Traveling with Mom: Seoul Edition
林欧枢
a year ago
My mom has always loved watching Korean dramas, so this holiday I took her to Seoul for a trip. Before we left, we bought T money cards, and it was fine for taking buses and the subway! Nowadays in Seoul 🚌 they basically don't accept cash 💰 anymore, so make sure you're prepared. Don't be like me, having the card but no money loaded on it at first!
Actually, sometimes taxis in Seoul 🚕 are not that expensive compared to Hong Kong, and it's worth it for two or three to four people to take a taxi! But my mom and I tried 🚖🚇🚌 everything! (The hotel is in Gangnam, and it's quite convenient to get around)
The first night was mom's birthday, so I wanted to treat her to Korean beef. I saw a recommendation on Creatrip for 'One Slice of Sirloin' and made a reservation online, so no need to wait in line when we got there! We ordered a set, and the staff helped with the grilling. It was very delicious. According to the introduction, Korean beef comes from yellow cattle and has less fat, so grilling requires careful timing. It's best to let them grill it for us!
Really no dregs ~ very juicy, if you like barbecue, don't miss it ~ even at 9 o'clock there are people lining up, it seems to be very popular!
Since the restaurant is in Myeongdong, I visited Gyeongbokgung Palace and Cheong Wa Dae during the day. The former presidential residence was not as magnificent as imagined, but it had a lot of Korean characteristics. If you can manage, you can visit the presidential residence (home), though it's a bit far and located halfway up a hill, requiring some uphill walking. There's no entrance fee for Cheong Wa Dae, you just need to show your passport to get a ticket!
On a sunny day, the Blue House is indeed very dignified and elegant. The blue tiles paired with the snow-white buildings always have a sense of majesty. However, while searching for information online, I found some interesting rumors about the feng shui of the Blue House. If you are interested, you can look it up!
Gyeongbokgung Palace actually evokes some feelings in me. Although it was diligently rebuilt after the war, it still feels a bit regrettable. Especially when I watched 'Empress Myeongseong' with my mom as a child, seeing the palace of Empress Myeongseong and her tragic end, I deeply felt that we are just tiny grains of sand in history. So we should cherish the present life and enjoy eating, drinking, and having fun! However, a long time ago, you could enter Gyeongbokgung Palace for free if you wore a hanbok. I did consider it, but my mom didn’t really want to, thinking it was a bit troublesome to change clothes, so we didn’t participate! But if you like taking photos, it’s really unique! I think promoting Korea's traditional cultural attire in this way is very meaningful and distinctive!
The weather at Gyeongbokgung Palace and Cheong Wa Dae is very similar. If you exit through the gate near the garden, you'll directly reach Cheong Wa Dae! If you plan to visit both consecutively, be mindful of the time, as the last entry to Cheong Wa Dae is around 5:30 PM!
PS I had Samgyetang at Tosokchon near Gyeongbokgung for lunch. It's said to be very famous, so many people come and line up for it. I waited about 15 minutes before getting my food around 1 PM. I think it's all OK. Indeed, it has ginseng, glutinous rice, and chicken, which are very nourishing. The broth is rich. Grandma had black chicken, and I had white chicken. I didn't find a big difference. There is also ginseng wine. If you have time, you can try it when you are nearby!
There are two locations of 土俗村雞湯~ because there were many people, we were directed to eat at the branch across the street.
On the second day 🌞 early in the morning, I had an appointment with Creatrip to make kimchi~ I think it's perfect for moms 👩 or elders! My mom has always loved eating kimchi, so it's a great chance to learn how to make traditional Korean kimchi! The kimchi academy is located in Bukchon Hanok Village, so we can also experience Hanok houses at the same time!
The teacher is very interesting, and their English, Korean, and Chinese are very fluent! Also, because the weather this year isn't good, the teacher joked about how the napa cabbage 🥬 didn't grow thick and strong enough! Furthermore, the teacher emphasized that we are learning the most traditional method, so no apple or 🍐 was added, but actually, each household's Korean kimchi tastes different, so they suggested everyone could modify it according to their own taste!
The teacher and staff will arrange the materials for everyone, and the cabbage will be pickled in advance to facilitate quick completion! Finally, the teacher will help us with packaging and vacuum sealing, making it convenient for air travel! There's no need to worry! The teacher also gave us kimchi pancakes to try, the kimchi was quite sour haha! Looks like it's kimchi~ I prefer the less sour fresh kimchi!
After class, you can visit Hanok Village. There are many cafes and unique shops nearby! It's also nice to walk around, especially with the good weather now.
