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daninkorea
Joined: 06 Sep 2005
Location: Seoul
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 Posted: Mon Dec 12, 2005 9:46 pm Post subject: What do you do when your parents come to stay??? |
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Hey all, a few of questions for you:
My mother and little (well not so little) brother are coming to visit me and having moved to Seoul only a few months ago I need some ideas for what to show them and where to take them. These are my initial thoughts for things to do in the day: palaces; DMZ; insadong; seoul tower; hiking; and shopping. What am I missing?
I am really looking for some Korean restaurants that you could recomend that are have good Korean food, look good, and will impress the folks. I live in Bucheon but am going to spend about 5 days in Seoul, so the last questions is where shall I get them to stay? I was thinking about East Seoul, but we can stay anywhere really. Are there some nice clean Yeogwans or Minbaks that someone knows about? I saw a homestay advertised but I can't remember where.....
Thanks for your help!!
Dan |
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Ekuboko
Joined: 22 Dec 2004
Location: ex-Gyeonggi
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| Posted: Mon Dec 12, 2005 10:17 pm Post subject: Re: What do you do when your parents come to stay??? |
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| daninkorea wrote: |
| I am really looking for some Korean restaurants that you could recomend that are have good Korean food, look good, and will impress the folks. |
Swiss James went to an impressive Korean restaturant recently; check out his blog for it (pics and more!). |
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tacon101
Joined: 31 Oct 2005
Location: seoul
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| Posted: Mon Dec 12, 2005 10:33 pm Post subject: |
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wow those outdoor activities are going to be freezing if they're coming over in winter...
there's also a nice huge new museum (i was there the day before it opened, so i know it's a nice huge place, but i don't know how great of a museum it actually is)
also, insadong has great little galleries...don't know if you've ventured in to any of them, or have just been for the souvenirs |
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Grotto
Joined: 21 Mar 2004
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| Posted: Mon Dec 12, 2005 11:25 pm Post subject: |
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| Folk village is a great way to spend a day...dress warm and bring along a blanket or two.....great food at the restaurant at the rear of the folk village..great souveniers and you get an insight into Korean history and culture. |
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STP
Joined: 09 May 2005
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| Posted: Mon Dec 12, 2005 11:50 pm Post subject: |
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| go to Iteawon look for a travel agent and book them on a flight to Thailand ASAP |
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Swiss James
Joined: 26 Nov 2003
Location: Shanghai
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| Posted: Tue Dec 13, 2005 12:43 am Post subject: Re: What do you do when your parents come to stay??? |
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| Ekuboko wrote: |
| daninkorea wrote: |
| I am really looking for some Korean restaurants that you could recomend that are have good Korean food, look good, and will impress the folks. |
Swiss James went to an impressive Korean restaturant recently; check out his blog for it (pics and more!). |
thanks for the plug Ekuboko, here's the link to that entry
http://lostseouls.com/blog.php?date=nov-05#04_Nov_2005
It's called "Yongsusan" and has an english website at:
http://www.yongsusan.co.kr/en/sub3/sub3.htm
The branch I went to is the Samchung branch- call them on 02 739-5599 for directions or a booking (prolly won't need to book though). In fact that whole street is full of cool restaurants, coffee shops and galleries.
If my parents loved me enough to visit, I would definitely take them to Gyeongbok palace (very close to that restaurant actually- with those two things you've got a full day right there). They let you dress up as royal guards, and it's just a very beautiful place.
Also on my list would be Insadong for shopping and hopefully a stop at "The Old Teahouse"- (pretty close to the Jong-no-3-ga end, down a tiny side alley but there's a signpost from the main strip along with a restaurant called "Arirang").
If my folks were fit enough I'd walk the entire length of Jong-no from the Milennium building and Jonggak Belfry all the way down Jong-no-1-ga, 2-ga, 3-ga, 4-ga and 5-ga.
Tonnes of stuff to see, street food to eat, anyone's who's never been to Korea / Asia before will be stopping every few metres to look at something. Would also go to a temple- any temple really- there's a good one near Yonsei university called "Bongwonsa".
Personally I love Namdaemun market- it's mad crowded with a lot of weird stuff for sale and some bargains- you can eat at one of the market stalls and watch people go past, I always enjoy that bit more than anything else.
All of this stuff is kind of in North and West Seoul, so that's where I'd stay- lots of yeogwans and cheap motels in Sinchon. East Seoul I don't know much about cos I don't adventure much past what I know. |
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Bob O.
Joined: 20 Oct 2005
Location: The 'San
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| Posted: Tue Dec 13, 2005 12:53 am Post subject: |
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| Grotto wrote: |
| Folk village is a great way to spend a day... |
Agreed. My parents loved the Folk Village. I would also suggest the War Memorial Museum. |
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DanielInKorea
Joined: 28 Nov 2005
Location: Not a small village
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| Posted: Tue Dec 13, 2005 5:24 am Post subject: |
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| STP wrote: |
| go to Iteawon look for a travel agent and book them on a flight to Thailand ASAP |
������^^ |
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Ekuboko
Joined: 22 Dec 2004
Location: ex-Gyeonggi
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| Posted: Thu Dec 15, 2005 3:43 am Post subject: |
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| Just had another thought: The NANTA Show. It is very cool. Don't miss it. |
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schwa
Joined: 18 Jan 2003
Location: Yap
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| Posted: Thu Dec 15, 2005 5:30 am Post subject: |
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| Ekuboko wrote: |
| Just had another thought: The NANTA Show. It is very cool. Don't miss it. |
Good call.
I took my niece to that this summer on the last day of her visit & I'm sure it will rate high in her recollections. |
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jlb
Joined: 18 Sep 2003
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| Posted: Thu Dec 15, 2005 5:15 pm Post subject: |
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What about getting out of Seoul for a trip to the mountains? Songnisan is amazing. Find a nice temple to relax in and a nice restaurant at the base of the mountain for some Korean pancakes.
Also, Buyeo and Gonju in central Korea are amazing, very peaceful and lots to see.
Go to a Hot Spring!
There is definitely more to Korea than Seoul and for them to not experience it would be a shame. |
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schwa
Joined: 18 Jan 2003
Location: Yap
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| Posted: Fri Dec 16, 2005 3:08 am Post subject: |
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| jlb wrote: |
| Go to a Hot Spring! |
Another good call. A special Korean experience. |
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zappadelta
Joined: 31 Aug 2004
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| Posted: Fri Dec 16, 2005 3:33 am Post subject: |
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| Namiseom is beautiful as well, but not in Seoul |
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BigBlackEquus
Joined: 05 Jul 2005
Location: Lotte controls Asia with bad chocolate!
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| Posted: Sat Dec 17, 2005 8:10 am Post subject: |
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| First, book a room for them at one of the Yagwons in Haebangchang. Introduce them to all of the culture the area has to offer. Then, take the subway up to Seoul Station and show them the older part of it. Pull up a sheet of cardboard and share some soju with the locals. After you are good and drunk, head over to City Hall and throw your soju bottles at the men wearing hockey masks. Try to avoid the hose, because it is cold. Before they see it was you who threw the bottles, head over to the Sindang area and pet the caged animals. I hear there is some good soup to be had in this area, although a bit gamey, so break for lunch here. After lunch, it's time for Sportsmassage, or a nice haircut for your little brother at a barber shop. Find a Family Mart and sit outside with a couple of beers just to kill time until evening. That's when it's time to take the subway back over to Cheongyamni, walk around a bit, and enjoy the pretty lighted windows. Remind mom not to take any photos, unless she wants to see what a real Korean mafia guy looks like. When she has finished marvelling at the platform shoes the girls are wearing under the long skirts, take her home in the taxi, and let her rest up. Then head your brother over to the Sinyongsan area for more lights and a peek at any electronic stores that may still be open. Be sure to get your rest, because Songtan is on tomorrow's itinerary. |
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daninkorea
Joined: 06 Sep 2005
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Mon Dec 19, 2005 12:29 am Post subject: Thanks for your help |
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Firstly thanks for your help with this.
So what I should do with my parents (well actually only my mum) and my little brother (and he's 200 lbs and 27):
See Nanta
Visit the folk museum
Go to the restaurant that Swiss James (Surely Swiss Tony is better?) recommended
Get hiking
Go to a hot spring - any recomendations of ones we can all go to together? I'm not sure my 60+ yr old mother is ready for Korean nudity and the staring.
Visit some of the markets
I think we are also going to spend some time in either China or Japan - Has anyone been to Beijing in January? If so is it much colder than here?
Thanks again for all your help.
Dan |
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