More cultural experiences

    I have had some more cultural experiences this week. Whilst up in the mountain region we drove to Samtan art mine in Jeongseon, and stayed over night. It was a disused coal mine that has now some wonderful art treasurers that has been collected from all over the world. It has been beautifully done keeping the original features of the mine as well as displaying the art. This is a picture of the outside. You can see the mountains in the distance.

Then we drove and saw the East Sea. The water was very blue and clear. The sand was also white and clean. We didn't have much time there but enough to see it and smell the fish. Korean's enjoy eating fish, and it was good to see the many fishing boats in the harbour ready to catch them. Here is a picture of the coast line.

Whilst travelling we stopped at one restaurant and had grey noodles, they were very cold, and quite refreshing; although quite strange to be eating something that is grey in colour! 

We returned back to Seoul on Wednesday evening. Had a bit quieter day Thursday and prepared for Sunday's preach. Then in the evening I went to a concert at the National Theatre of Korea to hear some traditional Korean music and singing. The style is quite different to Western music. It was similar to folk music in the way it told a story and the musicians join in with wails, but there the similarities end. The singer has a much more high pitched voice, and the notes were quite sharp, and she had a wonderful range to be able to sing like that. The instruments are more akin to the Indian drum and sitar.  They follow a strong beat. It is quite hard to describe it it in words, but it is something you feel and experience. They even dressed in traditional costume which was fun. She also sang some western music as well, one piece was from France, and she sang it so well. They then fused East and West together using piano, sax, guitars as well as traditional instruments it sounded wondeful