63 Building-One of the tallest sky scrapers and major landmarks in Seoul, South Korea of 249m height is located on Yeouido island facing the methodical flow of beautiful
River Hans. It has been offering variety of wonderful things to visitors from all over the world since 1985 when it was completed and stood as a symbol of infrastructure boom in Korea. We got down at 'Saetgang' subway station in Line No.9 and came out through Exit-3 as the building is at just a ten minutes of walkable distance from the station.
A day in the early autumn of Seoul is always incomparable. That day too a typical one which entirely offered a fascinated colorful ambiance and fragrances to enjoy and cherish the moments all along the way to the building.
On the route to 63-Building we were attracted by the beauty of
Sister Park or
Ankara Park which welcomes the visitors with its diversified vivid trees, flowers and plants. This park was opened in 1977 in commemorating sister relationship between Korea and Turkey which the later stood and provided army support to South Korea during the 'Korean War'. There, one can also lost to the elegant and much artistically constructed traditional 'Turkey Vineyard House' in the park. It is stated that the house is decorated by various folk articles of Turkey inside.
From Sister Park, after just a few minutes of stroll we were in front of neck breaking tall 63-Tower which stands as if it tears and pierces the Sky. The inside world of this building with its enormous enthusiasms and jubilant & vibrant visitors is entirely different from what one sees outside which is very quiet and least crowded. The building presents wide range of attractions and entertainments like Wax Museum, Sea World, Sky Deck- Golden Tower observatory, Korea's Largest I-Max theater, as well as various specialty restaurants serving Chinese, Japanese, Korean dishes on many floors. As it's name this tall building has 63 stories/ floors out of which 60 floors are above ground and 3 floors are underground. The observatory deck is located at the top of this building at 60th floor.
63-Wax Museum hall has its elegant beauty with it's spectacular glowing lights and ambiance inside. This not only holds the pride of having the wax figures of world's Greatest Leaders, Scientists, Painters, Musicians, Artists, Celebrities, famous Hollywood Characters and Sport stars but also showcases larger portraits of greatest personalities which the world produced till. The waxes are depicted graciously that resembles as if you are standing besides those greatest personalities of the world who once ruled the world by their special, noble attributes and principles. As many as 70 wax sculptures including Mahatma Gandhi, Mao, Che, Einstein, Edison, Picasso, Van Gogh, Beethoven, MJ, Elvis Presley, Madamme Tussaud, Beckham, Tiger Woods etc., adore the Museum hall to enchant the visitors.
The 'Chamber of Horror' displays the figures of monstrous, horrifying Dracula, Wolf-man, Frankeinstein etc. The master piece among all wax figures according to me and the visitors from all across the world is "The last Supper" which was made in a grand manner and so natural as if that Supper is going on in front of us. This Musuem hall would provide an exciting and delightful experience which will never fall out of one's memory. One would love & yearn to revisit again immediately at the exit itself as i wished while moving out of the hall. Later at my residence while I was rushing the images which I shot inside museum, the wax figures which I stood besides them amazed me literally as they looked like live characters.
63-Sea World is an aquarium in this Building which stands as a large one in Seoul and stated as visited by 1,000,000 tourists from all over the world every year. It exhibits a number of species and submarine organisms . The height of all attractions in sea world is 'Cute Penguins', 'Seal show' and 'Female divers show'. It's a must visited zone especially for children to explore the rare and various Sea Species.
As like the observatory in '
Nam Seoul Tower' which reveals the panoramic view of entire Seoul City, the observatory '
63-Sky Deck' located at top most floor of this building also provides the beautiful view of entire city from the banks of 'River Hans'.
Cast your vote here
Detailed descriptions and features of the mountain are inscribed on the Stone at the entrance. Koreans call it as 'Gwanaksan' as 'san' means Mountain and 'Gwanak' means "Hat shaped Peak' (courtesy: Wikipedia) which is some 629m height. A pleasant breezy drizzles just wiped our faces gently when we got down there, it would really oscillate one's m
ind and heart to feel and realize the beauty of nature-Breezing, Raining and you are standing in front of Soul stealing grey clouds and Panoramic view of the Green Mountain. And in fact the Rain gave the green blankets greener. Yes! When Mother Nature is in full glory showing her beauty, poor human is having nothing than to soak and immerse on it.
Enormous, huge clusters of various dense trees on both the sides of the Pavement welcome the hikers with gentle wind blow. One would be enchanted by glassy, marble stream over a flat plain bed on the left side of the trail which showcases its silent and methodical way of flowing. Surprisingly throughout our hiking journey haven't witnessed any birds and animals (even monkeys which is a very common part of Hills and Mountains In India) except a plump 'Korean Magpie', Ms. Song said us that Koreans call it as 'Gachi'. For next just 10-15 minutes of hiking interior, it got as dark as evening due to densely populated giant trees and rolling thick clouds. But the ‘Gwanak’ assured us the never lost enthusiasms with its green skin.
These small, streams are greatly channeled and streamlined in to a dedicated path which reminded me again about Koreans immense love on preserving nature. There are small huts and Wooden seats to relax, rest and refresh oneself on either side of the trail where hikers were enjoying their lighter moments. One can enjoy mixed hiking floors like concrete pavements, Wooden steps, flat cum slant plains and path covered of small rocks on the hiking way.
There are some wooden bridges artistically made in a spectacular design to make the hikers enjoying their moments on either sides of the trail. For those who are fond of arresting the splendid scenic views of flowing Brooks, Valleys and thick grown Trees and Bushes will definitely have a feeling of delicious feast to their camera. And it was drizzling throughout the day; many a times, I used to shut my umbrella, and let the breezy fragrant drizzles do their magic on me. It was a splendid feeling and I was fascinated. It would be a different feeling for foreigners like me on seeing the way the Koreans came all along with their preparations for trekking with all stuffs like
professional hikers irrespective of their level of expertise; after all, I contemplate it's a bit of part of life for them. ‘Mt. Gwanak’ is having some peaks which are challenging for people like me who are actually beginners. As far as preparations for a trekking trip is concerned, Good trekking shoes, if not, at least walking shoes with moderate grip, Backpack for keeping stuffs like Towel, Eatables, Sunglasses, Tissue papers, bags (to keep soiled wastes) etc. will be sufficient for those who are beginners as some peaks of ‘Mt. Gwanak’ are not so steep. If you are going to explore much challenging hike, it will be good to have ropes, good quality hand cloves, and strong hiking sticks with you which will solve the purpose effectively in ‘Gwanak’.
Smiling and Greeting the fellow hikers, just met a very second ago, reminding and intensifing my thought about Korean’s great receiving nature and their hospitality. As the crew got tired (seemed except Ms. Song and Mr. Ram) before it reaches the highest point of the peak where the enshrined temple of Buddha is, decided to stop there unanimously, where as per Ms. Song we were just short of 15 minutes of further upward hiking to reach the temple. On the way returning back we completed our lunch with other Korean trekkers in a rest hut which made the journey immortal. The return journey was very quick indeed. There the exciting hiking journey came to an end which concerned me voluminously when we reached the mouth of trail.
I think ‘My first Trek’ is quite successful as I am now eagerly waiting for my weekends to explore other parts of Seoul. Nowadays I start overlooking from skyscrapers in that perspective and realized the famous Korean saying “You will see a mountain in Seoul no matter where you look” is literally a fact. I reached my room at around 6-00 pm heavily loaded with magical memories, realities of gorgeous nature. I firmed to pen my experience of first hiking on my blog before it gets eluded by my Professional life. 
