My Hotel in Gangnam, Seoul + killer views

Magnetic City Hall

3 Sites within walking distance:

City Hall is the heartbeat of Seoul, a magnet for Seoulites and tourists alike. It is a place to catch a colorful reenactment of the “changing of the guard,” enjoy a concert, stroll through the leafy grounds of a palace, or take in a musical.

The area, considered downtown Seoul, is home to government offices, financial institutions and business hotels like the Seoul Plaza Hotel, the Westin Chosun Hotel and the Lotte Hotel. Tourist information is available at the newly renovated Seoul Information Center, located on the 2nd floor of City Hall – or by calling the hotline: 82 2 731 6337 .

The neighboring area is beautiful with its juxtaposition of sky scrapers and historic landmarks, including the Seoul Anglican Cathedral dating from 1926. But what’s best about City Hall is there’s always something current to see or do.

The Seoul Plaza, an oval green space in front of the building, has become a popular spot for concerts, public celebrations and demonstrations. It was reestablished in 2004, and is now used to host cultural events like the “Hi Seoul Festival.” The hall’s clock and fountain are lit by floor lights, adding luster to the nightscape.

Entertainment, fine dining and a pressed pillow can be had easily. But what are the must-sees? Here are 3 main attractions within walking distance: Deoksung Palace, Chongdong Theater and the Seoul Museum of Art (SEMA.)

1.Merging the old and new is Deoksugung Palace, a stones throw away from soaring skyscrapers. It is one of the five grand palaces in Seoul: a beautiful, walled oasis in the center of the capital.Deoksugung, “palace of virtuous longevity,” is an example of the royal architecture of the Chosun Dynasty (1392 – 1910). It is also home to an art museum and a pond. Admittance is 1,000 W or less. Businesspeople use the picnic area to escape the hustle and bustle of the city.

2. Beside Deoksugung is the Seoul Metropolitan Museum of Art, a personal favorite of mine. It showcases a revolving door of International exhibitions, as well as contemporary Korean art, earning itself a place among the world’s art museums.Modern, spacious and convenient, it strives to be seen. The general fee is minimal (under 1,000 won) but special exhibitions cost up to 10,000 won.

3. Chongdong Theater is located a few minutes up the street from SEMA. It was built in 1995 as a reproduction of Wongaksa: the first national theater in Korea, and was later designated a “tangible cultural asset” by Seoul City.

The artsy locale represents traditional performances, staging regular shows of all 4 categories of Korean performance: dance, pung-mul, musical instrument performance and so-ri, and also hosts traditional games to engage its audience, all the while fostering an appreciation for Korean culture. Tickets are very reasonably priced, from 20-30,000 won. Call now to reserve a seat. 82-2-751-1500

KOREAN ANGLICAN CHURCH-

Myeong-dong: Where Fashion, Culture and Gourmet Meet

food fashion nightlife sight seeing

Myeongdong, a fashion and financial district in Jung-gu Seoul, is a fun place to spend the day, treating yourself to a great lunch, a glass of red wine and bags filled with the latest designer clothes.
Whether you prefer the convenience of shopping malls and department stores, or enjoy window-shopping on pedestrian friendly streets, Myeongdong suits your shopping style– catering even to boutique and street market lovers. It is a mid-high priced district where you can seek out the trendiest fashions and accessories and, of course, grab a tall non-fat latte at Starbucks.
Throngs of twenty-somethings head to the heart of the city, for a day of wandering and shopping. The streets are lined with International stores, restaurants, bars and five-star hotels. It is indeed a hot spot, so if you want to avoid congestion, visit during the weekdays, or better yet during the Korean holidays.
Autumn in Korea is the most beautiful time of the year, and Myeongdong has shops to get you back to school or work looking like you stepped off a million dollar runway.
Seoul’s first GAP recently opened its doors in Myeongdong, offering brand names at prices lower than Polo or Bean Pole. A pair of pants will cost you between 60-80,000W. Shopping malls include Lotte Dept. Store, Migliore and Shinsegae Dept. Store, among others. Seoul Travel & Culture Magazine says you can't miss Avatar mall located one block away from the Chinese Embassy.
There is more than just shopping to enjoy in the area, home to the Gothic style Myeongdong Cathedral, with benches under foliage outside, Namsangol Hanok Village, the Postal Museum, Chinese Street, and traditional Korean restaurants like Jeonju Jungang Hoegwan, where you can dine on bipimbap for 9,000W. (Myeong-dong Stn. Line 4, Exit 6). There are many banks and, City Hall area, with its myriad of attractions, is within walking distance.
Keep an eye on the newspaper for the Myeongdong Festival, which will include a colorful parade, a beauty pageant, traditional wedding ceremony, folk play, street fashion shows and makeup shows. Officially the most expensive land in Seoul and Nationwide, Myeongdong is a must-see for anyone visiting the Nation’s capital. It’s an affluent place where fashion, culture and gourmet meet.

George M. Cohen Tonight - Review

Korea does Broadway, my review

“George M. Cohen Tonight,” is currently being staged at Dongyang Art Hall, Sinsa-dong in South Seoul. The Korean adaptation of the famous Broadway musical is a monologue acted by 3 performers, on rotation.

Spanning approximately 1 ½ hours, with minimal props such as a piano, cane and moon, the musical is danced and sung with vigor and sensitivity. The true story of Broadway legend, George M. Cohen, is relatable to Koreans who understand a life devoted to ones work.

Cohen almost single-handedly invented the American musical comedy and wrote more than 50 shows and hundreds of songs before his death in 1942.

The actor becomes Cohen for 100 minutes on stage, impressing the audience with the physicality of the performance as well as the breadth of memorization. Each performer was forced to learn about 30 pieces.

The small, intimate venue puts you up close to the actor who tells George’s life story in flashback from childhood, focusing on the strains show-business caused his family, the highs and lows, the death of his best friend.

Each actor approaches the role in a fashion suited to their strengths, like IM who draws upon his experience as a tap dancer. From Broadway in the 20th century to Korea in the 21st, the themes prove Universal. “George M. Cohen Tonight,” is a fun way to brush up on your Korean! Call now to book a ticket.

The musical plays through Nov. 30 at Dongyang Arts Center (dyarthall.co.kr) near Exit 2 of Sinsa Station on Subway Line 3. Tickets are 40,000 won (interpark.com).

Youngeun Museum - Pop & Con Mix Exhibit

Let your imagination run wild. Bright red boots. Marilyn Monroe prints. Comic strip characters. A gigantic mobile and puzzle pieces, all like candy for the eye. The art may be laughable, but you’ll walk away deep in thought.

Check out “Pop & Con Mix,” running until Sept. 22nd. The exhibit is a colorful commentary on mass media, reflecting art and culture in a fresh way. Step into your television box and encounter the familiar in an unfamiliar context.

Pop culture icons are presented in a new light to expand one’s understanding of advertising and popular art. The museum in Kwangju city is currently displaying the work of 12 artists, in a range of mediums including sculpture, print work and painting.

Though accessible by subway and bus, the modern gallery is perched on a grassy field, surrounded by mountains. The two buildings consist of a gallery displaying contemporary art, and a resident-in studio. There, art lovers can watch the artist at work.

Admittance is 2,500 W for adults, 1,500 W for students/children, and a discounted price for groups. Opening hours: Tuesday through Sunday, 10AM – 6PM (entrance before one hour). Closed on Monday. The museum is located in Ssangryung-dong, Kwangju-city. Take bus No. 1113-1 from Gangbyeon subway station, or bus No. 1117-1 from Jamsil Station. Get off at Gwangju Chuk Hyup and walk 15 minutes. Call (031) 761-0137, or visit the website, www.youngeunmuseum.org for further details.

A Buddhist Temple on Gwangak Mountain

Join me on my Sunday adventure:

When these men saw me snapping friends' photos, they wanted theirs taken, too!

We ate a Korean pancake, kimbap and miso soup, at a restaurant near the entrance of Gwangak Mountain. It only cost us 2,000W (2USD) each.

Pigs feet and alcohol for sale at the bottom of the mountain.

There were small barbecued birds for sale, as well as chicken's feet, as seen in the above photo. I tried chicken's feet on my birthday and they are bony, without much meat on them. They taste how they look.

I felt a bit silly wearing a running suit, because my friends showed up at the subway station, in jeans and nice shirts. Who knew you can be under dressed on a mountain!

Buddha's birthday is coming up, so the path was decked out with lanterns.

There is more than one temple on Gwangak Mountain. This one is closest to ground level, and involves only a small climb.

Look at the sunlight pouring in. The day was gorgeous.

View out the temple door. There was a monk wandering around. We had a picnic at that table.

Heading home...

Come to dinner with me in Seoul:

The weather in Korea has been mild and springlike. Min, Hiroko: my Japanese friend, and I went to Seoul's National Cemetery to admire the cherry blossoms, but it was closed for the night and we couldn't get in through the gates. I'd recommend the cemetery to anyone who has an eye for beauty. The trees in bloom were breathtaking, on grounds where 160,000 soldiers and patriots were laid to rest.

I said, "wow," over and over but, to be fair, I'm like that. I "mmm" throughout dinner and gasp when I see something pretty:

I had a great evening, but I'll zoom into things that might be of interest to you:

The Statue of Liberty was in town. As a result, security was heightened... you know the drill:

This photo peels back the curtain on Korea's night culture. You'll be hard pressed to find a store open Sunday morning, but Saturday at 1AM? Buy a new bra. A house plant. A container of pumpkin soup:


Min informed me that men eat turtles with phallic necks, for their stamina-increasing blood properties. These little guys are like Korean Viagra, though they look a little sluggish to me:

Check out our spread of food, all at 10,000 W (10 USD) each. The 10$ includes sweet ginseng wine, for all, and cups of shikhye: rice juice, as a post-dinner refreshment. I wasn't keen on the fish eye glaring at me, from the plate, but he tasted pretty good dipped in Gochujang. The eyeball is high in protein:

Here Min pours boiling water into the left over rice dish: "noo-roong-ji" (literally, scorched rice), to make a delicious soup that we all fought over:


I took this photo because ever since I posted about the "devious" dual-spinning barber poles, after midight, I give these shops the 'I know what you're up to, don't try to fool me,' nod.

Once again, highlighting the commercial use of English in Korea: Visit the Barrel in Wine: