Ceramic Village and Insadong

Early Saturday morning we woke to head on a trip to the Ceramic Village and Festival. This was going to be a whole family event but Yaya and the kids decided to stay home. Turns out I think it was the right decision as it would have been a bit boring for the kids.

 The festival was held at a beautiful park, the leaves were beginning to change into autumn colors, and there was a little chill to the air.

All throughout the park were ceramic demonstrations and displays of beautiful designs.

 There were a few giant kilns throughout the park that were all decorated like the one to the left.

Josh and I joined a couple other KIS teachers and took a taxi to the ceramic village down the street. It is a small village with nothing but shops full of ceramics. I pictured shops filled with the same imported items over and over. Much to my surprise and delight each shop was different and many were filled with artisan goods rather than mass produced items. We found a couple of choice items and headed out. It is worth a trip back.














As soon as we arrived home the family boarded the 5500 bus and headed to Insadong. This is an area of Seoul which is a fairly big tourist draw, but not tacky at all. It is a pedestrian street with cool traditional shops all along and alley ways to each side filled with restaurants. At one end of the street is a stage where we watched some traditional singing and at the other is a giant sculpture and a view of the close-by palace.

 A huge novelty that people line up for are these tube shaped ice cream cones. The kids love them!


We did a bit of shopping. Mom found little gifts for family back home and I treated myself to a pair of earrings made by a local.


For dinner we settled on traditional Korean. None of us liked it! The atmosphere was nice and there was a table full of drunk Koreans across the aisle that provided good entertainment!