SOUTH KOREA
We visited Seoul, the biggest town in South Korea, in January/2000. It was winter, so maybe needless to say that it was "freezing".
Seoul was founded in the 14th century and, nowadays, has a population of over 10 million people. It's cosmopolitan but full of interesting historical spots. The Kyongbokkung Palace (what a name, hum? Don't even know how to pronounce it - hehe) is Seoul's most famous "post card".
"Kyongbokkung Palace", Seoul-South Korea, January/2000
The Kyongbokkung Palace was first built in 1392. It was burnt down during the Japanese invasion of 1592 and left in ruins until it was rebuilt in 1867. Nowadays, it is a place visited by million of tourists every year. It is huge and magnificent.
"Kyongbokkung Palace", Seoul-South Korea, January/2000
"Chongmyo Royal Ancestral Shrines" is a collection of beautiful traditional Korean temples. There are five small palaces in this "complex" and Chonmyo is just one of them. It's opened for inside visitation only on certain ceremonial days, for example, on the first Sunday of May each year, when the descendants of the royal family come to honour the spirits of their ancestors.
"Chongmyo Temple", Seoul-South Korea, January/2000
Unlucky, the day we visited the "Chongmyo" was not a "ceremonial" one, so we could not see the inside of the Palace. Anyway, the "outside" was worth seeing it.
"Chongmyo Temple", Seoul-South Korea, January/2000