Considerably less jet lagged today, we embarked on a journey around Central Seoul – a journey filled with ice creams!
I am physically sore from Saturday’s coughing, but I will have the strongest diaphragm in the land by the time this sickness is done.
Cheonggyechon
We started the day at Cheonggyechon stream, where we found a farmers’ market. I’m not entirely sure if this one was unique, or if farmers’ markets are completely different beasts – we were hoping to encounter some baked goods and other snacks, but all we found were lots of nuts and other Korean things we’d never seen before spread out on tables with quiet vendors shaded by white tents.
The stream started at a waterfall near the market and had nice wide paths for walking on either bank. The path was interspersed with cultural decorations, lights, and tons of plants. There were several decorative patches of protruding brick which would have been a secret passage entrance if we were in a video game, and many places where you could cross to the other bank via stepping stones.
Kitties! Meowngdong
From the stream, we caught up with friends in Myeongdong for a cat cafe and shopping. Myeongdong grew packed the later it got – street food vendors and others setting up shop in the wide avenue as it approached five.
We took a brief break at a cat cafe and fed lots of kitties Japanese kitty treats…it’s a wonder these guys don’t weigh 25 pounds each! They are spoiled rotten.
Namsangol Hanok Village
After Myeongdong, we hopped over to Namsangol Hanok Village, which is a collection of traditional houses. We were pounced on immediately by students who were giving free tours of the Hanok so they could practice their history knowledge and English skills.
The village was comprised of five houses, originally owned by people from various classes. Confucianism was strong with the Koreans of old, as men and women were often kept separate, even after marriage.
They also had a few displays on the making of kimchee, including the huts they would use to cover the pots from the elements as the kimchee was fermenting.
Seoul Tower
As it grew dark, we headed up nearby Seoul tower to see the lights of Seoul. It’s not very tall – just over 250m – but it’s perched on top of Namsan mountain, making it the tallest structure in the city.
Seoul itself does not have a very impressive skyline, but it made for an impressive view nonetheless after the sun had gone down.
Ice cream galore!
We haven’t been very good at eating regular meals, but we’ve been really good at eating ice cream. Seoul has an impressive array of ice creams mixed with things you don’t expect.
For example, ice cream macaroonwiches:
And I don’t even know what these things are, but they tasted like captain crunch and brought me great joy.
Sadly, you cannot eat the squiggly captain crunch shell that they have hanging all over the shop. I was crushed.
Tomorrow, off to Busan!