Moonlight Tour and Medical Check-Up At Changdeokgung

September and October are great months to visit Changdeokgung in Seoul - generally, the palace is at its best at this season with the autumn foliage but now there are TWO other reasons to make a date with this UNESCO-designated World Heritage Site:

1. Free Medical Check-up

Tourists can enjoy free check-ups by doctors affiliated with the “Association of Korean Oriental Medicine” at Nae-ui-won  in the palace every Thursday from Sep. 2 to Oct. 28 (13:30 - 17:00; except for the Thursday of the Chuseok holiday, September 23rd).

An extract from the KNTO website explains the significance of Naeuiwon (내의원). It "was one of the three hospitals of the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910), and was the place where medical practitioners mixed medicine and provided medical services for the king and the rest of the royal family. It is said that the renowned court physician Heo Jun worked in Naeuiwon for 44 years."

Experience first-hand: 

• 
  
   how doctors trained in Oriental medicine form a  diagnosis by checking your pulse (“jinmaek”).
• 
  
   ( depending on the diagnosis) acupuncture (“chim”) or  moxibustion (“tteum”). Both forms of treatment  focus on acupuncture points to improve circulation.
• 
  
  how to grind traditional herbs etc. for the prescription
• 
  
  how the traditional medicine is wrapped and take home the yakcheop as a momento
• 
  
  copying medical diagrams out of the Donguibogam (동의보감, Korean medical book).
• 
  
  a cup of traditional ssanghwacha tea as a calming conclusion to your visit.

2. Moonlight Tour of Changdeokgung

The KTO and Cultural Heritage Administration of Korea are co-hosting special evening tours of Changdeokgung between 20:00 and 22: 00 on the following dates: September 23, 24, October 20, 21, 23, 24 and November 19, 20, 21.

For 30,000 won, your tour starts at Donhwamun,, the front gate of the palace,  where you're given a portable guide device. Practise your night photography  skills in front of Injeongjeon ( where ministers and dignitaries used to have audience with the Joseon kings) .

Let your imagination run wild as you half expect a royal ghost to step out from behind one of these pillars in the dark to say "Annyeong".

 It would be interesting how the palace would be lit up at night.

You'll be invited by your portable guide to rest a while at Buyongji like the Joseon kings used to do. You may not have the privilege of admiring the view of the pavilion here but you can study how the round islet and square-shaped pond here harmonise to reflect the principles of yin and yang.

Next, make your way to Youngyeongdang where foreign ambassadors used to be received and entertained. A traditional music ensemble awaits you there to treat you to music in the moonlight. The geomungo may create a special vibe amid the shadows and form a deep impression as you take the forest path back to the entrance.

So go ahead, make me green with envy and send me your photos of Changdeokgung in the moonlight. Please note though: places are limited for each night so go early.

More on Changdeokgung in a future posting.

Sources:

 http://www.koreaherald.com/lifestyle/Detail.jsp?newsMLId=20100825000574

http://asiaenglish.visitkorea.or.kr/ena/FU/FU_EN_15.jsp?nCategoryID=&searchType=&keyword=&gotoPage=1&cid=1030680&cCode=&nCategoryID=&searchType=&searchKeyword=
http://asiaenglish.visitkorea.or.kr/ena/SI/SI_EN_3_1_1_1.jsp?cid=312966
http://asiaenglish.visitkorea.or.kr/ena/SI/SI_EN_3_1_1_1.jsp?cid=312966
http://eng.cdg.go.kr/main/main.htm
http://www.sal2009.com/index.php?key=geomungo

Gyeongju Revisited, Part 1

On hindsight, I realise that I have done Gyeongju a great disservice. It was our  first visit to Korea so my travel companion and I unwisely planned a whirlwind tour of the country and allocated very little time to this city known as a “ museum without walls”. It does seem sacriligeous somehow to attempt to appreciate its 1000- year history in two measly days.

 So how much time should one spend in this ancient capital appointed by the Shilla kings? After going over the literature that I managed to collect while there, I think at least one week, if not a few months, should be devoted exclusively to this place because there’s really so much to see – from royal tombs to Buddhist relics to UNESCO World Heritage sites.

Of course, if you’re really strapped for time and you have 10,000 won to spare, there’s a private bus which departs twice daily from the Gyeongju Express Bus Terminal twice daily to the main attractions. Stops on the seven-hour long tour include Bulguksa Temple, the Folk Craft Village, Poseokjeong Pavilion, the Gyeongju National Museum, the Cheomseongdae Observatory and the Cheonmachong Tomb. ( tel. 054-743-6001)

A word of caution though - people assume from the claim that Gyeongju is an open-air museum that the whole place looks like some ancient city. The reality is that its many cultural treasures are scattered around the edges of the present urban centre. It's advisable to read up on the history of the Shilla Dynasty to appreciate more fully the sights.

source:
http://asiaenglish.visitkorea.or.kr/ena/SI/SI_EN_3_1_1_1.jsp?cid=312887
http://asiaenglish.visitkorea.or.kr/ena/SI/SI_EN_3_1_1_1.jsp?cid=312750