Hanbok Underground Market

We're going back home by subway after having our assignments at downtown Seoul DONE. The closest station was 

Jeongno 5-ga....and we're walking underground...

....bumped into the shops selling hanbok...

It's indeed another colorful world of Seoul.

...so many intricate fabrics turned into hanbok. ..that cost hundreds thousands ...or perhaps millions Won.

Jeonju Trip (part 3): Hanbok Shop

 

As it turned out, we were ushered into the hanbok shop. For whaattt? we're told that we could pick one and we're gonna wear that for half-day^^.

What? those hanbok? gosh..no..that's for girls.

Pretty neat, uh? 

The shop owner picked one for us and we're then..on our mission to put on hanbok!! 

If we look at them closer, we'd find that the intricate decorative patterns on hanbok looks cool--never thought of it, before. 

After we got our style!! and boy..I look round and stout^^ of course I did mind for a while...but..then...oh, well..I might just go along with it. 

The first spot we went to: The First Gate ever built in Jeonju. 

6 of us in hanbok. 

7 of us...after Daniel stepped in. Well....why didn't you were hanbok?'

Friends from Mongolia, US, Vietnam, Congo, and China. 

A Stroll Along Gangnam Area (part 2)

Still at Bongeunsa (봉은사)..the downtown temple--well, that's how I describe it. 

One thing for sure, this is just well-situated in the center of business district. 

Lots of activities to see and to do here.

Like this one. A group of children clad in their hanbok was marching along the temple area. 

I was not sure what they're up to, but they're surely giving a different feel to the temple. 

Oh, there was even one wedding reception complete with its orchestra.

What a perfect day to hold a wedding ceremony..in the heart of the temple and the city (in autumn). 

The orchestra was rehearsing when we were there. Though I could't see the 'real' ceremony, at least I got the feel of what it would've been like. 

Continuing on my tour with mr. Nugroho, I got a closer look into the intricate drawings on the ceiling of the temple. 

The drawings, colors, shapes, patterns are all full of symbolical meanings--I assume. 

Wish I'd known them.

But...surely they're pretty neat.

Chuseok: Wearing Hanbok to School

One day before Chuseok, Freya and her friends wore Hanbok.

She just couldn't wait to go to school wearing it.  

Before entering the school, she took a pose for us, first.

Have a great Chuseok, Freya. 

Unlike any other days, today all girls and boys were wearing hanbok. Gee...it's a good thing that Chuseok does not last long or else...they got to keep on changing their hanbok every other day. ^^ 

Take a bow...and off you go to today's class, Freya. 

More and more kids were coming in and then... 

during which..they're flying kites and making songpyeon.

Gosh..I should've taken the pictures while they're having them.

Hanbok-in-Style

What could be more entertaining and visually self-reflecting than being able to put on the real hanbok in style. It was our first time to put on hanbok  all together--the whole family. Well, Eyra and Freya have their own hanbok at home, but not me. It never occurred to me that I would have one at home. Well, maybe I will. But, in the meantime..this picture of me with the whole family clad in hanbok is sufficient to officially  recall that I have been in hanbok.

Now..let's take a look at the red dots put on the girls!! Good thing I didn't have to have those on my cheek. :-) 

This has been the 'side-effect' of being at Goyang International Flower*-*

Goyang International Flower Festival (part 3)

Hmm...we were not even INSIDE the flower festival and yet...we're happily distracted by  the cultural experiences that we could see and do ourselves. Like trying out to be dressed up in hanbok. 

Why not taste it if we got plenty of time ahead of time. Even Eyra and Freya chose their own. Hmm..I love the color that Freya chose.  

Oh...the red dots on their cheeks were what made it even more adorable. Glad that I didn't have those on mine.^^ 

Why not take the whole picture of family in hanbok in style. It cost us 1,000 Won per each hanbok and if we wanted to have our pictures printed..it's 2,000 Won each.  

Mama, can I take off these red dots?^^

Kimono & Hanbok

Kimono try-out. The Fuji Mountain picture on the back. Freya's first time ever to try putting it on. hmm..we wanna go to Japan. But first..let's try putting on Kimono.

Then Eyra's time to try it on, too. She chose the red color that she has always liked.

What? Too tied? 

Just be patient....and say cheese....

And this is when they put on their Hanbok Attire...

Oh btw....

Happy Birthday, Eyra. 

Eyra & Freya's Tight-but-happy Days

Hanbok time. It is already autumn, yes..indeed. But, wearing hanbok inside the house is still ok as long as they are not wearing it outside...^^ (oh, it's 8 degrees Celcius). We got a hanbok as a gift from my wife's friend. The kids love it so much that they take turn wearing it.

It's still too big for you, eh, Freya?

Now, it's Eyra's turn. A complete touch with a traditional pouch on her right hand seamlessly perfected the hanbok experience. Oh, don't forget the 'V' shaped finger salute--a typical Korean photo-session gesture--that should not be missed^^

This is the day when Eyra had a cultural celebration in conjunction with her school anniversary. Since it was the early week of Autumn and the sky was bright blue, all of the families came along to cheer up the festivities. Just look at the red marks on Eyra's cheek--a used-to-be symbol of beauty in Korea.

Ooo..pps what does this picture do to be in this entry? Anyway....Freya was playing along with one of the camera apps. Her eonni made this one.

What a cute little Freyalaphant eating ice cream^^.

Back to the school's day out: Eyra was in the dressing room getting dressed--of course. Her sister, willingly accompanied her, seemed to be happy being around other friends of her sister's.

Get ready....and go!!!

Eyra was dancing along with her other fellow friends at the schoolyard during the Autumn festival. She seemed to enjoy it.

Eyra and her friends, this time...the boys were out, too. They seemed to enjoy the rest of the days doing some parade, dancing and singing along.

She looked so adorable. ^^

Wait...what is it? Ok, just read my other entry on a trip to Andong or 안동시 (Andong City).

It was full of great experiences.

Dynamic Busan: part 33 (Hanbok @ Etiquette School)

After a seriously tedious array of hanbok preparation, we finally got ourselves in our hanbok. Well, as seen in the picture, the girls got pretty colorful outfits (hanboks) while the guys just wore plain light blue ones..with hats as their accent.

The royal wedding hanbok was worn by our friend who was lucky enough to put it on. Oh, did I mention that it took time to put it on? 

As for the guys, the hanbok looks simple. Yet, don't get fooled by its appearance. We were wearing layers by layers inner clothes that built up into a fully worn hanbok.

Apart from simply wearing hanbok, we also learned how to behave when we are wearing hanbok, e.g. what we can and cannot do, and when to bow and how to bow...or to greet.

NOt like what the boys were doing at the moment..They were a bit tired that they just spread their legs on their hambok, while the girls were busy practicing their part of greeting and giving respect to elders.

It looked so much easy on TV, but when we do it by ourselves,,,so, when we finally got the hang of it, we managed to do it accordingly.

My friend, Jamaito and his so-called princess...^^

  

Wait..is this Jamaito with another woman? 

We could not sa more...^^ IT was so fun to try our chance to get to know others, too...though

Me with my teacher --for a day --who was kindly enough to teach us what to and not to do while wearing hanbok.....