Deoksugung Ice Skating City hall (Cheonggyecheon stream) Gwanghwamun Square Gyeokbokgung Itaewon War Memorial Museum Coffee Prince

Today was the 8th day of the trip. The weather was very cold and freezing. All the group members woke up early and together we ate breakfast. After that, we went to Hongik University subway station at 9.30 am. Our first destination was the Seoul Plaza. On the way there, we dropped by at the Deoksugung.

> Deoksugung is just right across Seoul Plaza Ice Skating Rink

CHUNDAY

8

> Burrr……….it was sooo cold! Even the rabbit said it..haha~

It costs W1000 for skates (shoes and helmet) and access for one hour. I did catch glimpse of an old guy–roughly 70-80 years old–and a small child around 7 years old who skated so gracefully. All in all what great fun! Unni ‘Lovely’ Leila constantly helped pulling us to stand after we kept falling again and again Ouuchh! T_T…

After tired playing ice skating and, we stopped by at Tom n Toms Café for a rest and drank hot coffee.

Afterwards, we visited Cheonggyeecheon. The Cheonggyecheon Restoration Project opens up a congested, overpopulated and polluted neighbourhood north of the Hangang River. It has created a 5.8km landscaped green pathway that runs alongside the revitalised Cheonggyecheon stream. The project was applauded by the governments worldwide and becomes a model project for cities around the world by peeling back pavement that was built to bolster commerce and serve automobile traffic decades ago.

> Halian ‘Mr Racoon’ was telling us the story of the famous stream. Oh, the serenity! A walk along this 5.8-km stream was almost as good as a spa for clearing one's mind or rethinking a deal.

> We played tuho (투호) as part of activities staged in front of the City Hall. Tuho is an old Korean game of skill that involves throwing arrows (or in this case sticks) into a jar or vase.

After stopping by Changgyecheon, we continued up the main

road to head towardsGwanghwamun Square. The walk was pretty enjoyable and pleasant with the cold breezing wind from the mountain passing over us.

> We were pleasantly surprised to see that Seoul City Council had attempted to keep modern buildings from entirely obstructing the view of Gwanghwamun in the distance with the impressive Bugaksan mountain rising up behind it. Gwanghwamun is the main gate to the splendid and most impressive royal palace Gyeongbok.

Inside Gwanghamun there is a public museum . We learnt the history of two very distinct personalities that have shaped and influenced the history of Korea and the consciousness of the Korean people. Above the museum (which is underground) is a square that hosts two epic statues of these Korean men: King Sejong the Great and Admiral Lee Sun Shin. We heard the names before while watching Korean drama but only after the visit we appreciated the contributions they have made.

> The majestic palace behind us is the Gyeongbok.

>

> The story of King Sejong and Admiral Lee Sunshin is a lively historical and cultural space located in the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts. From the exhibition we read, King Sejong was the fourth king of Joseon that deeply loved his people. In his own words, "The common people are the foundation of any country. It is only when this foundation is strong that a country may be stable and prosperous." The whole purpose for him creating hangul, or the Korean alphabet, was based around this idea. He created the alphabet because he felt that his people, who were largely iliterate (due to the difficulty of reading and writing Chinese characters), were unable to communicate their feelings and thoughts in their own language. He believed that if they could not express to him their wishes and feelings through the written word, he could not know of their needs properly.

At the exhibition museum, we also experienced the Battle of Myeongnyang in 4D Hall. Admiral Lee Sunshin was the commander who protected his country during the Imjin War (Japanese invasion of Korea). The personal treasure was his diary that said “My personal history that contains all my precious moments and feelings”.

His major achievement was the protection of his country during the Japanese invasion by creation of the Turtle Ship the main battleship of the Korean Navy. Then we went to Itaewon, home to the Seoul Central Mosque, which oversees all Islamic mosques in Korea, and ‘Islamic Street,’ an area of Itaewon that is becoming established as a special region catering towards those of the Islamic faith. All of us prayed at that mosque. The mosque is very big and located at the hill. It is very peace and tranquility at there. The Seoul Central Mosque is also responsible for the Halal certification of Korean products for export to Islamic countries. There are also several shops and reataurants in the vicinity with headings in Korean and Arabic, and sometimes in English.

Not only does the mosque provide a quiet place of prayer, but as an establishment, it also recommends good Halal restaurants in the nearby area. As a result of these and other conveniences, Islamic Street in Itaewon is always bustling with Muslim worshippers and tourists, particularly in the afternoon. Today we went to the Taj Palace Indian Restaurant in Itaewon. It is an all you can eat buffet. We stuffed ourselves with butter chicken, piping hot garlic naan, tandoori chicken, chana masala, lamb curry, vegetable curry, raijta, and more. Thewas SO SO good. It is located around 3-minute walk from subway station Itaewon station, line 6, exit 3. Walk straight, turn right after Dunkin Donuts and walk up the hill (towards the Foreign Food Mart). Taj Palace will be on your right, on the 2nd floor.

> War Memorial Museum

>Had a cup of coffee at The 1st Shop of Coffee Prince Café in Hongdae, Seoul

> Izzah with unni Leila. She works at a tourist information

centre in Seoul

Lastly, we went back to our Guesthouse and got rest. Today was very meaningful because of all of us gained knowledge and knew a brief on Korean History and Lifestyle.