Entries about lotte

I took it easy on Saturday, blogging in the morning and then heading to the Seoul National Museum. This is an entirely new facility opened in 2010 that is monumental in size, clad inside and out in marble, and relatively uncrowded with artifacts compared to the old museum which I had a chance to see about 15 years ago.

There were some very fine pieces, of course - here are some random items I liked. This is a centerpiece of the museum, a 14th century buddhist monument.

On a much smaller scale, here's a charming detail from an 18th century biographical scroll.

Another detail from a 17th century ink drawing - the artist is famous for his oxen

and who can resist a fierce lion?

This 13th century celadon vase is very similar to the vases I saw in the Tokyo Craft museum

and here is its ancestor (?) some 6000 years old

An enjoyable day, but I do kind of miss the older museum crowded with artifacts.

Grabbed a dinner of raw beef bulgolgi at the Seoul train station - it cooks as you mix it in the very hot cast iron pot.

Finally I swung by Lotte Mall again. I don't think I mentioned that the nucleus of the Lotte region of Seoul is the Disney-style amusement park. It also contains a lake and huge hotel and now a giant office building under construction (around the clock, I think - this was taken at 10 PM on a Saturday).

Another very good day in Seoul.