the windows.. so simple but ELEGANT.., Kyunbokgoong Palace Seoul Korea Jul 2009

seeing through the gate.., 종묘 Jongmyo Shrine Jongro Seoul Korea Jul 25 2009

standing just on the edge of the boundary..
.. in or out, black or white.. action or reaction..
.. like or not.. believe or not.. delicate or dumb.. delighted or not
.. dead or alive..

i really enjoy hearing the squeaking noise of
opening the old big wooden gate.. :p
which is definitely a welcoming sound
leading me to a different time & space of the history..

what do you usually hear
when you knock the door of history..?


Canon in D - Anthony Deaton plays Guitar

tous les jours.. comme au premier jour.., 덕수궁 Duksoogoong Palace Seoul Korea Jun 9 2006

comme au premier jour.. Andre Gagnon


don't know why..
the pieces of sound & melody of Andre Gagnon
keep reminding me of the place of the palace..
where I have been visiting for a long period of time
from my infant age till recently couple of years ago..

my mom who passed away long time ago
used to bring me & my brother hand in hand in here
to take just a walk..

comme au premier jour.. Andre Gagnon

Windows of Sophistication which fascinate me all the time.., Palacial Homestead Kyungbokgoong Palace Seoul Korea Jul 21 2009

I don't know how many spokes of horizontal & vertical ones
needed to complete a piece of the window.
Maybe the more they need for the windows for people in higher status in the dynasty.

More sophistication, more elaboration, more money, more creativity, more artisans..
for the authorities living inside the extremely sealed space of palace.

Anyway, I like the Korean traditional style of wooden window.
Those are very much echo friendly allowing air in and out freely
though there is definitely an issue of thermal isolation
in freezing windy winter time.

The traditional paper used for the window is made of hard pulp
under unique way of production and it lasts more than couple of 100 years..


전통적 나무 창을 이루는 수직, 수평의 창살이
몇개로 이루어져 있는지는 모르겠다.
아마도 소유자의 지위고하에 따라
그 격자의 간격 및 숫자도 달라질 수 있을 것 같다.

격자의 수가 많을 수록 격자의 무늬가 가지는 의미가 깊고 다양할 수록
더 많은 공덕과 노역 그리고 자금이 투여되었을 터,
모든 권세를 휘둘렀을 세도가들에게 못 할 게 무었이었을까..

하지만.. 경복궁 궁전을 이루는 많은 殿 및 堂 들의
얼굴을 차지하는 문들의 창살이 하나같이 가장 단순한 형태의
수직, 수평 구조의 격자 무늬만 가져 갔다는 것이
내게는 대단한 매력으로 다가왔다.

그러한 깨끗하고 단순한 창살을 보다 보면,
웬지 예전의 깨끗한 선비를 만나고 있는 듯한 느낌이 들어
기분이 아주 따뜻해지고 맑아 진다..

佛殿의 나무 창살들에 새겨진 소박하기도 현란하기도 한 문양들은
수행자들 뿐 아니라 방문객들에게 창살들만 조용히 살펴 보아도
마음 한켠에 자비심 과 불심이 살아나게끔 하기도 한다.

傳通韓食爲酒黨 고맙다 인기야~ Muchas Gracias mi Amigo!!, 40 years old Trad

He & his family was staying at my home while he was visiting Toronto last year. This time in Seoul he asked me to come to Myungdong in downtown where his project office was located in for customers in finance industry. As a senior managing consultant for IBM he has been busy in delivering project at all time.

Thanks Inkee for hosting me in this great 40 years old restaurant for traditional dishes with lovely rice wine Maggulee 막걸리 which were really awesome awesome in taste!!
제수씨 교수님 된 거 축하한다~ ^,~

Fortress Haemee, 해미읍성 Seosan Choongchungdo Korea Jul 31 2009

long way for a cup of good traditional tea in the place.., from Mapo to Insadong Jongro Seoul Korea Jul 18 2009