I took a road trip from Seoul, which took me through the small village of Ban Ki-Moon towards a famous temple with the largest turtle and an important historical temple and old fort protecting Seoul from the southern invasions. I was amused to learn of the Japanese invading to quell the domestic fighting in Japan by attacking the fellow Buddhist temple to the north in Korea. It reminds me of the christian churches infighting, yet it is always sadly funny to see how religion is used to destroy itself in the name of man/king/state. Either way the temple had many more stone sculptures with the largest turtle and a large Buddha from ancient times than Kyoto. It was definitely less well kept, as it was destroyed and burnt by the Japanese Samurai from the western provinces. Still it was fun to see everyone out and the kids praying and the different countryside mountains with excellent (health-wise but absolutely not for taste) root drinks and some of the best fresh mushrooms sold by sweet older ladies.
If you want to see traditional Korea, go to independence square, where you can learn of your future from fortune tellers, eat great street food with old retired men for a buck, or play chess with them in the park, or just learn about the fight for independence of Korea from Europe, Japan and western puppet dictatorships up until democracy emerged in Korea some 20 years ago. I wish I could speak Korea to converse with the many people, yet you can really experience traditional Korean society in public at independence square.
The only embassy with 100+ police patrolling the entire city block and the 30+ story building empty is not the US embassy, instead the Japanese embassy. It was really shocking to see so much protection and then I noticed this little memorial to the sexual enslavement victims of the Japanese colonial times. Strangely it is not discussed in Japan, nor the world. This issue of Japanese sexual slavery of the Koreans falls behind the occasional US soldier story in most headlines. I wonder why the Wednesday protests do not make the western news, like the ladies in white in Cuba or the pink in Buenos Aries. I guess they forgot to pick a color to have their issue stick or be news worthy.
This is embassy row with a nice temple and mountain view in the background. One can make out the inventions accredited to the intellectual/philosopher king and an Austrian flag from the embassy on the right. This square is worth a stroll, which connects to the shopping streets near the temple in the background.
In all, I was shocked to see all the bee hive like constructions with large tall 60+ floor buildings situated in rural or urban sprawls. Naturally, Seoul had entire old neighborhoods being torn up to build 60 story buildings replacing the old traditional houses from the turn of the 20th century with 21 century buildings. This really makes Seoul look very modern even for Tokyo and very much different than Kyoto with the traditions preserved and the tiny old houses there, regardless of their being dilapidated or being well kept. Still, you can find some districts in Seoul to have the old appeal with large constructions right next door or even an old temple. So you should definitely wander the streets of Seoul, visit a temple/museum/palace, try their street food and experience the metro, their beautifully functioning inexpensive public transportation system.
Do you have any fun atypical travel experiences in Korea or recommendations for the area? I enjoyed comparing the two cultures, yet I am sure those living in Korea would have a more accurate impression. Do you have any comments on my perceptions or criticism?
Throw a coin and have it stay on the turtle brings luck, the head is impossible, yet the back easy...
How dirty are the suits and who has the sharpest majcha mind..?
have a drink, something to eat, hang out with the retirees because their Korean kids work too much to care about them...
I found the wall paintings of the most famous artist of Korea to be well placed in alleys with some Korean barbecue at the end of the alley. The use of space is great, yet the seller was shy, hiding in the mirror.
These guys below sell some nice royal treats for your friends, yet the jokes are in Japanese, which makes the purchasing and overall experience worthwhile. Their English leaves the jokes and fun out of it, yet they do have a good product. They have honey and nuts plus chocolate, yet the sweetness is for a Japanese taste with low sugar and sweetness.
The only embassy with 100+ police patrolling the entire city block and the 30+ story building empty is not the US embassy, instead the Japanese embassy. It was really shocking to see so much protection and then I noticed this little memorial to the sexual enslavement victims of the Japanese colonial times. Strangely it is not discussed in Japan, nor the world. This issue of Japanese sexual slavery of the Koreans falls behind the occasional US soldier story in most headlines. I wonder why the Wednesday protests do not make the western news, like the ladies in white in Cuba or the pink in Buenos Aries. I guess they forgot to pick a color to have their issue stick or be news worthy.
This is embassy row with a nice temple and mountain view in the background. One can make out the inventions accredited to the intellectual/philosopher king and an Austrian flag from the embassy on the right. This square is worth a stroll, which connects to the shopping streets near the temple in the background.
In all, I was shocked to see all the bee hive like constructions with large tall 60+ floor buildings situated in rural or urban sprawls. Naturally, Seoul had entire old neighborhoods being torn up to build 60 story buildings replacing the old traditional houses from the turn of the 20th century with 21 century buildings. This really makes Seoul look very modern even for Tokyo and very much different than Kyoto with the traditions preserved and the tiny old houses there, regardless of their being dilapidated or being well kept. Still, you can find some districts in Seoul to have the old appeal with large constructions right next door or even an old temple. So you should definitely wander the streets of Seoul, visit a temple/museum/palace, try their street food and experience the metro, their beautifully functioning inexpensive public transportation system.
Do you have any fun atypical travel experiences in Korea or recommendations for the area? I enjoyed comparing the two cultures, yet I am sure those living in Korea would have a more accurate impression. Do you have any comments on my perceptions or criticism?
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