There is always THAT place or landmark that, wherever you are, when you feel disoriented, you just have to look up, spot it, and feel reassured. For me, when I am around the Myeongdong (and neighboring) areas, that landmark would be the N Seoul Tower.
This is my second visit to the N Seoul Tower (also known as the Namsan Tower and the Seoul Tower). The first time, however, was at nighttime. This time, it was in broad daylight. (Check out my first blog post about the place.)
On our first nights in Seoul, we planned on going up to the Tower, but we ended up coming back to Myeongdong already pretty late. Ok, not just pretty late, but REALLY late. The one time we were able to go there quite early in the evening, the wind was so strong that the cable car trips to and from the Tower were cancelled. And it was already very dark to be hiking up the road, so we gave up.
On our last day, even when we had barely three hours to spare, we insisted on going up to the Tower before heading to the airport. Because, well, we were billeted in Myeongdong, and it seemed like a shame not to go to the Tower when we were so close the whole time, right?
Foregoing lunch, we headed directly to Myeongdong from Changdeokgung and started the walk up the side street between the Pacific Hotel and A Two Two Place.
The area was filled with lots of backpackers’ hostels, inns, hotels and boutique hotels, plus cafes and even residential areas. As you go up, the streets and alleys become even more… colorful. And interesting.
This one, for example, is “Zaemiro”, or Pororo’s Flower Garden. Pororo is a much-loved cartoon character among children (and children-at-heart) in Korea. Kinda like Totoro of Japan.
Even the facades and walls of the hostels and coffee shops had anime/manhwa features and installations. Honestly they all looked soooooo captivating. If we had more time, we would probably have spent more time loitering around, maybe even checking out the interiors of the shops. But, alas, we were already pressed for time as it is.
In a parallel universe (ok, where I come from, haha!) these would be mindless graffiti. But these looked creative.
This coffee shop really caught our attention, and it was at the very end of the uphill street, right before you take the stairs leading to the area where the Cable Car terminal is located. The street behind it curves to the other direction, and from what we saw, there were more anime/manhwa elements, which means it gets even more interesting up there. Bummer.
Remember how I said we walked this area several nights before? Here are some photos of that late evening jaunt.
Us fooling around in front of the convex mirrors situated in the side streets.
You know you’re at the end of the hill when you spot these stairs. With that illustration on it.
Then it is another uphill walk past more restaurants (one of them was that of Running Man’s Haha,and it was packed!) until we arrived at the Terminal, where we were told that all cable car operations are cancelled.
So we just took photos of the lit-up N Seoul Tower from there before heading back down to have some dinner in Myeongdong.
Ok, let’s get back on track. Finally, when we arrived at the Cable Car Terminal, it was operational (because the weather was soooo good~). We were kinda dismayed at how long the queue was, and wondered if we’d still have enough time. But we were already there, so… we gambled.
We got the round trip ticket, which cost 8,500 KRW for each person. I think we queued for close to 30 minutes before we got to ride the Cable Car. *weeps*
The Cable Car was quite packed, but still felt safe. And not shaky at all despite the weight. So we still got to check the views down below… and beyond.
When we arrived at the top, it was another 5-minute walk up wooden stairs and a road until we got to the areas where the locks began. The first time I visited, we took the bus, so we didn’t pass by this area and went directly to the Tower.
This is a favorite area for couples and families and whoever else, for them to put in locks with messages on them. It’s not limited to padlocks, though, because even phone cases are hooked and secured on them.
And the whole time, you look up and be able to see this.
The entire walk to the Tower area will have you passing by more fences with locks on them. I think these are prepared for when the older designated areas are full.
Finally we arrived at the main area, where there was a pavilion and a wide space or square that is often used for presentations and performances. The area was cordoned off, apparently for a performance at 2pm. There was a separate tent where performers were seen prepping up, wearing traditional costumes.
But we didn’t have enough time to hang around, so we went directly to the Ticket area and bought tickets to the observatory. I think they cost around 9000 to 10000 KRW per person, but we used our Korea Grand Sale coupons and got a 50% discount. YAY~!
Doesn’t she look regal?
We rode on the uberfast elevator (just read my first post where I mentioned it). Then reached the Observatory, or the Viewing Deck. Which also had quite a lot of people.
Finally, I got to behold Seoul in daylight, from the N Seoul Tower.
Han River is such an unmistakable fixture from here. At night, that spot looks like one huge gaping blackhole.
Oh, and when we looked down at the square below, the performance was already underway. I think it is a demonstration of traditional weapons mixed with traditional dance.
Oh, lookie. No wonder this is a favorite date spot for Korean couples. 🙂
We just hung out at the Observatory for close to 30 minutes before heading back down to check out the area where the Love Padlock and Heart Chair is.
So. The Heart Chair. This chair is supposed to strengthen bonds with your loved one. This chair was turned into a heart-shaped one (which is just an ordinary bench broken down in the middle). So shy couples are supposed to sit there, one on each end, then they’ll slide down to the middle, close together.
This is the original chair, by the way. The one we spotted during my first visit.
But between then and now, this super famous drama “My Love From The Stars” happened, and had scenes of the two main characters shot in this place. So they had another hear chair set up in another section.
And this is also the spot where the Love Padlocks began. By the way, the Love Padlocks are seen as tokens of everlasting love. They represent commitment and love between two people. Or so the sign says. 🙂
On our way back to the Cable Car terminal, we passed by the square again, where the performance was already over, and visitors were just hanging around.
There were also street artists doing sketches. Like this one.
The last spot we checked out before going back to the Cable Car. The Mongmyeoksan Beacon Hill Site.
This is designated as Seoul Historic Monument No. 14. Mongmyeoksan was the old name of the mountain where the N Seoul Tower is now located. So it was Mt. Mongmyeok before, now it is Mt. Namsan. During the Joseon era, this was the final destination of all the beacon fires that were lit to warn of enemies approaching the border areas.
Our last photo together before saying goodbye to N Seoul Tower.
It was then a mad dash for last-minute shopping at Myeongdong (and some patbingsu) before another madder dash back to the Guesthouse to pack what was left of our stuff, then race to catch the Airport Bus. Man, that was crazy, haha!!
This won’t be the end of the South Korea posts, though. I still have a couple more I would like to share, so wait for that! Till next post~!
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