The "Seoul Angels" Birthday Celebration

3 friends (Giuditta, Nicolle, Jean) recently planned a birthday celebration. all of their birthdays fell in January, so they threw a fantastic party at a club in Itaewon, which is a more western part of Seoul. We all had a super fun time. Thanks Angels!

Above, Jean put together this invite for the fiesta.

it took place at a club named "Function" hence the F

the celebration is underway, i arrived around 1030p, just in time for some champagne and the cutting of the cake.....i think they are trying to figure out, who should cut the cake?!?

now that's a large cake with a lot of candles. i missed them blowing it out, and later I heard Giuditta almost caught her hair on fire, well apparently she did, but not too bad.

all smiles...

the 3 Angels of Seoul....Giuditta, Nicolle, and Jean

:)

Luca and Marco....and their Italian gestures.

the slicing begins......

Esther and Jean, both incredible journalists.

1 or 2 .....what ?!?

looking superb for the camera...

Sebastian and Giuditta tearing up the dance floor...

check out those stilettos....

DJ mixing it up....

looks like something out of a high school dance...that is, the couple in the back right. LOL!

Korean Kayaker.....Hyun-soo and Jean groovin' on the dance floor....

only one name left on the cake, i realize now that I only had one piece... :(

Esther and I making a pose for the camera....

OR NOT.

Luca and the All-Stars....

late night, just about to leave....having some fun!!

jumped up on a small table before leaving...WHY NOT !

Well....after Function a bunch of us decided on move to another place....

had to capture the outfit....

Small kabob shop....

Well.....we ended up going to another club/bar dancing for a while and eating some street food and hanging out at Jean's house until the sunrise.....then i caught a bus back to Bundang and went to sleep at 730am. YES...it was a enjoyable late night !!!

Charlie's orders were accomplished!!!

Until next time................

A Morning at the Palace - Gyeongbokgung

This past Saturday morning after spending the night in Seoul, I decided to take a walk around downtown and found myself at Seoul's largest palace, Gyeongbokgung. Originally built by King Taejo of the Joseon dynasty, somewhere around 15oo's.

On my way to the palace I walked by the entrance of another palace named, Gyeonghuigung. This was completed in 1623. Above, this colorful drum deserved a close up. Beautiful vibrant colors.

Everyday between some morning hours they have the changing of the guards. not sure if this guard was sticking his tongue out for the camera.

walking along the Palace wall on my way to the main attraction, well at the time I was just going for a walk, and had no plan of visiting any tourist site.

Arriving at the gate of Gyeongbokgung, another display of intense looking guards in their Joseon attire.

B&W side profile, armed and ready for intruders.

i think the guards lured me in, before buying a 3000W ticket, then on my way to check out the palace area....

so serious looking...

the map of Gyeongbokgung

colorful rafters....

interesting latches.

some of the stone work....

This is Gyeonghoeru, a pavilion resting on 48 stone pillars, back in the Joseon dynasty, state banquets were held here.

traditional hanoks...housing

an interior wall around the hanoks.

look up at a window and colorful rafters...

more hanoks...

hexangonal pavilion built by King Gojong

this is above the National Folk Museum....didn't take the time to check out the museum, so...at some point i'll have to come back.

some stone figures...

met up with a friend for lunch...some pajeon, tofu, and tofu soup. a nice healthy meal!

Ready for the shot....say Kimchi, LOL!

Until next time....Annyeong-hi gaseyo!