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[Travelogue] Korea Joa Day 6 – Gyeongbokgung Palace, Cooking Class and N Seoul Tower

October 5th,  Monday – We started a new day as usual with hotel breakfast at Ritz Carlton, Seoul and we were ready to explore Seoul. The first stop of the day is Gyeongbok Palace, which is one of the many historical places in Seoul, Korea. This was my second time to visit the palace, the first time during spring last year and now during the autumn season. I prefer to visit the palace during spring season, because it is more beautiful.^^

gyeongbokgung palace

Gyeongbokgung  is quite big for you to walk around and it takes few hours for you to explore all the areas. Plus if you are using tour guides who will serenade you with the history of each buildings in the palace, the tour might get longer. An hour passed by quickly at the palace by wandering around by ourselves, taking pictures and filming some videos. All of us finally gathered back at Gwanghwamun Gate later on, which our bus was waiting for us. For more info and photos, you can check out our last travel post here.

Gyeongbokgung Palace (1)

Gyeongbokgung Palace (8)

Our next destination is Food & Culture Academy! As a food lover, I was pretty excited for this schedule. Arrived at the academy, we were greeted by the academy’s staff including the Director of Food & Culture Academy, Kim Soo Jin. If you love to watch cooking programs on Korean channel, you might be familiar with her face. Kim Soo Jin is the first food director in Korea. Her greatest works includes the hit drama The Winter that Wind Blows, King and the Clown, Le Grand Chef and many more. She is really charming in person.

Food and CUlture Academy
Food & Culture Academy has been set up for our cooking class
Kim Soo Jin
Food Director, Kim Soo Jin

After a short interview session with Kim Soo Jin, we were asked to choose our apron and the cooking class starts! We learnt how to make Bulgogi and Japchae, and had lunch with our own dishes. Team Manager, Lee Hye Won is our chef for the day. Since I can’t eat meat, the chef was kind enough to  teach me how to cook Haemul Pajeon. I even learn how to flip the pajeon on the pan. Looks easy but I tried few times before  I finally succeeded and it feels good – ! Our food turns out quite good (excuse my self-praised.Lol) and I enjoyed the lunch so much.

Food Culture Academy
Our chef, Lee Hye Won taught us to cook 3 dishes! Kamsahamnida chef..
Haemul pajeon
My first haenul pajeon, its pretty good ok! :p

We were then gifted a certificate by the Food & Culture Academy. Yeay! You can check out our interview with Director Kim, and the recipes here!

Food and Culture Academy certificate

Spent a few hours at the academy, we were sad to leave. But we had another schedule waiting, N Seoul Tower! Before that we dropped by the National Theater of Korea where the last scene from the hit drama, My Love from the Star were filmed.

My Love from another star
Remember this scene? It was filmed at National Theater of Korea
SAMSUNG CSC
Group photo is a must!
SAMSUNG CSC
And of course some re-enactment too! :p

As it was getting dark, it must be dinner time! Yeay! So we had dinner at ‘The Place Dining’ at N Seoul Tower. Awesome food with awesome view with awesome people, nothing else you could ask for.^^

Namsan Tower (5)
Seafood Pasta

Namsan Tower (4)

Then we had some time touring N Seoul Tower.^^ N Seoul Tower is a famous spot for couples having a date. You can see couples everywhere! The night view is so beautiful and romantic. But don’t worry too much if you are a lone ranger or with friends and families.. all are welcomed here. Love isn’t meant for couples only right?^_^ Check out more photos at N Seoul Tower here.

Namsan Tower (6)
Love Locks at Namsan Tower! Have you tried this?

Namsan Tour

Namsan Tower (12)

After having a kind of romantic night (lol), we are done for the day. Back to the hotel to get some rest before our next day in Seoul.

Our Korea Joa travelogue series :

1) Day 1 : Flying to Kimchi Land and Welcome Dinner
2) Day 2 : Journey to Busan and BIFF
3) Day 3 : Fresh Market, BIFF Film, Haedong Yonggungsa and Gwangan Bridge
4) Day 4 : Back to Seoul and iKON Debut Concert
5) Day 5 : Sinsadong Garosu-gil, SMTOWN and Gangnam K-Pop Festival

Our Korea Joa series :

1) The 20th Busan International Film Festival Opening Ceremony
2) Haedong Yonggungsa Temple
3) Highlights at iKON Debut Concert Showtime
4) EXO, Super Junior and Red Velvet at Gangnam K-pop Festival
5) SMTOWN at COEX Artium
6) N Seoul Tower
7) Gyeongbokgung Palace
8) Food & Culture Academy and Cooking Class with Director Kim Soo Jin

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