Seoul, Day 2 - City Tour

Day 2 - 17th March 2011

Lexington Hotel is situated in Yoido, 13-3, Yoido, Yengdengpo-gu, Seoul. It cost RM3,036 for 3 nights, 2 rooms, booked through Air Asia Holiday package on 7th March 2012. Breakfast is not included but the hotel stayed closer to a train station.

First thing we did after breakfast was calling Mr DS Park, who at that time handling a high rise building project somewhere in City Hall for Daewoo Korea. We met in Kuala Lumpur where we represented our company in bidding for National Exhibition Convention Centre (NECC). I was with, MMC Engineering at that time and he was seconded to Daewoo Malaysia. Both company team-up as a Joint Venture for the job. We worked during pre-qualification stage and the bid proposal for few months in Daewo's headquarters in Jalan Sultan Ismail and later moved the bidding team to their site office in Kg Baru. 

It was around 11am, when we finally get ready and walked to a train station from Lexington to Yoido station. Six passes with alternative to travel around Seoul in few days was purchased from the machine. Groceries shop assistant helped us to buy the train ticket and managed to explain in his broken English of its usage. The train from Yoido took us to Namsan station, next to City Hall where we supposed to meet Mr Park. We were not clear that he asked us to wait at Tunnel no. 3. Using the phone provided by the hotel, we managed to find each other without difficulties. I was very pleased to meet him after more than 10 years we parted. He took us for lunch not far from where he worked. It was a cosy restaurant and the kids loves the food.

After lunch, Mr Park took us to his project site and provides briefing and project tour. Very surprised to see that he brought in few Indonesian workers who worked with him in Malaysia for this project. Mr Park was very proud showing me how he managed to expedite works by adopting a top down construction for the basement (the method that our team in MMC-Gamuda JV were using for our cut and cover tunnel construction along Sg Besi in KL) and the jump system formwork which help him push for early completion of the project. The children had their first experienced visiting a construction project.

Right on the top of the building, Mr Park was showing attraction place of Seoul where we can explore by walk. From the photo below, we can see a way to the famous Gyeongbok Palace from his project site. He repeatedly assured us that we will not getting lost in Seoul City with the city map that we brought. We adjourned to Gyeongbok Palace after Mr Park has helped us to change the currency notes. That day, I told both my husband and him that for the record I was made as an instant millionaire on 17th March 2011 as I was holding Kr1 million won in my purse. A millionaire within a day:)

Walking in Seoul is indeed very interesting as the city is very clean and the welcoming feeling of spring weather makes our walks, pleasant. 

On the way to the Gyeongbok Palace, we found a famous statue of King Sejong, the great. A brief profile of King Sejong from the Korean history about him is narrated below.

Sejong the Great, born on May 7, 1397 and died on May 18, 1450 was the 4th king of the Joseon Dynasty. During his regency, he reinforced Korean Confucian policies and executed major legal amendments. He also used the creation of Hangul and the advancement of technology to expand his territory. He is the third son of King Taejong of Joeson and Queen Consort Wonkyeong. Sejong is one of only two Korean rulers posthumously honored with the appellation list of people known as The Great beside the Great of Goguryeo. When he was twelve, he became Grand Prince Chungnyeong' and married a daughter of Shim On of Cheongsong, commonly known as Lady Shim, who later was given the title Queen Soheon.

As a young prince, Sejong excelled in various studies and was favored by King Taejong over his two older brothers. Sejong's ascension to the throne was different from those of most other kings. Taejong's eldest son, viewing himself as lacking in the requisite skills for kingship, believed that his younger brother Sejong was destined to become king. He believed it was his duty to place Sejong as king, so he acted rudely in the court and was soon banished from Seoul. This plot ultimately brought Sejong to the throne. The eldest prince became a wandering traveler and lived in the mountains. The second son traveled to a Buddhist temple, where he became a monk.

In August of 1418, following Taejong's resignation two months earlier, Sejong ascended the throne. However, Taejong still retained certain powers at court, particularly regarding military matters, until he died in 1422.King Sejong strengthened his military, was credited for the science and technologies advancement to help the farmer and supported literature. The replica of Korean celestial globe first made by the scientist Jang Yeongsil during the Joseon Dynasty under the reign of King Sejong is placed in front of King Sejong statue in Seoul.

After 15 minutes walked, we stopped for the 1st coffee break.  When we reached Gyeongbok Palace, everyone seems to disappear, only Naim came along to take photos from another camera that he was holding on. My family never favored a visit to historical place but I on the other hand would not mind to exploring happily the history of the remains of most popular Joseon Dynasty.

Gyeongbokgung or Gyeongbok Palace, is a royal palace located in northern Seoul. First constructed in 1394 by King Taejo, the founder and the first King of Joseon Dynasty and reconstructed in 1867, it was the main and largest palace of the 5 Grand Palaces. The name of the palace, Gyeongbokgung, translates in English as "Palace of Shining Happiness" and the name Gyeongbokgung was created by an influential government minister named Jeong Dojeon. Among the photos snapped inside the palaces are shared below;

Brass Water Tanker

The interior decoration of the palace. It was incomparable with Beijing Forbidden City which are more larger and grandeur!

The ancient painting.. How I wish if I could posses them, hmm.. would be very2 nice :)

Nearly destroyed by the Japanese government in the early 20th century, the palace complex is slowly being restored to its original form prior the destruction. As of 2009, roughly 40 percent of the original number of palace buildings still stand or are being reconstructed.

Everybody showed happy faces when I was done with my explorer. We headed back towards the City Hall to meet Mr Park for dinner. On the way, the kids chose to stop for their 2nd cup of coffee for the day, this time was at Toms & Toms. We ranked their coffee outlet as the best in the world.

At around 6pm, we were back in Mr Park's site office. The office was pretty quite. After he packed up we went to the a wonderful seafood restaurant, not far from his office. What can we say to good food? Everybody simply loves the Korean Pancake and the steamboat. Pity Mr Park that he cannot enjoy his sake drinks as we all did not take forbidden alcohol drinks.

After dinner, he gave us a ride to our hotel. Apparently his house is not far from where we stayed. During the ride, he was sharing a story about his late father who died peacefully in his sleep while he was too drunk. The caused of death was due to old age. He glad that his late father does not facing experience any other sickness or pain unlike his late mother, who died after months of suffering in bed due to cancer. Who would have thought that the story was kept hidden and sad in his heart for long time. Sigh... 

A lovely Korean Dolls, must grab for souvenirs

To be continued....