Vending Machine

I know we are all used to seeing vending machines selling food and drinks. But what I came across as something unusual at a shopping mall in Seoul was this. Check out the photo!

Socks vending machine - at a mall in Seoul

Yes you saw right! Vending machine selling socks!!! When I saw this, I was thinking why socks of all things? But I do realise that in Seoul, there are really a lot of small stalls selling socks. I really don’t know why this is. But I can only guess that its cold there and they need more socks to keep them warm! Hahaha..

N Seoul Tower

Namsan Tower in the evening

The N Seoul Tower, officially the CJ Seoul Tower and commonly known as the Namsan Tower and Seoul Tower, is a communication and observation tower located on Namsan Mountain in central Seoul, South Korea.

Built in 1969, and at a cost of approximately $2.5 million, it was opened to the public in 1980. Since then, the tower has been a landmark of Seoul and measures 236.7 m (777 ft) in height (from the base) and tops out at 479.7 m (1,574 ft) above sea level.

Many visitors ride the Namsan cable car up the mountain, and then walk to the tower. The tower features a gift shop and restaurants on the ground floor. Visitors may go up the tower for a fee. There are four observation decks (the 4th observation deck, which is the revolving restaurant, rotates at a rate of one revolution every 48 minutes), as well as gift shops and two restaurants. Most of the city of Seoul can be seen from the top. Close to N Seoul Tower is a second lattice transmission tower.

At the tower you would also see thousands of love padlocks, a custom by which padlocks are affixed to a fence by sweethearts to symbolize their everlasting love.

Access by taxi or car is prohibited. So you will need to walk, take a bus or cable car. I would suggest the cable car so that you can enjoy the luscious and pleasant view of the surrounding. From Myeongdong Station, it its a 10minute walk to the cable platform.

Fare: Round-trip - 6,300 won;   One-way - 4,800 won
Hours: 10am - 10.30pm

Directions:
1. Take subway line 4 to Myeongdong Station
2. Take exit 3 from the station
3. Take the wide road next to the convenience store
4. Walk straight to the left of Pacific Hotel
5. Continue walking through the commercial quarter until you reach a small stairway
6. Walk up the stairway
7. Continue walking by the restaurants on your right
8. Keep walking up in the direction of Mt Namsan
9. There is a vacant lot on your right and you will find the cable car platform
10. Buy a ticket at the booth on the 3rd floor and take the cable car on the 4th floor.