Well it’s been a stressful and hectic week but it’s the weekend now and time to do some more exploring. Today I took a trip to a place called Gyeongbokgung which is only a few subway stops from where I live.  I decided to visit Gyeongbokgung because that’s where Gyeongbok Palace is. The palace was built in 1395 three years after the Joseon Dynasty was founded. Its name means “Palace Greatly Blessed by Heaven”.  In 1592 the Palace was burnt down by the Japanese.  For the next 273 years the grounds were left derelict until it was rebuilt in 1867 by Prince Regent Heungseon Daewongun. It was again demolished by the Japanese in 1911.  The images of the palace you see here are as a result of a restoration effort that has been ongoing since 1990. Enjoy!