We had an amazing day on the recommendation of our friend Youngae who suggested we took the metro to Jamsil to try and find non-hurting trainers for Sue. Jamsil is the home of a theme park – Lotte World – and the world’s sixth tallest building so we were quickly diverted from our task to go up to the 121st floor.
The views were stupendous because it was such a gorgeous day:
We were, of course, asked if we’d like our photos taken so here’s an unusal one for the blog with the both of us and a view (even if we do look a bit foreshortened):
The shoe-hunting was successful and didn’t take too long, leaving us time to go to lunch, the aquarium and to take a walk around the nearby lake, complete with ducks:
It being Seoul, there was, of course, some contemporary art on the way:
And then we went rogue, as it were, heading off into the quieter corners of the area to find a beautiful little park with tombs dating back to the Hanseong Period – about 1600 years ago. Although some were excavated in the 1980s and 1990s, more were discovered in 2015 because of a sink hole and they’re now being excavated, even as we speak:
The contrast between the park and the skyscraper says everything about Seoul (those stone mounts are tombs): – old and new, thoroughly suburban and intensively occupied with beautiful green spaces for people to exercise in and walk at leisure:
We came across a woman with a charming cat out for a walk who was very happy to let the cat off the lead for us. It is a little chilly but we think the jumper was unnecessary:
We wondered through the neighbourhood to find the Songpa Book Museum – a book museum! – in a beautiful prize-winning building full of nooks for readers of all ages. We particularly appreciated people taking their shoes off to read – so they should:
We didn’t get to see the Olympic Park, the book repository, the wholesale market or the riverside park, but we’ll be back again at the end of our holiday to explore Seoul’s most populous district!
It looks like the weather is really nice, and you’ve been seeing a very lovely place! Great that there is so much green! Enjoy!
It’s been lovely autumn weather – lovely golden light and the trees are already turning red and bright yellow ( I’m confident there will be tree pictures in due course). The neighbourhoods that we’ve visited in Seoul are very pleasing – quiet, playgrounds, no litter , convenience stores – that kind of thing with the occasional piece of startling art.
Not sure what I love more, the cat or the blue skies!
The cat was a complete charmer – didn’t seem embarrassed at wearing a knitted jumper or humiliated at being on a lead – in fact regarded the lead as a good toy..
Looks a fascinating place.
It really is, Pip – difficult to understand of course given the language barrier for us but people are very friendly …
Glad to hear that the jetlag is receding – indicated by how much you’ve managed to fit into one day! Seoul looks fascinating and all the modern art everywhere must be lovely. Not sure about this one speaking ‘to the existential angst involved when looking for meaning’ – it looks rather puerile to me, penile even -given the banana and the shape of the figure’s head. Or is that just me?
Well, no I agree about this particular piece – art speak can be very tedious and I’m not sure this big, shiny, plastic figure displayed any angst at all! A lot of the public art is really striking though – I shall ask M to include a good one in a future post. We’re now at the seaside so most art probably too crustacean focused..
A genuine feast of colour! Stunningly clear photos from the tip of that rather tippy looking skyscraper (is there a reason to be in the top 10 tallest?). Sock feet book museum sounds a great place to land.
I always think the developers who plan and build these towers would feel they’d failed if their towers were, say, the 14th highest in the world- I mean, who would care or even remember? The Book Museum was simply wonderful – in conception and design and full of people reading!