South Korea Vacation 2015 - Part 10 Sewol Protest

While we were visiting the Buddhist temple in my previous post, we saw this group of Koreans line up and begin marching.

 

It was so powerful to watch and so very sad. There is still a lot of anger for the government's handling of the Sewol ferry disaster.

We were told that these were family members that continue to protest to seek justice. The biggest demands are for an independent inquiry into the sinking and also the recovery of nine who's bodies have never been recovered.

I was able to take a video of the demonstration as they made their way out of the temple and into the streets of Seoul:

South Korea Vacation 2015 - Part 9 Insadong Buddhist Temple

 

We visited my one of my favorite Buddhist Temples which is very near Insadong in Seoul. They were busy constructing these plant installations which featured mums. They were not in bloom yet and I wish we had been there when it was finished and in full bloom.

                                  But you still could see how beautiful it was going to be.

I will never know what the occasion was for this but it really isn't necessary to know the reason why to appreciate it.

 

 

 So much work and talent involved to create this.

And the lotus flowers did not disappoint. They are one of my favorite flowers.

See the goldfish too?

                                     The birth of a lotus flower. So very beautiful to me.

 There is a pond in front of the temple and you walk over the pond to get to the temple.

At the front entrance, I found this offering left by someone, apple juice and some dduk (ricecakes). We also happen to visit as a protest march was getting underway. My next post will be devoted to that.

 

 

 

South Korea Vacation 2015 - Part 8 Seoul Art HIgh School Art Show

The subway exit closest to our AirBnB apartment just so happen to have an art exhibition going on.  Did they know I was coming? I was so excited to visit and they let us take all the photos we wanted. I was very surprised to find out that the exhibitors were high school students. The talent really blew me away. Be prepared, I took tons of photos of their work. Enjoy.

                                   I loved seeing classmates leaving notes and snacks for their friends.

 

 



 Even bouquets were left by family and friends. 

 

 

 

 

                                  I was blown away by the detail. Just amazing.

I wondered if this student had a father that would come home drunk after company dinners. I personally know this does happen because I would hear yelling and screaming at night from time to time when we lived in Korea coming from the neighbor's apartment. One time the wife locked the husband out of the apartment because of his drunkenness.

 

 

                                      The detail from this subway painting blew me away.

This set of four paintings really affected me deeply.

                                                        I loved seeing all the post it notes.

 

                                                  Can you believe what this is made out of?

Computer keys.

 And it even lit up.

 

 I really related to this student's painting. I'm sure she is the one painted in swirls. It is exactly how I felt as a child every time I was asked to pose for a family photo. I just wanted to disappear. At least, that was my interpretation of the painting.

These were actually molded and painted plastic. Lots of restaurants in Korea have realistic plastic food in their front windows letting you see what they have to offer.

         It also is a talent and a great job to be able to make plastic food look as good as the real thing.

 

I love that you can see this in some subway stations in Seoul. It's hit or miss to run across one but when we do, we always take advantage of the opportunity. These art students were truly gifted and I hope they continue to pursue their art and I was so grateful that we were able to see it.