Sangdang Sanseong 상당산성

On our way back from Daegu we stopped in Cheongju, a city in central South Korea to visit Sangdang Sanseong.  Sangdang Sanseong, a fortress originally used by the Baekje troops, saw battle in the 1590s, and was rebuilt in the 1700s during the Jeosan Dynasty.  Today you can walk along the fortress wall and enjoy the amazing view on a clear day.

Map of the fortress, which still contains a small village (mainly a tourist trap) inside the fortress wall.

One of the fortress gates.

Walking along the wall.  We made the entire loop.

One of the hidden gates.

Daegu 대구

Depending on which Romanized spelling you use this city is called Daegu or Taegu. Officially the city changed the Romanization to Daegu prior to the Summer Olympics of 1988 (many names were changed at that time to standardize Romanization), but you still see it both ways.  Daegu literally means large hill.  It is the third largest city in South Korea, but area wise it is larger than Seoul.  It is much more spread out, making it fill a little more manageable (not so crazy as the megatropolis of Seoul!).

We were hoping we would see some cherry blossoms (since Seoul wasn't quiet read for spring).  We saw some on the drive down, but Daegu itself was already leafing - no blooms in sight.

Cherry trees in bloom lining the tollway.

Greenhouses.  Much of Korean produce is grown in greenhouses so they have fresh produce year round.

There are many things to see and do in Daegu.  We hiked, shopped, explored, played, and managed not to get lost.  We saw a parking maid, which looked like a google maps car, out snapping photos of license plates(I really wanted a photo, but I was driving at the time).  We visited the Jungangno subway station, the location of the infamous train fire which claimed nearly 200 lives.  It was even warm enough we went to the pool!  Granted it was indoor (as in a greenhouse) but all the windows were open.  If felt like summer.

The view from our hotel room at the Novotel.

Out exploring the Daegu nightlife.

Our bathroom!  The first room is the shower. Obviously the designer is not a woman from a house full of boys!

A crane below the falls of Sincheon River

The hotel bidet.  Most western toilets have bidets here.



hmm... who's up for trying out the bidet?

I have yet to figure out what the zig zag yellow line means.

Yeongnam Jeil Gwanmun, reconstructed south gate in Daegu.

Our "Korean room" at our second hotel with ondul (heated floor), which had our room at a stifling 80+ degrees!

Cherry Blossom Festival

We attended the Yeouido Cherry Blossom Festival here in Seoul.   Unfortunately Mother nature missed the memo and due to the long winter, the blossoms weren't quite festive.  We still had a fun time exploring and enjoying the festival activities.

Hiding out among the huge pots of flowers.

Blossoms almost ready to burst.  The following weekend they were beautiful.

Playing games at the festival.

Prizes won.

Making Korean fans.

Learning about CPR...at a blossom festival?

Health care fair at the blossom festival.  Make sure you brush your teeth...

And eat a well balanced meal.

The boys at the National Assembly (a 300 member legislative branch of Korean government).

Spring is coming!

Back in Korea we found the tree in our backyard starting to bloom.  I don't know what kind of tree it is, but it was sure pretty.  Our neighborhood was full of cherry blossoms, green foliage, and flowers.  We are so glad the long winter is over and spring is on it's way.

Large blossoms waiting to bloom.

A few blossoms.

Blossoms bursting!

USA here we come!

February brought us to the states!  We caught a space-a flight stateside, then drove over 5000 miles on our rental van seeing the west.

Hoping for a flight.  Only two trips to the airport and we were on our way.

We saw friends.

We saw family.

We met the crew of the USS Midway.

We got crazy at LEGOLAND.

Had a history lesson or two.

Made new friends.

Got a little wet at SeaWorld.

Driving for over 5000 miles is more than we can do in Korea!

We played at the beach.

Science at the Grand Canyon.

History at Hovenweep.

Sledding fun in Colorado.

Played with the cousins.

Got our jump fix at the Wairhouse with Aaron and Kyle. (we sure have been missing our trampoline)

Ski bums at Canyons Resort.

Four wheeling fun in Park City.

We had a fabulous 6 week vacation.  If we missed you on our drive, sorry!  Maybe we will catch you next time around.  One crazy all night drive to Seattle got us on a flight back home.  After 6 weeks away, we were more than ready to get back home, sleep in our own beds, and fight jet lag again. 

More Snow

 

It was one snowy winter this year!  I hear it is not normal for Seoul to have this much snow, but the boys loved it!  Just a few photos from our neighborhood for your enjoyment.

Happy New Year 새해 복 많이 받으세요

I wanted to share New Year's Korean style with you.  A friend of mine shared these photos with me of her family celebrating New Years.

In Korea New Years is the day you turn a year older.  That's right.  Everyone has the same birthday.  When you are born you are one year old because Koreans count the time in utero as year one.  Then when New Years comes around you turn 2.  So, if you are born December 30th you will be two years old on your second day of life! (They still use their actual birthday to reckon age for legal things, school, passports, etc).

Koreans celebrate New Years twice in a year: on the Gregorian Calendar New Year on Jan 1, and the Chinese New Year on the second new moon after the winter solstice. 

The New Year on January 1 is a family holiday.  They wear traditional Korean clothing called Hanbok (see photo below).  They eat Tteokguk a soup with rice cakes.  The children and young generations bow to their elders to show respect and wish them a Happy New Year 새해 복 많이 받으세요 which means have a blessed New Year (see the photo below).  This is a full bow to the ground.  When done correctly and with respect the children earn money.  My boys tried this at our house, but their bows did not earn them any money. In Korean accent they said, "We do the bow.  You give us money." haha