Seoul and Incheon

We spent the next day in Seoul, heading first to the National Palace Museum, seeing, notably, the displays of scientific achievements of the Joseon Dynasty; clocks and devices to measure and plot astronomical events. In the grounds of the palace there were many visitors, Korean and others, dressed in Hanboks and watching reenactments of palace life.

For lunch we had an exquisite, fine vegan temple meal:

After wandering through the now-touristy Insadong, we visited the more interesting district of Bukchon and the relaxed Tea Therapy Cafe.

Finally we had a short stop in National Folk Museum where we found stone sculptures of our Chinese Zodiacal signs including Lois’ Ox.

Next day, we left the hanok, drove through traffic and wandered around urban Songdo Park in the misty rain.

Holly’s (coffee house chain) offered shelter before we headed to National Museum of World Writing Systems. The displays compare the development of 55 different language scripts including Korean Hangul. A replica of the Rosetta Stone is impressive as is the tower of loudspeakers inside the staircase to the lower floor.

Note: syllabics developed in the Canada to record a number of indigenous languages including Inuktituk, would be a useful addition.

Our final lunch was in a tofu restaurant, Millstone Roman, where customers can watch soybeans being ground into a thin paste for making blocks of tofu.

I then said farewell to the family at the airport. It was sad to leave….