HELLO KOREA! (Day 3: Gyeongbokgung Palace, Bukchon Hanok Village & Myeong-dong)

DAY 3 (APRIL 14)

It was a rainy Sunday, so the tourist guide decided that we'd visit indoors first.  We went to the Ginseng Shop, then to the Cosmetic Shop and Souvenir Shop.  Basically, we were more into knowing the products of Korea, and buying them if we'd like to.

at the Cosmetic shop, we have no such thing for Cosmetics, so we bought nothing there haha

We had very few photos in these first three places since photos are not so allowed there.  

Thank God the sun decided to show up in the afternoon! We were able to enjoy Gyeongbokgung Palace, Bukchon Hanok Village and Myeong-dong by then.  

             

At 2:00 pm, we witnessed the replacing of guards ceremony.

Photo taken by Jini
 

First photo is Ms. Lee, our tourist guide.

Also in the palace is the National Museum of Korea, but we did not go inside since we were only given 10 minutes.  Instead, we spent the time in taking pictures outside the museum since there were cherry blossoms!

After Gyeongbokgung, we had a 10-minute stop at Bukchon Hanok Village.

Bukchon Hanok Village is a 600-year-old Korean traditional village.  It was the residential quarter of the high-ranking government officials during the Joseon Dynasty. Now, it's a common residential area, but is flocked by many tourists nowadays.  

 If you wanna immerse yourselves in the traditional Korean culture, then this is the place for you.

Photo taken by Jini

After Bukchon, we went to one of the primary shopping districts in Seoul: Myeong-dong!

Since we were broke travelers, (yes, we were) we did not shop till we dropped, but we walked and walked, did window shopping till we ran out of energy 😆

Myeong-dong was full of people, so you gotta really stay on track, or else you'll get swayed by the crowd.  We did a lot of walking this day; and since Myeong-dong was cold as the sun set, we randomly stepped inside a shop for their heater haha

 Baked Cheese and Fried teokbokki 😍 (if only we don't get busog immediately, we could have eaten more street food 😫 who can relate?)

 Myeong-dong is a must-visit place in Seoul.  With lots of shops, from clothing to food to cosmetics, you'll never run out of choices, but you'll run out of money! Haha!

  THAT'S IT FOR DAY 3! (Big thanks to my sister for some of the photos!)

Red Ginseng Shop

Cosmetic Shop

Souvenir Shop

Lunch

Gyeongbokgung Palace and National Folk Museum

passed by the Blue House

Bukchon Hanok Village

Myeong-dong

I mentioned that we were broke travellers.  Well, I am not shy about that. We only had like enough pocket money, and we did not have our parents with us, so this trip truly taught me more on budgeting.  That in traveling, you don't need to buy many stuff.  Buy only what you think is nice and what you can use a lot.   Some things are only good for the eyes, but if not buying it bothers you a lot, then that's the signal.  Think twice, don't be impulsive.

Tip: If you wanna buy cheap souvenirs, buy at Myeong-dong or Insa-dong.

Today, I wore black and pink set of clothes: Black beret hat, pink denim jacket (GAP) given by my Auntie Jing, a black turtle neck top, and a pink slacks.

Radiating sunshine,

Hannah Borja

tour package availed at