Korea Trip Day 4 : Myeongdong, Deoksugung Palace & Cheonggyecheon Stream

We checked out of our hotel in Seongnam and took a cab to Seoul which is a more touristy area. Our accommodation was ibis Styles Ambassador Seoul Myeongdong. Although the hotel room is small, the decor is modern and everything is sparkling new and clean. 

We went up to the top level of the hotel to check out the rooftop bar and restaurant. It was a nice place to chill out with an awesome view of namsan and the surrounding area.

After embracing the picturesque view, it was time to hit the vibrant streets. Myeongdong is a popular district with lots of shopping and food. This is the place to shop for beauty and cosmetic products. Many beauty brands have established their presence here and some have more than one shops in this area. At this time of the year, the facade of the shops were adorned with Christmas decor in addition to the usual promotion banners and posters.

After some shopping, we settled for lunch at Sinseon Seolnongtang where we had the signature ox bone soup. The milky broth together with slices of beef and green onions were simply delicious. 

After a great meal, we took the subway to City Hall and proceed to Deoksugung Palace. We did not enter as it was quite late in the day. Instead we went to Jeongdong Observatory located on the thirteen floor of Seosomun building. We were able to get a panoramic view of Deoksugung Palace through the large glass window at the observatory.

In the evening, we went to the Seoul Lantern Festival which was held at the Cheonggyecheon Stream stretching from Cheonggye Plaza to Supyogyo Bridge. Large and colorful lanterns were setup to showcase the historical and cultural significance of Hangang River. 

On the way back to Myeongdong, we paused for awhile at the Shingsegae Department Store to admire the illumination put up on the facade of the building. The exterior of the building was lit up with colorful lights and displayed various festive images that changed every few minutes. The dazzling display of light added a touch of festive cheer for passers by under the cold and chilly night.

We ended the evening with dinner at Two Two Chicken where we had a delicious and satisfying meal comprising of its popular crispy chicken and house beer.