After that we decided to walk to Dongdaemun, but since the big shopping place there is closed on Mondays we continued to Myeong-Dong by subway and spent some more money there, for example by shopping cute socks from street shops.
11/29/2016
IHWA MURAL VILLAGE
I have kept a list on things I want to do here in Seoul and have gone through it pretty well actually! On Monday was again time to cross out one thing from the list: Ihwa Mural village. It is a place in Naksan Park near Dongdaemun that has very pretty paintings on building walls. We went there to take some pictures and just enjoy the sunny Monday! I really loved the place, just the general feeling of it. We also bought some souvenirs like bracelets and postcards there.
After that we decided to walk to Dongdaemun, but since the big shopping place there is closed on Mondays we continued to Myeong-Dong by subway and spent some more money there, for example by shopping cute socks from street shops.
After that we decided to walk to Dongdaemun, but since the big shopping place there is closed on Mondays we continued to Myeong-Dong by subway and spent some more money there, for example by shopping cute socks from street shops.
A VISIT TO THE DMZ
Last Saturday me, my roommate and her family, who were visiting here, went to see the DMZ, which is the Demilitarized Zone between South and North Korea. We had booked a tour beforehand and had to wake up around 6am since the bus left around 8am at City Hall. That was not an easy task since I'm used to waking up here after 8 every morning and I had also stayed up late the night before in Gangnam :D But we were actually early there, of which my roommate was very proud since I have a bad habit of being late from everywhere :D
The area was pretty impressive with all the security details and multiple passport & appropriate wardrobe checks but definitely a unique experience that I will remember! We got to cross the line and visit North Korean side inside one of the conference rooms and see a North Korean soldier (aka Bob) in Panmunjeom, although as you can see it started snowing and we had to cut that part of the trip short because of bad view and higher security risk. The DMZ, since it has been left alone for many years, is also a home to some rare and endangered wildlife like birds, goats, and perhaps even tigers and leopards. We actually saw a huge black eagle sitting on one electricity pole, which was pretty cool! We also visited a park with the bridge of freedom, an underground tunnel built by North Korea (not great fors claustrophobic let me tell you) and an observatory, from where we couldn't see anything else than fog and hear the propaganda music sent to North. The last stop of the trip was a visit to the Dorasan subway station built in hopes to one day have a unified Korea. It is the closest station to North Korea and it has a symbolic gate to a subway going to Pyeongyang (capital of North Korea). Like the sign says: "Not the last station from the South, but the first station toward the North".
After that trip we were pretty tired. Since there are big protests held in Seoul every Saturday, the bus had to leave us to a different place, but it was close to Hongdae so we continued to have dinner there at a Japanese place and a few beers at Mike's Cabin before heading back home :)
The area was pretty impressive with all the security details and multiple passport & appropriate wardrobe checks but definitely a unique experience that I will remember! We got to cross the line and visit North Korean side inside one of the conference rooms and see a North Korean soldier (aka Bob) in Panmunjeom, although as you can see it started snowing and we had to cut that part of the trip short because of bad view and higher security risk. The DMZ, since it has been left alone for many years, is also a home to some rare and endangered wildlife like birds, goats, and perhaps even tigers and leopards. We actually saw a huge black eagle sitting on one electricity pole, which was pretty cool! We also visited a park with the bridge of freedom, an underground tunnel built by North Korea (not great fors claustrophobic let me tell you) and an observatory, from where we couldn't see anything else than fog and hear the propaganda music sent to North. The last stop of the trip was a visit to the Dorasan subway station built in hopes to one day have a unified Korea. It is the closest station to North Korea and it has a symbolic gate to a subway going to Pyeongyang (capital of North Korea). Like the sign says: "Not the last station from the South, but the first station toward the North".
After that trip we were pretty tired. Since there are big protests held in Seoul every Saturday, the bus had to leave us to a different place, but it was close to Hongdae so we continued to have dinner there at a Japanese place and a few beers at Mike's Cabin before heading back home :)
11/15/2016
DRAGON HILL SPA
Located near our university, just 15 minutes away with a bus, is a huge spa called Dragon Hill. I had heard only good things of it beforehand. We've been meaning to go there since the first days here when we saw it when getting our blankets for the dormitory from the big e-mart nearby. We've been so busy with everything else that we haven't done it but today was the day we finally decided to visit the place!
And I must say it was such a good experience that I really want to go there again before leaving! The basic sauna + spa area costs just 12,000W and you get a lot with that price. There are two floors just for women and two for just men, and also one floor that has common areas where you have to wear this kind of pajama outfit the spa offers. Me and my roommate started with the warm pools in the women's area (+40C) and also tried a Gingseng bath which is supposed to have all kind of health benefits. After that we tried the "saunas" there. Which turned out to be not really saunas, at least not to Finns like us. The warmest sauna was +59C so not really hot at all. But there were these hot chambers where the air was really moist and hot, there you could sweat a lot but at the same time they were kind of claustrophobic and made me think of the gas chambers on concentration camps.. So we moved on pretty quick from there. We put on the pajamas and went to check out the common area. There was a nice outdoor swimming pool I swam in a bit, and a lot of different rooms for meditation or sweating. We were looking for the crystal salt room since I've read it's really good for your skin and can improve your health in general in many ways. Locating it took a while and after visiting an "ice room", which, again, was not an ice room at all (even though it said -16C), but more like Finnish summer evening after sauna, we finally found it. And it was really nice, we just laid there on the salt rocks for a while sweating and almost falling asleep in the quiet atmosphere. After that it was time for a final relaxing bath and then heading to the spa's Korean restaurant to stop our stomachs from growling!
The restaurant had bibimbap, which is one of my favorite foods here, and it was in a hot pot, so it was still sizzling hot when it came to the table! That made the rice really crispy and delicious. Afterwards I felt really relaxed and, like I said, feeling like I'm going to visit the place again!
And I must say it was such a good experience that I really want to go there again before leaving! The basic sauna + spa area costs just 12,000W and you get a lot with that price. There are two floors just for women and two for just men, and also one floor that has common areas where you have to wear this kind of pajama outfit the spa offers. Me and my roommate started with the warm pools in the women's area (+40C) and also tried a Gingseng bath which is supposed to have all kind of health benefits. After that we tried the "saunas" there. Which turned out to be not really saunas, at least not to Finns like us. The warmest sauna was +59C so not really hot at all. But there were these hot chambers where the air was really moist and hot, there you could sweat a lot but at the same time they were kind of claustrophobic and made me think of the gas chambers on concentration camps.. So we moved on pretty quick from there. We put on the pajamas and went to check out the common area. There was a nice outdoor swimming pool I swam in a bit, and a lot of different rooms for meditation or sweating. We were looking for the crystal salt room since I've read it's really good for your skin and can improve your health in general in many ways. Locating it took a while and after visiting an "ice room", which, again, was not an ice room at all (even though it said -16C), but more like Finnish summer evening after sauna, we finally found it. And it was really nice, we just laid there on the salt rocks for a while sweating and almost falling asleep in the quiet atmosphere. After that it was time for a final relaxing bath and then heading to the spa's Korean restaurant to stop our stomachs from growling!
The restaurant had bibimbap, which is one of my favorite foods here, and it was in a hot pot, so it was still sizzling hot when it came to the table! That made the rice really crispy and delicious. Afterwards I felt really relaxed and, like I said, feeling like I'm going to visit the place again!
11/08/2016
SEOUL FOREST & APGUJEONG RODEO
Yesterday me and Sanni had a day off and we decided to go explore the Seoul forest a bit. It was sunny and warm day, so the forest looked really pretty with autumn leaves and colors! We saw tiny bunnies and deer there, although the forest was sort of 'closed' since it was Monday, so we didn't get to see the deer up close or feed them. The butterfly garden would've also been a fun experience but it was closed too.
From the forest we walked towards Apgujeong and accidentally took a little detour.. I think we walked 2,5 hours before reaching our destination, Apguejong Rodeo. But that's what you get when you confuse Apgujeong and Apgujeong Rodeo street signs. But once again, we got to explore the city at the same time! :) And saw some pretty impressive views from the bridge between the forest area and Apgujeong.
Once in Apguejeong Rodeo we looked around a bit and had lunch at a cosy Moomin café! It felt really homely there. We also ran into the Running Man tv-crew filming an episode there which was kind of cool :) After that we met Zarah there and it was time for some whiskey gift-shopping at a Johnny Walker store and lipstick shopping at a Mac store. Me and Zarah also stayed and studied a bit at a café before heading back to the dorm in the rain by taking a bus.
From the forest we walked towards Apgujeong and accidentally took a little detour.. I think we walked 2,5 hours before reaching our destination, Apguejong Rodeo. But that's what you get when you confuse Apgujeong and Apgujeong Rodeo street signs. But once again, we got to explore the city at the same time! :) And saw some pretty impressive views from the bridge between the forest area and Apgujeong.
Once in Apguejeong Rodeo we looked around a bit and had lunch at a cosy Moomin café! It felt really homely there. We also ran into the Running Man tv-crew filming an episode there which was kind of cool :) After that we met Zarah there and it was time for some whiskey gift-shopping at a Johnny Walker store and lipstick shopping at a Mac store. Me and Zarah also stayed and studied a bit at a café before heading back to the dorm in the rain by taking a bus.
LANTERN FESTIVAL
Last Sunday me and Zarah went to a lantern festival held in Seoul, along the stream that runs through a part of the town near Jongno and Dongdaemun. I thought there would only be traditional small, round lanterns but I was amazed that there were mostly these large lantern "sculptures" along the stream.
Before walking along the stream to see the lanterns we had dinner at a good Mexican restaurant called 'On the border'. And I totally recommend that place! Great good and the customer service was really friendly.
After the lanterns we ended up in Dongdaemun and went to see the led rose field I've wanted to see for so long! It wasn't as great as I've thought from pictures but still very pretty :)
Before walking along the stream to see the lanterns we had dinner at a good Mexican restaurant called 'On the border'. And I totally recommend that place! Great good and the customer service was really friendly.
After the lanterns we ended up in Dongdaemun and went to see the led rose field I've wanted to see for so long! It wasn't as great as I've thought from pictures but still very pretty :)
LIFE LATELY
Been a long time since I last wrote! It's been a busy few weeks here during and after the midterms.
I've eaten a lot of good food & studied a lot in different cafés. I like studying there since it's quite common in Korea and I feel like I am more productive there than just at the dorm lobby or room. They also have nice atmospheres :)
Halloween here was super fun! We were at a big "haunted factory" party organized by Global Seoulmates, I like that name haha :D We decided to go with a purge-theme, even though our outfits turned out to be kind of diy, quick versions. Everyone at the party had really put effort on their costumes and we, for example, saw a Hillary, a Deadpool, another purge-group and many Harley Quinns.
Right after my last midterm last Wednesday we decided to visit Ewha Womans University area in the evening with Zarah and Sanni. The campus itself was really beautiful, putting our Cau campus to shame a bit I think. We ate at the Two meals restaurant we found there and did a bit of shopping, I bought a shirt, a knit and a winter jacket there since it's starting to get colder here now. I love the color of the jacket!
We also had a "social gathering" last Friday in one class where we had to prepare a costume and theme for our group (ours was rainbow) and make our own business cards. The meeting itself turned out to be having chicken & beer at a restaurant with our whole big class!
I think two of the best ways to explore a city are riding a bus in it, and taking long walks where you just wander without really a certain destination. We've been doing both here and, for example, one evening during midterms me and Zarah went for a short evening walk that turned out to be a 10km walk to Apgujeong. And last week when I felt a bit stressed because of my last exams, I went for a walk and found new areas I don't think I would have gone to otherwise. It's good that there are subway stations everywhere and after walking around you can just take a subway back, which is exactly what we've done! :)
Aand this weekend we had a second culture trip organized by our school to a traditional Korean village where we got to pick pears from trees, ride a tractor, and make Korean traditional toys and rice cakes.
So there you have it, kind of a quick recap of what life in Seoul has looked like the last couple of weeks! :)
Halloween here was super fun! We were at a big "haunted factory" party organized by Global Seoulmates, I like that name haha :D We decided to go with a purge-theme, even though our outfits turned out to be kind of diy, quick versions. Everyone at the party had really put effort on their costumes and we, for example, saw a Hillary, a Deadpool, another purge-group and many Harley Quinns.
Right after my last midterm last Wednesday we decided to visit Ewha Womans University area in the evening with Zarah and Sanni. The campus itself was really beautiful, putting our Cau campus to shame a bit I think. We ate at the Two meals restaurant we found there and did a bit of shopping, I bought a shirt, a knit and a winter jacket there since it's starting to get colder here now. I love the color of the jacket!
We also had a "social gathering" last Friday in one class where we had to prepare a costume and theme for our group (ours was rainbow) and make our own business cards. The meeting itself turned out to be having chicken & beer at a restaurant with our whole big class!
I think two of the best ways to explore a city are riding a bus in it, and taking long walks where you just wander without really a certain destination. We've been doing both here and, for example, one evening during midterms me and Zarah went for a short evening walk that turned out to be a 10km walk to Apgujeong. And last week when I felt a bit stressed because of my last exams, I went for a walk and found new areas I don't think I would have gone to otherwise. It's good that there are subway stations everywhere and after walking around you can just take a subway back, which is exactly what we've done! :)
Aand this weekend we had a second culture trip organized by our school to a traditional Korean village where we got to pick pears from trees, ride a tractor, and make Korean traditional toys and rice cakes.
So there you have it, kind of a quick recap of what life in Seoul has looked like the last couple of weeks! :)
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