The DMZ: Just on the Outskirts- June 15, 2012

Here is one of my colleagues on our (first) bus that took us to the DMZ on June 15.  Check out the bus decor:

This is just before entering the DMZ. This is one of the bridges used to exchange North and South Koreans during the war:

Still at the entry to the DMZ, this is one of several walls of ribbons hung to symbolize hope.

This is the last train to run between North and South Korea. Yes, those are bulletholes you see. They said it was the South Koreans who shot the train

Kyounghee University - the New and the Old

Kyounghee University was the most "modern" university that we visited.  Still located in Seoul, it's founder had a vision of creating a place of beauty in which students would study. Both he and his wife were from North Korea - she was "from money" and he was not.  It is said that he used some of his wife's money to start the university, but mostly he convinced he colleagues and friends to fund his project. What follows is his vision come to life.

The entrance to Peace Hall.

The majestic Peace Hall - not to be confused with Notre Dame!

Inside the hall was the biggest surprise of all - a performance center that featured the most modern ammenities and the best accoustics.

An enormous "chandelier" that started in the ceiling, ...

 but...

 

Within minutes, made it's way to 20 feet above the heads of the audience in the orchestra!

The accoustics were so superior that even from this height (the very back row), we could hear that man on the stage droppng his coin!!

And of course every good theatre must have its dressing rooms!!!

Next stop at Kyounghee: Cyber University which offers its own degrees and has its own recording studio!  Here is one of our delegation debuting as an anchorwoman.

FAST FORWARD: Siem Reap and the Temples

Just had to send a few shots from my incredible visits to Angkor Wat and some of the other temples, including Ta Prohm. UNBELIEVABLY GORGEOUS!!!!

Food, Glorious Food!

Here is just a sampling of the many fancy dishes we were treated to. The first two pictures were taken at a banquet hosted for us at a Chinese restaurant on Day Three of our tour of Korea.

One of my first taste of Bi Bim Bop, a very traditional Korean meal.

This meal was, by far, the BEST meal we ate!!! 

Good thing I asked before sampling.... what I thought was pork turned out to be SEA SLUG!!!!!! Had to try it. Can't recommend it, but, I survived it!

Scissors are often used at the table - whether it's to cut noodles or pizza or Korean beef bulgogi! Here, we're at a local lunch place for business folks, watching the waitress "cutting" our beef!!!!

The White and the Blue Houses

On our way to the US Embassy, we were taken to the Blue House - Korea's version of the Whit House. This is the street leading up to (and in this case, away from) the Blue House:

This is the "guard" who stands at the base of the road to the Blue House - ALL day. Let's hope she doesn't have to chase anyone on foot, as I'm not sure how far she'd get!!!

Here is the group in font of the Blue House:

And here is the first glimpse of the Blue House:

And, here it is!

This is a statue located at he entrance to the Blue House and this is the majestic backdrop for the Blue House.

So, you're probably wondering where the White House is, right? Well, not exactly here in Korea, but here's the next best thing: the emblem of the US embassy in Korea, which was next on our agenda for this day:

SKKU - Day Two of University Visits

These folks were out to impress!!! They, too, noted that they were Korea's oldest and first university!  As we visited more universities, we discovered that each had something special to share with us. Sungkyunkwan had their "old campus" which featured ancient dormitories and a Buddhist temple/school where they say many revered scholars are now buried and/or paid homage to.

The temple/school:

The old dormitories:

 These are very old ginko trees in the courtyard of the old campus:

And here we are getting ready to dress in ancient scholarly attire. This is the attire worn for graduation. Todaya at this school, at graduation, the university president and university leaders still wear these robes and walk across the stage and acknowledge the graduates before giving them their diplomas.

Final bow taken at the end of the ceremony.

Our First and Second University Visits!!

Our first university visit - Soongsil University - one of Korea's first and oldest universities!!

Here's what awaited us at our  first university meeting. Quite the feast!!! It turns out that this was, by far, the fanciest reception at our meetings that we received!!!

And, this is the famous Yonsei University, the "Harvard" of Korea! His was day two and our second school visit.  Our orientation adviser in the States is the great grandson of the founder of this university. This is the delegation, minus one, with whom I traveled.

And this is the "Global Lounge" at Yonsei.  Many of the universities had some kind of global lounge like this, each with slightly different offerings and rules.

Entering Yonsei's library:

This was amazing!!! It was a huge touch pad screen that offered daily access to over 100 newspapers and magazines from around the world. Go Yonsei!!

This was one of many welcome signs for our group - digital all the way!

And these are machines that Yonsei students must use to reserve a seat in the library (and obtain a ticket to confirm their reservation). This would probably only be used in the States just before finals!!!