Seoul Searching…

One trip to Seoul and you are hooked for life. You just know you have to go back to this warm, vibrant cultural and food lovers paradise. Every moment is special be it the visit to the palaces, walk through Insadong or the heritage village or even the bustling busy Myeongdong market.

So here is an account of what me and wife did – we stayed at IBIS Myeongdong and what great choice as it is next to Myeongdong Market. It was close to Christmas so Lotte was next door and lit up beautifully. Lotte stores and Young Lotte was explored to the fullest. The street food in Myeongdong – red bean bakes in shapes of fish and other animals, prawns, Octopus, squid and what not. The shopping itself is amazing.

Being a philatelist was excited to find that their Central Post Office was a block down the road. They have a museum and shop as well with a sit out where you can take pictures against a backdrop with a stamp theme. The underground walk way has an amazing array of stamp and coin sellers. Shows how Philately and Numismatics is a passion here.

Visiting the palaces is an experience in itself. The audio guides are great and do justice to the tour. Some of the palaces are walking distance from Myeongdong. Can plan to reach around the time when they have a change of guard. They have a booklet of passes at discount – this is worth taking.

Insadong is an art and culture hub. One visit and you start respecting the deep focus and passion for art and craft. Mid way down the street you will find areas where live classes are given in art and craft. We got a caricature done for us live. We will Cherish that for a long time to come.

Food – you just can’t stop. Food here is awesome – street food, live barbecues on the table, restaurants with a good blend of local, Asian and western cuisine all engulf your being.

Many people have the impression that it is difficult to navigate the city. I think it is all about your attitude. The city is extremely navigable by foot, metro and cabs. People are very helpful and we were able to communicate using a few words to get directions when needed. Language is not at all a barrier.

Gangam is where a lot of the action is. An awesome night out is guaranteed.

Don’t forget to visit the traders market in Dongdaemun. It is an experience by itself.

We also visited the DMZ. You have to take the tour and while it is expensive, it is totally worth it.

If I would rate my top 3 experiences in Seoul – it would be Food anywhere especially street food, Insadong market, walking through the city in that order. The palaces, heritage village and DMZ would top the list as well.