Seoul!
Katie here! Our first excursion was to Seoul, the capital of South Korea! The school had an extended weekend and we traveled to Seoul. There were multiple events we went to and places that we visited that are musts if you are going to visit Seoul! We stayed in Myeongdong, a famous tourist and shopping district. Around the hotel were many shops and street vendors with a subway line right around the corner. We also could easily walk to the Namdaemun Market for shopping.
When we first arrived, we went to Namsan Tower where you can overlook the city. It's a famous spot featured in many Korean dramas. You take a short cable car ride up and get to see the breathtaking view! |
The next day, we visited the City Hall and went to Deoksugung Palace. We didn't visit the interior of the palace, but there is a guard changing ceremony at the gates that you can watch for free!
|
Next, we went to one of my favorite places in Seoul, the Cheonggyecheon stream and plaza! Cheonggyecheon is a public recreation place that was an urban renewal project to uncover the Cheonggyecheon stream that had been buried under concrete for a highway after the Korean War. Cheonggyecheon was intended to bring nature back into the city and make it more eco-friendly. Now, it is a popular spot among Seoul residents and tourists and it's easy to see why. It's relaxing to walk alongside the stream in the middle of the city, not to mention that with the project artful designs it's quite a beautiful sight, especially at night!
We also went to Gwanghwamun Square and toured Gyeongbokgung Palace. Gwanghwamun Square is also a part of the environmental friendly project for the city and has statues of famous historical figures King Sejong the Great and Admiral Lee Soon-Shin. Gwanghwamun Square leads to Gwanghwamun, the gate to Gyeongbokgung Palace. Built in 1395, this palace is the largest of the five palaces. It was also burnt down during the Imjin War(1592-1598), but was restored by King Gojong a couple centuries later. Gyeongbokgung Palace is quite beautiful and on an extensive piece of land. I really enjoyed getting to see the countless buildings and beautiful ponds! We also visited Insadong, a district that shows traditional Korean culture for tourists and is a great place to get traditional souvenirs!
We also got to go to a baseball game! It was a thrilling experience to get to go to the stadium and experience the synchronized fan chants. We had a great time seeing the passionate fans and players and got to experience a sporting event in South Korea! Some of us got to visit Yonsei University and Seogang University.
We tried to go to the National Museum; however, it ended up being closed that day. Instead, we went to Itaewon and I spent most of my time in a bookstore perusing. That marked the end of our fantastic trip to Seoul and I will never forget the wonderful experiences!
We tried to go to the National Museum; however, it ended up being closed that day. Instead, we went to Itaewon and I spent most of my time in a bookstore perusing. That marked the end of our fantastic trip to Seoul and I will never forget the wonderful experiences!
SOKCHO
Hi, Mandeep here! Our second excursion was to Sokcho, a city in Gangwon-do province, South Korea. Sokcho used to belong to North Korea from 1945 up until the very end of the Korean War. Sokcho attracts many tourists because of how close it is to North Korea and it's famous Seoraksan National Park. Sokcho is also very well known for its famous fish markets, the beaches, and the natural hot springs. We stayed at an adorable hotel, Mr. Egghouse, that was within walking distance of a smaller fish market and a short bus ride away from the large fish markets and shopping districts. On our first day, we visited a lighthouse overlooking the ocean. We had to climb hundreds of stairs before we reached the lighthouse, but the view was definitely worth it! Afterwards we visited the famous fish market! There was a vast array of seafood and tons of street vendors that set up shop all over the streets. After eating tons of food, we went back to Mr. Egghouse. Some of us rested, while others explored the beautiful city of Sokcho. |
The hotel we stayed at!
Lighthouse views! Overlooking Sokcho and the ocean.
|
One of the most popular attractions in the park is the Gwongeumseong Fortress Peak. This peak is at a staggering 860m above sea level. It is only accessible via a cable car ride which ascends every 10 minutes.
Once you arrive at the Gwongeumseong Fortress Peak, you can take a short walk to access the area that I am sitting at in the picture on the left. It is truly beautiful and there are people everywhere climbing up to the highest point, taking selfies with the mountains, and getting as close to the edge to satisfy their thrill-seeking side!
After we took in the beauty of Gwongeumseong, we descended back down via cable car and made our way up to the actual hike. It was time to conquer Ulsanbawi. This hike is about 4 km to reach Heundeulbawi and then another kilometer to the Ulsanbawi! To get to the Ulsanbawi from the Heundeulbawi , one must climb up never-ending stairs that are worth it because they lead to a spectacular view in all directions.
Many of my friends were able to reach Ulsanbawi, but I only made it to Heundeulbawi before I had to go back down. (It's a tough hike!)
Gwongeumseong Fortress Peak