Seoul - 中浪川河, 王陵
April 12: We had our morning breakfast, packed our luggage, and checked out of the hotel around noon. We moved from the bustling Myeongdong area to a spacious accommodation in the Jungnang district in Seoul, away from the tourist-concentrated city center. It's a perfect place to experience authentic local Korean life and culture. The metro system in Seoul is very well built, and with the T-money card in hand, it was pretty easy to go around the city. Our new residence hotel offers ample space with a bedroom, a living room, a convenient kitchen, and, best of all, an in-unit washer.
Once we settled in, we took a trip to nearby Costco, just a 15-minute walk from our hotel, to stock up on groceries. There were so many Korean products in Costco, but Costco's famous rotisserie chickens and hotdogs were still there. We ate the famous Costco hotdog for lunch and tried the Korean bulgogi pizza. The hotdog was no different from the ones in the U.S., but the taste of the bulgogi pizza was interesting. We probably would prefer the traditional pepperoni pizza.
We made our own dinner tonight and had Chinese bok choy and tasty Korean short ribs. While we didn't partake in any sightseeing activities today, we thoroughly enjoyed unwinding and familiarizing ourselves with the neighborhood, stepping away from the usual tourist attractions.
April 13: Breakfast was the dumplings we bought from Costco, and they were outstanding. Not far from our hotel was the Jungnangcheon stream. The Jungnangcheon stream was said to have most water flowing to the Han River. The stream was very long, more than 20+ miles. We discovered various sports facilities along the stream's banks, such as walking/biking lanes, basketball courts, swimming pools, tennis courts, and a mini-golf course. We decided to go in one direction first (north) and would try the other direction (south) on another day.
The walking/biking lanes were very well built, but only a few people used them. The sports courts were empty. The two of us just enjoyed the peacefulness, as well as the scenic view. After walking for about an hour, we left the stream bank and found ourselves walking on another trail, still parallel to the stream, just a little away from the bank and above the flood protection walls. It was a nice walking trail with many trees, flowers, and small rose parks. There was even exercise equipment on the path, an excellent place for the locals to enjoy outdoor activities. These sports facilities and gardens left a lasting impression on us.
Several farmers' markets were near our hotel. The Dongbu market was just about five minutes walking distance. We could find fresh veggies, fresh fruits, and other products there. Small restaurants were selling many traditional Korean food we loved. The coffee shops always had promotional deals, and we visited them often. We enjoyed walking around the market very much.
At night, many street vendors set up booths along the road selling all kinds of Korean snacks. Our favorite one was the Korean glutinous corn. This corn tasted so much better than the corn in the U.S., and it's cheap too.
April 14: We did the north direction of the Jungnangcheon stream yesterday and had a wonderful time. We decided to head south today after breakfast and embarked on a very long walk following the Jungnangcheon stream all the way to the Seoul Forest Park, where the Jungangcheon stream meets the Han River. Like the ones, we saw yesterday, walking/biking lines and various sports facilities along both sides of the stream's banks. The newly created "Gwangjin Rose Garden" had 30 different kinds of roses planted with a boat sculpture symbolizing the waterside city. Although it was a bit early for the roses to bloom and too late to witness the cherry blossoms, the place was still beautiful, and we could easily spend more time there.
When we finally arrived at Forest Park, we were delighted by the vibrant blooming tulips in the park. There were a lot of picnic tables there which is very convenient for the locals to come here to relax and enjoy nature. While there, we noticed some government officials inspecting the park, as locals recognized and eagerly approached them for handshakes and photos. Despite our curiosity, we couldn't identify who the official was, even after conducting a Google search.
The scenery stroll along the river and stream left us both satisfied and tired. We left the hotel almost four hours ago. To reward ourselves, we enjoyed a late lunch at a seafood restaurant. The octopus was very delicious, but the spicy fish stew tasted too spicy for us.
We took the metro back to our hotel. After some rest, we went to the nearby mall, where we found many restaurants there. One restaurant that serves all kinds of seafood bibimbap got our attention. We ordered the cockle bibimbap, and it was one of the best dishes we had in Korea.
April 15: We took another extensive walk to visit two majestic royal tombs, Taereung and Gangleung. As we walked on the street, some area of the sidewalk was under construction, and the workers not only put the sign but also covered the dirt surface with the mat. This considerate gesture left a lasting impression on us and demonstrated their commitment to safety and the convenience of pedestrians. Along our journey, we made a delightful pit stop at Hwarangdae Railway Park, located adjacent to Korea Military Park. The thoughtfully designed park offers a unique experience, showcasing various trains and railroad-related exhibits. We don't remember we have seen similar public parks in other places. When we decided to take a moment to relax and enjoy a cup of Café Latte, to our astonishment, our drinks were delivered to our table whimsically and delightfully—by a toy train! It was a charming touch that added an extra element of joy and uniqueness to our visit.
We visited the Royal Tomb Museum of the Joseon Dynasty at the Taereung Royal Tomb site. The museum provides insights into the royal burial customs, rituals, and traditions of the Joseon Dynasty, the last dynasty of Korea that ruled from 1392 to 1897. Visitors can explore the exhibits showcasing various artifacts excavated from the royal tombs, including pottery, jewelry, clothing, and other cultural relics. Then we walked to the Taereung Royal Tomb mound. Taereung Royal Tomb has been preserved without damage for nearly 500 years, a miracle under many wars. It is the royal tomb of Queen Munjeong, the second consort of King Jungjong (11th king of Joseon). There were not many tourists or locals at the site. Because the visitors were not allowed to enter the burial mound, we didn't see the elegant details of the tomb too much.
King Myeongjong (13th king of Joseon) and his wife, Queen Insun, were buried at Gangneung Royal Tomb. Both Taereung and Gangneung Royal Tombs are designated UNESCO World Heritage sites. An intriguing 1.8 km hiking trail meandering through the forest connects these tombs, providing an opportunity to appreciate the surrounding natural beauty. Unfortunately, during our visit, the path was closed.
After touring the tombs, we took the bus back to the hotel. Dinner was at another seafood restaurant with seafood pancakes which we enjoyed very much.
4/12: 早餐后，我们整理好行李，大约在中午左右退房。我们离开了繁华的明洞地区，远离游客聚集的市中心，搬到了位于首尔中南区的宽敞住宿。这样的安排让我们能更好地体验当地人的生活和文化。首尔的地铁系统非常便利，我们购买了T-money卡，使用起来非常方便。我们入住的公寓式酒店房间宽敞，有卧室、起居室和厨房，并且还配备了一台单元内洗衣机。安顿下来后，我们前往附近的Costco，只需步行15分钟，购买了一些食品。Costco有许多韩国产品，当然著名的Costco烤鸡和热狗肯定有。午餐时，我们要了Costco的热门热狗，尝试了韩国烤肉披萨。热狗的味道与美国的相似，但韩国烤肉披萨的味道颇有趣。或许我们更喜欢传统的意大利辣香肠披萨。
晚上，我们在住处自己做了晚餐，炒了上海小青菜，烧了韩国排骨，味道不错但排骨有点甜。虽然今天没有参加任何观光活动，但远离市中心繁忙的旅游景点，能让我们更加自在地感受当地人的日常生活，了解他们的生活起居和文化习惯。这样的旅行体验让我们感受到了与众不同的魅力，也为我们的旅程增添了独特的记忆。
4/13：今天的早餐是我们昨天从Costco买来的饺子，美味极了。我们的酒店离中浪川河不远，这是汉江的主要支流，河流长达二十多英里。沿着河岸边有各种体育设施，包括步行/自行车道、篮球场、游泳池、网球场和迷你高尔夫球场。我们决定先向北走一段路，计划着改天再换个方向。这些步行/自行车道建造得很好，但只有少数人在使用，整个运动场上也空无一人。这对我们来说是好事，既宁静又不缺风景，两个人自由自在非常享受。大约走了一个小时后，我们离开了河岸，转入一条位于防洪墙上的优美步行道，它与溪流平行，离河岸不远。沿途有许多树木、鲜花和小玫瑰公园。路上甚至还设有健身器材，成为当地居民户外活动的好去处。漂亮的步行道及这些体育设施和花园给我们留下了深刻的印象。
我们酒店附近有几个农贸市场，其中东埠市场只有五分钟的步行路程。在那里，我们可以找到新鲜的蔬菜、水果和其他产品。小餐馆供应许多我们喜欢的传统韩国美食。而咖啡店总是有一些不错的打折活动，我们常常在那里享用一杯拿铁。到了晚上，我们喜欢在市场里漫步，因为很多街头小贩在人行道上摆摊，出售各种韩国小吃。我们最喜欢的是韩国糯玉米，这种玉米的味道比美国的玉米更美味，而且价格也很实惠。
4/14：昨天沿着中浪川河往北走，河岸周边的城市建设让我们赞不绝口。今天早餐后，我们决定向南走，沿着中浪川河一直走到它与汉江交汇处的首尔森林公园。像昨天一样，沿途两岸有着沿着溪流的步行/自行车线和各种体育设施。其中新建的“广津玫瑰园”种植了30多种玫瑰，并且还有象征水边城市的船雕。尽管玫瑰花还未开放，樱花季节也已错过，但公园仍然非常漂亮，我们在那里度过了愉快的时光。
终于到达森林公园时，我们被公园里盛开的郁金香所吸引。在公园里，我们注意到有政府官员正在检查工作，当地居民认出他后，热切地向他走近，握手并合影。虽然我们很好奇，但即使在进行了谷歌搜索之后，我们也无法确定这位官员的身份。
沿着河流和溪流漫步让我们感到既满足又有些疲劳，因为我们从早上离开酒店到现在已经走了近四个小时了。需要犒劳一下自己，午餐我们在一家海鲜餐厅享用了美味的海鲜。章鱼很好吃，但炖辣鱼对我们来说太辣了。
回到酒店稍作休息后，我们前往附近的购物中心，那里有许多餐馆可供选择。一家供应各种海鲜石锅拌饭的餐厅引起了我们的兴趣。我们点了蛤蟆拌饭，这是我们在韩国吃过的最好的菜肴之一。今天的美食之旅让我们的味蕾得到了极大的满足。
4/15：今天再接再厉，又来一次长长的徒步旅行。参观了两个壮丽的皇家陵墓 - 泰陵和甘陵。在前往陵墓的途中，我们顺便在毗邻韩国军校的花剌台铁路公园逛了一圈。这个精心设计的公园提供了独特的体验，展示了各种火车铁路相关的实物。我们感觉在其他地方很难找到类似的公园。当我们准备放松一下，品尝一杯拿铁咖啡时，我们的咖啡竟然被玩具火车送到了我们的餐桌上！给我们增添了额外的惊喜和欢乐。
我们首先参观了位于泰陵皇家陵墓遗址的朝鲜王朝皇家陵墓博物馆。该博物馆向我们展示了朝鲜王朝（1392年至1897年统治韩国的最后一个王朝）皇家葬礼习俗、仪式和传统。在博物馆中，我们看到了从皇家陵墓出土的各种文物，包括陶器、珠宝、服饰和其他古董，深入了解了朝鲜历史文化。
接着我们来到了泰陵皇家陵墓，这个陵墓保存了近500年，没有受到破坏。它是贞宗王（朝鲜第11任国王）的第二任王后文贞王后的皇家陵墓。由于不允许游客进入陵墓，我们没有看到墓葬的优雅细节。同样，江陵皇家陵墓也是明宗国王（朝鲜第13任国王）和仁顺王后的安息之地。泰陵和江陵皇家陵墓都被联合国教科文组织指定为世界遗产。尽管连接这两座陵墓的1.8公里徒步小径被关闭，但我们还是有机会欣赏到周围自然美景。
参观完陵墓后，我们搭乘巴士返回酒店，并在另一家海鲜餐厅享用了晚餐，品尝了美味的海鲜煎饼。
