Wandering in the rain

We’re meeting Melissa at 1:30 to check out the CoEx Mall so we had a quiet, relaxing Saturday morning. I worked on my pictures and the blog and Doreen wrote in her journal. We decided to go down to the area early and have a look around while Melissa was working. There are a number of very intriguing buildings in Seoul. I’m impressed with the architect’s imagination and the flexibility of the building codes. Like Tokyo, this is not a city of rectangular blocks. It makes for interesting walks.
When we got off the subway, we headed for the Bongeunsa Temple complex. The driveway area was under re-construction but it was a beautiful area. We wandered around and took some pictures and then lit candles and joss sticks in memory of family. This is a training center for monks and they offer monastery stays for tourists. That might be a great experience.
After a quick muffin at ‘The Coffee Bean’, we headed back to the subway exit to meet Melissa. On the way, we spent some time watching mall employees in formal costumes directing mall traffic–not something you ever encounter at Burlington Mall or Avalon Mall. The mall was crowded because of an exhibition (and Saturday shopping and kids hanging out) but we made our way to the aquarium. As a mall aquarium, it was beyond belief. It was a world-class affair. The first thing we saw when we walked through the door was an mini-display of sea horses and lion fish. And the quality of the exhibits continued on a high plane. They had several sections for kids, including one where the fish tanks were built into everyday objects like refrigerators, coffee tables, headboards, and the like. There was even a Windows aquarium screen saver surrounded by a real aquarium. What a great way to spend an afternoon.
Afterwards, we browsed the mall and stopped for some food. Then we sat and talked for quite a while. Melissa has grown into a lovely young lady and we really enjoyed the opportunity to spend some time with her outside the family get-together scene. We considered going to the N’Seoul Tower after it got dark but we talked her into leaving early so she could have Saturday night with her friends.
And then it rained on our Easter parade. We kept hoping it would clear up but the best we got was a slow drizzle. Oh, well, it was our last day in Seoul so we figured we’d take our chances. What’s a little rain to people who grew up in Newfoundland. This definitely would have been a better day for the aquarium. The walk through old and new neighbourhoods in the downtown area was very interesting. I don’t know if it was the rain, the fact that it was Sunday, the fact that it was Easter, or a combination of all of the above, but the city had a different feel today.
At one stage, a lady came up and presented us with an Easter egg gift (not a decorated, chocolate egg but the hard-boiled kind). As we approached the Lotte Department Store, we discovered that they have a little machine outside their doors for rainy days. You just poke your umbrella down the opening and it is encased in a plastic bag. I guess it keeps excess water off the store’s carpets. (This is a high-class enterprise with a costumed information lady and the salespeople wearing gloves so they don’t smudge the merchandise. Definitely not a WalMart.) We looked but didn’t buy.
We wandered through Myeondong and the Namdaemun market but things were much subdued because of the miserable weather. We had hoped to ride the cable car to the N’Seoul Tower and go up to the top of the tower which is supposed to have great views of the city. As we approached the area, it became obvious that fog ruled the top of the hill. No way were there any views today. Something else we should have done yesterday.
Now things are winding down. About all that’s left is the packing for our flight tomorrow to Thailand. It will definitely be much warmer for the rest of our trip.