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.