..And Next Seoul...

After the kids and I left Singapore, Paul stayed on for work until flying home Friday night.  But the layover in HK didn't last long, as the next morning Paul and I left for Seoul for five days.  Paul had a work trip and I was also able to piggyback a work trip on top.  So we had Saturday and Sunday to explore (Paul's been to Seoul before, but it was my first time), before working Monday to Wednesday.  Our hotel was conveniently located close to a fun shopping/night market area called Myeong-dong.  Korea is known for its cosmetics (and cosmetic surgery) and this area is packed with cosmetics and skin care products shops.  It's kind of weird actually.  Placenta face mask, anyone?  You can find it here.  Here's Paul enjoying the Korean night scene.

 

There was good street food to be had and Paul snatched up grilled squid on a stick dipped in a sauce and then sprinkled with dried shaved fish flakes.  He thoroughly enjoyed it.  I abstained.

 

A popular item in the tourist areas was crazy forms of cones that they'd fill with soft serve from both ends.  We saw cane shapes, long swirlies, extra long swirlies.  We meant to get one to try it out, but then didn't leave enough stomach.  The internet says the cones taste like Corn Pops cereal.

 

A selfie of the two of us as we wrapped up the evening walking around.

 

The next day we started off with a walk down another shopping area in the Insadong neighborhood.  It's more artsy/craftsy, no cosmetics shops at this place.

 

 

Then after lunch we moved onto the nearby Changdeokgung Palace, which is a UNESCO heritage site.  The palace was built in 1412, but like many sites, was burnt down and rebuilt many times over the centuries.  This pic is of the main entrance gate.

There are many buildings throughout the walled in complex, but this one below is the biggest one, the throne hall.

Our group tour guide told us to stop and take a picture of this corner of the hall because people like to take this picture.  Sure, it's nice.

The buildings are guarded by animal statues on the corners and the more animals there are, the more important the building is.

While I'm more partial to the glitzy Thai palaces, this Korean palace does have really nice painted designs.  These buildings are part of the complex where the royals lived.

Oh fergodsakes, isn't the little pagoda on the hill a little peaceful spot?  It's where one of the kings kept the woman he really loved while the woman he was forced to marry lived elsewhere on the property.

No one lives here now as the royals died out with no heir.  Probably because the last guy horrendously married an American woman for love rather than a son-bearing-Korean like a good Korean royal would do. 

One last pic on our way out!