Gyeongbokgung Palace in Seoul

The first thing you should realise is that the weather the day before was absolutely hideous. It hasn't rained particularly hard yet but it does rain for a long time. Friday it rained and rained heavy - ruining a pair of shoes. (€3-wasted!!) We were fully expecting it to lash again but the was unexpectedly brilliant. In fact, it was ridiculously hot with clear blue skys and we were sweating like anything.

The large open areas paved with stone did not help. I'll admit to contemplating a parasol like the natives - my sunburn agrees. It wouldn't have helped my bug bites though. My calves are practicallu polka dot now. I guess some insects around the folk museum disapproved of me poking about the exhibits. (As an aside, suncream is ludricously expensive as is aftersun lotion. Unfortunately, a large parcentage of the stuff is 'whitening' with absolutely ZERO SPF protection. I guess they're suggesting visors and parasols.)

Seoul is quite large of course but this is the are we travelled to. We hopped a bus intowards the city and took a subway the rest of the way. (Hurrah for T-cards.)

The stop drops us just by the museum shop so we walked down further into Gyeongbokbung grounds.

There are other historical buildings (more palaces) to see but this is the biggest. I'm pretty sure we didn't see it it all and we went to the folk museum in the afternoon. We also left Songdo comparatively late in the day -after 12- and didn't 'start' (I'll explain later) the tour until well after 3.

When we say the palace is in Seoul, we mean it is deep in Seoul, the city sort of expanded around it - the American embassy is right beside it along with many important buildings- such as Samsung headquarters and TV stations. XD The gates open onto a very busy road.  Considering the huge amounts of open spaces the palace grounds have it's all the more interesting.

This is one of the palaces that didn't get completely destroyed at some stage -damaged and in need of refurbishment, yes. Annihilated? no. - Still there's plenty of refurbishment going on which isn't really too surprising.

What is interesting is noting all of the Chinese and Japanese (Long and torrid histories, geographical neighbours, perfect sense) influences but how the design and development is still different enough to be uniquely Korean.

The eaves of the gate, as you can see above, are lavishly decorated in bright colours. All of the gates we passed through that day  were painted underneath in such a fashion.

This is the main gate that you leave through into modern Seoul. It's enormous!! The walls around the entire compound are all really high but within there are vast open areas. I know some of this space was used as staging areas and tents were set up sometimes. Actually this area strikes me as a place for horses, their trainers and executing horse thieves but that's mostly the sandy floor.

As I promised, also lavishly decorated in traditional style. C:

Outside this gate is the busy road and the changing of the guard with stuck-on beards.

Nice hats guys.

Outside the gates we took a good look around, Seoul is really mountainous (There's quite a problem with landslides you know.)

You see the mountain, you walk towards it to get to the palace. We headed further into town to get something to eat and meandered through ther farmers market where I stare at everything and wonder....Dude, what? (I think it's some kind of root and that, that there just might have tentacles.)

We missed the beginning of the tour though, we were a little late heading back and got sidetracked by sexy drummers.

Damn you drummers, You may have music rhythm, style and muscular arms but we have places to be!!  Onwards!