Lunar New Year

Seollal, a Korean holiday, is also known as Lunar New Year. Koreans usually celebrate two New Years: one on January 1st in accordance with the solar calendar, and the Lunar New Year (called Seollal), which fell on February 3rd. In celebration of Seollal, most people go back to their hometowns to perform ceremonial rites and pay their respects to their ancestors. Since many people need to make a long drive, the day before and the day after Seollal are also designated as national holidays. This year Seollal fell on a Thursday, so everyone got a 5-day weekend. 


Most families are very busy during the week leading up to Seollal. There is a lot of shopping to do to prepare for the ancestral rites. Seollal is one of the busiest seasons for department stores and markets, since most people shop for gifts to give to their parents and friends. Meat, fish, fruit, tteokguk (rice cake soup), and various types of wild vegetables are popular items because they are required to perform the ancestral rites.


 Seollal is one of the few times when you can expect to see some people wearing Hanbok, the traditional clothing of Korea. After getting ready, the family gathers together to perform the ancestral rites, paying 
their respects to their ancestors by offering food. After the ancestral rites ceremony is over, the members of the family play traditional games such as yut nori or gostop. I played go-stop, which is a card game with flowers on it that involves matching.


Traditional Hanbok                                                            Go-stop cards
                                   




I used these few days to once again be a super-tourist in Seoul and in the surrounding areas.

Back to Dr. Fish

Seoul Tower                                    So ticklish                         

Pictures in Myeongdong (and the random creepy dude that decided to get in our pictures)

Incheon

Vanessa and I decided to go to the beach-area of Incheon (which is about an hour west of Seoul). It was very cold but we both wanted to see water. We found this cool cafe where we had coffee and dessert.

I said I didn't plan on eating at Western chains but I gave in to peer pressure and went to Bennigans. Since I broke my own rule, I figured that I should go all out and I got the steak, chicken and shrimp combo. 

Suwon

On the Friday of the Lunar New Year, a few of us headed to Suwon which is about 1.5 hours south of central Seoul. We toured the Hwaseong  (화성) Fortress.

 
           

The fortress was built around the late 18th century by King Jeonjo.

 Insadong

Insadong is the cultural center of Seoul where you can find authentic Korean tea and tea houses as well as Korean art, pottery, jewelry and souvenirs. Also, everything here is written in Hangul, the Korean alphabet (other places in the city have things written in both Hangul and in the romanization of the Korean characters).  PS: I can read Hangul!

Can you tell what this store is? I will sound it out for you:

suh-tah-bok-suh-koh-pi

Then I had tea at this traditional tea house.

Besides continuing to be a super-tourist, I have been busy with school,  helping out at the middle school's 30 hour famine (www.30hourfamine.org), doing homework for Korean class and celebrating birthdays.


More adventures to come soon.