We woke up, checked out of the hotel, and left our bags at the desk. We headed into the street and the rain was there waiting for us. We were disappointed but undaunted. We had a rain plan which was, "Stay indoors." We, therefore, went to The National Museum of Korea, "the flagship museum of Korean history and art in South Korea." Out the door -slightly wet, train ride - stayed dry. Then it was a 7-8 minute walk outside to get to the museum according to the map, but upon arrival found a tunnel leading to the front door! We arrived in great shape.
We were waiting in line when the door opened at 10 AM. We had calculated that we needed to leave at 11:15 AM. We had arranged to meet friends. We had to plan our time well. We used our first trick. Go to the museum store and look at what they are selling or promoting. That is what they think is most valuable. The second trick, we sought information about a "one-hour tour." While I can spend all day in a museum, lots of people have a much lower threshold. Museums have adapted and almost always have a "highlights tour."
We were the target audience. Maps in hand and bags in lockers we set out to check off all the boxes. By the time our hour was up, we had seen all but two of the things on the list and more than 3/4 of the rest of the museum. It was brief and intense.
Then down to the tunnel, back on the subway, rewind to the beginning, and add three more stops. We emerged at the appointed exit and connected with Callie and her boyfriend, Hyun. They had traveled for over an hour from the outskirts of Seoul to show us around town. Callie grew up in our church in Athens and moved to Korea about 6 years ago to study the language. She then finished a degree in history and is now a teacher.
They took us to a traditional place for lunch and patiently explained to us all the dishes. One of the new items was acorn jelly -strange texture, nutty flavor, not our favorite. We, however, were committed to trying all the new flavors.
Then we walked down the busy street, window shopping and talking. We saw a great street presentation of Korean candy being made, a rock shop, fresh fruit, treats, and Korean animated characters. Then it was time for a refreshing dessert, Bingsu. We had a traditional red bean version and a cinnamon version. Both were excellent and coffee helped recharge our brains. We watched a street parade that was interrupted by a protest march and then ended up in a field of flowers.
Then it was on to a traditional Korean street. Bukchon Hanok Village "is home to hundreds of traditional houses, called hanok, that date back to the Joseon dynasty. The name Bukchon, translates to "northern village." Many of these hanoks operate as cultural centers, guesthouses, restaurants, and tea houses, providing visitors with an opportunity to experience, learn, and immerse themselves in traditional Korean culture. As Bukchon Hanok Village is an actual neighborhood with people's homes, visitors are advised to be respectful at all times while looking around." To keep the peace they have hired "shush" monitors that constantly remind people that the area is a residential street and real people live behind the walls.
In 2007 about 30,000 people visited the area. Then it was featured in a couple of travel programs. In 2010, 318,000 walked through the streets. 2017, and an estimated 37,100 people visited during the week, and 54,200 people visited on weekends. We contributed to the problem and got shushed once.
Then Hyun hailed a cab and we went to visit a food market that has also been on TV. There was strange food. We gawked often but did not partake of anything. We were on our way to a Korean BBQ. They took us on a leisurely walk down a restored stream in the middle of the town and then to a cool restaurant. Again, Callie and Hyun held our hands and walked us through the whole experience. We ate lots, trying new flavors and laughing out our chopstickawkwardness.
Then we had to say goodbye because we had a 2-hour trip to relocate to Inchon, which is the location of the Lausanne conference that prompted our trip to Korea. They walked us to our hotel and we gathered our things and set off on the next part of our Korean adventure.
Comments