Sites to Visit in Seoul, South Korea

I visited South Korea a few years ago. Since it is a fast-paced country, I am sure there are more exciting places than the ones I list down here. I shall add more in my next post.

Enjoy your trip!

City: Seoul

        Gyeongbokgung Palace    

It is huge attraction in the buzz of the city. There is a distinct separation between the past and present. At times, you might get a glimpse of the tall city buildings at the background. 

You might be lost in the palace so remember to take a picture of the palace map before exploring further.  

There is a small admission fee which excludes the optional experience to dress up in a hanbok. Plus, free guided tours at various time slots in English, Japanese and Chinese languages. ^_^ Psst... Take note of the timing for their "changing of guards" ceremony!

Learn more about its history here.   

        Namsan Seoul Tower    

Spectacular at night when the lights of the tower are switched on and the city lights shine amidst the blackness. It is a romantic place to be with your significant other. Bring a lock with you (or you could buy it there), write your names and lock it onto the same familiar fence that you see in Korean dramas.

Compared to other towers I visited (e.g. Eiffel Tower and Petronas Tower), Namsan Seoul Tower is not as impressive. They did however compensate their smaller observation deck with other activities. Other than the glimmering lights, there are also shops, restaurants and exhibitions. Visit their official site here. 

        Demilitarized Zone, DMZ  &  Panmunjeom    

You will need to to book a tour beforehand for your trip if you would like to go to Panmunjeom (Joint Security Area). I went along with Seoul City Tour. The whole tour was smooth. Pickup will be at a hotel. It includes the 3rd Inflitration Tunnel, Freedom Bridge and lunch! 

At Panmunjeom, there were 2 U.S. soldiers who accompanied my tour bus for security. Please be on good conduct and listen to their instructions. During my tour, there were some tourists who were stubborn and rowdy. This caused the more tension in an already tense environment. -.-"

Korean Language Studies

I have been studying Korean Language on-and-off. Before that, I tried Japanese Language and Arabic Language. In all of my language classes, I was always the odd student who attend class just for my pure intention of appreciating the beauty of the ONLY the language itself. Most students were interested in the culture and music. Because of that, I tend to lose my passion of learning those languages to completion.


Anyway, here are two great online resources to learn the Korean Language for FREE!

1.  Talk to Me in Korean (TTMIK)

There are lots of sections to focus on here (grammar, vocabulary, culture, etc.). Their lessons are in bite-sized which allow easy digestion and absorption in the brain. There are 9 levels with each level having 20-30 lessons.

For each lesson, there are notes in pdf and an accompanying podcast (less than 30 minutes long). The notes can also be downloaded in bulk as an e-book for a small fee. There are also other paper-form books, such as workbooks and vocabulary books, that can be bought from their store.

Overall, their curriculum and resources are very comprehensive and their teachers are friendly. Their app is available for download into your phone. It makes for an easy listening while commuting.  

    

2.  The Cyber University of Korea (CUK) 

This is a recent found. It is a decent resource for those with some background in Korean language. I read that it was started last year. At current, they are focused for those who know the English or Spanish Language.

There are 4 levels with each level consisting of 15 lessons (less than an hour for each lesson). Similar to TTMIK, they provide notes in pdf but instead of a podcast, they have a video for each lesson. The rate of the videos are too slow for me. Fortunately, its speed can be forwarded to x1.25, x1.5 and x2.  

After each level, students are able to seat for an online multiple choice test. With the completion of each test, student will be given an online certificate indicating their completion. Since CUK is made in collaboration with Korea University, I believe the certificate will be of value. However I read that these certificates only extends to the equivalent of TOPIK level 3.5. If you are one who prefer a more worldwide recognized certificate for Korean Language, I recommend going for TOPIK tests in your own country.    

I hope this is helpful. There are lots of resources out there, but to be able to locate these gems are rare.

  

Avoiding the Crowd & My Little World

There will always be a crowd at popular holiday destinations. It is unavoidable, even if I travel on a non-peak season. For some odd reason, I will naturally gear to the path with "least resistance". Lesser people, slower stroll, more time to enjoy the surroundings.

While travelling to Korea last year, I was often missing-in-action to my travelling buddies. They would then spent their precious time finding me. I am grateful to have them looking out for me but I was not lost. I was just walking a different path from them. My radar was always tracking where they were. When I noticed they stopped and looked worried, I immediately popped up beside them like a magician. Then, *poof* I vanished once again.

I like being in my own little world. Observing the scenery, the people, the things, the food... There are so many to be awed by. Nothing can beat Nature. No matter how amazing the architecture or futuristic the art, Nature wins. It tops in its shapes, its colours, its overall serenity. My appreciation then leads to realization that the creator of them must be more beautiful, more powerful, more lovely. ^_^

Nami Island, South Korea