Seoul Trip Day 2: Ramen Fails, Noodle Wins, and Museum Finds!
Hello :)
Following my Day 1 adventures in Seoul, here's the story of Day 2.
The original plan was simple: Han River ramen → National Museum of Korea → heading to Busan.
But thanks to some unexpected twists, it turned out to be a pretty memorable day!
???? Seriously Craving Ramen from the Morning
We woke up looking a bit disheveled at our accommodation and quickly got ready!
We headed to Ichon Station, aiming for the CU convenience store at Ichon Hangang Park.
Because… I was finally going to have the **“Hangang Ramen”** I'd been dreaming of before the trip.
But I couldn't believe my eyes in front of the ramen selection.
One bag of instant ramen at a convenience store costs 4,000~5,000 won?? ????
(I thought I had vision problems for a second, haha)
“It probably includes the cost of the water and the cooking machine… but still… um…”
My desire to buy suddenly vanished…
To make matters worse, the area around the ramen machine outside the convenience store reeked of rotten eggs + the smell of the recycling area.
Maybe if it were nighttime, I could have enjoyed it with the ambiance, but in broad daylight… hmm.
Just imagining sitting there and eating ramen made my stomach churn, so I gave up immediately, haha.
I didn't even get to see Ichon Hangang Park and just escaped! ????♀️????
Still, the road wasn't too bad! Here I am with my Miffy bag
???? Noodles Instead of Ramen
Giving up on Han River ramen, we stumbled upon a Baengnyeong Island Clam Noodle restaurant on the way to the museum!
As soon as we opened the door, we could feel the lunchtime rush of office workers… it was almost full.
We ordered two servings of fresh clam noodles + half-and-half dumplings.
The dumplings came with a total of 5 (3 meat, 2 kimchi).
The noodles came in a bowl the size of a washbasin… the portion was insane.
I almost asked, “Is this for three people?” haha
Enough for three women to share.
The clam noodle soup was refreshing and savory, the kimchi was delicious, and there were plenty of clams.
There were so many clams that the soup was so refreshing, and it felt like a proper protein boost!
????️ Finally Entering the National Museum of Korea
Full and satisfied, we finally arrived at the National Museum of Korea (a.k.a. NMK)!
The scale of the place seemed to scream “I’m Korea’s representative museum” from afar…
There's a pavilion view in the pond in front of the entrance, you can also see the Namsan Tower, and the entrance itself is a photo zone.
We had to go through a thorough security check before entering, and for some reason, the snack bag in my bag made me nervous, haha.
???? Exploring the Exhibition Route
Overwhelmed by the size of the Stele of King Gwanggaeto. My friend's focused back view is hilarious.
1st Floor, Prehistory and Ancient History Gallery: As soon as you enter, there's an explanation of the Earth's timeline,
and I was stunned by the phrase, “If Earth were a day, humans appeared in the last minute.”
(Humans are really just a speck of dust on Earth…)
Middle and Modern History Gallery: You can get an overview of Goryeo, Joseon, and the Korean Empire, and it felt like a 3D version of my textbooks.
2nd Floor, Room of Quiet Contemplation: The highlight of the NMK, I encountered two Pensive Bodhisattva statues.
In the quiet space and soft lighting, I felt like I was falling into contemplation with them…
3rd Floor, World Art Gallery: There were artifacts from China, Japan, and Southeast Asia, but I didn’t have enough time to see them ㅠ
I now know why Mr. Choi Tae-seong's eyes sparkled so much when he talked about artifacts.
Seeing them in person is a world apart from reading about them in books.
????️ Souvenir Shop Rush (and Regret)
Even though I spent 3 hours looking around, there wasn’t enough time.
You really need to set aside a 1-night, 2-day trip just for the NMK.
Lastly, I went to the souvenir shop… I thought there was only a small one, so I spent all my time there.
It wasn't until right before I left that I realized there was a bigger store.
“Ah… beautiful goods, I couldn’t even let you take my wallet…” ????
The badges are so cute, and the excavation kit is so clever.
I left the museum with regret.
???? Day 2 Overall Review
Han River Ramen: Failed, but thanks to it, I discovered a satisfying alternative, clam noodles!
Baengnyeong Island Clam Noodles: I can understand why office workers approve of the quantity and taste ????
National Museum of Korea: Not enough with just one day. You need to set aside at least half a day to avoid regret.
Souvenir Shop: Don't put all your eggs in one basket at the small store. Be sure to check out the big store too!!
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