By and on the Seoul section of the Han River

A view across the Han River (aka Hangang) 

 from southern section of Seoul

Puppet Ponyo was happy to see swan-shaped 

paddle boats on the Han River! :)

 

 A more stately sight spotted while on a Han River cruise 

came in the form of South Korea's National Assembly Building

When my mother and I visited South Korea five years ago, the number one attraction for both of us was Seoul's wonderfully rejuvenated Cheong Gye Cheong Stream.  This time around, we set our sights on a cruise along another reuvenated body of water: the Hangang (i.e., Han River).

One of my most distinct memories of my first visit to South Korea back in 1982 involved driving along this very long -- and, to my mind, wide -- river.  Back then, however, I doubt that there were cruises taking place along it -- as, among other things, the Han River had a reputation for being pretty polluted for the first decades of South Korea's existence.

These days, however, the area around the now ecological jewel appears really pleasant -- with parks, bike and walking paths located along it that quite a few people appear to make much use of. And while the river's water wasn't as clear as I thought it should be, the cruise that my mother and I (and Puppet Ponyo too) went on was pretty nice -- with my only complaint being that its one hour length was too short since I'd have been happy to relaxed on deck, catching the breeze and enjoy watching the sights pass by for at least one more hour that sunny afternoon!

 

On a pop cultural note: I have to admit to thinking of Bong Joon-Ho's The Host while on the cruise, especially whenever we passed under and/or by one of the several bridges over the river. Also, while checking out Psy's Gangnam Style music video once more last week, I was amused to recognize a number of sights in it -- including the swan paddle boats! -- that we had caught sight of "in the flesh" less than two weeks ago now! ;b