Aquarium and Beyond

A few days ago (Friday, local time) Yi-Kyong and I went to the CO-EX Mall with her niece, after that we took a jam-packed subway ride to Rodeo Street, a bus ride across the Han River and then got food and drink from a nice ajuma at a stand near Duksung Women's University. After that we had ice cream and walked back home.

Hmmm, on Saturday I took a bus ride downtown to get a Korean language book at Kyobo Bookstore and say "Goodbye." At night we went to a bar and then karaoke.

On Sunday I got a ride to Inchon International Airport and arrived in New Haven ... many hours later.

I miss Korea, but it's nice to have clean air! After this trip, I have so much more respect for the environmentalists. I read that Seoul is making effort to clean things up, but I'm not sure if it's enough ... maybe. It will be interesting to see how things change.



Yi-Kyong and her niece at aquarium

Temples

We went to some of Yi-Kyong's favorite places yesterday: a mountain temple, her alma mater, a public library branch and a temple downtown. I forgot the names of these places already.

Her favorite manga cafe, alas, was gone.



A mountain temple poem.



An old downtown temple.

Island Visit

Yesterday we went to Yeouido, an island on the Han River that includes the National Assembly Building, where the legislature meets. In front we saw a fountain surrounded by statues of four girls, one playing an instrument, one holding food, one holding a gear, one reading a book. Let's hope it's the future. At the top of the fountain is a woman holding (I assume) a dove.





National Assembly Building with fountain



Back of fountain



Gear-girl sitting at back of fountain

Zen Temple and Jongmyo Park

Today's Sunday. I missed my chance to go to church but I was able to go to Hwagyesa, a Zen temple that has connections with New Haven's Zen Center. After meditation there was a short talk given by a monk. He said that instead of following distractions (of which there are many), "turn around" and interrogate yourself. That's my simplified version of it - I didn't catch much. Distraction is no stranger to me. It's so hard to resist.

The day before I went to Jongmyo park in downtown Seoul and saw a botanical garden with a fountain and etc. and many old men playing paduk.



Glass house in Jongno Park



Plants inside house




Pool inside house

Climbing

Seoul is bordered by several mountains and "tungsan," mountain-climbing, is very popular here. A few days ago we climbed up to a ridge on Bukhansan, a mountain on the north side of the city, and reached the gate of an old wall that was used during wars against the Chinese and Japanese. It was only a two-hour hike but for me that is serious mountain climbing. 'Twas a lot of fun. We got a good view of some nearby mountain peaks.

A few days before that we went to Seoul Tower and got some good views of the city.



View from trail on Bukhansan



View from Namsan Park / Seoul Tower