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Hwaseong Fortress

As promised, a post on Hwaseong Fortress.^^

I ranted about Sungkyungkwan Scandal Korean drama before and mentioned a bit about King Jeongjo and his desire to move Joseon Dynasty's capital to Hwaseong Fortress.


Hwaseong (Brilliant Castle/ Fortress), the wall surrounding the centre of Suwon, the provincial capital of Gyeonggi-doSouth Korea, was built in the late 18th century by King Jeongjo of the Joseon Dynasty to honour and house the remains of his father Prince Sado, who had been murdered by being locked alive inside a rice chest by his own father King Yeongjo having failed to obey his command to commit suicide. Located 30 kilometres (19 mi) south of Seoul and enclosing much of central Suwon including King Jeongjo's palace Haenggung,UNESCO designated the fortress a World Heritage site in 1997. The Suwoncheon, the main stream in Suwon, flows through the centre of the fortress. (Source: Wikipedia)


Sungkyunkwan University also has another campus in Suwon. 


All pictures are courtesy of my friends; Hanim, Iris, Marina and Fiza who just recently returned from Seoul. 


A mural done on floor before the entrance of Hwaseong Fortress

The entrance

There's a reason why you can see soldiers here. 

Here is the filming location for DaeJanggeum
or
 Jewel of the Palace Korean drama.



Maybe this is how Lee Seon Joon studied during the old days.^^


The room where King Jeongjo discussed the nation's affair with 
his officials.

Some of the belongings of King Jeongjo's are exhibited here.

The original portrait of King Jeongjo and the reason why 
there are soldiers hovering the place.

The gate to Hwaseong Fortress.

Happy Suwon!

Check out KNTO article on Hwaseong Fortress. and the unsuccessful attempt of King Jeongjo to make Suwon the nation's capital here.


Admission
Hwaseong Fortress: 1,000 won. Hwaseong Haenggung: 1,500 won

Getting There
The fortress (Paldalmun Gate) is a 20-minute walk from Suwon Station, Line 1.


From Myeongdong to Suwon by Subway
1 hour 8 minutes, 25 stops, 41.4km
1,600 won by T-Money, 1,700 won by cash
Transit at GeumJeong Station.

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Famous people from Suwon 


Park Ji Sung - Manchester United footballer. Park Ji-Sung grew up in Suwon 
but was born in Seoul, in 2005 a city street  in Suwon was renamed after him.

Jo Kwon - 2AM's leader; second from left.


Ha Ji Won - actress of SBS's currently airing drama - Secret Garden

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Visiting Thailand’s North Provinces



Although Thailand is a great place to visit, when you venture out of the main cities and tourist locations, you will often be confronted with third world conditions. While this is nothing to be alarmed by, it is something that all travellers should be aware of. 

Theft and poor food preparation and hygiene skills are something that you may notice in certain areas, which is why it is important to purchase comprehensive travel insurance. Not only will this cover your medical bills should fall ill from something simple such as gastro (even treatment for this illness can be expensive), but if something should get stolen, that too could be replaced, depending on your policy. 



Discover Thailand 

Some of the most popular places for tourists in Thailand are Bangkok, Phuket, Phi Phi Island and Koh Samui. However, there are many more destinations that should be seen, to really be believed: 

• Chiang Mai – full of traditional heritage 

• Chiang Rai – situated 785 kilometres north of Bangkok 



• Kamphaengphet – the name means “strong as walls” or “forts made of diamonds” 

• Lampang – famous for their horse-drawn carriages 

• Lamphun – located on the bank of the Kuang River 

• Mae Hong Son – this town has been isolated from the western world 

• Nakhon Sawan – where the rivers of Ping, Wang, Yom and Nam all meet to form the Chao Phraya River 



• Nan – a province rich in rock salt deposits 

• Phayao – intriguing religious sites 

• Phetchabun – the name means “land of crops and food” 

• Phichit – several crocodile farms can be found in this province 

• Phitsanulok – a great base for those wishing to adventure throughout the north and western northeast 



• Phrae – one of the largest reserves of teak forests 

• Sukhothai – the first truly independent Thai kingdom 

• Tak – known for the area’s beautiful mountains and forests 

• Uthai Thani – rich with native wildlife 

• Uttaradit – a well known port for goods transportation 



Now, if that seems like a lot of places to visit, there is still so much more! The aforementioned provinces are only the ones located in the north of the country. The central, east, north-east and south are also there for you to enjoy!


Article Source:
http://www.articlecity.com/articles/travel_and_leisure/article_4437.shtml




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