Gangnam has some diverse architecture springing up. The building sites are clean and tidy, usually hidden behind screens.
A brief look into the Coex Mall and we found the biggest most bizarre bookshop - how on earth do you browse the shelves of books?
Outside the Mall there were a variety of photo opportunity for the Seoul visitors.
Our destination is the Bukchon Hanok Village.
Nestled in the middle of Seoul with high-rise buildings and bustling hilly streets is the beautiful ancient 600 year old Bukchon Hanok village.
The village was where Joseon dynasty officials and wealthy nobility lived hundreds of years ago.
A hanok is an traditional wooden house that were at one time found all over Korea. Over time, the old style buildings have been replaced by newer concrete structures.
In the 1960s, the area was set for renovation, which would have meant the destruction or relocation of many of the hanok buildings. Locals who loved the village protested against the renovation. Bukchon was spared by the government. While many other areas in Seoul are packed with high rises and new construction, the Bukchon Hanok Village has stayed surprisingly untouched with mostly low rise buildings.
There are about 900 hanok buildings in the area today, many which have been restored to their former glory using traditional designs and materials.
It is obviously a tourist place but I wasn’t quite prepared for what we saw.
The Hanbok is the traditional dress of Koreans with bright colours, simple lines, and no pockets. Here you can hire them and later I found out if you wear the Hanbok you get free entrance into ‘the places’. I don’t know what the places are because the winding narrow streets are filled with instagrammers draped over doorways posing for that all important selfie.
It’s a serious pastime, with people queuing to walk down a street waiting as the multiple photo-shoots take place.
All doorways are closed so you have little idea if there is ‘a place’ to go and see.
Due to the popularity of the village there is a rule that you must speak in whispers, and groups of more than 10 are not allowed. They have the Quiet Stewards telling you to hush, there are signs on people’s houses politely asking that you whisper. Another rule is that there is no urinating in the street - random…
So what must it be like to live in such a place? We only saw one resident come out of their home, which comes as no surprise as everyone would be gawping to see inside your property, myself included. The residents must stay behind closed doors and venture out only when everyone has gone home. The people who run a business here must do very well, but as a place to live? I’m not so sure.
As we weaved our way round the circuit we kept seeing the same Hanbok-clad people who were throughly enjoying their insta-day. Well nearly everyone…
Not quite my cup of tea - although if you are there with a significant other you can ‘try the couple-themed Hanbok ‘… John? JOHN? Where are you? Come back…