Thursday, March 31, 2011

Gyeongbok Palace

Originally built in the 1300s, the Japanese razed it in the early 1900s. Today they are rebuilding it and it is open to the public. I went on a brief tour with a group from base.
Right in the middle of Seoul, so from some angles you catch the high rises that have been built around it.
The details are what make it amazing. The five colors represent safety and power and are only allowed on royal palaces and temples.
State receptions and dinners were hosted here at the Pavilion.
Main palace throne room. Unlike European palaces, this should more be described as a complex because there are multiple buildings instead of just one big mega-building that houses everything.
What's the advantage of having smaller buildings? Central heating. Yes, the Koreans had central heating under their floors in the 1300s.
My camera skills are not doing justice to the magnificence and attention to detail that they built into this palace. So you will have to come and see it for yourself.

Thursday, March 17, 2011

With the push of a button...

I moved into my new apartment yesterday and my realitor gave me 8 remotes to make my life "easier." Air conditioning, lights, tv, cable, laundry rack... I'm just glad that the toilet doesn't have a remote!

Sunday, March 13, 2011

Girls Night Out

Aida was just as fabulous in Korean... if just a little harder to understand. I can't wait to get my shipment and listen to it again in English. It was a Broadway worthy production, I forsee many more musicals in my future.
Korean barbaque cooked at the table. It was called Gumbai and lots of fun to cook and eat.

Friday, March 11, 2011

Missing you!

Bob, I see reminders of you all over. Koreans love onions. You will fit right in. I'm serious, there have been onions in every Korean meal that I've had... multiple varieties in each meal.
Onions, the gift that keeps giving.

Sunday, March 6, 2011

More Options

Time to go shoe shopping. All the apartments that I looked at had closets like these.
These toilets are seriously high tech... I'm afraid that I will start WWW3 just by pressing a button.

I love the details in this apartment. They are the reason that it is the most expensive.
All the apartments that I love have great views. I just have to pick the view that I want.
Do I want to be closer to downtown and further from the base?



I looked at apartments with 3 realitors and they all took me to a new complex that is just openning.

Thursday, March 3, 2011

Apartment Hunting


Two different apartments in these pictures. Which do you like better?