Day 5 - 27/3 Gyeongbokgung Palace, Cheonggyecheon stream

Now why were we concerned about getting an early start for Gyeongbokgung palace? Because we were going for hanbok/traditional Korean clothing rental!  Erm the backstory is, the kids weren't keen on this as they said hanbok made people look fat.  I thought we might as well pack in the extra experience - decided on a 'basic' (as opposed to 'premium') package as a middle ground, which explains the limited choices.  

You basically select the top and the skirt separately.  JE found a very nice combo...

Tadahh!

Well I wasn't going to let the kids have all the fun was I?  Somehow we all ended up in blue!  

And us too!

Gyeongbokgung was free entry for people in hanbok.

Going into the palace

Almost there

Inside. Three pretty maidens (cough)

We were initially underwhelmed by the palace, then realised the grounds were actually huge and beautiful.  Took so many photos I had trouble choosing those to post here!  Our package was 2 hours which was enough to see everything.  We ended up on the opposite side to where the shop was though and had to do a long brisk walk back!

 

By a lake

Lunch was at 153 - simple-but-good bulgogi, tteokboki, pork dumplings.

Hmm not bad

Next on the itinerary was Cheonggyecheon stream.  We were rather tired and wanted to get a snack to eat beside the stream.  Walked into Abebe bakery, got one Earl grey and one Matcha cream-filled donut - I didn't realise till later that I'd come across it before as a famous must-go place!  The donuts were good, filled with thick cream which wasn't too cloying to eat.  Not cheap at KRW4200/RM11 each.  I'd get them again though given the chance.

Donuts for me and Mummy

With the name of the shop

It was a major urban renewal project to clean the stream from its initial eyesore state.  Now the water is crystal clear and attracts visitors along its 10km length.  How lovely to have this nature habitat right in a city centre. 

Clear water and natural rocks

Our target for dinner, the Michelin-starred Myeongdong Kyoja.  This place sells exactly 3 things hahah.  Well plus one more which is only available in summer.  So we ordered all 3 things - knife-chopped noodles in soup, spicy noodles and dumplings.  Yep, food was good!  Prices were reasonable at about KRW13000/RM35 per item.

Ordered literally EVERYTHING on the menu hehe

JE seems to have a separate stomach for snacks.  But I was also keen to try the viral 'marshmallow ice-cream'.  Now this, at KRW8000/RM23 was NOT cheap.  It tasted just like toasted marshmallow and ice-cream hahaha.  Oh well, at least we have tried it.

 

Yes, got it!

I think it was this night JE dropped that smiski hipper on her phone (the glow-in-the-dark thing with green hat seen in this picture) which broke and she had to go buy another one.

Review of day:  So glad we finally managed to get the hanbok done, and with good results!