Sleeping in—what an amazing feeling. I haven’t had the chance to do that in a while, so waking up at 10 this morning felt incredible. Honestly, I wish every day could start that way. No early morning mountain hiking for me—while the idea sounds amazing, waking up at 6:00 a.m. to do it still sounds like torture.
Starting our day a little later, we hopped on a few buses and headed to Namsan Tower. The view from the top was absolutely breathtaking. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a city that large in person before—Seoul truly stretches as far as the eye can see. Inside the tower, there was a vibrant light show wrapping around the interior walls. I wish I could have seen it at night—it must be even more stunning when the city lights are glowing below. I wasn’t super hungry at lunch, so I just grabbed some fries from a chicken place inside. They were dusted with a sweet brown powder I’d never tasted before—definitely a unique flavor!
After walking down the mountain (and a small bus accident later), we made our way to the Jongno District. There, I got some free time to explore the National Palace Museum of Korea. Ms. Jennie gave us a fascinating overview of how Korean royals used to dress—rich in silk, bright colors, and adorned with gold thread. We also learned about the water dragon sculptures once placed in palace ponds as symbols of protection and longevity. The museum also featured an exhibit on Buddhism in Korea, including the many representations of Buddha across centuries, each with different mudras (hand gestures) and symbolic meanings.
Later that evening, we all met up for a Korean cooking class, where we learned how to make bibimbap—a colorful rice dish topped with a mix of vegetables and a fried egg. It was actually easier to prepare than I expected! We learned about the importance of contrasting colors in Korean plating to represent harmony. The staff and chef were incredibly kind and even handed out some traditional Korean snacks for dessert. I got to take a photo with her in front of the restaurant’s celebrity wall, which was such a fun way to end the night. So far, this has definitely been one of my favorite activities on the trip. I can’t wait to see what tomorrow brings!
