Photo of the Day: Soldiers of the Country

This current stand-off at the border reminds me of the men and women standing on the front-lines protecting the country.

As a tribute to these brave Korean soldiers, I chose this photo of the day: Korean soldiers doing their precision drills at the War Memorial of Korea. The Honor Guard Ceremony is perhaps the most entertaining performance to watch at the Memorial. 

The honor guards turn, drop on a knee, throw their rifles up on the air and catch them with only one hand. And on this photo, everyone has thrown their weapons up and is about to catch them with one hand as they all fall back to Earth in accordance with the law of gravity.  While the crowd enjoyed the performance, I enjoyed taking the photograph.

So, to our brave soldiers of the country, thank you! Because of you, we all sleep soundly tonight.

Remembering June 25 @ The War Memorial of Korea

On June 25, 1950, the Korean War broke out, exactly 65 years ago. Although there were numerous armed conflicts in the peninsula caused by invaders and neighbors over the centuries, THE Korean War is the most vivid in memory.

And as a tribute to the heroes and the efforts during these conflicts, the War Memorial of Korea was built in the Yongsan District of Seoul. Aside from the engraved names of the fallen during the Korean War, the Memorial also has indoor exhibition rooms that display the artifacts, records, replicas and weaponry used in war over the centuries.

In the Memorial, the engraved names of the fallen included the 112 soldiers from the Philippines. The Philippine Expeditionary Force to the Korean War sent a total of 7,420 soldiers over the course of the war, and the first batch of 1,367 soldiers left Manila in September 1950 to help South Korea win the war against the invaders from the North.

Outside the building, there are sea and air crafts on display, and the huge monuments to commemorate peace and the casualties of war.

But aside from these displays, there is a regular performance of the Korean Military Band and the Honor Guard Ceremony. This event is usually held on Fridays and Saturdays during spring and early summer. It's 2PM on Fridays and 3PM on Saturdays. (Click this link, or call the number therein to check schedule of performances).

On one occasion, I was able to watch the performance under the afternoon spring sun, along with the hundreds of local and foreign visitors. I think this is the only place in Seoul where Korean soldiers on active duty regularly perform for a crowd. Yes, the participants are actually made up of professional soldiers and Korean men fulfilling their mandatory military service.

The performance lasts for about 30 minutes, and I suggest you get to the Memorial early so you can pick a spot under the shade right in front of the open grounds. Also do watch out for the band's rendition of 'Amazing Grace' with matching choreography with the soldiers swaying with the wind. 

But my favorite part of the performance is their precision marching and drills where the honor guards turn, drop on a knee, and throw their rifles up in the air and catch them with one hand in rapid succession without inadvertently shooting any spectator. Kidding! They execute these moves with perfect alignment and cadence. I guess they must have practiced this for weeks.

And the fun part? You can pose for photos with the performers in their colorful traditional costumes, and in their neat, spotless military uniforms. I posted below some photos of crowds having fun posing with them.

So, if you're visiting Seoul and would like to learn more about Korea's war history, its war heroes, and other past military conflicts in Korea, make the War Memorial of Korea a part of your itinerary.

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The War Memorial of Korea is a few meters from Exit 12 of Samgakji Station (Lines 4 and 6). Just follow the sidewalk towards Namsan. With its huge structure and open space, you won't miss it. They also hold open-air concerts in the Memorial every now and then.

(Bravo to these performers from the Korean military! 

It's always fun to watch them perform!)

Photo of the Day: "Stand By Me"

Or for Three Musketeers fans, it's "all for one, one for all".

After each performance that impresses the locals and international tourists every other Friday and Saturday afternoon at the War Memorial of Korea in the Yongsan District in Seoul, the soldiers and other performers mingle and pose with the crowd. 

And on one occasion, I was able to swing by and saw a platoon eager to share their time with the crowd. Although they were 'at ease', these Korean soldiers still had this air of discipline. And while they were huddled together, I just had to snap a photo from the back. 

And with their perfect alignment, uniform height, and intimidating military vests, these brave soldiers provided our photo of the day.

Photo Of The Day: Marching Soldiers

If you roam around Seoul, you would always chance upon a Korean soldier in the subway, walking along the sidewalk, or even driving a military vehicle. He could be on duty or on leave. 

Able-bodied Korean men from 18 to 35 years old are required under the law to serve in the military. That's why you would find a lot of these young soldiers everywhere.

And one morning, as I was passing by the War Memorial of Korea, I saw a platoon of them marching towards the Memorial grounds. I guess they were heading to their assignment that day. 

So, thanks to these soldiers for their service to the country, and for our photo of the day.

Cherry Blossoms....From Nam-san With Love!

I would have wanted to quote James Bond's From Russia With Love, but we're not in Russia. We're in Korea! Specifically, in Seoul!

So, the cherry blossoms have all gone. Unfortunately for some international tourists who arrived late in Korea,  no tree in Seoul bears those white, pink flowers anymore. The blooms have lasted for about a little longer than two weeks, during which time millions of Seoulites and tourists have taken millions of photos and selfies.

Although the most popular spot to enjoy the blooms in Seoul is at Yeouido, the other spot which I always recommended is at Nam-san.  

So, on one of the weekends when the cherry blossoms were in full bloom, I dropped by the War Memorial of Korea and took a few photos from that vantage. I think that's the only spot which I could take a photo from, showing the whole mountain. Unless, of course, I break into someone's apartment near Huam-dong in the Yongsan District and take a photo from their window, or rooftop. Ha-ha-ha! 

I didn't anymore go up the mountain to see the blooms. I was sure thousands must also be up there, and I didn't want to join that huge crowd. Been there, done that. But from my spot at the Memorial, I wondered what it would have looked like had the mountain been planted with more cherry blossoms. I could see the cherry blossoms that lined up that one-way road going down from the NSeoul Tower. One can either walk the trail going up or down. Some bike their way up. This path is actually narrow and is being used by the yellow Nam-sam buses as well as the tourist buses. 

So, if you want to take a picture in the middle of the road, you have to watch out for these buses. Otherwise, the bus driver (and all his passengers!) would photobomb your sweet, romantic picture with your boyfriend or girlfriend. Ha-ha-ha!

But once you got that picture, it always will be from Nam-san...with love!