Cheonggye-cheon, the heart of Seoul

I read that after the Korean War in 1950s, a lot of people migrated to Seoul and settled down along the stream in shabby makeshift houses. The accompanying trash, sand, and waste, and deteriorating conditions resulted in an eyesore in the city. The stream was covered up with concrete slowly slowly for 20 years since 1950s, and then an elevated highway was completed in 1970s on top of the stream. This area then became an industrialised and modern area.

30 years later, Cheonggye-cheon was designed right in the heart of the city. Basically it is a man-made stream about 5 km long and meant as a beautification project. Apparently Cheongye-cheong is built on the site of a stream that flowed before the rapid post-war development. $900 million was spent!!! So, obviously I have to come here to soak in this historical sentimental project while in Seoul. 

There is walkway on both side of the stream for people to stroll

Admist the high rise building in the modern city

Since it is 5km long, it runs thru quite a lot of spots in the heart of Seoul

Like a compass on the floor to show where we are

Dunno what it means, but looks like a memorial stone

The wind that traps in this 'underground stream' cuts right thru me during the winter .... grrrr

The tree branches stuck to the retaining wall creating a beautiful effect

We decided to exit the Cheongye-cheon at the Dongdaemun area as we read that it is like a very important shopping district.

OK, either we are lost or this place is simply not suitable for me. It is basically like a wholesale market and the merchandise are not display in a 'palatable' manner. The shopkeepers are rude and while walking in Dongdaemun, I have been pushed 5 times ... 5 times!!! OK, I don't care how cheap they can be, I'm leaving.

Seriously, if I work in Seoul Tourism Board, I wouldn't recommend tourist to come here because it showcase the not beautiful side of Koreans which I have only experience in this area. So, no no to Dongdaemun.

Otherwise, Seoul is a very beautiful city.

Location : Seoul, South Korea

Date of travel : Mar 2010, Winter

Samcheong-dong, the quintessential Seoul

Samcheong-dong is a 'dong', remember I explained it means a 'neighbourhood' in the Jongno-gu (I think 'gu' means district) in Seoul. If you visit the Gyeongbokgung, then it is within walking distance from the exit. I don't think a lot of tourist managed to come here because it is not actually highlighted in any of the tourist information or map. But a friend of mine was brought here by a Korean and I just fall in love with the pictures. So here I am.

Samcheong-dong is a hilly neighborhood is very quintessentially Seoul in my opinion. The character of this place is basically of small art galleries, shops, and restaurants that is very unique and something you will remind you of Seoul for a very long time.

This is like the beginning of Samcheong-dong, small little restaurants serving Korean food.

Signages showing various nearby sights

I just simply loves the facade of this particular shop

The graffiti on the wall that seems like shadows to the trees makes this 'you're in Samcheong-dong' spot

Old world charm

Plenty of cafes in Samcheong-dong, even in Seoul that roast their own coffee from scratch

Another beautiful cafe that you can sit here for hours

Serving the hot chocolate in the most beautiful artistic way

Saw this lamp post that is very uniquely oriental with lantern like design. The word though is Chinese which means 'happiness'

Not far from the buzzling small village is the President's house. Unbelievable that I can walk so close to the entrance and they even allow me to shoot a picture.

Location : Seoul, South Korea

Next, Cheonggye-cheon, the heart of Seoul

Gyeongbok-Gung, the historic Seoul

Korea history apparently dates back to like few thousand years ago. I read somewhere that Koreans are actually the 'Han' people of China that migrated to Korea. Although there is similarity in the verbal language, why the written language has changed so much I have no idea but the historical background is not a lot different from that of Chinese. They have their kings and wars and dynasties. They have their palaces and concubines. In Seoul itself, there are a total of 6 gungs (meant palaces, by the way palace sounds exactly the same in Chinese) and I have picked the one that is the largest and most grandest one, Gyeongbokgung.

Map of Gyeongbok-Gung

First constructed in 1394 and reconstructed in 1867, it was the main palace of the Five Grand Palaces built by the Joseon Dynasty. Gyeongbokgung meant Palace Greatly Blessed by Heaven. This palace is also referred to as the “Northern Palace” because it is located more toward the north, compared to the neighboring palaces of Changdeokgung (Eastern Palace) and Gyeongheegung (Western Palace).

As I reached Gyeongbokgung at about noon time, the guards changing ceremony just started. Got to say it is very interesting compared to the modern guards that you see in other parts of the world.

The colourful traditional assemble is simply magnificient and provides a very dramatic experience for us.

Here's a short video of the changing of guards ceremony.

Upon entering the main gate to the palace, it was guarded (OK, they are now actors of course but it was simply nice to see them in the costumes).

Look, I have passed the guards and entered into the outer court of the palace!

I am standing right in front of the Geunjeongjeon which is the throne hall of Gyeongbokgung where the king formally meet with his officials and guests. Geunjeongjeon was originally constructed in 1395 was burned down in 1592 when the Japanese invaded Korea. This building was rebuilt in 1867.

This is King's Throne. Instead of the Chinese gold colour throne, the Korean king apparently prefers red throne. The background of the throne is picture of mountain which I guess is the same concept of today's fengshui where you have a very good 'back-up'.

This is the outer structure of Geunjeongjeon. Built mainly on woods, it sits on the center of a large rectangular courtyard, on top of a two-tiered stone platform.

Behind me, the Gangnyeongjeon is a building used as the king's main sleeping and living quarters. The building contains the king's bed chamber. Destroyed during the Japanese invasion in 1592, the building was rebuilt in 1867, but it was again burned down by a major fire on 1876 and had to be restored in 1888. Hmmm, it seems the palaces is very prone to fire??!!??

After that, it was a blur of more buildings and courtyards and moving from courtyard to courtyard. But notably, the signage all over the palace is of chinese character instead of the current korean character which proves that Koreans are in fact chinese in origin.

OK, I can't remember what this building is named but I remember from its different colour that this is a temporary quarter build during the great fire in the palace.

Towards the other end of the palace ground is the Hyangwonjeong Pavilion. It is a small, two-story hexagonal pavilion built around 1873. The pavilion was constructed on an artificial island of a lake named Hyangwonji and a bridge named Chwihyanggyo connects it to the palace grounds. The name Hyangwonjeong loosely translates as "Pavilion of Far-Reaching Fragrance."

This pavilion must look very beautiful during spring or autumn and is the most beautiful part of the entire palace ground. Funnily enough, it is located just next to the concubines quarters! Guess we all know who benefited most of this place.

As you exit the Gyeongbokgung, the ticket also entitles you to visit The National Folk Museum but since we don't have much time left in Seoul, we decided to passed.

There is simply a lot of history to learn here in Korea. Well, gotta be next time then.



Location: Seoul, South Korea

Next, Samcheong-dong, the quintessential Seoul

Myeong-dong, the fashionable Seoul

Located in the heart of Seoul, Myeongdong is THE shopping district in Korea. Compared to Namdaemun and Dongdaemun Market which sell products at low prices, most shops in Myeongdong deal with mid-level price items. If shopping is one of your agenda in Seoul, then Myeong-dong is a must-not missed area.

There are many streets that made up the Myeongdong shopping area. You will have the street fashion (from the stalls at the square) to mid-class brand name at the streets boutiques to world-class brand name in the malls. I have no idea how many shops / stalls are there in total but they are so densely packed in the area that I'm kind of lost.

Not to mentioned the crowd in Myeong-dong is just unbelievable. Not only that most tourists will land here at one point, even the locals are packing up the area.

To top up all the hundred of boutiques and stalls in the area which you cannot cover in a day, Korea's largest mall is also situated here. The Lotte World which consist of a few buildings interconnected via sky bridge basically forms like a wall covering the whole Myeongdong area.

Star Avenue, part of the Lotte World's complex

Lotte Young Plaza that sells attires for young crowds

Avenuel that is part of the Lotte World sells high end brands

Must definitely be in Myeongdong at night to catch hype and crowd and beautiful night lights

Plenty of street food to try at the stalls covering the squares in Myeongdong

A friend told me this ice-cream shop is a 'must-come-and-try' in Seoul even if I have to eat ice-cream in sub-zero temperature ... grrrrrrr!

Finally a night scene at Myeongdong ... simply fashionably bustling!

Location : Seoul, South Korea

Next, Gyeongbok-Gung, the historic Seoul

Insa-dong, the artistic Seoul

While you're travelling in Korea, you will come across the name of places almost always ends with the word 'dong'. This dong, that dong. Apparently dong means neighbourhood or village (in the olden day context).

So anyway, lets explore the first dong, Insa-dong. See, this place is like a tourist spot and something you cannot missed if you come to Seoul and I sure am glad I came here. Insadong has been around for more than 500 years since the whatever dynasty. This place is like a village for artisans and stuff produced here are fit for royalty. So if you would like to get souvenirs that is uniquely Korea, then this is the place to be. Word of advice: Try to find the Info booth and grab a map of this area, otherwise you will be disoriented and lost track of where you are.

A cafe. The word Hue means Relax

A shopfront that is really beautiful and artistic

Another very artistic signage of a shop that is uniquely Korean

You get to taste the authentic street food of Korea

Simply simply love all these small shops selling authentic and precious jewelry

Another beautiful shop selling beautiful wind chimes and craft of Korea

Me, standing in front of the restaurant I'm about to go to dine

Kimchi, the national appetizer of Korea

For those who don't know what is Kimchi, this is like something you gotta try in Korea. It is like an appetiser serves with any food in Korea. The way it is cooked or mixed apparently makes it a very nutritional. Must try!!!

The hot boiling soupy noodle, perfect in the cold winter.

Location : Seoul, South Korea

Next, Myeong-dong, the fashionable Seoul