Anyeong-Seoul Korea (Day 7 - June 2012)

Time just flew by and I can't believe it's our last day in Korea! We had a fantastic breakfast spread @Mercure.. I felt like a glutton as I piled food onto my plate.. smoked salmon, crab meat salad, pumpkin salad, grilled vegetables, chicken wings, mussels, potato wedges, bacon and cheese omelet and sunny-side-up eggs.. washed down with orange juice and coffee! After rolling off the chair and onto the floor.. we had to get our bags.. load them onto the bus.. and check out. 

The first destination was The Presidential Blue House (Cheongwadae).. located only about 70km from the not-so neighbourly border and separated by a big mountain.. which may have been sufficient in deterring the enemy's attack in the past.. but definitely not in the present age with the weaponry that THEY owned. A couple of police officers were stationed outside the compound, near the fountain. They sportingly posed for the photographs with tourists who approached them and we were even allowed to use their motorcycles as props.. COOL!!!

Then just around the corner was Gyeongbokgung.. originally built in 1385 and burnt down twice.. before the final reconstruction and restoration project which started in 1990 and completed just last year in 2010. The lakes and lily ponds that were frozen surreal in winter.. looked so tranquil in summer. We were told that the Korean King's symbol was a dragon with 7 claws.. which was designed in protest against the rule of the 5-clawed dragon of China's Emperor.

Our  last stop was Shinchon Street for some last minute shopping and we also briefly visited the famous Ewha Women's University.. I found that quite an interesting concept since I had studied at an all-girls school myself. Lu Sean finally got to try topokki (rice cake).. kimbap (sushi roll).. and kimchi nigiri.. before heading to Incheon Airport.. Anyeong ha se yo! Hope to see you again...