Seoul: Of side dishes and side streets

There is a charming place this side of Seoul called Insadong which is the traditional street of Korea.The whole street is lined with shophouses that sells souvenirs and antiques, quaint tea houses and restaurants and posh and modern art galleries. 

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Seoul: Before The Enemy Line

Contrary to the title of this post is the term "Beyond the enemy line" which means that you are in the enemy's territory, there is a particular experience that you have to include when you visit Seoul which is basically (in my own words) - is 'Before the enemy line'. No need to be alarmed and think that this is a highly specialized tour because it is actually one of the "must do" when paying a visit in South Korea. This is more popularly known as the DMZ tour. 

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Seoul: Changing of the Guards - Asian Style

When you hear the phrase “Changing of the Guards”, what comes to mind are guards in red military shirts marching in front of the Buckingham Palace. Now let’s change that picture and go nearer into a country in Northeast of Asia where you can find chinky-eyed men in traditional garb doing the “Changing of the Guards” ceremony in the land of Samsung appliances – South Korea!

Be transported into the Korea of the Joseon Dynasty as you watch a re-enactment of the ceremony of the Royal Guard Changing Ceremony in front of the ground of Seoul’s famous palace which is the Gyeongbokgung Palace. There are two ceremony that lasts for 20 minutes and additional four more ceremony that lasts for 7 minutes. Men wearing colorful traditional Korean clothing will come marching into the front of the palace grounds accompanied with the beat of the drum. The men will parade and conduct the ceremony of changing the sentry duty.  As a tourist most of the time one can get preoccupied snapping the souvenir photos here and there, my advice snap some few shots of the actual ceremony and just observe and soak in the experience since after the ceremony you will have a lot of time to get up close with the “guards” for you take your souvenir photos.Once the ceremony is finished the new sentries will stay for quite some time and they can be approached (but I think you cannot touch them – I’m not sure though because I never dared to touch them) and photographed.

If you are pressed for time or you just want to explore one palace in Seoul, Gyeongbokgung will be your best bet.

Leave Details:

Place: Gyeongbokgung Palace

How to get There: Take the Metro to Gyeongbokgung Station – take Exit 5

Special note: Gyeongbokgung station is like a metro station/mini museum as there are small exhibits displayed within the station.

Operating Hours: 9am – 6pm : Wed to Mon,   9am – 7pm: Sat to Sun

Schedule of Changing of the Guards: 10 am and 3 pm (20 mins. ceremony), 11am,12nn,1pm,2pm (7 mins.ceremony)

Fees: Watching of the Changing of the Guards – none

Palace entrance – 3000 KRW

Disclaimer: Fees and schedule as of March 2010

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Seoul: Seoul Searching

The Challenge is to do a DIY in a non English speaking East Asian country.  Three choices arose – Japan, South Korea and China.  I was finally won over by the spiciness of the kimchi and the allure of the koreanovelas – so it was off to South Korea. But before hitting all those Lonely Planet guides and internet forums, I was off to the South Korean Embassy to apply for my travel visa. I collated all the required documents and submitted it to the consulate. All documents and visa application guidelines can be found in the website of the Korean embassy (http://embassy_philippines.mofat.go.kr/eng/as/embassy_philippines/main/index.jsp).

There is a 3 working days wait period before they can release the result (approved or denied) but as a Philippine passport holder, Korean visa is considered as Gratis meaning we don’t have to pay for the visa application for a stay of until 59 days.

Once I got my visa approval, I scoured the internet forums, travel blogs and Lonely Planet guide.I would recommend Lonely Planet’s Korea guide – which was of great help in preparing our itinerary and it also has a good list of recommended places to eat and hostels to stay. Additionally, Lonely Planet has an extensive list of Korean phrases that you can use when the communication gets though. Pinoyexchange’s forum on South Korea is also a treasure throve of recommendations and tips but you got to backread through the hundred plus pages. Buhaykorea.com which is a blog of a Filipina Seoulite also has some travel related posts regarding Seoul but what I appreciate more are the stories on how a Pinay is living and raising a family in Seoul. On another note, Buhaykorea also has a very extensive blogposts on the cosmetic market of Korea which you women can hoard during your trip. If you want to couch-travel and see Seoul virtually, www.lasnoches.multiply.com has ‘takes your breath away’ travel photos.

One thing I learned, an extensive research and a good subway/train system are your tickets for survival in a Non English speaking DIY tour.

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