Korea, Seoul : 비원

En français

When you are visiting 창덕궁 you can also by extra tickets to visit 비원or 창경궁. I decided to go to 비원 and you sure wouldn't want to miss it. 비원 means Secret garden but our guide told us that it was more of a forbidden garden as only the royal family was allowed to enter it, or you at least needed their permission. The tour of the garden took us on a one and a half hour walk up and down on the mountain site behind the palace, the garden actually fusion with the mountain's vegetation in a strange way organized and wild at the same time. We stopped in five different places to see the residence of the Royal family and shrines.

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Korea, Seoul : 창덕궁

En français
I then went to visit 창덕궁 (Changdeokgung) Palace, it also belongs to the 조선 (Joseon) Dynasty. It's name 창덕궁 means Palace of Prospering Virtue. The particularity of this palace is that it retained many elements dating from the 삼국시대(Three Kingdoms of Korea period) on of it is that it blends with nature which is even more visible when you enter 비원 (Secret garden).  창덕궁 has been partially destroyed during Japanese occupation and currently only 30% of it remains. It is now classified as a UNESCO World Heritage list. It has been used as a filming location of the drama 大長今 (Dae Jang Geum).
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Korea, Seoul : 종묘

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The next day I went to visit the historical center of Seoul. My first stop was in 종묘 (Jongmyo) Sanctuaire Royal. 종묘 is a complex of 3 Confucian major shrine dedicated for services for the deceased Royal family from the 조선 (Joseon) Dynasty. One curious thing about this is that the 공민왕 신당 (Gongminwang Sindang) is dedicated to king 공민 (Gongmin) from the 고료 (Goryeo) Dynasty and his Mongolian wife. One of my favorite feature of the park is that they have a pathway for spirits where human shouldn't walk. Near the shrines they also have a special pathway for incense that was carried by priest before the ceremony, I find it rather interesting. The park is really large with a lot of trees and flowers blooming, if I was to live in Seoul I would probably spend a lot of time there. 종묘 is part of the UNESCO World Heritage list.
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Korea, Seoul : 반포대교

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반포대교 is a famous bridge in Seoul as its side present the 달빛무지개 분수 (Moonlight Rainbow Fountain) which is the world's longest bridge fountain credited by Guinness World Record with nearly 10,000 lights of different colors along both sides for 1km140. The fountain can shoot out 190 tons of water per minute and is used during special shows spread out around noon and during the evening. 

On the day I was there, only one side of the bridge was used for the show, the water was coming out in several direction moving according to the music. 

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Korea, Seoul : 한강시민공원

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For my first evening in Seoul, I took a walk on the side of the 한강 (Han river) in 한강시민공원 (Hangang Simin Park) between 동작대교 (Dongjakdaegyo Bridge) and 반포대교 (Banpodaegyo).
The park offers a view of the river, and a fishing area as well as a island covered with flowers. Near the 반포대교 there is also an artificial island with building illuminated in different colors. I stay there admiring the view until the start of the show on the 반포대교.
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