Currency Exhibition @ Itaewon Station

Out of so many currencies being displayed, I didn't know why I got this infatuation to the North Korean currencies. They just looked so eerily interesting to look at. 

Oh, they also use Won as its denomination. Just realized about it. 

There were so many other countries' currencies on display.  

And this one is from Laos. I think this is the most impressive of all.

Just look at the intricate side bar that circles this banknote!

It's also from the North Korean currencies. 

This one, too. Now come my question: is it the same worth as that in the South?

I don't think so.

Seungilgyo (승일교): Seungil Bridge

We came to the first historical place in Cheorwon area: it was Seungil bridge.

I did not know anything and never heard about this particular bridge until we came to Cheorwon.^^ It turned out that Cherweon had a lot of places of interest. 

Along with my daughters, I was looking at the over-sized map of Cheorweon area.  

So this is the Seungil bridge. NO, not the red/orange one...that is the newest bridge to replace the original one we were crossing.  

This bridge was finalized in August 1948 under the North Korean Administration. But during the Korean War it was partly destroyed or at least impassable.  

Until later on it was reconstructed again in 1952 with the help of US armies. Interestingly...or so I read it..the Seung-Il Bridge got its name from... 

a combination of Kim il seung (North Korean Leader at that time) and Lee seung mahn (South Korean President at that time). 

to...signify the irony of the North-South relation.

* Okay...we learned some historical background on our first day of trip. 

Let's get narcissistic for a while, shall we?^^

I mean...what's the point of going somewhere without a slice of memorable scene, right? 

승일교. Seung-Il Gyo or Seungil Bridge.

The Last Weekend of May 2013. 

Dora ObservatoryDora Observatory....

See the road here? It was fully and tightly controlled. Where is it?

It's the Dora Observatory or도라전망대 located within the DMZ (demilitarized zone).  

Even there is a photo line which means what we are not allowed to take any pictures outside that yellow line. 

 

So, Instead of taking pictures, visitors could use huge binoculars by inserting a 500 Won coin so as they could see the closest area of North Korea. For those having no 500 Won coin could do so by having their bills changed into the coins at 동전교환소 available there.

 

After having our coins, we could freely use the binoculars or telescope to see the North Korea. It is I think one of best ways to have ourselves get exposed to the seemingly mysterious life in the North. 

What I saw was that there was this huge and tall flag of the North Korea visible even through our naked eyes. Some villages and some area of the famous Gaeseong industrial complex were also visible. The brochure said that I could see the bronze statue of Kim Il-Seong, but...I did not find it.

Mr. Obama just visited HUFS

Ok...the fuzz was coming and buzzing around my campus since last week. I thought it was just a hoax as to why Mr. President Obama has chosen our campus to visit instead of SNU or any other big campuses around Korea. I heard that since HUFS is a small campus in size, the security measures are easy to navigate. Ok. that is maybe true. But, I am sure that there must be more reasons than just that! So, I am sure that the decision must've been due also to the fact that HUFS symbolizes the strength of Korea in its vigorous effort to nurture and reach the world by learning other cultures. And...in the very essence of that, HUFS stands out as the first and representative campus and academic institution where lots of languages and its related matters are being taught right here. So, I guess...Mr. Obama's visit to HUFS does indeed show the fact how important this campus is. It has become a kind of pride in itself for HUFS. Why Not.^^
Ok, this morning, I was walking about the campus..and sure...I could not come into the Minerva complex where the special lecture by Mr. Obama was held. The security was tight. Even, our campus has been declared "Holiday" thanks to Mr Obama's visit. ^^
Good.  (in both senses)
Anyhow...since I could not listen to his speech live....I got my TV on and....^^ watched him speak live through TV.




^^ It was so ironically funny..since I live just 200 meters away from the Minerva complex...but....could not see and feel directly.^^
But, that did not dampen my spirit of trying to have and listen to what he was talking about.







Ok, here are what I grasped:
1. Kakao Talk.^^ (I wonder if Mr. President ever uses this cool stuff. Suppose he has one, that'll be cool, eh?^^)
2. Hallyu^^ (a sincere recognition from Mr. President)
3. HUFS^^ (a special recognition in itself...simply by his visit to the campus)
4. Young Generation of Korea being the country's future
5. Korea's economic progress in the aftermath of the war (a recognition)
6. His hope of inter-Korea relation (referring to that of both present day Germany)
7. and of course.....nuclear power for peace.
8. ok...I also got some notes on Osama, Iran North Korea: for sure!
9. US-South Korea ties to be strengthened.
 10. " Come to Korea and see how the country progresses..."




(another shot of what I took from TV this morning: simply out of my curiosity and as a token of remembrance as well as a historical proof of his visit for years to come)^^

Ok, Monday, March 26, 2012 has been marked as one of the important history of our university, HUFS.
Come to HUFS, and Meet the World.
I guess..it pretty much sums up the idea in itself. It does.