A mini-visit to Seoul

On my way to Vancouver a few weeks ago, I had a 13-hour layover in the Seoul-Incheon Airport. Far be it for me to sit in any airport that long by choice, so I ventured out into the city of Seoul for a little bit o' wandering... While much more was recommended to me by the friendly folks at the airport, my need for some sleep, the cold weather and pending flight left time for only 2 major stops: Gyeongbokgung Palace, the oldest of the Joseon Dynasty palaces, and Insa-dong, a touristy shopping/arts/restaurants area where I enjoyed a good meal and aimless wandering. Some pics below, but one of my favourite finds was a building in Insa-dong which seemed to double as retail shops and a public art space. I was first drawn in by the Christmas trees decorated with woolen pompoms, but found much more...






And lmv, this one's for you. This is my all-time fave: