Hi-Seoul Festival Closing Ceremony with Fireworks!

Deoksugung & Seoul Museum of History

So my fabulous Taiwanese friends have made plans for a full afternoon of activities followed by the viewing of the closing ceremony of HiSeoul Festival @ Hangang.

First, we headed to Deoksugung at Gwanhwamun area and roamed about in the vicinity including the Seoul Museum of History.

 There are always guard-changing ceremonies in palaces. (Or at least it seems like it)

I particularly like this palace cos it's in the middle of town, but it's a really small Palace with a Museum inside. 

Go only if you have limited time.

(I'd still suggest going to Gyeongbokgung for a better Palace experience.

 Love the horses - and i saw them up close and personal! YAY!

Weird to see ancient dresscodes mixed with modern ones.

It's pretty comical. And the guards are crossing the road!

 

Upon entering the palace, you will see this modern museum.They exhibit art paintings from all over the world.

Exhibitions are seasonal.

After that we headed for the highlight of the day!

Fireworks @ Hangang!

Imagine the big hoo-ha in Singapore when we have a firework-display lasting 3 minutes.

THEN imagine that duration multipled by 40times! 2 FULL hours....

There was serious human jam whilst making our way there. 

The train was packed with people, it's almost nose-to-nose.

It was like a mass gathering. Families, friends, couples all spread their pinic mats at any possible open grass spot. 

So full that i couldn't see the grass anymore.

63 building 육삼 빌딩

Then the host came up and the fireworks started. I expected it to stop but it just went on and on and on and my camera was working so hard that it went out of battery before the end of the show.

The whole time, we were just watching the fireworks and enjoying the ambience... it was awesome!

An unforgettable memory!

Hi-Seoul Festival @ Hangang

So, there is this festival that lasts for about 7 - 10 days in Seoul called the Hi-Seoul Festival. This festival is like a platform where all artists who are in love with arts and performing arts can display their work and talent...

There is a structured schedule for all sorts of performances and art showcases at selected areas, mostly Hangang and The Cheonggyecheon Stream...

Cause all the events are running con-currently, my buddy randomly suggested to go for the Hangang exhibition (Yeido entrance). The arts gallery was nice, but the performances were minimal and not as interesting as i has expected...

Neverthless, the ambience was good and it was a nice experience...

Those images on the top left-hand side is a showcase of my buddy's very own performing arts! Using shadows and hand signs!

 

A very blur photo of a Korean Drama film... it looks like a scene from Playful Kiss, but i m not absolutely sure - got banned from taking pictures... :(

Hangang Park 한강공원

Dangsan Station, Lines 2 

Accessible via many subway stops as well.


It all started  because i fell asleep on the subway  -  i exceeded my usual stop and ended up having to get off 2 stops from my supposed-stop.

When i woke up (finally) i was a little lost cause i dont remember seeing scenery outside the train window; I usually get off the train while i am still in the tunnel so i knew that i had exceeded my destination.

Funny thing is, the scenery outside the window was really nice! Then i realised it was a part of Hangang.

So, the adventurer in me appeared and i got off at the next stop - Dangsan, destination in mind - "Hangang"

Like i said before, how can things always just "happen" to be... somehow, I know God is watching me....

The moment i exit from the station, there was a bicycle rental kiosk, so i got a bike and went scooting around.

Stumbled into some martial art public display...

Amazing right? Looks like a nice venue to date!

The clouds where unbelievebly beautiful - just like cotton candies in the sky!

The more i explored on my own, the more i appreciate this time i have here... 

 It's hard to describe that sense of freedom....

Lo and behold - upon getting home, I even got to eat home-made Bibimbap prepared by my housemate. 

I feel blessed! Very blessed!