Throwing it open to ideas
Travel May 17th. 2008, 9:53pmI have two college friends that are visiting Korea for the first time in two months. Right now they are worried about packing, and all that other stuff you need to ponder about when you have a trip on the semi-distant horizon. They are only here for a week in total, but I’ve got to worry about the Korea specific details and field any questions they might have about the process of getting over here.
So far, the only thing I’m attempting to set up is a tour of the DMZ for us. My family liked it when they came over, and it’s something unique and worth doing if you are in Korea. The thing with the DMZ tour is that it is a half day, but you need to be in Seoul the night before since it leaves so early. Also, after the tour you might have half a day left in Seoul, but you just want to relax. The soldiers try their best to scare the crap out of you the entire time, so it’s normal to need some time to unwind.
Perhaps a trip to the National War Museum, or something else cultural in Seoul would be enough for everyone. I tend to get into Seoul, see and do what I need, then leave as quickly as possible. This trip will be no different unless my friends come up with something different they need to see.
Other than that, we’ve got a housewarming party for our new apartment, and that’s about it for plans. My parents had 10 days in Korea for the wedding and everything else, so we shuttled them around the entire peninsula. My friends have less time, and less money. We want to hang out as much as we can, but I’m not letting them travel across the world without seeing some cool stuff first.
I guess Gwangju is nice for it’s history, but not really a place I know well. A bunch of hills and museums to people that don’t have any attachment to the culture. I always end up at Bulgoksa, which is the prettiest temple in Korea. It may be touristy, but it’s pretty and unique. On my family trip around Korea we also went to rural Andong as well, which is a polar opposite of Seoul. The only difference is that in summer, Andong’s local village is relatively crowded and expensive, while we were traveling before everything was rock bottom prices and deserted. Still, hanging out in a rural village in the middle of Korea is definately a neat thing to do.
If that’s all we can accomplish in 7 days, that’s what it will have to be. Do any readers have ideas of “must see” sights to include in a trip to Seoul, or around Daejeon that don’t require a car? Yuseong spa, Kyeorang mountain, or anything I’ve done multiple times doesn’t really need to be said. I’ve been here so long I’m jaded and don’t really remember what impressed me most when I first arrived in Korea. Anything super pricy or hard to reach will also be out too.
6 Responses to “Throwing it open to ideas”
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May 17th, 2008 at 11:27 pm
Something cheap and easy is a bike ride along the river banks in town and around the Expo bridge area. I’m partial to Ppuri park south of Zooland. There are a lot of unique sculptures, paddle boats, and it is a nice place for a picnic. You may have to borrow some bikes from your students though; however, your friends can see a lot of the city while peddling around town. If they are in good shape, you might even try heading out to the dam or southwest to Bangdong Reservior. Just a thought.
May 18th, 2008 at 6:31 am
I would like visiting any Catholic stuff in Seoul:
Myeongdong Catholic Church, the first and largest cathedral in the Korea
Jeoldusan Martyr’s Mountain, the site of the Byeongin Persecution of 1866 where many Roman Catholics were brutally murdered.
Saenamteo Memorial Church, a site where many Catholics were martyred in 1801, including Korea’s first priest Kim Dae-geon
Chonjinam Martyr Ground, Korea’s first catholic teaching and religions activity site, and now houses the graves of five pioneers who helped introduce the Catholic religion in Korea
Korean Christian Museum at Soongchil University.
I have no idea where any of this stuff is in relation to each other. I’d like to at least see the cathedral, everything else would be gravy. Lastly, I need to purchase a small Korean flag somewhere to go with the one I got in Quebec last year (that’s my mandatory souvenir thing).
May 18th, 2008 at 7:55 am
I recommend the Seodaemun Prison - it’s on the orange line, one stop away from Gyoungbokkung. It’s worth an hour of your time and I’ve taken 5 overseas visitors there over the years and all enjoyed it.
May 18th, 2008 at 10:05 am
Honestly, I was exhausted after the DMZ tour. We just went to Itaewon for some food and beers. The area behind Hamilton Hotel and winding around to Noksapyeong has been booming with more upscale and trendy restaurants.
May 18th, 2008 at 11:56 am
I agree with zenkimchi — even just the alley behind hamilton hotel is loaded with cool restaurants.
The things my dad enjoyed the most, the two times he came were:
Taking the cable car and heading up namsan’s seoul tower — if you get there about twenty minutes before sundown, you can watch the sunset from way above the city, and then also watch all the lights come on in twilight.
63 building also gives a cool view of the whole city (if you only have one afternoon in Seoul, may as well get a view of it all), and there’s also the aquarium in the 63 building, which might be the most calming place to be after having the hell scared out of you in the DMZ.
If you only have one day/afternoon in Seoul, and you have the energy, one of the best things you can do is get on the seoul city bus tour. Search it, but it gives a really flexible tour through all the important parts of central seoul (on the north side), and you can pick and choose which stops you want to investigate and which you just want to skip, according to your group’s energy level and interest. Have fun.
May 18th, 2008 at 6:10 pm
I love the little things. Make sure you show them some dancing girls at a restaurant opening. Also, the wavey car-park attendants (seriously, how would we know how to park our cars if it weren’t for them) at a department store - these are good at night with their lit batons. Finally, I’d take them to one of the big supermarkets at the right time and see all the staff do group stretching and dancing to music played over the pa system.