Korea: Seoul Fishmarket, Palace, Museum Contemporary art, Lotus Lantern Festival (Day 4)

 

Day 4: Saturday 16 May

We started very early this morning and visited the Seoul Fishmarket. Already there around 8 o'clock we explored the enormous place; so much fun to walk around, make photos and enjoy the liveliness of this market. 

We bought a king crab (still alive) and were brought to a 'restaurant traditional style' (sit on the floor) where 'our crab' was prepared. At 09.30 hrs we were having king crab for breakfast. Our tool was a pair of scissors, which worked out fine. Best crab we ever had.

'our' king crab

breakfast 

After our 'breakfast' we went to visit the Gyeongbokgung palace. Gyeongbokgung, was the main royal palace of the Joseon dynasty. Built in 1395. A lot of pavilions which were destroyed and burned down over the years are (being) rebuild. It was busy this Saturday with lots of Koreans visiting, some dressed up in traditional clothes due to the Lotus Lantern festival.

the (changing of the) guards in front of the Heungnyemun main gate

detail of the ceiling

modern Seoul is always around the corner

0.5 selfie

the Hyangwonji pond and Hyangwonjeong pavilion

paying attention

tall husband

throne hall and more

dressed up in traditional clothes

the area of sealed jars, which just had been completed

After our visit to the palace we went to the MMCA (National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art), which was opened in 2013 in Sogyeok-dong, Jongno-gu, a former site of Defense Security Command. There is still the changing of the guards to be admired in front of the gates. We admired the works of Korean contemporary artist Jung Takyoung.

MMCA

Live music on the lawn in front of City Hall coz of Lotus Lantern parade

an impressive sight: thousands of participants sitting on the 5 lane main road crossing Seoul city center, 

listening to the speech of a visiting foreign Bhuddist leader

the impressive Jongno tower for us a beacon in Seoul.

light show and lanterns along the Cheonggyecheon stream

Korea: Insadong, Jogyesa tempel, Bukchon Hanok, CityHall (Day 3)

streetlife 

Day 3, Friday 15 May was our first full day in Seoul/Korea. We visited a shopping area, a teahouse, a temple, an old village, the City Hall and enjoyed our first Korean food. The weather was warm and humid. 

In the evening we had Korean BBQ in a restaurant where it seemed only men dined. Not very cozy, but the food was ok.

Tapgol parc with the stone Buddha behind glass; not a must see.  

shopping area Insadong

More Insadong

a lovely teahouse in Insadong far away it seemed from the crowd. The teas served were very tasty and the space super.

Jogyesa templ; the outside with many lanterns coz of the Lotus Lantern festival

the Buddhas of Jogyesa temple (the inside)

our first Korean lunch 

Bukchon Hanok village (traditional Korean houses)

The old and new buildings that form Seoul's City Hall

The Lotus Lantern festival along the Cheonggyecheon stream

That's it for now
dikke kus
Carina

Korea: Arrival (day 1 & 2)

Day 1, Wednesday 13/Thursday 14 May:

The trip: 9,5 hours from Amsterdam to Seoul by KLM, a smooth flight. Peter managed to get some sleep, I didn't but saw 5 movies. 

Incheon airport Seoul is modern, huge, white and clean with high ceilings, enormous stairs and a train to the central arrival/departure building. It took us a while to walk all the way to the trainstation, after finally finding an ATM that worked and gave us some WONs.

First photo I made in Seoul after leaving the subway

the Cheonggyecheon stream, which was discovered and restored some years ago, a popular place to stroll 

our first local beer

Asahi beer: popular here in Korea

Our first dinner is at a Japanese restaurant: we shared a yummie tunafish salad and a very tastefull vegetarian dish consisting of lots of sprouts accompanied by nice glasses of sake, which helped us catch sleep despite the time difference of 7 hrs.

Our holiday has begun. 
dikke kus
Carina

Dinner @ Jiu.nu in Eindhoven

Borreltijd bij cafe restaurant Usine (gezellige tent om de hoek bij ons hotel; de inrichting en sfeer deden ons denken aan Hotel New York in Rotterdam)

Weekend zaterdag-zondag: 11-12 april 1015

Dit weekend was het jaarlijkse 'etentje van de zaak', dat dit keer plaats vond in Eindhoven bij wijnbar/restaurant Jiu.nu.
Super leuk restaurant, dat op dit moment behoorlijk in de lift zit. Gerechten met een aziatische twist en verrassende wijnen. 
De eigenaar is een sommelier en dat merk je; geen doorsnee wijnen, heerlijke kleine gerechtjes en super vriendelijke, kundige bediening. 
Toen we op een bepaald moment in het gesprek aangaven dat we van (koude) sake houden (schijnen niet veel mensen te doen), kregen we spontaan een glaasje aangeboden... lieeeef. Van ons mogen ze een Michelster krijgen.

Ons hotel was heel arty en industrial. Super leuk. Onze kamer had een giga hoog plafond (beton) dat alles veeeeel groter maakt in je beleving. Uitstekend bed, heerlijke badkamer en licht en ruim. Ook de bar van het hotel waar we na terugkomst uit het restaurant een afzakkertje dronken is gezellig.

Inntel Art hotel Eindhoven  

more of the hotel

Amuses, en een van de vis-/schelpdiergerecht (rechtsonder)

nog meer fantastische gerechten van ons 6 gangen diner

Rechtsboven: kaartjes van alle wijnen die wij hebben gedronken met vermelding van herkomst. Inclusief het aperatief en het mini glaasje sake komen we op een totaal van 8 wijnen die we hebben geproefd. Maaaaar het waren halve glaasjes dus 't was echt 'proeven'.

Op de linker foto Peter tijdens het champagne ontbijt in het hotel 's ochtends. Lekkerrrr.

Kortom een geslaagd etentje van de zaak. Enneh, we gaan hier zeker op herhaling.

Carina