South Korea - Sophisticated Seoul - Part 2
We stayed in the vibrant Myeongdong area - laneways filled with little shops and at night abuzz with street food stalls and a plethora of restaurants.
We found a great little place for dinner with dual language menu - grilled mackerel for me and Korean spicy seafood hotpot for my girlfriend. Both delicious- so good in fact we returned a few evenings later and ordered the same thing!
We again used the metro to visit the Leeum Samsung Museum of Art, run by the Samsung Foundation of Culture. Three contemporary buildings, each designed by a different architect, showcase a mix of traditional and contemporary art.
We spent our time in the modern cylindrical terracotta brick building by Swiss architect Mario Botta - starting at the top we wound our way down four floors of Korean painting, calligraphy, ceramics, metal and wood craft and Buddhist art covering the Goryeo and Joseon dynasties, which were intertwined with modern installations.
I loved the modern light installation by Olafur Eliasson. I was equally fascinated by a range of his works a year or so ago at an exhibition titled ‘Light’ in Melbourne. A link to post is included at the end of this post.
For a touch of tradition we visited the Bukchon Hanok Village, located between the Gyeonbokgung and Changdeokgung Palaces.
During the Joseon era, Bukchon Hanok Village was home to high-ranking officials, nobles, and their families. It remains a residential area attracting crowds of tourists, many hiring traditional clothing giving an authentic feel as we meandered through the narrow laneways and alleys admiring some of the 900 houses made of stone and clay, reflecting the traditional cultural essence of ancient Korea, all with those fabulous pagoda style roofs.
Some of the homes are now shops selling tea, perfume, souvenirs, while Baek In-je House, is a museum, converted from a private home built during the Japanese colonial era - a well-preserved example of hanok architecture.
Along the way we stopped at the Gahoe Hankyunghum Gallery Cafe - a tiny tea house - serving only traditional Korean fruit teas - all with health giving properties.
Join me in a few days to explore the country of South Korea
Jane