Day 5

So, this has been the hardest but best day so far

We all met up at 7:30 and went for breakfast at a coffee shop next to the hotel

It was already 28 degrees

Our pick up for the tour of Seoul was at 8:55 and it was “Cindy” that turned up - a very very upbeat lady

It wasn’t her real name, but she guessed we couldn’t handle the real name

We boarded the bus and the remaining party was a woman from Texas with her 2 girls, a bloke from Mexico and two guys (clearly together) from Brazil/USA

Our first stop was Gyeonbokgung palace - the place was impressive and the temperature had now reached 31 degrees 

It was absolutely huge and the sun was relentless 

There were quite a few dressed in traditional garb but their affect was somewhat diminished by carrying a selfie stick

We were then asked to watch the changing of the guard

I enjoyed their false beards

Trouble was, it was now so hot that I had to retreat to the shadows for the last 5 minutes of the change

We then went off to a Buddhist temple

They had a tree in the garden that if you went round it, whilst keeping in contact with it, it had anti aging powers

Joss and I went round this tree so many times we were warned to stop just in case the furrow we created in the ground undermined the roots’ system ......

The only fly in the ointment was the most toe curling, cringe-worthy conversation between the tour guide and the two guys in front of us:

Tour guide: In the temple there is a pillar that if you walk round, it grants you one wish - (to the guys in front of me) would your wish be for a wife?

Guys: no

Later

TG : are you guys friends?

Guys; we are married

TG: to each other?

G: yes

TG: with your parents’ permission?

G: they were there

TG: is this legal ? Everyone else, is this legal where you come from?

G: yes

Everyone : yes 

TG:oh you are the first gay couple I have ever met

Thank goodness the couple could see her comments were in all innocence ...

We were then taken to a souvenir shop before we went here

This was the greatest move ever - and this is why :

And the greatest moment EVER was .....

I’ve thought about this long and hard - and I don’t think I have ever laughed so much  - absolutely brilliant!!!!

I have so many pictures to chose for my next mouse mat

We then went to lunch - Hattie and I had bibimbap with seaweed soup while Joss and Kieren had the beef  and rice dish

In the middle here you see 4 types of kimchi - I feel like now I’m full course Korean

We were SO proud of Kieren - he took to it like a duck to water

After some shopping we were taken to a traditional village

It was all uphill in 34+ degree heat - we did not fare well

But what we did see was worth the walk

This in fact was the low point - it had parallels with our trip to the Vatican where the kids almost died through the heat ....

After this we went up an adjoining mountain and the views were fantastic 

This was the last of the tour as it dropped is off just round the corner from our hotel for shopping and we decided not to return with the bus

Instead we went to our “little pub” for a couple of beers

We then went back to the hotel and said we would all rest and meet up at 7:30

What ACTUALLY happened was that joss and I showered, then went out for a few beers before returning for the agreed time :-)

We got a bit lost going back to the hotel to pick the kids up, but we did discover a fountain / waterfall so all’s week that ends well...

After this we found the theatre for tomorrow’s show but they wouldn’t let us get the tickets yet

So we went for an Italian (to appease Kieren after lunch) and the portions were so big no one finished

We were done in after this and so decided to head “home” through MYEONGDONG- it’s like going through New York - so busy, but with more street food 

A bloody great day - with the promise of a lie in tomorrow - bliss