Seoul

by

South Korea is not only physically located between China and Japan, in looks and people it’s also half way; with the same level of hightech and connectedness but people less fussing about being polite (i.e. stumbling the streets drunk at 6pm is quite a common sight). I spend a week in Seoul to wind down a bit after three intense weeks in Japan, and made sure I made it to the must see sights.

Number one not to miss sight: the Joint Security Area. This place is in the Demilitarized Zone and is jointly guarded by the North- and South-Koreans, with the UN watching over. The blue baracks are where (peace) talks are held between the two parties and they stand exactly on the border with half the barack in South and the other in North-Korea (you see that small concrete lining in the middle between the baracks? That's the border; with the building on the other side being the access building in North-Korea). A very surreal place to visit with the guards standing at attention to escort the visitors.
I made a new friend.
Walking through Seoul I came across the beautiful yearly lantern festival.
The lanterns went from small to big, up to a whole orchestra.
A lantern giant
Hiking is serious business in Korea, with the Koreans kitting themselves out absurdly; with boots, Goretex jackets and pants, walking sticks and everything else you might need for what Europeans would regards as a nice and easy sunday walk through the woods. So the first 15 minutes of my hike I kept passing outdoor gear shops.
Dogs don't escape the preparation!
The great view from the thus ascended hill.
After one week in Seoul I took the boat over to China; here passing through the sluice of the harbour of Seoul.
After leaving the harbour behind us we passed the highway bridge to Incheon island; which is home to the excellent airport of Seoul. The bridge kept changing colour, first it was purple...
.. then yellow ..
.. then blue.