Off the Beaten Path in Seoul

Royal guards and their mini-me
at Deoksugung

If donning a hanbok in Seoul isn't your cup of tea, force junior to wear one. Chances are, he'll look cuter than you and everyone, including the locals will want to make friends with him. Just take look at this picture. If you look carefully, the guard is actually holding hands with the kid and... maybe asking him if he wants to take over . bpacker's Seoul Searching page


	Religious & Memorial: Workers on Strike at Myeong Dong Cathedral	Tip Rating:

Updated By bpacker

on December 19, 2005

Under the sanctity of
Christ and MyeongDong
church

While nosing about in MyeongDong, I saw a big group of Middle Eatern Men and university students on strike at the Cathedral.They prove to be more interesting than the brick facade as I heard some really poignant stories from them . Apparently, those poor folks were not treated rightly at their workplace and were paid very little for their labour. Unable to take the unfair treatment anymore, they decided to seek santicty from the church. Well, I hope everything works out well for them in the end... bpacker's Seoul Searching page


	Other Place to Go: Eating Fresh Hot Worms!	Tip Rating:

Updated By bpacker

on December 19, 2005

Yum! Yum! Yeeech!

Don't rub your eyes, you've read this correctly. You've not been to Korea if you haven't eaten one of these silkworm larvae. They're available at every street corner. You can't miss them or the odour. Just follow the salty, pungent smell and you'll see a pot of crunchy larvae simmering in their own juices. Get crunching and train for the next Fear Factor season. They taste like dried prawns, by the way... bpacker's Seoul Searching page


	Korean Historical Landmark: Look beyond palace walls and halls...	Tip Rating:

Updated By bpacker

on December 19, 2005

Symmetry, Gyeongbokgung

Many a disappointed traveller to Korea has lamented about the "Chinese-ness" of the palaces and halls. That's because they haven't looked past the ancient architecture...discover instead those silent, natives of the past that guard those palace walls. Yes, yes, I meant the mythical creatures and not the old pensioners who jog around those places to kill time. There are hundreds of these strange creatures ( Bulgsari, Haetae , etc ) that inhabit the palaces and temples of Korea. To find out more about them, read my travelogue, Silent Guards bpacker's Seoul Searching page


	Other Place to Go: Milling about Night Markets	Tip Rating:

Updated By bpacker

on December 19, 2005

Namdaemun

When in Rome, do what the Romans do. So when you're in Korea, do what the Koreans do and shop at night. These night markets are an eye-opener and I'm not talking about touristy Itaewon over here. There's more Americans there than a small mid-western town! Go to a less touristy place and head for Namdaemun, Insa-dong or Dongdaemun instead. Over there, you won't be overly harrassed and you can shop like the locals. bpacker's Seoul Searching page


	Korean Historical Landmark: Don a Hanbok ( Korean Dress ) in Korea	Tip Rating:

Updated By bpacker

on December 19, 2005

Koreans? Aniyo, they're from
HK

Ok, so this is cheesy, but you'll amuse lots of bystanders like myself so what's the harm? For a fee, you can borrow a hanbok from a small shop in Gyeongbokgung palace and pretend to an ancient royal in Seoul. Think twice before doing this is winter as the costumes are wafer thin. The HongKong tourists in the pictures are trying very hard to smile in the 5c weather. bpacker's Seoul Searching page


	Other Place to Go: Korean Street Vendors	Tip Rating:

Updated By bpacker

on December 19, 2005

Street Vendor, Insa-Dong

Not all street vendors are nasty like the one I encountered the last time. Many are nice, English-speaking and genuinely proud of their crafts. This street vendor is creating a gigantic mound of candy from a slab of molasses. It was too yummy to ignore. bpacker's Seoul Searching page


	Other Place to Go: Checking out strange sights in alleyways	Tip Rating:

Updated By bpacker

on December 19, 2005

School of dried fish,
Namdaemun

here's lots of little provision shops in the little alleyways of Namdaemuns so check them out. You'll see lots of interesting things for sale. Take these braided rows of salted fish for example. bpacker's Seoul Searching page


	Parks, Zoos & Stadiums: Oerini Dae Gung Won (Childrens Grand Park)	Tip Rating:

By Hmmmm

on February 5, 2004

by Hmmmm
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Magnolias at the Park.
Picture: Aaron Irving

In Spring this park is ablaze with blossoms; notably Cherry Blossom and fragrant Magnolias. Its a wonderful place for a stroll. The park in addition to garden also houses, a small zoo, an aviary and an Ape/Monkey House. However I wouldn't go during the weekend, for it is chocka with families and screaming mee mees or should I say Children. The best time to visit is during the week in the evening. There are a couple of Kimbab type restaurnats there too, if you are peckish. You can even buy beer there and sit down and sup. Outside the main gate (which is a beautiful traditional style gate) there are venders who sell steamed crab, barbeque Chicken on Skewers (Dukh Gutchi) and raw squid with hot sauce. Childrens Grand park Station is on the Olive line or line number 7, one stop north of Konguk University station. From The kangnam/Sinsa dong area you can take the #567 bus, or from Tongdaemun the #225 Bus.


	Other Place to Go: There is No one in Nowon	Tip Rating:

By Hmmmm

on February 4, 2004

by Hmmmm
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Looking down from Nowon
Station. ADI

A really good way to learn to read the Korean script hangeul, is to ride the subway. And match the signs with the translations and there pronunciation over the loud speaker. And while you are travelling the subway, you can get off at random stops. This station Nowon, is one of the nicer areas of Seoul, it has a small town feel about it, Even though its the most populous suburb in Seoul. And its nestled beneath some nice mountains. Check it out. A good ex-pat community lives there.