It is mainly open on weekdays for tours, so we booked this tour 2 weeks ago. They only run tours one Saturday a month. So going on the weekend was impossible -- before I leave. We had to meet the tour group before 10 am so we left Osan at 8 am -- ugh! Lucky us, we got to do the tour with a big group of kids -- fun fun!
The grounds of Cheong Wa Dae are beautiful, especially in fall, and the house itself is spectacular.
You don't get to go inside, just look around the outside, but it is really nice.After the tour I introduced everyone to my favorite Indian food restaurant in Dongmeo. It is sooooooo tasty. The girls liked it -- which was great -- since I wasn't sure if they would. They have not been exposed to a lot of foreign foods. From there we headed back into work.
On Saturday I went on the Han River Boat Cruise. I was lucky and got there only 15 minutes before the boat was to leave. So I got on, and was the only person there. Then 5 minutes later a couple got on. Just as I am thinking the boat with leave any minute I hear a bunch of kids, screaming and running. I look up to see about 75 kids running towards the boat -- this is not going to be so nice and quiet after all! The kids were all a part of a youth group and they were accompanied by only 2 adults -- yikes! They were around 11 or 12 for the most part.
One girl spoke English quite well (in the middle below) and she asked me questions, to which no matter what I answered everyone thought it was funny.
Especially if my answer included a Korean word. This country can be soooooo funny! I cannot imagine what it would be like to grow up in such a monocultural society that I thought anyone who looked different was the most interesting person around.The kids were pretty well behaved and since they gave them lunch on the boat -- they were not out talking to me the whole time. So I did get some opportunities to get some pictures of the city. Here is the 63 building, the tallest building in Seoul.
There are a lot of people and a lot of roads,here are some of them intertwining. 
After the tour a did a little more shopping. While walking around the city I came across this building art.
I am now finished buying Christmas presents. Although I will probably go back to Insadong 1 more time, because I love it there.On Sunday I went hiking. I read that the hike uo Namhansan was easy and only took a couple of hours, so I was able to not worry about getting up early. Usually went hiking I get up at 6 and head out -- but not this time -- yea! I got to the town and started up the mountain.
Passed some rock wishes, everything was beginning normally.
then about halfway up I passed a man going down -- in his bare feet!!!! Now this would be crazy in Canada, but here it is really insane! Since whenever I wear hiking SANDALS in the summer time Korean hikers like to yell at me for my footwear. They think you should always be wearing hiking shoes (or high heals --- but that's another story). So needless top say that was very odd.The hike to the first peak was really easy, maybe 40 minutes, then at the top there was a road! What a strange mountain!?! Oh well from there I headed towards the south gate. This mountain has the southern fortress that protected Seoul on it (Nam means south). The northern fortress is on Bukhansan (Buk means north). It was not far away.
At the gate was the official entrance to the park -- but they did not seem to be charging money -- very strange. I walked along the wall for a bit.
There were some nice views of the southern part of the city, but they were hazy views. Inside the park was a pavilion where a king (himself) fought for 45 days to keep the city safe. It was a nice building.
The hike was beautiful as we are nearing the end of fall the mountain was a nice copper color.
along the hike there were lots of little chickadees. They are really cute, and I love to see any wildlife in Korea.
It was a nice easy hike, and I got home pretty early so I was able to relax in the evening -- yea!
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