hkskyline's 2009 KOREA Photos #1 - Sneak Preview

***hkskyline*** · September 18th, 2009, 05:15 PM

I visited Korea again in April this year. This time, my visit was highly targeted to certain areas I haven't been to before, and places where my old photos were not so satisfactory and had to be re-taken. Here is a sneak preview of what to expect in upcoming parts.

Seoul
1. Changgyeonggung Palace requires visitors to join a tour with a guide. Strangely, even the big palace, Gyeongbokgung, doesn't require that.

2. Restoring too much destroys the historic beauty.

4. Bukcheon is a hidden gem in Seoul. I start to see it being mentioned in the guidebooks but the main tourist information centre at Insadong was short on details. Lucky I persisted and discovered a lot of great surprises.

8. Seoul actually has some city walls left. I didn't know too much about it at first. Then I saw for myself during a hike near Dongdaemun. These are actually in the heart of town!

12. Many years ago, I had a delightful lunch at the top-floor restaurant. Now it has turned far too upscale to eat there.

Andong
13. I joined a local Korean tour for a day trip to Andong. The bus ride was long, but the old-style homes and historic feel were all kept very well.

17. When in Korea, always try the street food!

Gyeongju
21. I arrived just in time for cherry bloosoms! Although many were cut down following Japanese occupation, some remain and offer a nice tranquil retreat away from busy city life!

24. A mix of old and new :

25. Bulguksa Temple is a very famous spiritual ground in Gyeongju.

Stay tuned ... my Korea photo series is coming soon!

Shezan · September 18th, 2009, 05:59 PM

lovely!

***christos-greece*** · September 18th, 2009, 06:00 PM

Amazing thread and photos from Korea @hkskyline, Seoul looks amazing

demanjo2 · September 19th, 2009, 12:00 PM

Why were the cherry blossoms cut down? Anti-japanese sentiment?

***hkskyline*** · September 19th, 2009, 01:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by demanjo2

Why were the cherry blossoms cut down? Anti-japanese sentiment?

Following the brutal Japanese colonial period, the resentment was quite strong, and many of the trees were cut down. Today we see what's left of the survivors.

skyscrapercity · September 23rd, 2009, 06:31 AM

Really nice pictures.

Thank you for sharing

September 18th, 2009, 06:00 PM	#3
*christos-greece* Moderator! Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 73,791 Likes (Received): 3532	Amazing thread and photos from Korea @hkskyline, Seoul looks amazing __________________ Urban Showcase: Athens Kalamata Trikala Thessaloniki Cityscapes: Paris Barcelona Dubai, U.A.E. Monte Carlo, Monaco General photography: Castles of France - Chateau de France and, since May of '08: Greece!

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September 18th, 2009, 05:15 PM	#1
*hkskyline* Hong Kong Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 71,053 Likes (Received): 838	hkskyline's 2009 KOREA Photos #1 - Sneak Preview I visited Korea again in April this year. This time, my visit was highly targeted to certain areas I haven't been to before, and places where my old photos were not so satisfactory and had to be re-taken. Here is a sneak preview of what to expect in upcoming parts. Seoul 1. Changgyeonggung Palace requires visitors to join a tour with a guide. Strangely, even the big palace, Gyeongbokgung, doesn't require that. 2. Restoring too much destroys the historic beauty. 4. Bukcheon is a hidden gem in Seoul. I start to see it being mentioned in the guidebooks but the main tourist information centre at Insadong was short on details. Lucky I persisted and discovered a lot of great surprises. 8. Seoul actually has some city walls left. I didn't know too much about it at first. Then I saw for myself during a hike near Dongdaemun. These are actually in the heart of town! 12. Many years ago, I had a delightful lunch at the top-floor restaurant. Now it has turned far too upscale to eat there. Andong 13. I joined a local Korean tour for a day trip to Andong. The bus ride was long, but the old-style homes and historic feel were all kept very well. 17. When in Korea, always try the street food! Gyeongju 21. I arrived just in time for cherry bloosoms! Although many were cut down following Japanese occupation, some remain and offer a nice tranquil retreat away from busy city life! 24. A mix of old and new : 25. Bulguksa Temple is a very famous spiritual ground in Gyeongju. Stay tuned ... my Korea photo series is coming soon! __________________ Hong Kong Photo Gallery - Click Here for the Hong Kong Galleries World Photo Gallery - \| New York \| London \| Egypt \| Dubai \| Shanghai \| Xian \| Tokyo \| Kyoto \| Prague Beijing, Seoul, Taipei, Mumbai, Iceland, Sydney, Rocky Mountains, Toronto, and much more!

September 18th, 2009, 05:59 PM	#2
Shezan BANNED Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: The 80s Posts: 16,307 Likes (Received): 1	lovely!

September 19th, 2009, 12:00 PM	#4
demanjo2 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 152 Likes (Received): 0	Why were the cherry blossoms cut down? Anti-japanese sentiment?

September 23rd, 2009, 06:31 AM	#6
skyscrapercity 초고층빌딩 Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 1,168 Likes (Received): 18	Really nice pictures. Thank you for sharing