tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-55543462024-11-24T23:40:38.168+01:00Steve Goes TravellingDazed and ConfucianismUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger188125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5554346.post-1144871353283447202006-03-04T04:22:00.000+00:002021-03-19T13:23:00.987+01:00Unbelievably, I'm finally packed and ready to go. I've had a wonderful time in South Korea and it has been better in more ways than I could have ever imagined.
From the delights of traditional Korean cuisine in Jeonju, to the last remnants of the Cold War in the Demilitarised Zone, South Korea has proved to be a remarkably fascinating country that I have enjoyed enormously.
As always when Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5554346.post-1141756540383030352006-02-25T06:35:00.000+00:002021-03-19T13:23:09.237+01:00Return to the Demilitarised ZoneI first visited the Demilitarised Zone(DMZ) last September and on Saturday I returned, to find out more about the events that have shaped the Korean peninsula since it was first divided in two, following the Second World War.
Like a bizarre Cold War theme park, there are a number of tours you can take in the DMZ and one of the most popular ones is the Panmunjoem Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5554346.post-1141732255158731372006-02-16T11:50:00.000+00:002021-03-19T13:23:16.517+01:00Hyangwonjeong Pavillion(Gyeongbokgung)Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5554346.post-1141681032506968862006-02-12T09:24:00.000+00:002021-03-19T13:23:24.622+01:00Geunjeongjeon Main Hall(Gyeongbokgung)
Gyeongbokgung is by far the most famous and beautiful of all the palaces in Seoul and with a history spanning more than 500 years, it is also one of South Korea's most popular tourist attractions.Built in 1395 by the founder of the Joseon Dynasty(1392-1910), King Taejo(r. 1392-1398), it served as the main residence for royalty, up until it was burnt down inUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5554346.post-1114091436037020562006-01-23T13:50:00.000+00:002021-03-19T13:23:29.457+01:00MasksUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5554346.post-1138610473128196592006-01-03T08:38:00.000+00:002021-03-19T13:23:33.104+01:00
Statue of King Sejong(Deoksugung Palace)
On the grounds of Deoksugung Palace proudly sits the statue of King Sejong(r. 1418-1450). Born in 1397, he is widely regarded as one of Korea's greatest kings during the Joseon Dynasty(1393-1910) and is renowned for his cultural achievements, as well as improving the welfare of the Korean people.
His mastery of Confucian doctrine enabled him to Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5554346.post-1137238611641415652005-12-17T11:35:00.001+00:002021-08-24T14:01:10.521+01:00WinterUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5554346.post-1136615255225045982005-12-14T06:26:00.000+00:002021-08-05T14:53:49.251+01:00Breakdancing in Seoul.
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5554346.post-1135695798812296392005-11-28T13:03:00.000+00:002021-03-19T13:26:03.514+01:00Maya Tathagata BuddhaGyeongju - Part IVOn the slopes of Mount Hamwol, some 20 km east of Gyeongju, is the Golgulsa Temple. Famed for being the only cave temple in South Korea, it is believed to have been built in the 6th century by Buddhist monks from India.It is also provides a destination for those wishing to get away from their busy, materialistic and stressful lives, to participate in the Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5554346.post-1134213134319850342005-11-21T11:11:00.000+00:002021-03-19T13:27:18.492+01:00Let's Get Ready To Ramble
Gyeongju - Part III
Around Gyeongju there are hundreds of scattered remains from the Silla period. In particular, Mount Namsan is home to many Buddhist relics from this era, when during this time it was regarded as a sacred mountain.
At 494 metres high, its rugged peaks and beautiful scenery provide a popular destination for South Korea's huge brigade of hikers who Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5554346.post-1132753800741751192005-11-17T13:44:00.000+00:002021-03-19T13:27:32.592+01:00Dabotap Pagoda(Bulguksa)Gyeongju - Part IIThe next stage of my trip took me to South Korea's most famous temple, Bulguksa, which means 'Buddha Land Temple'. Home to the Jogye order of Buddhist monks, it was originally built in 528 and then later abandoned. Rebuilt in 751 by the chief minister Kim Tae-song to pacify the spirits of his parents, it was completed in 774, when it received its present Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5554346.post-1132752549171690712005-11-14T13:08:00.000+00:002021-03-19T13:27:43.731+01:00Gyeongju
Part I
I first visited Gyeongju a couple of weeks after my arrival in South Korea, for the annual Traditional Rice Cake and Alcohol Festival held there, which I enjoyed immensely and ever since going I've been promising myself I would go back.
One of South Korea's most popular tourist destinations, visiting Gyeongju is like taking a time machine back into the past and last weekend I Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5554346.post-1132405291391738152005-11-03T13:00:00.001+00:002021-08-24T14:01:53.863+01:00AutumnUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5554346.post-1131790564905999562005-10-30T13:56:00.001+00:002021-08-24T14:04:32.218+01:00
Goal!Today, I went to The World Cup Stadium to see FC Seoul play Busan I'Park. The 64,000 all seater stadium was purposely built for the World Cup and has been the home ground for FC Seoul for the past two years.Joint hosts of the tournament along with Japan in 2002, South Korea exceeded all expectations, beating along the way teams such as Italy, Portugal and Spain before finally losing 1-0 to Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5554346.post-1141682010825909932005-10-28T08:52:00.000+00:002021-03-19T13:28:27.552+01:00
LanternsUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5554346.post-1131281017198636872005-10-26T11:43:00.000+00:002021-03-19T13:28:40.322+01:00Tomb of King SeongjongOn Saturday, I decided visit the Royal Tombs of Seoul, to find out more about the Joseon kings and queens who played such an important role in Korea's history and culture for over 500 years.I firstly decided to visit the Seonjeongneung Royal Tombs, situated in southern Seoul. Not far from the Gangnam, the area provides a tranquil getaway from the surrounding Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5554346.post-1130767911889476742005-10-20T13:31:00.001+00:002021-08-24T14:06:02.080+01:00UnjunsaAfter visiting the Memorial Park I went back into the city centre, where I got on a bus to Unjunsa, which is located 40 km to the south of Gwangju and is famous for the large number of Buddha statues there. Situated in a beautiful valley, miles away from anywhere, the area is shrouded in mystery and mythology, regarding how the statues came into being.Legend has it that there were Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5554346.post-1138110141988973482005-10-17T12:59:00.001+00:002021-08-24T14:07:56.802+01:00Memorial Park (Gwangju)Centre to some of the most tragic events to have occurred in South Korea's recent history, what happened here is now viewed as being crucially important in bringing about political change, in a country that was ruled by a dictatorship following the Korean War.On May 17, 1980, the South Korean government led by General Chun Doo-hwan, declared martial law across the whole Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5554346.post-1129205973436712782005-10-03T12:05:00.001+00:002021-08-24T14:09:15.618+01:00Andong Mask Dance Festival
Last weekend, I visited the city of Andong, which is the largest city in the North Gyeonsang Province. With a population of 185,000 it is surrounded by some beautiful countryside and acts as the market centre for agriculture in the area.
During the Joseon Dynasty, the city of Andong became famous for being the centre of confucianism in Korea and was home to many Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5554346.post-1128352097320203952005-09-28T15:06:00.001+00:002021-08-24T14:10:53.308+01:00
Passport to Pyongyang (Dorasan Station)
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5554346.post-1128169238525075122005-09-26T11:49:00.001+00:002021-08-24T14:17:09.665+01:00The Demilitarised ZoneAfter the Second World War and the surrender of the Japanese troops who had occupied Korea, the nation was divided between the Soviet controlled north and the American controlled south, along a boundary known as the 38th Parallel. Splitting the peninsula in two, in 1948 it became the border of the newly independent countries of North and South Korea.In 1950 war broke out Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5554346.post-1127122753092545582005-09-19T08:59:00.000+00:002021-03-19T13:30:18.364+01:00ChuseokEvery year on the fifth day of the eighth lunar month, the Harvest Full Moon Festival is held, which is known as Chuseok.It's a three day holiday which lasts from the 17th to the 19th of September this year. One of the most important Korean holidays, it allows people to leave the cities and visit their home towns, to spend time with their families.During the holiday, family members pay Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5554346.post-1127195664775761712005-09-14T05:53:00.000+00:002021-03-19T13:30:29.376+01:00
Boats(Busan)Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5554346.post-1126450060347873212005-09-11T14:42:00.000+00:002021-03-19T13:35:22.436+01:00Here's the final short film of my trip to the Dano Festival in Gangneung, showing the Hapyeong Dapgynori.
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5554346.post-1126370325768754492005-09-07T12:33:00.000+00:002021-03-19T13:31:02.240+01:00Here's part two of my trip to the Dano Festival in Gangneung.
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0