We went to two different places but the buildings look almost the same... You can see a little difference in the structure but the art and coloring is all the same!



So yesterday we ventured off to Anguk and saw the Palace and a really neat temple. We mostly walked around the traditional town and bought a couple little trinkets.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/98/Seoul-Insadong-Korean.Traditional.Porcelains.jpg

little shops are everywhere... Half of them are closed of course for the holiday but the ones that are open are making good money I'm sure because the streets were crowded!


"If the palace walls of Changdeokgung could talk, visitors would probably listen in on tales of court intrigue, plotting eunuchs, and feuding royalty.

The buildings have remained largely intact over six centuries and served as a backdrop for the last chapters of the Joseon period (1392-1910). Korea’s last emperor Sunjong passed away on these grounds in 1926, and it’s commonly known that members of royal descendants lived in Nakseonjae, a cluster of unpainted palace buildings well into the late ‘80s. The entry gate to the grounds, Donhwamun, is a two-story structure dating back to the 15th century.

Meanwhile, the Eochago or the Royal Garage carries a precarious display of automobiles used to transport the royal family in the era of Henry Ford. Although your English-speaking guide will give details on major palace buildings, the Injeongjeon remains a focal point of tour interest. It’s the second largest wooden building in Korea and features Daehanjeguk-period chandeliers with golden silk fringes as well as four-meter long silk window curtains. The pristine Biwon preserves the finer aesthetics of the Korean garden."

After that we went to a DVD room and watched "Its okay if I'm a cyborg" which is a really famous movie in Korea right now. Its a very crazy story about a woman in a insane asylum who thinks she is a cyborg so she wont eat. Its made by the same guy who did "Old Boy" (Park Chan Wook) so its a strange movie but easily one of my favorites!

We also ate some Dacalbi (chicken and cabbage and cheese and noodles) and then walked around for a while. After our day out in the freezing air we were ready to head home around 6:30 so we did! Today I'm meeting Yeon Jae for coffee then my friend Stephanie is supposed to be coming back from NY so we might meet tonight too.

I'm ashamed to say I haven't read more then a few pages from my book so I haven't finished it yet but I'll finish it by the weekend! I really enjoy Cathy Boa Bean's writing!