One Afternoon in Bukchon Hanok Village

After our Gyeongbok Palace and Insadong visits, we decided to check out Bukchon Hanok Village since it was just around the area and we had a whole afternoon to kill. We found out later that it was quite a long walk from Insadong, but we enjoyed looking at the interesting shops along the way.



Coffee shop / tea house




Crafts store



I initially thought that this area is a tourist spot, but it turned out to be a residential area. You can see locals walking home with grocery bags, or parking his car into a traditionally-styled garage gate.

Beautiful Houses




  

A very peaceful village

 

Among the alleys of hanoks (traditional house), one will also find several small museums or cultural centers. For a reasonable fee, one may enjoy several activities or crafts that are unique to Korea. Talk about cultural experience overload! :D

I wish I could own one of these hanoks!

We turned left, right, straight, right, left, left, wait.. or was it right? Hmmm simply said, we got lost among the maze-like alleys (despite having a map!). But YO! Look, where we arrived at many moments later. A very beautiful school!

Does it seem familiar? Yes, is THE school where Bae Yong Joon shot Winter Sonata!

Choong Ang Middle and High School

On our way back, we saw some tourist buses parked near an alley entrance. And quite a number of people flocking around it. It was very different from the quiet village that we just saw. Volunteers were waiting to give out maps and instructions to tourists and lost people like us.

One even came up to offer help, then she suggested that we visit one place...

I have a small confession to make. The real reason why I wanted to see Bukchon Hanok Village is because I was hoping to find one specific house - SANGGOJAE, the shooting location of Lee Min Ho's Personal Taste.

Now, I really applaud the Koreans for taking good care of their tourists. (And for reading my mind, of course) :p



Lee Min Ho's Sanggojae

It is JUST a house. Yes, I know that. It looks no different from the hundreds of houses around it. Yes, I know that too. But since I was there, I might as well take some photos of it. And for your information, there were also several k-razy fans happily snapping at the house!

Tips for Bukchon Trips:

1. Ask for a Bukchon Map at the tourist information booth in Insadong.

2. It is a residential area after all, so keep in mind to contain your excitement and to tone down a bit. (There are signs, several of them to remind you, just in case you forgot.)

3. Look out for the suggested photo spots where the best photos angles can be taken. The signs are bronze-colored metal on the ground.

4. If you want to see Lee Min Ho's Sanggojae, it is on 31 Gahoe-dong, on the left area of the map. Look for alley nearest Donmi Pharmacy and Gahoe-dong Catholic Church.

5. When lost, ask for directions. They are all so willing to help!

6. Time to spend: 2-3 hours max

A Journey to the Past - Gyeongbok Palace

One thing I love about Seoul is its rich culture and history. Amidst the modern structures, there lies one of its beloved ancient palaces – Gyeongbokgung.  



Hyeungnyemun



Don’t miss the COLORFUL changing of guards ceremony in front of the gate Hyeungnyemun. I suddenly decided to take this photo in a sepia/black and white mode, for that "ancient feel".



It was colorful, trust me.



The majestic Geungjeong-jeon or Hall of Diligent Government. This is where the king performed his formal meetings and discussed daily state affairs. I would have wanted to try the throne, but it is off-limits. :D



The throne inside Geungjeong Hall.



The inner court houses the private quarters of the royal family.

The royal residence

The palace grounds is huge, but not all house are open for public viewing, and the insides are more or less the same. So after snapping away at those tradtional halls and rooms, you may opt to visit the souvenir shop where you can borrow traditional costumes for FREE! Yes, it’s free, but you have to return it within 15 minutes. They have lunch breaks I think around 12:00 pm -1:30 pm so try to schedule your visit accordingly. The souvenir shop is located on the left side of Geungjeong-jeon - (the throne hall) No. 3 on the map below, and near the toilets.

Finish your palace tour with a relaxing walk along its vast gardens and lakes. The two best photo spots are Gyeonghoe-ru Pavilion and Hyangwon-jeong.



Take a rest at Gyeonghoe-ru Pavilion



Gyeonghoe-ru Pavilion



The breath-taking Hyangwon-jeong





Spend quality time with Mother Nature



A trip to this palace will make one realize that everything in this world is so inconstant. People just come and go, but at least there are things and places that can withstand time and change to serve as proof of our existence.

Map of Gyeongbok Palace:





Photo from Gyeongbokgung brochure

 

Directions:

Ride the subway to Gyeongbokgung Station (Line 3, Exit 5) or Gwanghwamun Station (Line 5, Exit 2)

Operating Hours:

March to October 9:00 am to 6:pm

November to February: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm

* Closed on Tuesdays

* Tickets are sold until one hour before closing time.

Admission Fee:

Adult: 3,000 Korean Won

Children: 1,500 Korean Won

Tips:

1.      Optional museum tours: Upon exit from the Gyeongbokgung subway station, you will find the National Palace Museum. -or- Near the rear end of the palace grounds, there is the National Folk Museum of Korea.  Admission fee is separate.

2.       It is best to visit the souvenir shop earlier so you can check its schedule for costume renting.

3.       3-4 hours is more than enough for a visit. Don’t forget that there are still so much to see in Seoul!