The Korean Australian Boy Visits Gyeongbokgung

In the entirety of my summer trip to Korea, Seoul was the most memorable city I visited. Not due to a nice, tropical temperature, happy moods, and Jack's highly recommended drink, the humble Pocari Sweat. No. Shakespeare's ‘go boil your head’ insult was reality. Every day was the perfect day for staying inside, away from the burning windows, but our family (Mum, Dad, Heein, Jeein, and I) went to see the Changing of the Palace Guard ceremony at Gyeongbokgung Palace. Exiting the womb of air-conditioners, a heatwave greeted us, followed by another welcome gift.

Passing through stands selling rich, creamy ice-cream and cold, refreshing drinks was pure torture for us three children. Me being the oldest possibly meant I required the most endurance (no tie to Shackleton), but my mouth was filled with saliva. We kept hiking. The winds whispered to us words of disencouragement, a majestic cauldron of vibrant colours, pagoda architecture, and strong timber appeared: Gyeongbokgung Palace lived up to its title.

Drums started to beat as we entered the gates. A procession was passing, dressed in blood red uniforms, hats adorned with feathers, midnight black belts, goatees, and swords. Marching up to the gates, a Richter Scale 3 quake occurred when they raised their boots and clomped them in unison before waiting for a new troop to relieve them. After meeting each other, the commanders conversed then proceeded to their designation as the army band was introduced: all executed seamlessly. Heein and I watched with shining eyes. It was a tragedy that Year 6 is poorer than kindergarten at lining up!

After the Changing of the Palace Guard ended, only then did I start to appreciate the architecture of the palace in whole. It had the power to suffocate me in its colourful depth in one explosive instant. The ceiling was painted in a darker Mondrian's colour palette, the palace itself was encompassed by a miniature Great Wall of China, and it was engineered to offer an exquisite view from every perspective. Everywhere I went, awe followed. I learnt that this palace is 600 years old and was built in the Joseon Dynasty. It turns out that one of my mother's ancestors was a king in that epoch: if it still existed, I would be a prince living in the palace! Sadly, I found no TVs or entertainment stations installed, so living in the palace would be lonely.

Ultimately, walking inside Gyeongbokgung Palace was a trip to the time travel machine. A number of people were dressed in Korean traditional clothes (hanbok) and the authentic palace was beautiful in its own way. I observed that in the west, architectural beauty is based on modern and fancy architecture. In the east, Korean pagodas include a natural sense of beauty. In the windows inside Gyeongbokgung Palace, waiting outside is a whole new world of nature: shrubs, rocks, and mountains.

I've walked around the palace countless times and every time I peered out of its frame or gazed at the marvellous feat, my feelings were altered. How uniquely can great buildings crack even the harshest of weathers repeatedly: an example of how still objects are able to touch spaces untouchable in reality. Passing the David Chipperfield Amorepacific Headquarters, we went back to Novotel Yongsan and under the view of the Namsan Tower, Van Gogh's Starry Night became reality.