Namsan Botanical Gardens
the Namsan Botanical Gardens is part of Seoul .Top photos chosen by u all:
1960 Korea_Bill & Karen Smothers at Home in New Itaewon (Namsan)
Made by Smothers52
My sister Karen Smothers and me in 1960 standing just a few feet southeast of our New Itaewon Home, on the lower southeast slope of Namsan Mountain. The stone garden decoration to the right was built by our parents, Elly and Leroy Smothers. Photographer Leroy Smothers is facing south-southeast. New Itaewon pond is in the valley to the right & below the road behind Karen and I. The road in the far-background running left-to right follows a hilltop ridge leading to Old Itaewon on the right. This is the same ridge/hilltop near which Itaewon's modern day Grand Hyatt Hotel now stands...the hotel site is off-picture to the right and on the Han River side of the ridge. The Han River is visible in the background. Houses in/near Hannamdong are visible on the hilltop in the background to the right - and on the same hilltop is the radio tower visible in Leroy Smother's 1960 photo taken in/near Hannamdong. The site of the modern day Hannam Bridge across the Han is located approxiately behind Karen. Source: 35 mm Slide labeled our front yard by Elly or Leroy Smothers
Korea Now & Then: Southeast Views of Han River from Itaewon, 2006 vs 1960
Made by Smothers52
Upper Photo - 2006 - Looking South-Southeast towards the Han River and Hannam Bridge from Hyatt Grand Hotel in/near Itaewon. Lower Photo - 1960 - Bill Smothers standing in the driveway of his New Itaewon Home. Photographer Leroy Smothers is facing south-southeast. New Itaewon pond is in the valley to the right & below the road in center-background. The road far-background running left-to right follows a hilltop ridge leading to Old Itaewon on the right. This I believe is the same ridge/hilltop near which Itaewon's modern day Grand Hyatt Hotel stands...the hotel site is off-picture to the right and on the Han River side of the ridge. The Han River is visible in the background. Houses in/near Hannamdong are visible on the ridge in the background to the right. Modern day Hannam Bridge across the Han is located approxiately where Bill's head is.
1960 Korea_Bill Smothers at His Home in New Itaewon (Namsan)
Made by Smothers52
Here I am standing in the driveway of my New Itaewon Home in 1960. Photographer Leroy Smothers is facing south-southeast. New Itaewon pond is in the valley to the right & below the road in center-background. The road far-background running left-to right follows a hilltop ridge leading to Itaewon on the right. This is the same ridge/hilltop near which Itaewon's modern day Grand Hyatt Hotel stands...the hotel site is off-picture to the right and on the Han River side of the ridge. The Han River is visible in the background. Houses in/near Hannamdong are visible on the hilltop in the background to the right - and on the same hilltop is the radio tower visible in Leroy Smother's 1960 photo taken in/near Hannamdong. Modern day Hannam Bridge across the Han is located approxiately where my head is.
1959 South Korea ~ New Itaewon
Made by Smothers52
Looking east towards Old Itaewon from the road next to our family home in New Itaewon, South Korea, in 1959. Our home is off-picture behind the photographer, whose camera is pointing eastward. Mt. Namsan and Seoul City are off-picture behind the photographer. Old Itaewon is in the background and to the right. The modern day Grand Hyatt Hotel in Itaewon (2007-08) stands just beyond the ridge in the backgound of this photo....it did not exist in 1959. The trees on the hillside slope in the center-right side of this photo were part of a fruit orchard (plum and persimmon trees). Same orchard area in Itaewon is now totally developed and filled with buildings!
1959 South Korea ~ New Itaewon
Made by Smothers52
Bill and Karen Smothers playing in the snow beside their home in New Itaewon, South Korea, 1959. Note: In the Bus-Stop Sign, USOM = United States Overseas Mission (employer of Leroy Smothers - father of Bill & Karen). Camera is facing west. Off-picture to the right is Mt. Namsan and Seoul City. Old Itaewon is off-picture to the left.
Nearest places of interest:
| Detour Indigo Restaurant Grand Hyatt Hotel Itaewon Tourist District | Seoul Tower Hotel Namsan Town Apartments Namsan-2-Ho Tunnel Gate Seoul |
