Day
7 – 22 March 2011, Tuesday
We had planned ahead a tour in Seoul Tower area on day 7, and if if given enough time we shall proceeded to the famous Namsan Park.After a final shopping at Namdaemon Market, we shall treat Mr Park for farewell dinner as a way to say a big thank you for his hospitality and kind assistance extended during our 8 days stay in Seoul.
N
Seoul Tower is a Communication and Observation tower located in Namsan
Mountain, Seoul, i.e. central South Korea. It was built in 1969, and opened to the public in 1980. The tower has been a symbol of Seoul with its official height measures of 236.7 metre in height
(from the base) and tops out at 479.7 metre above sea level. It has also
been known as the Namsan Tower or Seoul Tower. After the tower's original owner
merged with the CJ Corporation, it was renamed as N Seoul Tower (official name
CJ Seoul Tower).
As usual we took city metro and get down at Chungmuro Station (Subway Line 3) from Yoido and decided to take a cab to reach the tower. Many
visitors ride the Namsan cable car up to the mountain, and then walk to the
tower. Because we were too lazy to walk, we conveniently took a cab from Chungmuro station. It was a beautiful mountain view awaits up there, breath taking.
The kids were excited to witness in life the scene that they use to watch from many of Korean drama filming in this area, including the tower gift shop and restaurants on the ground floor.
Visitors may opted to go up to the top of the tower for a fee. There are four observation deck (the
4th observation deck, which is the revolving restaurant, rotates at a rate of
one revolution every 48 minutes), as well as gift shops and two restaurants.
Most of the city of Seoul can be seen from the top. Close to N Seoul Tower is a
second lattice transmission tower.
What else you can find in here? Plentiful, for those who are a fanatic fan of Korea Drama series, i.e. Boys Got Flowers was filming here.. and for those who wish to express loves can engrave theirs at the Love Padlocks Tree! Make sure you brought home souvenirs like we did in the lower ground beautiful gift shop.
Our group stopped at observatory area on the 3rd Floor as we decided not to reach the top. Nevertheless, the Seoul's city scenery is simply breathtaking even at this level.
We spent quite a sometime at this place expressing love over hot coffee (hubby, nasrul & me, whilst the rest were busy selecting more souvenirs items at K-pop gift shop. Hubby and I later were engaged in a nice conversation with an old Korean couple who was showing her jade ring to me, while her husband simply nodding and agreeing to whatever she said :) Ouch, how lovely to see the loves that they had for each other!
Don't forget to taste at least 1 of these wide selection of cakes that goes perfectly with a hot coffee...
A korean ancient architecture to compliment the modern surrounding of the towers...
After killing time unproductively, we decided to adjourn to Namdaemon, forgotten about Namsan Park. The kids were excited as there's few shopping list yest to purchased especially souvenirs for relatives and friends back home. We took bus this time using the same metro passage card. The bus driver seems very proud when we showed him our passage card. He gave a thumbs up sign, maybe a way to say that we were so very clever to discover its multiple usage...
Namdaemon Market is actually a very large traditional market in Seoul, South Korea. The market is located next to Namdaemun, the "Great South Gate," which was the main southern gate to the old city. Namdaemun market dates back to 1414, during the reign of Taejong of Joseon, as a government managed marketplace. In 1608, Seonjo of Joseon set up the office of tribute bureau in the district to manage the tributes of rice, cloth and money. A trading marketplace took its form around that time and commercial activities flourished as traders set up various shops. Trade was active in grains, fish, fruit, and miscellaneous goods.
For those who love watching Korean Drama, must have not forget the "Teddy Bear Museum" in 1 of the drama. Please take note that an entrance fee of Kr8,000 won/adult & Kr6,000 won/children are chargeable, it's not free.
Our group stopped at observatory area on the 3rd Floor as we decided not to reach the top. Nevertheless, the Seoul's city scenery is simply breathtaking even at this level.
We spent quite a sometime at this place expressing love over hot coffee (hubby, nasrul & me, whilst the rest were busy selecting more souvenirs items at K-pop gift shop. Hubby and I later were engaged in a nice conversation with an old Korean couple who was showing her jade ring to me, while her husband simply nodding and agreeing to whatever she said :) Ouch, how lovely to see the loves that they had for each other!
Don't forget to taste at least 1 of these wide selection of cakes that goes perfectly with a hot coffee...
A korean ancient architecture to compliment the modern surrounding of the towers...
After killing time unproductively, we decided to adjourn to Namdaemon, forgotten about Namsan Park. The kids were excited as there's few shopping list yest to purchased especially souvenirs for relatives and friends back home. We took bus this time using the same metro passage card. The bus driver seems very proud when we showed him our passage card. He gave a thumbs up sign, maybe a way to say that we were so very clever to discover its multiple usage...
Namdaemon Market is actually a very large traditional market in Seoul, South Korea. The market is located next to Namdaemun, the "Great South Gate," which was the main southern gate to the old city. Namdaemun market dates back to 1414, during the reign of Taejong of Joseon, as a government managed marketplace. In 1608, Seonjo of Joseon set up the office of tribute bureau in the district to manage the tributes of rice, cloth and money. A trading marketplace took its form around that time and commercial activities flourished as traders set up various shops. Trade was active in grains, fish, fruit, and miscellaneous goods.
We found a Turkish stall selling kebab. That was our lunch for the day. We reserved the rest for a steamboat with Mr Park later that night where we planned to eat all out with him around.
The management of the market went over to the Japanese in 1922, but after victory over Japan Day the merchants established the Namdaemun Merchant Organization and took over management. The market, however, turned to ruins during the Korean War and succumbed to fire in 1953. The Seoul Namdaemun Market Co. Ltd. was found in 1954 to rebuild the market, but efforts fell short due to financial troubles. Endeavors for reconstruction continued in the following years, but fires swept the market again in 1968 and 1975.
The city of Seoul announced plans to renovate the market in 2007, and reconstruction and renovations are being continued in 2010. Most of the items selling in Namdaemong were imported thing from mainland China. Syahirah stop carrying her LV handbag when she discovered that mostly everyone we met are wearing branded attire, as if everyone can afford it.
Both were wearing new stuff! Naim is the only 1 who did not purchased as he run out money. What can he buy with Kr10,000 won?
When we got back to the hotel, I have decided to change Syahirah's ticket so that she can flew back with us instead of spending few days with her friend, Arosha in Seoul. Her ticket was originally extended until 27th March 2011, but there's uncertainty of where to stay and what to do after we left, she finally informed of her wishes to follow us back. Due to short notice, less than 24 hours, Air Asia had charge us RM750.00 to change a trip (her original return ticket was only RM974). No wonder she was down by herself for few days as she has no guts to tell and/or her problems and difficulties. I hope Syahirah will remember and take that as big lesson in a future who to trust in times when she is in trouble. For the record, with Air Asia, it only cost less than RM1,000 when you booked a trip a year in advance. With the additional fee paying for her, the air ticket is still extremely reasonable, RM6,494 for all 6 of us. The last photo taken when they decided what to buy for beloved Tottie, Roger, Lola & Mickey.
With a happy heart, I started to packing slowly that night knowing seriously no one will help as Hubby, Nazhif & Syahirah decided to spent 1 day shopping before we left to airport. But Naim assured me he will assist as he will not follow the rest for shopping on our last day in Korea.
To be continued....
Both were wearing new stuff! Naim is the only 1 who did not purchased as he run out money. What can he buy with Kr10,000 won?
When we got back to the hotel, I have decided to change Syahirah's ticket so that she can flew back with us instead of spending few days with her friend, Arosha in Seoul. Her ticket was originally extended until 27th March 2011, but there's uncertainty of where to stay and what to do after we left, she finally informed of her wishes to follow us back. Due to short notice, less than 24 hours, Air Asia had charge us RM750.00 to change a trip (her original return ticket was only RM974). No wonder she was down by herself for few days as she has no guts to tell and/or her problems and difficulties. I hope Syahirah will remember and take that as big lesson in a future who to trust in times when she is in trouble. For the record, with Air Asia, it only cost less than RM1,000 when you booked a trip a year in advance. With the additional fee paying for her, the air ticket is still extremely reasonable, RM6,494 for all 6 of us. The last photo taken when they decided what to buy for beloved Tottie, Roger, Lola & Mickey.
With a happy heart, I started to packing slowly that night knowing seriously no one will help as Hubby, Nazhif & Syahirah decided to spent 1 day shopping before we left to airport. But Naim assured me he will assist as he will not follow the rest for shopping on our last day in Korea.
To be continued....
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