Confession from the heart
A visit to a new country from my bucket list. A visit to a new city that means a capital city. Visiting this part of the world in the best company. With my sister Nastasija. A little bit short, but sweet 30 hours in Seoul, South Korea.
South Korea is a remarkable country; full of beautiful beaches, prosperous cities, ancient temples, remarkable natural scenery, most importantly, friendly people with ancient history. The Korean War in 1953 levelled South Korea to the surface. That’s why, it is hard to imagined that this country had come so far. Today it is considered one of the largest economies in the world. After China and Japan, it is the third largest exporter in Asia. 30 hours in South Korea? Enough time for a quick visit…
The capital city of Seoul is the second largest in the world. Due to its very large population, Seoul is considered the world’s capital and is the centre of economy, culture and politics. Throughout its history, the city has been known by many different names. Name of Seoul has no Chinese characters. Instead, they recently chose the Chinese city name (首 尔). I don’t even know how to pronounce this.
March 1. Nastasija and I were absolutely convinced that I would fly to Seoul on my own. The flight to the capital of South Korea was completely full. So what? Economy class can accommodate 420 passengers, business 76 and first 13. All seats were occupied and at least 15 people were on the waiting list. Nastasija’s ticket was not a full fare ticket, but a ticket purchased with my discount. This means that all those who bought a full fare ticket have priority. From the moment I headed to HQ for work and Nastasija to the airport, we didn’t know if we were going to see each other on the flight. It was just a matter of luck.
With butterflies in my belly and positive thoughts, I waited for the boarding. My only wish was to see my sister’s face. And with more luck than sense she boarded as one of the last passengers. We still don’t know how she managed to be a passenger on my flight. All that mattered was that she flew with me. Nine hours long night flight passed really quickly. Yes, for Nastasija, who slept sweetly on two seats. With a sparkle in her eyes, she was ready to explore the city that evening. Make no mistake; we arrived at the Grand Hyatt Incheon Hotel around six in the evening. Our hotel is located about an hour and a half drive from the city centre. And Mojca didn’t sleep all night. We decided to take a walk around the hotel, eat something and get some sleep for the next day.
The alarm clock rang at six in the morning. At six and a half we were already having a big delicious breakfast. At seven we took shuttle bus to the airport. At seven and a half, we boarded the train to the city. And around nine, we were at the first attraction of Seoul.
1. Gyeongbokgung Palace was the main palace of the Joseon Dynasty. Built in 1395, it is considered to be the largest palace among the Five Grand Palaces. Because it is located in the northern part of the city, people also call it the Northern Palace. Nastasija and I took a look at the palace and walked around the park. What stands out is Geunjeongjeon Hall as the centre of the Palace and the Gyeonghoer Pavilion, which was completely destroyed in the fire of 1592. Hyangwonjeong Pavilion can be a unique experience, but it was under renovation at the time of our visit. Admission for adults (25-64) is 3,000 Korean Won (2,5 euros). For others admission is free. You can also enter the palace for free if you wear traditional Korean dress, Hanbok. We didn’t decide to do this, since we visited Seoul in the winter and the temperatures were quite low. Definitely an experience worth every cent. When renting a dress, local girls arrange hairstyle and traditionally make up for you. There are definitely more than enough shops around the palace where you can choose the most beautiful outfit for yourself.
2. From here, Nastasija and I walked to Buckhon Hanok Village. It is a traditional hilltop village between Gyeongbkgung Palace, Changdeok Palace and the Jongmyo Royal Shrine. The settlement consists of hundreds of traditional houses called the Hanok. The name Bukchon, meaning “northern village”, comes from the fact that the neighborhood lies in the north of two important landmarks of Seoul, Cheonggyecheon and Jongno Creek. Today, many of these Hanok houses function as cultural centres, restaurants and tea houses. They give visitors the opportunity to experience, learn about and immerse themselves in traditional Korean culture. Because Bukchon Hanok is a real neighborhood with people’s homes, they advised to be respectful throughout the walk in the village. It is worth mentioning that on average Buckhon have about 10,000 visitors per day. Due to tourists, the population decreased from more than 9000 to 7530; they say tourists are “chasing” residents out of the neighborhood.
During our walk on Gahoe-dong Alley, Nastasija and I met Korean girls dressed in traditional Korean dresses, Hanbok. There were many visitors on the streets that day. This is due to the fact that March 1 is Korean Independence Movement Day. We took the opportunity and took pictures with some girls. We didn’t stand out of the picture at all. Not really.
3. We stopped at the Baek In-je House completely unplanned. It represents modern architecture, modern Hanok from the time of the Japanese occupation. The house is traditionally made up of men’s quarters, women’s quarters and a huge garden. In terms of architectural size and historical value, Baek In-je’s House Museum is a representative structure of Bukchon. The entrance is free for all visitors.
We headed from the north of the city towards the centre of Seoul. Since we really didn’t have time for long trips, we took a local taxi to the next stop point. Probably not the cheapest form of transportation, but definitely the fastest.
4. Mount Namsan is 262 meters high peak in the south part of Seoul. We could walk to the top of the hill, but due to not enough time we decided to take the cable car. The return fare is 9500 won (7,5 euros). It was the first existing cable car facility in Korea. It was first opened on May 12, 1962 and is the longest cable car in Korea to operate without a day rest. We actually call the mountain and its surroundings Namsan Park, a state-owned public park. It is the largest park in Seoul and home to many plants and animals. The park is famous for its beautiful walking trails that allow visitors to see local animals such as their squirrels. Worth mentioning is the Namsan Octagonal Pavilion, located at the very top of the mountain. From here you can see a beautiful view of Seoul.
5. Namsan Seoul Tower should be mentioned as one of the main attractions at the top of the hill. The top of the tower is located at 480 meters above sea level and the tower itself is 236,7 meters high. It was built as an integrated broadcast tower that broadcasts television and radio programs across the capital. Today, it is known as Seoul’s second highest point, offering panoramic views of the capital. The tower’s main attractions include multicolored digital art projecting onto the tower at night, a digital observatory, a rooftop terrace, the HanCook Restaurant, the n.Grill Restaurant and the Haneul (Sky) Lounge. We didn’t climb the tower. We decided to walk around the park and its surroundings. On our way we came across with Love Padlocks. It is a popular locking location and has been featured in many Korean films as a result.
6. The clock was approaching three in the afternoon. There was no more time, but we wanted to visit our last important tourist destination. From the mountains we took the cable car to the valley and walked to the city. We went to Myeong-dong, one of the major shopping and tourist streets. At one of the local markets, we enjoyed fried pork as a traditional Korean snack. I think Nastasija was the one who convinced me to try the local food. Believe it or not, I am very careful about food and I prefer to avoid experimenting with it. With a full stomach, we went for a quick “shopping”. We didn’t think about clothes, shoes, food, but about famous Korean cosmetics. For all those who are not familiar with the new trends, Korean cosmetics is considered one of the leading in the world. All Korean girls whose skin is pure and shiny can be clear proof for that. Where’s the secret? You will have to figure it out for yourself. I decided to try Missha cosmetics, which was founded in 2009. 10 years ago. I bought a day and night cream (24K Collagen Intensive Rich Cream) that I still use today. A few different face masks and exfoliators. I didn’t notice the difference after using the masks. You can find your brand. You just need to look at right places.
Before heading back to the hotel Nastasija and I had some chocolate waffles. Calories, calories, calories. Believe it or not, they were worth every bite. Since I wanted to rest before my flight to Dubai, I returned to the hotel two hours before my sister. Nastasija continued shopping in South Korea. The drive back to the hotel took an hour and a half. I went to bed around six and closed my eyes until eight in the evening.
Awesome experience in Seoul, South Korea. A new destination, a busy day, hanging out with my sister, bonding. I am happy, because I was able to spend that day with Nastasija, who will always be one of the most important people in my life. You don’t choose sister, you get sister. But if I could choose, I would always choose you. With your big heart, you help me to get through all obstacles. You comfort me in a humorous way so I can smile after many tears. You’re my mirror, you are shining back with a bunch of opportunities. You are a witness who sees the worst and the best in me and still loves me. Thanks. Thanks for being. Thank you for being my rock. And thank you for simply being YOU. I love you and I’m always here for you. *
