Hwaseong Fortress

When I first found out where I would be going in Korea, I was told Hwaseong. The internet (at least the English speaking internet) is VERY confused about the actual location of Hwaseong. Some of the internet understands the basics, but most of the internet wants you to think that the fortress is really the only thing known as Hwaseong. The real problem is that despite the fact that my address is Hwaseong, no one actually calls this area Hwaseong. I live in Dongtan, which is in Hwaseong, but really outside of Suwon. Frankly, after more than two months, I'm just figuring it out myself.

Anyway, none of that is really the point. The point is that I went to the fortress. It's pretty darn cool. It was built in the late 18th century by some guy who wanted to keep his shit safe. You know, the standard fortress story. The coolest part is that, like many ancient things in Korea, the fortress is completely coexisting with modern day Suwon. You pay a couple of dollars and you can wander around the fortress. Lauren, my sightseeing buddy from Gig Harbor, and I walked about half of the outside wall, got hot, the cut through the city to get to the excitement (and to eat an ice cream).  Alright, on to the good stuff: the pictures!

One of the main gates of the fortress.

Looking back at the gate from inside along the wall.

Using what was once intended for weaponry (CROSSBOWS!) to creepily peek out to Suwon.

What is that person wearing?!

Lauren and I being super touristy.

The trolley for people visiting the fortress that we foolishly chose not to ride. It was hot!

Some Koreans learning about archery.

We discovered this as we cut through the city to eat our ice cream. Two questions. One: who sells tapes? It's 2011!! Two: Who buys them???!!!!

Creeping on some fake people. 

More fake people, these were much more realistic.

A giant Buddha with a little shrine (?) underneath.

Inside the shrine.

Lauren at the highest point in the fort. Suwon is in the background.

Some Koreans ring the bell.

On the way back to where we started.

The fortress.

Alright, that about does it for touristy pictures for a little while. I'm going to try to blog about my real life in the very near future. Stay tuned!

COEX Aquarium

The COEX Aquarium is pretty darn cool. A few weeks ago, I had some time off and no money, so I stuck around Seoul and tried to do some touristy stuff. I mostly just went to the aquarium and took a million pictures. These are my favorites.

Just a little reminder that you are still in Korea, they put these little guys in a fish tank. 

Another reminder that you are in Korea! 

These little guys look so friendly!!

PIRANHA

It's nice to have friends.

This little guy looks the friendliest of all. 

For the record, I know that it's creepy to take pictures of other people at the aquarium, but this was too good to pass up.

MANATEE

Around the 'hood

I've had some requests for pictures around my neighborhood, so here they are! There is a cute little surprise at the end!

This is my building. My apartment is the second from the left on the top floor. 

This is my street. My building is on the left, with the yellow banner on the side. At the end of the road is the Samsung factory. That factory is the reason that my town exists at all. Apparently, 20,000 people will work there when it's completed. That's four times the size of Prosser. Blows my mind. 

This is the neighborhood market where I buy most of my groceries. They don't have much in the way of Western food, so I go to HomePlus (like Korean Target) for that. 

This path goes from where I live to a much more urban part of Dongtan. My new friends live this way. 

This is where I catch the bus to Seoul. The stop is only 5 minutes from my place. It's a 40 minute ride to Gangnam Station. The bus comes every 15 minutes and costs less than $2. It's super convenient. 

This is the more urban part of Dongtan.

Again in the urban part of Dongtan. 

I think this is an advertisement for a motel, but I just thought it was strange. 

Rotary!! This park is about 15 minutes walk from where I live, on the other side of town. There is a Central Park that is much closer to my house, but this park is much more my style. 

I like that even though I'm in the woods, there is this creepy reminder that I'm in Korea.

There are some sweet boardwalks through this cute marsh. Unfortunately, the weather wasn't great on Sunday. I went back today and it was sunnier, but I didn't bring my camera. 

This is at the top of the hill, along with some exercise equipment. No Korean park is complete without exercise equipment. 

The path down in a different direction. 

Looking back up at the top. 

The only creature I saw besides magpies. He was REAL interested in Toby. (More on Toby in a minute.)

I have no idea what this is about. 

I found a part of Dongtan I'd never been to before. On the right is the Dongtan Multicultural Center. 

There were a lot of sweet statues, this one was one of my favorites. 

I like the reflection in this one. 

Check out the melodica on the end!!

This thing was like eight feet tall!! So cute!

Back in the urban part of Dongtan. 

This tent is really common here. You can get Korean street food just about anywhere and it's cheap!!

The tanks outside of a seafood restaurant in Dongtan. 

A bar that I clearly need to start hanging out at.

In the background is Metapolis, the third tallest residential structure in the world. I walk through it everyday to get to work. 

This is Toby. I am watching him for a friend for the weekend. He is really, really cute. He loves to snuggle and go for walks, so we have lots in common.