Tuesday, December 16, 2008

Autumn in Seoul


Well, after a great trip back to the good ol' USA we have returned to Seoul for Christmas and New Year celebrations. As "The Jefferson's" might say...I have 'moved up' in terms of my camera but need to figure out how to download the pictures and update the software (reading the instruction book would be a start!). I have some great snaps and stories from Michigan and Kentucky and will post ASAP. It was really great to be home...just seemed like it went by too fast! It was really cool after the long flight to roll into Seoul and see beautiful Christmas lights and trees everywhere! ( I will also post pictures) As a matter of fact...as I gaze out my back window...I see 6 Christmas trees with beautiful lighting in various windows. They are certainly not afraid to say and display "Merry Christmas" here in Korea! There is also a great Nativity scene near our apartment...I will catch a picture of it also. Today I will post a few good ones taken in October and November. One of my good buddies from Michigan (Tom) was kind to send us snapshots from the beautiful trees on Muir Road (MI)...they were great! We did enjoy the Autumn in Korea also...the mountains had such a variety of colors. Everyone says that Spring and Fall are the prettiest times in Korea...I would have to agree. In the attached photo...we are standing at one of the Palaces...waiting for a bus to pick us up from a great tour of Seoul. The photographer was Molly...from Grosse Pointe Farms. We met her on the tour and really enjoyed her spunk and personality! She lived only a few short streets from our place on Muir...another 'small world' moment! We also enjoyed the musical "Nanta"http://nanta.i-pmc.co.kr/index.asp and a tour of the National Korean Folk Museum http://www.nfm.go.kr:8080/english/main.jsp There was even a Cadillac built specifically for the Royal Family on display! (Along with a Daimler auto per Chris). :-) There was also a letter and contract requesting electric lighting facilities for Kyongbok Palace to Edison Lamp Company on September 4, 1884. We thought this was really interesting! http://www.ieee.org/portal/cms_docs_iportals/iportals/aboutus/history_center/conferences/singapore/Nam-Early_History.pdf This tour was sponsored by the Seoul Government to assist in educating foreigners on the heritage of Korea and to promote tourism ( we did note many photographers snapping away during the day...:-) The Korean people are very proud of their country and want others to appreciate and enjoy their experience here!