After a hectic introduction to Seoul yesterday, our day started late and we began with buffet brunch at Todai Restaurant. Located at the top floor of Noon Square, Todai is a an international buffet chain serving mostly seafood. The spread was a bit limited for my liking with a heavy concentration of fresh seafood, a few Korean dishes, a Japanese station, an Italian station, a pastries station and a dessert station. For drinks, there were sodas, fruit juice and beers. What Todai lacked in quantity though, was made up in quality dishes and rare buffet offerings like snow crab legs. The food was delicious and a fine way to start the morning. My father especially liked the fresh oysters and sashimi.
The lunch buffet costs around 40,000 won each. For the price, Todai is a good restaurant to try unusual dishes that are hotel quality. I just wish they had more offerings as the selection empties out quickly and you'll soon find yourself eating the same stuff over again.
The lunch buffet costs around 40,000 won each. For the price, Todai is a good restaurant to try unusual dishes that are hotel quality. I just wish they had more offerings as the selection empties out quickly and you'll soon find yourself eating the same stuff over again.
Todai Restauarant is located at the top floor of Noon Square. To get here, take the subway to Euljiro 1-ga station exit 6. Walk along Namdaemun-ro for 5 minutes, Noon Square is on your left and opposite Lotte Young Plaza.
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| Myeongdong Cathedral |
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| The feeling out process |
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| Heating Up |
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| In the Zone |
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| Overtime |
With heavy tummies, we were hoping to shed some pounds off in our next destination, Olympic Park. This was the site where most of the games were held during the 1988 Seoul Olympics. Aside from the stadiums used during the Olympics, it has also been converted into a huge public park for the locals to hang out, exercise and have fun. At the entrance of the park you will be welcomed by the Peace Gate, a beautiful arch with the Olympic flame tucked in it's center. Covering the entire park will take quite some time and it is advisable that you rent a bike outside near the park entrance. I was able to see several stadiums although renovations were ongoing, the Olympic Museum (3,000 won), and some weird artwork scattered throughout the grounds.
As it was winter, the park barely had any trees and plants to be found. Also, there really weren't much to be seen, as the old stadiums were nothing special and there wasn't anything that kept us interested. If we were going to re-do this day, I would probably skip the Olympic Park and go somewhere else.
To get here, take the subway to Mongchontoseong station exit 1.
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| Peace Gate |
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| The Eternal Flame |
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| Olympic Park grounds |
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| Bro's new profession |
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| Bizarre Art |
Our next stop took us to Namdaemun Market, the largest traditional market in Korea. Located next to flashy Myeongdong, Namdaemun is more old school where most of the goods for sale are inexpensive and haggling is still the name of the game. You will find a variety of stuff ranging from cheap clothing, eye wear, kitchenware, sports gear, K-Pop goodies, CDs, electronics and old herbal medicine. This is also the place to buy the usual t-shirts, magnets and other related travel souvenirs. For the serious buyer, there's even a wholesale market section. Be prepared though to rough it out with the crowds after all it's an open air type of a market similar to Baclaran or Khao San.
Another reason to visit are the endless street food stalls. When the sun goes down and most of the shopping ceases, Namdaemun plays host to street vendors wielding their various food carts while others set up tents complete with tables and chairs. Most of the dishes are too exotic (heck I don't even eat vegetables) for me like soondae (blood sausage), twigim (deep fried veggies) and gimbap (seaweed rice). More palate friendly are mandu (dumpling), hotteok (fried pancake) and local favorite tteokboki (red rice cake). A more relaxed option is to eat in one of the tents, grab some beers and have some authentic grilled Korean meals.
An added tip, don't forget to check out the famous Namdaemun Gate. Also called Sungnyemun, the gate is considered to be Korea's # 1 national treasure. The gate is a wooden structure on top and stone structure below where an arched entrance is located in the middle. Sadly, I didn't get to see it in all of it's glory as it was covered in a giant tarpaulin when I got there. You see, in 2008, the gate was burned down by some disgruntled Korean which left it to ashes. During my visit, the reconstruction was still ongoing and the gate was off limits to the public. Luckily for you guys, by this time, Namdaemun Gate is now open, so maybe you guys should be the ones telling me how it really looks!
To get to Namdaemun, take the subway to Hoeheyeon station and choose exit 5.
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| Even on developed countries, there is poverty |
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| Namdaemun |
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| Isang hilera ng food stalls |
My companions decided to spend the rest of the night shopping at Myeongdong which left me alone to check out some other sites. I eventually found myself at Gwanghwamun Square. The square is a public gathering place located near Gyongbokgung Palace where the main attraction is the King Sejong The Great Statue. King Sejong is revered in Korea for having invented the hangeul alphabet among his many inventions. Underneath the square near the subway entrance is a small gallery telling the king's story and displaying some of his artifacts. Other sights not to be missed include the Admiral Yi Statue, the 12:23 Fountain and the Haechi Sculpture.
It was around 10:30 pm when I got to the square and I was a bit surprised that there was hardly anyone there (for a public square). Also, lighting was poor and I could barely get decent photos on the statues. Despite the darkness and isolation, I felt perfectly safe as Korea is known to have a low crime rate where most offenses committed are petty crimes such as pick-pocketing and purse snatching. Aside from picture taking, there isn't much to do at Gwanghwamun Square. Maybe it would have been better to go on a Sunday afternoon for some people watching and witnessing special events.
To get here, take the subway to Gwanghwamun station and go out at exit 2.
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| King Sejong Statue |
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| Admiral Yi statue |
Walking some more, I reached a grand waterfall which signaled that I had arrived at the entrance of the Cheonggyecheon Stream. The Chenonggyecheon Stream used to be all muddy and polluted until an expensive restoration project completed in 2005 transformed it into an environmental hot spot loved by the locals and viewed as a major success. The stream runs almost 6 kilometers long beginning at the Cheonggye Plaza near Gwanghwamun station and passing through Jogno and Dongdaemun until emptying out into the Han Gang River. Walking the entire stream will easily burn you an hour or two but you'll pass by interesting sights like the Cheonggye Plaza Waterfalls, the Wall of Hopes, the Cheonggyecheon Museum and several historical bridges and landmarks.
The stream truly is a welcome sight in a busy city. It's peaceful and calming despite being sandwiched in Seoul's busy districts. It's clean, green and brightly illuminated even at night making it the perfect place for a wonderful stroll. The money used in its renovation was well worth it as I believe every city needs a place like this. An escape from all the stress, the daily problems and reality even for just a short time.
To get here from Gwanghwamun Square, walk straight away in the opposite direction of the King Sejong Statue for 3 to 10 minutes (depending where you are at the square). Chenonggye Plaza (entrance) is at the left hand side, you'll see a huge waterfall, go down, and you're there.
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| Cheonggye Plaza |
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| Cheonggyecheon stream |
To cap of the night, I ate at one of the ramen and curry shops in Myeongdong. There isn't much to write about as the food is forgettable and average at best. Midnight frappuccino courtesy of local Korean business success story, Caffe Bene fared much better and were in my dreams as I faded fast into the night.
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| Pork curry, not good.. |
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| The Korean "Starbucks" |
The Day's Expenses (P) (Per Person):
Trasnportation 170 (Subway)
Bike Rental 115
Food 2,000
Shopping ?
Total P 2,285
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