As with previous posts involving distance I realise my camera is not adequate, this is not a post of pretty sunrise photos, but instead a 'how to' if you want to do the same. For more expensive photos go here.
On the way down I spied a TV News weather crew snapping filler shots. If anyone spied a weird extra bearded extra foreigner on TV who made them throw up their Frosties...I'm not sorry.
As I get older I find myself more inclined to early mornings rather than late nights...I think its my love of a good sunclipse that is pulling me away from the bedsheets. The main agent of which is definitely photography...beyond that, being in the right spot on Earth's rotating reference frame when it faces the sun can be pretty cool.
My trip to Namsan Tower in the early hours was actually more accident than plan. The first day of my summer holidays and I had two tickets to paradise (Tokyo). Checking over the bus times from Daegu to Incheon AirportI realised I could get a late night bus that would get me into Seoul around 4:30am.
I believe the most convenient way to do a sunrise from Namsan Tower is to not live in the capital. If you live in Seoul you have to set an early alarm and find some way to make it across town in the hours before the subways are operational. But, come from a south-side city like Daegu or Busan and one can get a good sleep on those huge express bus seats and get to Seoul with enough time to get a quick taxi to Namsan. From there it's a 15-30 minute walk to the top, the best views can be attained from the bus stops just south of the tower area. The trek to the top isn't a breeze, but if you are the type of person to get up at 4am to witness Earth's solar orbit in action then a concrete hike probably won't trouble you.
To the best of my knowledge Namsan Tower itself is not open that early and in fact is eerily quiet considering it's a tourist hotspot most times...of course, I wasn't the only one up there, in Korea, when one reaches fifty years one no longer requires sleep and instead spends nights roaming parks in reverse.
Time-lapses can suck it, but this one of sunrise in Seoul is pretty short cool: http://vimeo.com/38854461
How to get there:
Check when the nearest sunrise is coming to a place near you.
After which, finding the exact geographical centre of Seoul shouldn't be difficult.
In the morning, their are two pedestrian only entrances that will lead to the top. I was taken to the north-east gate and came down from the other side. (even though you can see the buses in my pictures they didn't start operating until 9am, some hours later).
When you come in the north-east gate take the first right then left for a stairs only route to the top. This is more direct than the main road and thus quicker.
Soundtrack:
Feel your blood warm up...