The National Folk Museum
Towards the rear of Gyeongbokgung Palace, we saw a gate leading
to another building. We followed the
trample unaware of what’s in store ahead until we entered an entrance with
marker “free admission” to museum.
Showing posts with label South Korea - Seoul. Show all posts
Showing posts with label South Korea - Seoul. Show all posts
The Gyeongbokgung Palace
Next on our palace tour is the
Gyeongbokgung Palace and the earlier National Palace Museum is situated
within the Gyeongbokgung in Sejong-ro. Its writings say:
It was in 1395, three years after the
Joseon Dynasty was founded by Yi Seong-gye, when the construction of the main
royal palace was completed. The palace
was named Gyeongbokgung, “the Palace Greatly Blessed by Heaven”. With Mount Bugaksan to its rear and Mount
Namsan in the foreground…
Gyeongbokgung Palace has six gates
with Gwanghwamun as the main gate. Since
we came from the museum, we forewent the main gate and just entered the second
inner gate called the Heungnyemun and into the third inner gate or Geunjeongmun
Gate passing through Yeongjegyo Bridge.
The National Palace Museum
On our 3rd day, we sat off
for our Seoul city tour. The first on our IT
is the National Palace Museum or the museum of the Joseon
Dynasty.
Like the other facilities in Seoul,
the museum offers strollers/wheelchairs as needed and it has wide hallways with
benches to accommodate guest’s rest or short stops.
SOUTH KOREA TRIP WITH THE KIDS
This was supposedly a Manila–Kuala
Lumpur–South Korea post Christmas holiday trip but due to the visa delay, even
the KL trip was cancelled.
Confident that I won’t have visa
issues as I have visited South Korea before plus the guarantee
and a corporate invite, we processed the visa only early December but with
ample time before the trip. Hubby’s visa
was released 5 days after lodging but mine and the kiddos (kiddos were attached
to the mother’s application) were on hold.
I was later informed of an issue in my tax identification number (TIN)
that turned out to have been misread or mistyped. Naturally, the BIR gave a negative reply. I was required to submit other proofs related
to my TIN for another BIR confirmation. After
submission, a new claim stub was given but it dates after the New Year.
The kiddo’s excited faces all flashed
before me and I can’t bear seeing them frustrated. Determined not to fail, I wrote the consul
for a temporary release of our passport; even to the point of cancelling our
visa application just so we can pursue the KL trip on holidays. Sad to say,
their policy is a passport-lock-up once the visa process has commenced.
To make up, I had a winter Christmas theme
at home… I also promised that we will pursue the trip as soon as the visas were
released and lucky for us, AirAsia offered Seoul on
promo with travel dates effective ASAP.
I booked at once and timed it to my 2nd child’s birthday. Though shorter than the original plan, minus
the KL trip, the kiddo’s hopes were once regained.
I prayed though for a snow shower on our visit.
NIGHT TOUR AROUND SEOUL
After our Namdaemun Market stroll, our
guide for the evening tour was set to meet us at 6:30pm. With an hour to spare, we had coffee and a
light meal at “Angel in Us Coffee”, sort of Seoul’s Starbucks version. I liked the ambiance and the tumblers made of stainless with a fiberglass exterior finish.
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From Visit Korea: Angel-In-Us’s name implies that coffee is God’s gift delivered by angels. Only the best-quality arabica beans are roasted using the pure roasting system (a method of suspending coffee beans in the air to roast them evenly). A fresh, smooth coffee taste is guaranteed at Angel-In-Us coffeehouse. A range of desserts are also available so you may enjoy a light meal with your coffee: sweet and moist maple bread, Belgium-style premium waffles, bagels, muffins, sandwiches, and more. The interior of the Angel-In-Us stores are characterized by antique tables and chairs under soft lighting, providing a cozy ambiance.
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We met our tour guide beside the Cheonggyecheon Stream.
But what struck me was the horse-drawn lit carriage waiting beside the
stream for tourist’s merry-go-round stroll.
It reminded so much of our kalesa except that theirs were filled with lights.
THE CHANGDEOKGUNG PALACE
From Visit
Seoul: Changdeokgung is also known as Donggwol, the Eastern Palace, because of
its location to the east of Gyeongbokgung. For 270 years, the palace was home
to the Joseon government and was also the favored residence of many Joseon
Dynasty kings. This makes Changdeokgung the longest-serving royal residential
palace. The palace's rear garden, Huwon, is considered an excellent example of
Korean garden design and is the only rear garden of any Korean palace. In 1997,
Changdeokgung was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List.
.jpg "Changdeokgung Palace")
Changdeokgung was built in 1405 by King Taejong (the third king of the Joseon Dynasty). In 1592 the main palace, Gyeongbokgung, was completely destroyed by fire during the Japanese invasion of Korea and Changdeokgung became the home of the Joseon court. For this reason Changdeokgung is the place which most represents the Joseon Dynasty in the popular imagination. Its status as a national symbol meant that it suffered deliberate damage by the Japanese during their occupation of Korea. For many years afterwards it was neglected until it was reconstructed and restored to its original state in 1991.
DAY TOUR AROUND SEOUL
On our second day, we left the house at 8am for our trip to Seoul. Along the way, the yellow trees by the roadside were great attractions by themselves. Again, we passed by the same alley where we had dinner/coffee and the place was transformed magically leaving no sign of partying or fun from the previous night. Then we commuted by train from Anyang to Seoul and I was amazed by the talking teller machine. Of course we chose the English language and it vocally repeats the options selected. LOL... It made obvious that we were tourists because of the several unsuccessful attempts.
At Seoul, my sister already pre-arranged a tour through the Transit Tourism Program. It was a newly launched program then that offers two types of tours - OMI TRAVEL and HANNA TOUR. We opted for the Hanna Tour because it covered more places and freebies. I cannot recall how much it costs but the package was composed of:
Ø Changdeokgung Palace
Ø Jogye-sa Temple
Ø Insa-dong Street
Ø Cheonggyecheon Stream
Ø N Seoul Tower
And the following freebies:
Ø Lunch
Ø Facial Services at Hushu Dermatology
Clinic
Ø Dental Services
Ø Souvenir items
ARRIVING AT INCHEON AND MY FIRST NIGHT AT SOUTH KOREA
Just four days after my Ho Chi Minh,Vietnam trip, I flew by myself to South Korea for a 4-days short vacation with
my sister. The whole flight was filled wtih shilly-shallying feelings of what ifs and buts. But with full “I needed this trip” conviction, I just engrossed myself with music
to dismiss all those uncertainties.
This time around, I made sure I have a
pen at hand. I also photocopied my
documents especially my passport and plane ticket. But as always, especially at foreign land, things
unfolded like a bombshell.
I alighted from the plane as if I knew
the whereabouts of the airport but to my surprise, it was far-off expectations. I was in no hurry to enter the terminal building,
I told myself to take the time. But once
inside, I found myself alone... Oh no,
what to do and where to go now! I
see no attendant or information desk around.
All I saw was a closed glass door of what looked like train railings
inside. I said, what the heck is a train
doing here? Well, thankfully, a new
batch of passengers arrived. This time
around, I kept close, went with the flow and hurried as well as they rush to
the main terminal. Whew!
Luckily I passed the immigration
officer softly and without inquiries, maybe the business visa was a factor. After the immigration line, I stayed by the outdoor waiting area. Ahh!
come what may... Maybe sister will just
fetch me here.
Minutes gone by quickly and it was already an hour and no sign of my dear sister. By that time, I was already wobbly and failed to catch the words of the person beside me. I said hah! and he smiled in reply. He noticed my being lost and helpless. He was offering his phone so I can call my fetcher. Deep inside I said, how I wish I have her number... I gently said its okay she’s on her way... Grrrr... It was then that I realized that I was shivering not just of anxiety but of coldness as well. So I put my warmer and played the music again.
Minutes gone by quickly and it was already an hour and no sign of my dear sister. By that time, I was already wobbly and failed to catch the words of the person beside me. I said hah! and he smiled in reply. He noticed my being lost and helpless. He was offering his phone so I can call my fetcher. Deep inside I said, how I wish I have her number... I gently said its okay she’s on her way... Grrrr... It was then that I realized that I was shivering not just of anxiety but of coldness as well. So I put my warmer and played the music again.
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