Our bus from Busan to Seoul arrived earlier than expected. By 4AM we set foot on South Korea's capital. Still sleepy and tired from yesterday's long day walk, we were zombies walking aimlessly on the streets of Seoul before sunrise.
Our original plan was to go to the Floating Island and wait for the sunrise. But since a typhoon hit Seoul a couple of days before and had been raining continuously until we got there, we were informed by the grocery man in the bus station that the Floating Island is flooded and advised us not to go.
So we walked towards nowhere until it led us to another bus/train station where we rested until sunrise. By morning, we circled the block looking for a Western place to eat but with no avail. We hailed a cab and asked the driver to drop us at McDonalds. Our first meal in Seoul--Bacon Mc Muffin, hashbrown, and pancakes.
Then we traveled our way Suwon, outside Seoul to see Hwaseong Fortress. After an hour or so of travel, 2 train rides and a cab ride, we arrived at Suwon, Gyeonggi-do.
The cab driver dropped us off in a touristy destination which looks like a small royal palace. We paid the entrance fee, went inside, and saw, well nothing. There was a shoot ongoing and we were hushed off. We went back to the ticket station and asked where the Fortress is and were told that it's about 5km hike from where we are. That would take us an hour or so by foot to get there. So will we proceed? Well, we traveled all the way here so why not? We're willing to walk in Seoul (except for Anna B). :)
So we hiked for about 200m. Then we were exhausted. Good thing there was another tourist stop slash ticket office for the Hwaseong Trolley. Hwaseong Trolley is a tourist train that travels along part of the perimeter of the Fortress.It's firey red and its front shaped like a fierce dragon's head. For me it looks like a fun choochoo train. And since we're more willing to pay than willing to walk in Korea, we rode the 30-minute dragon-trolly ride.
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| Suwon Trolley |
The tour ended (if I'm not mistaken) in the western side of Suwon fortress. More touristy photo ops, and we proceeded back to the station. We had an unexpected stop in a mall where we spent considerable amount of time shopping in Uniqlo and Longchamp. Then had lunch in Lotteria, a local fastfood chain.
Then we traveled back to the city of Seoul via train. Our next stop was the Gyeongbokgung Palace, Seoul's royal palace. We witnessed the ceremonious changing of the guards outside the palace gate. Then, we went inside the palace and listed ourselves to borrow Korea's national costume.
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| Gyeongbokgung Palace |
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| Changing of the guards |
So there we were, 5 grown-ups playing dress-up. And mind you, there was a little squabble who gets what costume. In the end, Anna, Aisa, and Cali were dressed up as Maidens, while Apple and I were dressed like Royal Guards. Royal Guards who look more like Hobbits than Royal Guards.
After touring the Royal Palace, we went to Myeongdong Shopping district to well, shop. And yes, we shopped. :)
Our last stop for the night was Seoul Tower. What makes this spot special was on the railings are millions of padlocks with special messages. This is where lovers and friends symbolically lock their love and friendship. Some couples lock their lips after putting their padlocks, and we can't help but cheer, quietly though, "lips to lips. lips to lips" while giggling like little school girls. Mature, I know. :)
We ourselves, the Magic 7, put a padlock with a love note on a heart-shaped rubber pad. Today we lock and celebrate our 15 years and counting of friendship. We're friends more than half our lives now and will be friends for the rest of our lives.
19 waking hours. 5 friends. 1 amazing city.
