Autumn in Seoul – Changdeokgung Palace and Bukchon Hanok Village

We were in Seoul the last two weeks of November 2016. The plan is to go the first week so we can enjoy the best of autumn, things happened and the trip was moved two weeks after. We don’t have much expectations as we’ve read somewhere that the last weeks of November are when the season transitions from autumn to winter, meaning leaves have fallen and the weather is expected to be gloomy.

As the proverbs say, every cloud has a silver lining, indeed it has. 🙂

When we arrived, autumn is in full bloom. (Hallelujah!) Bursting in autumn colors, yellow, red, brown and orange leaves are everywhere! As my sister calls it, the last of autumn – it was nothing short of wonderful!!!

We’ve spent our first two days exploring the Palaces of Seoul. We started from Changdeokgung Palace and Huwon (창덕궁과 후원) a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Changdeokgung Palace was the second royal villa built following the construction of Gyeongbukgung Palace in 1405. It was the principal palace for many kings of the Joseon Dynasty, and is the most well preserved of the five remaining royal Joseon palaces. The palace grounds are comprised of a public palace area, a royal family residence building, and the rear garden. Known as a place of rest for the kings, the rear garden boasts a gigantic tree that is over 300 years old, a small pond and a pavilion. (source: KTO)

Directions: Anguk Station (Seoul Subway Line 3), Exit 3. Walk straight from the exit (towards east) for about 5-min to arrive at the palace entrance.

Admission Fee: KRW 10,000 (Integrated ticket of Four Palaces)

Off the subway

to the palace entrance

Ze sister by the palace entrance

Palace grounds

You see, my sister is exceptionally talented in taking photos. I mean shadowy photos. LOL. Yep that’s moi.

Hint of colors

Secret Garden entrance

And in we go..

Self touring as the guide is unavailable

Chinese tourists in costume

Ze sister

Yours truly

I can smell the autumn dancing in the breeze.

Back in 1400-1418 during the reign of King Taejong, Huwon was exclusively for the leisure of members of the royal family.

It was here where royalty rested, contemplated life, wrote poems and held banquets.

Buyongji (pond) – there are couple of these inside Huwon.

Here’s another.

Mother nature has the best box of crayons.

We climbed further more..

and more..

Sanddal Namu

and more.. *panting our lungs out

Keep your face to the sun and you will never see the shadows. -Hellen Keller

Kind Ajusshi, he’s fascinated with ze sisters hair color.

Ze sister and I have spent half day admiring the beauty of autumn in Secret Garden, inhaling all the positive energy nature can offer, listening to the trees breathing in stillness, feeding our souls with moments of solitude with mother nature and before I completely turn myself into a poetic fool (LOLs) let’s move on to our next destination. Bukchon Hanok Village. 😀

Few minutes walk away from Changdeokgung Palace is a neighborhood of traditional houses, called Hanok, that date back to the Joseon Dynasty.

Directions: Anguk Station (Seoul Subway Line 3), Exit 2.
- Go straight for about 300m. Admission Fee: FREE

Ginko leaves everywhere

Ajumma holding a placard that is not being read by tourists as they excitedly chatter their way around the neighborhood. I mean, We. :p Mianheyo Ajumma.

 

This one looks magical

Captured capturing by ze sister

All photos were taken by me and my sister Feb using our iPhone 7 and Canon EOS 1000D.