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Secret Garden

Royal Prince's residence Changdeokgung Palace Complex In the early 15th century, King Taejong ordered the construction of a new palace at an auspicious site. A Bureau of Palace Construction was set up to create the complex, consisting of a number of official and residential buildings set in a garden that was cleverly adapted to the uneven topography of the 58-ha site. The result is an exceptional example of Far Eastern palace architecture and design, blending harmoniously wit

Deborah Kade

14 hours ago12 min read

Walking, Walking, Walking...........

Walked and walked and walked today. Trees are budding and flowers and trees are starting to bloom. First stop took us to Ha-dong Plum Street where we walked along the Cheonggyecheon Stream. Hadong Plum Street, famously known as the filming location for the TV drama Dokkaebbi (Goblin) is a long walking course along the promenade by the Cheonggyecheon Stream from Yongdap Station to Sindap Station. The street was named Hadong Plum Street after Hadong-gun of Gyeongsanggnam-do Pro

Deborah Kade

2 days ago5 min read

Only Cried Once Today

Today we left Seoul for the DMZ as Michael was interested in going there. We left our driver in Paju and boarded a special bus that took us on the tour of the DMZ. The first stop had us being close to the peace bell. Michael thought it would be memorable to actually ring the bell. The Peace Bell (Pyeonghwauijong) at Imjingak Pyeonghoa-Nuri Park in Paju, South Korea, built in 2000, symbolizes hopes for national reunification and world peace. Located near the DMZ, the 21-ton be

Deborah Kade

3 days ago7 min read

I Cried Twice Today

This morning at breakfast, I thought of all my friends reading this blog. I especially loved breakfast this morning! However, I chuckled to myself knowing most of you are "gagging" on all the different breakfast choices being offered. fried dumplings and fried glass noodles The person sitting next to us thought this was tasty The octopus was yummy but a little too spicy The spicy chicken was delicious Meats, cheeses, and breads Homemade strawberry, apricot, and blueberry jam

Deborah Kade

4 days ago5 min read

Taraksan, Tea, and a Temple

June, our tour guide, planned so many exciting experiences for us today! Thank you for another wonderful day!! She is the best! Naksan is is a mountain in the Jongno Distric of Seoul . It is 125 meters (410 ft) tall. It and Namsan are well known for their panoramic views of downtown Seoul. The mountain and its surrounding area is Naksan Park. Naksan Park is named for its shape which resembles a camel's back. As this place used to be a royal ranch that supplied milk for the

Deborah Kade

5 days ago6 min read

What's a Vacation Without a Contest!

We are on vacation so I thought I should have a contest like I do when we are in Switzerland. Not sure of the prize yet. So.... guess how many pictures I could choose from when I wrote the blog: "Busy Day in Seoul. Send your guess to my email no later than midnight Arizona time on Saturday, March 28th. Good luck!!!

Deborah Kade

5 days ago1 min read

Busy Day in Seoul

We are staying at the Four Seasons and the breakfast buffet is included. If you go away hungry, it is certainly your fault! There are so many different selections from Korean fare, typical American breakfast of made to order omelets and eggs, etc. There is a salad section, hot prepared dishes, etc. I could have spent all day tasting everything! My favorite was the egg special of the day! It was so delicious, I went back and thanked the chef! It was soft scrambled eggs with bl

Deborah Kade

5 days ago13 min read

Korean Air from Los Angeles to Seoul

We have a morning flight from Los Angeles International Airport to Incheon International Airport. Flying first class will make the long flight less stressful and more comfortable, for sure. So....we leave Friday morning and do not arrive in Korea until Saturday night. We have to cross the International Dateline. We were the first ones to check in this morning. I wish I had taken pictures of the process. The Koreans are just as precise as the Swiss. There were no lines at the

Deborah Kade

7 days ago6 min read

Part One of the Journey to South Korea Phoenix to Los Angeles

We are off to South Korea for vacation. Unfortunately, we couldn't go from Phoenix to Los Angeles and then onto Seoul, South Korea because of flight times, so we are spending the night at the Marriott near LAX. Early tomorrow morning, we will board the plane to Incheon International Airport. and then on to Seoul. Camelback Mountain " The PHX Sky Train is a free, 24/7 automated people mover at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, connecting Terminals 3 and 4, East Economy

Deborah Kade

Mar 193 min read