Continued from Part 1....
Still at Nami Island... Don't forget to snap a picture Yu Jin and Jun Sang Sculpture.... This sculpture was built to commerate the memory of Winter Sonata...
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| Memory of Yong Ha |
We left Nami Island at around 4.00pm.... rode the same bus to Insadong...
Bye Bye Nami Island ....
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| Left Nami Island |
We reached Insadong/ Tapgol Park around 5.30pm local time.... We took a chance to wander around Tapgol Park also known as Pagoda Park... We didn't have a chance to walk around earlier since this park is only open to public at 10.00am....We can see that most of the parks in Korea are full with "warga emas" or senior citizen.... I guess this is how the senior citizen spend their times... which is a very different scenario from Malaysia....
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| The Statue of Son Byeong-hee |
More information on Tapgol Park....Extracted from LonelyPlanet.com (July 2011) review;
"Tapgol Park opened in 1897, Tapgol is a symbol of Korean resistance to Japanese rule. On 1 March 1919, Son Byeong-hui and 32 others signed and read aloud a Declaration of Independence (a copy in English can be read on the memorial plaque). Many of them were high-school teachers, 16 were Cheondogyo followers, 15 were Protestant Christians and two, including poet-monk Young-un, were Buddhists. All were arrested and locked up in the notorious Seodaemun Prison. A torrent of protest against Japan followed in Seoul and throughout Korea, but the samil (1 March) movement was ruthlessly suppressed. Hundreds of independence fighters were killed and thousands arrested. In the park, 10 murals depict scenes from the heroic but unsuccessful struggle. The park’s other outstanding feature is the 10-tier, 12m-high stone pagoda that once graced Wongaksa, a nearby Buddhist temple destroyed in 1504 on the orders of the Confucian king. Buddhists were forced out of the cities into the mountains, where Korea’s great temples still stand today. The pagoda, a treasure of Buddhist art, has wonderful carvings all over it. Unfortunately it’s encased in a glass box, somewhat reducing its impressiveness."
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| Cherry Blossom at Tapgol Park |
Then we went to Insadong which is opposite of Tapgol Park....This is a cultural district in Seoul and a must visit for tourist... To maintain as a traditional street/ district... all shops name are written in Hangul....and vehicles are not permitted to enter during weekend...There is cultural show during weekends....You can find Korean Traditional Culture and craft here from expensive to daily use items..... There are ceramics, hanji, hanbok, tea sets...pottery and others crafts for souvenirs...
JYJ... the spokesperson for Nature Republic...Local cosmetic brand....
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| Starbucks Coffee |
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| Ahjumma wearing Hanbok |
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| Korean artist Socks |
Lot of shops are selling Korean souvenirs.... from as cheap as KRW1000 to thousand won... depending on the quality especially ceramics.... just be ready with $....
From Insadong... the nearest attraction is Cheonggyecheon Stream... It is just few minutes away (walking distance) from here.... We strolled along the stream.... still a beautiful place to visit even at night...
Cheonggyecheon Stream is an 8.4 km long, a public recreation in downtown Seoul. The river is flowing west to east through downtown Seoul to Jungnangcheon, which in turn connects to the Han River. Major restoration of this stream was started in 2003 by Seoul mayor. The restoration was started with the removal of elevated highway and restore the stream which nearly totally dry... And this project was completed in September 2005....
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| Mini Waterfall at Cheonggyecheon Stream |
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| Awan Dania Shooting Location |
That was the end of our 4th day in Korea...
