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Mt.Iwangsan
The construction of the lomographic guide of Seoul is gaining pace and content. And so I thought I should pull out an merry old location to join the jam. A few years back on my first stay in SeoulI discovered a green mountain in the middle of a city made of concrete and steel. Mount Iwangsan is a big city delight with a lot of incentives and shamanic ghosts.
The very first days on our stay in Seoul, we basically only saw streets, cars and skyscrapers. A megapolis without green and people haven’t been that visible either. You also have to take in account to be in a traffic jam all of the time. I am really glad that we went onto the holy mountain Inwangsan at our first free day. Korea has a lot of mountains and like in Seoul they are right in the city. I suppose they were there first, so they have more stories to tell, than the buildings made of concrete. This 338 meter high mountain is accessible by underground number three (Dongnimmun Station) and then you just have to find your way up. There is a Buddhist entrance gate and on the first steps are various temples, bells and much more. More steps upwards will be stones and it is getting more adventurous. We witnessed shaman ceremonies and temples. Quite astonishing, because they are praying to the gods of nature and make noises with drums and sing in a very beautiful way. Also other city-escapers and permanent pilgrims go to pray there and they leave loads of food and money as a gift for the gods. I figured they chose what they would like best to have themselves in a possible nirvana, like chips, sweets and booze. What is good for them can’t be bad for the gods either, right?! Eventually the carekeepers and plenty of cats and other savage animals say thank you. There is a little beck running down the hill and adjacently there are many places where you can drink that clean springwater and you really should do so. It is very tasty. As tasty as the fountains in the Peters Square opposite the Vatican. There must be something to holy water... hey, that is a business idea!
If you walk further up the pathway stops, but we went through the trees and had the most spectacular sight of the city. A good chance for panoramic shots! We reached a fence which clearly was surrounding a military base. We ought not to forget, that the issues between North- and South-Korea are ongoing and as tense as ever and such hills are of utmost military importance. Their are huge Antennas and viewing sites. As Seoul is just a few kilometers away from the north possible misiles will be most likely spotted from Mount Iwangsan.
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