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c h i k k a
n e t w o r k n e w s
Clockwise from below: Hazel’s
husband Martoni at the DMZ;
Hazel (second from left) and
her family dressed Korean-style
in Namsangol Village; yummy
street food
The DMZ
Lest the man in the family feel forgotten,
fit in a guided tour of the DMZ — the 2km
demilitarized zone between North and
South Korea. Tour itineraries vary, but
most will include a visit to the observation
deck, a North Korean infiltration tunnel, a
train station that leads into North Korea,
and on that rare occasion, a look into the
joint security area where negotiations
between north and south take place.
Gyeonggokgung Palace
Seoul has many beautiful ancient palaces,
but Hazel chose the grandest of them all:
Gyeonggokgung palace, and the UNESCO
World Heritage Site Changdeokgung
Palace. “I only selected these two because
they were the nicer, better-preserved ones,”
she says. Any more and she knew the kids
would get a case of palace fatigue.
Retail hubs
Allow ample time to hit Seoul’s best
retail destinations. Hazel’s top picks
were Myeongdong for its department
stores and several boutique-lined streets;
TEXT
MAYA O. CALICA
PHOTOS
COURTESY OF HAZEL PEREZ-VILLONCO
i d e a s
ENTREPRENEUR
Hazel Perez-Villonco
has a serious case of wanderlust, a trait
she’s passed on to her daughters Camille,
16,
Katrina, 12, Marianna, 10, and Trixie,
2.
So to indulge the family’s passion for
travel, she plans well in advance, doing
her research and selecting cities that offer
something for everyone. Their most recent
jaunt to Seoul was a perfect fit. Here’s an
itinerary that pleases just about everyone.
The Everland Theme Park
Visit South Korea’s largest amusement
park. Boasting rides of varying levels of
excitement, it also contains a water park
and a zoo. Head to the Teddy Bear Museum
at the N Seoul Tower too, which showcases
the city’s history using adorable teddy bears.
Namsangol Hanok Village
Life in the traditional Korean town features
a pond, pavilion and five restored Korean
houses, each one representative of different
social classes and built in the architectural
style of the Joseon Dynasty. While you’re
there, get your photo snapped in traditional
Korean costume.
The South Korean capital stands out on our radar with
a little bit of everything for the whole brood
Seoul in
the family
Yongsan Electronics Market for gadgets;
Namdaemun Market for its assortment of
goods; Dongdaemun Market’s buildings
filled with garments and wholesalers;
Itaewon for imported brands; Insadong
for traditional Korean products; and
Apgujeong Rodeo Street for luxury fashion
boutiques and young, trendsetting brands.
The Itaewon Global Village
Festival
This month, catch this annual fall festival
that celebrates Korean traditions as well
as international cultures in Seoul: from
performances of traditional dance to an
amazing Global Food Festival that takes
place all throughout the weekend.
Cebu Pacific flies to Seoul (Incheon) from
Manila and Cebu.
