Again on another adventure with UNESCO Korea! This is the last trip of the UNESCO Korea of 2017. For this trip, we got an opportunity to travel to and explore the Hwaseong Fortress in Suwon! This was my first time ever going to the fortress and witnessing the Korean traditional Jultagi (줄타기) or tight rope walking show. It was a very amazing and wonderful show! There was a lot to do and see on this trip. First, we experienced a traditional martial arts demonstration (무예24기 24 Martial Arts) which showed us how the the ancient warriors fought in their time. This was during the contemporary Joseon dynasty. After that we had some delicious lunch just across the courtyard. We ate some Kalbitang (갈비탕) and shared some Shabu Shabu or mixed vegetable, thin sliced beef and noodle soup. We were so stuffed!!!
After lunch we killed some time and took a short tour inside the fortress with an English speaking tour guide who explained in great detail the significance of the fortress. Then, we had the chance to see the Jultagi or Korean traditional tight rope walking show. Just before the show to warm up the crowd, they did a short show on the different traditional Korean instruments with each performer doing a short solo and then playing all at once. Then it was the tightrope walker time! At first he teased us a little telling jokes and just doing some simple walking across the rope. Then he advanced his skills and started jumping and bouncing doing amazing tricks to stun the crowd. It make us excited and greatly entertained. It was by far my most favorite part of the trip. After the show, we had some free time to look around the market area. Unesco Korea gaves us each 10,000 won to spend there! I bought some winter gloves because I didn’t have any, and that day was FREEZING! I couldn’t believe how the tightrope performers could do their show in those conditions. It looked like they were only wearing some thin clothing! Anyway, as the day came to an end, we got on the bus to head back to Seoul and they gave us a survey to do and a free gift. It was a 3D puzzle of the Hwaseong Fortress.
This trip was a great way to end 2017. I love the UNESCO Korea trips and I look forward to doing more in the future!