I visited Seoul, this time with a Korean Co-teacher from another school. She is "a farmer's daughter" and Seoul is "like a foreign country" to her. I seemed to figure out the Subway more easily than she, however, her Korean tongue gave her the edge.
She had never visited the Palace in the North of Seoul. We did that, and it was impressive. It seems more decorative than protective compared to the castles in Europe. It begins with the outer wall and a great gate. This leads to a large court yard, and a mote. In the center is a large rectangular one room building and another walled in area behind that. As you work your way North to the Mountains you pass wall after wall, and finally the living area. The colors are bright yellows, greens, and reds. Intricate patterns, and all wood structures.
We all visited Insadong, an arts district in Seoul. Everyone had a camera, guitar, or wind instrument. Musical instrument stores were equal in number to art galleries. Tourist shops had ceramics, tea sets, traditional Korean masks, and intricately carved jewelry boxes with inlaid mother of pearl. Very expensive. Jade jewelry and decorative small knives. Art supply stores with more rustic looking art tools than what we'd see in a typical art supply store back home.
Finally, we went to Namsan Tower. We took a cable car to the top of a mountain, and climbed stairs to a large tower that overlooked Seoul. In the pictures you'll see the typical "Apartment blocks." Even small towns have these apartment blocks. It is normal to live in one, and has no negative connotation. Hyundai owns and bears their name on many, as does Lotte, and other large conglomerate corporations. I think there is likely a mixture of rent, and ownership. Corporations seem to be double dipping, or smoothing revenue streams by these long term real estate investments.
No comments:
Post a Comment