Totally the Coolest Find in Seoul: Alice in Wonderland English Park

September 26, 2012 Edit

I went back to the location of Alice Land just 3 days ago to find it turned to rubble.  Unfortunately, the demolition was complete with only a lonesome sunflower statue left to smile over the sad scene.  I'm sorry, but this abandoned theme park is no more.  You can still read about it and check out my pictures, though!

:)

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Over near Yangjae stream, in the Culture and Arts Park (문화예술공원), lies Alice Park, an Alice in Wonderland themed English park.  Korean children would come and chat and play games, all in English, with foreign English speakers and other helpers.  The pictures I've seen look like an interesting weekend venture, and I bet it was fun to work there, too (no report cards, for one thing), but the place looks like this now.

Dilapidated, abandoned, overgrown, and begging for trespassers.  There aren't even any signs telling people to keep out!

(The next few paragraphs contain location details and links to other pictures, so if you want to get down to the nitty gritty, just scroll ahead.  I won't be offended.)

I first read about it in a Seoul magazine, then I looked it up and found some helpful blogs.  Seoul Suburban told about other attractions nearby (the brewery was not much of a brewery and is not worth your time, by the way). Chopsticks, Rice, Us shows pictures from a year earlier when the park was not yet destroyed (it's cool to see the difference between their pictures and mine).  Expat Advisory has an article from 2005 when the park was actually in use.  And, if you're looking for a few more pictures of what the park used to like, there's a few more (and a nice map of the park) at My Korean Buddy.

Here it is on the map.  Ish.  You want to go to where the green arrow is (pay no attention to the "A" marker).  This place isn't in Yangjae Citizens Park, it's to the west of it, but it's in that huge green area to the west of the two streets/bridges there.  I call them street/bridges because they look like streets only if you're on the street.  If you've walking a level lower like I was, they look like bridges.  Of course.  I walked along the stream and under the bridges then entered the Culture and Arts park right at the second bridge through a gated entrance.  I followed the first path I found around the edge of the park heading back East, and we eventually saw what looked to be strange rabbit ears.  They led us right to the park.

My friend Blake and I explored the grounds a couple weeks ago in July 2012.  A few park-goers were nearby Alice Park, but they never took any notice of us except to tell us that we could get water from a certain water fountain.  So, without much decorum (and only a little anxiety from myself), we slipped inside behind the doors and broken down card soldiers to an eerie and amazing place of the absurd.

The entrance.  Really, the perimeter wasn't secure at all.  There were large gaps between the things that I think were supposed to keep people out.  Maybe the locals respected the shoddy effort at restriction, but I considered it a dare to come inside.

Our only observers

Like any good 20-somethings, we whipped out our cameras. 

All over the park were these interesting chairs.  They looked like fairy monster thrones to me.   Blake was much better at looking ominous in them.

Fairy Monster Throne of Doom

The craft room

We took turns leading through the mazes and jungles.  As a side note: save a few strays, the only mosquito bites I've gotten all summer came from our Alice Park escapade.  Those dirty bugs.

It's not usual that you see a face of pure amazement, but this on was very real.  For inside the building was...

We were not expecting this.

The ceiling.

Just wow.

And, for those of you who might think this place was all play and no work even in its heyday, here's a snapshot of what really went down in this room.  I think children had to pick up these balls and make sentences with the words they found.

I'd be a little morose, too.

I suggested that this is why the park is abandoned.

Staff party

Overgrown, indeed.

Some areas required more caution than others.

A building shaped like a cat
He seemed a little too pleased to see us.

A building shaped like a shoe
This one was locked.

This is where the party happens.  Obviously.  Not sure if the soju bottles were left by folks who might should be putting the park back in order or by people like us who found an awesome place for a tea party.

More fairy monster thrones
Reminded me of some counsel that would meet in Mirkwood or something...

The caterpillar and his pipe

What kind of English were they teaching here, anyway?

This was in the room I assume was the director's office.  It was sitting on a bench across from a desk with a printer.  And I know it's not exciting, but let this be a testament of all the cool things that we found undisturbed and that Blake and I honorably left undisturbed.  'Cause, man, would that print look awesome in my living room.

Blake found toys.

I found a reflective surface.

And then there were many.

There was a beautiful clock collection.  This picture shows only a few.
Among these clocks, there were loads of other things left from the park's working days as well as personal affects of workers.  Work boots, a scarf and hat, papers, craft supplies, printers, office chairs, broken keyboards, a mess of keys, business cards, all untouched.  I'll say again that I'm pretty impressed by the other trespassers who went before us for leaving the place in such fine condition.  

Mirrors and clocks

Good bye See you
Alice Park
Johnny Depp's looking stranger than usual.

And, as always, CCTV!

If you're ever looking for an adventure in Seoul during your week-long summer vacation, you've found your mission.  I hope this place will still be here in a few years.  Just imagine what it will look like then!

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This is what Alice Park looked like when I saw it after the demolition crews got to it.  The only salvageable thing I found was a retro clock face (the one you can see above with the blue frame, actually).  Now I really wish I hadn't been so respectful about leaving everything where I found it, because if all those clocks were destroyed, it would be a shame.

A Very Boring Post About My First Typhoon

Ha!  How's that for a title to reel you in?  XP

Of course I only half-way wish that I had something more exciting to talk about with Typhoon Bolaven here, but this is all I've got.

I'm actually very pleased to have a gentle day.  In my personal life, I've had to deal with some cyclones of my own, so it's nice to be free and to have coloring books and good music nearby for a full day of no responsibilities.

I'm curious, what would you do if a Day of Nothing was suddenly dropped in your lap?

Couple Wear: I have a plan.

As I've said before, I've slowly become a fanatic for couple wear.  Couple tees, couple pajamas, couple shirts, not so much couple rings (cuz you might as well be saving for on with a rock on it), but pretty much everything else.  By the way, there's also plenty of couple inner wear for sale here, too...

I visited my friend Drew in his city of Chuncheon this weekend.  This city is known in Korea as its city of love all because of a certain Korean drama that was filmed there.  Winter Sonata.  There are statues and posters and Christmas lights all over the city in commemoration.  There are also loads and loads of wedding shops and I can only assume that couples come here to try and wish upon the happiness of the couple in Winter Sonata for their own relationship.

Drew and I were walking through the underground mall and eye shopping and chatting.  We commented on the couple wear we saw modeled on the mannequins, and I told him how I feel about the whole idea.  I also told him I'm pretty sure that, if I ever want to go matchy-matchy with anyone, it's probably going to be my dog since my boyfriend Caleb wouldn't be caught dead wearing the same clothes as me.

Just then, though, we passed some really suave outfits and Drew said something brilliant.  What if I give Caleb a really nice set of clothes, something really cool and flattering (he looks fantastic in blues).  I could suggest that he wear it on our next date, and then just show up wearing the same thing!  Surprise Couple Ninja Sneak Attack!

Maybe something like this?

Images via Wholesale7.net

Think it'll work?  :)

Links to Share! (from Asia!)

I'm not much of a cat person, but every once in a while I am blessed to come across one that pulls me into a good relationship with cats.

Like this one.

Via Sho & Tell

In fact, I want you to know about Sho & Tell.  There's a lot of adorable and interesting stuff that Shoko posts there.  It's one of my new favorite blogs and the only deviation from the Asia theme of this post.

I've found a tumblr blog that posts gifs that describe my life here pretty well.  KikinItInKorea.  This post is spot on.

I can't say it any better than the folks over at CNN GO.  Here's their list of "50 reasons why Soul is the world's greatest city."

Lastly, if you check out nothing else (and I think you should check out everything else), you must read this.  You must.  And I promise you will not be disappointed.
Here's my try at persuasion: Young poetry gets so much better when it's written in a foreign language.
As posted by my friend Blake, Humma the Sven

4 Things I'm Happy About

It's the little things.  And here are some of the little things today.

I went to the international grocery store yesterday in Itaewon and got a new toothbrush, coconut milk, and graham crackers!  New toothbrushes always feel great, and I hadn't been able to find just one for sale here in Korea.  I've been out of coconut milk for months (a favorite ingredient for homemade dinners).  And the graham crackers, I'd bought some on base two weeks ago because they always remind me of home.  My family will dip them in milk and call them dessert.  I didn't expect to enjoy them so much, and the box I bought it almost empty right along with my milk carton.  So, I was excited to find some more graham crackers at the grocery store.

Tomorrow is my birthday, and there will be a get together at my friend's house!  He will be making macaroni and cheese.  It's one of my very favorite foods.  I've only had it once in over a year.  I am so excited.  :)

I recently started watching Doctor Who, just to see if it was as cool as some people were making it out to be, and I like it!  I watched an episode that made me cry yesterday.

And just in time for my new appreciation of Doctor Who, Pinterest has added a Geek category to their layout!  Besides the feed of those I'm following, that's where I spend the most time on Pinterest.

via Wikipedia

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I just want to comment on how life doesn't allow me to always be chipper, and I really like being chipper, but there are always things that I'm able to point to with a smile.  And I'm very, very glad for that.  I attribute it all to God who is the Giver of all things good.  I'm so glad I'm His.

Children's books

I grew up with many good children's books.  I didn't have them all, but I had many, and I certainly had enough to instill a healthy appreciation for books at a young age.  I'm trying to do the same with Elegance Class, my preschoolers.  We have library time every week and recommended storybooks that are a fixed part of the day-to-day lesson plans.  In the pre-set storybook list, I've come across a few that I recognized from my own childhood, but a few have caught me off guard with how good and adorable they are.

Time to put on our Reading Rainbow shirts!

Pete's a Pizza by William Steig

On a gloomy day, Pete's parents decide to cheer him up by making him a pizza.

My mom will make a joke about how if someone were to say to her, "Make me a sandwich," she would make magician hand motions and reply, "Poof!  You're a sandwich!"  This is the kind of way that Pete' parents make him a pizza.  They don't make a pizza and give it to him, they make him into a pizza.  I think all this is delightedly funny, and I've taken a stab at explaining why even though I know the humor doesn't entirely transfer...

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Time for Bed by Mem Fox

This book and its tender rhymes and sweet illustrations captured my heart at first look. I want to read this one to my kids as a lullaby book.

It's especially fun being captivated by a new book while reading it with the students during class.  I'll be just a little distanced from the kids because I'm halfway between the classroom and the world of the book.

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Willy the Dreamer by Anthony Browne

Willy the Dreamer is a popular book in Korea (as if The Little Prince, by the way), and my kiddos were already very familiar with the chimp.  I met him for the first time when we started to read this book.  I was much more fascinated by the pictures than the English words I was supposed to be teaching, and they were focused on finding all the bananas themselves.  No shame.  No shame.



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The Mitten adapted and illustrated by Jan Brett

Jan Brett, your illustrations are so so great.  I'm especially partial to foxes these days, and these other critters are way to adorable to hang out with for only the allotted week.  (We spend just a week on each of these books.)

Lucky for me, this book was scheduled at the time of my open class, so I got to make an extra project with the characters to show the parents how well the kids can read a storybook.  I colored, cut, and laminated the animals.  During the activity, the students would each receive one for answering a question.  Once all the animals were dealt out, the students placed them in a mitten on the board as they read an excerpt of the story.  The kids really loved it, and I really enjoyed making the project.

(I used these two files which were kindly made public by Tracy and also this file for the mitten.  After the open class, I liked the animals so much, I kept them and stuck them on the air conditioner in the teacher's room where they still hang out.)

Just chilling out with the air con.  Heh.

Another project I wish I could do with the animals from The Mitten is these felt versions.  Aren't they insanely cute?

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The Chinese New Year by Joanna Troughton

This book helped us learn the order of the Chinese New Year animals.  It wasn't listed in the curriculum, but I made sure we had individual testings so each of us will forever have the list memorized.  Quiz me!


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Dinosaur Encore by Patricia Mullins

Okay, this was just crazy.  We had a dinosaur chapter that lasted a week, and that's super cool, but I was blown away by how the curriculum expected these first year English students to learn and say words like "struthiomimus," "compsognathus," and "pachycephalosaurus."  I was having trouble with the pronunciations!  Still, the kiddos did it, and they did it with feeling.  I'm actually really proud of them, those brilliant little chipmunks.

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 I'm really excited to get to share these kinds of books with some kids that I might have one day.  Do you have any favorites you'd recommend?