South Korean photos│Traditional

South Korean photos   Mysterious Night Here's an old favourite of mine which I haven't posted on flickr yet. Thought I'd share it. Brief info Like many other Asian countries, Korea has two different New Year's days according to solar and lunar calendars. The more widely preferred one is the lunar New Year's day, called So-lal. Located near the summit of Mt. Tohamsan, east of the historic city of Gyeongju, this bell pavilion was the site of a bell-ringing ceremony celebrated in Korea during the solar new year. At midnight the bell is rung almost a hundred times to bring in the new year. The background smoke was created from a performance by traditional dancers in front of the bell pavilion. Glad I was able to be there to witness the beautifully lit structure along with the serene performances throughout the night. A nice change from the rowdy parties that take place back in Canada. Photo was taken at 11:50pm, minutes away from the new year(2004).   This photo was featured in a multimedia photo exhibition at a science museum in Trieste, Italy in 2004. It is currently still being displayed at various locations in that area.   Traditional Roof Lines This is a photo from my favourite temple in Korea - Bulguksa Temple in the historic city of Gyeong Ju. The roof lines made for a great composition. 1 RAW HDR.   Welcome twilight   Korean Doll   Changdeokgung 9   Korean Bell of Friendship This massive and intricately-decorated bell and pavilion was donated in 1976 to the people of Los Angeles by the people of the Republic of Korea to celebrate the bicentennial of the U.S. independence, honor veterans of the Korean War, and to consolidate traditional friendship between the two countries. The bell is patterned after the Bronze Bell of King Songdok, which was cast in 771 A.D. and is still on view in South Korea today. The bell was cast in Korea and shipped to the United States. Weighing 17 tons, with a height of twelve feet and a diameter of 7-1/2 feet, the bell is made of copper and tin, with gold, nickel, lead and phosphorous added for tone quality. When it was built, it cost the Korean people $500,000. Four pairs of figures, each pair consisting of the Goddess of Liberty holding a torch, and a Korean spirit , are engraved in relief on the body of the bell. Each of the Korean spirits holds up a different symbol: a symbolic design of the Korean flag; a branch of the rose of Sharon, Korea's national flower; a branch of laurel, symbol of victory; and a dove of peace. The bell has no clapper but is struck from the outside with a wooden log. The bell is set in a pagoda-like stone structure which was constructed on the site by thirty craftsmen flown in from Korea. It took them ten months and costs $569,680. The pavilion is supported by twelve columns representing the twelve designs of the Oriental zodiac. Animals stand guard at the base of each column. Resting peacefully on the knoll overlooking the sea gate from which U.S. troops sailed into the Pacific, the bell site affords an unsurpassed view of the Los Angeles harbor, the Catalina Channel and the sea terraces of San Pedro hill. The bell is rung only four times each year: the Fourth of July, August 15 (Korean Independence Day) and New Year's Eve, and every September to coincide with bell ringings around the country to celebrate Constitutuon week.   Frozen Winter at Gyeongbokgung, a palace in Seoul, South Korea.   Seoul Imperial Palace Garden Pavillon   Folk Music & Dance Changgyeong Palace Seoul, South Korea May 2006   A Korean Fan One of the talented performers who featured in 'Choon-Hyang: A Love Story of the Far East', performed by a young cast from South Korea, at the 2006 Edinburgh Fringe.   The Beat Goes on Another of my Fringe shots from 2005, featuring a member of the Ari-Corea company from South Korea, who were a delight to photograph.   Before the parade Seoul Lantern festival South Korea (lantern festival 2006)Taken at the Seoul Lantern festival. These two are waiting to start on the parade. Seoul South Korea © All rights reserved.   Suwon's citizen festival. Edge of a drum Suwon This was taken last October in Suwon. It is the edge of a drum. Suwon South Korea   Seoul I Alley near Gwanghwamun, Seoul   Seoul subway   Rainy Seoul   Busan at that time i was so extremely cold with my hands and body shaking and almost not being able to hold my camera firmly... but the lighhouse seen from the fisherman boat was again worth it.   Side Dishes In Korea, expect a large table setting with lots of side dishes in many different tastes and levels of spicyness. on this table there are a total of 20 side dishes excluding sauces/pastes. I especially enjoyed the bamboo made with red pepper paste. Yum!   Gate corner   Seoul at Night Downtown Seoul, Korea at Night.   Hyangwonjong in fall   From the mist an angel emerges Probably best viewed a little larger - the size reduction does something not quite right to the dry ice mist. This was another visually stunning performance, though most of the shots I took had something way wrong with them. I'd have been way happier if I;d just been sitting 2-3m to the right. But I still like this!!   Fall leaves beautiful fall in Korea   Foggy ilsan lamp This day was very foggy. It was taken on one of the overpasses near my apartment. 터 - 한돌 '80 / 낙산 중창단 '86 / 신형원'89 1집 - 한돌 새노래 : 당신은 아... / 갈래 (1980) 한돌 Han, Dol (1954년 01월 30일 / 한국- ) B면 Track No.5 - 터 - 한돌 / 낙산 중창단 / 신형원