Korea: Flying out

We're off!


Things look good up front...


...and in back.


Shortly after takeoff, Soren was napping.


The end of the 12+ hour flight looked much like the beginning of the flight.


(If you're reading these Korea 2016 blog posts sequentially, there are a lot of them! When you get to the end of the web page, you'll need to choose the "older posts" link. If you haven't yet seen the flight back to the U.S., you aren't done yet!)

Korea: Gyeongbokgung Palace

During the Chosun Dynasty, Gyeongbokgung Palace (경복궁) was the main royal palace. It was built in 1395, but burned down toward the end of the 16th century. It was rebuilt in the 19th century... and then demolished during the occupation at the beginning of the 20th century. Starting in the late 20th century, the palace grounds have been restored and reconstructed, but about half of the buildings are still left to go. The plan is to finish the restoration within 20 years.

We visited the palace on Monday morning. We arrived just in time for the morning Changing of the Guard ceremony, which was a larger version of the ceremony we watched with Anders at Deoksugung Palace (덕수궁) in 2009.










The big drum.



The ceremony took place in front of Gwanghwamun Gate (광화문), which is the main gate to the palace, on the south side.


Next, we walked through Heungnyemun Gate (흥례문).


We then visited Geunjeongjeon Hall (근정전), the throne room.







Here are some pictures of what I think is Donggung (동궁), the crown prince's compound.





dd





This has to be one of the nicest bathrooms I've ever visited.


This is the children's museum at the palace. We didn't have time to check it out, though.


One of the amazing things about the old palaces in Seoul is that they are right in the middle of the city, with views of the surrounding mountains.

Korea: Jogyesa Temple

On Monday after lunch, we walked back to our apartment, along the way passing by Jogyesa Temple (조계사). This is the chief temple of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism, and was founded by the master who brought Zen Buddhism to Korea.

The entrance features the "four great heavenly kings" (사대천왕), who you see at many temples in Korea.

"he who sees all" king of the west 광목천왕	"he who hears everything" the chief and protector of the north 다문천왕
"he who upholds the realm" king of the east and god of music 지국천왕	"he who causes to grow" king of the south 증장천왕

This is the main temple, inside the compound. I really liked the tree in front, which is a Lacebark Pine, notable for its white bark.



Behind and to the side of the main temple there is another building with four instruments: Dharma Drum, Wooden Fish, Cloud Gong, and Brahma Bell. The bell is rung 28 times in the morning and 33 times in the evening. At least once, "morning" meant 4 a.m.



Some ceremony was taking place in front of the Bell Pavilion while we were there.


This building is behind the main temple.


Eight-sided, ten-story pagoda.


Temple in the city.