Hanbok Experience
One aspect of the living culture in South Korea is the wearing of hanbok. Even if it is mostly tourists who go to wear them, it is keeping the tradition alive. Typically traditional hanbok contains a jeogori (top), baji(pants), chima(skirt), and po (coat), but for ours we simply wore a chima and po to go over our everyday clothes. Because we all wore Hanbok, we were allowed into Gyeongbokgung for free. Not only were they really pretty to wear but we got to participate in what people of the palace had to wear daily. At the palace we also got to witness the changing of the guard ceremony and hear traditional music from the 'royal band.' It was so crowded I was unable to see any of it, though hearing the music was enough for me. While we were there, we had tourists come up to us for pictures as well which was beyond strange. I guess when you look that good it just happens. Since this was the original palace of the king and more grand scale, it was much more open; which meant much more heat. By the time we were out of the hanbok, my shirt was sticking to my back with sweat and I was grateful to be out of it. I cannot imagine the older times where they had to wear this every working day.
Bukchon Hanok Village
After the hanbok experience, we took a hike up various hills and through Bukchon Hanok Village. The village is a residential neighborhood filled with traditional homes or hanok but originally, it was a residential area for the nobility. From certain points of the village, you can view not only Seoul tower between the hanok but also the entire city below the mountain. I was not prepared to be hiking then or at all for that manner, so it was a struggle getting uphill. However, in the end, the views were beautiful. I can understand why it is such a famous place for tourists to visit.
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