Day 4 – The Classic Golden Circle

The Golden Circle is a popular route for viewing some of the best-known natural sites in Iceland. This route normally takes you to Gullfoss, Geysir and Pingvellir National Park but our tour guide took us to three bonus sites – Moss Heath, Skógafoss and Seljalandfoss, the last two are waterfalls but smaller than Gullfoss. FOSS is the Icelandic word for WATERFALLS.

Our first stop was Moss Heath where we saw moss-covered lava fields as far as the eye can see. The moss is very fragile, so visitors must stay on marked paths to avoid damaging the delicate ecosystem. Weather was cooperating so far!

Next was Skógafoss, considered to be one of the island’s most beautiful waterfalls. It is 50 feet wide and 200 feet high. The air was damp when we arrived at the place, whether it was from the waterfall or drizzle it was difficult to say.

There is a steep walkway that would take you to the mountain top overlooking the valley below; however, my traveling companions declined to climb it. We saw a large group of young people donned in hiking and climbing gear all eager to conquer the mountain. Our guide informed us that they were hiking for 9 miles to another foss.

A couple of folks in our group were late coming back at the designated time since they climbed the mountain. At this time, several of us were asking if there was a restroom nearby. Askje told us to “hold it” for now and we can use one in the next stop.

Seljalandfoss was the next bonus site we visited. It was smaller than Skógafoss. Several in our group dared venture to walk behind the falls. We stayed put. Trini and I had been to the majestic Iguazu Falls in South America that even the more popular Niagara Falls pale in comparison which is the reason why we’re not that excited visiting these waterfalls. (FYI: Iguazu falls width is 1.7 miles compared to Niagara’s 1 mile and it consists of about 275 individual drops whereas Niagara only has 4).

By the time we arrived in our next site, Geysir, it was again drizzling and cold. Geysir is the original term for the English geyser. For those of us who have been to Yellowstone Park and witnessed Old Faithful spew its steam hundreds of feet in the air, Geysir was barely a mist emanating from the earth. Several in our group, including Trini, Oya and Tommy declined to walk the short distance due to the rain and the tour guide was offended. I went along and witnessed one “blow” for a second and went back to the food court to look for Trini.

After about 20 minutes looking for Trini in the very crowded (a refuge from the rain) food court/souvenir store, I saw her sitting with two others in our group. I ordered minestrone soup with bread, potato chips and coke zero which cost me the price of a good dinner in the U.S. (not complaining, I’m in a tourist trap after all).

Our next stop was the two-tiered Gullfoss waterfall. It was raining hard by now so I pulled the folding umbrella from my backpack. The four of us made our way walking very slowly along a rocky path going downhill. I was worried that Trini might slip and fall as she has already a healing knee injury. We were halfway when I realized that I forgot my cellphone in the minibus! We continued on and this waterfall was more spectacular than the other two smaller falls. We witnessed the two-tiered falls plunging 36 feet (11m) then 70 feet (21m) into a rugged canyon. The roaring cascade was loud. The view could have been better had it not been raining. We slowly and carefully slogged our way back which annoyed some younger visitors who walked much quicker than these seniors, but we didn’t care.

As soon as we reached the parking lot, I ran to our mini-bus to get my cellphone and took the above photos.

Our last stop (collective sigh of relief) was the UNESCO World Heritage Site – Thingvellir National Park. Fortunately, the rain has stopped when we arrived. Askje, our guide/driver asked a show of hands who wanted to hike up to the top of the site. Half of us raised our hands, the others decided to stay in the van (including Trini, Oya and Tommy) and meet us in the top of the park. It was a decent incline but my heart was pumping hard by the time we finished the almost one mile hike.

**Straddling the North American and Eurasian plates**

Thingvellir (or, in Icelandic, Þingvellir) is the only place in the world where you can stand between two continental plates (North American and Eurasian), in a distinctive geological landscape that changes every year. Part of the Golden Circle, Þingvellir is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and an important historical location in Iceland.

Finally, our 5-day tour was over! It was a lot of hard work for us seniors but well worth it! According to Askje, our guide/driver, we drove a total of 1,000 km (600 mi) during our tours! Would I do it again, maybe not, but I’m glad I booked this unique vacation-of-a-lifetime. We’ve experienced things the average traveler may not.

Iceland is a dramatic island nation known as the “Land of Fire and Ice” for its active volcanoes and large glaciers, characterized by other-worldly landscapes including lava fields, waterfalls, hot springs, and mountains. Geologically unique as it sits atop the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Iceland has high volcanic and geothermal activity, which provides much of its natural heat and energy. The country also features a unique culture with strong connections to Viking heritage, literature, and outdoor activities like bathing in hot springs and observing the Aurora Borealis. (Google)

DAY 5 – Departure day. I strongly recommend a visit to this great island nation at least once in your lifetime!

Day 3 in Iceland – Glacier Lagoon and Diamond Beach

After our buffet breakfast, Askej (our tour guide/driver) picked us up at 8:15 am to go visit Iceland’s top gems, the spectacular Jökulsárión glacier lagoon and Diamond Beach. The weather was perfect – dry and occasional sun-peeking out of the fluffy clouds. But I still had to wear my parka jacket though since it was still in the 40’s. We saw several small waterfalls along the way, the almost barren fields dotted with black and white objects which I found out later were sheep. I also spotted horses grazing from a distance that were much smaller than the average equine. Our guide told us that for the last thousand years Iceland’s horses’ small stature was a result of their adaptation to the island’s harsh environment and scarce food supply and demand for long distance travel. We stopped by an area where a glacier was nestled between two mountain slopes. The vistas are very different to the point where you can describe them as “dramatic and otherworldly“.

**Our vehicle – a comfortable** **Mercedes Benz mini bus**

After about an hour drive we arrived at our destination. It was still early but the parking lot was already full with tourist buses, vans, mini-buses and rental SUV’s. Askej led us along a stony path that led us to to the rugged shores of the North Atlantic Ocean. Like the black beach, this was a unique experience to actually set foot on a beach strewn with “diamond” boulders”! We learned that these huge broken pieces of icebergs came from the glacier lagoon. Again, another group photo!

**A man taking a photo of the huge “diamonds” on the shore**

From the beach, we walked about half a mile to Glacier Lagoon. Surprisingly, the weather was cooperating this morning. It was windy and a sudden strong gust of wind almost knocked me down! The path was noticeably filled with tourists from all over the world! We admired the Asian tourists who wore fashionable cold weather apparels.

A result of global warming no doubt! The floating iceberg come from the glacial mountain and are broken due to increasing temperatures. In some areas, many glaciers have receded hundreds of meters if not thousands!

**Our tour guide and driver, Askje, orienting us before our road travel**

We were famished from all that walking but we had to wait for the food trucks to open at 11:30 am. I stood in line to buy lobster soup and Oya went to the other food truck to buy fish and chips. By the way, it is very expensive in Iceland more than most European countries! One reason is that they import almost everything. They cannot grow any crops due to the harsh weather. Iceland’s main sources of income are tourism, fisheries, and aluminum production.

**One small cup of lobster soup cost** $20

Our last stop for the day was in Vatnajökull National Park where we visited another glacier area in Freysnes. Tired from all the walking we did in the morning, reaching this one was a challenge since you had to walk close to a mile in a sloping rocky road! But we did it!

Before we went back to the hotel, we stopped by an old chapel with a beautiful albeit smaller waterfalls in the background. Askje “baptized” each one of us and “christened” us Icelandic names!

**A common sight along the highway – beautiful scenes of colorful homes with majestic mountains in the background**

**Askje filling up his water bottle from the creek. You can drink tap and river water here**

We went back to our hotel and that night I enjoyed my lamb stew!

ICELAND – Land of FIRE and ICE

After our cruise with the Regal Princess where my wife, Trini and seven other couples celebrated their 50th Anniversary of their arrival in the U.S., Trini, Oya and Tommy Holgado and myself flew to Reykjavik, Iceland.

Nicknamed the “Land of Fire and Ice,” Iceland is home to volcanoes, glaciers, geothermal hot springs (like the Blue Lagoon), and lava fields. Reykjavik is the only capital city in Western Europe without a McDonald’s franchise, as the last one closed in 2009. The entire population of the island is less than 500,000. According to the Global Peace Index, Iceland is the most peaceful country in the world and has no army, navy, or air force.

Our travel agent from California, Cesar Gatchalian, booked us this Iceland package. Cesar has been really very diligent with our bookings, the reason why we kept going back to him. We were picked up at the airport and taken to our hotel in the capital city of Reykjavik. The weather was gloomy, windy and cold. That night we were booked to “try” and see the Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis) which we’ve seen before (hazy) during our cruise in Norway and vacation in Maine. We were hoping we’d be able to see a more vivid display of this phenomenon. At 9:00 pm we were picked up from our hotel and driven for about an hour and a half outside the city where lights are minimal or non-existent. We waited and waited freezing under the stars but the elusive Northern Lights refused to appear. Again, we were disappointed.

The following morning after breakfast, we were picked up from our hotel by a mini bus along with 14 other tourists from the Unites States, Spain and Australia. We drove along the southern coast of the island toward Kirkjubaejarlaustur. The rain was on and off and the temperature was heading south. We stopped in a small town called Vik (much shorter than Kirkjubaejarlaustur). From there, two monstrous off-track jeeps took us to one of many glacier areas in Iceland.

Our group of 16 were divided in two groups of 8. The tour guides gave us the mandatory safety lectures and provided us with hard hats and crampons (a shoe contraption with spikes to help your footing on slippery trails).

Around this time, it was again drizzling and getting windy. Our guides led the way uphill with a gradual slope. Then I realized why we were wearing crampons! We were actually treading on ice! Thankfully, they had small ropes to hold on to during the ascent. Our group had to stop occasionally to let other groups going the opposite way pass as the trails were narrow.

I was worried that Trini and Oya might not make it to the Ice Cave, but they did! The tour guide’s great sense of humor immensely helped our morale. The guy was funny constantly cracking jokes up to the very top. And our efforts eventually paid off, the view from the cave was amazing and the cave itself was something we’ve never seen before. The shimmering bluish walls and the roaring river underneath us was too beautiful to describe.

On our way back to our vehicles, the guides stopped and started breaking ice from the ground. They each gave us a plastic shot glass and one of them pulled a bottle of their traditional alcoholic drink called Brennivín, a clear, unsweetened schnapps nicknamed “Black Death“. This was to celebrate that the group made it to the cave safely.

After the quick celebratory toast Skàl (pronounced like scowl), we went back to our vehicles to warm ourselves up. By this time, we were soaking wet and shivering like wet kittens! We headed for Reynisfjara, one of the most famous beaches in Iceland known for its black volcanic sands. When we reached the beach, the rain started to pour! Our enthusiasm was slightly dampened and we were hesitant to leave the warmth and dry environment of the jeep but we got off and were glad we did!

We saw the most beautiful black beach being pummeled by the angry ocean waves. From a distance were two stone figures jutting out from the roiling and turbulent waters. The walls of the cliffs seemed to have been sculpted by a maestro. We didn’t stay very long since the rain was getting stronger. Grudgingly we went back to the our hotel rooms where I immediately took a very hot shower! Our group met at Magma Hotel‘s cozy dining room and enjoyed the sumptuously prepared Icelandic cuisine!

**Our “hotel” rooms, individual cottages**

NORMANDY – Visiting Our WW2 Heroes (and our last day of cruising)

**Our group in front of a memorial in Omaha Beach**

**We had bagged lunch of ham and cheese sandwich**

As I mentioned in my earlier posts, the ship’s itinerary was changed due to a storm. The port calls to Orkney Islands and Edinburgh were canceled, the ship’s last port was Le Havre, France. We’ve been wanting to visit Normandy, France where our WW2 fallen heroes are buried. I was able to book online and most of our group (total of 12) decided to join. The cemetery is one of the many around the world that is managed by American Battle Monument Commission (ABMC) where about 9,400 U.S. soldiers are buried! A staggering 70-85 MILLION people around the world perished during this war!

Upon entering the cemetery one can feel the solemnity of the place. Tourists talk in subdued tone as if afraid to disturb the resting heroes in their hallowed graves. We viewed a movie about D-DAY and it touched everyone inside the small theater. It was difficult to comprehend how many soldiers and civilians died during that time and why it ever happened.

Our walking tour took us to the edge of the cliff where the Germans defended the place. We saw “impregnable” bunkers and pieces of artillery. It reminded me of the movie “Saving Private Ryan”. Young men barely out of their teens bravely fighting for their countries!

We also had the opportunity to visit a German cemetery that not many tourists visit. It was a much smaller place than the American cemetery but it was well designed.

After the tour, our bus took us back to the ship for our last night. We collected money to give to our hard-working waiters who provided us with exceptional service every night.

That night two couples from our group also celebrated (belated) their wedding anniversaries – Mike and Nelda Hope and Tommy and Oya Holgado.

**Waiting for our disembarkation number to be called**

A bus took us to London Heathrow International Airport for our flight to Reykjavik, Iceland where we will spend five more days.

We discussed that at our advancing ages that our group should meet every two years from now on. I smiled and remembered the saying “Man plans, God laughs!”

Although only eight couples made it to the 50th anniversary of their arrival in this country, we enjoyed reconnecting with everyone. The nurses had fun reminiscing their early days in South Carolina. We had laughs and sadness remembering those who have already finished their journey.

Stay healthy and happy y’all….

COBH (CORK), IRELAND

From British Pounds to Euros to British Pounds to Euros. Thanks to whoever invented the “plastic money”, it makes it easier to purchase souvenirs!

**Colorful homes in Cobh with our ship, Regal Princess, in the background (Photo by Erna/Onie Marasigan)**

The Port of Cobh is not only a gateway for cruisers but also a destination rich in history and charm. Whether you’re tracing the steps of Titanic passengers, exploring the quaint town or simply soaking the harbor views, Cobh has something to offer to everyone. Interesting to note that Cobh was the single most important port of emigration from Ireland. We docked in Cobh at 7:00 am and the gangway opened a half hour later. Those who didn’t book any ship’s excursion either stayed in Cobh or took the 25-minute train ride or bus to go to the city of Cork.

Those who decided to stay and explore Cobh were spared the crowded train to Cork. Trini and I decided the latter. For the first time, the sun came out occasionally requiring you to wear sunglasses. The temperature though was pleasant, in the high 50’s F. It was perfect for our leisurely stroll in the beautiful city. Cork is the gateway to romantic Ireland. In a land where fable and fact blend to become folklore, it was near Cork that the great Tuatha De Danaan, a race with magical powers was driven underground by the conquering Celts.

While strolling the narrow streets of Cork, we noticed that many of the locals were not bothered with the cold weather, most of them just wearing a single layer of clothing whereas I had three layers!

When in between ports, the ship finds ways to entertain the guests – games, lectures, entertainment and of course shopping bargains. Whatever your interests are, chances are you’ll find one. Other cruisers just sit in the quiet nooks of the ship reading their favorite novels in their ebooks.

**Center photo above is Aaron, the ship’s cruise director**

**Onie and Erna joining the morning Zumba class to shed off some of those unwanted calories**

Late post: Nelda and Mike Hope, Maria and Egidio Bernardi, Vicky and Eddie Baumann, and Manny and Offie Lopez flew to London two days prior to our cruise and joined tours to explore the city and its surroundings.

Tomorrow, we dock at La Havre, France.

Day 2 in GREENOCK (GLASGOW)

Due to the itinerary changes, the ship is still docked in Greenock. Since the Edinburgh (pronounced eh·duhn·bruh) port of call was canceled, many of the ship’s guests took the two hour bus trip to the city while we were docked in Greenock. Edinburgh is Scotland’s compact, hilly capital. It has a medieval Old Town and elegant Georgian New Town with gardens and neoclassical buildings. Looming over the city is Edinburgh Castle, home to Scotland’s crown jewels and the Stone of Destiny, used in the coronation of Scottish rulers. Arthur’s Seat is an imposing peak in Holyrood Park with sweeping views, and Calton Hill is topped with monuments and memorials.

(NOTE: The following photos taken in Edinburgh courtesy of Onie Marasigan)

Although the weather, as usual, was not really very pleasant, our group members: Onie and Erna, Oya and Tommy, and Nelda and Mike enjoyed the history and culture of this ancient city. Due to time constraints (the ship departs at 3:00 pm), the group had to forego a visit inside Edinburgh Castle.

Tired, hungry and damp the tourists went back to the ship and we all met in our favorite restaurant. Again, aside from our menu orders we were served Pinoy dishes – rice, sayote or chayote (a pear shaped furrowed fruit that belongs to the gourd family) cooked with ground pork and shrimp. We were also served deep fried salmon fillets, Filipino style.

The ship is still at sea and we are experiencing some slight rolls, hence, the open decks are closed for safety reasons! Personally, I love the rolling though when I’m in bed, I feel like a baby being rocked in a cradle.

**The sun barely coming out of the storm clouds**

More photos for your enjoyment:

Tomorrow the ship will be docking at Cork (Cobh), Ireland.

DÚN LAOGHAIRE (DUBLIN)

DUBLIN is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Ireland. It is a vibrant hub for culture, history, music and literature. Dublin is well known for its iconic landmarks like Dublin College and Trinity College., bustling pub scene and my favorite- Guinness Storehouse – where you can sample the world-famous stout! It has a population of about 1.2 million people.

We dropped anchor in Dún Laoghaire (pronounced dun-leery) a small town about 8 miles from Dublin. The day started with some drizzle but abated and eventually stopped by the time we were ready to board the water shuttle. It took approximately 30 minutes to reach our destination.

As I mentioned in my previous post, Trini and I have visited the British Isles including Dublin so we decided to just take a stroll in Dún Laoghaire and get a feel of the place. We noticed right away that it was a laid back town with not much activity around. It was a nice time for us to just sit in the park benches and people-watch and inhale the salty breeze coming from the ocean.

The rest of our group separately took a train to visit Dublin. Some took the hop-on-hop-off buses to explore the city and some just strolled around admiring the different iconic landmarks.

After we all came back from the ship, the senior citizens required a nap to rest from the “stressful and hectic” tour of the city! Then we all met in our usual evening haunt – The Concerto Dining Room – where we have two permanent tables of eight (some of us rotating each night to the other table). It’s so fun to share stories with each other and we try to catch up with what’s going on to our families! Sometimes we get a little loud for the other guests nearby but who cares, we are having fun after all!

After dinner, we went to watch a lady contortionist/hula hoop dancer. Then some of us went to the Princess Theater to listen to more musical entertainment while Trini and I stayed behind to enjoy the ship’s band’s oldies repertoire.

And the Korean road tour continues…

On the third day of the land tour, we visited the second largest city in South Korea – Busan. It is the largest port in the country and the sixth in the world! Most of your Hyundais, Kias, LG’s and Samsung’s are probably shipped from this port. Like most of the cities they have modern sky scrapers dotting the landscape.

The group briefly stopped by Jinjuseong Fortress where we admired the view of the river from the ancient fortress. Justin gave us a history of the place and how a gisaeng (a Korean geisha) sacrificed her life to kill a Japanese general. At that time (around the 1500’s), Korea was under Japanese occupation.

**Justin showing us the place where the Gisaeng embraced the Japanese general and jumped into the water killing them both**

Our tour guide, Justin Choi highly recommended the fish market where they cook you fresh shell fish and other sea foods. We did and we ordered a boiling hot pot with various shell fish and octopus! We also tried their fried bream. One Korean gentleman noticed that we didn’t know which condiment to use so he approached us and pointed at the containers and how to use them!

**The restaurant waitress removing the meat from the shell fish**

Needing a restroom break, we stopped outside Busan and stopped on the white sand of Haendae Beach and admired the beautiful view of the harbor.

After about five hours on the road (luckily the bus has a big screen television, we watched Korean historical movies with subtitles of course), we checked in another nice hotel in Gyeongju. But this time, the weather was getting nasty –snow flurries and temperature dipping!

**Trini and Lourdes Sumabat in our hotel lobby**

Most of us wanted a break from the spicy Korean food so were all elated when we passed by a Burger King sign on our way to our hotel! After dropping off our luggage in our rooms we braved the cold weather and walked to the fast food restaurant despite the snow falling. After all our trouble to break the monotony of the daily menu we were disappointed with our Burger King orders – they were still spicy and not the American taste we’re used to!

The following day (4th day), we drove to see the Seokguram Grotto which was located on top of a steep hill traversing icy winding roads to reach it. Trini and others slipped and fell but fortunately no serious injuries occurred. Trini and I decided not to continue on to the temple as we were concerned of the slippery path so we went back to the village and did some souvenir shopping.

**It was still snowing on our way to the temple**

Then we went to see the Bulgoksa Buddhist Temple and passed under the “scary” colorful four guardians. Next, we visited Andong Hahoe Village with their thatched roof huts. We looked inside a house commemorating Queen Elizabeth II’s visit here.

**A 600-year old tree in the background. The white streamers are “wishes” the tourists tie around the tree’s perimeter**

**This house commemorates Queen Elizabeth II’s visit in Andong**

After the day’s tour, we headed to our hotel in Pyeongchang (where the 2018 Winter Olympics was held). We had a fantastic view of the snowy slopes just outside the hotel.

**Gorgeous view outside our hotel in Pyeongchang**

We’re now back in Seoul and everyone heaved a sigh of relief! Finally, Trini and I are going back to Las Vegas, Nevada! No matter how nice the places you visit around the world – there’s no place like home!

Until the next adventure of these senior travelers….

A HISTORICAL TOUR AROUND SOUTH KOREA

From the capital city of Seoul, we joined another tour company to take us around South Korea heading south for a total of five days. There were sixteen people in the tour bus including us. Some were from New Zealand, Australia and a single lady from Mexico. The tour bus was meticulously clean and very comfortable. Justin Choi was our tour guide and he spoke perfect English unlike our guide in the city whose heavy accent made it extremely difficult to follow whatever she was telling us.

The first day was cold and raining and fortunately we were prepared for this kind of weather. We drove to Gongju for two and a half hours. There we visited the tomb of King Muryeong and walked around the ancient fortress of Gonsangseon. Justin, our guide was very knowledgeable with Korea’s history that you felt transported to the era he was lecturing about.

**Entering the very low entrance into the tomb**

**The main entrance to the tomb of King Muryeong**

**A mythical animal guardian – Jinmyosu**

When we arrived at the ancient fortress of Gonsanseong, several in our group stayed at the lower level when they saw how steep the pathway was going to the center. Gassy, George, Ligaya and me went ahead and followed the group who walked faster as they were much younger than these senior citizens.

Along the way to our final destination for the day, we stopped by to watch two Korean young ladies perform. One gave us a rendition of a traditional Korean vocal and the other played a Korean violin.

Then we had a sumptuous Korean lunch called bibimbap (literary mixed rice). It came with different main ingredients and I opted for the “live” octopus. As always, there were spicy side dishes which can cause heartburn if you’re not used to it!

After the hot and spicy lunch, we went to Jeonju Hanok Village, a quaint and vibrant small town with small stores selling colorful traditional dresses. The clean streets were made of cobblestones and we really enjoyed just people watching and browsing the sidewalk wares.

**All the hotels we stayed at had automatic bidets**

The following day we drove almost two hours to the historical and very important city of Gwangju. This city is also called the Home of Democracy. On May 18, 1980 a democratic movement started here by a group of college students which led to the massacre of dozens of them. We visited the solemn National Cemetery honoring these students who sacrificed their lives for democracy.

Some interesting signage I encountered:

More photos from the group:

SOUTH KOREA – Land of K-Pop and K-Drama

This trip initially was planned for Trini and myself; however, after her relatives learned that we booked this trip through a mutual travel agent (Cesar Gatchalian), our group grew from two to eight persons – Gassy and Beth Ayson, Tony and Lourdes Sumabat, and George and Ligaya Nolasco. We welcomed the addition since as they say “the more the merrier“!

Although South Korea was in the world’s spotlight a couple of months ago due to the declaration of martial law, which lasted only for six hours, it was very peaceful when we arrived. In Seoul, the capital of South Korea, we witnessed protesters and demonstrators all over the city in support of Ukraine, Israel, Palestine and other countries but we did not feel any danger at all. Police were positioned around the areas but there were no indication of any violence.

Our tour guide picked us up at our hotel and took us around Seoul. The city is home to almost ten million people. We were immediately impressed on how clean the city was. Although the volume of vehicles on the roads were heavy, traffic moved smoothly (contrast it to Manila traffic where it is almost always chaotic due to undisciplined drivers). We visited Susong Dong Temple where the grounds were decorated with colorful streamers and paper flowers. We had to remove our shoes to enter the temple and photography was not allowed.

**From left to right: Bess Ayson, Ligaya Nolasco, Tony and Lourdes Sumabat, Gassy Ayson, Trini and me**

The temperature was pleasant requiring only light jacket and/or sweaters and we all had our fingers crossed that this would last throughout our trip. But it was not meant to be since the weather turned from nice to ugly.

Our tour guide, Junee, took us to watch the changing of the guard ceremony at Gyeongbokgung Palace. The place was crowded and we saw a lot of tourists and locals alike garbed in the traditional clothes (called hanbok). The place looked vibrant with all these costumes.

The much awaited changing of the guard ceremony commenced with a blaring Korean music occasionally interrupted by a loud drum beat. There were several colors for each “platoon” of guards who marched to the music.

**The stuffed animal on a stick was our tour guide’s to let us know her location**

Next, we visited the National Folk Museum. At this time, the temperature was gradually going south as the breeze made it colder than what my app showed so we had to don our jackets and scarves to keep us warm.

**Left to right: George and Ligaya Nolasco, Lourdes Sumabat, Beth Ayson, Tony Sumabat** and Trini PeBenito

Our tour guide recommended we try the bulgogi (a Korean dish of marinated grilled beef) for lunch which we did. As usual, the side dishes were delicious if you don’t mind spicy food!

**Trini and our tour guide in Seoul, Junee**

For every tour, there is always a stop in a store so they can sell you something to take back home. In this case, our group visited a Ginseng Store. A store employee who spoke good English gave us a very interesting lecture on how the popular and “medicinal” ginseng plant are grown and harvested. Of course, their product which they claim can prevent diabetes, arthritis, dementia and all diseases under the sun are very expensive. I ended up buying ginseng cigars, yes, they do make them! Trini also bought a bag of hard candies made of….you guessed it – ginseng.

Our tour van dropped us off about a block away from our hotel. The shopping radar of the ladies immediately went up as soon as we got off the van! Of course, us guys just had to follow them and patiently waited until they were finished.

Below are more photos during our first day.