Here in Seoul. 

The hostel I’m at has…real….drip…. coffee. I made coffee today!  Hallelujah !

Spent the morning at Gyeongbokgung palace. Was lucky enough to get in on an english-language guided tour. This place was tragically destroyed several times over the years but is being rebuilt once again.

Admission was free to the nearby Folk Museum. Many other people knew of this so my visit was short. I may go back another day to see this excellent place. Really well put together.

Lunch was ramen on a cute shopping street.

After a short walk avoiding a demonstration  (100,000 in attendance!) I found my way across town to a temple.

Bongeunsa temple is very old, very nice.

Featured at the temple was a display of Bonsai. Beautiful!

I was delighted to also find a gathering of a different sort; an outdoor concert. The occasion was to promote reunification. This was a spectacular way to view cultural treasures. Over the next 2 hours I was treated to a selection of Italian opera (Il Trovatore), American showtunes (Phantom), and English classics (The Beatles). It wrapped up with a Korean national anthem sing-along complete with flag-waving!

Then a long metro ride home to street food and some tv.  All the news channels are full of the demonstration. It’s estimated that 10,000 police were there. I believe it.

Heres today’s pictures 

And things are expensive again  ((sad face)).

Didn’t do anything today. Dinner was from a convenience store.

Here is a picture of Froggy 

Began with a late start and a casual bike ride along the Tamsui river with Junhee.

Laundry and lunch later, then a trip to the 2-28 Peace Park and Museum.  This place is really moving. It decribes a human-rights violation in 1947, following WWII. 

A short walk in the park then a visit to the National Taiwan Museum. Nice but small.

A rest back at the hostel, then a short walk with Amy to the night market for dinner.

Some TV then bed.

Not too many pictures today

Had a lovely morning strolling around the nearby areas, looking at temples and sending postcards.

Then a healthy lunch at the hostel. I’m horrified to discover that I can’t eat noodles thrice daily without side effects.

More temples and lots of chatting with lovely friend Jun Hee was followed by a visit to an extremely reasonably priced museum.

Dinner was VERY GOOD SUSHI at the Taipei Fish Market.

To end this wonderful day a bunch of the hostel folk went out to the night market for snacks and ridiculousness. Someone ordered stinky tofu (not bad) and sea snails ( didn’t have any).

Here’s todays pictures out of order