Life in Korea - Chusok 2007
63 building and Yeouido Island
The 63 building is South Korea's tallest building.  It's name comes from the fact that the building is (you guessed it) 63 stories tall. The 63 building is located on Yeouido Island just south of central Seoul. This is the area's financial district and also home to South Korea's National Assembly Building - equivalent to Capital Hill in the US.

We spent a day at the 63 building and wandering about Yeouido on the shores of the Han river. The 63 houses an IMAX theater, aquarium and an observation deck on the 60th floor which has some of the best views in Korea. As we stayed from about 4 to 6PM we were lucky to get some very nice day and night photos to share with you.
Day and night - Looking out of the 63 building at one of Seoul's 7 major bridges crossing the Han river (Mapogyo I think). In the distance on the hill is Namsan tower. We live just to the right and behind Namsan from this view.
Above - Looking down from 63 at a common type of apartment complex. Groups of 3-6 buildings of identical design clustered to allow common areas such as parking and sports fields (beige dirt areas - soccer, badminton, or joku (foot volleyball). Most people live in these complexes.
Above - Looking down from 63 at the swan paddle boat site we visited on the way to the 63 building - see below
Clockwise from above - Swan paddle boats on the Han River at Yeouido Island near the 63 building (top 2 photos); The crew in the swan we rented (close quarters); View from inside the belly of a swan bobbing on the Han River.

We rented a boat for a 30 minute trip and had a ball. Actually the rental was for longer but it was windy and the swan's have quite a bit of "windage" - that is, they go very well downwind and very badly upwind. So a circle and 1/2 around was all Nancy's and my legs could take. 

Humorously, the pedals are a fixed distance from the seat. A fixed 5-foot tall Korean person sized distance. Nancy and I felt like adults riding a kids tricycle... upwind...in a giant swan...on a windy day...with 2 wired kids behind us.  Where are the grandparents on days like this? Guess that's what I get for moving so far away.
When we went to leave the 63 building things got exciting...1st, Sarah and Josh grabbed hangliders and soared 63 stories down to the ground level. Once they landed they were captured by mutant arctic space animals. Then they escaped but were grabbed by a polar bear who recently escaped from the zoo! Well, ok that's not really what happened...the above are pictures of the kids at the "posing mural" on the observation deck, and with the mascots for the aquarium and it's polar bear statue (aquarium has an very good arctic exhibit). Jury is still out on what the aqua colored dude is. I'm sticking with mutant arctic space animal until I hear a better explaination - any ideas out there? Anyone? (Cue cricket noise).