Monday, November 25, 2013

Seoul and Busan Trip 2013 - Day 5 - Gyeongbokgung Palace Part 2

Map of the King's and Queen's living quarters.

Gangnyeongjeon (Hangul: 강녕전; Hanja: 康寧殿), also called Gangnyeongjeon Hall, is a building used as the king's main residing quarters. First constructed in 1395, the fourth year of King Taejo, the building contains the king's bed chamber. Destroyed during the Japanese invasions of Korea in 1592, the building was rebuilt when Gyeongbokgung was reconstructed in 1867, but it was again burned down by a major fire on November 1876 and had to be restored in 1888 following the orders of King Gojong. Source: wikipedia

The place where the king eats and sleep.

Beautiful paintings on the ceiling with phoenixes.

It is amazing how they hang the doors up when not in use.

We now comes to the queen's living quarters, not much difference from the king's quarters.

Gyotaejeon (Hangul: 교태전; Hanja: 交泰殿), also called Gyotaejeon Hall, is a building used as the main residing quarters by the queen during the Joseon Dynasty. The building is located behind Gangnyeongjeon, the king's quarters, and contains the queen's bed chamber. Source: wikipedia

Beautiful paintings on the doors.

Saw this little door below the queen's quarters, wondered what is behind the door?

The royal kitchen under renovation so we could not visit it.

Most who watched the korean drama "Dae Jang Geum" will knows who the girl in the poster was. She is actress Lee Young Ae, who acted as an orphaned kitchen cook who went on to become the king's first female physician, in the TV Drama of Dae Jang Geum.

Finally, we arrived at the queen's terraced garden known as Amisan, with ondol (underfloor heating) chimneys decorated with longevity symbols.

Gyeonghoeru (Hangul: 경회루; Hanja: 慶會樓), also known as Gyeonghoeru Pavilion, is a hall used to hold important and special state banquets during the Joseon Dynasty. Source:wikipedia

As we were exiting from the palace, we noticed some leaves on the trees turning orangy cause of autumn but we were too early to see the beautiful autumn foliage. :( If only we were to visit one week later but hubby could take leave only this period.

Some korean television company filming at the gate.

A favourite with tourists are these palace guards.

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