Goodbye Korea - For Now

Our last day in Korea we walked over 11 miles throughout the city looking at parks, Palaces and the old part of town where people live in the traditional Hanok style houses. Up and down the tiny winding streets looking at these charming residences, and all around the palace grounds. I hope you enjoy the pictures.

I have been told that the pots under the plants contain kimchee. 

Hey Hillary, when I saw this house I thought of you and the K-Drama "Personal Taste".

Up this street is the Doo Guest House, a traditional Hanok place to book a quiet room for a night or a week. 

Roof tops over Insa-dong

A lot of tourists walking around this part of town.

I will be honest, I thought they were making up all that pottery gallery stuff for the character So Yi-jeong in Boys over Flowers, but they weren't. We saw several lovely galleries. 

This is the main gate to the Gyeonbokgung Palace. The Main Palace of the Joseon Dynasty. Built in 1395.

The above structure is called the Guanghwamun Gate. We arrived in time to take pictures with the Palace Guards.

You enter an outer courtyard and see another gate - The Heungnyemun Gate or inner gate.

The big guy with the big drum!

Looking back to main gate. 

Pretty soon the soldier banged the drum and the very noisy ceremony for Changing of the Guard started. 

The band enters followed by the guards and the warriors.

This is the Geunjeongjeon - Throne Hall for official Court Audiences with the King and where the King would receive foreign envoys.

The Sajeongjeon or Council Hall where the king would meet with his advisors.

Gyeonghoeru Pavilion. It is surrounded by a small lake with a bridge to the pavilion and surrounding lawn. 

We were able to see the King and Queen's living quarters but I didn't take any photos as they were being renovated and surrounded by scaffolding. Below you will see the walls and storage areas surrounding the Throne Hall. 

Sadly, the time came for us to leave "The Land of the Morning Calm", but we look forward to making another trip and seeing many more wonderful sights.