2015 Seoul

P001-005 July 1 - our first day Seoul city tour began with a morning visit to Jogye-sa or Jogye Temple 曹溪寺 - Daeungjeon, the main Dharma Hall, at the center of Jogyesa...
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P002 ... Daeungjeon (Main Dharma Hall), housing the magnificent golden statues of Amitabha Buddha, Shakyamuni Buddha and Bhaisaiya Buddha; these golden statues...
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P003 ... temple holds the Jogyesa Lotus Lantern Festival every year around June celebrating Buddha’s birthday when the courtyard of the temple is decorated with...
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P006 ... me in front of the 50 ft tall 10-storeys octagonal stupa rebuilt in 2009 from the original 7-levels stupa constructed in 1930 housing the sarira (relic of...
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P007 ... behind me are pots of lotus and the 500 years old baeksong (lacebark pine) tree standing next to Daeungjeon; the Korean government designated this baeksong...
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P008-011 ... after the driving tour passing by the outskirt of Blue House (Cheongwadae) 青瓦台, arriving at the National Folk Museum of Korea, situated not far away from...
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P008 ... let's check out the museum, a gateway to a deep understanding of the life, culture and folk history of the Korean people from ancient times to the end of...
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P009 ... an exhibition of the Korean traditional wedding ceremony... it's interesting that they have to highlight the cheeks of the bride with two big red dots...
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P010 ... at the museum courtyard, statues of a set of imaginary guardian figures standing in a circle - head of each of the twelve animals of the Chinese Zodiac on...
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P012 ... National Folk Museum of Korea, constructed in the traditional Korean style comprising several storeys with a pagoda on top, museum established in 1924 with...
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P013 ... a yundo (compass invented during the Joseon dynasty) placed in the center of the circle of animal stone signs, and a samtaegeuk (symbol of the harmonious...
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P014 ... National Folk Museum of Korea 國立民俗博物館, a museum representing the daily life and culture of Korea, its present site (former National Museum building) opened...
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P016 ... a traditional Korean house on display at the courtyard of the National Folk Museum, museum located within the grounds of the Gyeongbokgung Palace in...
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P018 ... let's all leisurely walk over to the Gyeongbokgung compound, shall we?
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P021 Gyeongbokgung or Gyeongbok Palace 景福宫 - the main Royal Palace built in 1395, three years after King Taejo founded the Joseon Dynasty and moved the capital from...
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P022 ... with Mount Bugak as a backdrop, Gyeongbokgung located in northern Seoul, the largest of the five Grand Palaces built by the Joseon dynasty; Gyeongbokgung...
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P023 ... standing in front of Geunjeongmun or Geunjeong Gate, the main entrance to the Throne Hall Geunjeongjeon 勤政殿... are you able to see a tiny corner of the blue...
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P024 ... the royal guards of Joseon Dynasty in their traditional uniform-costumes, the re-enactment of the original 1469 Guard Changing and Guard-on-Duty...
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P025 ... me with the Sumunjang (Chief Keeper of the Royal Palace Gates in charge of guarding the palace gates and commanding the Sumungun)...
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P026 ... me with a Sumungun (gate keeper responsible for guarding the gates)...
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