Just A Moment In Seoul

Capital of South Korea

We visited Seoul for some fun-filled days, before winter snowfall and after their hot humid summer, basking in the comfort of perfect late fall weather while relishing the latest in Korean culture, arresting art, delicious food, and stellar shopping.

Seoul was founded in 18 BC over 2000 years ago but is a bustling metropolis holding a cityscape full of modern skyscrapers beautifully juxtaposed with original palaces, temples and gates hundreds of years old. Similar to New York City's boroughs, the city is divided into 25 districts or "gu" which are further divided into neighborhoods or "dong."

Seoul's streamlined subways are spotlessly clean along with the rest of the super high-tech city which over 10 million people call home. It's where pop culture (and K-pop) coincides with old street markets filled with mouthwatering fare. This is all surrounded in breathtaking summits (the country is 70% mountains) and the vast and placating Han River (the city was strategically built around the massive waterway).

The warm kindred spirits of South Koreans who have endured generations then and now of serious war torn politics show an undying loyalty for their country, heartfelt care for family, education, health and well-being (including a noticeable attentiveness and kind respect to its elderly and children) along with a passion for forging ahead in the tech industry, beauty industry (skincare!), finance, art, and consumerism.

Seoul Snapshots

Seoul Tree — Tree wrapped in tender care

Seoul Seaweed — How many kinds of seaweed ?!

Seoul Teddy Bear Store — Teddy bears every size, color

Seoul Subway Window View Seoul Sky — Seoul Sky tower in the sky

Seoul Shinsaegae Dept Store Holiday Lights — Dept stores in holiday mode

Seoul Karaoke Private Room — Private karaoke room please

Seoul Sheet Masks — Which face sheet mask?

Seoul Rice Cake Treats Making — Pretty rice cake treats

Seoul Red Bean Walnut Pastries — Red bean walnut filled yum!

Seoul Rice Seed Crackers — Seeded rice crackers wow!

Seoul Old Next To New Architeture — Very old next to very new

Seoul Palace Ganghwamun Gate — Mountain, palace, urbanscape

Seoul Night Lights Billiards Building — Bright lights at night

Seoul Marketnbindaeduk Lady — Street market "bindaeduk"

Seoul Market Lady Seafood — Nandaemun market homemade

Seoul Market Lady Pickled Peppers — Love pickled everything

Seoul Marinated Crab — Marinated softshell crab

Seoul Lobster — Grilled lobster decadence

Seoul Jars Outdoor Storage — Earthen jar outdoor storage

Seoul Girl Bust Sculpture — Sculpture fine art

Seoul Incense Holder — Warrior woman incense holder

Seoul Ginseng — Ginseng good for body & soul

Seoul I Seoul U Scupture — "I SEOUL U" too

Seoul Gimbap Cu — Korean sushi = veggie gimbap

Seoul Gwangwamun With Bus Traffic — Gwanghwamun behind traffic

Seoul Ice Cream Cone — Best ice cream ever

Seoul Galleria Dept Store Holiday Exterior — Galleria decked out in holiday

Seoul Bird Eyes View From Seoul Sky — Bird's-eye view of Seoul

Seoul Eemo Bu Makguli Rice Wine — Uncle's popular makguli

Seoul Food Court Yukgaejang Soup Tray — Food court food

Seoul Dried Fish With Rope — Gulbi - salted, dried, delicious

Seoul Dongdaemun Design Plaza Ii — Dongdaemun Design Plaza

Seoul Dongdaemun Design Plaza — Dongdaemun market skyline

Seoul Deer Sculpture — Deer on pedestal sculpture

Seoul City Hall Sculpture Holiday Decor Cage — Holiday cheer, city hall fountain

Seoul City Demonstration — Political demo, not a parade

Seoul Blueberry Muffin Pastries — Fancy pastries, Itaewon

Seoul Chocolates — Chocolate, toilet paper picture

Seoul Ceramic Gold Owl Jar — Marvelous Korean ceramics

Seoul Beer Bottles — Specialty beers made in Seoul

Seoul 7 Eleven — 7 Eleven with Korean stuff

Seoul Market Chopsticks — Stainless chopsticks for sale

Seoul Statue And Sky — Statue guarding the city