Seoul Lantern Festival

Yesterday we took the KTX to Seoul to see the Seoul Lantern Festival.  We wanted to spend some time walking around the city, have some dinner, and then see the lanterns as it was getting to be night.  Right outside of Seoul Station, where the trains all come in is this statue... not so interesting, except that he is holding a grenade in his right hand... look closely... see it?  Not sure why he is standing outside of the train station...

Part of the adventure is trying to get somewhere in a strange city, and feeling lost is what makes it even more interesting (not actually getting lost, but just hoping that you are walking towards your goal).  Walking downtown and looking for the market we found these bike riders. 

Made it to the market, along with half the population of Seoul...

Food vendors set up right in the middle of the market.

Octopus, anyone?

Love this... Pinko!

It was terribly crowded so we decided to leave the market and head towards the City Hall to see the changing of the guards.  Along the way we passed Christmas Alley!

Seoul is a lot like Portland OR, where the mountains are right outside of the city.

We misunderstood... the guards are not AT city hall, but at this palace, Deoksu Palace, right across from City Hall.

Deoksu Palace was the king's residence in 1567, and still is present, right in the middle of the city.

Like all palaces and places in Korea, it has lots of cute stone statues.

On the left is a bell, and right is a water clock.

It was a beautiful fall day.

The changing of the guards is a 15 minute process with lots of foot stomping, marching, and bowing.

After a mexican dinner, including several margaritas, we are ready to head to the lantern festival.

According to CNNgo, "30,000 colored lanterns will float on the water and in the air along the 1.3-kilometer stretch from Cheonggye Plaza to Jongno-3-ga."

Read more: Seoul Lantern Festival | CNNGo.com http://www.cnngo.com/seoul/play/seoul-lantern-festival#ixzz1eDKyc5N1

The lanterns are truly beautiful, and it is a beautiful scene as the river rushes under them.

We arrived at the lantern festival at around 5:30, and by 7:00 it was mobbed... luckily we had seen all of the lanterns, and were ready for some hot cocoa and the long train ride home...

Fall is in the air...



Yesterday was parent teacher conferences at our school, and while it is not expected, some parents bring in gifts for the teachers.  Some got perfume, gift certificates, I got food.  Lots of doughnuts, rice snacks, and these cookies, which ask... Would you like to convey to people that you tell the of the sweet sincerity cookie... uh yeah, I guess I would. 

We were also invited on a five hour hike to enjoy the fall leaves.  I had signed all of us up- all 4 of the Odom4, but after checking the weather, and seeing that there was 100% chance of rain, the kids and Gary decided to stay home. 

I was seriously considering copping out, too, but upon hearing that the route had been changed to a mere 1.5 hours, I decided to go. 



It wound up just being me, our executive director, who organized the trip, and our IT guy. 



The one thing that I always missed when we lived in Florida was the fall.  We used to make frantic three day visits to NH where we would rush from apple picking to the Keene Pumpkin Fesitval, to the Audubon Center at Massabesic Lake... and then have to rush back down to FL.  But here, we get georgous leaves, fresh apples, hiking, and the scenery is just beautiful... but you wouldn't know it today..




The steps from the parking lot lead up to this fortress.  As we were walking our executive director stops and says, "OH NO!"  Concerrned, we asked what was the matter... he forgot to bring beer!... I love Korea! 



Also along the route are these stone statues.  At Massabesic Lake they have some bird houses...

Last night was torrential rain, which knocked a lot of the leaves off the trees, but you can still see some beauties!

Thankfully, this is NOT the trail.  But it was just about this steep for the first km.

Some more leaves...

and more...

As we got a little bit higher we hit fog.  It was really quiet and peaceful because the impending rain kept most everyone at home.

The IT guy said this would be a good spot for some ghosts.

The inner fortress continues upwards.

It was getting kind of creepy...

My 2 hiking companions.

We make it to our destination... Gasanbawi, which has an incredible panoramic view of Daegu and the surrounding areas.  It is a rock table, with a sheer drop all around it. 



Which of course means danger of falling!



We could not wait to see the view!

Notice the korean looking scarf... after 13 months I am starting to accessorize for exercise :)

OK, you know how a picture never does a view justice, and you always say, it was so much better in real life??? Well, that is not the case here.  This is exactly what it looked like at the top.  Put your head inside a white pillowcase and try to look around... that was the view from Gasanbawi today.

There is also a deep crevasse where there are supposedly metal animals buried to keep down the ground energy... but it was WAY down...

On our way back down I had to snap some more foliage pictures.



When we reached to bottom (which took three hours, not 1.5 as promised ) we had to stop at a trail side vendor to buy beer.  As we were sitting there sipping, the executive director says sagely, "This is happiness.  Good exercise, fresh air, cold beer. Ahhhhh..." 
Did I mention that I love Korea.  Anyway, the fresh air and good exercise must have made me forget that I already took this exact picture (see photo 2 at the top)...



We then stopped for lunch... can you imagine eating this cute litte duck giving you the thumbs up?  Mmmmmm.....

After we ate, the hostess brings over three apples and a sharp knife... the IT guy did a great job peeling them...

While I was having my hiking adventure, Gary and the kids were getting ready for the Pooks birthday and braving CostCo on a weekend... but that is a story for another time!  She will turn 9 tomorrow, but wanted to celebrate on Saturday night...

Happy Birthday, POOKS!  We love you!  xoxoxoxo

Wish you were all here to celebrate with us!