Myeong-dong

Myeong-dong

Korea's trendiest shopping area, with over 300,000 square meters of shops. Weeee

Sundays here are like regular people's Fridays and we obvioulsy picked a Sunday to go. It was ridiculously busy and you almost couldnt move there were so many people.

The crowds

gooo quebec maple leafs?? hmm

a roots in korea!

toronto love

lots of fish.
hangin out with a statue

big mona lisa mural on a building

fun with the flag

Seodaemun Prison

The other Saturday adventure:

Seodaemun Prison
It was used by the Japanese during their rule over Korea. They still do not like each other at all. And it is not suggested to bring it Japan to any Korean. Even the kids at school hate them.
Good thing we went to the Palace after this since it was very graphic and slightly depressing to see.

the map of the prison grounds

the main entrance

the gates to get in

huuge flag

one of the cells

Info on the Solitary cells (click it to make it bigger)

The corpse removal exit tunnel. The Japanese had to sneak the bodies out here at night.



The execution building. Not allowed to take pictures but we kinda snuck back in when the guy wasn't there.

The inside of the execution building.

Info about the conditions..

some buildings on the grounds

one of the Standing Coffins

another view of it

Read it! By being in one, you would be paralyzed after 2-3 days.

The very graphic torture rooms

Statue bandaging himself up in the cell after the torture

me in a cell

the food slot

the alleys down to the cells

the sentencing room

The execution experience :S
the alley with cells and where the guards walked above

where they put the lepers

Changdeokgung Palace

Last Saturday's adventure:

Changdeokgung Palace
Fun facts haha
It is one of the Five Grand Palaces built by the kings of the Joseon Dynasty.
The literal meaning of Changdeokgung(昌德宮) is "Palace of Prospering Virtue".
The Palace was burnt to the ground during the Japanese invasion in 1592 and reconstructed in 1609 by King Seonjo and King Gwanghaegun. Korea's last Emperor, Emperor Sunjong lived here until his death in 1926.
Today there are 13 buildings remaining on the palace grounds and 28 pavilions in the gardens, occupying 110 acres.
the main temple

the guards

some more guards at the entrance

when you first walk in

the main temple from afar

the year of the rat! 1984 :)

all the "years of"


all the animals

the description of 12 zodiac animal signs


dress up time!


the entrance

the kings temple


some temple that you could walk around in but had to take off your shoes for


walking into the palace

some more guards.

...

check out the knife/sword things

'the justine' in korean guard attire