We had an early flight back to Beijing. We woke up at 4:00AM to get ready to the airport. The hotel concierge told us it’s too early to call for a cab. So, we had to walk to the main road to try to catch a cab. Fortunately, we did not have to wait long to get one.

The cab fare was KRW46,000 (about CAD46) which included a toll charge of KRW8,000 (CAD8). The ride took 45 minutes. It is much cheaper to take the subway if it’s not for such an early flight.

The airport was relatively quiet at the early hour. (more…)

After stuffing ourselves with pastries from Paris Croissant, we had to skip dinner. But later that night, we felt a little hungry. So, we went to a neighborhood pub to…

After lunch, we explored the neighborhood a bit more.

We came upon Paris Croissant, a bakery and cafe. Guess what, it’s tea time.

We shared a Pull Away Monkey Bread. It was laden with gooey goodness. It had a smoky coffee flavour and it’s not as sweet as it looks. (more…)

We took the subway to Hyehwa station to look for a traditional restaurant which serves twenty banchans. Unfortunately, we could not find the restaurant. So, we went to Daehangro (University…

On our last day in Seoul, we revisited Namdaemun Market for more street food.

We went to a popular donut stall which we had seen line-up the last time we walked past it.

We bought two type of donuts to try. They are just KRW1,000 (about CAD1) each.

The above is a savory donut with wild vegetables. (more…)

After the tour of the Secret Garden, we went for a late lunch.

This restaurant is awesome. Look at the number of banchans offered.

Ben and I shared a Seafood Pancake. It was fried to crispy on the outside with lots of chives. I love it.

We also shared a Stoned Bowl Bibimbap. Our meal came to KRW21,000 (about CAD21). (more…)

Ben and I joined a guided tour to the Secret Garden of Changdeokgung. The entrance to Changdeokgung plus the Secret Garden guided tour came to KRW16,000 (about CAD16) per person.

The Secret Garden is the recreational area and retreat of the royal family.

This is the heart of the Secret Garden.  The rectangular pond is known as Buyongji. Juhamnu Pavilion which stands on the high ground commands a fine view of the pond.

Buyongjeong Pavilion in the shape of a lotus flower is designated as a treasure in 2012 (Treasure no. 1763). (more…)

Our itinerary for day 7 is to visit Changdeokgung Palace. Changdeokgung was built as a secondary palace of the Joseon Dynasty. It was left in ruins after the Japanese invasion during 1592-1598. It was rebuilt in 1610 and served as the main palace for 270 years.

On the way to the palace, we grabbed some street snacks. The above was Cinnamon Sugar Pancake.

A traditional cake that was sold in stalls in the subway station.

The Main Gate of Changdeokgung, Donhwamun. The raised stone terrace gives the gate an imposing dignity. (more…)

After spending most of the day at the Gyeongbokgung Palace, we went to check out the Gangnam District. Gangnam is a Sino-Korean place name meaning "south of the river". Gangnam…

National Folk Museum is another national museum located within the grounds of Gyeongbokgung Palace.

It is a museum with replicas of historical objects to illustrate the history of traditional life of the Korean people.

Here are some of the display.

A village scene.

Vessels use for various purpose. (more…)