Seoul, Korea: Changdeokgung Palace

 

On this palace grounds there were the servants area. I don't have any photographs of that area for the simple reason that it was very plain. The rooms were crammed together and probably people were crammed into the rooms. The beauty that you see every where else is not visible in the servants quarters. I don't know whether I should sad or not over that fact. They may not have had the best lives, but they did get a room and food for every day that they worked in the palace. In that way they were fortunate, but at the same time they had to see the extravagance of the palace day in and day out when they owned nothing. The beauty that I did find in the servant's quarters was from the simplicity of the design. Everything was very natural and not overly done, and that is a form of beauty I think. (Looking back on it, I wish I had taken a photo or two of the servants quarters for that reason.)

Seoul, Korea: The Grounds of Changdeokgung Palace

 As you can image, it was freezing when I was in Seoul. It had snowed the day I arrived and continued to snow on the second day. Luckily, on this day it wasn't snowing, but the wind chill factor made it very hard to take photographs with no gloves. Before I even got through the main gate my fingers felt frozen and I couldn't feel my face. Even with the numbing cold I still enjoyed walking around and discovering the details of this palace.

Seoul, Korea: The Royal Bed at Changdeokgung Palace

The rooms of the people who waited on the emperor. Their rooms needed to be close by for when he needed something.

The royal bed. Mother of Pearl was used for decoration. I have to say it doesn't look very comfortable, beautiful, but not comfortable.

I really want to know where that doorway led to, but we were running out of time and since it wasn't open I don't think we would have been able to see.

I have to say it was very quiet around here. Most of the people who were visiting at the same time as us weren't coming to this area. They were more interested in the main rooms, but I think sometimes we can find wonderful things in areas that aren't often explored. A good example is this last view. I really found this last view charming and really felt like the palace had been well preserved through time. There was no chatter of the tour guides or of the other tourists. It felt like we had snuck onto the palace grounds and just around the corner we would run into a palace guard.

Seoul, Korea: The European Style Room at Changdeokgung Palace

A vintage lock

The contrast of the windows and the furniture was interesting. 

A mix of European and Korean designs.

The mural on the wall was amazing. The ocean with the tall cliffs in the background.

Seoul, Korea: Inside the Emperor's Parlor

The Emperor's parlor isn't as impressive as the throne room (probably because all the visitor's were taken to the throne room and not the parlor), but it still had some beautiful details. Like this lantern for example.

The paper windows aren't as intricate, but has more of a calming design.

Of course, the details of the roof top has the same design to match.

A beautiful backyard area to the parlor.

Seoul, Korea: Emperor's Parlor at Changdeokgung Palace

 This is in front of the Emperor's Throne room, but I wanted to show the view from the Emperor's Throne room. Now, you can see the buildings that are a part of Seoul now, but image what it must have been like before Seoul became a city of tall buildings and bright lights.

A passageway for the Emperor to get to his parlor.

Looking back

 

Looking towards the emperor's parlor.

Seoul, Korea: Gates and Details at Changdeokgung Palace

There were many gates on these palace grounds. 

The roof tops were adorned with these (I'm going to say) Korean version of Gargoyles. I'm not positive, but maybe they were meant to ward off evil spirits or demons. In other words, these were meant to protect the palace and the people living here.

The palace grounds do extend quite a ways.

This seemed to be the place to have your group photo taken. With all the colors and details who could resist!

This statue was part of the stone stairs that lead to the Emperor's throne.

Natural and beautiful lighting in this room.

I loved the details of the paper windows. 

There was so much space around the Emperor's throne. He must have had a lot of people visiting him or waiting on him.