Short Culinary Tour (Incheon-Seoul)
It is not Seoul, but Incheon, where most guests of the Land of Morning Calm actually arrive. It is the largest port in Korea on the Yellow Sea, a city with centuries of glorious history.
some interesting facts about Incheon, upon which we will touch during the tour:
- The Russian cruiser "Varyag" and gunboat "Korean" were destroyed in Incheon warf and that tragical event marked the beginning of the Russo-Japanese war.
- Incheon happened to be the place of the second largest in the history of mankind naval landing operation.
- Unlike Seoul, there are quite a few old-style European houses in Incheon, which were built in the 19th century.
During the tour we will visit the famous Incheon fish market with the freshest seafood, which can be enjoyed right on the market in one of the picturesque restaurants.
Incheon boasts a super-modern "city within a city", the so-called Songdo New Town, which is a free economic zone in Incheon. In this "smart city", houses and offices are being built using the most advanced technologies; whimsical modern architecture, landscaping, and infrastructure. Songdo attract tourists, businessmen and potential residents of not only Korea, but also around the world.
And, of course, we will see the famous Incheon Bridge which is longer than 21 kilometers.
Морепродукты: живые, вяленые, соленые, вареные... Актинии и трепанги, угри и камбала, "цветочные" и "королевские" крабы, всевозможные водоросли, опять же, в соленом, свежем, сушеном виде... Деликатесы: слегка "лежалые" скаты, сырая рыба хве (сасыми), морские ушки и трубачи, гребешки и мидии...
Все это - корейский рынок морепродуктов.
Walking tour of Seoul's historic center. Explore Insadong, Jogyesa Temple, Gyeongbokgung or Changdeokgung Palace (Tuesdays), Samcheong-dong, Gwanghwamun Square, and Cheongwadae — a perfect blend of tradition and modernity. A passport is required to enter Cheongwadae!
Insadong is famous for the abundance of souvenir shops, traditional restaurants and tea houses, boutiques.
Insadong-kil Pedestrian Street is the central street of the area.
Often you can see street performances - traditional Korean samul-nori percussion quartet or martial arts tekkyon, taekwon-do or performances of youth groups in the fusion style, etc.
In the heart of Seoul stands Jogyesa — the head temple of Korea’s largest Buddhist order.
Small in scale but rich in atmosphere, it changes with the seasons: lotus lanterns in spring, bright chrysanthemums in fall, and peaceful stillness in winter.
No matter the time of year, it’s a place of quiet reflection.
The main palace of the Joseon dynasty — rebuilt more than once, but never lost its grandeur.
Its perfect symmetry, royal guard ceremony, and the chance to wear a hanbok turn your visit into a journey through time.
Winding lanes, wooden hanoks, hidden cafés — this is where time slows down.
Samcheong-dong charms with its hills and galleries, while Bukchon preserves the everyday beauty of Joseon-era homes.
Together, they offer a quiet, romantic escape — a walk through history lined with soft light and gentle stories.
The complex of the central Gwanghwamun Square in front of the Gyeongbokgung Royal Palace, which is the compositional center of the capital of Korea, offers amazing views of Seoul: on one side is the main residence of the kings of the Joseon state (now a museum). But along the Sejong-daero Avenue, departing from the square, there are high-rise modern buildings: government, embassies, Kyobo - the largest bookstore in Korea. Further down the avenue we can see the Seoul City Hall and still further - the Great South Gate of Namdaemun (National Treasure No. 1).
South Korean President Yoon Sogyeol decided to return to the people (although, strictly speaking, he never belonged to the people) the official residence of the presidents of the Republic of Korea. And, true to his word, he did so. in 2022, on May 10, he took office in the building of the Ministry of Defense, never once using Cheong Wa Dae.
We, ordinary people, citizens and non-citizens of the Republic of Korea, can now freely enjoy the presidential views. Inside some buildings, in particular, the main building of the residence, built in 1991, we can go and get acquainted with the interiors and history of Cheong Wa Dae.
The garden and park ensemble of the Former Presidential Palace deserves a separate ode and recommendations.
Самхэ Сожчу-га - единственное место в Сеуле, где производится местный алкоголь, причем - традиционным способом.
В отличие от промышленного сочжу, крепость которого колеблется, в соответствии с причудами маркетологов, в пределах 16-22 градуса, крепость самхэ сочжу - 45%.
Желающие могут его приобрести сами в доме мастера Кима Тэксона; нас же ждет дегустация его творений - сожчу, макколи, якучу, ихвачжу.
Ихвачжу - алкогольная субстанция, популярная у знатных дам эпохи Чосон. Выглядит она как йогурт; а название переводится как "вино [с запахом] цветков груши". Груша ни в каком виде не участвует в процессе приготовления, но, действительно, при желании цветочный аромат можно почуствовать.
Мастер раскажет о значении алкогольных напитков в жизни корейцев в эпоху Чосон и современных корейцев; опишет процесс приготовления напитков, особенности ингридиентов. Конечно, дегустация - самый важный момент во время визита!
Также нас ждет пригтовление ихвачжу (одна из стадий; весь процесс - достаточно длительный и занимает до трех недель). А именно, мы будем готовить основу, которая должна будет дозреть уже у вас дома!
We travel to get to know something unusual for us; in an unfamiliar country, authentic cuisine gives us the opportunity to touch a culture different from the one we are used to. And if such a meeting is also accompanied by the process of preparing delicious and healthy dishes under the guidance of a specialist, followed by lunch at the same table with the chef, then the experience of communication will remain one of the most memorable moments of our journey.