2012 - Korea (Part 2 - Seoul, day 2)
Another day of palaces.
Monday 10 September 2012 - Monday 10 September 2012
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2012 Korea
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Monday 10 September
After a leisurely breakfast at a small café next to the hotel, I wandered to the Lotte Hotel to reconfirm and pay for my trip to the DMZ for the following day.
From there it was a short walk to Deoksugung Palace, but like a lot of places worldwide, it is closed on Mondays.
City Hall.
So, instead I walked up to Gyeongbokgung Palace. This is a major site and was very busy with tourists and locals. The original palace was built in 1395, was destroyed by the Japanese in 1592, rebuilt in 1867, destroyed by the Japanese again in 1915, and is currently being rebuilt again, commencing in 1990.
Gwanghwamun Plaza, leading towards the palace.
King Sejong (1397-1450)
Seoul traffic outside the palace.
Gwanghwamun Gate.
The guards.
The guards.
Smile for the camera please.
The front part of the complex was similar to the other temples in Seoul but once you make your through the complex towards the back it becomes much less crowded, with more trees and shelter from the sun.
Heungnyemun gate.
The creek running through the first courtyard.
Geunjeongjeon, the main throne hall.
The throne room inside Geunjeongjeon.
Shutters, eaves and mountains.
More of the palace.
"Everyone listening? On your left is..."
The back part of the main complex.
The view out the back of the main palace complex.
One of the many buildings.
Hyangwonjeong.
Hyangwonjeong.
Detail of the roof tiles.
Pots for chillies, vegetables and kimchi.
Dried chillies over the entrance.
Cheongwadae, the Presidential Palace of Korea.
The northern wall of the Palace.
A view over one of the many ponds in the Palace's grounds.
The National Folk Museum.
The Chinese Zodiac (and I am a rabbit).
The National Folk Museum.
The Gyeonghoeru Pavilion.
The Gyeonghoeru Pavilion and mountains.
More touristy stuff at the palace.
The drummer at the palace.
Let's play tourist!
After a good morning at the palace, I had lunch in a traditional Korean pizza joint, and afternoon coffee after wandering around Itaewon. Very touristy there. Not sure I like it much.
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Posted by nzhamsta 12:00 Archived in South Korea
