Walking Around Downtown

I took some pictures last weekend when I was downtown. Skyscrapers are in no short supply here.



This hundred year old building (Seokjojeon) was built for King Gojong. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gojong_of_Korea) It was an art museum when the Japanese occupied Korea, but I'm not sure what it is now. Actually the National Museum of Art, Doksugung is adjacent to this building. I noticed there was a Botero? exhibition, but we didn't bother going in.



This is the main hall of Deok Su Palace that is located across the street from Seoul City Hall.



There were some renovations and reconstructions occuring on the palace grounds.





I saw thousands of riot police downtown, but no protesters.



We found an area with a lot of Dalk Galbi restaurants. The ladies ended up getting their nails done at one of the kiosks off to the left while I walked around.

Gwanak Mountain

The trail runs along a creek bed almost the entire hike up from the trailhead in Gwacheon.







This a shot looking up at the main temple building as you approach Gwanak Sa. There were hundreds of other hikers around the temple and peaks. The large antenna in the background appears to be attached to the building but is not. There are a number of large antennae and an observatory and weather station on the ridges near the peak.






I think this is the main temple. Underneath it is a building with a cafeteria that serves meals to pilgrims and visitors. I was hungry but didn't want to hike back down with a full stomach, so I ended up buying a red bean popsicle from a vendor at the peak. They also had ramen and rice wine available near the top.

I'm guessing that sign says "Gwanak Temple" in Chinese characters, but I have no idea.

This appears to be a smaller and older temple built on a rock cliff near the very top. I wanted to go inside and take some pictures, but it was packed with Buddhists praying.

You get a 360 degree view of Seoul from the top. This is a shot looking down at the Gangnam suburb.

Nolboo Restaurant

My favorite restaurant in Korea is Nolboo Budae Chigae. It's a popular chain with other themes like bossam (pig's leg), which is also very popular. I've never been to any of the Nolboo Bossam restaurants, but I'm always happy when I find a chigae one.




I always prefer the beef budae chigae. I like to add ramen noodle as well.



Budae Chigae is actually a dish created when American GI's were stationed in Korea during and following the Korean war. It usually contains ham, baked beans, green onions, leeks, rice cake pieces, mushrooms, red pepper paste and vegetable broth.



This is Kimchi, the food most representative of Korean cuisine. There are hundreds of varieties, but this one, made with cabbage (baechu), is by far the most common.




Here are the Nolboo restaurant mascots. Yes, I know it's ridiculous.

An Hour at the Track

I went to the horse track in Gwacheon on Sunday and walked around for about an hour. I didn't place any bets, and it only cost about 60 cents to get in.





It's a pretty large facility that appears to be well managed and organized. I stayed long enough for a couple of races.

A Walk Around Gangnam

This is the Seoul Trade Tower in Gangnam. It has 52 floors.



This is a picture of the restaurant on the 52nd floor. I didn't eat there, I just went up for the view.



It is a nice view looking down to the East at Yeongdongdae Road.




Here's a shot to the North. That's Seoul in the distance across the Han River.




Self Portrait






This is InterPark Building. They're a pretty big Korean company. I'm not sure what all their businesses are, but my friend works for them in their publishing division.






This is Bong Eun Temple across the street from COEX Mall. It was founded in the year 794.






Many Buddhas inside one of the main buildings at Bong Eun Sa






You can see the Seoul Trade Tower and Inter Park Building in the Background.




This is the largest statue of Buddha in Korea according to the brochure I got. This version of Buddha is known as "Buddha of the Future".

My Favorite Dishes:

#1 Shabu-Shabu

This is Shabu-Shabu. It starts as a boiling pot of vegetable broth. Then you add a lot of green onions, mushrooms, mandu, fish balls and field greens. Those cook down quickly, so then you you put in pieces of thinly sliced beef at will. The beef cooks instantly, and I usually dip it in a sauce with soy, minced garlic, diced hot peppers, and wasabi (not pictured). There's also a sweet and hot red pepper sauce (go-chu jang). After you eat the meat and vegetables, you throw hand cut homemade noodles into the remaining broth. Finally someone comes by, pours out the broth and offers to cook two diferent styles of fried rice. We usually go for the jook style, which is more soupy and less spicy than the regular fried rice.

#2 Dalk-Galbi

This is Dalk-Galbi. It contains chicken (dalk), onions, cabbage and red pepper paste. We chose the version with mushrooms that this particular restaurant offers. Like all dishes that are prepared at the table, someone comes by periodically, stirs the food and adjusts the heat.

#3 Kam Jah Tang



This soup is called Kam Jah Tang or Potato Soup. Ironically, it had no potatoes in it. If you order a giant bowl for 3 or 4 people, it will have some potatoes in it, but we opted for 2 single servings.