Seoul is the capital and largest city of South Korea, located on the Han River in the center of the Korean Peninsula.

Here are some photos taken around Seoul.

Seoul Post Office

Myong Dong Shopping Area

Dong Dae Mun Shopping Area – Doota!

Fresh Ginseng

Ginsengs in bottles

Ginseng Chicken Soup

Healthy soup, one chicken for one person.  You don’t have to eat all the chicken meat,  the chicken broth is what you should drink till the last drop.  That’s the essence of chicken and ginseng as  it takes hours to cook.  The ginseng is put inside the chicken, together with some rice.  You can add ginseng wine and some noodles into the soup.  Other side dishes are bean sprouts and, off course, kimchi.  The “after eating effects” are warm, sweaty, strong, healthy, and full ….   It’s a favorite soup during winter.

Seoul, South Korea, September 2009, by v1olet

11 Responses

1. Icy BC says:

   December 27, 2009 at 9:20 am

   Look beautiful, and the ginseng soup must be delicious!
2. vanillaseven says:

   December 27, 2009 at 9:54 am

   The city looks very modern and clean! Interesting mandrake roots display
3. wenn says:

   December 27, 2009 at 1:22 pm

   very unique architectural design.
4. Tanya Walton says:

   December 27, 2009 at 5:42 pm

   those ginsengs look just like our parsnips….don’t much like the look of the chicken soup though!!
5. sharkbytes says:

   December 27, 2009 at 11:28 pm

   The ginseng is fascinating! It grows in the Appalachian Mts. in the US, but I’ve never found any, myself.
6. Stacie says:

   December 28, 2009 at 12:52 am

   The architecture is gorgeous!
7. vange says:

   December 28, 2009 at 1:01 am

   I could use warming winter soup today!
8. places4holidays says:

   December 28, 2009 at 1:08 am

   I like the design of Myong Dong Shopping Area.. Wish can visit Seoul someday..
9. Lin says:

   December 28, 2009 at 1:49 am

   The ginseng looks like an octopus (octopi??)!
10. john says:

    December 29, 2009 at 9:06 pm

    I miss Korea already. We’ve lived in Chinhae for almost two years, we just got back. Followed your blog by the way. Happy new year!
11. v1olet says:

    December 31, 2009 at 2:00 pm

    @ Icy, Tanya, Sharkbytes, vange, Lin : The look of this ginseng chicken soup is not that yummy, but the taste is delicious and good for health. The fresh ginseng is quite expensive. It’s the most wanted gift for old people (parents and grandparents).

    @ Vanilla, Wenn, Stacie, John : I love the city of Seoul — Tall buildings with unique architectural design, statues and monuments, family karaoke, bath and sauna, korean foods, and most of all I love shopping mall. You could spend several days shopping at Dong Dae Mun till you drop with an empty wallet It opens 24 hours.

    @ places4holidays : may your wish come true