Hodofwar

Architecture in Korea
One thing I noticed when I arrived Korea is that they have more apartments then houses, its probably because that Korea has twice as many people as Australia and doesn't have much land unlike Australia. I found their architectual systems interesting but they're are much more things to tell.

Another point to say is that, Korea had lots of stores in such a small area, this is one thing I liked because Australia usually doesn't have that much stores and some people have to travel place to place to get their right needs but Korea has everything so people don't have to wander around much. Anyways, me and my family decided to go one of Korea's best local shopping area called "Dong Dae Mun", it's one of Korea's international shopping centres where all foreign people is welcome and enjoy Korea's fashion trends and culture.

I was amazed, the architectual design of the whole area, it felt like I was in a different dimension, it was like I was looking into a whole new future. Everything was bright in that area, it was purging every light wiping all darkness. The "shopping heaven" is what I had in mind, and it was, everything trend, technology, food could be found everything. Me and my family boughts lots of clothes, accessories and personal needs. I would say that was my best shopping day ever, normally I don't like shopping but this one was very enjoyable.

Korea had lots king and queens during the past so that means they had kingdoms, palaces and ancient buildings. Also, massive Buddhist temples which was a common religion during the Jo Seon dynasty. They used alot of stones, wood and a special type of mud called hwangto. Many ancient names like Dongdaemun gate or the Changdeokgung palace is well known in all their lands.

Food in Korea
Galbitang is a traditional Korean soup dish mixed with beef ribs, vegetables (onion, shallop and many other ingredients.)

Recipe: http://korean-cuisine.blogspot.com/2008/06/galbi-tang.html

After I visited grandpa's grave in my earlier blog, me and my family were going to grandma's house but before that, we stopped at a local Korean restaurant. We sat down had a long look on our menus, most of the options there were most food I ate, me and mum chunked alot of Korean food as we arrived and we were sick of having it the second time. My mum decided to eat with a simple dish of galbitang.



I heard that dish a number of times, I also remember my mum making it for me on special occasions. It's a very hard dish too cook which takes probably half a day, but I love every taste of it. This was the first time for me to eat galbitang in a restaurant, I wasn't really excited or anything but I was expected some good taste. Once I took one spoon, it tasted delicious but it wouldn't beat the taste that my mother made me.

Grandpa's Grave

It was a 2 hour drive from Daejeon. There were 6 people in the car, my mum, aunty, grandpa, 2 cousins and myself. It was an uncomfortable drive but I could not wait to see my long gone grandpa who has waited for me for 7 whole years! During the drive, I saw birds flowing through the air, silent trees breezing through the wind and the farmers from the villages plucking their vegetables and feeding their animals. I felt that I was part of that community but all I did is watch them work from the car.

As we had reached the mountain, I was jaw-dropped, the mountain probably rached over 100 metres high! My grandma also told me that this mountain was still today owned by grandpa. My aunty has driven to the mountain as close as she could, she said that the car cannot move any further into the mountain because the path is too dangerous so we had to walk all our way to the grave.

We parked the car at a nearby village, when we were about to start our walk, I saw two squirrels running past by, finding shelter under a tree, I was amazed because I never saw squirrels in a natural environment and also proud that these animals were still existing in my grandpa's mountain!

I had finally reached my grandpa's grave, well I didn't really go to the top of the mountain, probably just half of it. As I was climbing up the hill, I went to the top and looked at the whole landscape, I could see the village below, the massive lake next to it and more mountains. I felt like I was on top of the world seeing everything from the top. It felt like I was living even though I was alive!

There lay my grandpa inside the heart of the mountain, everyone was delighted to see him, especially me who waited 7 years for this moment. My grandma was the first one to talk to him saying how he has been and telling him to be in peace with the others. My mum and my aunty were the next to give their words to their father, me and my cousins were silent for the whole time, we didn't know what to say to him as we weren't true adults yet. I thought some of my family members would bring themselves to tears but no one cried at that moment but they weren't happy either. I would describe it as a very silent and depressing moment.

For me, I cannot describe any feelings for a death of a person. I do not knew anyone who had died during my life and time so there were no funerals for me or my mum. I do still remember my the face of my grandpa when he was still alive but I do not remember the time that he died. I had no memories of my mother crying or any other of my family members in such a depressing mood.