I traveled to Seoul Korea on a business trip.  South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea is a sovereign state in East Asia on the southern part of the Korea Peninsula. Seoul is situated on the Han River.  It is surrounded by mountain, the tallest being Mt. Bukhara, the world’s most visited natural park.  It is the world’s 9th most visited city and the 4th largest earner in tourism.  Today, Seoul is considered a leading and rising global city, resulting from an economic boom called the “Miracle on the Han River” which transformed it to the world’s 4th largest metropolitan economy.  It is the world’s most wired city and ranks first in technology.  It is highly urbanized and is the world’s sixth leading global city with the fourth largest economy.  Globally, it ranks highly in personal safety, education, job security, ease of doing business and healthcare quality, with the world’s third highest adjusted life expectancy.  In fact, everyone had a smartphone and mobile internet in every taxi and car there.   Seoul is a lively city that never sleeps.

Seoul is situated on the Han River.  It is surrounded by Mt. Bukhan , the world’s tallest and located in the world’s most visited National Park.  it is the world’s 9th most visited city and the 4th largest earner in tourism.  Today, Seoul is considered a leading and rising global city, resulting from an economic boom called the “Miracle in the Han River” which transformed it to the world’s 4th largest metropolitan economy.  It is the world’s most wired city and ranks first in technology.

i stayed at the JW Marriet Hotel Seoul, located in Seocho-gu, Seoul.  I visited the Gyeongbokgung Palace, the Coex Aquarium and the Changdeokgung Palace.  The Changdeokgung Palace is located in a large park in Jongno-gu in Seoul.  It is one of the the “Five Grand Palance” built by the Kings during the Joseon Dynasty.

I visited the N Seoul Tower, located in the Namsan Mountain in the protected ecosystem of the Namsan Park.  The North Seoul Tower has observatories,  revolving restaurant with a 360 degree view of the city, media play zone, Pavillian, exhibit halls and a rooftop Terrance.  There is a floor that displays love lockers that have been placed there by lovers from around the world. It was a 20 minute walk up the stairs on the mountain to get to the tower elevator for a two minute ride up to the top of the tower.  This is where  you walk around the entire top of the tower to experience a 360 degree panoramic view of the city of Seoul.  As you experience the view of Seoul, you can also see the exact number of miles to every major city around the world in any given location of the top of the tower.  It is amazing.

I visited the Gwangjang Market.  This market is Seoul’s oldest market. I was given a bowl of Makgeolli which is a fizzy, alcoholic rice-based drink, to toast my first Gwangjung Market experience.

I am the type of person that researches the best places to eat at any given location prior to my arrival.  This is a must for a picky eater such as myself.   I was very interested in a Korean-style chicken dish called “Banpo chicken”.   A Korean co-worker of ours selected the restaurants and off we went.  Korean food is homestyle cooking and the grilling techniques cook to perfection. The rotisserie, fried, spicy and grilled chicken was outstanding.  The grilled beef was perfectly smoked.  The shopping is amazing.  You can get a knock-off or an original of anything/everything.

I took a 2 1/2 hour guided tour around the Changdeokgung Palace and Secret Garden.  This Palace is located in a large park in Jongno-gu in Seoul.  It is one of the “Five Grand Palaces” built by the Kings during the Joeeon DynastyThis Palace is over 600-year old royal establishment.  We spend the first hour touring the inside of the palace.  We were then guided through a forest.  On the other side of the forest was the Secret Garden.  The  Secret Garden has been described by millions as “looking like Heaven”.   The Secret Garden was design for the inspiration of the royals.  It was absolutely beautiful!  There were 300-year old trees, lotus pools, fishing pond, fountain, and a water stream named Ongnyucheon.  The stream surrounds everything in the garden.  It flows around the Soyoam Rock.  The Soyoam Rock is a large rock used in 1636 to create the waterfall, is inscribed by King Injo and carved with a poem which was composed by King Sukjong.

We shopped in the Dongdaemun Market, and the Myeongdong district.  The Dongdaemun is open 24 hours a day.  This market has traditional markets, shopping malls, outdoor concerts and a multiplex cinemas.  They have a famous food alley, major retailers and wholesalers, electronics, leather goods, fabric, shoes, toys, art and absolutely everything else that you can think out.  There are 26 shopping malls, and 30,000 speciality shops.  And the best thing of all:  they barterte prices and everything is reasonably priced.  This market is an exiberating and fantastic place!