South Korea was another short visit to a new country as it became only a 6 day stay. I encountered finding accomodations the first night difficult, I had a name of a hostel and all I had to do was ask the locals for directions. This is still not so easy, because some of these hostels are very hidden on little side streets, one maybe in the general area but for the exact location one could be walking around in circles missing the the place many of times and usually not much for signage to let travellers know of the place. I asked many of people for the directions of the first hostel and met some extremely helpful individuals, one young fellow gave me a ride on his motorbike to get me in the general area, after finding the place and no one was answering to knocks on door I now had to look for a new place starting all over again. I met this young lady who found a hostel on her cell phone, phoned for me asking for room availability and location, she then flagged a taxi and took me right to the place, well we ended up on foot walking circles again looking for the hidden place, we eventually found, but this was all on her dime I offered to give her money for all the help but she refused saying “It is my treat”.

The name of the hostel was called Aroha Guest House, located very near Subway Line No. 4 Seoul Station. 20,000 KRW (23.CAN) per night breakfast included and free laundry if I can remember correctly. From Incheon Airport by subway the travel was about 1 1/4 hr I believe, many buildings as in city buildings or so called skyscrapers in this area within 1/2 hr walking distance, and a very busy outdoor market with people shoulder to shoulder shopping, looking, buying cooked street foods, very cool place to photograph the business and crowdedness of shoppers, sellers and/or tourists.
I was in this area for three days, did not really seek out any so called tourist attractions although there was one or two nearby again walking distance which was the Gyeongbokgung Palace or also known as Gyeongbok Palace. Built in 1395, located northern Seoul, South Korea. The largest of the Five Grand Palaces, served as the home of Kings of the Joseon dynasty, the Kings’ households, as well as the government of Joseon.

I was walking in the downtown city centre taking photos of the skyscraper structures, I enjoy photographing the architectural designs. I found the Jongno Tower a fascinating building design and took many photos of it and across the street is a small traditional temple and the Jonggak Subway Station also.
Other attractions in the area are; War Memorial of Korea; National Museum of Korea; Sungkok Art Museum; Deoksugung Palace Royal Gaurd-Changing Ceremony just to list a few.

After deciding to leave this area, I went to the nearby subway station (Seoul Station) and I travelled towards what I thought was closer to the airport and near Chinatown to the Dongincheon Station, the next station after this one was the terminal station called Incheon which is also located at the mouth of Chinatown area and entrance gate. I stayed at a hostel called Ace Guesthouse, it was also 20,000KRW per night, but no breakfast, it was a clean place and lady in charge friendly and helpful. This hostel was walking distance to Chinatown and a stones throw to the Dongincheon Station and one could take the subway to the next station (Incheon) to Chinatown if one did not wish to walk. After a 3 day stay in this area I was headed to Incheon Airport to go to Taiwan, as I simply found S. Korea too expensive for me to stay longer, again I thought I was closer to airport but it was still about an hours travel by train.