Been traveling to quite a number of places with my camera gears, Japan, Australia, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and Cambodia just to name a few, but one of the most camera friendly city that I came across is Seoul, Korea.What make I said that, "camera friendly city", you might asked, well some of the factors that need to be considered are: You can take photo of almost anything easily without getting those strangely looks from other people, especially the locals, (as long as you are within the photographers' ethics); You can take, lugged around your camera gears without being afraid of it being "taken away", (as long as you don't wander off the off-beaten tracks), You won't feel awkward shooting photo with your huge SLR, as most of the people are using one! There are many camera shops around, new and used, compact and SLRs, digital and film; There are so many photo opportunities, even just by seating in one corner! + many other factors.O
One of the photographers, viewing the day's shot from his professional Canon EOS 1D body.
Just look at the photographers, having a classic film SLR for each of them.
A yuppie sharing the pros and cons of his Nikon DSLR.
There are even loads of woman photographers around, shooting with their DSLR, I guess woman prefer huge DSLR rather than those smaller compact point and shoot camera, or is just a hype nowadays?
Just look at those huge, long lens, see, I told you, one will not feel awkward tagging along their huge SLR for a walkabout in Seoul, but do know your limit and ethics. :)
Just some random photos of various public phone booths in Seoul.
The simple tin-can on the wall type of thingy.
These are just simple glass walled phone booth, yet practical, complete with stainless steel bench, good idea, so that, people will talk more.
Pedestrians passing by the red phone booths at the vicinity of Seoul Museum of History.
A phone booth is also a good place to meet up, why call on the phone when you can just meet up?Speaking of phone, remind me some of The Simpsons' quote:Homer: "... Operator! Give me the number for 911!"Chief Wiggum: Uh, no, you got the wrong number. This is 9-1…2.Moe: Yeah, Moe's Tavern, Moe speaking. Bart: Is Jacques there? Moe: Who? Bart: Jacques, last name Strap. Moe: Uh, hold on. [to everyone in the bar] Uh, Jacques...Strap...Hey guys I'm looking for a "Jock strap". [laughs from all] Oh... wait a minute...Jock strap?!... It's you isn't it, ya cowardly little runt? When I get a hold of you, I'm gonna gut you like a fish and drink your blood!Bart: Is Mister Freely there? Moe: Who? Bart: Freely, first initials I. P. Moe: Hold on, I'll check. Uh, is I. P. Freely here? Hey, everybody! "I pee freely"! [the customers laugh] Wait a minute... Listen to me you lousy bum. When I get a hold of you, you're dead. I swear I'm gonna slice your heart in half! Homer: You'll get that punk someday, Moe. Moe: I don't know. He's tough to catch. He keeps changing his name.
Apgujeong besides being famous for its row of boutiques, it is the place to be seen, or to see celebrities.
Armed with the Canon video cam, the Crew members of Star Sports caught filming for their next show.
Then at another corner, saw this crew with their abundance of clothes, and that guy with the yellow shirt carrying a professional Canon DSLR, perhaps trying to do a model shoot.
And at a cafe at the corner I saw a Korean Celebrity, or maybe not.
Another interesting thing about the Seoul's Rodeo Drive is their modern antiques and their architectural style, just like the one reflected from the mirror.
And this interesting parking style, just like those in the Fast and Furious, Tokyo Drift.
Plastic Surgeons could also be found here.
And finally, a place for someone, not threesome, but TwoSome.
Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills, USA, needs no introduction, but the obsession of this stretch of place for Korean made them built an identical area in Seoul.
Apgujeong a.k.a. Rodeo Drive, in Seoul also housed various designer boutiques, and this is also the place to be seen and to see various artists.
Indulge yourself in new handbags and accessories at the Coach boutique.
Or some new designer apparels like GA, and only those special customer can park their car in front of the boutique's door.
The huge label of DKNY could be seen from afar.
It is quite a walk, many smaller alleys could led you to their local designer's boutiques.
And if you need new shoes for your aching sole, Jimmy Choo's is at your convenience.
But I know, most of the ladies could not resist to get their hands on the new Speedy at Louis Vuitton, and just look at the size of their boutique!I don't wanna mentioned about their Gucci's, Balenciaga's or the rest, if you want more, you need to come and experience it yourself!
Still doing my walkabout, away from the city centre, trying to walk along the locals, and be amongst the locals, (well some locals do speak Korean to me, thinking that I was one of them).
Perhaps a typical scene in the daily life, and that guy on the right, is just enjoying himself, dancing with the sound of "nature".
The route that I walked thru was at time empty.
And sometime, I have to climb quite a long and steep gradient of road.
But I managed to see many local and traditional architectures, which otherwise I would miss, if did not venture out of the city centre.
Local people and the local grocery shops.
Just some pipes and their meter box.
Their local brews.
But there are still a pinch of urbanization within the surburbs.
I have mentioned in earlier posts that, one of the best ways to explore a city is to walk the not so routine or touristy route.So I decided to venture out of the way of the busy downtown area, and moved out of the city centre.
A human powered cart is one of the signs that you are beginning to get away from the heavily traffic city centre.
A typical housing area outside the city centre.
A sight of relief, seeing a cafe within the suburb, Cafe Julie, unfortunately there was no sexy Julie in-sight, perhaps I was not looking thorough enough. But the view from here was breathless.
Walking pass the narrow alleys, remind you of those traditional Korea movie/drama, I was informed that, some of the infrastructures within these area were left untouched, and some even goes back to about 100 years old!
Walking thru these "ancient" route, I passed by numerous museums, The Han Sang Soo Embroidery Museum is one of them, they do have museums for everything I presumed, even for embroidery. I think Brunei should also have these kind of museum, Baju Manik Gallery, Baju Katok Museum, Nasi Katok Museum, Gallery of Unclaimed Baju Raya or some sort.
Gahoe Museum, where you can find load of artworks of the everyday life of Seoul in yester years.
And there is also the Institute of Korean Royal Cuisine, with a short inside story of their works, if you want to know more.
A glimpse of the inside of the institute.
