Destination:
South Korea

Encircled by mountains, containing a population of 10-million, and with more than a million registered motor vehicles inching through its congested streets, one would imagine the metropolis of Seoul, capital of South Korea, to be a polluted nightmare. The city fathers, however, have made a concerted effort in recent years to clean and green this thriving, prosperous city, also ensuring that the mushrooming of gleaming skyscrapers has not meant the neglect or destruction of centuries-old palaces and shrines. The result is a bustling, but organised, city filled with fascination, where old and new co-exist happily.

A great deal of the credit for the well-ordered urban planning of Seoul can be given to the ancient Joseon Dynasty, which used great foresight when crafting the city into a capital way back in the 14th century.

The old Joseon Dynasty city with its central main palace is now the traditional downtown heart of Seoul where many of the most popular sights, hotels and markets are to be found. One of the most popular areas for visitors to explore is Insa-dong, filled with antique shops, art galleries, traditional teahouses, restaurants and bookshops.

Across the Han River the modern city is dominated by Korea's World Trade Centre, and the Coex Mall, a shopper's delight. Even the island, Yeouido, in the middle of the Han River is densely packed with high-rise buildings; this is also the base for the Korean National Assembly, and the world's biggest Presbyterian church.

Interspersed through the urban landscape are several lush, green parks, the most central being Namsan Park, encompassing the mountain of the same name just to the south of downtown Seoul. Namsan Park is also home to the iconic Seoul Tower, which offers spectacular 360 degree views of the city and surrounding countryside.

Nightlife in Seoul is lively and legendary with something to suit all tastes, from a 'booze-cruise' through the raunchy red light district of Itaewon, or a sedate sit-down at a traditional teahouse. Eating out, too, is a feast for the senses in Seoul, with an enormous international variety to choose from, whether it is succulent steak, perfect pizza, multi-course gourmet, tasty tandoori or even perhaps classic Korean.

Gyeongju was the original capital of ancient Korea. The town is built around old palaces, temples and burial mounds. Gyeongju is one of the most important historical areas in South Korea and has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage district. As such a walk around the quaint town of Gyeongju is often compared to walking through an open-air museum.For visitors interested in the rich and fascinating history of Korea, spending a few days in Gyeongju is one of the most popular things to do in South Korea.

The best time to visit Gyeongju is during spring or autumn. In spring many of the cherry trees planted throughout the town are in bloom which makes for an exceptionally scenic tour of the area. There are also extensive flower fields on the outskirts of Gyeongju which are particularly spectacular during spring. Autumn is the perfect time to enjoy the forested areas as the foliage changes colour.

Gyeongju National Museum is the ideal start to any tour of Gyeongju. Visitors to the museum can find out more about the town and the historical sights scattered throughout the area. From there visitors should head to any one of Gyeongju's many attractions in the centre of town such as spectacular Cheonmachong Tombs and burial mounds in Tumuli Park. At first the ancient tombs appear to be perfectly rounded hillocks scattered throughout the park, it is only on closer inspection that visitors see that they are in fact tombs rather than hills. The ancient Cheomseongdae Observatory is the oldest astronomical observatory in Asia. Further afield you will find Bulguksa Temple, Toham Mountain, the ancient Seokguram Grotto and Yangdong Village. Bulguksa is one of South Korea's most spectacular temples and definitely worth a visit. Tohamsan or Toham Mountain is home to both Bulguksa and Seokguram Grotto. The Grotto contains arguably some of the finest Buddhist sculptures in the world. Both Seokguram and Bulguksa are UNESCO sites. The tranquil Anapji pond is the perfect place to end a day spent exploring the treasures of Gyeongju.

Getting to Gyeongju i is relatively easy as the city is an hour away from the city of Daegu on the KTX express train route. Buses to Seoul and Busan depart from Gyeongju fairly regularly throughout the day. Getting around Gyeongju is a breeze. Visitors can hire a moped, bicycle or make use of the sightseeing busses which make regular trips between all of Gyeongju's principal attractions.

Home to some of South Korea's most popular beaches, hot spring resorts and numerous other historical attractions, Busan is an integral part of any trip to South Korea. Busan, formerly known as Pusan, is the largest port and the second largest city in South Korea and is a quick three hour KTX (bullet train) trip south of Seoul. Busan often goes unnoticed as visitors flock to get a taste of the bright lights and big city feel of Seoul, but Busanites and many other Koreans will tell you that Busan is one of South Korea's friendliest and most relaxed cities.

From beaches to mountains and temples Busan has many attractions on offer. Some of the city's principal attractions include the beautiful Haeundae and Gwangalli Beaches. The Busan Aquarium also features as a fun attraction in Busan. Visitors interested in temples and historical sights can visit the Beomeosa and Yonggungsa temples as well as the Geumjeong Fortress. The markets in Busan are also an attraction in and of themselves. They offer wonderful photographic opportunities and can sometimes be a real eye-opener, particularly Jagalchi Fish Market. Visitors to the city during summer should try and include trip to one of the local baseball games on their Busan itineraries. The local team, the Lotte Giants, is based at Sajik stadium and a baseball game in Korea is a cultural experience in and of itself. Baseball games are held every weekend during summer. Busan also has great shopping, eating and sightseeing opportunities. Visitors to the city will find that this seaside city has a lot of heart and may even prove to be the highlight of a trip to South Korea.