Soulful Seoul

The South Korean capital city of Seoul is a vibrant metropolis of more than ten million people. Although in common with many major population centres in the Asia-Pacific region, the city has been conquered by skyscrapers and illuminated signs, its ancient traditions continue to peep out here and there. These oases for the soul include the gardens of Joseon dynasty palaces reaching right up to the busy city streets. The timber palace buildings, though hundred of years old, continue to live in sweet harmony with the surrounding steel and glass structures.

Throughout the night, the shopper is king
Seoul is the ultimate fix for the shopaholic: a place where the shops never seem to close. Indeed many shopping centres remain open throughout the night. Dongdaemun, for example, is a huge shopping quarter with department stores where you can buy just about everything in the small hours, but is not even open by day. Shopping is also a popular way to spend spare time in this city. And at the end of your spree you can head for your nearest Norebang for a session of karaoke.

A word of warning is in order to the uninitiated night time shopper, however: don’t spend too long looking for a fitting room in department stores – it’s quite possible that there is none to find, as these shops mainly cater to the wholesale trade. Fitting of tops is not permitted, while huge modesty skirts are available for shoppers who would try on skirts and trousers.

Fashionable food
While rather less well known than its East Asian cousins, Korean cuisine has become increasingly trendy throughout the world in recent years. Koreans favour strong and spicy dishes, with generous use of chilli and garlic. A Korean meal will include a large number of small side dishes called banchan. The most important of these are the fermented vegetables known as kimchi.