My Korean friend, Guard, offered to take me around the city. I happened to have off on a Friday, so we met around 10:00 am by my apartment. We bought tickets for the city tour bus with Guard was insistent to pay for. In fact, he paid for everything, both lunch and dinner, as well as any admission fees. When Koreans invite you some where, it is custom for them to pay. I tried to offer money, but it is basically insulting too. We decide to get off at Namsangol Hanok Village for our first stop. It is a free park of old traditional houses moved to this area that were originally from different parts of Seoul.
Food storage/ fermentation jars.
Hooks where lanterns hang.
Shoes left outside a building.
Two men dressed in traditional Korean fighting clothing.
In the center of the housing they had games left out in the court yard, that Koreans use to play.
Seoul Tower is actually a broadcasting tower. You can go to the top of it which I didn't (too over priced and I hate heights. However, from the observation deck you still get great views. You can walk up the hill or take a tour bus like us, but it only drops you off so far. The short distance you have left to walk is a very steep incline. When I arrived at the top, I saw these wired silhouettes of the human form suspended.
A view of Seoul, you can the Han River.
These locks with personal messages are secured everywhere to the railing.
The observation deck and thousands of locks.
Their are locks there to purchase, but people bring their own.
Seoul Tower. It's kinda of ugly. It looks better at night when it is lit.
Changdeokgung Palace.
A chimney. All the buildings were heated under neath by coals, but the chimneys were 15 feet on the side of the buildings.
Insadong, my new favorite street. It is full of shopping and galleries.
A crazy outdoor mall. You walk up on a ramp-like isles. Every floor has some artistic flair.
Outdoor vendor with corn and different dried and fried seafood.
Cars and people sharing the streets of Insadong.
My new favorite street food, hotteok. They are filled with cinnimon, honey parte and nuts.
The next day I returned to Insadong by myself and every street corner in the area had masses of cops. I have seen this once before in Hongdae on Valentine's Day. Nothing appeared to be wrong and no one seemed worried.
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