Seoul, South Korea (25th April to 2nd of Mai)

When we landed in Seoul, our friend Stella was waiting for us! She works at the airport and her office is close to the arrival area, so she came to greet us, which was so nice! We haven't seen each other for 9 years! We would go to Stella's and Hyunyoung's (her husband) place the following day and stay for the weekend.
On Thursday however we met with a couch surfing host in Incheon, Min. She welcomed us in her family's home and they were all so nice and kind! We talked a lot about Korean culture with Min and about her travels around the world. On Friday she brought us to the city and to the farmer's market and introduced us to all the typical Korean Foods. We had Korean noodles, tteokbokki (rice cake and fish cake in a red sauce) and sweet pan cakes made of rice filled with honey and seeds. The market itself was an interesting experience, with a lot of fish stands, vegetables and fruits never seen before. We also found big chunks of cinnamon, very different from the one we find back home! Also they were selling chrysalids....very special for us. They are usually boiled and eaten along with rice and meat. 

Eating tteokbokki at the market with Min.

On Friday evening we took the bus and moved to Stella's place. They took us to a Korean barbecue, which was delicious. The meat is grilled on the table directly by the waiter. Every table had an integrated grill plate with the hood for the smoke. This is typical for all the Korean barbecue restaurants. Together with the meat a lot of side dishes  were served, kimchi (fermented cabbage), soya sprouts, tofu soup, green salad leaves (used as wraps), onion salad...The funny thing about the barbecue is that the waiter grills the piece of meat for you and then cuts it with the scissors in pieces so that it is possible to eat it with chopsticks. After dinner we went on with our chats at home, where we were also served some red wine and some snacks. We had a very pleasant evening! 

Korean barbecue with Stella and Hyunyoung.

On Saturday we drove to Nami island, a half-moon shaped island located in Chuncheon, Gangwon Province. It was formed by the rising water of the North Han River as the result of the construction of Cheongpyeong Dam in 1944. The island is now a very nice park with a lot of nice restaurants, snack stands, little shops and a lot of sculptures. Everywhere cute sculptures of snow men, the symbol of Nami Island, can be seen. After the 2 hours drive back to Incheon, where Stella lives, we ate dinner at a local restaurant and had pajun , a kind of omelette with wheat and other ingredients. Also we tasted rice wine, which is sweetish and slightly sparkling and alcoholic, very tasty.

At Nami Island with the snowmen mascot.

On Sunday our 2 friends brought us to the city of Seoul. We first stopped at Gyeongbokgung, the royal palace used as main residence until it was destroyed by the Japanese invasion in 1592. What can be seen today are all reconstructions of the original palace. The contrast between the old, traditional history and the modern skyscrapers all around is very special. After the visit of the palace we had bulgogi for lunch, another traditional meal and then headed to Jogye-as, a Buddhist temple. The temple was all decorated with lanterns for the Lotus Lantern  festival, the celebration of Buddah's birthday, coming up on 12th of May.
After the temple we walked around the Insa-Dong neighborhood full of nice shops and bars. We stopped for a tea in a traditional tea house, were we had to take our shoes off and were we seated on the floor.

Tea time in a traditional tea house.

After the tea break we strolled along Cheong-gye-cheon, an old raised highway which was torn down to leave the place to the once covered water stream. It was transformed to a very nice recreation area, perfect to relax from the urban stress. After the relaxing walk we quickly checked out a little Hanok village (typical Korean houses) now transformed in lots of nice shops and places to eat. Very nice, but since the street are very narrow it gets crowded very fast.
For dinner we stopped at the market. We had very good dumplings and also assisted Stella and her husband while they were eating raw octopus. This dish is very popular in Korea and consists only of the tentacles of the octopus, directly cut onto the plate. The tentacles still move when served! For us definitely a bit strange to see, but interesting.
We had a really great time with Stella and her husband! They showed so many things and made us taste so many delicious foods!
On Monday morning we prepared our bags and moved with the bus to our hostel, located in the Hongdae area, a very young area with universities and a lot of shops and nightlife. We walked around to explore the area until we reached the Han river and were able to take some nice shots of the skyline of Seoul by night.
On Tuesday we visited the Korean war Memorial and the attached museum. Very sad, but interesting, to read what happened only 70 years ago!
Our friend Sangjin from San Diego joined us at the museum and then took us to a very delicious restaurant were they served us a tasting menu, with typical Korean foods. After lunch we returned once again to the Insa-Dong neighborhood, we looked for some souvenirs and stopped for tea. Next Sangjin drove us to a park along the Han river. There were a lot of people, all enjoying the nice weather! We ordered some chicken and ate it in this relaxed atmosphere. Sangjin told us that coming here and order food is very popular. There also was a precise spot in the park dedicated to the motorbikes bringing the ordered food! :)

At the park along the Han river with Sangjin.

The program that Sangjin prepared for us was very packed, so after the park we drove to a nearby  uphill from where we could see the whole city. For dinner we went for bibimbap, another traditional Korean food, based on rice and vegetables and then he drove us home.
We really had a very nice day with Sangjin! We were very much spoilt!
On Wednesday in the morning we walked up Namsan mountain, a little hill from where the view of the city is amazing! On the way up, sections of the original Seoul city wall characterize the landscape. 

On top of Namsan.

For lunch we meet with another friend from San Diego, Bonnie. We met at Namdaemun market and grabbed some fresh dumplings. After a stroll through the market and Sungnyemun, the Great South Gate of the old city wall, we walked toward the city hall. On the way there we stepped in the middle of a pacific demonstration of workers who demonstrated against the low salaries and the inappropriate working hours. From the city hall we walked to another market and looked for cinnamon  chunks to buy and bring back home. 

In front of Sungnyemun gate with Bonnie.

For dinner, Bonnie took as to a very good restaurant where we had grilled meat and Korean style fried rice. Very delicious and the meat was super tender! Also this day was very nice! It was so cool that we meet again all our friends from San Diego, after 9 years!!
Our flight to the next county was on the 2nd of May, destination Hong Kong.