Day trip to Incheon Chinatown
Rest day. Hot weather, low 20's, very unexpected. I decided to take a subway / train to the neighbouring city that is basically still part of Seoul but if you tell the people that live there that they will probably get angry - the second largest city in South Korea of Incheon. The city is the main port, it is also where the airport is, although that is far from where I was today and on an island, and it is also a city with a lot of history of Japanese rule and USA war efforts.
I have actually stayed in the Incheon downtown area a few visits to Korea ago, but that also is quite far from where I was today.
Today the main tourist area is the Chinatown part at the end of subway line 1, it is a lot like the Chinatown in Yokohama. I had been there twice before, and so today I went for a third time.
How was that for a long winded introduction full of circular references?
Getting to Incheon takes about 70 minutes from central areas of Seoul, surprisingly there is no high speed train, although I believe a repurposed existing line is nearing completion. There are express trains but those stop one stop prior to the actual station labelled Incheon, so my top tip is to get off at DongIncheon and walk, or change to the slow train for the final stop. My journey today took me from Incheon station, through Chinatown, around the American Korean freedom association monuments of remembrance, victory and resilience, then into the Sinpo market area and back to DongIncheon station. I got burnt.
![More of the same of Korea - March and April 2024 - The final stop on the line exits right by the main gate to Chinatown. This area does not really kick off until the afternoon, I was here at 10am.](a-84.jpg)
The final stop on the line exits right by the main gate to Chinatown. This area does not really kick off until the afternoon, I was here at 10am.
![More of the same of Korea - March and April 2024 - There are a number of dim sum (dian xin) places to choose from if you feel like deep fried breakfast.](a-86.jpg)
There are a number of dim sum (dian xin) places to choose from if you feel like deep fried breakfast.
![More of the same of Korea - March and April 2024 - I love my camera. Look how 3d this photo appears to be! I believe it is called micro contrast, and probably does not exist.](a-87.jpg)
I love my camera. Look how 3d this photo appears to be! I believe it is called micro contrast, and probably does not exist.
![More of the same of Korea - March and April 2024 - There is a park at the top of the hill, with the characters representing the Chinese zodiac. I was having flashbacks to my two previous visits.](a-88.jpg)
There is a park at the top of the hill, with the characters representing the Chinese zodiac. I was having flashbacks to my two previous visits.
![More of the same of Korea - March and April 2024 - This is a monument to the American / Korean centenary of cooperation. There is no angle to take a photo of the whole thing properly.](a-89.jpg)
This is a monument to the American / Korean centenary of cooperation. There is no angle to take a photo of the whole thing properly.
![More of the same of Korea - March and April 2024 - This is a weird photo. In person, the pollution today was horrific, and yet the photo shows a far clearer scene than my eyes perceived at the time. Pe](a-90.jpg)
This is a weird photo. In person, the pollution today was horrific, and yet the photo shows a far clearer scene than my eyes perceived at the time. Perhaps I have developed mentally generated pollution goggles?
![More of the same of Korea - March and April 2024 - Here is General MacArthur, or GenMac as he prefers to be called these days. Famous for riding a horse head long into battle across 5 different wars wh](a-91.jpg)
Here is General MacArthur, or GenMac as he prefers to be called these days. Famous for riding a horse head long into battle across 5 different wars while smoking a pipe, and never once getting a scratch on him. Ordinarily I would have stood in the middle of the path and tried to line up the statue for the photo, but the statue is weirdly off centre which annoys me. Move it.
![More of the same of Korea - March and April 2024 - Nearby is the Korea Telecom monument. Actually it is on top of a somewhat historic telegraph station building.](a-92.jpg)
Nearby is the Korea Telecom monument. Actually it is on top of a somewhat historic telegraph station building.
![More of the same of Korea - March and April 2024 - At this point, I headed in a random direction to explore an area I had not been to on previous visits. There were many historic buildings and little g](a-96.jpg)
At this point, I headed in a random direction to explore an area I had not been to on previous visits. There were many historic buildings and little garden areas such as this one. And of course many fancy cafes.
![More of the same of Korea - March and April 2024 - Eventually I found my way into the shopping area of Sinpo, which was somewhat busier than Chinatown.](a-98.jpg)
Eventually I found my way into the shopping area of Sinpo, which was somewhat busier than Chinatown.
![More of the same of Korea - March and April 2024 - I considered stopping at Goat / Koala cafe for a third coffee, but unfortunately it was a bit late in the day for me to intake any more caffeine.](a-99.jpg)
I considered stopping at Goat / Koala cafe for a third coffee, but unfortunately it was a bit late in the day for me to intake any more caffeine.
![More of the same of Korea - March and April 2024 - And finally, a huge underground mall back to DongIncheon station. I decided to walk along it to avoid any more sun as today I was not wearing sunscree](a-101.jpg)
And finally, a huge underground mall back to DongIncheon station. I decided to walk along it to avoid any more sun as today I was not wearing sunscreen.
Jamsil cherry blossoms
It is peak blossom season in Seoul. As I mentioned before, Blossoms are not really my thing. The news feed on my phone alerted me to the lake at Jamsil, where the giant Lotte tower is, was now in peak blossom, and crowd control measures would be in place for the next 2 weeks, so that is where I went.
I have seen no evidence that there are Japanese style Hanami blossom office parties, where the boss takes all the office girls out to get them drunk on a picnic rug and tell them about how wonderfully each of them are blossoming. Really! That is apparently a thing to do. What I did see of course were thousands of people, walking in the same direction, stopping only to take photos, in areas fenced off by police tape with security guards yelling at people who tried to go back the wrong way.
The actual blossom display was not as overdone as I thought it would be, I thought there would be coloured strobe lights, lasers and smoke machines, but there was just the regular park lighting.
And now that I have described the blossoms in detail, I will declare that the pollution sunset over the river that I experienced before going to the blossoms was far more photogenic.
![More of the same of Korea - March and April 2024 - Even facing away from the sun this evening was quite nice. Note the glowing train going across the bridge.](a-103.jpg)
Even facing away from the sun this evening was quite nice. Note the glowing train going across the bridge.
![More of the same of Korea - March and April 2024 - Both sides of the river are a linear park very popular with cyclists. Getting under the highway that also runs along the river can be a logistical cha](a-104.jpg)
Both sides of the river are a linear park very popular with cyclists. Getting under the highway that also runs along the river can be a logistical challenge, there are tunnels periodically.
![More of the same of Korea - March and April 2024 - I have wondered previously why there are no ferry's on the river here. Now I know why, the bridges are actually locks.](a-105.jpg)
I have wondered previously why there are no ferry's on the river here. Now I know why, the bridges are actually locks.
![More of the same of Korea - March and April 2024 - There is the Lotte tower. From this angle it does not look too tall due to the way it slopes back. It is has 123 story's and is the 6th tallest buildi](a-106.jpg)
There is the Lotte tower. From this angle it does not look too tall due to the way it slopes back. It is has 123 story's and is the 6th tallest building in the world, at least for now. There are many rumours about its poor construction with cracking glass and water leaks leading to parts of the mall underneath being closed for extended repairs.
![More of the same of Korea - March and April 2024 - I decided to brave the cracking glass and water leaks and head down to the lowest level of the mall for some ramen. Ramen was not my first choice but](a-108.jpg)
I decided to brave the cracking glass and water leaks and head down to the lowest level of the mall for some ramen. Ramen was not my first choice but finding a seat was difficult due to the blossoming blossom crowd.
![More of the same of Korea - March and April 2024 - I have been here before and photographed the theme park in the lake during the day time. Here it is in the dark.](a-111.jpg)
I have been here before and photographed the theme park in the lake during the day time. Here it is in the dark.
![More of the same of Korea - March and April 2024 - And there he is, the mascot for Lotteworld adventure. Furry mascots always have a walking stick, it seems they must get involved in horrible work plac](a-114.jpg)
And there he is, the mascot for Lotteworld adventure. Furry mascots always have a walking stick, it seems they must get involved in horrible work place accidents, perhaps while constructing the Lotte tower?
Tomorrow is a hiking day! I will put on sunscreen.
Dojeongbong and Suraksan from Hoeryong station
Today I climbed a mountain I have climbed before, on April 1 2019, but today I climbed both up and down it from completely different directions to last time. What I am saying is I have now gone either up or down 4 different trails attached to the top of this mountain.
I selected my hike today based on the slight threat of rain. It did not rain. Apparently it will not rain at all for the next week either. But if it were to rain I did not really want to go on a long train journey only to come straight back again from the middle of nowhere without climbing anything, I would rather come back frustrated from somewhere more local. But like I said, no rain, just lots of rocks, and lots of cloud.
The hike took about 4.5 hours, was only 10km and 22k steps. Normally I beat the predicted time by quite a bit, but today I took as long as the prediction. I suspect this is because I am very cautious on the rocky bits that when combined with fine sandy gravel become treacherous.
Also, today there was a huge earthquake in Taiwan, near where I was at this time last year. Fortunately I am not there this year.
Now on to way too many photos of rocks and clouds.
![More of the same of Korea - March and April 2024 - I got to inspect the monorail track on my walk from the subway station to the actual start of the trail, It is probably about 1km away. I guess you co](a-117.jpg)
I got to inspect the monorail track on my walk from the subway station to the actual start of the trail, It is probably about 1km away. I guess you could get closer on the monorail.
![More of the same of Korea - March and April 2024 - There are my mountains for today. They look strangely far away in this photo, despite the trail starting just under those freeway overpasses in the ce](a-118.jpg)
There are my mountains for today. They look strangely far away in this photo, despite the trail starting just under those freeway overpasses in the centre of this shot.
![More of the same of Korea - March and April 2024 - It did not take too long to start getting some altitude, allowing a good view of the hundreds of identical apartment buildings below.](a-120.jpg)
It did not take too long to start getting some altitude, allowing a good view of the hundreds of identical apartment buildings below.
![More of the same of Korea - March and April 2024 - There were quite a few people around near the bottom, many come just up to this view then go back. I had to wait my turn.](a-121.jpg)
There were quite a few people around near the bottom, many come just up to this view then go back. I had to wait my turn.
![More of the same of Korea - March and April 2024 - More view. The rocky mountain across the valley is Dobongsan, which I climbed last time I was here, and once before before that too! It is one of the](a-123.jpg)
More view. The rocky mountain across the valley is Dobongsan, which I climbed last time I was here, and once before before that too! It is one of the more dangerous climbs you can do in Seoul.
![More of the same of Korea - March and April 2024 - Another fortification signalled the first peak of sorts. There is barbed wire in the entry but it would not take much to pull it out and go in. I thin](a-127.jpg)
Another fortification signalled the first peak of sorts. There is barbed wire in the entry but it would not take much to pull it out and go in. I think they mainly want to stop people from illegally camping in them.
![More of the same of Korea - March and April 2024 - You can go down that way too. There are a lot of trails and I had to keep checking my map to make sure I was on the trail I needed to get me to my des](a-133.jpg)
You can go down that way too. There are a lot of trails and I had to keep checking my map to make sure I was on the trail I needed to get me to my desired destination.
![More of the same of Korea - March and April 2024 - Hmm, I guess I will not be going that way. This was not really a problem as the way around it meets up again soon after.](a-136.jpg)
Hmm, I guess I will not be going that way. This was not really a problem as the way around it meets up again soon after.
![More of the same of Korea - March and April 2024 - Today's helicopter landing pad. These are strategically placed so that North Korea can easily land troops on every mountain surrounding Seoul and take](a-138.jpg)
Today's helicopter landing pad. These are strategically placed so that North Korea can easily land troops on every mountain surrounding Seoul and take up sniper positions.
![More of the same of Korea - March and April 2024 - And then I arrived at the summit of Suraksan, where an intrepid soul had lugged up an esky full of ice creams for sale.](a-139.jpg)
And then I arrived at the summit of Suraksan, where an intrepid soul had lugged up an esky full of ice creams for sale.
![More of the same of Korea - March and April 2024 - Around this point I got a bit lost, I thought the trail would surely include this cave, but this was not the trail.](a-145.jpg)
Around this point I got a bit lost, I thought the trail would surely include this cave, but this was not the trail.
![More of the same of Korea - March and April 2024 - A lot of people would like to take a photo of this huge rock, so the park authorities stuck a huge yellow sign in front of it.](a-151.jpg)
A lot of people would like to take a photo of this huge rock, so the park authorities stuck a huge yellow sign in front of it.
![More of the same of Korea - March and April 2024 - Finally I arrived back at civilisation, I was greeted by a pole full of optic fibre termination boxes.](a-155.jpg)
Finally I arrived back at civilisation, I was greeted by a pole full of optic fibre termination boxes.
COEX mall
Long time readers without Alzheimer's or other forms of dementia will probably remember the mall in Seoul with the running track where I do jokes about how I ran a few laps etc. I just alienated my only reader.
Anyway, I normally go there when it is raining, because it is giant and underground. It was not raining tonight, but since my feet were sore I decided to go there anyway.
I walked there from my hotel, which was a bit further than expected, but I got to pass all the many protests at corporate headquarter buildings along the way. Koreans love to protest.
Soon there will be no one left to protest though, as the population is shrinking fast, which leads me to a news story I read earlier today!
Apparently a local politician has suggested that young girls are too fat and unattractive these days and that is the main cause of the low birth rate. How would that go down in Australia if Peter Dutton (current leader of the opposition) declared that no one is having babies because boys don't want to pork fat chicks?
![More of the same of Korea - March and April 2024 - Like I said above, I passed many protests, with Korean only banners, but this is the protest outside of the Google building, which they have used Goog](a-157.jpg)
Like I said above, I passed many protests, with Korean only banners, but this is the protest outside of the Google building, which they have used Google Translate to kindly translate into English.
![More of the same of Korea - March and April 2024 - Here is the flash library in the COEX mall. I think they actively encourage photos, taking books off the shelves to read them, and browsing with a dri](a-160.jpg)
Here is the flash library in the COEX mall. I think they actively encourage photos, taking books off the shelves to read them, and browsing with a drink in your hand.
![More of the same of Korea - March and April 2024 - My dinner was something a bit different. Korean dumplings (mandoo/mandu) filled with eggplant and kimchi. There are 5 of them on the big plate, deep f](a-161.jpg)
My dinner was something a bit different. Korean dumplings (mandoo/mandu) filled with eggplant and kimchi. There are 5 of them on the big plate, deep fried. Very nice.
![More of the same of Korea - March and April 2024 - Here is the running track! A strange idea because kids do run on it, as fast as they can, which must frequently end badly.](a-162.jpg)
Here is the running track! A strange idea because kids do run on it, as fast as they can, which must frequently end badly.
![More of the same of Korea - March and April 2024 - And then after catching the subway back from an underground mall, I came up to the surface and into complete darkness.](a-163.jpg)
And then after catching the subway back from an underground mall, I came up to the surface and into complete darkness.
![More of the same of Korea - March and April 2024 - And tonight's final pic, the red carpet launch of a new Netflix show that features a girl with a tree root growing out of her head. These days there a](a-166.jpg)
And tonight's final pic, the red carpet launch of a new Netflix show that features a girl with a tree root growing out of her head. These days there are more Korean shows than English shows on Netflix.
Tomorrow is not a hiking day. And neither is the next day as on Friday I am going to Daegu. I have planned this badly!
There are currently 2 comments - click to add
jenny on 2024-04-03 said:
All dinners so far look delicious
mother on 2024-04-03 said:
those large rocks a spectacular. must have been some volcanic activity in the distant past.
Bupyeong market
Rest day today. I decided to go back into neighbouring Incheon city again to Bupyeong. It is most known for what is called the Bupyeong comprehensive market.
I had been there once before, many years ago, when it was so cold that I purchased a beanie because my ears were freezing. No such issue today, 20c again.
Getting there took way too long, and getting back took even longer. They really need a better fast train that goes to these major centres in the Seoul outer suburbs west of Seoul. It would have been quicker to go to a major city on the other side of the country by bullet train.
Once I was there, it was much as I remembered, a labyrinth of underground shopping malls, a sad above ground shopping street called culture street, and the aforementioned market, that is full of little old lady hunchbacks, doing not much at all. So very interesting.
Then I had a salad.
![More of the same of Korea - March and April 2024 - On my way to the station, I passed many piles of the whore flyers distributed by scooter riders every night around the Gangnam area. This is all great](a-167.jpg)
On my way to the station, I passed many piles of the whore flyers distributed by scooter riders every night around the Gangnam area. This is all great for the environment.
![More of the same of Korea - March and April 2024 - This statue is out the front of the Sony store, which has big signs all over it advising people they no longer sell playstations. Did Sony cancel the](a-168.jpg)
This statue is out the front of the Sony store, which has big signs all over it advising people they no longer sell playstations. Did Sony cancel the playstation? I doubt it.
![More of the same of Korea - March and April 2024 - I wonder what specific incident caused the banning of carrying pants on the subway? Luckily I chose to wear my pants today.](a-169.jpg)
I wonder what specific incident caused the banning of carrying pants on the subway? Luckily I chose to wear my pants today.
![More of the same of Korea - March and April 2024 - Behold, the concrete lined streets of Bupyeong. I got off at a station north of the main area and started my walk south.](a-170.jpg)
Behold, the concrete lined streets of Bupyeong. I got off at a station north of the main area and started my walk south.
![More of the same of Korea - March and April 2024 - Here is the sad old mall, culture street. Later I tried to get my salad from a place along here, but their card reader rejected both my cards, first t](a-171.jpg)
Here is the sad old mall, culture street. Later I tried to get my salad from a place along here, but their card reader rejected both my cards, first time that has happened, so I went elsewhere. It was a machine of course, you never order from a human.
![More of the same of Korea - March and April 2024 - There are numerous underground shopping areas. The most confusing one is 8 lanes of concentric octagons. You read that right.](a-173.jpg)
There are numerous underground shopping areas. The most confusing one is 8 lanes of concentric octagons. You read that right.
![More of the same of Korea - March and April 2024 - This whole area including the market really only opens at lunch time. There is actually a different night market that opens at 8pm as well, which is p](a-174.jpg)
This whole area including the market really only opens at lunch time. There is actually a different night market that opens at 8pm as well, which is pretty close to my bed time.
![More of the same of Korea - March and April 2024 - Here is the inside of the comprehensive market. I do not really know what those little old ladies are doing. The whole time I was there I could not st](a-177.jpg)
Here is the inside of the comprehensive market. I do not really know what those little old ladies are doing. The whole time I was there I could not stop thinking about how comprehensive it was.
![More of the same of Korea - March and April 2024 - And then here is my salad. A strange combo of an entire avocado, cranberries, olives, muesli as well as a few more standard salad ingredients. The mac](a-179.jpg)
And then here is my salad. A strange combo of an entire avocado, cranberries, olives, muesli as well as a few more standard salad ingredients. The machine was happy to take my card so I was happy to eat their salad.
Not too many pics today, maybe I will try harder tonight.
Seoul colour park
I took a few more photos this evening. Bad photos generally, of a picnic at dusk. An enormous picnic.
I had decided to go to Yeouido for dinner, which is a financial centre in the south central part of Seoul. I had been there before, there are some big fancy shopping centres and a really good food court.
I decided to also walk along the river, in case the sunset was good again. It wasn't. However then I found millions of people. Well maybe not millions, but many thousands of people.
All were buying a sheet of coloured cardboard and or pitching a tent to sit on the dead grass of the river bank and stare at a bridge.
I know that they light this bridge up at night and spray water mist and shine lasers through the mist, but that has been going on for many years now. So my question is, do this many people come to the river bank every single night for the spectacle? Did blossoms increase the number of all night picnicers? Is picnicers even a word? I have so many questions.
![More of the same of Korea - March and April 2024 - Near my hotel, and food trucks are setting up early. Similar to Taiwan, but not quite as bad, you stand in the traffic a lot of the time when you want](a-180.jpg)
Near my hotel, and food trucks are setting up early. Similar to Taiwan, but not quite as bad, you stand in the traffic a lot of the time when you want to go to a food truck. I do not enjoy this, so I did not partake.
![More of the same of Korea - March and April 2024 - Instead I headed under a bridge into a fenced off area and examined the rubbish collection carts. Really! That is why I am here.](a-181.jpg)
Instead I headed under a bridge into a fenced off area and examined the rubbish collection carts. Really! That is why I am here.
![More of the same of Korea - March and April 2024 - There are a few real boats that go for little cruises around in a circle in this area. They cannot go under any of the bridges to my knowledge. Howeve](a-182.jpg)
There are a few real boats that go for little cruises around in a circle in this area. They cannot go under any of the bridges to my knowledge. However what looks like boats here are barges made to look like boats filled with convenience stores and cafes.
![More of the same of Korea - March and April 2024 - A huge number of people. Note they are all sitting on a colourful piece of freshly purchased plastic coated cardboard. Most of these will float down t](a-187.jpg)
A huge number of people. Note they are all sitting on a colourful piece of freshly purchased plastic coated cardboard. Most of these will float down the river at the end of the evening.
![More of the same of Korea - March and April 2024 - And here is one of many, many sheets of cardboard stores. Boxes and boxes of plastic coated cardboard. It is a good thing I can no longer get a dispos](a-189.jpg)
And here is one of many, many sheets of cardboard stores. Boxes and boxes of plastic coated cardboard. It is a good thing I can no longer get a disposable coffee cup.
![More of the same of Korea - March and April 2024 - That is 'The Hyundai', the fanciest of all the fancy Hyundai department stores. I think the basement there is where I had dinner last time I came to t](a-193.jpg)
That is 'The Hyundai', the fanciest of all the fancy Hyundai department stores. I think the basement there is where I had dinner last time I came to this area.
![More of the same of Korea - March and April 2024 - However this time I ate in basement 3 of the nearby IFC mall. My dinner is spicy tofu stew, with mystery meat, and all the side dishes. There is rice](a-194.jpg)
However this time I ate in basement 3 of the nearby IFC mall. My dinner is spicy tofu stew, with mystery meat, and all the side dishes. There is rice under the wooden lid. I mix everything together.
Tomorrow I take a bullet train to Daegu. Hopefully they do not cancel my hotel booking?
There are currently 4 comments - click to add
David on 2024-04-04 said:
also, you must have loaded the site literally as the photos were being uploaded, you have about a 10 second window to pull that off, well done.
David on 2024-04-04 said:
I guess I am staying on the non tourist side of the river and I am yet to go over to the tourist side. I will stay over there for the last week of the trip. Having said that, I do see a few foreign business people getting around at rush hour.
adriana on 2024-04-04 said:
Your pictures are not up - you have to touch the comments to make them come up.
mother on 2024-04-04 said:
Where are all the foreigners? Are they all in Japan?
There are currently 3 comments - click to add
David on 2024-04-02 said:
Yep, hand holding, the IBIS in my camera gets sharp shots reliably down to about 1/4 of a second
jenny on 2024-04-02 said:
The night blossom shots are spectacular and very clear. Were you hand holding your camera?
mother on 2024-04-02 said:
Nice walk today. More shotengai shots needed. I want to know what I can buy.