Travel Korea - Seoul

Hello! 

We're back with our Korea travels and we're almost at the end. This day is from one of our last days in Seoul before we headed back up north to Paju to stay with my parents for a night while preparing to fly back home. 

It's hard to believe that we were in Korea 5 months ago. It only feels like yesterday and yet so much time has passed and so much has happened since. 

After our adventures exploring palaces, secret gardens and traditional homes right in heart of Seoul, Yangkyu and I ventured to a place we were familiar with, the N Seoul Tower, or what we used to know as just Namsan Tower. 

I remember N Seoul Tower from kindergarten. I believe we went there on a field trip. Sadly, the only thing I remember from that trip was seeing a cardboard cut up of ET.

ET actually scared me a as a little kid and so I wasn't particularly fond of seeing him, but it was one of the most popular movies among kids back in the 80s and so I think he left a big imprint in my mind (to the point where he is the only thing I remember from my trip to the tallest point in Seoul). 

To be completely honest, both Yangkyu and I weren't expecting too much at N Seoul Tower but it was just one of those places we thought we needed to check off while in Korea (we flew all the way there! we have to go!). Mostly I really wanted to place a lock with our names on it. It was something I had always wanted to do (one of the reasons I wanted to go to Paris last year) and this was our chance.

And while N Seoul Tower wasn't a place I thought I would enjoy a whole lot, I ended up enjoying every minute of it. It was a complete surprise. 

We took the subway and walked, which was a little hard because there is a hilly part you have to get over. If you're used to walking and enjoy it and consider yourself on the fitter side, then it shouldn't be a problem. If you don't enjoy walking a whole lot and running for 5 minutes knocks out your lungs, perhaps finding another alternative to get to the main building to ride the cable cars up to the tower would be a better choice (I believe there are free shuttle buses at the nearest subway stop to N Seoul Tower). 

Going back home, we ended up walking down hill towards the shuttle bus area and ended up taking the bus to the subway stop. We thought we were almost going to die because the bus drivers tend to drive a bit on the scary side, but we held on to dear life, along with everyone else in the bus (we felt like we were inside an anchovy can - just like in the cable car) who let out woos and ahh and oh my goshes throughout the ride. I almost forgot I was inside a bus. It felt more like a roller coaster ride. Ok.. maybe I'm exaggerating just a little bit.

As soon as you get off of the cable cars, there are fences and fences of locks with people's names and messages, ones probably of their hopes and dreams of good health, fortune, happiness and love. 

We bought our lock and borrowed a marker from the seller and wrote what we had wrote when we were in Insadong when we hung our tag at the Wall of Love - "Jane, Yangkyu, Piri and Bartles - Always the four of us."

Afterwards we made our way towards the tower, grabbed a bite to eat at one of the eateries (we got burgers and fries), enjoyed the expansive view and then made our way inside to the elevator that takes you up the tower. 

While on top we found points of interest for us including directions toward our old home and current home (New York and Washington D.C.) and our dream home (Jeju Island). We did some shopping (souvenirs and presents for friends) and took our separate time trying to take in the tiny buildings and roads and cars. The view was breathtaking. I used the restroom before going back down and one side is made entirely of glass to take in the view ... while you go. Ha. It was a bit odd but neat in a way. 

Yangkyu and I were lucky enough to have the right timing to also get a nice treat while back outside. There were special performances of poongmul (traditional drumming - Yangkyu and I used to also play) and traditional sword play and we stayed the entire time to watch. It was nice to see so many foreign tourists enjoy and cheer along and just as nice to see the performers incorporate them into their routines. We gave loud cheers and applause - it was just so enjoyable to watch (I like these types of things and so perhaps that's why I had such a great time).  

I'm glad we were able to squeeze an outing to N Seoul Tower during our trip to Korea. The only regret we have is not going at night. This was a continued regret Yangkyu and I had -- not sightseeing at night. We always began our days so early that we were too tired to stay out late. There is alway a next time. 

We'll do a another iPhone look at our trip from Korea and then post about a neat little art village in Paju. I hope you'll come back for those.

 // Travel Korea : DMZ Tours

 // Travel Korea : Childhood Memories

 // Travel Korea : Seoul

 // Travel Korea : Jeju Island, Day 1

 // Travel Korea : Jeju Island, Day 2

 // Travel Korea : Jeju Island, Day 3

 // Korea, according to my iPhone (pt. 1)

 // Travel Korea: Seoul