Seoul Local Custom Tips by Hmmmm

One of the coolest things about this country is its script, Hangul. Could you imagine if Korea still used only Hanja (chinese script), oh life would be difficult.

Anyway some guff: Hangul script is attributed to King Sejeong (the fourth King of the Lee/Choson Dynasty). And by decree it became the 'Script of Korea' in 1440. But because of the Yang Bang (Noble) class the script was only adopted by the lower or common classes. The noble classes continued to take those long winded chinese confucianist exams, and learn chinese calligraphy, and poetry etc ad nauseum. Perhaps You could say I am too egalitarian for my own good, but this was done to reinforce the chasm between noble and common, Just like the use of French and Latin in Medieval England.

What is amazing about the Hangul script (called Choson Muntcha in North Korea) is that it is soooooo easy to learn and use. It contains only 24 letters (14 consonants and 10 vowels) so learning it is easy. It is used like the Latin alphabet, with letters in combination. And what is more, it is phonetic. So how the word is written EXACTLY how the word is pronounced (an Improvement on the latin alphabet). It is is possible to learn this alphabet in a week, and once you can read hangul, have the battle is won....

You can navigate, find the toilet, read the menu, and begin to learn the Korean language (Hankuk Mal) word by word on your own.. NOW HOW COOL IS THAT.

Oh By the way, The Korean people still use Chinese characters too.. :o( (Its called Hanja). Because some words descend directly from the yangbang (noble) class, some of these words can be interchanged some can't. For instance the common word for 'Person' is 'Saram' (a Korean word) but if you write in using the Chinese (Hanja) character the same word is said 'In'.. which is distinctly korean pronunciation, but it is used similarly in Japan and China. ie. 'In' Korean and 'Rin' Mandarin. Hmmmmm!

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The spring bloom begins with the yellow dogwood blossoms of ``sansuyu,'' and the white-pinkish flowers of the plum tree, or ``maehwa.''It continues with dazzling cherry blossoms appearing on roadsides and parks, while large, red camellia blossoms poking out amid glossy green leaves in the backyards sustain the spring tide.

Now, as early bloomers are already showing off their seductive blossoms and others are about to burst out, people are beating the trails of the stone walled villages at foot of Mt. Chiri or driving along tourist-packed country roads to absorb the sights and smells of spring. This happens in Seoul too.

Thousands and thousands of Seoulites all come out of their houses and stroll along Yunjungno which is along side the Han River in Yeouido. The Yunjungno is seven kilometers long and is lined with 1,400 cherry trees ranging in age from 3 to 35 years old.

Every year in time for the cherry blossoms, the city holds its Cherry Blossom Festival, and the 23-hectare Yeouido Park provides a haven for nature enthusiasts in the midst of the concrete jungle. It really is a must see, and a great reprieve from the cold grey Seoul Winter.

Transportation: Yeouinaru Station or Yeouido Station, Seoul Subway Line 5Seat Bus - 631, 720, 1002, 1008, 703, 718, etc.Regular Bus - 3, 9, 30, 30-1, 48, 70, 77, 119, 123-1, etc

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In Korea, lotus lanterns are a major focus of one of the most important yearly events called Buddha's Birthday. Celebrated on the 8th day of the 4th lunar month every year. The picture, taken at Choggye Sa Temple shows an array of hung lanterns. Many of these Lanterns features a prayer, and/or has someone's name fastened with string. These name tags, blow in the breeze and form a wave with each gust. There are so many lanterns, the tags form a waving sea. It really is great to see. Anyone who wants to can "buy" a lantern and write anything he or she likes on it. A donation is given to the temple. Buddhists believe that the more people give, the more generous people are, the happier people are.

Choggyesa is the largest Buddhist temple in Seoul. Home of the Choggye Buddhists, the 4th largest Korean Buddist sect. So there you go. Cheap vegetarian food here to. Especially the Kamja Jeon (Potato Pancake).. YUMYUM! :o)

Some guff:
Unique to Korea, lotus lanterns consist of the symbols of the lotus flower and a candle. The lotus, a common symbol in Buddhism, represents the process of shedding ignorance (darkness, growing towards the light from the mud) to attain wisdom (light, the opening of the flower in the sunlight).
Making lanterns in the shape of lotuses renacts the aspiration of everyone for wisdom. The candle inside symbolizes the attainment of wisdom. These kinds of laterns first showed up during the Korean Shilla Dynasty, around the year 551ad. So quite a while ago.

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