A Thousand Years of Seoulitude: Weekend Return to Seoul!

Last weekend we had work off on Friday for Buddha’s Birthday, so we took the extra day and hopped on a bus to Seoul! Unlike my training week in Seoul a couple months ago, we had plenty of time to explore and be a tourist.

Me inside a hanger structure outside our hostel!

Me inside a hanger structure outside our hostel!

Me inside a soju bottle structure!

Me inside a soju bottle structure!

a cool building

a cool building

a colorful wall

a colorful wall

posing against a colorful wall

posing against a colorful wall

a hidden passageway leading to someone's backyard

a hidden passageway leading to someone’s backyard

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some reindeer sculptures

some reindeer sculptures

the subway crawling out of the underground and into the light of the city!

the subway crawling out of the underground and into the light of the city!

another cool building!

another cool building!

me eating squid

me eating squid

squid man

squid man

Ewha Woman's University, my future alma mater maybe in a dream of mine

Ewha Woman’s University, my future alma mater maybe in a dream of mine

the university continues, gardens galore

the university continues, gardens galore

an awesome staircase!

an awesome staircase!

me pretending I am just an ordinary student there no big deal

me pretending I am just an ordinary student there no big deal

the seal of the university!

the seal of the university!

why is there a statue of a MAN here. This is a woman's college!

why is there a statue of a MAN here. This is a woman’s college!

more beautiful gardens

more beautiful gardens

wow, the many ways to say hello!

wow, the many ways to say hello!

another sign

another sign

some graffiti!

some graffiti!

wow

wow

cool

cool

fun

fun

stellar

stellar

graffiti hoorah!

graffiti hoorah!

a man with a plan

a man with a plan

this is just a normal hair salon

this is just a normal hair salon

A flying turtle, cool!

A flying turtle, cool!

view from a soju hof, where you can get fancy soju cocktail things and fruit!

view from a soju hof, where you can get fancy soju cocktail things and fruit!

a cool building lit up at night!

a cool building lit up at night!

The next day was a bit gloomy, but we still managed to do some sightseeing.

oooooo a shell spire!

oooooo a shell spire!

a statue

a statue

Me, dressed as a king!

Me, dressed as a king!

We were all outfitted for free by the

We were all outfitted for free by the “I Am King” booth

the real king

the real king

some pillars

some pillars

The US Embassy

The US Embassy

a palace

a palace

a dog statue?

a dog statue?

Well, I tried, but I couldn't get him to smile.

Well, I tried, but I couldn’t get him to smile.

Another palace guard

Another palace guard

grilled meat!

grilled meat!

an omelette pancake thing that was delicious

an omelette pancake thing that was delicious

a festival/parade

a festival/parade

yay!

yay!

a pagoda park

a pagoda park

a very very old statue. so old, it was enclosed in glass!

a very very old statue. so old, it was enclosed in glass!

some sheep on a rooftop

some sheep on a rooftop

a butterfly girl

a butterfly girl

 

a changing of the guard

a changing of the guard

large drums are integral to this ceremony

large drums are integral to this ceremony

palace ceremony take 3

palace ceremony take 3

palace ceremony take 4

palace ceremony take 4

palace ceremony take 5

palace ceremony take 5

palace ceremony take 6

palace ceremony take 6

cool building alert!

cool building alert!

this one's alright too

this one’s alright too

another pagoda!

another pagoda!

pagodas in the middle of the city

pagodas in the middle of the city

fountain

fountain

a large bell!

a large bell!

Seoul was magnificent and we had a great time exploring. We stumbled upon some great things, like Korean bass tenors singing in art galleries and an amazing Stomp-like cooking show. I know we will be back soon to do it all again! And next time, we’re going to explore the DMZ!

Thanks for sharing this journey with me,

식사하셨어요? 안녕하세요!

Ariel