June 29, 2020

I’m so happy to share with you another great attraction in Seoul, the N Seoul Tower or Namsan tower.  From its observation deck was when I realized how big Seoul really was!

I went there at the end of the day,  about two hours before the sunset time.  I wanted to see both the day and night view from there…  it was espectacular!  The color change… and I can’t decide which view I liked the most.  They were both so beautiful!  Though I will say, the tower looks better at night when it is lit in this really beautiful green.

A little bit of history is that the N Seoul Tower was the first radio wave tower built in Seoul.  It’s construction was started in 1969, but it did not open to the public with its famous observation deck until 1980.  This tower sits on top of Namsan mountain, and if you have time there are trails that lead to other highlights including Seoul’s Old City Wall.  This tower is the second highest point in Seoul at 236 meters (774 ft).  WOOndering what the highest point is, ha! me too… its a mountain range to the north of the Han River called “Bukhansan,” its highest peak is Baegundae at 836.5 meters (2,744 ft)!

So now let’s go on a journey to the Namsan Tower!  To get there I actually walked from Myeongdong Station, and saw the Cathedral, then I discovered an area dedicated to animation!  (Life’s surprise!)  I will dedicate a post someday to Myeongdong… I took so many photos there!

The tower is really close to this animation area, so I just walked to the a special elevator station called the “Ormi Elevator” or gondola that takes you up to the cable car station.  That elevator was really scary… it was basically a box that moved sideways!  (Well I guess an elevator is always a box… but you don’t see it like this one!)

This video shows it in action and even tells you how to get there…

Quite the view huh?!

Then came the Cable Car part…  I am not a fan of heights, but I really enjoyed the ride.  I was reminded of my first Korean drama “Boys Over Flowers and of Gyu Jun-pyo and Jan-di romantically trapped in the cable car.  Between you and me… I did not fall for Jung-pyo in this drama but for Ji-hoo.  Absolutely loved how sweet and kind he was… like… Jung Il woo!!!  I was meant to be his fan from the start!  ^ ^

I was hopeful the weather would improve, as you can see it was really humid. When I got out of the Cable Car, I remember walking many steps and you see the first observation area.  Also near this, are the famous padlocks where sweethearts attempt to bind each other in long life love.  It is very interesting to see it here, they are basically walls and trees full of locks.

   

Yes, let’s imagine Jung Il woo there… ready?

WOOw!  I really like the way this photo composition came out.  To me it says…  Jung Il woo is made of Seoul just as Seoul is made of him.

Look who’s here!  Yes love divine!  ^ ^ I am very romantic but I do not like this tradition of padlocks. I believe more that the bond of love is unspoken: it is trust. True love does not worry, it does not fret, it supports you, it helps you grow, it does not tie you in any way… quite the opposite… it sets you free!

Here is a map and a list of the tower’s attractions so you have a better idea where things are and what you can do.

Floors & Amenities
Plaza P0/B1 (Lobby): Entrance to Observatory, Information Desk, Alive Museum, Cafe, Children’s Theater, Nursing room

Plaza P1 – Ticket booth, Food Court, Light Garden, Grass Terrace, Souvenir Shop, Characters & Photos

Plaza P2 – Restaurant, Roof Terrace, Cafe

Tower T1 – Korean Restaurant “Hancook”

Tower T2 – Analogue Observatory, The Wishing Pond, Sky Restroom, Sky Coffee, Photo Studio

Tower T3 – Digital Observatory, Shocking Edge and Digital High-powered Telescope , Gift shop

Tower T5 – A revolving restaurant!

Did you notice something missing on that list?  Where is T4? Well, I just read that there is something called Tetraphobia in some Asian countries!  It is the thought that number four brings bad luck as it sounds a lot like death in Chinese.  So in South Korea many buildings don’t have a fourth floor.  It’s replaced with an F or jumps to the 5.  It’s the equivalent of number 13 here in the West.  Though for us is more Friday the 13th. So there may be a few buildings that don’t have 13, but is not that common.  Fascinating!

So of all these places I walked around the Lobby? area…I visited Hello Kitty Island, the N Sweettbar, and the Observations Decks.  I also got a postcard which I mailed from there!  I did not eat anything… I know that getting a sit for one in some Korean restaurants is frowned upon. Especially in a place like this…  I hope I’m with someone else next time!  I like that revolving restaurant!!!

 

Look who was there!  That’s right!  Haechi!  This is Seoul’s symbol!

Here are some of my photos of Hello Kitty Island.  I waited until it was very late, so I basically had the place to myself!  I really enjoy design, so I loved it!

I didn’t know their name was white!  Did you notice there is an Anthony… her grandfather!

What is the number one element of design in all these photos?  Bows!!! They are everywhere! and this is the last one…

Onto the observation deck.  There were two… I think the highest one had all the countries as point of reference.

No I’m not there… I thought it looked so cool!!!

Look how far New York is!!!   But no distance could ever really separate two people that are meant to come together… and one can also…

Send a postcard!!!  I thought this possibility was so great!

On the way out I delighted in the beauty of  the tower… with the moon!  I was absolutely enchanting!

Yeah, the night view was breathtaking…  ^ ^

When I was done… I headed to the cable car, the line was so long… like an hour wait at least!  So I decided to walk down… I did it all the way to the train station!  Because there were so many steps, my knees were in agony the next day.  But it was so worth it, I had the joy of walking along the Hanyangdoseong (한양도성), the old ancient wall that used to be the border of Seoul, or Hanyang the way it was called back then. It was built in 1396 to protect the city from invaders during the Joseon Dynasty.  The moon was my companion the whole time, it was so beautiful and peaceful…

Well… someone else was with me the whole time…

Ilwoo Ssi!  How grateful I am for all you have brought to my life!  May GOD bless you!  May you continue to enjoy your well deserved time off!

Well dear fans, we have come to the end of our journey, I hope you enjoyed it.  For a ñapa, I’m sharing the following video of someone who walked all the way to the tower during the Spring, it so beautiful then too…   I’ll do it someday!