Korea

Republic of Korea
Seoul Area

OK, all those of you who've been to Korea raise your hands. Know someone who's been? Have considered spending a vacation there? Right, that's what I thought. Let's face it, Korea isn't exactly the world's #1 tourist destination. But I think (I'm Glenn, in case you just arrived) it's got a lot to offer the tourist, and after you take a stroll through the following pictures you might agree.

I was a live-in tourist in Korea, teaching there for 15 months, so I've had the opportunity to sightsee there from one end to the other (OK, so that only takes 5 hours). Out of the hundreds of pictures I have, I've included 22 shots here. We'll begin our tour in Seoul, as most do, working our way down the east coast (the beautiful one) to Pusan, and finally ending up on Cheju, Korea's southern island. Ready to go?

	In downtown Seoul is the ancient palace of Kyongbokkung. The palace grounds are quite spacious and you can spend a leisurely afternoon viewing the many buildings and temples of the ancient royals. This is the main ceremonial hall.
My favorite at Kyongbokkung has got to be this pagoda in the middle of a small reflecting pond. I've gone back and back and photographed it in several seasons. However, I still remember it best as I first saw it - on a crisp December afternoon with a crust of ice on the water.
	Of course Seoul has modern department stores, as nice as any you'll find in the world. However, as a tourist I much prefer the shopping streets away from the downtown area. There the shopkeepers have their wares stacked out in the streets and everywhere are the sights and smells of Asia.
Be careful as you look down while shopping those streets; you never know who, or what, may be looking back at you. If I didn't know better, I'd say that one oinker looks almost happy to be in there.
	At the Folk Village just south of Seoul you can get a look at what life was like in traditional Korea. This gentleman was getting his fortune told there. Only good fortune, I'm sure.
These smiling ladies ran a noodle shop close to the school where I was teaching. Verbal communication was difficult, as my Korean was almost non-existent, but we got by on smiles and body language. They really were so much fun that I found myself going back and back. When it was finally time for me to say my last good-bye, I just had to snap a picture.