the reason for seasons

 for reasons still unknown to me, seasons are a huge topic among koreans. i'd thought initially maybe it was a conversation-starter, but that was such a wrong observation because its more than that- the koreans love their seasons! they'll discuss endlessly the weather, tweet/ retweet reports on temperature, film entire drama series based on the seasons (winter sonata and its season-themed sister dramas, case in point) and proudly proclaim (with or without realising they're not the only ones)"WE HAVE FOUR SEASONS, you know?"

sooo, i'll talk about it too, just so we can indulge in the occasional fantasies of crisp spring days and cool autumn breeze :)

SPRING
march-may, approx 15-18degrees celsius

(cheongyecheon)

spring is the season of beginnings, and it was such an overhaul of mood in the entire city (while i was still in seoul) when winter finally ended. suddenly everything was brighter, chirpier and people were walking around, bounces in their steps, so it was generally a happy-feel all around.

trees i never noticed suddenly blossomed, flowers waved and then, cherry blossoms season arrived:

similar to japan, it is some sort of an event for the countdown to blossoming of cherry blossoms and news stations file reports on the exact days for different parts of korea. obviously, when these few days arrive, people rush to the best viewing locations and its a huge crowd everywhere! but you get caught up too, in the beauty of everything.

(cherry blossoms festival at yeouido, 2011)

some of the best viewing spots are:
1. namsan
2. yeouido (hangang park + stretch behind KBS)
3. everland (apparently there's a cherry blossom trail)
4. samcheongdong park

it'd be good to plan your itinerary around the blooming days to catch the flowers (they wilt after like, 3-4days!) and take part in the cherry blossoms festivals held all over town.

then, spring is also perfect for fairs and picnics- ive had my fair share:

(seoul friendship day, 2011)

(outdoor performances at cheongyecheon)

(picnic at samcheongdong park, 2011)

just a warning though, the crisp spring air is rather chilly, and its still advisable for light jackets and shawls, especially at night when temperatures drop further.
also, occasional rain do happen, and umbrellas are good items to have in your bags :)


SUMMER
june-august, approx 28-34degrees celsius

(carribean bay, flikr.com)

as with its winter, summer is starking in seoul. marked by high temperatures and scorching days, it is not unusual to see lots of shorts, lots of skin, lots of shiny faces. people complain about how hot it is, and normally street fashion gets bolder and skimpier!

BUT, summer is also when everyone comes out to play, as swimming pools re-open and summer adventure facilities re-operate! places like the hangang park gets makeover-ed into an outdoor swimming pool and theme parks like carribean bay (everland) become extremely popular!

(outdoor hangang swimming pool, seoulcityblog.com)

(carribean bay ad, featuring 2PM and SNSD)

but, july-early aug is also monsoon season in seoul, so despite it being summer, the entire month will see thunderstorms and frequent showers. as it is, typhoon muifa is sweeping across seoul right now (so people heading there, pls be safe!) and it'll help to have an umbrella on hand so as not to get caught out by sudden downpours!


AUTUMN
sept-nov, approx 13-20degrees

this is my favorite season, because really, seoul is beautiful at this time of the year! colors changing everywhere, multi-shaded fallen leaves, nice cooling temperatures and a rather laid-back feel to the place.

also, autumn is often regarded as the season for love by koreans, and it is not uncommon for singles to proclaim loneliness and desires to get attached during this season!

(namsan, 2011)

some of the best places to view autumn leaves:
1. namsan
2. garosu-gil (sinsa station, exit 8)
3. samcheongdong

(fallen leaves, autumn 2011)

WINTER
dec-feb, approx minus6-0 degrees celsius

no kidding, seoul's winter is cold. BUT, it is survivable, with the right type of clothing and accessories, so do go anyway!

so, i haven't seen real snow before my time in seoul, and when i saw the first fall, just a tiny sheet covering the playground behind my house, i was a little awed. it was so beautiful, and everything looked so pure and white, and then i suddenly understood why winter sonata was such a hit. everything just becomes much more romantic, doesnt it?

then, if you're into winter activities, ice-skating rings are available throughout seoul: indoors rink at lotte world, and outdoors at cityhall centre.

(indoor ice-skating rink at lotte world)

or if you're looking for childish fun with your friends, snowfights, hide-and-seeks and snow-sculpting competitions are very good in parks, or the namsangol village (chungmuro station, exit 3) where the space is huge and snow covers the entire land!

of course, the more adventurous ones can drive out of seoul to nearby cities, where ski resorts are aplenty for those looking to ski or snowboard!

appropriate wear for winter, especially in january when it gets SO COLD, would be thick jackets, mufflers, socks and appropriate boots to prevent sliding on slippery snow-covered roads.

but my own personal tips would be to get:
1. ear mufflers- you wear them like hairbands, but the huge furry bits cover your ears and honestly, the worst feeling on earth is the freeze-bite at your ears, and you think they're going to fall off
2. gloves- BUT, you need to get those that are held together via a string, and you hang the gloves around your neck while wearing them. this is so that when you take them off to say, wash your hands or hold something (which is very often!), you won't drop any. ive lost so many halves of a pair that ive stopped counting :/
3. heatpacks- easily available at all convenient stores. keep one in your pocket, one in your each of your shoes, one anywhere you wish because these tiny spots of warmth will comfort you.

at night, temperatures could drop below zero, and it is VERY important to have heaters at home. (first few nights, i didnt and almost froze myself to death) also, the worst bit of winter is the wind- when the gush blows, its cuts through your clothing, skin and goes straight to the bones, so thick woollen jackets are advisable too :)

in any case, winter's also the best time to play dress-up with the well-cut jackets, layering of clothes and random accessories. so even if its not for anything, it's also fab to have the chance (for once!) to indulge in coats and boots that we never get to wear in sunny singapore :)


p.s. if you wish to read more on my experiences with seasons in seoul, you can go to:
1. http://surfaceglitter.blogspot.com/search/label/spring
2. http://surfaceglitter.blogspot.com/search/label/autumn
3. http://surfaceglitter.blogspot.com/search/label/winter