So I spent the past week or so in Korea and took lots of pictures.
(all pictures are thumbnails — click to view fullsize)
Bongeunsa Buddhist Monastery
The first stop we took was the buddhist temple across the street. No, really, it was LITERALLY ACROSS THE STREET FROM OUR HOTEL.
Probably the most mindblowing part of the whole thing was this entire temple complex, right there in the middle of a busy city. I don’t really have much commentary on these pictures, because to be honest what can I say, not being Buddhist.
Here was rice and offertory candles for sale just before entering the complex. This wasn’t a museum, but a functioning temple.
As you can see the Buddhist view of swastikas isn’t the same as ours.
People were actually in the middle of services during our visit, which kept me from going picture happy inside the temple buildings. I mean, wandering in the middle of a church service and firing off flash bulbs just seemed rude. Still I managed to get a few shots from outside.
There were these paper balloons everywhere. I found out later it was because it was Buddha’s birthday this week.
The centerpiece of the temple complex is this huge Buddha, that looked about 5 or 6 stories tall.
Bongeunsa’s website (which is all in Korean) is here.
#1 by Mox on May 23rd, 2006
Actually those are sauvastikas.
#2 by J. on May 23rd, 2006
The NCSoft building looks like a giant game console from that shot.
#3 by Cael on May 23rd, 2006
The swastika is just another mandala, and the arms are intended to trail the spokes. So, your buddhist (and others) swastika rotates clockwise and indicates life and growth.
The Nazi swastika rotated the other way. No big surprise there.
#4 by Eso on May 23rd, 2006
Got to love how ancient symbols of power and luck, like Pentagrams and Swastika are seen as taboo by ignorant westerners because some idiot who did bad things used them as a decoration.
#5 by Aaron on May 23rd, 2006
I thought the same exact thing about the 16 hour flight to Hong Kong. Got to spend a few days in Seoul on the way home and felt exactly the same as you. Glad you got to experience it!
#6 by GooseOnTheLoose on May 23rd, 2006
That trip looked like so much fun! I need to work on a marketable skill so I can jet-set around like you, Lum.
#7 by damijin on May 23rd, 2006
The trip looked amazing! I’m glad you took so many pictures for those of us who might not get to see the short west in our lifetimes. I don’t know about it being five or ten years in the future, but I wouldn’t mind America looking a little more like SoKo.
And I really want that L2 board game!
#8 by Nonentity on May 23rd, 2006
Man, no way. I don’t want that L2 board game. It would take 72 real life turns to get from level 50 to 51.
In all seriousness, though, I’ve always found that city fascinating – I dig the pictures. Good little pictorial.
#9 by Lietgardis on May 23rd, 2006
Did the Diet Coke taste the same as it does in the US? It sucks in China.
#10 by isildur on May 23rd, 2006
“People were actually in the middle of services during our visit, which kept me from going picture happy inside the temple buildings. I mean, wandering in the middle of a church service and firing off flash bulbs just seemed rude.”
Heh. You’ve never been to Notre Dame, have you? There’s something disturbing about a church with a roped-off ‘for congregants’ area in the middle, and a path lined with donation boxes for tourists around the outside of that.
#11 by Chuck on May 23rd, 2006
> Did the Diet Coke taste the same as it does in the US? It sucks in China.
Diet Coke in China adds Lemon. I agree that it sucks.
Diet Pepsi on the other hand is just fine in China.
#12 by Apache on May 23rd, 2006
It’s a beautiful city
#13 by grant on May 23rd, 2006
I had something called “Coke Light” in Mexico and Europe. It’s the same calorie-wise as “Diet Coke” but tastes waaaaaaaay better. I have no idea what the actual difference is.
#14 by scottj on May 23rd, 2006
It’s “Coke Light” in Korea too, and is identical to “Coke Zero” here.
#15 by Ajeba on May 23rd, 2006
Really cool stuff, thanks Scott!
#16 by LanTheWarder on May 23rd, 2006
Looks like you had a really good time. I want to go to the future!
#17 by GregC on May 23rd, 2006
“Did the Diet Coke taste the same as it does in the US? It sucks in China.
Diet Coke in China adds Lemon. I agree that it sucks.”
You can get Coca-Cola Light aka Diet Coke in China without lemon…and it tastes just fine. I drink one every morning.
#18 by J. on May 24th, 2006
“Man, no way. I don\’e2\’80\’99t want that L2 board game. It would take 72 real life turns to get from level 50 to 51.”
And meanwhile everyone will be standing on their chair throwing paper wads at your head.
#19 by Psychochild on May 24th, 2006
Man, no way. I don\’e2\’80\’99t want that L2 board game. It would take 72 real life turns to get from level 50 to 51.
You forget, Scott likes war games! 72 hours to play a board wargame is what the grognards call “a little warmup”.
#20 by Abalieno on May 24th, 2006
Ohh, Guild Wars screenshots in the first page!
#21 by Amber on May 24th, 2006
The juxtaposition of old and new fascinates me. It seems as if you can be looking one direction at a completely modern building, streets, etc, and then turn 30 degrees and now you’re looking into the past. I’ve got to get myself over in that part of the world someday.
#22 by Morrolan on May 24th, 2006
kewl pics. Sup Lum, I used to play with you back in the 3d0 days of meridian , I remember you having no mana and barely able to talk heh heh.
#23 by Jaera on May 25th, 2006
Wow, the POW propaganda is kinda nuts.
Seoul is a beautiful city. I have outdated ideas of what Korea looks like, apparently. Only the wedding recreation comes close.
Nice pictures.
#24 by alaph on May 27th, 2006
I’ve been stationed in Korea for almost 3 years now and have only seen a little of Seoul so thanks for the civilianized shots. I have seen other Korean cities though and they all look fairly similar.
Iteawon is definatly a Disney version of Korea, the merchants there cater to the GIs and the movement away from the traditional is painfully obvious. This is true around any of the US bases in Korea.