So today was pretty exciting. This is going to be a long post, so grab some coffee, a blankey and read on...
Woke up and went to EMart which is a slightly higher class Home Plus (a Target to your Wal-Mart if you will.) We were hoping for some breakfast samples, but we pretty much struck out there. Home Plus remains number one in my heart as far as free food is concerned.
Then we headed to Seoul. The subway was an experience and took forever! We were about an hour and a half from our final destination, Gyeongbukgong Palace. On the way there, we saw the great sign, Ubiquitous Dream. I love that! It was gorgeous. It was freezing. I took tons of pictures and will have a link up to them at the bottom of this post. It was so so weird to see these quintessential Asian rooftops right next to huge skyscrapers. The don't have a lot of historical buildings here b/c so many of them were demolished in this war or that occupation, and in fact this palace is in a state of restoration, so there was a lot we weren't able to go into. And the palace itself was originally 330+ buildings and it's down to about 12, surrounded by what would be green in the Spring and Summer. :) It really was pretty, and although I know it was Siam, I just kept picturing scenes from the King and I (etcetera, etcetera). It was very cool. The colors are incredibly vivid, and I don't know if any of my pictures acurately captured how bright and kinda psychadelic the designs are. I hope they do a little.
After the palace, we warmed up in the Folk Museum, which was completely free. It had all sorts of interesting things about Korean culture and history, and I'm sorry to say I've retained very little. I hope I soaked up some of it and it's here... but I won't go on and on about this. Eventually our brains felt full and we decided to do something completely different.
At Hongdaedum Stadium, there is a daily street market. It was massive and way overwhelming. We ate some dumplings, Dwight really enjoyed them.
And we walked and walked and walked. We were about to head home when we heard a ruckus. By now it was dark and freeeeeezing, but we decided to see about the hub-bub. It was a breakdancing show!! It was really exciting and I uploaded a video to youtube (see below, fools). The video isn't great, but still... Here, I saw some of the greatest things (Like a T-shirt that said Together is a Happy) and one of the worst things (a homeless person with no legs, begging). The homeless population of Seoul is heartbreaking. Homelessness anywhere isn't pleasant, but it is so cold here and it feels like our homeless have opportunities for help, and here you wonder if they have that. It was very sad and awful.
After the show we decided to head home. It was cold and we were exhausted.
http://www.kodakgallery.com/Slideshow.jsp?mode=fromshare&Uc=qtllvws.4y9k4qtw&Uy=83tljr&Ux=0
6 comments:
What a great experience - I would guess that Anna is there somewhere. I love that movie. Beautiful pictures. Can I trade places with Dwight? I would stand quietly on the table. Love ya lots and lots! MomCASSmy
WOW!!! What wonderful pictures. Thank you so much for sharing all of this with us addicts. Are the guys in Red.. or is it orange the palace guards? and are they real or statues? They look so huge
Keep up the good work!!!
Love you
Aunt Sandi
WOW! What an exciting day you had I was going to ask about the big men also. The colors came thru great; it was as tho we were there with you.What time did you get back home.Dwight is at the dish and it is like he is saying "I can't believe YOU ate the whole thing, He also will have such great memories of the trip. I guess it is back to work today Have a great day. LUV U
Grams
Just Amazing. You are living a wonderful adventure. I was amazed at the colors and the scenery - truly an enchanted place. I guess howmeless people are a world-wide issue that needs to be addressed - but you captured some magic and beauty in your pictures - WAY TO GO!!!
Dad
Together is a Happy
Yes, indeed. Great pictures, too! You really did show the color well. Never thought I'd see a Korean "helicopter" but there's a first time for everything. Breakdancing in a place called "Seoul" - whoodathunk? One frightening thing, though - picturing you in a classroom full of Korean children, with big blue hoopskirt singing, "Getting to know you..."
Seem to be having trouble emailing you. Seem to be receiving from you but you may not be getting my replies. Maybe? If you don't get this, write and let me know?
High five to Dwight for me.
Love,
Rob
After watching that video, I am going to take up breakdancing.
LJ
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