Seoul, South Korea

I am here for a week visiting with my son (he's here on business).  It is a 13 hour flight from LAX ( I got to cross another thing off my bucket list by flying first/business class).  American, in all their rationalization, takes the flight from LAX to Dallas/Fort Worth before heading to Korea, so the flight was over 21 hours including the lay-over.  It was my first time to enjoy the Admiral's Club, so that was a nice treat.

Since it was about 40 hours since I'd slept, Friday was low-key with walks around the immediate area of the hotel (JW Marriott) and to bed early. I did make a several-hour visit to the Express Bus Terminal Market, a traditional Korean market place located in the underground passage of the subway.

Saturday was "hit the ground running" and we saw some amazing sights.

The N Seoul Tower - on top of Namsan Mountain, is the best location to see the city of Seoul.  The Tower is the 10th highest tower in the world.  You get to the tower either by cable car or walking; the observatory by way of an elevator.  On a clear day .....

The painting on the buildings is exquisite

Then onto Bukchon Hanok Village - This district between Gyeongbokgung Palace and Changdeokgung Palace is packed with over 900 Korean traditional houses.  Members of the royal family and noblemen lived here during the Joseon Period.













The highlight of the day was Gyeongbokgung Palace - Built in 1395, this was the main royal palace and heart of the Joseon Dynasty for 500 years.  The National Palace Museum of Korea, which showcases royal culture, and the National Folk Museum of Korea, where the life cycles of Koreans in the olden days can be observed, are within the grounds.  There were a lot of Koreans, mostly women, dressed in the traditional costume, which made walking around especially nice.

 

Dinner was at Din Tai Fung for Dim Sum, followed by some frozen milk at O'slo.  Yum.










"The haechi, protector of Seoul"