Free like whatever we dream about

Since it's finally Spring, I picked songs that feel refreshing and bright. These songs feel like the cool wind on your face as you drive on a sunny day with the windows all the way down. And the illustrations show some folks in music festival styles. Enjoy.

The ones you left behind are still with you my dear

We also went to Kyung Bok Palace. It was a clear day and it wasn't raining like the day before, but it was freezing cold. I'm so used to warm Southern California weather, it was really hard for me. I was literally wearing a tank top, long sleeve tee, wool sweater, wool cardigan, jacket, hat and scarf. Yeah, the other citizens of Korea were not dressed like me. I must've looked ridiculous in all those layers and still shivering unbearably. We watched the "changing of the guards" ceremony in front of the palace. These palaces are huge. You just walk around and explore and it's never ending. At Kyung Bok Palace, there is also a National Folk Museum.



On the last full day we spent there, we drove up to Im Jin Gak. This is as close to the North Korean border as you can get. It was kind of strange because they had all these carnival rides there, cute eateries, then you can walk up this boardwalk and look through telescopes towards the North. You can't see much, just mountains and trees and stuff. There are military tanks and fighter planes that were used during the Korean War to fight off the invasions. When we were driving back, you can see all the real military posts there. This trip was amazing and I just felt like it did a lot for my spirit and soul. Truly unforgettable experience for me.




Okay, so I uploaded a lot of the special pictures from my trip. I still have so many. When I have time I will edit them again and see if I should upload more. For now, I added few to my Flickr.

Rise up and take the power back

Chang Deok Palace was amazing. It was a rainy day and we adventured with our umbrellas. Because of the rain, there weren't that many tourists in the palace, which was fantastic. It felt so special to walk around in the light rain. A lot of the Korean palaces were burnt down during the Japanese invasions. It had to be rebuilt and restored. Chang Deok Palace was so beautiful. It's huge with all these special little places. It's very peaceful and gorgeous. I absolutely loved this place.

You don't know me by name

This was Day 2 of our trip. This was not in the city of Seoul. We ate at a nice restaurant (vegetarians and health nuts would love this place). Rice was cooked inside bamboo wood to make it fragrant. Then, they served countless options of side dishes made from healthy greens and roots. Very delicious. Also, this was one of the most important days of my life.



They built this set to shoot a drama series called "Dae Jang Gum" about life in the palace and about this famous cook, based on a true story. After they finished, they turned it into a "theme park" for tourists and visitors.









Felt really good to walk here. Away from the city, away from home, really felt so peaceful. This is Gwang Reung, royal tombs of King Sejo and Queen Jeong Hui, my ancestors.



Can you see the tomb way up on the top?

You're still somewhere in town

On a rainy day, we took the bus to Dong Dae Moon market area. Basically, it's the garment and fashion district. Most shops are wholesale only and there are parts that only open late at night. We bought a few necessities and ate lunch. The thing about most Korean restaurants is that you have to take your shoes off, too. I kept forgetting that. I know there are some restaurants in Los Angeles Koreatown that are also designed this way, but it was inconvenient for me since I was wearing big boots and it was a hassle to take on and off. Plus, the seating is different. But it was still charming.












Korea University campus and students on a rainy day