경희궁 GyeonghuiGung Palace (Palace of Serene Harmony) was used as a secondary residence for the kings of the Joseon Dynasty. It had be completely destroyed by the Japanese during their occupation in the early 20th century. Reconstruction started in the 1990's, but only about one third of the former grounds have been regained and today it is a small palace that attracts only a small crowd, but perhaps that was due to my uber early morning arrival.

The main entrance.

The throne hall.

The throne within the small throne room.

A view from the throne hall of Seoul's skyline over the palace's gate.

A closer look at the roof of one of the palace bruildings.

A look over the palace roof to Seoul and the N Tower on Namsan (South Mountain)

An unusual look at the side of the Palace looking south.

Each the palace has the same design: a main gate to the south followed by a central throne hall sitting on a stone platform above a stone coutyard. Behind all of this grand façade are the living quarters of the royal family in several buildings. Leading in from the gate, the ground rises higher and higher with the central throne hall at the effective peak.

Downtown Seoul near DeoksuGung.

덕수궁 DeoksuGung, the southern palace of the Five Grand Palaces.

Yellow dressed musicians in this special ceremony at Deoksugung.

Flag bearers marching in front of the gate to DeoksuGung.

The Seoul Plaza, across the Deoksugung and in front of Seoul's new City Hall. Seoul has been working hard this past decade to remove buildings built by the Japanese during the "occupation" of the early 20th century. The old City Hall was built in 1926 and demolished in 2006.

Children playing in the fountain of Seoul Plaza to escape the heat.

The Fountain Plaza looking up to N tower on Namsan.

A beautiful view of downtown Seoul from Namsan on the hike up to the top.

8908.51km to Paris, 8872.64km to London from the top of the N Tower on Namsan in Seoul.

11,061.86km to New York, 11,180.48km to Washington from the top of the N Tower on Namsan in Seoul.

It's a mere 328.12km to Busan from Seoul.

The main gate to the � 실 야구장 Jamsil Baseball Stadium, home to both the LG Twins and Doosan Bears in Seoul, Korea.

Inside the � 실 야구장 Jamsil Baseball Stadium, home to both the LG Twins and Doosan Bears in Seoul, Korea.

Watching the LG Twins cheerleaders and the fans through an inning. When Lotte's up, you can hear their fans following their cheerleaders from across the stadium. I think Koreans enjoy the organized chanting more than the baseball...