Hanok Villages and a match at the World Cup Stadium

Hanok homes are traditional Korean houses. They are one-story homes made entirely from wood. The windows are made of a thin translucent paper that allows daylight to stream in. They're heated with ondol (heated floors) sent through underfloor passages. Hanoks were designed to blend with nature. Life was lived on the floor (eating, working, sleeping), so all the furniture was low and people sat on mats. It is not common for Koreans to live in hanoks anymore but many of the have been reserved or restored. 

There are a few areas within Seoul that house many hanoks. Here are a couple of visits to two different hanok villages. 

Namsongal Hanok Village is located in a central district of Seoul.

A traditional Korean style garden, complete with a flowing stream and pavilion was constructed on the site in order to revive the classical feel of the Joseon-era. Five traditional houses, including some of the residences of high government officials - some of the largest mansions in Seoul at the time, along with commoners houses were moved to the this area.

 Kimchi pots

Bukchon Hanok Village is located close to Insadong in the downtown area of Seoul. It used to be the high-end residential district for royal family members and high-ranking government officials.

This area is surrounded by a couple of palaces and is also a traditional residential area of the city that boasts 600 years of history.

 There are about 920 Hanok houses, a museum and various craft shops across this area.

I hope to stay in one of these hanoks soon and hopefully enjoy some tea and a taste of the royal cuisine.

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Here a few pictures of a soccer match between South Korea and Honduras. It came at a perfect time because my mom and sister were here and it was the last night of their trip. Honduras lost and there were about 20 Honduran fans among thousands of Korean fans! Koreans are serious about their soccer and hopefully I'll get to go to more games (and hopefully some Baseball ones, too).