{"id":22180,"date":"2014-02-16T07:06:00","date_gmt":"2014-02-15T23:06:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/rubbisheatrubbishgrow.com\/?p=22180"},"modified":"2014-01-06T14:44:44","modified_gmt":"2014-01-06T06:44:44","slug":"south-korea-itinerary-seoul-dmz","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/rubbisheatrubbishgrow.com\/zh\/2014\/02\/16\/south-korea-itinerary-seoul-dmz\/","title":{"rendered":"South Korea Itinerary Part 8(b): Seoul – DMZ, Dongdaemun, Noryangin Fish Market, Seoul Museum of Art, National Museum of Korea, Olympic Park, Apgujeong, & Gangnam"},"content":{"rendered":"

For budget<\/strong>, travel info<\/strong>, culture<\/strong>, see Itinerary Part 1<\/a>.
\nFor Seoul <\/strong>Itinerary Days 1-3, and Day 12, see Parts 2 & 8(a)<\/a> respectively.
\nFor Andong<\/strong> Itinerary Day 4, see Part 3<\/a>.
\nFor Gyeongju<\/strong> Itinerary Day 5, see Part 4<\/a>.
\nFor Busan<\/strong> itinerary Days 6-8, see Part 5<\/a>.
\nFor Jeju Island<\/strong> Days 9-10, see Part 6<\/a>.
\nFor Haeinsa at Gayasan National Park<\/strong> Day 11, see Part 7<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Seoul Itinerary Day 13: DMZ & Dong Dae Mun<\/strong><\/h1>\n

Long day. Demilitarized Zone<\/strong> (DMZ), the 241-km strip of land that seperates North and South Korea, serving as a buffer since the 1953 ceasefire agreement, is the most popular tourism attraction in Korea. You cannot tour it on your own; you have to sign up with a day tour. Try the following tour groups: Panmunjom Tour Information Center<\/a>; Sally Tour<\/a>; or my BFF recommends the US Army (USO) tour<\/a>. He said he felt safer. HAHA. The USO costs less than others but is not as comprehensive. Email them<\/a> for available tour dates.
\n<\/p>\n

\"Dongdaemun
\nFor Sale at Dondaemum Market: Branded Paper Bags!<\/em><\/p>\n

When you return to Seoul in the evening, shop! Shop! SHOP! till you drop! Drop! DROP! like grapes at Dongdaemun Market<\/strong> with 30, 000 shops. Theoretically, it opens 24 hours and isn’t a market; it’s a collection of shopping malls (24 hours) but the roadside vendors set up their stalls only from 12 midnight to 5am. You don’t have to wait for the vendors because they sell similar things in the malls. I prefer the malls because the goods are better material. Don’t bargain.<\/strong> The sellers won’t lower the price and they will show you a black face.<\/p>\n

How to Get to Dongdaemun<\/strong><\/h3>\n

\"Dongdaemun<\/a>Impossible to finish shopping in a night. Depending on what you want to buy, there are different exits. Take Lines 2, 4, and 5 to Dongdaemun History & Culture Park, then ask the station master.<\/p>\n

[Map taken from Visit Korea<\/a>.]<\/p>\n

Seoul Itinerary Day 14: Noryangin, Seoul Museum of Art or National Museum of Korea<\/strong><\/h1>\n

\"Noryangin<\/p>\n

\"Noryangin
\nAfter a late-night shopping, wake up late and have brunch at Noryangin Fish Market<\/strong>, the largest and oldest fish market in Korea. Many vendors hire Chinese so there shouldn’t be a problem communicating. After you purchase the seafood, the vendor will lead you to a restaurant where they will cook the food for you in one of the 3 styles: sashimi, steamed or in a spicy hot pot.<\/p>\n

\"Noryangin
\nI don’t know what this is but I ordered one anyway – tough and chewy.<\/em><\/p>\n

\"Noryangin
\nSea urchin! Yums!<\/em><\/p>\n

\"Noryangin<\/p>\n

\"Noryangin<\/p>\n

The seafood was so cheap! Abalone<\/strong> cost only \u20a93K! I ate a variety of seafood here, including sea urchin, octopus, etc. The octopus<\/strong> was so fresh it was still wriggling after being chopped and the suction cups were clinging to the plate (see my video below), refusing to be eaten! (Ok, my scientific friend told me the struggle was just rigor mortis<\/em> setting in, but what a boring story. I prefer my struggle for survival version better.)<\/p>\n