Saturday, August 13, 2011

South Korea: Changdeokgung Palace

Travel Date: June 24, 2011
Destination: Changdeokgung Palace + Shopping

We decided to have breakfast on Caffe Bene. We had blueberry waffle, corn waffle, coffee and milk for 12400krw (500php).  Quoting from koreatimes.co.kr , “Almost anywhere you go, there’s a Caffe Bene and its signature look is hard to miss. The rustic wooden exteriors, with the playful sign that says ``Caffe Bene: gelato & waffles,’’ is not one to be mistaken for Starbucks or Coffee Bean.”




We chose this because we kept on seeing tv commercials of Kuya Johnny (Song Seung-heon of Autumn in My Heart) and Eunice (Kim Tae-hee of Stairway to Heaven) for this coffee shop.



Our destination for today is Changdeokgung Palace. It is better to drop-off at Anguk Station Subway Exit 3, because it is just 5 minutes walk away from the Palace. English guided tour starts at 10:30am. The admission fee is 3000krw (120php). We did not bother to join the Secret Garden Tour, it is 5000krw on 3.1 km uphill and downhill walk for 2hours and starts at 11:30am.





Right after, we have visited Bukchon Village – a traditional Korean houses as you see on dramas. This is where Personal Taste (known as Perfect Match in the Philippines) was taken. Although I have not seen it, I hope to visit the actual house soon.



We had our first visit at a Catholic Church, Gahoe-dong Church. (Gahoedong Catholic Church)



For the rest of the day, we spent it in Dongdaemun (visited Doota Mall, known as it’s cheapest place for pasalubong) and Myeongdong shopping districts.