Heart Mind and Seoul..

Sequel for my Seoul trip!

I have to update my stories in Blog because its easier to keep my friends and family updated.

Also, I feel more expressive whenever I write in my blog :)

Cant wait to reveal another journey in my Seoul trip!

Day 2

Its Chuseok추석 for the fellow Koreans, for some of you, 추석 (秋夕) is the harvest festival for the Koreans. Its celebrated substantially in this country. Family members will travel back home to gather and reunite. Normally they will share their stories no matter among the elder or the young. Even though its similarly called as the Lantern festival of the Chinese culture, but the code of conduct is not really the same. 

On this eventful day, I chose to press on closer to the Korean traditional culture by visiting the Hanok Namsangol Village which is located in Namsan,Seoul. Thankfully we had free entrance and it wasn't crowded. The tour information gave us very excellent service and advice. For now, let the pictures do the talking for me:

Love this view, looks like a painting

Korean traditional home for the upper society in the 18s.

The writing room.

 

My favorite shot of my friend doing her amazing stunt.

This hole is how they keep their platforms warm during winter.

Annyeong? Anybody home?

Seoul Time Capsule

This time capsule is really genius! In conjunction of commemorating Seoul's 600 Anniversary. Things available from this century had been burried and seal undergroud with 20 countries over the world. Items such as handphones, bedsheets, utensils are beneath this capsule. It will only be opened years later duing 2394 when Seoul celebrates their 1000th anniversary.

Peaceful kiosk

While we were sitting here enjoying our food, there was an old couple sitting there enjoying the scenery and holding hands. I thought it would be rude to snap a photo of their lovely moment. They just sat there quietly, as if they were communicating silently through their visions. However, I am still able to replay the moment in my mind without the photo. 

Highlight of the Day: Taekwondo Performance

真正的女强人

I would say I rate 10/10  #10점만점에 10  For this performance, I teared when I watched it. The background was playing arirang and they were dancing with full force in with the music. It was a tough choreography as the movements has to look gentle yet exerting full force at the same time. (It sound ridiculous, but they are ridiculously amazing!) After some dance moves, the audiences were all in awe when they all flew midair and started creating pieces-of-wooden-fireworks!! There was even a guy blind folded who could smash an apple into pieces. It was such an eye opening experience. My impression of TaeKwonDo had totally changed. 

After the show, audiences rushed to the stage and took the planks broke by them. Its no joke, the one I had is unbreakable with both hands and knees. It even has blood stain on it! I look up to their hard work and determination even though they aged just like me. #THUMBSUP!

I know I would bore you with my long winded post, but I wish to write this more of recalling the memories for myself in the near future! 

Day 2, Its still a long day to go!!


After the HuHa, we went to more of a serious place, 

The Korean War Museum! Like what you can see our faces here are rather stern. The atmosphere set by the Korean Museum was so real that it would cause pain to you.
Especially like this statue and the following one.

Love this the most.

"War does not determine who is right but only who is left"

"Freedom is not free, its a long road"

Fabi takes her time sinking into the feelings.

Imagine real warriors died in this tank.

The sword that symbolizes peace in current S.Korea.

Status of 38 kinds of people fighting for the Korean war. 

I would like to say, I appreciate how Fabi usually is so energetic. However when it comes to this setting, we just immerse ourselves and took a silent moment to admire the soldiers and visualizing how the war happened through all these weapons. The cold silent moment just to recall the past and pay our tributes to these warriors that gone through the Korean war and Vietnamese war.

After being alarmed by the announcements, we proceed to meet my friend at Hong Dae(홍대)
It is labeled as the busiest and modern street of Seoul! Its crazily filled with young people and loud music. Cafes as well! 

 The first thing that I encountered is the street live performance. People just surround the indie singer and interact. Its sort of a culture formed by the Arts University Hongik, so much fun!

Cafe, Cafes everywhere!

Selfie in this awesome gallery, the background is made of foil paper!

Dinner at Hongdae!

Guess whos the happy person now!

Sampyeopsal! #삼겹살 Something you dont want to miss in Korea!!

Foreigners 

Oh ya, I havent introduce to you guys, this is Eunji. I met her in Malaysia when she was having her exchange back then. I promised to meet her in the future, but I didnt expect it to be so soon. I'm glad that you are doing something that is good for the society. We love nature much. Hope you do well in your future undertakings chingu! I had a great time meeting you again at your hometown with your sisters and new friend :)
#jiayou

Bubble Tea time! #GongCha

Shopping time: Swag Checked!

This means foreigner, cute CAPtion.

Random stall at the roadside!

Totally cut down the words and photos. 

Traveling from the traditional Korean to the modern side of it. 

Also the peaceful side of it and the busiest side of it.

All Thanks my chingu Eunji and sisters! <3 font="">

My day had ended so well!

Seoul Jjang!!

-TBC-

Seoul Amazing!

Selfie during Seoul experience with Fabi

*Coughs* I know this pun had been overused.
Still, the main point is really at how amazing Seoul was!

Last week, I went to Seoul with an amazing friend of mine, Fabi!
Both our first time, it was really a great time and memorable experience,
especially its my first backpacking. All self-planned! Proud to say we never really get lost and able to reach all our wanted destinations. *clap clap*

Day 1

Before the night of my departure, I was overly excited, I did not sleep before the day! and regretted it.
We took the express bus to Seoul at 6am and the highway was clear because mostly people are heading the opposite direction to their hometown for Chuseok, (Korean Lantern Festival)

Peaceful view on the way to Seoul, its all green on the way..

After 4 hours, my Best Friend's boyfriend, which is my friend now.. Picked us up from Nambu Bus Terminal. Before exploring Seoul, Hee Won had brought us to enjoy our first meal. He didn't preplan any restaurant for us to eat. We just randomly walked in any restaurant as if he was confident that every restaurant would taste delicious. And indeed! it was..

비빔밥 Bi Bim Bap, The Korean Signature Dish

Korean Fish Stew ! Jjang

Tour Guide of the day

The real happy meal.

Without further delayance, we went off to our first destination:

경복궁 GyeongbokGong

Its a really beautiful palace. Even though it looks similar to the chinese palace that I was familiar with, I was amazed by how well every thing was carved and preserved.

Centre of the Palace

Pillars that are handcrafted. Amazing


My favorite shot with my S4! I took it once I saw the dragonfly landed on it. Precious moment :)

The statue of King Sejong is sitted right infront of his palace. 

세종대왕 , which stands for 世宗大王, Sejong the great.

I was excited when I arrived here, because I got to know this place through EXO Show time where the M members gather and film infront of here. Also, King Sejong is very well known for introducing Hangul (Korean Language) in Korea. 

Right infront of the statue, there is a booth for us to try out the Hanbok for FREE!

I felt so lucky because the time was limited, and I could save the queue time as it was Chuseok, the crowd was chill. I could take my time to take photos and immerse myself in the costume.

With Heewon the Great

Non Korean pose. 

Hanbok Swag checked.

After having so much fun with the Hanbok, we headed off to the the Gwang Jang market for some food hunt! (The episode they went with #CNBLUE to introduce Seoul) 

Korean Pancake, spicy and much green!

Mix plate in the market, Yums!

After snack, we went strolling at the 청계천 Cheong Gye Cheon River, which is was to be told 11km long! We sat here for an hour fooling with ducks and showing our nonsense talents. Such a great time

#Shoefie!

3 kinds of people, but all trying to sound like a duck. lol

After observing the sunset, it was Dinner time! Same area in Dong Dae Mun, we ate at the famous healthy Korean Chicken Broth soup restaurant, which was supremely delicious!

Fabi's face be like...

Hearty Dinner

Completed with a spicy vegetable mix sauce!

Surprisingly, this was suppose to be a meal for 2, but we can't finish for 3. Koreans have real big appetite I guess. Even it's only Chicken for the meal, its really mashiseoyo and satisfying to the tummy. The cost is 35,000won for 3 of us.

Here is the address:

282-21, Jongro-5ga, Jongro-Gu, Seoul.

Its not over yet, we still have our Subsequence share of food, which is dessert. At the famous Cafe Bene!

Palm size cookie bingsu!

I am not sure with the size of Bing Su we have in Malaysia's outlet, but this is really huge! The spoon is so long and we manage to share this monster among the 3 of us. Chocolateyyy and cool!

 Next, to the PEAK of our journey! Namsan Tower, also known as Seoul tower.

Remember I told you there were no crowds during my visitation in Seoul so far? Somehow people are all crowded at the tower during ChuSeok Eve.

N Seoul Tower Selfie

With the Full Moon, Complete!

Famous Locks for couples to cast their wishes.

#foreveralone

Seoul View from the top.

 The Namsan tower was also one of the places visited by Exo during showtime. However, thats not the main reason why I was excited on top. It was because the view of Seoul was so amazing and breath taking. Though I was expecting some fireworks during the festival, somehow Seoul looks beautiful enough natural with her natural view.

Its late at night and we had to go back as the subway was about to close soon. So we walked down hill, so I captured a few view of Namsan and MyeongDong while we took the long route back to our hostel.

Tradition meets Modern - Seoul

很有次序的国家

That sums up much of how happening my first day in Seoul is. A huge thank you to Hee Won from the bottom of my heart for bringing me and Fabi around and being so generous to us. We really loved your home country and enjoyed this day. Its such a memorable day for us. After so much of walking, we barely felt our legs anymore. Still, its worth every step to explore every new inch of Seoul.

Thats all for my first day in Seoul, eventful and meaningful.

Please show more love in my following blogpost ^^ Good Night.