Korea, February–March 2006
Shirts from the University of Cambridge • These shirts were in a big box on the street outside a shop in Seoul, for sale at 5000 KRW (= ~£3 GBP, ~$7 AUD) each. I wonder whether the Vice-Chancellor, Proctors and Regent House of the other place have licensed the institution's good name, together with its coat of arms, to appear on knock-off shirting. Perhaps they're on to a good thing?
Geunjeongjeon at Gyeongbokgung • The main building at Gyeongbokgung, the imperial palace in Seoul, the Geunjeongjeon. First built in 1395, it was burned down in 1592 during the Japanese Invasion and rebuilt in 1867. It was used for important ceremonies of state.
Seoul city hall • Seoul city hall—the ice and tents in the foreground are connected with the icerink which is set up for the winter months.
Seoul • View over some of the many low-rise buildings of Seoul from the Seoul Tower.
Seoul • There are a few high-rise buildings in some areas of Seoul, as seen from this view from Seoul Tower.
Messages • The fence across the 'Freedom Bridge' (now blocked up) which links the two Koreas across the DMZ and military demarcation line is covered with expressions of desire for reunification.
Freedom bridge • Freedom bridge, which connects the two Koreas. When the armistice was announced in 1953, people in both the north and south of the country were given the opportunity to stay where they were, or to cross back over. Some from South Korea went back to the North to be with their families, but many from the North crossed to the South since they chose “freedom’.
Monument for unification • A monument outside the entrance to the Third Tunnel in the DMZ expresses a desire for reunification of Korea.
Before North Korea • Standing at Dora Observatory, which overlooks the DMZ and then over North Korea. Not that we could see much that day because of the poor weather.
Dorasan Railway Station • Standing in front of Dorasan Railway Station, which was completed a few years ago. Although it was and still is intended for trains to go across the military demarcation line and into/through North Korea, the administration there went back on the agreement at the last minute. As such, this is a large, modern railway station standing pretty much unused—there are a few trains a day between here and Seoul, for the use of tourists. There is also the opportunity to have your passport stamped with a commemorative stamp.
Presidential sleeper • A concrete sleeper inscribed by Mr Bush, the current President of the United States of America. He was present at the grand opening of Dorasan railway station in 2002, although the station remains largely unused to this day.
Wishful thinking • A sign in the concourse of Dorasan railway station points the direction to go for trains to Pyongyang (the capital of North Korea). If you followed the sign, you'd be in for a pretty long wait because no trains are permitted to cross the military demarcation line dividing Korea.
Standing guard • A Korean soldier stands guard at Dorasan railway station. The electronic display board behind him reveals that all trains from this station are going only to Seoul, 56km south.
Observatory • In Tumulus Park, Gyeongju.
Bell • A large bell at the Gyeonju National Museum. There were signs all around forbidding visitors from striking the bell using the hammer (you can see the swinging hammer is held fixed). You can also see the speaker on the right at the back of the picure, out of which came a recording of what the bell would sound like every couple of minutes.
