We were back on the walking tour front and I’m pleased to report Michelle had recovered sufficiently from her cold and sore throat to join me down in Gangnam.

We were guided by Marko, from Montenegro, formerly of New York and now residing in Seoul. He proved to be an excellent leader and was quick to highlight the virtues of life in this amazing city.

Our first stop was Bongeunsa Temple, a serene Buddhist retreat from the urban hustle of Gangnam. The temple is known for its impressive statue of Maitaya Buddha along with the beautiful garden grounds.

From the quiet and serenity of the Buddhist temple we then went to the infamous Gangnam Style statue. It’s located near the COEX mall, and pays tribute to Psy’s global hit ‘Gangnam Style’.

It proved to be a great photo opportunity and where we acted out the Gangnam dance for comedic effect…The giant sculpture has the infamous dance pose that swept the world!!

From there we entered the COEX mall, one of Asia’s largest underground shopping malls, with something for everyone-shopping, dinning and the famous Starfield library, one the centre pieces of the development. It’s an amazing space where books and magazines can be read on site or at home at no charge. The presentation of the books and magazines is so clever and makes it a real showpiece which draws you in. Next door were various cafes and restaurants where people sit with their newly acquired book and relax with a good read.

Leaving the shopping mall, we headed to Samsung D’light, an interactive exhibition by Samsung where you can view futuristic innovations and explore the latest in smart devices.

Our guide Marko explained a little more about the bars and restaurants in the area, taking us to Nonhyeon-dong restaurant alley, a bustling street filled with traditional Korean BBQ spots, fusion cuisine and trendy restaurants. It was a foodie’s paradise. We ended up going for Gimbap and Samgyeopsal with a few of the group from the tour.

After the tour had finished and we’d refuelled over lunch we headed to the Seonjeongneung Royal tombs. A UNESCO world heritage site, this tranquil park features the royal tombs of kings and queens from the Joseon dynasty. Again it was a peaceful historical escape in the middle of modern Gangnam.

As an area Gangnam has come a long way since the early 1960’s when it was little more than padi fields. However, since being the chosen area for government and bureaucrats in the intervening 60yrs, it’s now one of the most popular and expensive areas to live. A standard 2 bedroomed apartment will set you back 3-4 million US dollars.

Leaving Gangnam we headed along the river to the nearby Lotte Tower, the tallest building in South Korea. It stands at 555m and we ascended to the 120th floor to check out the views across the city.

The Lotte World Tower, to give its full title is a supertall skyscraper and is the sixth highest building in the world, the tallest in OECD countries, and also the first in the country to be over 100 stories tall.

It’s located next door to Lotte Tower (Disneyland styled park) and provides views across the city, highlighting the scale of the city and the number of tower blocks. It’s truly breathtaking.

Michelle is more fearless when it comes to heights and had no issue standing on the clear floor at the top with views all the way down from 120 stories. Not something Andy would be prepared to do.

We got some great 360 degree views and photos from the top floor and all for the cost of just £10 per person.

Next on the list was a sunset tour on the Hangang River which we had booked a week or two back. After rushing across the city by tube, we made it to the boat a couple of minutes before it set sail at 6pm. Once on board it was a lovely experience to watch the city go by and the sun slowly drop.

The family orientated trip drew lots of children as it was a Saturday and many had small fish to feed the waiting seagulls that hung above the boat waiting to dive.

The trip took us down the river to the KBS Performing Arts building and then circled back around Seonyudo Park Island. As the sun slowly disappeared, the night’s sky took on a beautiful orange glow framing the south bank of the city’s skyline.

After our 90min cruise, we picked up the pace again and headed back to the tube and dinner in Hongdae.

It is known for its  urban arts and indie music culture, local shops, clubs, cafés and entertainment. The area is located in Mapo District in the western end of Seoul.

We were really keen to try another Korean dish called Bibimbap. Essentially it’s a bowl with a salad of rice, mixed vegetables, beef and egg. We found a great traditional restaurant in the Hyundai Department Store up on the 10th floor. The portion was so large we ended up sharing along with a couple of Cass beers.

Following our delicious dinner we decided to explore Hongdae given it was a Saturday night. The place was packed with students and the cooler kids on the block. Lots of interesting bars, restaurants and quirky shops.

We decided to treat ourselves to a sweet ice cream covered in mochi. Wow that was good.

We ended up wandering around for an hour or two, taking in the spectacle and generally people watching.

As it neared 10pm we decided to head back to our hotel, via the tube, which we appear to have conquered and now know our way around the coloured/numbered lines without getting lost.

We really enjoyed our late night visit to Hongdae and would definitely recommend a visit if you’re ever in the city. It’s definitely got a bit of an edge, but it’s a friendly one.

Back to the tube, and the interesting posters of Korean style comic strip characters.

The final street to cross and we are back at the hotel after a full and fun packed day.

Tomorrow we are picking up the palace visits, all five, if we have the time and inclination.