[Seoul Travel 1] Seoul Fortress Trail and SeongBuk Dong

Dear C

 

It has been two months since I promised to write about Seoul Travel. I am sorry. I have been busy and now I have free time.

 

As I said, I will write about Seoul travel regularly. Tourists have increased to sightsee Seoul. They arrive in Seoul by flight to see Seoul. I live in Seoul but I didn't visited beauty spots where they visit. What a irony! I was born in Seoul and I have lived here, but I don't know the beauty of Seoul! From now on, I want to sightsee Seoul as a tourist. I think my life is more precious than just working.

 

At first, let me introduce about Seoul a little. If you know basic information, you can enjoy more.

 

 

 

 

I just draw the recent Seoul roughly. The blue line is Han River. In Korean, Gang means river. Han River is called Han Gang in Korean. Han River seperates GANG Nam and GangBuk from Seoul.

 

 

 

 

 

 

In Korean, Buk means North and Nam means South. Gang Buk is the nothern part of Seoul above Han River and Gang Nam is the southern part of Seoul behind Han River. These days, the song "Gang Nam style" of PSY was a great hit in the world. In its title, Gang Nam means the southern part of Seoul behind Han River. Originally, the ancient Seoul was a small part of Gang Buk. To expand Seoul, the southern part was made as Seoul. So, there are old heritages in Gang Buk. But, Gang Nam was constructed by plans. It's sophisticatd and the mecca of the latest fashion. Mostly, the rich live in Gang Nam. But, there are major palaces, old government agencies and universities in Gang Buk. In Seoul, "Gan Nam style" means "sophisticated and brand-new fashion style".

 

 

 

 

I was born and have lived in Gang Buk. I like Gang Nam and I am intimate with Gang Buk. Gang Buk is my hometown. Today, I walked in Seoul fortress trail located in Gang Buk.

 

 

 

 

About hundred years ago, kings had governed Korea. In the time of Japanese colony, the royal authority disappeared. When royal authority existed in Seoul, Seoul was the small part of Gang Buk like above picture. Kings had constructed fortress around Seoul. They also constructed big gates at its east, west, south. At that time, north meaned the unlucky direction and they made a small gate at north. Now eastern big gate, southern one exist in Seoul. The western big gate was destructed in the time of Japanese colony. Some fortress exists now. When Seoul was developed and roads were constructed in Seoul, some fortress was lost. It's sad history.

 

 

 

 

Recently, Seoul city government made marks to visit survived fortress easily. Today, I walked in its some part. I started at SeoungBuk Dong. SeoungBuk Dong is near my home. Following the fortress trail, I can meet small mountains. Seoul has many mountains in and around it. So, I can meet nature easily. Just after taking on bus or subway, I can enjoy trekking in Seoul. I love this point the most.

 

 

 

In SeoungBuk Dong, there are many embassies. Many ambassadors live there with their family. Some foreigners enjoy to visit the Seoul fortress trail. When I visited

there at the first time, I was lost and a foreign woman helped me. SeoungBuk Dong is not famous more than Insa Dong. But, I like it for it's less famous. I can feel calm and leisure there. I don't know your taste to travel but I want to recommand this style to walk in Seoul slowly.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Following this trail, I can meet an observatory. At the point, I can watch the view of Seoul at a glance. The sky was blue and had some white cloud. I could watch small apartments and SeoungBuk Dong. There are many houses build with westren style below a mountain with many flowering trees. Maybe they are owned by embassies or foreigners who know attractions of SeoungBuk Dong. I heard that a famous actor, Yongjun Bae lives in SeoungBuk Dong. Many Japaneses love him and some Japanese tourists visited there sometimes.

 

 

 

 

 

The Seoul fortress trail is connected with a park of SamCheong Dong. Korean parks have small and harmonious views. The water of brook is clean, for Seoul government has controlled to enter the brook to prohibit the pollution. When I finished to walk, I peeled and ate some apples with my friend. The wind was soft and the petals fell down. I had walked for two hours.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The SamChoeng park is in SamChoeng Dong. SamChoeng Dong is famous with beautiful cafes and small galleries. Next time, I will introduce SamChoeng Dong.

 

 

 

 

 

I hope that you like my taste to travel the nature and old culture in Seoul. I think the travel is the rest. It's good to see popluar spots with people. But I like more to take a walk in silent place. Do you have any places where you want to go in Seoul? Tell me the place. I will visit there and write for you. Bye and see you later in my writing.