SEOUL VISIT 2: INSADONG, DARCIE, CHANGDEOKGUNG & A BULGARIAN DINNER

SEOUL VISIT 2: INSADONG, DARCIE, CHANGDEOKGUNG & A BULGARIAN DINNER

Insadong is a touristy part of Seoul. It features many souvenir shops as well as a variety art galleries. My friends Walker (mentioned previously here) and Ange and Caley, a Canadian couple, decided to head up to Seoul for the weekend.

Insadong

Insadong

We stopped in a few galleries that offered some interesting art works

Gallery in Insadong

Gallery Art in Insadong

There were also a few surprise street performances.

Live Performance in Insadong

A surprise parade through Insadong

I had planned this visit for about a month, with my main goal being to acquire an acoustic bass guitar, something that I had been seeking for several months. I was told there was a specific musical instrument shopping arcade that was particularly well stocked. This was an understatement. It’s like calling the ocean wet. Nakwon Sang-ga has about 200 musical instrument shops and is about a 1 km long. After comparing prices of several different acoustic basses I found Darcie. She’s used and the price was right. She’s just a big and overwhelming huge instrument.

. Nakwon Sang-ga music arcade

Me and Darcie

The name Darcie is derived from a resemblance to my overwhelming huge beach cruiser bicycle named Darla from my days in Eugene, OR.

Darla

After a very successful shopping day, we headed to see one of Changdeokgung, one of Seoul’s famous palaces. On our way we stopped by a replicated Hanok Village. A Hanok Village is made up of old style houses and narrow winding streets.

Hanok Village

Hankok Village. Pictured (l-r): Caley, Ange and Walker  

Changdeokgung had some pretty spectacular autumn colors.

Changdeokgung

Us at Changdeokgung.
Pictured (l-r): Ange, Caley, Walker and Me

Changdeokgung

Changdeokgung

Changdeokgung

Changdeokgung

Changdeokgung

Changdeokgung

Changdeokgung

Pictured (l-r): Walker, Caley, Ange and Me

After Changdeokgung we went to dinner in Itaewon (previously mentioned here), the international section of Seoul. We treated ourselves to a popular Bulgarian restaurant called Zelen. You may ask, “What does Bulgarian food taste like?” Meat. Lots of delicious meat.

MEAT!

Caley and Walker at Zelen, Bulgarian Restaurant in Itaewan 

Ange and me at Zelen

We indulged for dinner and later that evening headed to Hongdae, the happening area in Seoul (previously mentioned here) and danced in the nightclub into the wee hours of the morning.

At Zelen, Bulgarian Restaurant in Itaewan
Pictured (l-r): Ange, Me, Caley and Walker

JIRISAN NATIONAL PARK ON PEPERO DAY

JIRISAN NATIONAL PARK ON PEPERO DAY

Pepero is a stick-like cookie dipped in cholocate. It's exactly like Pocky.

Pepero Day is November 11th (11/11). Pepero Day came into being because the makers of Pepero decided since November 11th looked like a bunch of Pepero they would invent a Valentine's Day-like holiday called Pepero Day where you give Pepero to your friends and a person you may have a crush on. (Note: They also have Valentine's Day).

Pepero Day!

To begin our 3 hour journey to Jirisan, Kelsey and I distributed Pepero to strangers on the streets of Jinju (previously visited during the Lantern Festival here), where we had our first of 3 bus layovers. Some took the Pepero with smiling grace, notably an especially cute grandmother, and other rigidly denied the sweet treat.

From Ulsan, we had an hour layover in Hadong, which is a small town that has not much of anything really.

Hadong 

From there we took the long bus-ride to Jirisan. Jirisan is a National Park and is one of the most beautiful places in Korea. Its full of natural beauty, autumn colors, miles of mountain hiking and is home to many beautiful temples.

According to Kelsey:
We are unable to dress ourselves
this early in the morning

Here are some photos from one of Jirisan's many beautiful temples

After visiting the temple, we continued up to the top of the mountain.

We made it to the top.

Notice the orange colored hillside

Notice the orange colored hillside

And then our final destination: A beautiful waterfall.

A final few snapshots of some fall colors 

AND LASTLY... A PEPERO DAY MIRACLE!!

Feeling in good spirits as we were walking down the mountain, Kelsey and I wished random people we crossed paths with a Happy Pepero Day. There was a car in the parking lot that was excitedly waving to us, presumably because out in the country they don't see many foreigners. We wished them a  Happy Pepero Day. Then this woman held up her hand, indicating she wanted us to stop, she quickly hopped out of her car with a Pepero Basket which she excitedly gave to us. We had to capture the moment. I eventually gave the Pepero to my students.  It was a Pepero Day Miracle!

Happy Pepero Day