Stopover in Seoul

 As direct flights from Istanbul to Ulaanbatar were totally booked out the week I needed to arrive I decided to go through Seoul and spend a few days there! First impressions: the people are very friendly and the city is spotless! No litter anywhere!

As I like to walk when exploring a city I booked into a central hotel The Plaza  and had a great view..

First stop was the Buddhist Jogyesa Temple.......

Then on to Palace Number 1!! Gyeongbokgung Palace... totally unpronounceable by me!

We were there early to see the Changing of the Guard..

Then on to check out the actual palace......

Then on to the water palace.....

... on to the Queen's quarters.....

... which did have heat......this is a chimney which took the smoke from four fires....

We passed by their Blue House, equivalent of the White House..... 

en route to being taught the medicinal properties of ginseng....

Then on to Palace number 2... again unpronounceable by me! Changgyeonggung Palace...

After the palaces needed to check out how the Commoners lived in past times...Bukchon Hanok village

A slightly different living style!

There is now however some interesting modern architecture....