A Day in Seoul

Saturday, March 7th, 2015 at 8:41 am:

Hey Susanna, so what are we doing right now?

Going to Seoul.

How're we gonna get there?

We think we're going by a bus.

Do we know where the bus stop is?

No!

Do you know how much it costs?

Uhhhh...nope!

~~ Travel Guide: A Day in Seoul ~~

Morning Transportation Tips:

• If you Naver (Korean version of Google Maps) the bus station, it won't be too difficult to find, but I don't suggest trying to find it while you are running to catch a bus. 
• Even if you get to the bus station on time, it won't necessarily have the buses it advertised running that day.
• Trains are cheaper than buses anyway, so go to the train station if the bus station tells you the next bus is in an hour.
• "Standing" tickets for a train actually mean sitting on the floor in a very crowded train car between a very old Korean woman and a middle-aged Korean man who likes to stare at you.
• It takes 1 hr 30 mins and 7100 Korean Won to get from Jochiwon, Sejong City to Seoul by train.

Immediately After Arrival:

1.  Find a bathroom in the train station. Even if you don't need to use one, the soap is really cool. Instead of liquid soap, they have bars of soap on metal rods that you rub your hands on.
2. After exiting the station, notice the Seoul tower. If you don't see it, look up again. It can be found between the skyscrapers. Even if in the morning you hadn't planned on going there, you will probably end up visiting it if it is a beautiful day.
3. Eat lunch. When you leave your town early in the morning, you will arrive in Seoul in the afternoon and it will be time to eat. Obviously, eat lunch at a Japanese restaurant that sells Indian curry Korean style. If you're not a spicy-food lover, get "spice 0". If you are, get "spice 2 or 3". If you're crazy, get "spice 6". The restaurant can be found near Meong-Dong shopping street.

Afternoon Ideas:

• Take selfie videos everywhere you go. You only get to be a foreigner sometimes, so you might as well document your crazy touring around Seoul. (Yes, a video will be posted on Facebook shortly.)
• Visit the Tower. You don't need to go up the tower, because the base is beautiful enough, but I'm sure going up is even grander. You can walk up the mountain if you want, but taking the cable car up is worth your money. Walking down is nice - there is a perfect proposal spot on the way down too.
• Visit Gwanghwamun Square. There is a statue of Admiral Yi Sun-Shin and Sejong the Great, two of Korea's highest esteemed historical figures. Literally beneath their statues is a giant underground museum about them. Don't miss the small staircase behind the statue of Sejong leading down - I almost did!
• There is also a beautiful palace at the Square. Apparently, the palace closes at 5 in March. But its still beautiful to visit the outer courtyard if you get there late. The sun is setting around then and it is pleasant to walk in the courtyard imagining the rich history that took place there

Getting Home:

1. Get a subway card at a nearby convenience store. Even if you speak no Korean, most likely all you have to do it walk in and forward to the counter and the lady working will know exactly what you need. :)
2. Take a subway from Gwanhwamun to Jongno3-ga (line 5) and then transfer to Seoul Station (line 1). The subway stations are fairly self explanatory. One thing to be aware of is that you will swipe your subway card at the beginning, and at the end, but not during a transfer, so don't exit until you are at your final destination. (Different than in Istanbul.)
3. Get off at the Seoul Station if you plan on taking a train home. Considering the name "Seoul Station", probably other great things are there too, but all I know of there is the train. :)
4. There are many different kinds of trains; some fast, some slow, some that go where you're going and some that don't. If you say the type of train you want (most likely "Mugunghwa") and the place you're going ("Jochiwon"), the kind Korean lady working behind the counter will help you and give you a ticket in exchange for some Won.
5. If you buy "standing" tickets on the way home and there is more space in the "sit-on-the-floor-car" then don't choose to sit next to the heaters. Your back will become VERY hot, VERY quickly. Also, you will be staring at food the whole time since it is right next to the cafe counter.

When you arrive home, your legs will be sore, your camera battery will be dead, and your wallet will be empty, but your heart will be full! I hope you enjoy your day in Seoul! :) Plan or no plan, if you laugh, take pictures, eat food, and choose to explore and have fun, you'll have a blast! Susanna and I definitely did! :)