Namhansanseong (part 6)

 Yup, this is the part 6 of my posting about the trip to Namhansanseong (Namhan Mountain Fortress) funded by the Senior Public Diplomat of Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

We reached the top of the fortress where the pavilion called Jangdae remained. 

This is the 2 story pavilion where a command was carried out during the war. Hmm..let's see if I still remember the story..nope. 

But I still remembered that there used to be 5 of this kind of pavilion..and only this Jangdae remained.. 

Black and white picture of us....being transported back to the past. 

and..wait..this is not Jangdae..but it's ...wait..I wonder what this is.

But..for anyone who wish to know more..please click THIS.

Namhansanseong 남한산성 Trip (part 4)

The real snow's glowingly falling from the skies... 

accompanying us...on our way to another section of the fortress: the Haenggung or temporary palace...

Yes..it's one of the first pictures of me draped in the falling snow... 

we're inside... the haenggung..

wished I had more time to explore... 

and learned a thing or two...about the place. 

gee... 

no words necessary to explain.... 

the sheer joy we're having .... 

oops..  

back to where we started... we're sort of forced to go back home..since the road might be slippery for the bus....ㅋㅋㅋ

bye bye..Namhansanseong...

Namhansanseong 남한산성 Trip (part 3

We reached the..hmm..let's see..it's called...sue...jangdae...hmm..i f I'm not mistaken.

It's a post..and the highest post in the fortress.  

Story has it that ....hmm..no I won't write it down here. 

Back to the post where we came from. We're now going down the fortress..oh no...that?? 

Yes..in the midst of falling snow.... 

we kept on going down...the trails... 

going on and on... 

peeing onto the streaking branches of the barren trees... 

down and down... 

finally..reached the parking lot... 

and...ready to go home..but wait...not yet..

Namhansanseong 남한산성 Trip (part 2)

Finally, we reached to (almost) the top part of the fortress.

If I am not mistaken, it all started in the early 7 Century until it's part completion in the early of 17 Century. 

anyway..enough with historical fact/stories...that I could not fathom to 'memorize' 

One thing for sure, the seemingly intact fortress which looked like a mini version of the Great Wall...did intrigue me. 

especially..the snow just fell and it added to the eerie-ness that I bumped into when I laid my eyes on it. 

Yes...even on a clear daylight..the whole Seoul would be visible. I could barely see the being-constructed Lotte Tower..far beyond below. 

now with some of our fellow friends who hiked along together. 

and..... 

Prof. Yang who --I was overwhelmed myself--accompanied us along the trails. 

now..let's go up into another section of the Namhansanseong...^^

Namhansanseong 남한산성 Trip (part 1)

On Dec. 12, 2014 we went to Namhansanseong.

Some Indonesian students were invited by the Senior Public Diplomats (Ministry of Foreign Affairs) to join in the trip. 

ㅋㅋㅋㅋ

But, first..we got to have lunch ...at Outback Steak House...which I did not enjoy since I am a VEGETARIAN^^ㅋㅋㅋ

but luckily..I could order something else. 

anyway..long story short...it took us about 2 hours from Seoul to reach this UNESCO designated heritage in Korea.: Namhansan Fortress. 

Gee..it's so cold and we got to climb up the mountains/hill.s 

First, we got a chance to be briefed about the history of the fortress. 

nope, I won't write it down here.

As usual..pictures will do the talking!! 

now..up up up...we got to go..up.

Namhansanseong (Namhan Mountain Fortress): Part 6

I learned that it was completed in 1624. But then what surprised me the most was the fact that 5-km-long fortress was initially built even during the Three Kingdom Period! That means around 57 B.C. Oh.... 

Since I am not into historical numbers or any dates to deal with, I might as well go and look around what this South Gate was all about. First, I noticed at the gate itself. I wonder if that was the original plate used from the beginning. But, I doubted it since it looked like it was made of iron. 

Enough with any doubts, the mere fact that I could just admire its simple beauty was more than what I could ask for. Once again, I did not expect anything prior to go on a hike to reach this gate. 

An afternoon well-spent! 

The South main gate. One of the gates at Namhansanseong or Namhan Fortress. Histories recorded lots of events like the Manchu invasion, the refuge by the royal family, even as a stronghold of resistance during Japanese occupation. 

The height of the fortress perimeter ranges from 3 to 7 meters, but thanks to its steep slopes surrounding them had proven to be one of the key factors in keeping these gates intact. 

My last photo of the South Gate taken in illustration mode. 

Bye, Namhansanseong!

Misfit/Outfit

I must've been crazy to go on hiking with these shoes on!!

Who would've thought that Namhansanseong would require me to do this long-trail hiking. (I know I was dumb enough not to do any prior research of what this place would be like). The thing was that..I just got back from campus, then to weekly Friday prayer, and then I thought to myself..that I still got 3 free hours to kill. So, why not go somewhere and take it a shot. Looking at the subway map and Seoul Map, I spotted this green area where Namhansanseong is located. There I was. 

With a pair of shoes like this, and a bag full of gosh (books and groceries!!!), I did go on a hiking at Namhansanseong!!!

Dehydrated, sore, numb, sweating, .......

Was it worth-it, though?

Sure, it was.