Three days in Seoul Guide, South Korea:
After weeks of anticipation it was finally time to make the 11 hour trip over to South Korea’s capital from London. The build to any trip I go on generally includes quite a bit (sometimes over extensive) of planning. Unfortunately this was not the case when it came to Seoul.
Going into Seoul my knowledge limited to Gangnam Style star PSY, Hyandai and the current political situation. However, the Korean capital turned out to be a much more pleasant surprise.
Following a nightmare flight which consisted of being packed into a British Airlines flight like sardines I landed at Ininon airport jet lagged, tired and hungry. My initial thoughts upon arriving in Seoul was that it is a mix between Toronto and Tokyo There was none of the chaos from the Japanese capital and seemed to be vastly populated by young people.
My stay in Seoul was limited to just three days and the highlights were defiantly Zaha Hadid's Dongdaemun Design Plaza, Changdeokgung palace and the Iwha village situated in the north of Seoul.
Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP)
The Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP) is the work of the late Zaha Hadid and it is a photographers dream. A full day could easily be dedicated to exploring the structure from both outside and from within.
The Design Plaza appears as it were transported to present day from the year 3000 or a Alien mothership. There are multiple events on at all times as well of a string of cafes and places to have a snack.
The Ihwa Mural Village turned out to be one of my favourite spot's in Seoul. Trekking up to the top of Mount Naksan to enter the village is no mean feat and the village itself is filled with many stairs and more inclines so it is a good idea to wear a pair of comfortable trainers. The village is filled with various murals and trendy cafes most of which offer impressive views of Seoul.
An absolute dream for anybody interested in photography the Iwha Mural village is defiantly worth the hike up the mountain!
Changing of the Guard at Changdeokgung
Generally speaking I’m not one for royal ceremonies however, the changing of the Guard at the Changdeokgung Palace absolutely cannot be missed. The ceremony takes place at various spots across Seoul however it is best viewed at the UNESCO Heritage Site Chandeokgung.
Best of all the guards do come up close to the spectators and the colours on show are spectacular. Make sure to check out the impressive secret Garden after the show too.
All in all Seoul came as totally unexpected surprise, there is plenty to see, the people are friendly and the food is delicious. I for sure will be making a longer trip back to the Korean capitol in the near future.
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