Sibil and others re: Seoul

[librarygirl]

When I studied abroad in Seoul I often went around by myself. I found their subway so utterly user friendly and very easy to navigate as a foreigner. I believe that when they hosted the world cup they added signage on the subway and at stations in English and also Mandarin so it definitely benefited my non-Korean reading self.

I got turned around a few times and I still remember a few people I met were unable to help as they said they didn't speak English when I asked them in Korean if they did. I'm sure at more tourist oriented facilities you would have no problem. I usually just picked random people I passed by for help. However, there wasn't ever a time where I was majorly lost. But I studied there over eight years ago now and also am not the greatest at map reading especially in a city like Seoul. (I come from Philly where streets are laid out in a grid like pattern ha ha.)

As fascinating as the DMZ was I'm not sure if I'd do that on a limited time schedule. Granted you wouldn't be going there yourself but it's about an hour each way from Seoul (if I'm remembering correctly) and to me that would worry me in case there was traffic etc and having to catch a flight. I'm a history nerd too believe me but I think there's still plenty of incredible historical sites in Seoul to keep you happy and if you haven't been to East Asia before, a very neat look into that region.

Insadong is a great shopping area and also has some lovely traditional style tea houses. I also loved Jogyesa Temple since it was such a quiet and zen like place when compared with the rest of Seoul. It was also my first visit to a Buddhist temple. They have docents who will take you around to explain stuff. I loved all of the palaces I visited although my favorite was the one with the garden but I sadly can't remember the name at the moment.

[basilosaurus]

The DMZ tour makes me nervous. If it's one specifically set up for airport layovers, that would ease my concern, but it is an all day excursion, by bus, so you have traffic to fear. It's a great trip, but... IDK.

Gyeongbok was my favorite palace. There's a subway stop right there, written in both hangul and roman letters. Most of the taxis have signs, too, that they have English translation available. I think it's through a service their cell phones call. I never tried it, but I was pretty impressed that they seem to make a huge effort to make English speaking tourists comfortable traveling.

Gyeongbok is basically right next to Insadong. I loved walking around there, but, honestly, as a transit passenger, maybe not so much. There is a good amount of traditional art stuff, but there's also a lot of tourist mixed in.

The stream isn't a tourist spot, exactly, although there is lots of shopping around that area, but it's really easy to get to from gyeongbok. Like, the palace is at the end of a large street (at the back side of the palace is the Blue House), there's a huge median in the middle, and you walk up that and turn left at the stream. Actually, part of it flows through the median. Along that big street is the symphony hall, an art museum or two, if that's your thing.

If you really want, you can walk down that large street to another palace where they do a changing of the guards thing. It's a small palace, but watching the changing (and clanging) is kind of interesting. It would literally involve no turns to get there.

Hmmm, let me see if I can create a walking map for you. Yes, Seoul has windy streets, but this particular area is nearly impossible to get lost in.

library girl, I think the one with the secret garden is changdeok. It's a world heritage site, and you're required to go on a tour. Maybe that's why I liked it less. I prefer going at my own pace.

[basilosaurus]

The english seoul offiical tourism site is down. I know they have good pics and walking maps, and I was going to post them for you.

This is a pic of the road in front of gyeongbok. Seriously, it's huge, and you can't get lost. If it was a better image, I'd mark where you turn left for the stream. But, IIRC, it's pretty obvious.



ETA By left, I mean as you're coming from the palace. This picture is taken from the other direction.

[basilosaurus]

OK, more, b/c I'm now googling.

It looks like there is a changing of the guards now at gyeongbok. When I was there, the main huge front gate was under construction, so maybe that's why they weren't doing it. So, there's no reason to go to the other little place, unless you want to go to the little modern art museum inside the palace.

Also, at the airport, don't go to benigan's if you want a decent irish beer. They don't even have guinness. If you have time to kill, there's a little bar at the very end of a terminal that serves erdinger dunkel. Korea has such nasty beer, I always made this a destination
www.airport.kr/airport/facility/efalicityInfo.iia?carId=17&facilityId=215

Also, IIRC, there's a spa somewhere in the airport if you have time to kill.