Airport
There are two airports in Seoul.
Gimpo is closer to the city, and Incheon is further away, but seems to be the more popular one for international flights.
Incheon is where we landed and the airport is huge, with planes taking off and landing all around you just as you land yourself. The First plane we see on landing is a surveillance plane that Neo called a rocket plane that blow up buildings.
Accommodation
We stayed at a hotel called GLAD in Mapo.
First of all, Mapo is not the best area to stay in Seoul, as apart from some quirky restaurants, there is nothing much else around. To catch the sightseeing options, there’s a bit of travel involved.
However, if you’re looking for an affordable option, which is still close to an MRT and the nice restaurants, then below are some hotels to consider:
- GLAD Mapo - this is where we stayed, and it’s a purely functional corporate Hotel. Sort of like IBIS.
- Seoul garden - this one appears to have more Heritage, something like the Taj in India.
- Shilla Stay - this one is large, contemporary and possibly the better option as it was booked out during our visit.
Moving around
Google maps and Tripadvisor are not available given government regulations for foreign firms to map Korean neighbourhoods. These are some alternatives to get around:
- NAVER maps is what needs to be downloaded in place of Google maps.
- Uber is thankfully available, and super fast and reliable.
- MRT is another ubiquitous and reliable option.
Food
Korean fried chicken is the national comfort Food and there are outlets that serve just this dish. Even the KFC that we are familiar with has a wider assortment of burgers and fries and not just chicken like these places.
The dish by itself was not native to Korea. Was an American import during the war times in the middle of the century.
Kyochon Chicken Jongno No. 1 Branch
Chimaek, is a combination of fried chicken and beer and it’s short for “chicken” and “maekju” or beer
Dak Galbi is a chicken Barbeque that is cooked right in front of you in a spicy stir fry style. there is an option to add rice at the end of it to get a yummy fried rice cooked in the remnant broth.
Ildossi Dakgalbi Gwanghwamun
Bibimpbap has gained some international popularity, and it’s a confluence of rice, veggies and meat. However, the meat is a new age phenomenon, as the authentic bibimbap is almost entirely veg and at best some squid paste next to the kimchi.
Chaedam-Hwa Mapo
Beef brisket soup
An authentic Korean dish which is delicious and steaming hot beef soup with rice and Kimchi on the side
Gyeongbokgung Mapo
Patbingsu dessert is the common local dessert made of shaved ice and red beans. The red beans version is not easily found, but you can get the shaved ice with all sorts of other fruits.
Korean teas usually accompany the desserts and we tried the Jujube tea that’s a sort of date that’s a soporific, and a lemon tea that was quite tasty.
Ikseondong Tteul An
Shin Ramyun is the Maggi noodles equivalent and you can even find automated cooking machines in hotels and convenience stores that can instantly cook a pack of the noodles for you. Jinramyun is the less spicy version of it.
Sightseeing
Lotte world centre is popular and known as the local Disneyland. We skipped it as the weather was rainy that day.
Lotte aquarium is the indoor option at the Lotte world centre and by far the best aquarium we have seen. Has a wonderful display of jellyfish, seahorses, penguins, a huge beluga whale, loads of sharks, stingrays in a massive glass tank, and some of the strangest underwater creatures that I would have only guessed as Pokémon characters.
Lilliput is a toddler play area accompanied by toddler shops and cafés in a building called the Hyundai centre. Neo could have spent hours in the cafe there. The food is rubbish and he didn’t eat anything there, but loads of toys to keep him company.
Seoul garden has lots of things to see like a butterfly park, insect garden, water fountain and deer. But apart from the deer, everything else was shut on the day we visited.
Bukchon Hanok village is like Zaanse Schans, a village that has preserved the ancient ways of living. Only difference, this one is an actual village where people live and it’s expected to therefore be quiet which walking around.
Can be tough with a kid given the steep roads to wheel a pram and limited number of cafés to chill.
Bampo rainbow fountain is an evening attraction where a fountain sprays off one of Seoul’s bridges and is accompanied by colourful lights and party music.
We caught it from both below and above the bridge and below is definitely the main viewpoint.
Gyeongbokgung Palace is probably the first thing to visit in Seoul, given it’s the largest and oldest of the palaces, and it was the first thing we did too, but definitely not one of Neo’s highlights. Best way to visit is to dress up like the royals which gives free entry, and of course, avoid taking toddlers.
Cheonggyecheon Stream is a man made stream that originates near the Gyeongbokgung Palace and stretches for a good 6km. It started as a water cleansing project that has now become a huge tourist spot.
Ikseong dong is a market that is typically covered in the same visit to Gyeongbokgung Palace and Cheonggyecheon Stream given they’re all in the same neighbourhood. This one has loads of shopping options, and little tea houses that are just perfect for Instagram. The authentic Korean tea and desserts here are not bad either.
