Seoul Walk

Tokyo, the capital of Japan, is located Eastern side of the principal island Honshu. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the imperial palace and the house of the Japanese family. It is the political center of the nation and the cultural main thing. One of finances of the three worlds centers of order with London and New York, it holds the greatest metropolitan economy in the world. With much of museums, the parks and the theatres, Tokyo is to become destinations of the principal tourists.

The great number of tourists also gave balance to the hotels of Tokyo in the country. They took marvellous arrangements for the housing of these tourists. Independently of him, there are many resources and inns to accomodate the travellers. These various means of housing have affectionate activities of different recreation to revitalize the life of the travellers. There was the first Disney park the built United States external and not poss?dents by the company of Walt Disney. It is the third the majority of park visited of Disney in the world, so much there are many hotels of Tokyo Disneyland around him, which offer the comfortable stay and attract many visitors for his place in the proximity with the park of Disney.

The hotels of Tokyo offer a great selection of network of hotels, extending from five luxurious star hotels to much of cheap hotels in Japan. There is innumerable equipment of part and equipment which provides simple comfort to their customers. The rooms were correctly cleaned and equipped well with all the modern equipment and approvals. Some of principal tourist attractions of the country are: -

• The zoo of Ueno the zoological gardens of Ueno is the oldest zoo in Japan. It has more than 2600 animals of 464 different species. Poussettes of baby and the racks with tokens are available.
• The park of the life of sea of Tokyo the aquarium is located in the park of Kasai Rinkai. There is also the aquarium of shingawa to appreciate the underwater world. There are dolphins and the otary shows to amuse the children. There is also another international sun aquarium located at the town of sun, easily accessible close to JR trains.
• The ground of Sanrio Puro here, one can turn boat find the house of theatre, of Kitty of discovery, Sanrio character by chance, and machine of time of the dreams. It also has a center of baby, where the equipment of warm water and sterilization is available. One does not allow poussettes of baby inside the park.
• Hakone and built Fuji the passages are published to arrive at Hakone of Tokyo. There are many free passages available, which are valid three days. It also includes a transport of return and admission discounted to various attractions in the sector. There are seven kinds of transport such as the train, the bus, guided cruising, the funicular, the Fuji frame of ropeway etc and Fuji five lakes are some different great sectors to be visited.

Finding love in Korea - Korea is a fascinating country in many ways and none more so, than when it comes to love, dating and marriage. Finding love in never easy, but in some ways it is even harder in Korea with the majority of Korean men required to do Military Service for two years. (It is possible to work in industry instead, i.e. in a computer company if you have certain skills, but you must do an extra six months service, doing two and half years in total). Many Korean men have girlfriends before going into the army, but most find themselves single again with their girlfriends unwilling to wait the two years.

The soldiers do get some free time, but it is very limited and puts a big strain on relationships. Some lucky blighters do have girls waiting for them when they finish service. It seems only fair that maybe Korean women should also have to do some type of service, but perhaps for the community or local old people or hospitals. Women could maybe do six months of service, while the length of service for men could maybe be decreased to one year. It is becoming clear that North Korea lacks the military hardware and army to realistically attack South Korea in the future, thus the need for military service seems lessened. One-year service would still provide a certain amount of training for the men. Having men do less time in the military though, would of course increase unemployment, with thousands of more men in the employment market for an added one or two years. It would take a brave Prime Minister to abolish military service, although it would be surely be a good vote winner for the 19 - 24 age group.

The process in Korea is set up excellently for meeting a partner and I wish the same system has existed in England when I was at school. I was a very shy kid and that does not bode well for finding a girlfriend. It is not easy to go up to a stranger and ask them out/for a date. In Korea, a wonderful solution to this problem exists with the idea of ‘Group Meetings’. Similar to blind dates in Western society, these meetings usually involve three or four people from each sex, all going out on one date together. In addition. Blind dates are very common and popular. Blind dates are in fact, the most common way for Koreans to find a partner. Blind dates of course, are still difficult and it was always interesting when students always told me about their blind date experiences.

Seoul, the flourishing capital of South Korea, was moulded way back in the 14th century during the Joseon dynasty. At first glance, it is a big, crowded, noisy mega city full of glass and concrete sky scrapers and traffic clogged multi lane highways. The sleek skyscrapers scattered throughout the city combines with the old palaces and shrines, leaving such a sight to behold.

Seoul is by far the largest city in South Korea and the unquestioned economic, political and cultural hub of the country. An ever growing population of nearly 10 million people, making it the fifth largest city in the world.

Seoul is located in the northwest corner of the country. It border with North Korea is only about 40km from the city centre. Seoul was given its present name in 1945, and was chosen to be the capital of the Republic of Korea in 1948.

Experiencing everything Korean, from the bawdy red light districts to the calm traditional teahouse any time of the day makes Seoul an adventure worth taking.

To experience the traditional culture of Korea while remaining in the heart of the city, try Insa dong. With art galleries, traditional craft stores, antique art dealers, traditional tea houses and traditional restaurants it is simply the place for tourists wanting to experience traditional Korea. The area is especially good for finding antiques in old paintings, ceramics, wooden vessels, and antique furniture can all be found in abundance at Insa dong. The 70 or so art galleries in the area also make Insa dong ideal as a cultural space.

Modern design and technology can be witnessed simultaneously in the Leeum, Samsung Museum of Art which opened last October. Designed by a trio of daring western architects, it features a childrens museum by Rem Koolhaas, a contemporary art gallery by Jean Nouvel and Mario Bottos terracotta twin towers tamped to the brim with Buddhist relics. The museum will even lend you a palmtop computer to guide you round the childrens museum and entrance to the exhibitions is free

There are plenty of places to shop.

A temperate climate in the summer months of June to September you should expect temperatures of around 20 degrees. Autumn lasts from September to November and you should expect warm days and cool nights. In the winter months of December to March you should expect temperatures to very low with an average of 0 degrees.

Surrounded by mountains, Seoul is a vibrant and fascinating city with a population of about 10 million. With more than a million registered motor vehicles and dominated by skyscrapers and multi-lane highways, it still manages to maintain a hidden history of ancient temples, palaces, pagodas and peaceful gardens. This ancient city has been the capital of Korea since the 14th century.

Weather

Seoul’s has a distinct four seasons:

Spring - nice weather. Temperatures range from 16°C (62°F) to 24°C (75°F).

Summer - hot weather and heavy monsoons (as well as typhoons). Temperatures range from 24°C (75°F) to 35°C (95°F).

Autumn - blue skies, sunshine and spectacular foliage fall. Little rain. Temperatures range from 12°C (55°F) to 20°C (70°F).

Winter - cold and dry. A good time to visit if you like skiing. Very few tourists and freezing weather. Temperatures between -6°C (20°F) to 10°C (53°F) with January bringing the most snow.

Shopping

Seoul is a heaven for shoppers with numerous mega-shopping centers. You can really shop till you drop. Seoul is famous for high quality goods coupled with excellent and reasonable prices.Only one caution: be prepared for large and massive crowds. Usually people including most tourists are polite, but there can be some pushing and shoving at times in and around the major shopping areas.

Namdaemun (The Great South Gate) Market

The downtown Namdaemun Market, the biggest traditional market in Korea (covers about 10 acres), offers everything from ginseng to kimchi to military uniforms. Among the popular items for tourists are clothes, shoes, fabrics, tableware, flowers, ginseng products, toys, and watches. It is a world-famous shopping paradise and an attraction that tourists should not miss. Most shops have their own factories and make the products themselves offering both wholesale and retail at an extremely low prices. Prices are generally 10% to 20% lower than prices at other markets. Hours vary by store, so it’s advisable to plan out in advance according with a shopping list before you start the actual shopping. Wholesalers operate from midnight to 6:00 a.m., and retailers are open from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Although most retailers close their stores on the 1st and 3rd Sundays of each month, many street vendors operate stalls in the alleys. Near the main street to the north of the market there is also an extensive underground arcade. Visitors can get travel information and interpretation guide service in English and Japanese for free.

Yongsan Electronics Market

Yongsan Electronics Market was formed by a host of small electronic dealers and has since developed into the greatest electronic shopping town in the East. It covers a whopping 78,650 square meters in size. It has more than 7,000 shops in 24 shopping centers which includes Electronics Land, Najin, Seonin, Wonhyo and a computer wholesale center. Visitors to this shopping town can enjoy shopping for almost all kinds of the latest electronic products and components, including computers, games and lighting equipment. The prices are about 10 to 30% cheaper for Korean made products, while imported items can go as low as 50% lower than elsewhere. Also, it is possible to receive larger discounts at the beginning of the year, at the beginning of the school year or during holidays. Most major stores are open from 10:00 am to 8:00 pm.

Shinch’on

One of the most famous shopping streets in Seoul, Shinch’on is located within walking distance of 4 universities. The are restaurants, cafes, cinemas and night clubs filled with youths wearing the latest fashions. It was a wild place to be on eve of public holidays.

Insa-dong

If you’re shopping for antiques, Insa-dong is the place. It’s a narrow street lined with antique stores, art galleries and secondhand bookstores. Dubbed “Mary’s Alley” by foreigner to Seoul, Insa-dong is the best place to purchase antiques, reproductions, calligraphy, paintings, and a wide variety of implements and articles from Korea’s past. Traditional teahouses and art galleries are also concentrated in this area.

Itaewon

Itaewon is famous for bargain hunting. If you like to dig through piles of junk to find hidden treasures, this is the place to go. Here you can find branded goods which were rejected for export at very attractive prices. These items are not bad in quality, they just are of irregular or odd sizes.

Apkujong

Apkujong-South of the river (Kangnam) is a place of fashion. It`s the land of upscale Department Stores, funky cool boutiques and luxury branded shops. This is the happening place for the latest in fashion. If you have the money, they have the goods!

Techno Mart

Techno Mart, a large shopping center, is occupied by more than 2,000 electronic shops located from the 1st to 8th floor. You can purchase electronic products, computers, sound systems, communication equipment, CDs and much more. Prices here tend to be 10% to 20% lower than other places.

Offering a variety of goods from the antiques to the latest in fashion and pricing ranging from bargain prices to top end exclusive prices, Seoul is truly a heaven for shoppers.

Over 20 million Koreans live in and around Seoul, yet it is one of few a cities that has successfully preserved its buildings from the past and integrated them into the skyline of a growing global city.

Seoul is loud and bustling, as befits one of the most densely populated metropolises on Earth. Lines of cars and throngs of people press their way through the cavernous streets. Oversized illuminated advertising marks the way, selling products in a foreign script. The subway system is Seoul’s new and perfectly organized underworld. In the midst of all this chaos, visitors may suddenly come upon an oasis of stillness in one of the country’s numerous temples, parks and pavilions.

City on the river.

Seoul was founded in 1394, following the demise of the Koryo Kingdom (1392). Its progress was long associated with the rise and success of the Choson dynasty (1392-1910). After searching for a suitable location for his city, King Taejo, better known as Yi Seonggye, decided on the north bank of the Han River. A small village named Hanyang was the only settlement in the area at that time. The name of the renowned Hanyang University, one of over 300 institutions of higher learning in Seoul, recalls that small village.

A modern sports city.

Contemporary Seoul came into existence during the first half of the twentieth century, and largely through the influence of the Japanese. The old city wall gave way to modern buildings, with only the ancient city gates preserved. After the catastrophic Korean War (1950-1953), nearly all of Seoul had to be rebuilt.

From that point onward, Seoul grew at a very rapid pace. The city underwent massive changes, at times with little planning and consideration of their long-term impact. Trams ran until 1968, only to disappear almost overnight. They were quickly replaced by an underground subway system. The economic upswing of 1988 that followed in the wake of the Seoul Summer Olympic Games was a boon to the cultural, financial and sporting life of the city, and the sports world again turned its eyes to Seoul in 2002, when the FIFA World Cup football championship was held here.

Kings’ palaces with curious names.

But Seoul is much more than a showcase for sporting events. it is the cultural heart of South Korea, where universities, theatres, museums and more abound.

When Seoul was founded in 1394, the Gyeongbokgung (Palace of Shining Happiness) was the first royal residence built. Happiness did not, unfortunately, shine on the palace and its inhabitants forever.

Serfs burned the palace to the ground in 1592, and the death of Queen Min in 1895 led to the relocation of the royal family to Deoksugung (Palace of Virtuous Longevity). In 1997, the Changdeokgung (Palace of Prospering Virtue) was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List.

It was built as an addition to Gyeongbokgung, and was the only structure destroyed in the 1592 uprising that was immediately rebuilt. Until 1872 and again from 1907 to 1910, it served as the seat of government of the Korean kings. The Secret Garden of Biwon is also especially worth seeing. The impressive burial cairns of King Sejo and his wife Yun Chon-hi are located there, just 30 km north of the city.