I'd gone to a palace called 창덕궁, or Changdeokgung, last year and really liked it - even though it's not the biggest or main palace, it has the most original buildings from the time period it was built in. However, I was not able to go to a place known as 후원, Huwon, also known as the Secret Garden. You're only allowed to enter if you go on a special tour, and there are limited spots and only 3 English tours offered a day. So with limited time here to sightsee, I knew it was one thing I wanted to visit.
The main gate of Changdeokgung, with what appears to be corn stalks (not really) in front of it.
I didn't spend too much time in most of the palace since I had to be at the Secret Garden tour by a certain time, but I had to stop by the main throne room.
I love all the little details of the palaces as much or more than the actual buildings. I can't quite remember, but I think these have titles on them, so the person holding the title/position stood in that place.
Inside the main throne room
I think I'm in love with palace and traditional korean home (한옥 hanok) roof shapes
Buildings off to the side of the throne room - I was in such a rush I couldn't stop by to look at the explanatory signs.
On the path to the Secret Garden. It was a bit hilly, but mostly in the shade.
At our first stop, there was a pretty pond with a tree in the middle. It was peaceful there.
I liked all the colors painted on the pavilion :)
Just some person I didn't know on my tour, but the idea of sitting there overlooking the pond seemed right.
Another pond with a tiny pavilion. I think I'm a bit obsessed with Korean architecture near water.
But this one is definitely my favorite :D
A gate into the crown prince's housing quarters. They built this not in the style of a palace, but in like a nobleman's house in the gardens behind the palace.
I liked this building in the crown prince's compound a lot.
We weren't allowed to go up these steps, but I really wanted to if only just for the beauty.
On the side of the palace coming out of the Secret Garden, we saw the Throne Room from afar. That tree on the right is a 750 year-old juniper tree that is one of the famous symbols in Korea. They say you can see a monkey head in that little part of the trunk that juts out at the bottom.
And at the top, the trunk is supposed to look like an elephant.
Michelle and I have gone to a couple more language exchange meetings in Hongdae on Monday evenings. We always plan to only stay for about an hour, but then we end up staying for 2-3 hours. We just know we should plan for that now. The first time Michelle came, we were a bit nervous because it was really packed and it seemed a lot of people were in conversations already, so we finally found a free table and sat down by ourselves. After talking to each other and looking around sheepishly for a few minutes, a brother and sister came to sit at our table. The older brother, 창용 (Changyong), sat on my side of the table and the younger sister, 지우, Jiwoo, sat by Michelle. Changyong speaks quite a bit of English, so our conversation was mostly in English, with a smattering of Korean. Jiwoo does not speak very much English, so Michelle got a lot of practice in Korean, which is what she really wanted, so it worked out well. Also, our personalities matched well with the sibling we spoke most with - as Changyong has later said, we just clicked.
I've met up with Changyong this past week more than once, and I can't say enough nice things. He's a good student (in English) and a great friend.
This was the first time Changyong and I met up outside of the language exchange. We got Japanese food, which was pretty much Japanese flavor of Korean bibimbap, or mixed rice. It still tasted good though. We also went to a little cafe nearby that played the greatest hits of Air Supply.
Store seen in Hongdae. Turns out it's really a dog grooming business. No jokes, please.
Our second trip to language exchange last week was not so successful at first. We talked to a couple of nice Korean girls and one really awkward Australian man, but Changyong was more successful and thankfully he invited us to join him and his new friends for dinner afterwards. Everyone was so nice!
This was in one of the bathrooms in Hongdae. Can you feel it?
3 comments:
Love the pictures of the "Secret Garden". My favorite is the one that is your favorite--It looks so peaceful and calm. Couldn't really see the "monkey face" in the tree trunk but can see the "elephant". How fun to make some nice Korean friends! What is the purpose of the air and feeling it?
I think that the picture of the pond that is your favorite is one that you should get enlarged. It would be so pretty on one of your walls!
That's so fun Dorthy! Air Supply! I got their 2nd Album-Hearts in Motion-on tape when I was in about 5th or 6th grade! I love them! The Crown Prince's housing quarters reminds me of the entrance of Mulan's house in the cartoon!
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