Insadong was really accessible from Anguk station as well, just south of Bukchon, but I stumbled on it trying to go South for some antique shops. Eventually I stumbled on Insadong culture plaza and walked all the way up the street among cute antique shops and porcelain shops, as well as various crafts. I managed to check out Ssamziegil with all the kids hanging out, and it felt a bit like London Shoreditch area.
There were many hanbok style outfits, decorated papers, pottery and tea sets to buy, and many more design gadgets to lust on. But I was only starting my trip so I could not burden myself with shopping item already, and just made notes on what to buy later before leaving the country as I accommodated for a shopping day. I just kept on window shopping and snacking along the way on rice cakes and bubble tea.
Eventually the street led me a block away from Gwanghamun but it was still too early for me to book a night city bus tour, so I strolled back down the parallel street and up again along the unearthed Cheonggyecheon stream. I managed to book a ticket for Nanta on a TKTS van, and had a chat with the girls manning the booth as they were more happy to speak in English. Along the river, there was a festival of some sorts so I spied some wild ginseng and unidentified plants being showcased.
The ladies were trying to entice me with some drinks but as I did not see any public toilet I didn't want to need one.
I still had 3 h to kill before the night tour so walked along on Gwanghamun plaza to read the story and tak picture of 2 local heroes: King Sejong and Admiral Yi Sun-sin. I really wanted to visit Sejong Center for the Performing Arts as from one episode of Running man, but there was no performance that day. So I enjoyed the sunset with the statues of a country strategist (and his turtle ship)and hangul creator...while musing about where to go next.
As darkeness creeped on the city, I had to look for dinner after booking my bus tour. Walking toward City hall, arrived onto an agricultural fair which also had a stage and traditional or folk music and dance showcase. Spectators were dancing along or sitting on the grass, enjoying the pleasant evening. So I tried to blend in, camcorder in hand, and sat on the grass to rest my sore feet.
After a while though it became a bit monotonous so I wandered among the stalls, grabbed some red berry juice, and tasted some candies or rice cakes offered by the persistent ajhummas. Stands of pickels, kimchis, root vegetables of all sorts I could not identify and more kimchi or chillis made up the fair.
As the sunlight dimmed, the city light started to sparkle and I started to move toward the bus stop for my night tour.
There was still more than an hour to wait and I resorted to people watch, marveling at the long organized queues of commuters waiting for their buses. It was Friday night and I was waiting for a bus to show me around the night lights.
The night bus tour turned out to be disappointing though. The bus itself was decorated with photos of Big Bang members. But the route of the bus was just along the river and describing the different bridges crossing it. We barely drove past Namsan Seoul tower. I was glad to sit down in an air conditionned car, and on the upper deck front row seat, but I was expecting more of a buildings architecture or light tour rather than being stuck in traffic jam with rush hours along the river.
All in all though it was a day that was worth it and I looked forward to the next days. Coming back to the guesthouse around 10pm, I just washed my face again before going to bed. Other guests were having a nice chat outside and invited me but I was spent from the hike and jetlag. After charging all the batteries of the phones and cameras, I set the alarm for the next day as I needed to catch a train to Daegu, a drifted to sleep in no time.
Eventually the street led me a block away from Gwanghamun but it was still too early for me to book a night city bus tour, so I strolled back down the parallel street and up again along the unearthed Cheonggyecheon stream. I managed to book a ticket for Nanta on a TKTS van, and had a chat with the girls manning the booth as they were more happy to speak in English. Along the river, there was a festival of some sorts so I spied some wild ginseng and unidentified plants being showcased.
I still had 3 h to kill before the night tour so walked along on Gwanghamun plaza to read the story and tak picture of 2 local heroes: King Sejong and Admiral Yi Sun-sin. I really wanted to visit Sejong Center for the Performing Arts as from one episode of Running man, but there was no performance that day. So I enjoyed the sunset with the statues of a country strategist (and his turtle ship)and hangul creator...while musing about where to go next.
At the end of the plaza was the Gwanghamun gate which I didn't have time to visit. It would be another destination for next time. But the path to the gate was basking in sunset light and enjoying the natural greens of the rice fields put on the plaza.
After a while though it became a bit monotonous so I wandered among the stalls, grabbed some red berry juice, and tasted some candies or rice cakes offered by the persistent ajhummas. Stands of pickels, kimchis, root vegetables of all sorts I could not identify and more kimchi or chillis made up the fair.
As the sunlight dimmed, the city light started to sparkle and I started to move toward the bus stop for my night tour.
There was still more than an hour to wait and I resorted to people watch, marveling at the long organized queues of commuters waiting for their buses. It was Friday night and I was waiting for a bus to show me around the night lights.
The night bus tour turned out to be disappointing though. The bus itself was decorated with photos of Big Bang members. But the route of the bus was just along the river and describing the different bridges crossing it. We barely drove past Namsan Seoul tower. I was glad to sit down in an air conditionned car, and on the upper deck front row seat, but I was expecting more of a buildings architecture or light tour rather than being stuck in traffic jam with rush hours along the river.
All in all though it was a day that was worth it and I looked forward to the next days. Coming back to the guesthouse around 10pm, I just washed my face again before going to bed. Other guests were having a nice chat outside and invited me but I was spent from the hike and jetlag. After charging all the batteries of the phones and cameras, I set the alarm for the next day as I needed to catch a train to Daegu, a drifted to sleep in no time.
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