Cool Place ! - Dongdaemun

In Seoul again last week.  On a morning when we didn't have meetings, my friend Harri and I went on a brief photo excursion.  On one of the tourist maps of Seoul, I noted a place called the Dongdaemun Cultural Center.  We had no idea what to expect, so we planned to have an early breakfast, and get there as soon after sun up that we could.

Photo by Mark W. Laughlin

From several blocks away, we could see it as we drew nearer in the cab.  A cool looking place, all rounded and smooth, stainless steel skin gleaming in the early morning sun.

Photo by Mark W. Laughlin

The early sun, still at a very low angle, bounced in around and through the place.  The stainless reflected the light beautifully, and picked up the colors reflecting from the surroundings.

Photo by Mark W. Laughlin

Wonderful, smooth, rounded shapes, interfacing with the concrete walkways and hand railing.

Photo by Mark W. Laughlin

Then, Harri noticed that the "dirt" patches that we could see around us were areas where ruins of earlier constructions could be seen.

Photo by Mark W. Laughlin

Several things are combined on this large, full city block facility.  There is a subway station under it, causing a steady stream of people to be headed down the wide walks and through the portals, headed to and from work each day. 

Photo by Mark W. Laughlin

Part of the roof was covered with artificial grass, and sticking into it were thousands of artificial white flowers.

Photo by Mark W. Laughlin

Another part, a central open space well below the elevation of the street, had more ruins, and included a restored section of an ancient fortress wall.  They have not determined which quarry produced the original stones, so the restoration stones, taken from a different quarry, are lighter colored, and you could easily tell which were the originals.

Photo by Mark W. Laughlin

Cool the way the light played off the stainless.

Photo by Mark W. Laughlin

 Harri...

Photo by Mark W. Laughlin

The stairs leading from the street down to the subway station entrance.

Photo by Mark W. Laughlin

Light reflecting off stainless and the very smooth concrete surface.

Photo by Mark W. Laughlin

Girl ascending the stairway, into an ethereal light.

 

 

If you are in Seoul, check out Dongdaemun.  It's easy to reach, just a quick cab ride from Sejong-daero.  Lots of cool photo op's !

Y'all take care,
- Mark



Seoul Fortress Wall, Dongdaemun History Museum,
Dongdaemun Stadium Memorial, Design Gallery,
Event Hall, Café, Outdoor Performance,
Dongdaemun Stadium Memorial Museum
http://tour.junggu.seoul.kr/tour/eng/h03_tour/h31_recom_07.jsp

 

Missed Opportunity !

Well, after getting up early, making a 14-hour flight to Tokyo, waiting 3 hours to connect, I was on the flight to Seoul, hoping we would get a good view of the sunset as we took off.  Well, we sat on the ground until the light had mostly faded so, as tired as I was, I closed my eyes. 

Photo by Mark W.  Laughlin

I had my cell on "airplane mode" specifically so I could snap a photo, but my better camera was packed away.  Then, as we ascended after take off, we got high enough that the sun was again just beneath the horizon, and the color came back.  Even better, right there, silhouetted perfectly on the horizon, was Mt. Fuji.

 

Unfortunately, the plane began a slight left turn, making it harder and harder to get a shot of Fujiyama.  I clicked, but the only half-good one was this one.  The dark part in the center is Tokyo Bay.  To the right, Tokyo, and down the far side of the bay are Kawasaki and Yokohama.  Really wish I could have gotten better clarity, and a better angle on Fuji.

But, I guess you get what you get...
- Mark