The other day, I got on an early bus into Seoul, ready to set out on a solo hike of Seoul's highest peak, Bukhansan. While I was prepared physically, by the time I got into the city, I completely chickened out. I hadn't even gotten into the subway before I was completely freezing. Instead, I opted for one of Seoul's tamer peaks, Naksan. While Naksan's 125 meters can't compare to Bukhansan's 342 meters, the view was perfectly lovely and the quaint mural village that surrounds the park is truly a hidden gem of Seoul.
The view from the top of Naksan, one of the four peaks connected by the Seoul City Wall.
The surrounding village was filled with beautiful and eccentric murals and quirky little shops that had lady bug shaped door handles and windows that doubled as optical illusions. After the exploration, I decided to finally check out a traditional Korean spa, also called a jjimjilbang. I went to the more touristic one, Dragon Hill, which was foreign friendly but still felt quite authentic. Although It was an interesting experience and a great escape from the bitter cold, I'll probably stick to less communal methods of relaxation in the future!