Over the past three weeks, we have traveled through Japan by train, bus, boat, bicycle and the always trusty leg car, where we visited mystical temples, ate in strange restaurants, slept in Love Hotels and ate the best sushi in the world. Now we have ended up in South Korea, where you could previously read blogs about the beautiful island of Jeju and the Busan region. In this blog I show you how you can backpack in Seoul, the capital of South Korea.
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Where to stay when backpacking in Seoul?
When looking for a suitable hostel, we look at the price, the location and the facilities that can help us get started in this mega-city. The traffic is fine, but you have to know which bus to take and more importantly, where it goes! In our search we end up at Kimchee Downtown Guesthouse. The location is very central, the prices are dirt cheap, there is a nice backpackers atmosphere and you can easily cook yourself with a supermarket around the corner!
Breathtaking views over the metropolis of Seoul
Most of the sights and the heart of Korean history, culture and tradition are located around the capital, Seoul. We cross the country by bus to learn more about Korea and dive into the world’s fourth largest city, because Seoul is the city with the most inhabitants after Tokyo, Jakarta and Karachi. In addition, Seoul is spread over a huge area, making it difficult to determine where to start. Which works out well; the city is located in a valley with a number of high mountain peaks in the area. So we can start with a look from above! If you go backpacking in South Korea, the capital Seoul is the place to be.
In the north of the city we climb the highest mountain in the area, called Bukhansan, and after a tough walk we emerge high above the clouds. This gives us a glimpse of the rugged nature in the mountains of South Korea, but we have not yet got the very best view. A day later we climb another mountain, Mount Ansan, which is closer to the center. The view we have there really exceeds every expectation. We even stay on top of the mountain for hours and look out over the whole of Seoul and the adjacent city of Incheon with our mouths open. When the sun sets and the lights come on, we realize that this is one of the most beautiful views we have ever seen.
Hop-on Hop-off buses
In many cities around the world you can find so-called hop-on-hop-off buses that pass the most beautiful places in the city, but nowhere else in the world have I seen them so cheap! In Seoul you can spend a day driving past all the sights for just seven euros, so you can get the most out of it. We start at the most famous palace in South Korea: Chyeongbok Gung for a history lesson. The palace has been conquered and burned down so many times over the years by just about every nation that it is a miracle that it is still standing. From there we visit a few other palaces and visit a very special place. In one of the palace gardens, which I will simply call the Piemeltuin, we find a lot of strange statues!
Koreans are quite superstitious about everything that has to do with sex. For example, they eat living squid tentacles because it is said to be good for their libido. But they also pray to these stone mega-dildos, because it would increase the chance of having a boy during childbirth. Isn’t that very sexist, you might think? No, because in the corner of the park there is also a large female specimen, which may leave even less to the imagination. What a special culture!
In Korea, war is anything but taboo
Another important place that you cannot miss while backpacking in Seoul is the War Memorial of Korea. It really is the most bizarre and largest museum I have ever seen. That is not really strange, because Korea has experienced a lot of war over the centuries. You might expect a sad place, but on the contrary; this museum is about national pride in the fact that South Korea has always regained its independence. That national pride is immediately apparent when we walk inside. The only other visitors at that moment are hundreds of schoolchildren who are spoon-fed this pride. Some classes consist of kids who may be just three years old! Those muppets were simply placed in front of a large screen showing a massacre from the Korean War. For comparison: in our country you have to be sixteen to see a film with a drop of blood in it!
A hundred mini villages make up the city of Seoul
The city of Seoul consists of many different neighborhoods, each with its own character. That’s why we visit a number of different neighborhoods. . The most traditional district of Insadong is well worth a visit, with many small streets and vendors. I buy a new cap for a few euros and we start looking for new socks. Because you have to do something when you’re away from home for a year. I just keep finding out that size 45 for Asians is about the same as size 52 for us. You can’t find it! We also find many nice little restaurants there and an entire carnival parade actually passes by! So there is always something to do in this cultural heart of the city.
Shopping in Seoul
If you are going backpacking in Seoul, make some room in your bag, because this is the ideal place for a day of shopping. In the Myeong Dong district we find the more chic shops and since I am going out with a woman, a visit to this district is a must! Unfortunately for Suus, she has to make do with a backpack that you can fit into an adult penguin by hanging and strangling; actual shopping is a difficult part of the trip. We therefore stick to some small souvenirs. Also, Myeong Dong is where the best street food stalls in the city can be found! And to use the same comparison of Suus’ backpack for the contents of my stomach; A whole penguin colony can fit in there! Enough storage space. Especially a Korean dish with chili sauce, chicken and dough balls: Dak Galbi!
To be continued…
In the past ten days we have gotten a good idea of Korean culture. The country has its own character, with sweet, warm people and sometimes some strange superstitions. The nature is beautiful and the history is almost too extensive to comprehend. A controversial country that, despite a lot of war, appears very positive, that is what stands out the most. You can also perfectly backpack in Seoul and all of South Korea!
