South of the River- April 16.

I spent most of my trip north of the Han River, so I decided to spend a day exploring the south side of the city.  

If you know me or Aunt Jenni, you know we have a boundless love of the Olympics, so I couldn't go to Seoul without visiting the site of the 1988 Summer Olympics.

The grounds were MASSIVE, and are now a nice park where you can go walk for ages and enjoy the view of the city.

I was a little bummed to be missing the Cherry Blossom Festival in DC, but consoled myself be visiting some native cherry blossoms at Jamsil Park.  

Over the lunch hour, the entire path around the lake was packed with people coming to view the blossoms.  The pictures from this overcast day really don't do them justice.  There were speakers all over the park and they were all playing the new Psy song "Gentleman" all day long. (You might know him from the song "Gangham Style" that was big in America this year.)  That was a little surreal as Psy himself was in town that week to premier the song and you could walk ten feet without hearing it.

Another place to buy a tag and profess your love.  Bless you Korea, for your love of kitsch.  

Since I was out walking, I went over to Bongeunsa Buddhist Temple.  Located right across from the biggest mall I've ever seen (and I've been to Minnesota), the gates are guarded by the Heavenly Kings, who guard the four cardinal directions of the Dharma.  

I picked up some tea and a snack and just relaxed for a while.  

These Buddhas were hanging out by a path in the back of the property.  

If my day was quiet and relaxed, the evening got much more excited as I headed to meet Sara's friend, Simon, who offered to take me to Noryangjin Fish Market- a wholesale market where you can get anything.

Seriously- anything.  And so fresh that it's all still alive when you buy it.  I wish I'd taken more pictures, but you can check out the google image search to see more.

We decided to buy a plate of about 20 oysters for $8, a huge platter (think turkey sized) of sashimi (raw fish) for $13, and a live octopus for $5.  Yes, they pulled a live octopus out of a tank, put him in a plastic bag, and handed the poor fella to me.

We headed upstairs to a restaurant who proceeded to cut up our little friend and bring him out to us, still wiggling.  It was hard to take the first few bites (and to pick up squirming food with chopsticks), but I like the octopus much more than the oysters.  (I'm just not a filter person.)

Simon and our spread. 

We also ordered the biggest pot of stew ever made, which was full of I don't know what.  So much seafood I'll never be able to identify.  Thank goodness I don't have any shellfish allergies.  

We took a nice walk along the river and took a train back to the hotel.  On the walk home, I was introduced to the idea of warm soy milk, which is kept in warmers in the convenience stores.  For the win, Seoul.