SEOUL > THE SOUL OF SOUTH KOREA & A GLOBAL CITY

Seoul like soul; Korean: 서울 literally ’Capital’), officially the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea.Seoul was the world’s 4th largest metropolitan economy with a GDP of US$635 billion in 2014 after Tokyo, New York City and Los Angeles. International visitors generally reach Seoul via AREX from the Incheon International Airport, notable for having been rated the best airport for nine consecutive years (2005–2013) by the Airports Council International. With major technology hubs centered in Gangnam and Digital Media City – the Seoul Capital Area is home to the headquarters of 15 Fortune Global 500 companies, including Samsung, LG, and Hyundai. As with its long history, the Seoul Capital Area contains five UNESCO World Heritage Sites – Changdeok Palace, Hwaseong Fortress, Jongmyo Shrine, Namhansanseong and the Royal Tombs of the Joseon Dynasty.Seoul has been described as the world’s “most wired city. My favourite company Samsung (means “three stars” in English) is the LARGEST South Korean multinational chaebol (Business conglomerate) headquartered in Samsung Town, Seoul with comprises numerous affiliated businesses most of them united under the Samsung brand (Samsung Electronics, Samsung Engineering, Samsung C&T Corporation, Samsung Heavy Industries, Samsung SDS, Samsung Life Insurance, Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance, Cheil Worldwid) – Samung means ´´Three stars´´ with the word “three” represents something “big, numerous and powerful”. Samsung has a powerful influence on South Korea’s economic development, politics, media and culture and has been a major driving force behind the “Miracle on the Han River”. Many of the photos & videos in this knowledge & experience portal have been shot on a Samsung smart phone !

SOUTH KOREA, THE DE- MILITARIZED ZONE (DMZ) & NORTH KOREA !

My visit to The Republic of Korea (South Korea) -North Korea (DPRK – The Democratic People´s Republic of Korea) is not accessible easily since Korean war and division of Korea in 1953. North and South Korea are divided by 38 degree parallel popularly called the De Militarized Zone (DMZ) – one of the most isolated and insecure borders in the world with land mines, tunnels, very restricted access, no cameras allowed etc.. kept by UN Joint command – It has restricted civilian access and requires a mandatory military escort. DMZ Tours require signing a waiver agreeing that no one is responsible for death, accident or injury and must adhere to the specified dress code (eg. no careless and casual dress like ripped jeans, sandals or unkempt hair etc.) and tours can end unexpectedly at any time if tensions rise at the border.In October 2018 – Both North and South Korea had discussions and have agreed to remove landmines across the border – Many dream of a peaceful united Korea and probably in future we may be able to visit North Korea.We have to wait and watch !

HANGZHOU WEST LAKE SCENIC AREA : LEIFENG PAGODA

Leifeng Pagoda (Chinese: 雷峰塔; pinyin: Léifēng Tǎ) is a five story tall tower with eight sides, located on Sunset Hill south of the West Lake in Hangzhou, China. Originally constructed in the year AD 975, it collapsed in 1924 but was rebuilt in 2002. Since then, it has become a popular tourist attraction. In October 1999, the provincial and municipal governments decided to rebuild Leifeng Pagoda on top of the ruins of the old one. The new pagoda opened on 25 October 2002. It is composed of a 1400 tonne steel structure with 200 tonnes of copper parts. It contains four sightseeing elevators, and modern amenities such as air conditioning, television, and speakers. At the entrance of the pagoda, there are two autonomous escalators to carry visitors to the base of the pagoda. The original base of the pagoda is kept in good condition, as well as the artifacts discovered in the underground chamber. Hangzhou is one of the most beautiful and amazing places in the world – particularly the area around the west lake !

HANGZHOU LINGYIN BUDDHIST TEMPLE

Lingyin Temple (simplified Chinese: 灵隐寺; pinyin: Língyǐn Sì) is a Buddhist temple of the Chan sect located north-west of Hangzhou , Zhejiang Province, China. The temple’s name is commonly literally translated as Temple of the Soul’s Retreat. It is one of the largest and wealthiest Buddhist temples in China, and contains numerous pagodas and Buddhist grottoes.The monastery is the largest of several temples in the Wulin Mountains (武林山; Wǔlínshān), which also features many grottos and religious rock carvings, the most famous of which is the Feilai Feng (飞来峰; literally: “the peak that flew hither”)

SHANGHAI JADE BUDDHA TEMPLE

The Jade Buddha Temple (simplified Chinese: 玉佛禅寺 pinyin : Yùfó Chán Sì : literally Jade Buddha Chan Temple) is a Buddhist temple in Shanghai. The current temple draws from both the Pure Land and Chan traditions of Mahayana Buddhism.These were a sitting Buddha (1.95 meters tall, 3 tons), and a smaller reclining Buddha representing the Buddha’s death. The temple now also contains a much larger reclining Buddha made of marble, donated from Singapore. This temple was also pretty cloe where I lived and worked and like it very much !

SHANGHAI : MY FAVOURITE CITY & MOST MODERN ICONIC PLACE !

Having lived in Shanghai for long I love this city ! Shanghai (Chinese: 上海) is the commercial and financial center of China, and ranks 5th in the 2018 edition of the Global Financial Centres Index (and third most competitive in Asia after Singapore and Hong Kong) and transport hub, with the world’s busiest container port. Shanghai Stock Exchange ranked third among worldwide stock exchanges in terms of trading volume and sixth in terms of the total capitalization of listed companies

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