Dongdaemun Design Plaza (동대문디자인플라자)

Dongdaemun Design Plaza is one of the iconic landmarks of Seoul located at Dongdaemun, the popular tourist destination.

This futuristic and uniqely cool UFO-like design standout because

of the smooth circular curves instead of straight lines.

 

Kiddos and hubby were amazed standing infront of this marvellous building...

as if they just landed on another new planet out of the Earth.

 Though this was my second visit, but didn't really see it closely

because we came here for dinner with VIP Invitation Tour at nTable (n테이블).

Wanted to bring them to nTable too, because they like Shabu Shabu too...

Walked around and only found Design shop, exhibition spaces,

park on the roofs... but didn't know how to how to go to the restaurant!

 Seoul Seonggwak Fortress Wall (서울성곽)

Seonggak Fortress wall was built using individual stones and earth in 1396, five years after the foundation of the Joseon Dynasty and the ascension of its first ruler King Taejo. It's aimed to protect the city from enemy forces, marauders and control the passage of people. 

 

This 18km-long fortress wall linking the ridges of Bugaksan, Inwangsan, Namsan and Naksan mountains that surround the capital and 4 main gates (Heunginjimun, Donuimun, Sungyemun and Sukcheongmun) and 4 small gates (Honghwamun, Gwanghuimun, Changuimun and Sodeongmun). 

 In an excavation project, archaeoologists uncovered a section of

123m long Seoul Seonggwak Fortress Wall and sluice gate bridge.

 

It'd been burried underground, and some of them were restored

to their original state and transferred to thir current locations.

On top of that, they also found others relics including tiles, pottery, coins 

and iron artifacts which regarded as great source of knowledge about

lifestyle of Korean people during Joseon era.

 Overwhelmed by the beauty of  LED rose garden along the fortress wall.

Good news is the installation of  20,000 LED roses has been extended until 2020.

This exhibition was supposedly ended in Oct 2016.

I took so many photos at this LED Rose Garden, but had to leave because...

kiddos were out of batteries and need to be recharged the soonest before they burst!

 

 

There are many on-going activities, concerts, exhibitions,

group / field tour. For more information, please check their website.

  

Several shopping malls around DDP...

  

If you're wondering how I took bird's eye view photo of DDP...

 

It's taken from the Korean Chinese restaurant at Lotte Fittin.

(to be continued...)

Kyoto Station and Kyoto Tower

Actually this whole week quite busy to plan the upcoming Lombok trip. I hope the tour agencies won't fed up with me as I try to squeeze all the tourist spots in 5 days. Let's see how... Ok, let me settle this long overdue Japan trip posting first while waiting for the reply.   

Nothing much about this posting. It's just random photos taken when we touring around the hotel to kill time at night and  while waiting for others in the morning...  

 

          

Ready for night strolling?  

Please wear thicker cloths as it's a bit chilly in the evening. 

 

There are two sides of Kyoto Station: 

Karasuma (North) and Hachijo (South).

Kyoto Station served by Japan Railways including the Tokaido Shinkansen (bullet train), Haruka airport express train, Kintetsu Railways and the Karasuma Subway Line.

The main bus terminal for city and intercity buses is located on the busier side of Kyoto Station.  It faces downtown where many hotels, shopping areas and Kyoto Tower. 

Lobby of Hotel Granvia is on the second floor of the transportation hub JR Kyoto Station. 

For shopping, you can go to Isetan Department Store, Porta Underground Shopping Mall, and The Cube Shopping Mall inside this station. There are wide range of restaurants inside this 15 floors buildings.

Other basic facilities such as Luggage storage and Takuhaibin (or Yamato Ta-Q-Bin in Singapore) counters are available in the basement of the station. Coin lockers are scattered all over the building.

  

      

The Kyoto Station (京都駅) was constructed on the 1200th anniversary 

of the capital's foundation in Kyoto and opened to the public in 1997.

  

Modern futuristic design with Matrix steel beamed roof

twisted tourists' image of Kyoto as the capital of ancient Japan. 

 

Kyoto Tower (京都タワー) Observation Deck.

     

This tallest building is the iconic landmark in Kyoto.

  

It's standing 131 meters tall just opposite

Kyoto Station (view from Granvia Hotel).

  

A viewing platform is located 100 meters above ground,

 and offers a 360 degree view of Kyoto to as far as Osaka on clear days.      

Kyoto tower was completed in 1964, the same year as 

the opening of the Shinkansen  and Tokyo Olympics. 

Kyoto Tower stands on top of a typical commercial building.
You can find hotel, restaurants, souvenir shops, as well as a public bath here.

Busy selecting Totoro for my kiddos, 

and Japanese girl keychains for souvenirs.

Curious Hubby went in to see popular Japanase arcade 

'Pachinko'. 

It resembles a vertical Pinball machine, but has no flippers and uses a large number of small balls. But, before crossing that orange color floor mat, he quickly detour because of super noisy and the unbearable cigarette smell! 

Next to Kyoto Tower is Kyoto Yodobashi. 

 

This  IT megastore selling electronics, cameras, 

computers, gadgets and others accessories.

I need to buy Memory card, because I left another camera at home.

Best... all the memory cards were inside that camera pouch!

So literally, we couldn't use our Samsung NX100 camera the whole day! So, need memory card urgently for the next 4 days!

Target found! Memory cards with different types, sizes, capacity and brands

all displayed in the cashier counter.

Toshiba SDHC memory card 32GB.

Heol~! Hubby asked me to take his photos here!

But seriously, there are 3 long rows of these toy ball vending machines

with maybe thousands of different types of toys!

There are other shops upstairs. Afraid that it might be raining again for the next few days, we bought umbrellas. Then bought snacks for kiddos, and Japanese fabrics before going back to hotel.

Taxis with cute top lights (clover, moon, heart-shape,...).

Another Pachinko arcade opposite Granvia Hotel.