I love to go sightseeing when visiting a new city or country to get a sense of place and of it’s history and the people who live there…..where they came from, when and why. They are all different and all fascinating. We, human beings, are all different and all fascinating.
We visited Namsangol Hanok Village to see Joseon Dynasty (1392-1897) korean homes and community buildings that had been dismantled and reconstructed on this site to preserve the buildings themselves and a sense of the way villagers lived their lives during those almost five centuries. It was so interesting to see the mats and bedding used to make beds on the floor, the utensils used for cooking and housekeeping and articles of clothing. All of these things looked very different from what we’re used to today. I was so impressed by the beautifully made wooden dressers and the construction of the homes.
The word Hanok meant that the construction of the house took into consideration the surrounding land and the seasons. This principle is called Baesanimsu. It literally means the house is built with its back to a mountain and a river in the front with a heated rock system to warm the house in the winter and a wide front porch to keep the house cool in the summer, all to provide a healthy environment for the family.
In the center of the village stood a communal pavilion next to a beautiful pond, perfect for important ceremonies. While we watched, a young couple had their wedding pictures taken in rented traditional korean clothing. Couples from all over South Korea come here for that purpose. Witnessing that present day excitement in this ancient traditional place made the whole experience so much more memorable.
Behind us on the hill is the N Seoul Tower, the highest point in Seoul. We drove up the winding road lined with Cherry Trees through Namsan Park. It was beautiful, even in the winter, with its walking trails and benches. I’d love to come back in the spring for the Cherry Blossom Festival. The tower contains a radio station, gift shop, observation deck, restaurants and food court with a large demonstration area for folk dancers and martial arts performers. One restaurant, N Grill, revolves every 48 minutes and had a gorgeous view of the surrounding city.
On the observation deck, a group of 25 school children about 7 years old with their teachers rushed up to me, surrounded me and in their best english said hello and asked where I was from. They told me, one by one, their names and asked me about mine. It was so much fun. They were as curious about me as I was about them.
Outside, on the plaza, we watched some colorfully dressed young men dance while swirling balls tethered to their hats. They would start out slowly beating their drums and tossing their heads, snapping them quickly around to send those balls zooming all over the place. Then the pace would quicken and build to a crescendo. Very dramatic! Very Korean! So much fun!
