Day 3.

Deoksugung, also known as Gyeongun-gung, Deoksugung Palace, or Deoksu Palace, is a walled compound of palaces that was inhabited by various Korean royalties until the Japanese occupation of Korea around the turn of the 20th century. — Wikipedia

The buildings are of varying construction, including some of natural cryptomeria wood, painted wood, and stucco.

Deoksugung was originally the residence of Prince Wolsan, the older brother of King Seongjong. This residence became a royal ‘palace’ during the Seven-Year War after all of the other palaces were burned in 1592 during the Japanese invasions of the Seven-Year War. King Seonjo was the first Joseon king to reside at the palace. King Gwanghaegun was crowned in this palace in 1608, and renamed it Gyeongun-gung (경운궁, 慶運宮) in 1611. After the official palace was moved to the rebuilt Changdeokgung in 1618, it was used as an auxiliary palace for 270 years and was renamed Seogung (West Palace).

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Namsangol Hanok Village, also known as “A Village of Traditional Houses in the Namsan Valley”, is a Korean village located in the area of Pil-dong neighborhood in Jung-gu, a central district of Seoul, South Korea where hanok (한옥) or Korean traditional houses have been restored to preserve the original atmosphere of the area. –Wikipedia

The Namsangol Hanok Village offers one the opportunity to experience a wide cross-section of Joseon-era citizenry and activities, from royalty to commoners. A great effort has been made to accurately furnish each dwelling with appropriate era and social status appointments.

Five traditional houses, including some of the residences of high government officials – some of the largest mansions in Seoul at the time, along with commoners houses were moved to the 7,934 sq Meters/9,489 sq Yards grounds containing the restored village.

The location of the village was originally the site of a well known Joseon-era summer resort called Jeonghakdong. Jeonghakdong means “The land of the fairies for the blue crane where the Jeonugak Pavillion stands along the stream in the valley”. The area boasted such superb scenery that it was called the land of the fairies and was considered one of the five most beautiful parts of Seoul.

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Note: All text content are taken from Wikipedia. (I know I’m lazy :-p)

This is the coolest station I’ve seen in Seoul Metro. It feels like you’re in a cave.

Chungmuro Station is a station on the Seoul Subway Line 3 and Line 4. Both the Line 3 and 4 platforms are located in Chungmuro-4-ga, Jung-gu, Seoul. This station is named after the road under which it passes, in honor of the Chosun general Yi Sunsin, who was also known by the title of Chungmugong. — Wikipedia

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2010 April 29th.

I was planning to go to Gwangjang Market just in downtown Seoul, but I got a tip from someone working in the guest house (where I am staying), that the biggest market in Korea is taking place on this day. The market, which has over 1200 merchants coming from all over Korea, only takes place on the 4th, 9th, 14th, 19th, 24th, 29th day of every month. I didn’t think twice and headed straight there after brunch.

The first thing I saw right after coming out of Exit 5 of Moran Station is this Buddhist monk seated in an elevated platform along the side walk towards the market.

After a few meters away, I saw a group of people with microphones, speakers and sign boards. Though I didn’t understand what they were saying, but it’s pretty obvious that they were trying to spread the word of God.

I walked through the market and saw the trades what were happening. The scene was most likely the same as the markets in the Philippines. The market is divided into sections. There are fruits section, vegetables, fish, local delicacies, and others. In this photo, the fishes are laying ready to be sold.

I have noticed that most of the traders were old people. In this photo is an old woman selling eggs.

These are dried fish hanging on the stall.

There’s a section in the market where you can see different kinds of live animals, either they sell them as pets or for food consumption. When I got to this part of the market, I saw chickens, ducks, and dogs inside the cages.

And then, I saw the dog meat right next to every cage. After seeing the meat, I looked at the live dogs again and felt very bad for them.

I spent two hours in the market, and witnessed some good and bad things, but mostly they were good. I was observing a group of people standing and eating in front of a stall. One man saw me taking pictures of them and the food they were eating, then he called me to join them. He handed me a pair of chop sticks, and a cup of soju.

I had a great time in the market. Great time.

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Next post will be Day 2 Part 2, the photos I took at Namsam Seoul Tower. Thanks for reading.

Hanami is a Japanese tradition of enjoying the view of flowers especially the sakura or cherry blossoms during spring season. The word ‘hanami’ is almost synonymous to outdoor picnicking or partying.

(Hanami was first used as a term analogous to cherry blossom viewing in the Heian era novel Tale of Genji. Whilst a wisteria viewing party was also described, from this point on the terms “hanami” and “flower party” were only used to describe cherry blossom viewing. — Wikipedia)

In Japan, sakura trees are everywhere – in parks, river banks and road sides.

Hanami is a great time for lovers. Isn’t it just lovely walking beneath those beautiful sakura trees with your special someone?

And also for the families…

Hanami is all about enjoying the company of others…

But, one can still enjoy(?) it alone, like this old man sleeping…

Or, this kid climbing up the tree.

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Note: The photos are taken in Meguro-gawa (Pic 1-3) and Shinjuku Gyoen (Pic 4-7).

The Flickr Tokyo Photo Session (FTPS) group had last month’s photo walk in Arisugawa-no-miya Memorial Park in Minami-Azabu, Tokyo. [Map]

History
Arisugawa-no-miya Memorial Park was originally the urban villa of a feudal lord, Minonokami Nambu. In 1896 it was acquired by the noble Arisugawa-no-miya family. However, as Japan modernized, more and more importance began to be placed on the role of nature in educating children, and the family donated the land to Tokyo city in 1934 as a park for that purpose.Tokyo city set to work redeveloping it, and Arisugawa-no-miya Memorial Park was born in the same year. In 1975, the Tokyo metropolitan authority transfered the administration of the park to the local ward office of Minato. (Source: japanvisitor.com)

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Father and son on a small bridge in the park.

A bike is parked near the stream.

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Ume, or the Japanase plum, has started to bloom.

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Just me playing with reflection on the pond.

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The FTPS group walking in the park.

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Group photo by ndavid .

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Click here if you are interested in joining the future photo walks by FTPS.

Japan, as a non-Christian country, does not celebrate Christmas. December 25th is not a national holiday. But Japanese people, as great lovers of festivals and celebrations, try to celebrate it in a commercial way. Local government and big companies decorate parks and buildings with colorful illumination.

Last Saturday, I went to Tokyo Midtown, Shiodome, and Tokyo Tower to see the illuminations in these places. (Click here to check where you can see more illuminations).

Grass Square “Starlight Garden” in Tokyo Midtown

Illuminated balls in Sakura-dori in Tokyo Midtown

Capturing the sea of illumination in Caretta, Shiodome.

Also, Christmas in Japan is a perfect day to spend with your lover.

Caretta OCEAN Xmas 2009 in Shiodome

Tokyo Tower’s Light Down Story

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Hope you all have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

–Jesslee

Rikugien Garden, in Bunyo-ku, Tokyo, is one of the best-preserved Japanese landscape gardens of the Edo period. The name, Rikugi-en, came from “six elements of Waka poems” that had been derived from “six styles of poems” written in the old Chinese poetry book “Mao-shi”.

The garden is most beautiful in the autumn season because trees are being illuminated with colorful lights at night. Last Sunday, I, with the the FTPS group, visited the garden and it was awesome.

iMorpheus taking a photo of a couple in the garden using a keitai.

The garden has everything a traditional Japanese garden is supposed to: a large central pond, teeming with golden carps and sluggish turtles, fantastical islands, crooked rustic bridges over gurgling streams, man made hills, symbolizing the sacred Japanese mountains, and moss-encrusted stone lanterns. Along the path that goes round the pond, 88 landscapes from famous Japanese poems are reproduced in miniature. — Tokyo Japan Guide

A lot of people flock there to take pictures of the colorfully-illuminated momiji trees.

And, of course, take photos of themselves with the illumination as background.

Also, a few stop-by the traditional wooden teahouses, hidden among the majestic trees, to have some light snacks, sweets and tea.

Two weekends ago, I, with 3 photo buddies, had an early morning photowalk again. This time in Kabukicho at around 5:30 in the morning.

Kabukichō is an entertainment and red-light district in Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan. Kabukichō is the location of many hostess bars, host bars, love hotels, shops, restaurants, and nightclubs, and is often called the “Sleepless Town”. The district’s name comes from late-1940s plans to build a kabuki theater: although the theater was never built, the name stuck. — Wikipedia

There are still nanpa activities in this early morning. A nanpa is a way to pick up girls in Japan. To know how it works, check Nampa – Japanese for Picking Up by Neil Duckett.

We walked through Shinjuku Golden Gai and we could still hear people laughing while having some chat inside the shanty-style bars and clubs.  Learn more about the Golden Gai here: Old-world left in a Big City, Shinjuku’s Golden-gai

Kabukicho is a notorious place known for a lot of illegal activities like prostitution, illegal drug trafficking, and other crimes. A number of business establishments here are owned by yakuzas and Chinese triads. The photo below is the most famous police box throughout Japan for having been featured a couple of times in TV documentary shows.

Thanks to my friends: Mika, Kyoko, and Naoto for joining me in this walk.

Tanabata was originally about a Chinese love story of a princess and a cowherd being separated by the king.  Traditionally in present-day Japan, people celebrate Tanabata by writing their wishes on colorful, small strips of paper called tanzaku…

…and hang them on bamboo branches…

The streets are decorated with huge colorful  hanging lanterns which kids enjoy watching…

…especially at nights when these lanterns are being lighted.

This was during the Tanabata Festival in Hiratsuka, Kanagawa. This is the biggest Tanabata festival held in the Kanto Area. The most famous one is held in Sendai.

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This is the second part of the Midnight Shooting: Roppongi to Shibuya blog entry.

We started our walk around 1:00AM from Roppongi, and reached Shibuya at nearly 3:00AM. Below are images that you will likely be seeing in an early Saturday morning in Shibuya.

This guy welcome us right at the foot of the pedestrian bridge near the south entrance of Shibuya Station.

Outside the station, you can see a lot of people sleeping. Either they lay down on the pavement..

… or simply just sit down…

They sure had fun last night, eh?

Obviously, these people are waiting for the station to open, and catch the first train.

And finally, the gate has opened. Ohayou, Shibuya!

The next post will be about homeless people staying near Shibuya station.

Thanks for watching. :-)