Making Each Day Count

Our first day in Seoul was all about good food, looking at flowers, and enjoying a sunset picnic with friends at Banpo Hangang Park.

The next morning, we were up early and ready for our first proper Seoul adventure: a day of wearing hanbok, Korea’s traditional clothing.

My friends and I headed to a hanbok rental shop, and of course, choosing what to wear was already half the fun. There were so many beautiful colors and styles that it took us a while to decide. Once we had our hanbok picked out, we had our hair styled to match. And just like that, we were ready to head to Gyeongbokgung Palace.

As we walked toward the palace, I suddenly realized that every single time I visit Seoul, I end up at Gyeongbokgung. This was my fourth visit, but this time was different. It was my first time wearing a hanbok. Honestly, I don’t know why I waited until my fourth visit to do it.

Since we were wearing hanbok, we entered the palace for free. Walking through the palace grounds in hanbok just felt right. The beautiful buildings, traditional gates and courtyards, the mountains in the background made me imagine I was an extra in one of the Korean dramas I watched. What made it even more fun was being there with friends. We took a lot of photos of each other and stopped whenever we found a pretty spot.

What one won’t see in our photos, however, is the amount of fanning that was happening behind the scenes. It was so hot and humid that day. We managed to look cool, calm, and happy in every photo, but between shots, we were fanning ourselves, looking for shade, and wondering how people ever wore layers of traditional clothing in this weather. It only took a couple of hours before we decided it was time to return our hanbok.

After changing back into our regular clothes, we knew exactly what we needed: bingsu. Bingsu is a Korean shaved-ice dessert. The ice is finely shaved into incredibly soft, snow-like flakes, then topped with things like fruit, red beans, condensed milk, ice cream, or other sweet toppings. It’s light and perfect on a hot day. We savored our bingsu along with a few other cute little desserts, which felt like exactly the right reward after our morning of walking around in the heat.

Feeling suitably refreshed, we continued exploring. Next stop was Gwanghwamun Square, where there seemed to be a rally happening. The atmosphere was noticeably livelier than usual, with crowds gathered around the square, so we took a little time to look around before continuing on.

From there, we walked to Cheonggyecheon, one of Seoul’s best-known urban spaces. Cheonggyecheon is a beautiful stream running through the heart of the city. What makes it special is that it was restored from what had once been a major roadway, transforming the area into a peaceful public space with flowing water, walking paths, bridges, greenery, and places to sit. Today, it is one of those spots where you can take a break from the busy city without actually leaving downtown Seoul.

After a few minutes of sitting beside the water, enjoying the breeze and watching people pass by, we decided it was time to head back to the hotel. We had been out since early morning, and we still had a full day ahead of us.It was time to freshen up, cool down, and get ready for lunch.

Stay tuned for the next part of another packed day in Seoul!