Thank you, stranger

By Korea.net Honorary Reporter Rigina Bakhshaliyeva 

Photos = Rigina Bakhshaliyeva 

Seoul never sleeps. Dynamic at daytime, the city comes alive at night, too. There are night markets and convenience stores open 24/7, themed clubs and bars, loud singing rooms, welcoming public baths, steam baths and spas, and plenty of other night activities to make Seoul one of the most representative nocturnal cities in the world.

  

What’s more, Seoul keeps surprising its residents and visitors with more nightlife offerings. One of those is visiting the royal palaces in the afternoon and evening hours. 

The Banpo Bridge looks quite stunning at night.

Naksan Park is lit up at night.

The five royal palaces in Seoul -- Gyeongbokgung, Changdeokgung, Deoksugung, Changgyeonggung, and Gyeonghuigung -- top the bucket list for every city visitor and tourist. They're usually open to the public only in the daytime. Recently, however, and for only a couple of times per year, it's now possible to enjoy the splendid view of the palaces at night, as well.

Gyeongbokgung Palace is normally only open in the daytime. 

When the night tours of Changgyeonggung Palace were announced, along with many Seoulites and city visitors, I rushed to get tickets to see the sights under a starry night sky. It was October, just a few months before I returned home after three years living in Seoul. Even though I lived in the city for some time, I had still not found the chance to visit the palaces at night. I was sure that was going to be one of my biggest regrets. 

“Great! Today is the last day of the night tours, and you managed to save it for last!” As I was blaming myself, I grabbed my camera and tripod and headed for the palace.

When I arrived, the entrance to the palace was already packed with loads of people. Some came on a date, others to shoot the night landscape, and still others came just to take a walk after a long working day. After a few minutes in queue, I approached the ticket booth. 

“We’re sorry. There are no more tickets available. All sold out,” the young ticket seller said politely. 

“All the tickets? Already? But… but… it’s only 6 p.m. now.” I hoped there had been a mistake.

“Sorry, we can’t help you,” she said, expressing sorry for me.

Discouraged and sad, I was about to leave when suddenly a young Korean woman approached me. 

“I guess, you need it more,” she said and extended her hand to me, offering a ticket to the palace. 

It turned out that the young woman had overheard my conversation with the ticket seller and wanted to help me. 

Seeing me confused, the woman smiled. “I’m fine. I've been here before. Just take it,” and she handed me the ticket.  

Oh, how happy I was! I was so delighted, not purely because I was fortunate and could finally enjoy this valuable chance to visit the palace at night, but also because it was a generous act of kindness from a complete stranger. 

When in a moment of need you receive an unexpected helping hand from a stranger, even if it's only a small gesture; when you're in trouble and random people don't simply pass by but instead show their willingness to help -- doesn’t it make our world a much better place in which to live?   

I thanked the kind woman and I wanted to heartily thank her again. Every time I look through the photographs of the imperial Changgyeonggung Palace taken that night, I remember the generous stranger and her act of random kindness. 

Changgyeonggung Palace is lit up at night.

wisdom117@korea.kr

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