Miscellany

In the Buddhist temples such as the one we visited south of the Han river, they have four instruments that they ring out at the service times. There is a drum, a 'cloud gong', a gigantic bell, and most uniquely, a dragon-fish hybrid that is knocked about with sticks. Below is the head - very colourful!



Diagonally across the centre of Seoul from the temple is a mountain that is covered with Shamanist shrines and suchlike. It is typically rugged and steep. A short, intense climb will get you up the hill and you are rewarded with a great viewpoint over Seoul centre. On the far hill is Seoul Tower, and in the foreground are the fortress walls of Seoul (reconstructed).



South of Seoul is the city of Suwon. It is an hour by train and a ticket is the equivalent of only 70p! Just outside Suwon is the Korean Folk Village. We went in Chuseok, and it was heaving. It may be like this all the time: if so, I have never seen such a popular folk village. It had lots of reconstructed houses, ranging from a peasant's hovel, through a well-off farmer's house to a landowner's villa. There are also shows such as a display of horsemanship and, below, a tight-rope walker!