Korea 2011: Namsung Tower

For those who are familiar with Seoul, the Namsung Tower, a communication and observation tower located on the Namsun mountain, needs no introduction.  It towers imposingly above the city.

Namsung Tower

At its feet is a park for citizens and tourists alike to enjoy.  Here are some of the things we saw and experienced whilst there:

This is the geographical centre of Seoul

City View

This city view gives a very clear representation of the density of Seoul.  The white buildings in the background are predominantly high rise flats - the places where most people in Seoul live.

Locks

This custom enchanted me.  One can buy a lock, include a message and lock the lock to the trees and railings in and around the tower.  As can be seen from the picture above, millions, if not billions of people have shared the custom.  What makes it so enchanting is that everyone who left a lock there will remember it each time they see the tower above the city.  We did not do this, but I did it elsewhere.  I will blog it in a future post.

An arbour, in traditional style, for people to rest

A monument

Light fittings, which function additionally as seats

Teddy bears outside the Bear Museum

Walls on the way up to the tower

Flowers seen on the way up to the tower

Korea 2011: Buses running on electricity

It was whilst we were visiting Namsung tower that we came across this phenomenon.  The tourist buses that run between the city and the tower are mobilised using electricity.  Here is a bus 'filling up':

Once again, the ever practical Koreans have placed the refill points in the parking lot of the Namsung tower, where they are out of the way of the city crush.

Korea 2011: Insadong

Insadong is a tourist area.  Restaurants and shops have a more Western flavour than other areas of Seoul.  Here are some things seen there:

Ginseng

Hard Rock Cafe

Starbucks

A dress shop

Now that I think about it, there wasn't much at Insadong which was all that different from the rest of Seoul.  Ginseng is available in many places in and around the city, as is Starbucks.  There are clothing shops absolutely everywhere in Seoul.  The one above is perhaps more typical of Western party clothes than one would find elsewhere.  The Hard Rock Cafe guitar above belongs to a Hard Rock Cafe which no longer exists.  The guitar sign must have remained as a memorial thereof.

Korea 2011: Bibimbap

This is another delightful Korean meal.  Although there is no cooking ring on the table, the main meal is brought to the table in a heated stone bowl on a heated stone 'cup'.  The heat from the stone cooks the meal whilst one is eating:

Bibimbap main - served in individual dishes to each participant

Bibimbap sides - shared by all around the table

Here is quite a useful site on the ingredients which make up Bibimbap.

Korea 2011: Transporting goods in and around warehouses

I was fascinated by this, once again, immensely practical way of transporting goods in and around warehouses and markets:

Fames - like back pack frames

Frames on motor cycles

A frame on one's back

Going up an escalator with an empty frame

Koreans must be the masters of the universe when it comes to arriving at practical, functional, inexpensive, effective means of achieving things.

Korea 2011: Hanbok: Korean National Dress

Hanbok is incredibly beautiful clothing which is traditional and which is still worn at major events, like, perhaps the opening of a gallery, or at weddings, funerals, christenings, awards ceremonies.  Here are some examples taken at Namdaemun which has a floor dedicated to the manufacture of these exquisite garments:

Making Hanbok

Completed Hanbok

Hanbok on display

Hanbok for Ladies

Hanbok for men

Korea 2011: Dongdaemun Market

As one leaves the subway, the following gate can be seen:

A rare capture of Dani in the foreground of the gate

More about this gate can be read at Sungnyemun.

The focus of this market is all items in the pursuit of fabrics and wool, whether raw materials or made up garments.  There are floors of fabric samples, wools, cottons, beads, braids, badges, needles, and a myriad of other tools to craft garments, with garments being in the broader sense of hats, scarves, ties, blouses, shirts, trousers, dresses, shorts, shoes, etc,:  again on a scale which is not able to be imagined until seen.  There is also an array of kitchenware.

Here are some pictures:

Wool

Badges

Fabric Swatches

Towels

Kitchen Ware

Scarves

Ties

Also seen at Namdaemun were the makings of Hanbok, and the method used to transport goods inside a warehouse of this nature.  I have decided to post those separately, as they are fascinating each in their own right.