Colorful Lotus Lantern Parade and other Seoul, South Korea Things to Do Tips

I was lucky to catch the Lotus Lantern Parade on a Sunday (April 30) prior to Buddha's Birthday. The Lotus Lantern Parade is held late April or early May in celebration of the birthday of Buddha.

Multi-colored paper lanterns of different shapes (Buddha, animals, flowers, candle) create a magical effect in the Jogyesa Temple. Paper strips hung from below the lanterns were wishes were written. Locals dressed in hanboks parade the streets carrying their own hand-made lanterns.

That Sunday, participants gathered at Dongdaemun Stadium, paraded in Jongno and then prayed and gathered with the monks at the main hall of Jogyesa temple. Celebration ended around 10:30 pm.

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Directions: Jogyesa is on Ujeonggungno Street, about 300 meters west of Anguk Station (Exit 6) on Line 3.

The Seoul Cathedral (1898) stands out not because you can see the tower of 45 meters jutting out of the skyline of Myeongdong but because it's the only Gothic structure of red and gray bricks sitting on a little hill. Pink azaleas lined the courtyard where the figure of Christ stands in front of the church. The marker outside the church said the buildings form a cross when viewed on top but I didn't bother to confirm.

I attended the mass here and even if I don't understand Korean language, I felt at peace especially when the choir started singing. Notice the pipe organ on the 2/F and the ribbed vault roof. Each pillar has its own large TV monitor so you can see the priest even if you're seated along the aisle.

One peculiar thing I noticed is that the church-goers went to the altar during the offertory instead of the basket being passed around. I almost thought, the church goers are lining up for the eucharist.

Weekday: 6:30 a.m., 10:00 a.m. (mass), 6p.m., 7p.m.(No masses on Mondays 7p.m. )
Weekend: 7 a.m., 9 a.m., 10 a.m., 11 a.m., 12 p.m., 4 p.m., 5 p.m., 6 p.m., 7 p.m.(mass for the youth), 9 p.m. - For the young- 10:30 a.m.(Elementary students), 12 p.m.(Middle/High School students)

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Directions: From Exit No. 8 of Myeong-dong Subway Station (Seoul Subway Line 4), walk 10 minutes.

If you wander in the opposite direction, you'd find Migliore and Hi Harriet malls and fashionable teens wandering the open-air markets.

The Changing of the Guards can be witnessed in any of the 3 palaces in Seoul: Gyeongbokgung, Deoksugung and Changdeokgung. I witnessed the practice of the changing of the guards in Gyeongbokgung so they were not dressed up in colorful clothes. Below is the schedule:

* Jan-Feb (may change depending on the weather): 10:00-10:30, 14:00-14:30, 15:00-15:30
* Mar-Dec: 10:30-11:00, 14:00-14:30, 14:30-15:00, 15:00-15:30

Areas not to be missed in Gyeongbokgung:
Geunjeongjeon (main building) - Dragon pattern on the ceiling
Gyeonghoeru - pavilion with a pond
Central building of the king's residence - 9 rooms with the central room for the king and the rest for the concubines
Queen residence

Opening Hours:
March-Oct - 9:00-18:00
Nov-Feb - 9:00-17:00
Closed on Tuesday

Admission: 3000 W
Special tour for the pavilion: 5000 W

While inside the compound of the palace, visit the National Folk Museum.

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Directions: Gyeongbokgung Station Line 3 Exit 5
Gwanghamun Station Line 5 Exit 2

There were 10 stadiums in Seoul or is it South Korea and the largest of which is the Seoul FIFA World Cup Stadium. Our tourist guide is proud to say the Koreans are No. 1 in Asia in terms of sports. Red, blue and white pictures of their national football team and the 2002 FIFA World Cup adorned the walls.

We breezed through the stadium and headed to their Ginseng Chicken Soup Restaurant and Dongdaemun Market - now you're talking sense!

Sports to me is only a matter of national pride - Manny Pacquiao's boxing match against Erik Morales or Bata Reyes' prowess against the Black Widow!

Admission: 1,000 won

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AT Gate 40, 2F of departure area, you can experience traditional Korea by engaging in some 20-30 mins doing artwork.

I was not able to join the class because all the seats were taken so the art-teacher gave me a souvenir fan that she painted during the class.

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Directions: Gate 40 Incheon Airport