It's a 1950's World Fair and a Zoo and an Art Museum and...

Kyle_confused
Written by Kyle on Sunday, April 19, 2009 in Korea, Republic of
Feelin' confused

Looking for a nice, quiet day, we went in search of Seoul Grand Park, the closest large park to us.  We imagined nice paths surrounded by trees and people having quiet picnics with their families.  After a week of dealing with kids, it seemed like a good way to wind down on a Sunday.  What we found, however, was really nothing like that.

Instead, it looked like something you would see advertising the World's Fair in the 1950s.  With the ski lifts taking people from one side of the park to the other and the odd futuristic building in the background, I half expected to see a sign advertising "The Wave of the Future: Nuclear Powered Ovens!", or some other equally incorrect prediction about future life.

Seoul Grand Park

Mmmm..right.  So we kept walking and what did we see?  Kids!  Kids walking, kids riding on the elephant tram, kids going into the zoo, and kids headed to the amusement park.  Not exactly what we had expected...

Seoul Grand ParkSeoul Grand Park
Elephant ride thingy; Me at the zoo

Don't think it was only for kids, too.  There were plenty of adults goofing around and generally acting like kids.  It wasn't uncommon to see business men riding the ski lift or a group of woment trying to make pyramids for a photo shoot.

Seoul Grand Park
Maybe they're negociating a deal?

Seoul Grand Park
It's all fun and games until someone gets a hernia

Fortunately, we did find one place of solitude: the Modern Art Museum.  As there's not many funny or silly things to do in the grounds of the museum we were finally able to take a seat next to a man-made lake and relax.  In the background, there was a singing statue (it is modern art after all) that at first sounded like a really bad saxaphone player, but after a while, it became a nice, soothing, meditating sound for us.

Seoul Grand ParkSeoul Grand Park
The quiet lake; A singing statue

With our relaxation over, we decided to head out and maybe try the park another day when we have more energy to have fun.  On the way out, we were reminded that, again, we are half way around the world by the odious smell of cooked butterfly larvae.  I'm usually the kind to try any wierd food, but not that day.  It'll have to wait.

Seoul Grand Park

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Comments on "It's a 1950's World Fair and a Zoo and an Art Museum and..."

Don't be shy, tell us "hi"

I love the net under the ski lift. Did you flip off and land and bounce like the trapeze guys do in the circus?

by Kristine at April 21, 2009 09:40 PM
Kyle_thumb

Why didn't I think of that before? That would have been a good idea!

April 22, 2009 07:18 AM

Why have I never been in a pyramid with a bunch of girlfriends to pose for a photo. We have missed out!!

by Melissa at April 22, 2009 08:29 AM

Loved the businessmen on the ski lift!! I guess every country has its oddities. The oddest we ever saw was a man in a business suit, standing on a motorized razor scooter, briefcase hung over handlebar, riding swiftly down an incline, through the traffic of Paris, holding on with one hand and a cell phone pressed to his ear in the other. I think business dealings on a ski lift is a safer approach! Glad you passed on the butterfly larva.

by Linda at April 22, 2009 12:01 PM

What a great experience. What fun! Amazing.
Tony Wiszowaty

by Tony Wiszowaty at April 22, 2009 04:55 PM

Just wondering if people's weekdays are long at work and short at home that perhaps weekends are the time for lots of socialization and the kiddies. (...just as you two are looking for LESS of it! LOL)

by mumsie at May 16, 2009 12:14 PM
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