SEOUL | Cheong Gye Cheon Stream

Cheong Gye Cheon stream is about 6KM in length, this is one of the historic places dated since the 14th century as one of the important pathway to go places. It was "unused" during the mid 20th century due to the urbanisation of the City, not until recently, it was restored and a dash of glamour were put to modernize the area so as to be the hip area of the city.


Restoration were completed in 2005, and "million" of people throng the area to have a closer look. For more details, one can read the plaque placed at the "start" of the stream


A poster promoting the area posted at one corner of the long wall.


A glimpse of the many "natural" design of the stream.

Some parts of the stream are re-design to make it have that modern feel, where as some area are just restored as it was, every few hundred meters, the designs will be varied accordingly.


Many people opted to just walk along the pathway, some jog, some just relax, enjoying the view or just reading their papers.


There are exits every few hundred metres, and there are also bridges crossing the stream within the exits, and if one are tired from the long walk, the subway station are just close by.


Another poster of " Seoul | A Lanscape of Silent "


Oh yeap, this is how the general overview of the stream looks like, and if you have watch the Korean Tourism adverts on TV, those "Hi Seoul", this is one of the places that where they did the promo filming.

Actually this was not my first time here, the first time I was here was few years back, which I have posted earlier here.

SEOUL | Central Mosque Part II

Here are the last set of photos for the Seoul Central Mosque.

A different angle of the minaret.


A view of the mosque's interior, just a simple, yet practical area for praying.


Outside view, from the main entrance.


Prince Sultan Islamic School is located within the mosque's compound.


Seoul Central Mosque in it's full glory.

AN-NUUR | Tokyo Mosque

Tokyo Cammi & Turkish Culture Centre or also known as the Tokyo Mosque, is the largest mosque in Japan.

Combined with the modern Japanese construction method with designs, material and craftsmen from Turkey, the new mosque was completed in 2000, to replace the old mosque which was constructed in 1938!


Costing more than 1.2 Billion Yen to construct, this mosque is actually situated in the Shibuya District, built "head-to-head" with the rest of the modern structures.

The flags of Turkey & Japan can be seen flying side by side outside the mosque, symbolizing the cooperation between them.


Arabic Calligraphy engraved on one of the outer facades.


Up-close with one of the details.


A glimpse of the 41.48m minaret.


During the trip, there were also some local tourists visiting the mosque.

NOTE: Interior photos will be posted in future posts.

SEOUL | Architectural & Sturctural Feast

Despite being modernise, Seoul still preserve the "old" buildings, but what struck me most is the beauty of the new buildings.

I wish I could post all those unique structures, but I know it will just hog the bandwidth, so, just to have a gist of the architectural feels, I will just post these few first.


A simple yet very modern looking building, glass facade is the game here.



Another unique structure, playing around with steel and glass. Bare steel trusses, rather than covering it with cement, making it more sexier, some kind of a fetish for the architects huh.



The only "problem" or concerns in having a glass facade is, it must be maintained accordingly, this is where "Spiderman" comes in, just like the Burj Al Arab, Dubai, by the time one have finished cleaning up to the top, it is time to clean from the bottom again.

Such design would also contribute the global warming index, as improper designed "glass building" will need more energy to maintain the interior climate.


So to end this post, I'll leave you with the reflection of a modern building, just like a reflection for us, to think about the consequences and effects of the rapid "inevitable" urban development.

NOTE: Nice date today btw .... 20.08.2008

SEOUL | Post Tower

Looking thru the window one breezy morning, overlooking the busy Seoul city, saw many interesting infrastructure of varying design and make.

You can either go straight ahead, left, right or where ever who feel like going.



This is what greeted me almost every morning, so decided to explore ahead.



Walking along the street, stopping here and there, and finally after 30 minutes or so, this is what I saw, a huge TV made for karaoke! Unfortunately I could not understand Korean alphabets, otherwise I'll be belting a song in the middle of street, and might shattered some windows.




Zooming more to the top of the building, to capture more details of the Post Tower beauty.

Thou some don't really like the aesthetics of the building, seems as if, Paul Bunyan have just axed the top part, yet it was a meant as a "space" design, and I'll let my architect friends to ramble about this more, if any.

Officially opened on the 22 November 2007, this building which has 28 floors altogether, including 7 basements, are said to revolutionize the traditional governments' "matchbox" designed building.

SEOUL | Downtown Seoul 2

Just a quick post about the building within the vicinity.

For those who loves, building, structures and the like, this is one of the places to be.


The reflection of a modern structure from also a magnificient building.



Another building with beautiful and interesting outer structure.

TRAVEL | The High Ceiling

Part of some where HUGE.

So huge that they can contained trains and airplane, even the new 380.


A very good design, making use of the natural lighting, hence saving energy to light the huge area.

BRUNEI | Masjid Omar Ali Saifuddien Restoration

Masjid Omar Ali Saifuddien will be 5o years old this year. Hence refurbishment are being made at the moment to mark the anniversary.


A pedestrian walking pass-by at the foreground, where as at the background, one can see the mosque is in the tender restoration process.

TRAVEL | Between Those Curvy Escalators ...

.... another photo of the B&W series ....

.. an interior design of one of the malls .... with sexy curvy escalators ....


... the view within ...

STREET | The Wheelock Place..

... this conical structure is another well known landmark in Singapore... particularly those who frequent Orchard Road ....

... originally when it opened in 1994, it was called Lane Crawford Place... then after its closure in the late 1990s due to the Asian Financial Crisis ... it was renamed The Wheelock Place .. after its owner... the Wheelock Properties ....

.... there are a lot of variety of stuffs .. that you can find in this building ..... ranging from those who loves books.. magazines .... bags.... shoes .... eateries... scrapbookings ... and coffee......

.... Borders ... epiCentre@Orchard (for those Apple Mac lovers...) ... Crumplers .... Birkenstocks.. Marks & Spencers... ... just to name a few.... can be found here... n yea... those who loves coffee (or tea) ... u can hang out at The Coffee Bean.... or just within the vicinity.. u can also be at .. Starbucks .... Burger King .... otherwise .. just across the road.. just watch movie at the cinema ... or just shopping.... and shopping .... and more shopping ........


... the conical glass & steel structure ... an unmissable structure at the crossroad...

... and for those who loves people passing by .... here is the place to be ...... here is the place to be seen.. or not to be seen ... hmmmm....

SINGAPORE | Vivocity ...

... officially opened in December 2006... covering an area or 1.1 million square feet of retail space .. it is considered the largest in Singapore compared to Suntec & Ngee Ann City .. .. thou I still think that .. Suntec is larger ... hmmm... or it just feels like it .... oh well..

.. anyway ... to go there.... just get off the MRT at Harbour front .... from here.. you can also go to Sentosa Island .... either by cable car .... ferry ... by car .. or by the express train ...

... Vivocity was designed by the reknown Japanese architect Toyo Ito .... who focuses in utilising the nature... climate ... and open spaces ........ and the Engineer is ... eermmm.... hmmm... doesn't mention anywhere ... why always like that ah.... only the architect built the building ah ? ... aiyoo....



.... the outer cladding of Vivocity .... which evokes the images of waves in the sea....