Saturday Perfomance of Korean Music & Dance

Saturday, July 21, 2007: National Center for Korean Traditional Performing Arts.






Getting to and around Seoul always seems to take more time than one alots. We made it to the theatre just in time and rushed in to the theatre right under the wire.





Unfortunately, photos were not allowed, although I did snap a photo of the curtain prior to the performance! Quickly followed by a visit from a woman telling me photos were not allowed (this of course is not by jesturing an "x" by crossing two pointer fingers. Opps, my bad!















Words can not describe the performance. The ornate musical instruments, the costumes, the steady movement of the performers, the incredible voices of the singers... incredible. The beauty of music is that it transcends language barriers, while we could not understand the language, we were given an brief history of each performance in English and then our imaginations took us on a journey with the music.

The instruments were incredible, very different from anything I had seen before, of course I have a limited musical instrument background so that might not be saying much! Many of which have Chineese roots, and I name a few here for interests sake. [the haegeum (two-stringed fiddle from China), geomungo (twelve-stringed zither), ajaeng (horizontal zither) , danso (small notched vertical flute), deageum (large transverse fluet)].
















The Yong-go. The instrument played during the Opening and Closing Cerimonies of the 1988 Seoul Olympic Games. it was designed by Park Kyun-Suk (1911-1989) who was later designated an Important Intangible Curtural Asset.






Token Jill shot!

I have more to "post" ... but I am exhausted. There was a lot of walking this weekend so I am going to take a nap.

I will continue ... soon!

Canada Day Celebration in Seoul

July 1, 2007: Canada Day in Seoul with Canadian Chamber of Commerce.

The "Bus", this lovely yellow bus continuously took Canadians from the Subway at ...

World Soccer Stadium to Namji Campground in Seoul for the day's activities.

For those of you from Ottawa, it was no surprise that we had a gloomy day with scattered showers ... but isn't that what we Ottawa folk expect on Canada Day?!! :)

We took cover from the rain one of many "tepees" on the site, and felt the need to document our Canadian paraphernalia . . . I WISH I had worn/brought my SENS shirt.

... and the Band plays on . . .






while some crazy Canucks embrace the weather and prepare for the Annual Korean Mud Festival . . . I guess?!

Apart from the thrill of celebrating Canada Day abroad, there was another attraction to this event ... a round trip ticket from Seoul to Vancouver ... the Korean woman here was the winner and her excitement was infectious! I really was happy for her!



(read: darn, why her ... why not me?!)











p.s. note my festive choice of text colour!!

Seoul Self-guided walking tour!

June 22, 2007:
My second tourist trip to Seoul was to take the "New and Old Downtown Walk" (self guided walking tour) compliments of The Lonely Plane. Final destination, N'Seoul Tower 4km walk (without getting lost or "off course). We started out early, meeting at 9:30am. The subway ride to Seoul took about an hour (with one stop), with our first stop at the travel agent to drop off our passports for Visa processing for our China trip. We spotted a Starbucks and had to head in for a Latte and a Scone -- oh happy Jill!

We jumped back on the Subway for one stop and started our tour. I was happy to be the "tour director" for this journey but was not sure how detailed the tour was or how easy it might be to get lost. Our first land mark was referred to as a "boulevard covered with giant black and white piano keys".




We turned the corner and found these! WooHoo, I was not bad at this tour director gig! :)

Now this what I call a piano ... I should have paid better attention in piano lessons in grade 3!!





We walked along the keys and of course had to stop to try our hand, or should I say feet, at a tune! I should have practiced more in grade 3!! ;)















Next, we found Cheonggye Stream where a massive US$313 million dollar restoration project was underway to help beautify the downtown core. While waiting in the "cue" to cross the stream I noticed a man with something unusual clipped to his shirt - they look like giant rabbits feet ... I must research their significane. Click on the photo to enlarge it and check it out!!















Across the stream was the following wall. Very interesting and of course snapping a photo of the details allowed me to share them! Isn't the digital age great?!


The royal palanquin for King Jeongjo, but the king riding a horse is behind the palanquin carrying Queen Hyegyeonggung, his mother. To the front are a horse carrying royal seals, a royal spokesman, a royal bodyguard with a sword, and veiled court ladies, followed by 50 military officials headed by Minister Sim I-ji. Next are officials bearing royal ceremonial flags decorated with various animal designs including a lion, a phoenix, and a red bird, and behind them are large flage of the pheonix and dragon, symbols of the king.

I saw these women crossing the street and had to take a photo! I am a "tourist" after all, so isn't it expected?!




Who knew ... flight attendants still dress like this! :)
Maybe I will see some for myself when I go to China, I'll keep you posted. The polar opposite to West Jet's philosophy!










Jamie and Jill at Seoul Plaza with our South Korean Flags. The background behind us is a collage of postcards/small flyers that were strategically placed to create a greater picture! This wall was blocking a construction site so I don't know if this was done for the festival or if this is the norm for all construction site in Seoul, but a self portrait with our South Korean Flags (being handed out as you entered the Plaza was a must!











Seoul City Hall and Seoul Plaza















Children cooling down on a hot day at the Seoul Plaza next to City Hall!





After this short stop at Seould Plaze and City Hall, we got back on "tour track", walked through the Namdaemun market and zig-zagged our way to the N'Seould Tower.









N. Seoul Tower - a view from the cable car on the way up! The tower is on the top of a very blush tree covered hill/mountain





Seoul Monument from the Joseon Dynasty:
This smoke signal station on Mt. Namsan was the central station where signals from across the country were gathered. The beacon signal system used fire and smoke to send warnings to central and border fortresses, as well as to warn citizens of emergency situations developing on the borders.

The information collected here was compiled by the Minstry of Military Affairs and presented to the Royal Secretariat early each morning. The Secretariat would then report to the king. In times of emergency, these reports would be made even in the middle of the night. As part of the "Campaign to Restore Mt. Namsan to its Original Appearance", one of the first stations as restored here in 1993.









The N'Seoul Tower from its base.













A postcard that displays the various heights of towers around the world! Of course with the CNTower at the top of the list, I just had to buy this card!
CNTower: 553m
N'Seoul Tower: 479m








A trip to the top of the tower appealed to me more that my friend Jamie, so I took the ride up to the top solo and this self-portrait is my evidence! In the background, the "hill" the tower is on and the city of Seoul. Unfortunately it was a hazy day with limited visibility. I will make another trip up the tower on a clear day for more photos. I love the contrast of the "concrete city" and the plush green "forest" surrouning the tower!







After my trip up to the top of the tower I joined Jamie and we sat down for a rest when we were approached by a Korean man who said he was learning English and wondered if he could have 5 minutes of our time to speak with us. I had heard about this and was happy to oblige. He knew quite a bit about Canada and the US so conversation came easily.



After a fun-filled day we made our way back to the Subway and returned to Uijeongbu. We stopped in the market at an Indian food for dinner and made it an early night. We were obth exhausted after our 10 hour day. But what a great adventure! The next morning would be my first trip to the American Army Base for Church (of which I have already posted the details) so I wanted to be well rested.

Another fun day of playing tourist!!

Church Service on US Army Base

I made my way a "Collective Protestant Worship Service" at Camp Red Cloud, a US Army Base just outside of Uijeongbu City this morning. A fellow Canadian (and teacher at my school) attends regularly with her American boyfriend who is stationed at this base. When I mentioned interest in trying to find the English Anglican Church in Seoul she invited me to join them on the base! I do plan on finding the Anglican Church in Seoul, but thought starting closer to home was a good first step!


The service was wonderful and the churh is quite lovely. A famous Korean musician Jose Kim if my memory serves (unfortunately it was not written in the bulletin) who studied music in Spain, who played at the Seoul Olympics and who is now a professor at a Seoul University played a few songs/hymns. Two were instrumental (one with Spanish influence) and he sang with the third in Korean. The music was very powerful and moving and really does reinforce what a universal language music is! Lesley (the Canadian with me) and I are going to try to locate some of his music.

Another attraction of the church service on the base is the Starbucks located at the foot of the nine hole golf course (yup, golf course)! As you know, I am a HUGE coffee shop fan, especially Starbucks, and there are none in my neighbourhood, and few in Uijeongbu City to just "hang out" at so this sealed the deal of attending the service!




During the service, the minister mentioned the
monthly Chapel Family Fellowship Lunch was today in the CG's Mess and encouraged all to attend. How was I to refuse I thought ... and when Brian (Lesley's boyfriend) mentioned the menu I could hardly contain my excitement ... roast ham, buttered corn, chicken cordon blue, mashed potatoes, seasoned asparagus & hot rolls ... I practically jumped with excitement, "Are you serious?" I said. Apparently my reaction is typical of foreigners who are still adjusting to the local food so off to the mess we went!




Here is a photo of my dining companions in the mess, the nicest mess on the base (dining room vs. cafeteria style) so it was a treat for the Americans to eat at this mess as well!

The cherry pie dessert was the icing on the cake and I couldn't resist pulling out my camera and snapping a photo to commemorate the occasion!

Don't get me wrong, I am really enjoying and embracing the food here, but it was a treat to be surprised like this today! In the Photo, Henrietta, Gary, Lesley and Brian ... all smiles after a full tummy!

What a wonderful "treat" after the Church service! In hindsight I should have snapped a photo of myself, the smile could not be rubbed off my face!



This photo is for Trevor -- the military buff in our family! I was thinking of you today and although I was hesitant to pull out my camera a take a photo in the mess hall, I had to for you!

We then headed off to Starbucks, located right next to the 9 hole golf course on the base before heading home!


What a wonderful Sunday morning!


P.S. I almost forgot ... the Girl Scout cookies sitting in the mess for the taking. Of course we each took a box and I now have a box of Thin Mint cookies to enjoy this week ... if they last htat long! :)

Today's hike to Bukhansan National Park!

I ventured out for a hike this morning with two other teachers from the school. We were advised to get an early start to beat the "rush" so we met at the local 7-11 at 7am, walked to the closest subway stop (15 minutes) and two stops later (7 min) we were at Bukhansan National Park - talk about convenient! We follow some other hikers to ensure were we headed in the right direction, but then we looked up and saw the mountain so we could have found it ourselves no doubt!



A view from the subway stop!







Making our way through street vendors and what can be best described as a "flea market" with more outdoor gear shops than you can imagine. Lots of water and snacks to purchase before you reach the entrance ... and for some reason cotton candy, but we decided to pass on that!

We kept walking and finally got to the entrance and having already consulted the Lonely Planet we selected the Dobongsan Hike to Jaunbong Peak! The hike was gorgeous as the pictures indicate, but don't do it justice.



The hike itself was a little more strenuous than my seemingly still infected lungs could take so two of us turned around and one kept going, meeting up a little later at the entrance. During our decent, we took plenty of opportunity to enjoy the view!





The hike was a rocky terrain and somewhat steep at points, certainly different than my limited experience at Gatineau Park and in Banff. I rolled my ankle during the decent - nothing too bad, but I really should have worn my hiking boots rather than running shoes -- I won't make that mistake again!



It was a great morning, about 2 hours in total. On the way down we were walking "against traffic" and boy was that a challenge. There were literally 100's to 1000's of people streaming in while we were making out way down the mountain. We had been told that there were going to be lots of hikers, but coming from Canada I really had no idea of what that truly entailed.

As we completed our hike for the day, many were just beginning! This is a photo of some filling up their water bottles, it does not do the "crowds" justice, but gives somewhat of an idea! I will take more photos next week and post them!

Next time we hope to be at the mountain for 7am. We'll see what the "traffic" is like then.


The North Face Man!! A fitting photo as I had was sporting my North Face backpack!




Until next time!
Cheers,
Jilly Bean