Adventures with Paula: Suwon Pt.1



Hwaseong Fortress and the Suwon skyline, as seen from a hill behind the fortress. A beautful view that exemplifies the traditional and modern aspects of Korean architecture.

Paula and I had a few more days of vacation time left, so we went to Suwon, a city just south of Seoul. It's connected to Seoul via subway line 1. She booked us a stay at the Hwaseong Guest House and we stayed there from Friday night to Sunday morning.

The fortress was above cool. It didn't feel too much like a fortress because there were no battlements or cannons in the place. It looked and felt like the palaces in Seoul thanks to long, narrow corridors and large courtyards. Many small rooms opened out into the courtyard too. Some mannequins were set up depicting servants and ladies of the house at work.

After looking around the fortress, we watched a traditional drum and dance performance in front of the gate. I made a recording of it with my MP3 player and I'll see about posting it to here or youtube so you can hear it. I've been hearing these crazy beats and lonesome wails since I've been here. Like America's folk songs, Korea has a repertoire of traditional drum beats. Every time I hear them, I can't help but move to the rhythm. The Koreans know something about beats.

Above and above-above = views from two of the many courtyards in the fortress. Notice the long, divided corridors.

Basically, the royal living room.

After looking around the fortress, we watched a traditional drum and dance performance in front of the gate. I made a recording of it with my MP3 player and I'll see about posting it to here or youtube so you can hear it. I've been hearing these crazy beats and lonesome wails since I've been here. Like America's folk songs, Korea has a repertoire of traditional drum beats. Every time I hear them, I can't help but move to the rhythm. The Koreans know something about beats. Pics will come as soon as they're offloaded from the iPad.