Maddy And Me: Seoul, South Korea, Day Five.

We went on a tour bus in Seoul. I'm a huge fan of tours, it's organized, you don't spend the majority of the time getting lost and you get the full advantage of learning everything the city has to offer.

We had decided on going on a half day tour, which I recommend (if it's an option) when bringing bubba along for the holiday - Maddy wouldn't have enough patience for a full day tour.

On the tour we were taken to the Jogyesa Buddhist Temple

Jogyesa Buddhist Temple is famously known for being located in the center of the city. It's really amazing how just outside the walls of this temple is traffic, sky scrapers and a busy city, but as soon as you enter this place it becomes so peaceful and tranquil.

A 500 year old tree in the gardens of the temple - The Koreans believe by touching this tree you will have a bright future - I rubbed my entire body against the tree.

The temple is decorated by all these lanterns, each lantern represents a person who has written a "prayer" or "wish" (?) and is hung up across the entire temple.

Three Buddha Statues inside the temple, each statue representing a different element in life. Don't be deceived by this picture, they were absolutely HUGE.
And there's a Singaporean tourist photo bombing the picture.

Grace (our amazing tour guide) then took us to the Gyeongbokgung Palace. This was the one place I was so eager to see, this too is located in the middle of the busy city.

She made sure we were early enough to witness the Changing of the Guards Ceremony at the front gate of the palace - which they show once a day in the morning.

I am so thrilled I got to witness something so historical and video record it for all of you.

The second gate into the Gyeongbokgung Palace

Gyeongbokgung Palace was built in 1395 (I know right!) and is known as the main palace (there are palaces scattered around Seoul). It's also the largest palace (no joke... HUGE).

In 1592 the Palace was burnt down to ashes during the Japanese invasion and was rebuilt in 1867 under the leadership of Prince Regent Heungseon Daewongun.

Grace told us that there is over 500 buildings in this palace alone, and in it's time it was referred to as a town holding 5,000 residents in the palace.

More than 90% of the palace was demolished again during the Japanese occupation in 1911 and was transferred to the Japanese Government General.

Restoration of Gyeongbokgung to it's former glory has been ongoing since 1990, we actually saw parts of the palace being restored the day we were there.

Our tourist Grace showing us the entire palace map and what one day will be fully restored - it's absolutely amazing.

Mr Pham and Madeleine standing at the Second gate entrance.

Standing in front of the Emperors Thrown (the one used for special occasions) - Madeleine ... not caring where she is. LOL.

The Emperors main thrown - where many decisions and laws were discussed and made.

Inside the Queens residence.

Grace told us that the King and Queen only slept together 5 nights in 1 year, the 5 nights that they did sleep together was chosen by the King's Dr (in hopes to make a baby boy, which is influenced by Confusion ism ).

The nights that they did not sleep together they had separate buildings! The King's building always being in front of the Queens.

Another image of the Queens residence

Apparently choosing a Queen for the King was that the same of a Beauty Pageant. 100 or so girls were chosen for their beauty and from there the King would have "rounds" until he has reached the one woman. What about the runner ups? Well they are forbidden to ever marry for the rest of their lives (because it is such an honor) and are to be the King's concubines (or how Grace would say, girls on the side). Back in the day being a Queen was an honor to your family, but you were never allowed out of the palace (without the Kings permission) and your family had to visit you (not you visit your family). So strict but so interesting!

With the mountains in the background and the beautiful construction of the palace buildings, would you have ever guessed we were smack bang in the middle of the city?

A token tourist shot in front of one of the Pavilions which was the King's Library.

Beautiful scenery.

Geoncheonggung - A palace within a palace

King Gojong was the 26th King in the Joseon Dynasty, he took the thrown at the age of 12, but because he was too young to take reign his father made all the decisions.

Grace said when King Gojong was old enough to take control he then built a new area (Geoncheonggung) for himself and his queen within the palace, to be separate from his controlling father.

However, King Gojong did not know his wife's ambitions of ruling when she became friends with the Japanese and the Russians. The Japanese were not happy with Empress Myeongseong befriending the Russians and on October 8, 1895, the Japanese broke into Geoncheonggung and assassinated Queen Myeongseong (talk about a grudge right?).

From the bad memories and the huge scare King Gojong left The Gyeongbokgung Palace and was the last king in history to ever live there.

Such a sad story huh? There's actually a drama about the life of Empress Myeongseong, "The Lost Empire".

After the long tour of the Gyeongbokgung Palace, Grace then showed us The Blue House, which just as the same as The White House, it is the government residence of the President of South Korea.

Security at the gate of The Blue House.

I have no idea about the significance of this fountain, but hey if you see something pretty... pose... (?)

When the tour ended we were dropped off at City Hall in the city and Mr Pham, Maddy and I took our own little tour.

We went to visit the Electronics Market - which is so big and chaotic that we gave up because of the heat and went to Korea's War Memorial Museum.