Seoul to Seoul (Hopefully not Couldn't Stand the Weather)

[Noel Mugavin]

 

[Noel Mugavin]

Walked back to the hotel, had a shower and put some fresh clothes on. Jumped on the subway to south of the Han to check out the Gangnam District. Walked for a while, didn't find anything of any great interest.




Headed back to Myeondong and the Shinsegae Department Store food floor. Found this great little place with a very clever play on word name that for the life of me I can't remember. Shakshuka, chicken breast, hommus etc, etc all for about 10 bucks. Was delicious.


Back for a little nana nap


Back to Myeondong in the early evening. Not quite game enough to try puffer fish just yet.




Had spotted a shabu shabu restaurant in Shinsegai earlier on in the day and that's where I headed



After dinner. more wandering around Myeondong and picking up the obligatory omiyage for the people back home.

 

[Noel Mugavin]

Tuesday morning and today was the visit to the DMZ. Had attempted to get to the Joint Security Area, booked a few months out, company took my booking however they were never able to confirm that visiting the JSA would do ahead, and as it turned out no tours were running there.
On the coach for the 40-minute or so drive, had to wear the identification tag and also had the number of the tour leader if we missed our timings.

First stop was Imjingak, a park and tourist stop with a few monuments and viewing decks around the place. Also the place where all the tour buses have to stop to get their time allocations to get to the Dora Observatory and the Third Tunnel.
Had about 30 minutes to have a look around before we were due back on the bus.

 

[Noel Mugavin]

Freedom Bridge

Peace train





Some shops underneath, viewing platform up top










Got back to the bus, leader told us our allocated time was a bit later than expected and we had another half hour before we could get going . Told us we had time to get on the ropeway and we could get to the front of the line. Cost about 10 bucks, so thought why not.

 

[Noel Mugavin]

Jumped out of the gondola to have a look around and within a minute the heavens opened with a vengeance. Back in I jumped to the safety of the gondola.
With the rain, the wind also whipped up, so not the most pleasant of rides back across the river.
Bit of a display in the arrival area




Time to get back on the bus, stop at a bridge for the military to get on and check passports and off we went to the Dora Observatory.
It was absolutely persisting down.
Guide to hold us to wait by the bus/shops until the rain eased and we would walk as a group up to the observation building.
I assume this was the original building which has been superseded by the much more modern model atop the hill
After about 3 or 4 minutes of waiting, impatient me thought stuff it, I;m a big boy, bit of rain wont hurt me. Armed with a highly insufficiently small umbrella, up the hill I went.


I was absolutely soaked after the 3 or 4 minute walk.
Clocks showing same time in Pyongyang and Seoul, after North Korea standardised the time zone after a brief time of being half an hour behind.

Lecture theatre and viewing area

 

[Noel Mugavin]

Up another flight of stairs, tour group in front of me stopped by the display of what you are looking to see when you get out to the observation deck.
I listened in for a few minutes then headed outside to the viewing area.
Something had always looked forward to in my life, getting a peek into North Korea.
Full of anticipation, this is the view I got.








Disappointed is an understatement, but what can you do. Luck of the draw with the weather.
Headed back inside, and my group had arrived.



Back to the lecture theatre, and the display of the DMZ


Downstairs and gathering myself for the walk down the hill

The downhill walk was a lot harder than the uphill; extremely slippery


Lot of short steps, but eventually made it

 

[Noel Mugavin]

Back on the bus with soaking wet shoes and socks and to the 3rd Infiltration Tunnel.
Firstly into a hall with some displays and then a 10 minute or so video about the finding of the tunnels.

View back to the Dora Observatory

Tunnel entrance is across from the video hall. Not allowed to take anything into the tunnel, lockers are supplied. Grab a helmet and away you go.


Firstly a spiel from our guide

The tunnel itself is quite steep, high enough to walk upright until you get to the bottom where a bit of ducking and maneuvering is needed. There are a couple of benches along the walkway where you can sit and have a rest if need be on the way back up.
It was a tunnel. I found the surroundings more interesting to be honest.

 

[Noel Mugavin]

Apparently, there's quite a few 3 legged deer hopping around the DMZ








Back on the bus for the drive back to Seoul, wet shoes and socks, looking forward to a hot shower. Unfortunately had to endure a stop at a ginseng factory. Had no idea how expensive that stuff was.
Overall, a pretty underwhelming day. Obviously the weather didn't help but unless you're getting to the JSA, I don't think the trip's worth the time.
After a shower and dinner jumped on the subway to the Gocheok Sky Dome to catch a baseball game.






Tha away team's bus

 

[Noel Mugavin]

I lasted about 4 innings, baseball's not the greatest spectator sport

 

[Noel Mugavin]

Wednesday morning and a bonus day as I thought I would be flying out tonight rather than Thursday night. Plan was to go for a walk and get to Gwangjang Market.
Firstly though, a quick visit to Namdaemun Market. On rare occasions I make decisions with great foresight. This is one of those occasions. Having battled wet shoes and socks the last couple of days, sitting in a plane with such didn't really appeal to me, so to the market and a cheap pair of slip-ons to wear on the plane.



On my way to Gwangjang. Started along Cheonggyecheon Stream.













Made it

 

[Noel Mugavin]

Outside of the undercover market, more shops grouped together according to type of goods they are selling. Wandered in the direction back to Myeondong.

 

[mrsterryn]

My husband said he would probably have similar luck it trying to see into North Korea
I noticed no snow this year ?
Love the photos

 

[Black Duck]

I love the stream walk and do it every visit. Also the 2 markets for mung bean pancakes - prefer Namdaemun for that but wouldn't pass up Gwangjang ones. Lots and lots of socks in Namdaemun as well.

 

[Noel Mugavin]

My husband said he would probably have similar luck it trying to see into North Korea
I noticed no snow this year ?
Love the photos

Report is from when I was there in July, middle of summer.

 

[Black Duck]

Snowing now.

 

[Noel Mugavin]

2nd to last day so had to have a go at fried chicken again, Absolute mountain of it was brought to the table.


Nowhere near finished it, but enough that I really needed to work some of it off. Walk up to Namsan Tower was in order.













Can just about make out Lotte Tower

 

[Noel Mugavin]

Took the cable car down, then grabbed my bags from the Gracery and walked the short distance to my new hotel for the night.





Seemed that the hotel was run by a group of young friends, very enthusiastic, friendly and eager to please



My Stay is only a small hotel and sits in the shadows of the Gracery


To Shinsegai and another meal from mu new favourite restaurant
Then a last evening of wandering

 

[Noel Mugavin]

 

[Noel Mugavin]

Last day and it was absolutely persisting down. Not much of a plan for the hours until heading to the airport, but I did want to get to a BBQ restaurant for lunch. Mooched around the hotel for a while, then spent a lazy hour or so sitting in Starbucks next to the hotel whiling the time away.
Korean BBQ restaurants don't always cater for individual, however my research all pointed to the most popular that does - Wangbijip. Had tried to find the Myeondong location that day prior without luck, so headed off about half an hour before the 11 o'clock opening time to try and nut the location.




Eventually found it, but still about 15 minutes before opening. Time to wander and get soaked.




Not the greatest photos, but very enjoyable meal




Headed back out, rain hadn't stopped



Still a few hours until heading to the airport, found an indoor golf centre, unfortunately all booked out.
Headed underground to waste some time


Eventually headed above ground to get back to the hotel and make my way to the airport. Massive demonstration going on along Sejong-daero. About what, I have no idea.

 

[Noel Mugavin]

Grabbed my bags from the hotel and I had about a 6 minute walk to the City Hall subway station. Backpack on the back and 2 suitcases, pouring with rain and trying to hold on to an umbrella. In the circumstances, I did pretty well. I was fairly soaked, but it was the shoes ad socks as I had to go through ankle deep puddles at times.



Inside the station as I was lugging my cases down the stairs, a coupe of elderly gentleman coming up the other way. Without so much of a word, they both grabbed a case each, turned around the other way and took them to the platform for me. Another example of the friendliness and helpfulness of the Korean people.
Eventually got to Seoul Station and then on to the Airport Express
Incheon



Found a quiet spot and thankfully put on my dry shoes and socks. Then on to my last bibimbap of the trip




Still persisting down outside, 47 people died due to flooding during the 2023 monsoon season including 14 people trapped in a traffic tunnel on the weekend 2 days after I left. Heaviest downpour in Korea in 115 years.