notable landmarks, including Seoul City Hall, the Statue of Sejong the Great, LOTTE Department Store, and Deoksugung Palace. The run ended at one of my favorite spots in the city, Cheonggyecheon Stream. As an enthusiastic runner, ending my Seoul trip with a city run was the best choice and a great way to wake up early. Plus, the reward of a refreshing Gatorade drink made it all worthwhile. Onward!
Discover more from Wannabe Vagabond Sonya
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.