Our first activity of the day was visiting the Seoul Design Fair at the old Olympic stadium. It was really impressive to see all of the exhibits and examples of how Korean’s are implementing creative design techniques to solve problems or improve society. For example, they had a “bench” design contest where Korean designers competed in making an environmentally friendly, efficient, attractive, and comfortable sitting contraption which would be used somewhere in the city. There were so many unique solutions to the “bench” design and I was blown away by some of the prototypes.
Today we got to visit a Buddhist temple, Bongeunsa. I knew right when I entered that I was going to like this place. The buildings were so beautifully designed and I could see they paid great attention to detail. I was told that there were no nails used in the construction of the temple and that each piece was crafted to perfectly fit in with its neighbors to create a sturdy and smooth appearance.
After the temple we ventured to COEX which is Seoul’s largest underground shopping mall. I could tell right away that this was no ordinary shopping mall. It contained hundreds of stores, a multiplex movie theatre, aquarium, two food courts, and several stages for live performances. We explored the mall and I particularly enjoyed checking out some of the new cell phones, mp3 players, and other gadgets at the Samsung store.
After Itaewon we went to a small café overlooking the Han River called the Rainbow Café. They had an assortment of organic teas and treats for us there. It was a nice view of the river and nearby parks and trails where we saw locals biking, running, and working out.
Our first stop was a cultural experience in progress – the Dongdaemun Design Plaza & Park that is currently being built on the grounds of an old statium with the goal of being one of the worlds largest fashion centers. It was stated to be finsished already for the world design fair being held while we were visiting, but the ETA has been pushed to 2011. Sadface.
We went to Unhyeongung which was formerly the residence of Prince Regent Daewon-gun, ruler of Korea during the Joseon Dynasty in the 19th century. Dave and I got to parade in full royal attire and waved to all of our patrons (or other tourists depending on one's perspective). I wish at work I would have someone to carry me on my mobole cubicle chair but I don't see that happening anytime soon.
We went to the Creative Arcade in Shindang Dong. Shindang Creative Arcade is a project to help educate the public about arts and culture of Korea. We saw lots of school children doing all sorts of arts and crafts. We were very lucky to join the group of children where we made our own design using glue and seashells fragments.
Then we went to Namsan Gugakdang. We dressed into traditional Korean garments and learned the secrets of the Korean tea ceremony. It was quite an experience because we drank hot tangerine green tea and fried sweet potatoes with rice pieces. The tea was very calming!
The cruise is typically used for evening celebrations, such as weddings, concerts, or birthdays. The day cruise is accompanied by some history of the sites that we passed, which proved to be pleasant, as Seoul is as vast geographically as it is rich in culture. Two of the most notable sites that we passed were the tallest building in Seoul and Nodle Island. Simply referred to as 63, the number of stories, the building itself is a shimmering, bronze monolith that starkly represents Seoul’s ambitious drive to modernize. Nodle Island sits in the middle of the Han River and serves as a natural preserve for a variety of animals and birds. It was a comforting sight to see a space set a side for the non-human inhabitants of the city.
Our next stop was to World Cup Stadium home to the 2002 World Cup Opening Ceremonies as well as FC Seoul, Seoul's Professional K-League Soccer Team. Being a soccer fan myself (What?! An American soccer fan?) I was REALLY looking forward to seeing the stadium up close and personal. We were able to get on the field and experience it as a player would. We visited the locker rooms, coaching rooms, showers, indoor practice rooms with turf, even a museum with uniforms and gear used during the tournament. THEY EVEN HAD A REAL WORLD CUP TROPHY IN THE MUSEUM!!! When you think of stadiums you think that they only serve one purpose. World Cup Stadium however was much more then JUST a sports complex. It homed restaurants, shopping, and even a spa! Amazingly the stadium was built in just 32 months...far quicker then the average 45-60. And its roof even gives shape of a traditional Korean shield. 
