Yeouido Strip (여의도)

Yeouido Park

Every time I'm in the Land of the Morning Calm, I prefer staying around Yeouido even though it's a bit far from the tourist area.

It is Seoul's Financial & Business district (aka Manhattan of Seoul), counterpart of Ayala, Makati in PH. Maybe that is why it feels like I'm home. It is surrounded by Han River. It can be reach by Subway station - Yeouido Line 5, National Assembly & Saetgang, which are both Line 9 (these are only the Stations that I've tried).

Starbucks Famille Park

Before my short Christmas vacation, I will post a short blog on my latest coffee collection.
Starbucks Coffee Seoul have open a new branch in Express Bus Terminal Station. It is also known as Starbucks Famille Park. You can easily find it once you exit the Station.
Its nice to go there when the sun is about to set to capture the beautiful lighting of the Cafes facade.

The interior is cozy, more like a European style.  It has a high ceiling with pretty chandeliers. During the time we visited the cafe, its hard to find a seat, luckily we are just two so we didn't have to wait for a long time to find one.

It's the biggest Starbucks I have visited so far. Though there are a lot of visitors its still relaxing and quiet. The two things I always look for in a Cafe.

I only got few pictures, coz I was a bit tired, and too cold that night. After sipping my hot latte and a few shots I left for Sinchon.

Museum Day: Leeum Samsung Museum of Art

We called this in our itinerary as Museum day, since we are visiting 3 museums which includes Korea National Museum and War Memorial Museum. Some may find this boring, but I don't (sometimes). Visiting museums is like reading history so I kinda like it especially the War Memorial Musuem. 

BTW, on our way to the museum we asked a lady for directions, she smiled wide and was happy to know that some people still find time to visit museums. And she gladly walked with us to the Samsung Museum where she works. Admit it, most tourist in Korea usually visits places which they have seen on dramas and promoted by artists. [like me ^^,)]

First stop is Lee Samsung Museum of Art.

I was curious if the museum are all about Samsung phones or other gadgets. Knowing they are famous for that kind of stuff. But it's not. It's a Korean and International exhibition center of Arts and Culture.  They have Permanent Exhibits which includes White Porcelain Wares, Metals, Paintings and Calligraphy and Temporary exhibits. And I have found out that their buildings was designed by these 3 famous architects: Mario Botta,  Jean Nouvel and Rem Koolhaas. How cool it was for me, visiting the works of this famous architects whom I can only read in books and internet. Very fulfilling. And hmmm I wonder how much this buildings cost.

Museum 1: By Mario Botta

Museum 1 is designed by Swiss Architect Mario Botta. It has a geometric shaped with terra cotta bricks external facade. So sad didn't captured a bigger closer image of his work. Can't remember why. Hope I can still go back and take another photo. Inside the museum is the Rotunda (photo below). It is a naturally lighted spiral staircase where it connects the exhibition rooms. The plan for me is amazing. 

Rotunda