Ida Bjerga: S E O U L

After recommendations from a couple of friends, we decided to visit Seoul, and join the Global Gathering music festival. We stayed for five days, and fell in love with the city. I would definitly go back.

1. Gyeongbokgung Palace and/or Changdeokgung Palace - are two of the "Five Grand Palaces" build by the kings of the Joseon Dynasty, finished in 1394 and 1412. Both were heavily damaged and nearly destroyed during the Japanese occupation of Korea. Changdeokgung Palace is perhaps the most popular and are considered the most beautiful palace, although Gyeongbokgung is regarded as Seoul´s main palace.

Gyeonbokung Palace

Changdeokgung Palace

2. The streets between the two palaces
If you walk from one palace to the other, you will find yourself in streets filled with cafees, gallerys and small art shops.

3. Dongdaemun night shopping
Dongdaemun is one of the major markets in Korea. The market is divided into five shopping districts, containing 26 shopping malls with 30 000 speciality shops and 50 000 manufacutrers. The market is open for 18 1/2 hours a day, from 10:30 am to 05:00am, and some stores are also open 24 hours a day.

4. Shopping at Myongdong
We lived in Myongdong area which is know for great shopping. The streets are filled with known international and national brands, and crowdes of people. You can also find a Cold Stone Icecream bar to my great surprise!

5. DMZ and JSA half day/day tour - (Demilitarized Zone and the Joint Security Area).
The DMZ tour is one of the most interesting tours in South-Korea, were the tour takes you to the boarder of North Korea - one of the most heavily militarized zones in the world.
We were late booking the tour, and therefor we could not visit the JSA, which we would have liked.
We ended up going on a DMZ 3rd tunnel tour, were we visited the third tunnel, the DMZ observation platform, the freedom bridge and Dorasan station.
(Visit http://www.tourdmz.com/ for more information and booking.)

NB! You have to book the tour in advanced, reservations for tours must be made at least 7 days before the desired tour date, and its often fully booked so I would recommend two or three weeks before to be on the safe side. So you don´t miss the JSA as we did.

Freedom Bridge between South and North Korea

Freedom bridge, also known as the bridge of no return, is located in Imjingak park and is the railroad bridge used to return people from the North to the South. If you crossed the bridge and walked over to the North, you could not return to the South.

Memorial at Imginjak

This memorial is for those whose ancesteral homes are in the North. They come to this memorial to pay there respects and to give them a place to remember their ancestors.

6. Global Gathering Music Festival

Global Gathering is a world wide electronic music and dance festival which started in the UK in 2001. Its one of the most cutting edge and forward thinking electronic music festivals.

The music is great, the fries they serve are great, the neons sticks we got were great and the festival is so cool - go go go!

See http://globalgatheringkorea.co.kr/ for more information and tickets.

7. Mt. Inwangsan

Mt Inwangsan is in the middle of Seoul and with its 338m, it gives you a beautiful view over the city. On the way to the top you pas the Inwangsa Temple and you can also go down through Sajik Park on the other side.

To get to the hike take the MTR to Dingninmun Station on Line 3, go out through exit 2 and follow the signs pointing the way to Inwangsa (인왕사).

Great view of Seoul from Inwangsan

9. Seodaemun Prison - the prison was opened in 1908 with a design meant to hold up to 500 inmates, 11 years later it held 3000 prisoners, which is and indicator of how vigorous the Korean resistance was and how harsh the Japanese repression.

The memorial hall hold mug shots of around 5000 killed independence activists.

10. Koreak Barbeque - refers to the Korean method fo grilling beef, pork, chicken or other types of meat. Its a must try when visiting Korea. We tryed it several times, the beef its great, the rest is a bit wierd but good enough.

Some local guys who invited us to dinner one evning.

Korean food, not sure if this is Kim Chi, Bibimbap, Gogi gui or Bulgogi.

11. Hongik Ro area (around Hongik University)

Go peoplewatching and shopping in the streets around Hongik University. Take the MTR to the Hongik stop, and just walk around. The people here are so cool and trendy, and the shops likewise.

I´ve never shoped this must in any city any time.

12. Insadong-Gil

Insadong-Gil is a charming crowded shopping streets, with low building and a cosy vibe. Here you find small craftsmen, modern desgin, cafees, lots of korean snack and small tea houses.

The streets of Insadong-Gil are filled with shops, korean snack and tea houses. We heard rumors that this street had a tea house with flying birds inside, but sadly we could not find it. (http://honestcooking.com/2011/08/12/savoring-seoul-insadongs-bird-flying-tea-shop/)

This area is also known for its many galleries and antique shops, and kind of remindes you of one of Londons bohemian neighborhoods.

Insadong Gil

13. N Seoul Tower

Get a panorama view over Seoul from N Seoul Tower.

14. Seoul at Night

Haewon is an international area known for is great nightlife. We went to one place (forgot the name) were the party was truly marvel with so much lights, colors, neon and people.

Visiting South-Korea its a must drinking the local Soju, its a Korean liquor made from rice. Its widely consumed, in part because of the low prices.

Be aware of its against traditional custom in Korea to fill one´s own glass. Instead, it must be filled by someone else at the table.