Easter in the East

First of all I am wishing you a wonderful Easter this year! And because it is Mosaic Monday today I am greeting you with a mosaic in all its Easter Pastelness...

1. Pastel Colors Week 2 { Easter }, 2. Speckled, 3. Macarons, 4. Untitled, 5. peep, 6. an itty bitty garland..., 7. Old pic (just for reference), 8. Mini Eggs, 9. bunny & bunny, 10. Place Setting, 11. Spring Pastels, 12. Eggs, 13. ready for Easter, 14. Pastel Colors Week 3 { Easter }, 15. eggs, 16. Happy Easter!

Here in Seoul you don't see chocolate bunnies and Easter eggs like in Germany but they also show festive decoration in preparation of Buddha's Birthday on the 10th of May by displayig colourful lanterns all over town and especially in front of Buddhist shrines and temples.

I have been admiring these Asian lanterns since I was a child and I am extremely happy now to have the opportunity to live amongst them. We arrived here at the perfect time with nature getting ready to show al its beauty with the bloming of the trees all over town and with the preparation for the Birthday. 

And can you see the side by side of the traditional and the new? That is what amazes me here and amazed me back in Istanbul when we lived there: Tradition and modernity, history and future all in one road.

When you are looking over the rooftops of the old Hanok buildings in Bukchon in Seoul you see the skyline of Insadong and Myendong right behind. And this is the area where we are right now and trotting along every day with three children and a slow dog.

You really would be amazed how walkable everything is here around town!

And the cleanliness! You seldom find litter on the floor - and that really makes me wonder because I can rarely find a litterbox to get rid of something. So where do they keep their rubbish? I think they are carrying it with them all the time and dispose of it at home because that is exactly what I am doing now because I cannot find these rubbish bins in this town!

On Saturday we showed the new house to the children and took measurements and made furnishing plans. They immediately took over the empty house and their new room. We are lucky that our container will arrive by the end of this week so we can move in the beginning of May!

It was great to see how the landscape had changed from last week: The hills on the other side looked greyish than because of all the blossoms. And now that they were mixed with Green and some Pink they looked just lovely! And I bet it will look as beautiful in autumn with the changing foliage in different tones.

After so many new impressions we needed food and drinks. So we haeded downhill to Seoungbuk-dong to get to a nice cafe where they not only had delicious snacks but also a nice display of books very much to my liking:

And when it comes to food and especially sandwiches even moritz is interested in flipping through a Korean book...

Easter Sunday was sunny and so we prepared a picknick because we a=wanted to go into the forest/park on the foot of Mount Bukhasan. This is the area you can see to from our house and we wnated to see what was on the other side...

We took off from the hotel after some egg hunting in the appartment. There was not so much Easter decoration in our appartment. I love to do that at home but here we only had two garlands and some handmade improvised Ester nests. But the children liked it a lot and that was all that counted even if I did not have it in my perfect colour way!

The walk up to the hills of Mount Bukhansan was beautiful! 

We walked by the old fortress wall and were so happy that this would be a spot we could reach easily within 10 minutes from our house. This national park is huge and there is so much to see and clinb and explore!

Further up the hill we were able to see our house from the opposite side. So now we are standing at the place we are seing from our garden.

And further to the right you can see the skyscraper skyline of Seoul downtown

 

And I am leaving you here to wonder how you have never thought that Seoul could be so pretty! I did not know until I searched Flickr  a year ago to find some pictures from our new destination!

Hope you enjoyed our little trip uphill! Jakob is sending a kiss!

Yvonne

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Comments

[susan]

i am so excited about this move of yours. you are so generous to take me along!

[Frau Mayer]

Aaaah! Ist das nicht totally amazing? Ich freue mich so sehr für euch, Yvonne, die Umgebung ist wunderschön to say the least! I want to come visit this very second :)

[Tina Slocum]

This is so wonderful!~ I always had the impression Seoul was gloomy~it's beyond gorgeous! And you and your beautiful family will explore and experience it to the fullest.
We are so lucky to "come along" with you.
And George looks like he's chipper and happy also!
Tina

[Yvonne Stehle]

Susan, this is so nice of you! I am glad to take you along!!!

[Yvonne Stehle]

Alina - I am sure there are flights from NYC to Seoul...

[Yvonne Stehle]

Tina, it really is wonderful here. And of course I am only showing the good things because I want to see them now! We are enjoying every second and are glad to share this!
Yvonne

[dame]

What magnificent photos. You had a great time. really would love to do a road trip like that.

[madhu]

It is so very beautiful! And now everybody wants to go to Seoul! :-)

[Eco Kids]

I think these guys are enjoying the Easter,All those picture are pretty good to c.. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9bDNMuA795U I'm very glad to visit Ur blog,Good to c that u people are having a great time...

[Yvonne Stehle]

Aww- thank you so much Madhu!
I can only recommend travelling to Seoul!
Yvonne

[Yvonne Stehle]

Thanks a lot Jerry!

[Rella]

Having just found your blog through Flickr....I am in awe of your family's journey and how you embrace it all. this is so wonderful and I am delighted to be visiting.

xox Rella

[Niki]

I love your blog! I am also korean but I live in california. The last time when I was in korea was during 1999. It seemed like Korea changed tremendously!!!! It's so beautiful! I love your photos! It look so artistic!!!!