Discovering Seoul ~ Myeongdong, Yummy Lunch & Namsan Tower

October 15, Sunday

It's our 4th day in Seoul and again we were greeted by a very beautiful autumn weather.

It's Sunday, everyone of us woke up very early so that we can hear the English mass at the Myeongdong Catholic Cathedral. It took us some time to find the church.

Myeongdong early in the morning is very different when all the stores are already open.

The steps going to the Cathedral. It's the best place
to take photo of the church.

landscape on the way up to the Cathedral


Cathedral facade

another look of the Cathedral facade

The Myeondong Catheral is currently undergoing a renovation. If you noticed, the facade is a big clothe with the painting of the Cathedral. It's beautifully done. You cannot actually notice that it's a clothe with the church on it.

Myeongdong Catholic Cathedral was constructed in1898 with OUr Lady of the Immaculate Concepcion as its patron.

a beautiful red brick building at the side of the church

pavement around the church

When we finally found the church the English mass has already ended. So we just attended the hangul mass.

stolen shot inside the church during communion

cathedral window on Myeondong Cathedral

carved stone of Jesus Christ

inside the Peace Gallery just outside of the church
where photos of the old church are displayed.
the wall is the old red brick wall of the church.

Myeondong Cathedral is the first brick church in Korea built in the Gothic style.

After hearing mass in hangul, we then waited for Cheese, a korea friend of Bambie. After a few introduction we then headed to a restaurant that Cheese made a reservation for all of us. The restaurant is located near the area of Nandeamun Market. From Myeongdong we took the cab to arrive at the restaurant.

This is the entrance of the restuarant
it's called "Choegajib" (?)

Cheese ordered for us. She ordered 2 sets of 19 kinds of assorted side dishes, rice, soup and a very delicious tea. It was a sumptous lunch we had. Hot and spicy but we love them! They're so yummy!

After having our lunch Cheese had to go for another appointment and we headed back to Myeongdong market to do some shopping.

We took this road to go to the nearest exit to go to Myeongdong market.

The Gate or something (sorry i forgot what it's called)

The Bank of Korea Museum

When we arrived at Myeongdong, there were already so many people. The place is so feastive.

Myeongdong with so many people.

At the corner store where glasses are being sold. There were people gathering around the area. We got curious, asked around because there is a camera for filming and people are holding their digicams too. We then learned the DJ DOC is filming. Who is DJ DOC? Well, I actually do not know but since my friends know him because of Rain (DJ DOC was featured in one of Rain's concert or song) we waited for him and took photos.

After that encounter with DJ DOC when went around Myeondong, bought souvenirs, cds and took photos of places where scenes from dramas were shot and photos of artists in billboards, posters and standees. Btw, we bought cds at this ajussi's store which is very very cheap. We bought Rain's CD for our friends only 12,000 won. We also bought cds of Shinwa, Fligh to the Sky, Seven, SS501, TVXQ and many more.

Where Joo Jin Hoon (Goong) had an autograph signing

I'll show you more photos later of places where drama were shot when i've collected the rest of the photos from my friends. ^^

Some street food that can be found in Myeongdong.

On our way out to go to Namsan, we saw this show by some chinese acrobats. They're awesome! The audience were clapping and oh-ing and ah-ing with almost every stunts that they did.

After Myeondong since Namsan Tower is just walking distance from where we were, we then decided to go to Namsan Tower.

from Myeongdong that tower above is where we are going ^^

While looking for the exit to Namsan, we met this two nice couple who helped usand brought us all the way up to Namsan.

This our our 2nd time to Namsan. But the first time we went up we were on a Night City Tour bus so we didn't know how to really go there by foot. It's a steep road to go to Namsan but it was enjoyable. After walking up at the steep street for 15 minutes, we had to take this stairs to go to the cable car.

parking area outside the cable car station

beautiful Seoul at night

We spent about 4 hours in Namsan enjoying the cold air and the lovely people. We noticed that almost everyone who goes up to visit Namsan are either couple or family. Not sure though if it's because it was a Sunday when we went up.

Before heading to the guesthouse we dropped by at Myeongdong Guesthouse to meet Bambie's friends from Singapore to get the new Rain cds and poster that we ordered.

The following day, which is our 5th day in Seoul was called "fans day". I'll let you know why later. ^^

Discovering Seoul ~ Wedding Re-enactment & Dongdaemun Mkt

October 14 ~ Saturday

We started the day pretty late on this day but we were greeted again with a beautiful autumn blue sky ^^.


We were suppose to continue on with our City Bus Tour but we decided postponed it again because the palace near our guesthouse, Unhyeongung Palace, will have the re-enactment of the Royal Wedding Ceremony of Emperor Gojong and Empress Myeongseong of Joseon Dynasty. This only happens twice a year and we were lucky enough that it coincided with our vacation.

In front of Unhyeongung Palace

But we have a dilemma. The program will start at 2pm and we still have a good 3 hrs to spend. But going anywhere not within the 200m radius of the palace might be impossible for us to watch anymore. So we decided instead to take an early lunch, go to the nearby bookstore in Anguk station and take more souvenir photos.

Honestly i'm kinda ashamed to post these photos but anyway i wanted to share it here. These men in uniform were part of the team guarding the Japanese Embassy near our guesthouse. Well, since we are tourists, my friends wanted to have a souvenir photo with them. First they hesitated but they were convinced by Leah and Nimfa and decided to posed with us. They're actually very nice and quite young. Some of them look like students. There is a bus just outside the embassy for them to sleep, rest, eat and cook. We see them every morning and night. I think they're guarding the embassy 24/7 due to the N. Korea thingy.

Anyway, the Anguk station exit near the Japanese Embassy i noticed is the only station exit that has guards.

While going around i took a photo of this autumn leaf.

We went inside Unhyeongung Palace gate early so that we can get good seats. The place was already half full of people and staff of the program were all busy doing their thing. I went around and had my photo taken with one of the palace guard.

I look so big in this photo =(

At exactly 2pm the program started. A trio performed using different kind drums and they were very very good. I love the sound of their performance.

A few minutes after the band's perfromance, the re-enactment of the wedding started. It's a very interesting show. I actually remembered "Goong" when i saw the young actor and actress acting as the Emperor and Empress.

The show lasted for 2 hrs. It included so many ceremonies like, the proposal for marriage, sending of ceremonial gifts, notifying the bride 's family, wedding ceremony.

Btw, there was a narration done in hangul and english. ^^

After the program we all went back to the guesthouse and waited for our filipina friend, Cathy Garcia, who works as a staff reporter/culture desk for The Korean Times. If i'm not mistaken she has covered Bi, Arashi and many more. Last week she wrote 'Captivating glimpse inside "Restless"'

Cathy arrived a few hours later. After some catching up we all went out and go to Dongdaemun Market.

At Anguk station with waiting for our train.
Cathy is the one in white beside me.

Here are some photos at Dongdaemun Market. Btw, it's another place where there are so many people even at night. There were stage shows in Miglore, dotta! and another department store that made the place so lively.

My friends were all craving for barbeque so we bought here.

Cathy brought us to the tent area and she helped us
order food from this ajumma's tent.

I love this fish cake soup. ^^

bb, take note what's in front of me. it's the bingore drink
(banana milk juice) thanks for recommending it.
i love it and missing it!

In front of dotta! department store there is this place that was made for picture taking. hee, so we took the opportunity to have one (",) just before we said our goodbyes to Cathy because she has to work on Sunday.

We stayed on for a while at Dongdeamun then headed back to the guesthouse. When we arrived at the guesthouse, all of us were craving for ice cream so we bought at the convenient store just in front of our place and ate at the entrance. There is this particular ice cream that i love, it has a fudge in the middle. Almost everyday i eat ice cream in Seoul when in fact i'm not an ice cream eater.