"Heart and Seoul"

It’s been quiet in Bibimbap World. I haven’t posted anything since February 8. I wanted to update this blog a little sooner since there were so many things to say, but TheRoamingCat has been away. Will it, like the hibernated groundhog, emerge from its burrow and see its shadow? As much as I would like winter to stay much longer I think that it has all but come and gone. Despite the biting cold, I am definitely going to miss winter a lot. Snow, blisters, dry skin and all! I wish that I would still be here in South Korea to witness the next one. These days, images of beautiful tulips and cherry blossoms are all over tourist websites and magazines ushering the arrival of spring. Ah, tulips! That’s another story for another blog. For now, I will relish the last few weeks of the "pleasant" cold.

N Seoul Tower is a telecom and observation tower located in Mount Namsan. It marks the highest point in Seoul. 

So for the past two months, I have been super busy – and those were the best months I have had so far in South Korea.  My sister, Pia, went on a holiday here. She arrived on February 14. We celebrated Valentines Day at the N Seoul Tower. (I am incredibly late with this post, obviously.) I wanted to see the tower for the longest time, but I was glad I postponed and shared the experience with a loved one.

The Ohreumi or Orumi is an inclined elevator that brings you to the cable car station. It is close to Namsan Tunnel 3 and accessible via a 10-minute walk from Myeondong Station (Line 4) exit 3. The Orumi ride is free.

There are many ways to get up the tower. I don’t think I was physically prepared to take a hike along the Namsan mountain road track. Besides, the second week of February was still freaking cold and the wind blowing hard. So we took the best option—the Ohreumi lift and the cable car ride. The view going up on both rides were amazing! Mount Namsan was covered with a blanket of snow and the buildings jutting into the sky were breathtaking. 

The cable car brings you to the base of the tower. It costs 8,000 krw for a round-trip ride. Quite a short thrill but it was worth it.

“Nam,” means South and “San,” means mountain. While the tower offers a spectacular spot to see Seoul from above, I also find it special to view the tower from below. It was fortunately a bright, winter day –the sky was clear, so we saw the tower awash in brilliant blue.

Though the trees were still bare, the branches arching over wide wooden steps were welcoming and it led us right up to a pavilion at the base of the tower which is Namsan Park.

They say that N Seoul Tower is an iconic landmark– a prominent symbol of Seoul since it opened in 1980. It is to Seoulites what Eiffel Tower is to Parisians.

A tower for lovers . It is a popular spot for couples, where they can profess undying love at more than 1,500 feet above sea level, seal it with a padlock, take a picture and throw away the key.  See the lovers' benches and love-locks shaped into Christmas trees. Couples either bring their own padlocks or buy them from the souvenir shop. This is definitely one those places where you get to feel the romantic spirit of Korean teledramas! 

More lovers' locks and benches at the outdoor terrace on top of the shops. Since we came off-season, the queue to the ticket booth on the right wasn't that bad. Observatory and package tickets are sold right there.

The banner at the entrance reads: "Selected as one of the Top 100 tourist destinations Koreans must visit." 

My sister, Pia, feeding the pigeons at Namsan Park.

A bird's eye-view of the city from the Beacon Lighthouse

A cabin on the side of Mount Namsan

A pose with Psy Bear at the Teddy Bear Museum gift shop

The souvenir shops have many wonderful and interesting mementos that sell at affordable prices.

Koreans seem to have a passion for teddy bears. They come in different shapes, sizes and costumes. They even tell of South Korea's history at the Teddy Bear Museum. 

We got caught in the celebratory atmosphere at Namsan Park, where a demonstration of Joseon era swordsmanship and martial arts fascinated the big group of people who were already there. The actors accommodate picture-taking with visitors after the performance. Check out their tent after the show for a free wearing of hanbok costumes.

It is not just a tower with a superb view. It offers other attractions such as an analogue and digital observatory, a revolving restaurant, gift shops, a Teddy Bear Museum, a "sky" restroom (the "loo with a view"), coupled with a variety of local and traditional displays at the foot of the tower. It’s a must see for every tourist and a lovely place to chill out in winter or any time of the year!

N Seoul Tower at Mount Namsan is literally in the "heart"of Seoul. A place for lovers indeed!

Post Script....I remember a time five years ago when we had our "love-lock" at Taihu Fairy Island, in Wuxi, China. The love-lock spot is next to an enchanting sandy beach. Our names were engraved on a heart-shaped metal padlock and affixed to a GIANT heart-shaped padlock. Unlike the regular ones, the padlocks there do not have a key to throw away.  Hook the lock, and that's for good....A love as high as the sky or as deep as the ocean?