Friday, May 15, 2015

An Afternoon in Gangnam-gu


Gangnam is the third largest district in Seoul, and is more popularly known for being the inspiration for Psy's K-pop song, Gangnam Style. It's upscale malls, stores, and tall glass buildings attract both tourists and business people alike.

Co-Ex Mall

With an area of about 154,000 square meters, Gangnam's Co-Ex is the largest underground mall in the world. This giant mall was a little bit complicated to figure out because it is attached to another huge building, the Co-Ex Convention and Exhibition Center. This giant center has everything you will ever need, all in one place. Inside is a plethora of stores and restaurants, a giant aquarium and even a Kimchi museum! 




The whole complex is super-modern, clean, and Koreans are very proud of it. The cafeteria had this genius system where you text your order in to the chef and within minutes, a hot plate of delicious food was delivered to your table. Some of the stores that I saw included a trendy bookstore, many upscale fashion houses, and beauty shops galore!





Bongeunsa Temple 
This quaint, peaceful temple is tucked away in the busy business district of Gangnam-gu. I wasn't expecting much, but once inside the gates I was captivated by the color, beauty, and serenity of Bongeunsa. 

  Photo courtesy of http://www.entzinger.nl/jorg/Japan/Photos/PhotoPost30Korea1.shtml


During the time I was there, a religious ceremony was taking place in the temple's two main prayer areas. I stepped inside for a little while, watched the prayers, and then headed out to the gardens to view the spectacular pink flowers that adorn all of the trees in the area. 



From the main building, there are lots of little paths that lead to the various fountains, gardens, and statues that  form the temple complex.


Happy travels!
❤ Gwyn

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