My town Geochang

My town Geochang. Population of about 40,000 with a real small town feel to it. You could walk the entire town easily in 40 minutes. Set in a valley of three mountains all you really had was scenery. When I left there was about 20 westerners and now there is still the same, but those people I experianced this town with have moved on, just like Steve and I. We had some great times there, and here's a little of what it looked like.

Steve's end of town.
Making our way up to my end of town.
A quick look at the market.
On our way to the apex of town.....the Rotary.....also known as the Roundabout.
This is where we snag Christmas carols on Christmas eve. It was great how some Koreans tried to join in.

Random trucks show up with random goods. Sometimes it's this, other times it cheap and cheesy stuffed animals...really run of the mill stuff.

They have batting cages and trampolines here. It is very entertaining to watch drunken men do these games at 2am. They are walking home and Hey we can hit that!!! Walking along, going past some of our hangouts. Todam and Topaz.
I saw this building go up. Building go up so quick here, which is why a lot of places in Korea look like unattractive cement blocks. Shows you just how much Korea has been booming in the past few decades.
The new library.
These horses are outside the library (in big and small) so the children take turns riding them....I don't even think they were ever put away at night either. Shows you really what little crime there is here.

Me talking to a few of my students...I taught them a thing or two about basketball that day.....mostly that a woman CAN be good at it. A war memorial.
In a park close to a new library.

Some of the local flowers.

Getting to the mountain we walked through these farmers fields.

Tells you about a statue.

This is leading up to a very old Buddhist statue. Geochang is thought to be a very old religious area due to this statue at one end of the valley, and another distinct statue at the other end. The lion, the witch and the waredore moment.

There are these odd work out areas all over the place. So Steve decided to work off that excess energy......not like he needed it to climb the mountain or anything.

Seeing the town through the trees.
Looking down on a part of the town leading to the mountain.
On our way up

This is an area right in between the higher peaks where there is an exercise area and drinking water available.
These stones really do make your feet feel great after you are done walking on them.

Steve's on top of the world pose.

I love this wall!!!

What a beautiful view.....yah we're in there too.
Steve found the end of the wall.
Here I am on that old wall high up in the mountain. It's something else up there.

Palaces in Seoul

In April when the weather started being nice again Steve and I headed out to all the places where we had been waiting all winter to see. Some things you should just see when it's green.

This is outside one of the smaller palaces in Seoul. This is the Deoksugung palace where the last emperor made his home. Within this palace you will also be able to see the museum of contemporary art and also a neoclassical palace.

The above picture shows the hunters returning from.....well I assume hunting.

Some big wig in Korea. I can't remember who because it's been a bit since we've been here.

The main throne room, side angle.

Us in front of a beautiful fountain, and in the distance the museum of modern art (I believe....)

The other side of the throne room......but can you spy what's different?

The throne.......the build up to this was far to much!

These are a few of technologies that the Korean people used. The thing to the far right is a clock. Water would pour out at a certain rate and measured to tell the time. In the middle is a large bell.

This is a long hallway that contains the soul plates of past emperors. These are kept here, with offerings to honour the past rulers.

This is the main area for the encloser above. It is enclosed like a palace but no kings ever lived here.
The soul plates view from the front.

These are some of the dishes that the offerings are placed in.

This is in a different palace. Above is the entrance way into the secret garden. This isn't some Disney movie, secret gardens existed....this one did to give the emperor a much needed rest from his harem. Poor guy.


The last emperor's family lived here up until about 30ish years ago.

This is a look into the secret garden.

The lily pond.

Places to grab a bit of shade.

This is actually the main area of the garden, but the garden itself is very large. You have to go on a tour to get into this palace. To many people were making off with "souvenirs" from the garden. We were only able to spend about 20minutes within the actual garden, but the rest of the tour was about an hour. You pay a lot to get on the tour but it is thoroughly enjoyable.

This is one of the first things you see when you get onto the tour. A large courtyard and tons of buildings.

This is the gate of eternity. They say that whoever passes under this gate will forever be young. So for all you sucks who haven't done that yet I'll be looking good at the reunion!!