Winter Korea 2011

Although I was sick for most of my break I did have a couple of trip to the outside world of Korea. Well, for me it was more like exploring where I live. My parents moved back to Korea from Malaysia while I was in college in US. So, I haven't been home in Korea for a year -.-.

Apparently I'm living in Seoul again. And close to a lot of hotspots in Korea. However, I was more amazed how much infrastructure it had. It was very livable, meaning if I were to raise a family there, I wouldn't mind. It had a mountain, park, stream and it was relatively close to E-mart, and another big supermarket. The only problem I had was that I didn't like the restaurants there. The restaurants there were very expensive. It was more for adults with jobs. So, getting cheap tasty food was impossible. I guess, this summer I'll be going over to my old neighborhood to find cheap food even if its going to cost me 2,000 won round trip for the subway. 

So, here are few photos I took in Korea!

First, I ate 추어탕. Its a traditional Korean food where you eat mud loach. Pretty disgusting eh? Well, its not too bad. We grind the mud loach so we really don't feel the texture of it. As a Korean, mud loach are pretty common. When I was little we used to go in the water to catch few even though the water was disgusting lol! It was still fun because mud loaches are slippery and they escape as you catch them. Its one thing you should try in Korea. 

I've also went up the mountain near my house. It wasn't amazing. It was just nice that there was somewhere to visit if I'm really bored. The picture below is a stone temple? Something we Koreans do. We like to stack rocks! Actually, its for good luck. We wish good fortune and stack rocks. I'm not sure of the origins, but if your really curious, you can always ask me and I'll go research. But, as you can see we Koreans are very superstitious. I'm Catholic and I still do this.

The mountain was pretty dead. It was winter. Oh, no smoking in the mountain. Korea's winter is very very dry.

I was amazed how many play ground I saw. I think I saw like 2~3 on the way back to my house. Korea didn't used to have this many playgrounds. It felt nice seeing these. Kind of showed Korea is getting better for people to live in. 

That's the fat me! I was walking in the cold exploring the stream. Its really nice. I loved it. Only if I had a bike now... I would have been more fun! Can't wait to workout during summer!

Ok, I fainted when I saw ducks in the stream. And yes, with their ducklings... You don't usually see this in the city -.- As I said that to my sister, I saw a crane fly over to the stream... I'm amazed. I think I should go feed them next time. If they survived the winter lol!

Just a picture of the park, on the way to Emart. I thought it was pretty. Despite the traffic on the right, it was pretty nice. I mean it wasn't that loud and I live in a place where every freaking bus passes through. So, I guess its something I can't avoid being surrounded by cars. :)

Well, now I know where I live. I actually can remember how to get there hehe. Its still a bit awkward. But, I'll get used to it by this summer. Hopefully, I'll get to see more places this summer. 

I really want to travel to the rural parts of Korea and especially the ocean :)

I'm currently saving up for a new camera TeeHee! 

dslr ftw. 

Cat Cafe In Korea

It was cold in the winter and I didn't have anywhere to go. 

So, I went to the Cat Cafe in Korea. 

There are a few different places and there is also the Dog Cafe. 

It was quiet & fun playing with the cats. 

I had trouble using the rat on a pole but I liked how the cats were pretty nice to us. 

The price was 8 dollars and you get a cup of coffee!

Gyeongbokgung Palace: Korean Royal Palace

Gyeongbokgung Palace !!

I visited Gyeongbokgung Palace which is in Seoul.
Firstly, I’m gonna introduce this palace ^.^
In 1395, three years after the founding of the Joseon Dynasty by Yi Seong-gye, the new main palace, Gyeongbokgung Palace, was completed and the capital of the new dynasty was moved from Gaegyeong to Seoul(then known as Hanyang). The palace was named Gyeongbokgung, the "Palace Greatly Blessed by Heaven." The king lived here and conducted state affairs.

I firstly looked around relics of the Joseon Dynasty at National palace museum of Korea. After that, I ate a packed lunch prepared by my boyfriend XD . Then entered Gyeongbokgung Palace.

- This is me in front of the gate named Heungrye.

-This is Geunjeongjeon. Geunjeongjeon is the Throne Hall, where the king granted audiences to his officials, presided over large official functions and met foreign envoys. Geunjeongjeon is the largest and most formal hall in Gyeongbokgung. The two-tier edifice stands on a high platform reached by stone steps. There is a spacious courtyard in front, where important events were held and corridors enclose it.

- This is Sajeongjeon Hall. The official quarters were where the king handled state affairs and studied Chinese classics with his civil servants in normal times. The quarters were also where he threw parties for his relatives and ministers and supervised qualifying examinations for the civil service.


Gyeongbokgung has separate bedchambers for the king and the queen. Gangnyeongjeon Hall is the king's living quarters and Gyotaejeon Hall, entered through Yanguimun Gate behind the king's quarters, is for the queen. The king and the queen carried on their routine affairs in the living quarters. They threw occasional parties for their relatives as well. It does not mean that state affairs were not handled here. The king sometimes called his court officials to his living quarters to discuss national affairs.

- This is Gyoteajeon. I’m in front of it. I think my boyfriend is the worst photographer..T.T Anyways,In the Joseon Dynasty period, the queen had to live only in this palace. Only in two cases the queen could go out of the palace. When the queen die and when the queen is deposed.

-Gyeonghoeru pavilion, built on the pond west of Gangnyeongjeon, the king's living quarters, was where the king threw feasts for foreign envoys or his court officials. The name means that the king is capable of handling national affairs only when he has the right people around him, it was used on joyous occasions.

- Sujeongjeon is the site where in the past, the king Sejong’s time, was Jiphyunjeon. Hangul- Korean language which is designated as a UNESCO World Heritage property because of its excellence and scientific principle- was invented by the king Sejong and scholars.

-Every building's roof tile has these little animal statues. All of them are imaginary animals like gragon and Sonokong. People believed that these animals
protect from fire (In that time, most builings were made out of wood )

I introduced some of this palace. If you know more about Gyeongbokgung Palace, go http://www.royalpalace.go.kr/

My heart was fluttered because I was standing there where in the past normal people never could enter. I recommend Gyeongbokgung Palace to those who are interested in Korean history or structure :)