Day 5 - More Seoul Today taking heed of more recommendations - the Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP) to start. It's four stops on the subway line 4 from Seoul Station. As I've mentioned, Seoul is very design aware and it seems to be part of the city's spirit. To the extent that there is an entire public space dedicated to design. But even routine subway stations are visually cool.
Arriving at the DDP, first thing I encounter is a somewhat odd but cool Bentley offroad design concept. A client of mine would love it, I think. And the DDP too. Will have to check if he's been here.
The DDP itself is a bit of a starship (even more so by night, see later post). I have to say I'm impressed and it has an emotional impact on me. Which is what good art is supposed to do. Hat off to the designer (Zana Hadid).
This happens to be fashion week and so there are many photo shoots taking place here - both pro and tourist. I just take random snapshots, creeping on other people. Because that's how I do. Though, I do prefer my shots people-free generally. Because that's how I do most of the time. And so I manage that too, despite busy time of day. It's a superpower.
Inside the place, there are numerous areas/exhibits dedicated to design in all its various forms. I take a stroll and take time to appreciate it all.
OK, I've found my spirit animal. As someone later pointed out, it does look exactly like me.
The next few pix are both a contemplation and an engagement in my superpower of seeing the world people-free. Yes, I know it took people to create it, but enjoying it is another thing entirely. I do.
That said, and it being fashion week, creeping on a random photo shoot is fun too.
Next on the suggested list is Myeong-Dong Walking Street. It has a lot of street food vendors, and so of course I have to break my Zone bar diet and try a couple. Results vary but all part of the experience. At least some is good :)
Next up is the Leeum museum of art, on advice of my Bumble date. The subway station I disembark at looks cool.
Likewise the walk from the station to the place is picturesque and full of various sculptures. Foot still not happy but I focus on the positive.
Upon arrival I learn that while the museum is free, a reservation is required. And the soonest I can get one is a week out. I'll be long gone by then. Oh well. The grounds and the entranceway are cool, so in a way that's an experience in itself. For which I am grateful. The pigeons are sculptures, not actual birds.
So I make my way back to the apartment, taking in more of the street experience and another sunset.
There are many churches here and I count six lit-up crosses in the skyline. There are likely more. This particular one, the way it's lit, does not exactly convey a heavenly theme to me personally. Which I find both ironic and fun :) All part of the experience.
You can see a couple others, lit in white, in the pic below. I kinda like the red one better :)
Tomorrow I'm taking the KTX high speed train to Busan for a day trip, so better get some sleep. It's a 2.5 hour train ride each way (roughly 260 miles as the train travels). Yes it's a fast train topping out at over 200 mph. Still, I should get an early start.
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