Saturday Wanderings

Today I went shopping. I'll write more about that by the end of the weekend, but that's enough to say for now. Note: I did not buy any of the bags you see in the photo, they just made me laugh. I walked and walked for about 5 hours in Seoul between Myeong-dong and Ghwangwamun and trying to stumble across the Canadian embassy. I had a fabulous time shopping for clothes for the FIRST TIME EVER in Korea, and then I decided to walk a bit more since I was already out for the day and not ready to go home.

I came across some... interesting art at a small art museum... there's a Rodin exhibit there now, but I haven't planned to check it out at this point...

I'm not sure what the story was behind the shoes with legs, lol... the hen had some eggs that were visible inside, the aliens lit up at night when you walked by, and the fish and pig were made of recycled stainless steel rice bowls, plates and cups... strain-jee...

I found myself in a palace in lieu of another temple ~ ^.^ ~ and wandered around for a good hour in there, until about the time that my feet were starting to hurt...

Gate into the palace...

 

 The King's hall where he received visiting dignitaries

The King's throne...

The garden and fountain in front of the attached museum... they're rebuilding the building covered by the banner, and apparently that's what it'll look like when they're done!

A really amazing water clock that King Sejong was said to have designed... it told time using water and bells/chimes/gongs that responded to particular water levels (of course it is missing some pieces and no longer works, but I thought it was really neat!!)...

Speaking of the King (and I don't mean Elvis!)...

I never plan to get over for my love of the way Korea wraps the new around the old without ripping it all down and building over it... heritage sites are prized here, not razed...

There was a nifty bit of grass all about this particular palace (something that is in limited supply in Korea, especially soft grass you want to scrunch your naked toes in!), and it wasn't just limited to the lovely fountained garden you saw above! In the event that you thought it actually would be nice to take off your shoes and run barefoot in it, these little signs dotted the green spaces...    :(

2 of my favorite things... doorways and rooftops...

After leaving the palace I wandered up and down a couple of sidestreets where I stumbled across the art museum above, as well as this church that I thought looked interesting...

I never did come across the embassy, even though I walked well over the 500m the sign indicated in the direction it pointed (and it was in ENGLISH!!!). I did pass a large numbers of foreigners on tour buses who stared and pointed at me just like Koreans in small towns do (thanks, oldies on some kind of UN tour it seemed), but I never did find the little piece of home!

At the end of my 5 hours I decided to walk back to find a bus home. I had to walk an extra 10 blocks beyond what my hip thought was tolerable, so needless to say when the bus finally arrived and my tears dried up I made plans to visit the doctor this coming week!!

I'll find the embassy another time!

Another Sunday in Seoul

Today I finally dragged my butt into Seoul to see Steve McCurry's exhibit and I was a busy-busy girl so this post is going to be a long one! It'll be more photos than writing though, so don't be scared - check it out!!  :)

First on my way in on the bus I got it into my head that I could use a new bag for walking around on the weekends, as I only have a big leatherish purse or a bigger backpack unsuitable for just a daytrip in the city. "Not leaving the city without one" I decided! So, I got off the bus. It turned out (I noticed only as the bus was driving away!) that I got off at the totally WRONG stop, and I have no idea what prompted me to get off! I started walking up the block (it was a pretty major shopping area crowded with people) and wandered about 5 blocks up and then down into the nearest subway station. When I reached the ticketing floor there was a little bag shop set up with totally functional out n' about in the city bags - LOVE IT!!! I couldda bought 10 different bags, I loved them, so I picked one out and went on my merry little way. Love when that happens!

I tried to hunt around the bookstore, as the huge Kyobo Bookstore (with the biggest English section I've ever seen in Korea!) is in the same neighbourhood, but after much wandering I found out that it was closed for renovations... boo!! I did spot a couple of old favorite spots tho...

As I was wandering I came across some strange little coin/bank festival/activity down along the Han river walkway where people were tossing 10 cent coins (100 Won) and trying to get them into a water dish to win an ugly plastic piggy bank...

The Han River walkway itself is really nice, and smack dab in the middle of Seoul... when you're down on the actual paths it's almost like you've left the city for awhile!

Korea has declared 2010-2010 "Visit Korea" Year

People just hunker down whatever for a chat in the sunshine

Lots of people out walking along the river (dressed for winter almost, but hey, maybe it's my Canadian genes kicking into overdrive with the sunshine that had me walking around in tshirt and shorts!)

What a beautiful day...

  

Before heading into the airconditioned exhibit I wandered around the square in front of the Sejong Centre checking out statues and museums dedicated to King Sejong (who created the Korean alphabet, among other things!) and Admiral Yee (who revamped the Turtle Ship during the wars with Japan)...

King Sejong

Admiral Yee and his Turtle Ship

There was a fountain on the square that people were walking around in. It was a beautiful sunny day and I enjoyed watching everyone playing

While I was waiting in line to buy my tickets, no fewer that 3 random people walked up and 'nonchalantly' took my photo standing in line... I just pretended I didn't notice, lol... on exhibit myself it seemed!!

The exhibit itself was great, it was in the basement of the Sejong Center, across the intersection from the square. The centre has so much going on in it, it has every kind of performance art you can imagine happening ALL the time! One of the philharmonics from the US is here now, but I can't remember which one!

Sejong Centre for the Arts

 Posters in the entrance 

I loved wandering around at my own pace inside the gallery. It was busy, but not packed, and it was more young people than old (so believe it or not, that meant less pushing and shoving!). The photos really took me on a journey, some of them fun, some of them heartwrenching. It would have been nice if the audio guide had also been available in English, as it was only in Korean... the photos were amazing, and we were actually allowed to take pictures inside, which I only did a couple times... these photos really caught me...

The woman on the bottom left in the purple is the Afghan girl (Shabart Gula) from "Ungaurded Moment"...  McCurry took the original photo in 1984 (top row, second from left), he didn't ask for her name or anything, it was just a random photo. After the picture caused such a stir and people were so interested in her, McCurry took a trip and after much ado found her again in Afghanistan after 20 years, she was 30 years old.

You can check out more of his work HERE on his own website, the photos are really incredible and I am so glad I had the opportunity to go out and see them.

After the exhibit I followed the lanterns strung along the street to an old favorite temple (you'll remember this one Sadie), JoGyeSa. They're getting ready for Buddha's birthday later this month so the lanterns are hung high, and so lovely...

 

What a fabulous way to spend my Sunday... a beautiful, gorgeous day that made me happy just to be alive in the world! 

Night out on the town (a.k.a... 'Getting There and Back Again')

Last night I did indeed make the trip into Seoul to see some friends from long ago, and though it was kind of a short visit I was happy to have gone. Finally met one friend's (not-so-new-anymore!) hubby, and he seemed wonderful, I'm even happier for them than before I met him! Met a lot of cool people really, but will have to go out another time because I really couldn't stay that late and still get home on the subway!

I left home about an hour and 10 minutes before I was due to arrive, and it still wasn't enough time. By the time I transferred twice and walked/jogged/climbed the distances in between it was a 90 minute journey!! Not so bad on the way there really, I had my MP3 player with me to keep me occupied. The trip home was another story though...

Left the bar about 5 after 11 (of course the party was really just barely getting going and I didn't want to go!), walked to the subway (5 min or so), got the 1st train, transferred, 2nd train, went to transfer to the last train around 12:05 and was told that the last train had already left... at 11:20!! After confirming 2x with my shaky Korean that there were no more trains coming I rode the escalator the rest of the way down and u-turned myself around to go up to street level. SO, what to do now... still a good 30 minute subway ride from home, best solution is probably a taxi. When I reached the street I had no idea where I was, and even by reading the street signs I couldn't seem to orient myself as to which way was home. This normally doesn't matter when you're not the one driving, but in Korea taxi drivers often won't take you if you're on the "wrong" side of the street from your intended destination. After about 10 minutes only 2 unoccupied taxis had gone by, and both drivers declined the fare to my neighbourhood (uhhhhhhh, bundang?.... shaking head, waving hands... ahhh, no, no bundang). Thank you very much, I guess I'll try across the street!

I had noticed quite a few more free cabs heading the other direction, so I thought at least I'd have a chance of getting home if 1/10 of them would take me!! As I crossed at the light I consoled myself that if needed, if absolutely necessary, I could always call my boss to help me, lol... while that would be humiliating it would be better than trying to walk home!! 3 more taxis pulled up to the curb, 3 more denials. By this time my toes and face were freezing, and my teeth were beginning to chatter (combination of sleepy-still-jetlagged, hungry and frustrated more than the cold, I think). When I was on the brink of tears and sure that one more refusal would send me over the top, a very nice taxi driver agreed to take me (if only because he had agreed before he really understood where I was asking him to go!). While the fare climbed and climbed (and climbed!) I really didn't care... my toes were warm, I had money in my pocket, and he had a general idea of where I wanted to go, all was well.

$20 later (well-spent!) I got home just after 12:30, and man was I glad to be there! I changed into some street clothes and sneakers, took Mags for a spin around the block (it's safe mom, lots of lights and people and traffic), washed the smoke off my face, played ball for a few minutes and then climbed into bed. When I think about it now I just would have stayed in the city if I didn't have the puppy at home in her little carrier, that will be less stressful once I have a playpen for her where she has some space to do what she needs until I get back again. Soon enough I'll have that all worked out! 

So, that was the night, adventures indeed!!  Now if I could only sleep past 6am!   :)