Seoul - from Kimchi to Candy-apples

Traveling further west - we are visiting Seoul in South Korea. At about 39,000 square miles, South Korea would easily fit between Los Angeles and San Francisco. The nation's population is 50-million, but half live in Seoul, making this city and it's catchment area far larger than any American city.  Mid-August and Independence Day week means we are being spared the crowds, but it still doesn't seem that traffic here could compare with NYC, the LI Expressway or traveling to The Cape. There is a very modern, ever growing subway system that seems to do an amazing job.  

                                        

Architecture is very modern and prominently seen in extremely tall buildings. Shopping is clearly a serious pastime, with large above and underground shopping centers and multi-storied department stores sprinkled throughout the city. Frequently seen groups of brightly colored, tethered toddlers is evidence that you can never begin too young. Besides an endless selection of clothing and jewelry there are incredible food departments to be found. Think Dean and DeLuca on steroids. Besides prepared foods, there are incredible displays of flowers. Vegetables are beautifully arranged. Lettuce is fanned out and selected leaf by  leaf. Fruit arrangements appear like pieces of art - whether bagged in pyramids or carefully cupped individually in a plastic nest - almost too beautiful to eat. Naturally there is a wide variety of kimchi, but if you would prefer macaroons or candy-apples, they are there for the taking. 

                                         

Large  Buddhist  temple complexes are an oasis amid urban life. Bongeunsa is close by to where we are staying, south of the Han River. The tall white standing Buddha is its icon. Thousands of white paper lanterns have attached prayers and can be seen blanketing the inside of various shrines or cutting white paper streams up the hilly terrain. 

                

Monks play music, lead prayers and conduct funeral services inside brightly painted wooden buildings that remind us of Bhutan. Shoes are left outside as worshipers select a cushion and enter for prayer. Guests are respectfully welcome to join, although the level of activity at the complex makes this somehow feel inappropriate. Maybe we will return and enter at a quiter moment.