There and Back Again: Cable Cars, Changdeokgung and more!

OH I CANNOT WAIT UNTIL I HAVE WIFI IN MY APARTMENT SO I CAN STOP SPENDING SO MUCH MONEY ON COFFEE!!!

Sigh. My phone is messed up (apparently I already used all of my data? Even though I turned cellular data off so I can really only use wifi?? Korea, what the eff), my bank account is messed up cause I need to go get a bank card, and I still don't have wifi. I'm hoping all of this will be remedied by next weekend. Even though this coffee shop has nice drinks, I'm pretty tired of trekking over here 2-3 times a week. Although the manager went out of her way to say hi to me today. That was sweet.

Anywho, this has been a frustrating weekend technology wise, but experience wise, it's been pretty awesome. You can see what I did for Chuseok in my last post, but Saturday and Sunday have also been filled with touristy things that have been TONS of fun! I've also had a bunch of the "OMG, IS THIS MY LIFE?!?!?" moments this weekend because I've been doing a ton of awesome things and seeing amazing sights. This month has been a whirlwind, but it's been pretty fantastic as far as, you know, life and world experience goes.

So yeah, it's been a pretty full weekend (well, more like a week since I had 5 days off...). Going back to school is gonna be a little rough tomorrow... Ouch.

Enjoy some pictures. I'm feeling pretty lazy right now, so let's see how captions go. If you're super curious, I uploaded a bunch more on FB. This is like the highlights version of my pictures.

Side note: This weekend Sarah and I got asked to be in a tourist picture because she thought we were pretty. Or our hair. I can't tell, I only heard the word pretty. AND the lady today at the Korean restaurant we ate at told me my hair was pretty. And I think she gave us a discount cause we tried to use Korean and we're cute. Huzzah!!! Don't judge, it was really exciting.

Ahem. Moving on

Today (Sunday) Sarah and I hit up Changdeokgung, aka Changdeok Palace today. Gyeongbokgung is the most famous I think, but this one was actually used during Japanese occupation and wasn't completely destroyed like the other ones. There was a fire at some point tho, so it has been partially reconstructed.

at one of the gates

where important ceremonies were held

beautiful curtains

Where the King sat

where important political meetings were held. The
blue was to show off wealth and power (it's more expensive
than the other materials)

Palace with the metropolitan scene in the back. Very
characteristic of Seoul, it still awes me every time.
Also note the pillars where the subjects had to stand
according to rank

lots of cool nooks, crannies and random
staircases and paths in here!

I'm probably a slightly bigger than average
Josen dynasty person. But I still fit through
the doors!

Waiting to tour the secret garden.

Accessible by tour only, the Secret Garden was built in the back of the palace to promote the health and wisdom of the royal family. They came here to relax and study

in the back is an abandoned building that
used to house all the books
they got from China

Enjoying our day!

one of the pavilions used for relaxation
or scholarly work

The door meant to promote a long and
productive life

so many pretty locations!

I won a postcard for knowing that King Sejong
was on the 10,000 won note. Score!

we had a wonderful tour!! (Also this pavilion
was cool cause it has a double roof!)

Aaaand this is what I did Saturday. I'm too lazy to rearrange the pictures haha. We met up with a bunch of EPIKers Saturday to check out Myeongdong, which is a really great shopping area. I'm just itching to get my first paycheck (and bank card. wamp) so I can return to the area and pick up some stuff I've had my eye on. Huzzah!

Anyway, then we hiked up to the cable cars that take you up to Namsan Tower. Already a popular attraction, the cable cars are featured in popular K dramas like Boys Over Flowers and I think Rooftop Prince? so they're extra popular. And it's just all over a pretty cool experience