Our Sunday

We began the day thinking we were going to the Seoul National Science Museum. We were almost there when the bus driver told John it was closed. Thankfully a palace - Chang-gyeong Palace was on the way to the museum so we just got off and went in. As luck would have it as we were crossing the street a woman told us that there was a free English tour starting right away. So we rushed in and joined. It was great and we learned a lot more by having guides. Netta was resistant at first and even wanted to leave the tour about half way through but we stuck with it and after she made friends with the tour guide she said it was the best tour ever.



A cool looking rock.
This building was the Mother's Living Quarters which was where the King's mother spent her time. King Seongjong was the king's name.




A monument built over the umbilical cord of someone who later became king. Kind of mossy now. This wasn't the original location of it but it was moved there during the Japanese Colonial Period.
Netta taking a break...and listening.
Netta found some cool rocks on this tour. We brought home a heavy bag - this one has a fern fossil on it. The tour guide gave her the ok on bringing it home..
Here we are by the white willow - beautiful huh? It has about 50 or so years before it becomes a national treasure.
Netta has the camera now. These are the gardens through her eyes.

I really love this picture and these flowers.
Amazing trees.

During the Japanese Colonial Period the Japanese turned the area into a zoo but it was restored in 1984. So there are some parts of the gardens that are out of place. The pond is built in more of a Japanese style and there is a greenhouse built in a Victorian style there too. Strange and sad.
Olive had a nap during the tour so I missed some of it but we caught up with the rest of the group later and Olive was feeling perky. Here she is enjoying running up and down a ramp. So fun!
Olive has really learned how to run......





Love the contrast here---love these girls!!!

We went looking in a gift shop at another palace for a friend for Netta's doll Margaret who we bought for her last time we were in Seoul but they didn't have any like her anymore. Netta did find a cool kit that was 3 dimensional models of some palace buildings. She came home and completed them by herself. They are very cool - I'll post some photos next time.

We stopped for ingredients and I made bi bim bap http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bibimbap which we ate for dinner (except for Netta who ate mashed potatoes).