Seoul Searching: City Lights and Palace Sights

Beneath the small bridge at the tail end of the Cheonggyechon: a man-made stream, cutting right through the the center of downtown Seoul. It was built several years ago as a public attraction and an environmental barrier.

Since we didn't get much snow here, so we had to settle for artificial snowflakes.
They were pretty cool, however.

Snow storm!

Laser light show near the end of the Cheonggyechon

"Takgalbi", or spicy grilled chicken. (tak = chicken, galbi = meat)
Possibly my favorite dish in Seoul so far!

Sunday night in Myeongdong, downtown Seoul. I've eaten out here several times now, but the lineups at the most popular restaurants are always daunting.

Just outside the National Folk Museum is a small circle of twelve animal statues, each one representing one year in the cycle of the Chinese zodiac. El (Ji-hyun) is 22 years old, by the Korean calender (they start counting from 1 at birth, not 0 as we do). So she was born in the year of the rabbit.

As for me, I'm 25 years old, "international age" (my Korean age would be 26), and born in 1983, so my zodiac year is the pig. I was taught by students from James' discussion group that a difference of four years on the Zodiac calendar between two people means a very compatible romantic match. (i.e. Pig and Rabbit)

These funny faces (inscribed with Chinese words below) were erected by ancient villagers, as sentinels or guardians against marauding ghosts and evil spirits. They were supposed to prevent disease, protect the harvest and so on. I sure wish I could scare germs and bacteria away by making funny faces at them...

Sunset over Gyeongbokgung ("gung" = palace)

Chimneys on the terraced gardens of Gyeongbokgung. Underground flues were used to heat the floors of the various buildings on the palace grounds.

A few gargoyles are perched on the roof, enjoying the view and waiting for the sun to set, so they can start their nightly rounds, protecting the buildings and those living within from harm. The most important buildings on the palace grounds always boasted the most gargoyles.

Traditionally, there is a designated mythical animal guardian for each point on the compass, keeping watch over the land, in their respective directions. Above, my favorite: the dragon.

There was a table inside the first palace courtyard where you could don the the traditional regalia of the palace guards. El suggested we play dress-up while waiting for our English-speaking tour guide.

This picture (and the three below) were taken in front of the King's banquet hall. On special occasions, much eating, drinking, and rabble-rousing would ensue.

Above and below: the royal throne room at Gyeongbokgung. The mountains in the mural behind the throne represent the five elements: fire, water, earth, wood, and wind.

The main entrance to Gyeongbokgung, complete with palace guards.

Tye and Julie joined me and El on our Sunday outing to Gyeongbokgung royal palace.
Julie is an old friend of Tye's and currently a teacher in Honduras. She came to pay a visit the weak before Christmas.

"bibimbap" or mixed rice, (bap = rice, bibim = mixed)
A common, though tasty mixture of rice, cooked vegetables, and hot sauce.

James and I in front of one of the many enormous Christmas light displays at a downtown mall. He helped me find a new headset at Yongsan electronics market, so I can now talk to everybody back home on the computer, via Skype, without my old microphone cutting out. Yipee!

The sprawling Namdeamun market. You can find everything imaginable here: clothing, food, jewelery, toys, seasonal decor, household gadgets.... you name it. There is even an underground arcade, where you can by imported alcohol, linens and more (no taxes if you pay in cash). This was a "quiet" Sunday night. On busy days, it's easy to lose yourself in the mobs and the mountains of identical looking merchandise that extend down the length of a half dozen intersecting allies.