Exploring the once forbidden Seoul Fortress Wall

Built in 1396 many are calling it Korea's Great Wall. The wall surrounds the entire vicinity of central Seoul.

Marie Webb at the Malbawi entrance of the wall.

    Now that spring is on its way, enjoy hiking around the Seoul Fortress Wall without the slippery snow covered hiking trail. A few weeks ago on a random Sunday, I decided to venture a quick ten minute bus ride from my apartment to get a glimpse of the wall. Without checking the weather, a full on snow storm met me and my friends on the mountain! But the snow didn't stop us as we were determined to explore this old yet newly popular historical icon of Seoul.
    None of my Korean friends, co-workers, or students have ever talked about vising the Fortress Wall. This is most likely because the area was off limits for so long. According to the Seoul Fortress Website the area around Mt. Bukaksan was closed for 38 years to the public, and was only a military security area. The military presence still remains, mostly because portions of the wall go back along the mountain directly behind Cheong Wa Dae (The Blue House) which is equivalent to America's White House.

The steps here are not as steep as China's wall.

    The wall is quite extensive and actually connects the four mountains surrounding Seoul: Namsan (남산) in the south, Inwangsan (인왕산) to the west, Naksan (낙산) to the east, and Bugaksan (북악산) in the North. Most people are familiar with Namsan because of the famous Seoul Tower, and Bugaksan which is a great hiking destination. Even though, many have not heard about the Seoul Fortress Wall, and its importance to Korean history.
    Seoul Magazine published an article stating that the wall was built in order to satisfy the old 9th century philosophy of Feng Shui.  With the mountains in the North, South, East, and West, the fortress wall truly is a perfectly balanced structure meant to protect the main city of the Joseon Dynasty as early as 1396.
    The physical structure of the wall varies throughout the mountains because of destruction from wars, rebuilding throughout the years, and current renovations being made. The Korea Tourism Org. has gone as far to say as it is a ruin comparable to The Great Wall of China. This can be debated at  later time, but the wall and trails around the mountains do offer great views of the downtown city of Seoul, and spectacular moss and ivy covered stones which make up the quite magnificent scenery of the wall itself.

Here the steps get steeper!

    There are several ways to view the wall up close. I recommend starting at the Malbawi section so that you can pass through the Sukjeongmun Gate. This is the Mt. Bugaksan section and it can be accessed via Anguk Station on Seoul Metro Line 3 (exit #2). Immediately outside the exit is a bus stop. Hop on the green bus #02, you will head up the mountain and get off at the Sungkyunkwan University rear gate. Walk up the hill about 5 minutes and you will see the Malbawi sign to your right. From here you can't miss the wall! If you want a more leisurley way to see the wall, try the Namsan path. But keep in mind the views and old history will be some what sacrificed on this newer section of the wall.
   Warning!!!!!: Be sure to bring your passport and a few bucks. There is a section of the wall that requires identification because it goes so close to Cheong Wa Dae. Without identification you will be forced to leave the trail!

Some of the military buildings present on the wall.

If you have any questions or comments about "Exploring the once forbidden Seoul Fortress Wall" please leave them in the comment box below or email goneseoulsearching@gmail.com

  Gone Seoul Searching by Marie Webb is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License. Permissions beyond the scope of this license may be available at goneseoulsearching@gmail.com.

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Listening to K-pop on the lifts of Sungwoo Resort!

 

    About 1 minute up the lift, my fingers started tapping against the cold metal bar of the safety bar. My snowboard was swaying over fresh powder to the beat, and my lips starting humming the sound of "Can't Nobody" by the famous K-pop band 2NE1. Yes, to my astonishment there was K-pop music blasting on the lifts at Hyundai Sungwoo Resort!

    My friends and I couldn't help but laugh in astonishment, as this was the first time we had ever experienced pop music while cruising up the mountain to hit our first run. Everyone on the mountain was dancing to the beat, and the music was a great way to enjoy the day while snowboarding in perfect conditions.
    Never in my life have I experienced such organized chaos on the slopes. People had no idea what they were doing, and the lifts go so slow that you don't even have to strap into your snowboard or skiis. People were casually walking off the lift, a sight that one would never see in American or European ski resorts. And all along the journey, everyone is jamming to the latest hits like The Black Eyed Peas "The Time (Dirty Bit)"
    To learn more about Sungwoo Resort check out the full article "Snowboarding and skiing at Hyundai Sungwoo Resort in South Korea".

If you have any questions or comments about "Listening to K-pop on the lifts of Sungwoo Resort!" please leave them in the comment box below or email goneseoulsearching@gmail.com

  Gone Seoul Searching by Marie Webb is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License. Permissions beyond the scope of this license may be available at goneseoulsearching@gmail.com.

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Snowboarding and Skiing at Hyundai Sungwoo Resort in South Korea

A view of the mountain from the bottom of Hyundai Sungwoo.

    Snowboarding in Korea sounded like a joke after living in Colorado for 2 years and shredding the slopes of Vail. Vail has 33 lifts, 7 back bowls, and 11,570 feet (3527 m) of elevation. Where as Sungwoo has only 9 lifts, no bowls, and 896m of elevation. But I have to admit, the fresh powder at Sungwoo Resort was quite impressive for such a small mountain. And even better, there were no lines for lifts during the peak Lunar New Year holiday. Simply because Sungwoo is still a relatively new, all season resort which opened in 2004.
    If you are looking for crazy double blacks, this is not your place. The double blacks that are listed on their mountain are more like blues back in America if you ask me. But if you want to avoid crazy lines, a crowded slope, and enjoy a quick hour and a half drive from Seoul, then this is your place. I strongly recommend this resort for those that are beginners. The conditions on the bottom of the slope are perfect for those just starting out, they really keep good care of the mountain which ensures lots of fresh snow and no icy patches.

My friends and I rocking our rented snowboard outfits at the highest run!

     So lets talk about prices. The prices can be outrageously cheap if you book a package in advance. I got my entire package for 50,000 won which included transportation, and 50% off your lift ticket, and rental.  Renting clothes for the day is really cheap at only 13,000 won, which includes pants and a jacket. The clothes are very comfortable and stylish! I had a bright neon pink jacket lined with fur around the hood. A snowboard rental is 28,000 and an all day lift ticket is 64,000 won. Keep in mind, if you book a package tour in advance by calling, you can get all of these things half price including free transportation.
    Getting to Sungwoo is easy. Simply look up the bus schedule on their Korean Website and see what time the bus gets to your nearest location. I took the 6:05 bus at Jongak Station on a Saturday morning. You need to call (02) 2201-7710 in advance to reserve your seat on the bus. Find out more information at their newly remodeled English Website.

Colorful boards outside of the Starbucks at the base!

If you have any questions or comments about "Snowboarding and Skiing at Hyundai Sungwoo Resort in South Korea" please leave them in the comment box below or email goneseoulsearching@gmail.com

  Gone Seoul Searching by Marie Webb is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License. Permissions beyond the scope of this license may be available at goneseoulsearching@gmail.com.

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Please stop smoking in my hallway and my elevator!

A letter to my neighbors to stop smoking in my hallway!

    Exiting the city streets engulfed by the polluted air of Seoul into an apartment or office building can sometimes be relieving. This is simply because the air quality is usually much better due to average heating and air conditioning systems. But lately, getting off the elevator in my apartment building is a source of enormous frustration. I enter into a hallway completely filled of smoke, and hold my breathe as a run all the way to the end of the hall and open my door as quickly as possible. But then once inside my apartment, I have relized that the smoke seeped in through the cracks around the door and I still haven't escaped!
    Why do I put up with this on a daily basis? The smoke is clearly from the two young girls that smoke at the end of my hallway next to the window. I have complained to them before saying "smoking anyeo!" no smoking in Korean, and all they do is laugh at me like I'm some stupid foreigner. Well I have news for you Korea. I'm not some stupid Waygooken. I have asthma for Christ sakes, and the pollution in Seoul is enough to deal with!
    So two days ago after returning from the gym to a smoke filled hallway, I finally had enough. I walked over to the window and left it wide open so the girls would have a freezing cold draft of air seeping into their apartment which is right next to the window. Secondly, I stole the hidden lighters by the window! The next day I did the same exact thing, and carried one of the lighters with me to work so that I would remember to ask a Korean co-worker to help write me a letter.
    The letter reads: Hello, please do not smoke in the hallway. The smoke comes into my apartment. Please use the rooftop or go outside. Thank you. I taped the letter to the window and returned all 4 of the lighters that I had stolen from the days before. It has only been 2 days, but no other lighters have appeared yet, and there hasn't been any smoke. But the sign was ripped down.

    I hope that this problem will be resolved, and that Koreans will have more respect about where they smoke. Most people would think that smoking inside an enclosed hallway is completely rude, and all of my students and Korean co-workers agree. The girls are simply lazy, and don't want to go outside into the cold, or take the effort to board the elevator all the way to the rooftop or downstairs. This story seems strange enough, until I consider the time that I was going to work and a man started smoking inside the elevator! He simply couldn't wait a lousy 30 seconds to light up, and so I had to suffer the consequences.
    Everyone knows that smoking is a huge epidemic in Asia, and Korea is no exception. I went to my class the next day, and to my irony had to teach an article about product warnings. The article was about cigarette warnings. We were brainstorming positive and negative things about smoking, and all the male students could come up with were positive reasons. Some of them included: relief from stress, a good feeling, looking cool, a cheap price in Korea, and more tax money for the government. All I can say is, "Lord help them!" and "Please stop smoking in my hallway and my elevator!"

If you have any questions or comments about "Please stop smoking in my hallway and my elevator!" please leave them in the comment box below or email goneseoulsearching@gmail.com

  Gone Seoul Searching by Marie Webb is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License. Permissions beyond the scope of this license may be available at goneseoulsearching@gmail.com.

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Seoul Food Girl: Mad For Garlic in Korea has a completely garlic menu

The Garlic For You Steak is one of the signature dishes on the menu.

This article can also be read  at www.Koreataste.org and www.seoulfoodgirl.com.

    I'm simply mad for garlic! Upon moving to Korea I am trying to live a healthier lifestyle by including foods like garlic, green tea, and ginseng in my everyday diet. That's why when a friend told me about Mad For Garlic, we decided to spend our New Years Eve toasting with fine wine and bad breathe! Yes everything on the menu has tons of garlic in it, there is even garlic gelato for dessert. You may be just as surprised as I was to find out that the franchise is a Korean chain that has recently become international with locations in Singapore, Indonesia, and Hawaii to name a few. The Italian Wine Bistro first opened in Seoul in 2001, and now has 11 locations in Korea.

Try the steamed mussels in tomato garlic sauce for an appetizer.

     Plan on spending alot of money at this restaurant. Between my boyfriend and I we managed to spend around 100,000 won, but we also ate enough for four people! This is a great place to spend a romantic date, or celebrate a special event. The atmosphere is extremely romantic, there are dim lights and wine glasses dangling from beautiful wooden beams in the ceiling. The garlic theme is also represented in the decorations such as a garlic wreath, and garlic ornaments on the restaurants Christmas tree in December.

The crab and lobster pasta comes with plenty of seafood.

For an appetizer try out the garlic steamed mussels in the red sauce. There is always a great debate between my friends and I about whether or not red or white is better with this dish. However, at Mad For Garlic the red sauce is clearly the winner. Order some extra bread to dip in the bucket of extra sauce. This dish is humongous and will be enough to share with others unless you are stingy with your seafood!  The garlic tower bread is also a must, and comes literally packed full of garlic which is then smashed down into the tower by the waiter right in front of you.

End with garlic gelato.

   The sweet potato pizza is a huge let down. The only cheese on the entire pizza is about 4 little balls on each slice, and it comes served with a mayonnaise like sauce all over the top. Its pretty much like ordering a thin crust pizza with salad on top. Don't experiment on any other types of pizza, and simply order the Gorgonzola pizza $16.90 which is perfectly cooked with a thin crust and lots of garlic and cheese. If you want a little seafood in the mix try out the crab and lobster pasta. The sauce isn't to die for, but the seafood is definitely fresh and they give you plenty of succulent lobster.
    The steak on the menu is all from Australia, and so the cuts are some of the most expensive items on the menu. The Garlic For You Steak comes served on a sizzling plate with sauteed bell peppers, onions, garlic cloves, and an entire head of garlic on top, stem and all just in case you didn't get enough! The steak was cooked to perfection, and is a reasonable price of $32.90 which is very reasonable for this cut in Korea.
    For dessert ordering the garlic gelato is a must, and don't forget to top off the meal with a nice glass of wine. The house red wine from Chile is a great choice that compliments almost any dish with its light and sweet aromas. There is a little bite to it, but it wears off immediately with a smooth after taste.
    Visit The Mad For Garlic Stores page to see the nearest locations to you. You can also view a menu, but it is not the most updated version. With all of the locations throughout Seoul you are bound to find one close by. Good luck and enjoy your garlic!

If you have any questions or comments about "Mad For Garlic in Korea has a completely garlic menu"  please leave them in the comment box below or email them to seoulfoodgirl@gmail.com

  Gone Seoul Searching by Marie Webb is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License. Permissions beyond the scope of this license may be available at goneseoulsearching@gmail.com.

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Whats happening in February 2011

Check out all the great Valentine's Day gifts!

Sorry this is late, blame it on my boyfriend who took up all my time while he was visiting Korea for the past 2 weeks! Here is a comprehensive list of whats going on in February.  Be sure to check back for updates throughout the month! 

February 2 – 4: Happy Seollal (Lunar) New Year! This Year the Chinese New Year takes place on a Thursday which means Korea gets an extra long holiday. You must book tickets months in advance to travel anywhere during this holiday. If you forgot and are stuck at home check out "How Koreans Celebrate Seollal, Lunar New Year".

February 17-19 Jeju Fire Festival: This yearly event has been canceled. If anyone knows why, please leave a comment. Here is the website from The Korea Tourism Org. about the event and the cancellation: Jeju Fire Festival. 

February 10-13 La Boheme:  This opera will be performed by the Incheon Opera Group. The cheapest tickets are 30,000 to 100,000 and more information can be found at Korea 4 Expats. There's nothing like a good opera performance to relax your mind and soothe your soul!

February 14 Valentine's Day:  Be sure to check out all of the crazy Valentines Day gifts sold at Watsons and Olive Young, as well as your local Mini Stop! This is one of the most celebrated holidays in Korea!


If you have any questions or comments about "Whats happening in February 2011" please leave them in the comment box below or email goneseoulsearching@gmail.com

  Gone Seoul Searching by Marie Webb is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License. Permissions beyond the scope of this license may be available at goneseoulsearching@gmail.com.

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