The 12th Hampyeong Butterfly Festival

cocoon

colorful empty cocoons strung out like lights





Beautiful artwork


A dad was pulling his son in his stroller by a remote control car, it was pretty cool to watch and the kiddo seemed to like it!

Shark Diving in Busan

Busan Aquarium is located directly on Haeundae Beach in Busan.
We were able to get up close and personal with blacktip reef sharks, sand tiger sharks, Queensland GIANT groupers, short-tail stingrays and spotted eagle rays. The shark dive was conducted by a fully insured PADI Master Scuba Diver Trainer. The shark dive took place in a 3 million liter, 5 meter deep main aquarium.

Here are a few underwater pictures of us posing for our rented camera:
Tess and I saying, “Everything is okay” with our proud instructor in the background.


The grouper fish was almost just as large as the sand tiger sharks.




Heather, Julie and Tess made it out alive!

Diving in Busan’s underwater aquarium, with no previous diving experience, left me feeling exhilarated for more. I walked out of the tank with memories, shark teeth and a yearning to get certified as an open water diver!

Land of the Morning Calm

I am charmed by the rain falling heavy and hard on the sloping uneven rooftops as I trek to work. The slow rising sun peeking itself up from the lush green mountain top only to be hidden two hours later by the darkening circling clouds. The green sun shade umbrellas outside of my favorite fruit stand warn me not to come any closer. The whipping wind howls, giving me a slight push to walk at a faster pace, it then blows my checkered umbrella inside out. My feet and legs are immediately soaked (no thanks to my third handy umbrella over the span of 9 months) as if I just stepped in and out of a puddle up to my knees. Is this what it’s like to live outside of sunny southern California? This must be what the other states complain about, the kind of weather that I prayed for while at home I am now getting in full force. I should be grateful for four seasons, and I am. I absolutely love the rain! I love waking up to the sound of thunder booming and cracking and catching a glimpse of lightning. I love falling asleep to the patter and trickle of water heading down the drain pipes outside my bedroom window. I love twirling my umbrella and splashing in the mud puddles, all the while Gene Kelly and I are singing, “Singin’ in the Rain” and we are in perfect harmony. I am seduced by the fresh and clean, almost minty smell. The world seems to be at peace after a heavy rain fall, bright and vibrant and full of potential. I love everything about the rain. I keep a window open at night just to listen to the wind make love to the rain as I fall asleep.

And with that said, pasted below is a direct quote from a Korean website and listed below are 4 sites to peruse over on the 2010 Pacific storm watch:

“Waves hit the harbor in South Korea’s southernmost island of Jeju, South Korea, 10 August 2010. With typhoon Dianmu advancing northward, Jeju and the southern coastal area will see up to 200 mm of rain by late 10 August 2010, and the center and other parts of the country strong winds and torrential rain, according to the Korea Meteorological Administration.”

travel.state.gov/travel

Pacific typhoon season

Pacific hurricane season

Tropical Cyclones

Random Korea

A beautiful spring day spent at the beach.




A very colorful group of Korean women (ajumahs).

Traditional Korean attire for men.

It is perfectly acceptable to pass out on the streets in Korea, this is considered the norm, but for some reason the victims of alcohol always seem to pass out curbside. I find this odd.


Restaurant in Busan is covered from floor to ceiling in colorful post-it notes.


Fresh river eel is my new favorite – can’t get enough of these yummy eats!


Side dishes are served with every meal. It is customary and you may have as many sides as you want.

Cheers!

A Sunday in Spring

Boseong Green Tea Fields
The forecast called for rain in Boseong on Sunday afternoon; we went forth expecting to be showered. We were showered, not by rain but rather by the beauty of the slanted green tea fields. They were luscious, vibrant and stunning. The rolling fields were filled with mist, color and sunlight that day. We were sprinkled with a light mist for a short while and even though the wetness remained for hours, due to the moisture in the air, our spirits were not dampened. I was amazed at the beauty of this day. The beauty of the fields and of the friends I was with.

A Sunday afternoon in Spring was spent tasting green tea ice cream, playing on the steps of a tree house made for adults and taking in this creation. I walked away not only with a green tea scrub for my body but also a sense of amazement and wonder. Thank you for a refreshing day Korea.






My two hour stroll to the beach in Yeosu…




Konglish (Korean and English)

China: Part III

Beijing through a foreigner’s eye.

The shirtless men of Beijing walk the streets and steps in the cities harsh climate. The humidity, heat and smog may make a foreigner weak but these men walk for hours, shuffling their broken sandals but not broken spirits. The men are all smiles as soon as eye contact is made, ready to pose for the camera and take a break from their construction job.

While walking the streets of Beijing, I merely peeked at the lives of the locals, and the suits walking among them, behind my camera lens. I noticed between the humidity and smog, there is a mist of arrogant prosperity among the business seekers climbing the ladder to success. This is overly prevalent in such a large city. It is a city filled with clichés and shots of crushing poverty. Beijing, reminded me in many ways, of Thailand. Thailand is known as, The Land of Smiles and while both cultures have prominent stark contrasts, they are very much the same, with images of impoverished families living in rural shacks and begging for comfort with one child by their waist and the other dangling in their arms.

I experienced a few uncomfortable situations while walking through the hutongs and streets of Beijing and getting lost one night in Bangkok. My comfort level has been uneven since I moved from the warmth and safety net of my home country, only to realize these simple lives take pleasure in the color of their hand-woven cloth and honoring their ancestors. It calls into question the line between pleasure and want versus contentment and necessity.

My focus remains to seek adventure and visual stimulation. I shoot the faces of toothless smiles and tears, finding the richness on the faces who are welcoming and smile back.

Tian’an Men Guangchang (The Square of the Gate of Heavenly Peace)
Tian’an Men Square is thoroughly synonymous with Beijing, but for centuries there was no square. There was only a main walkway leading to The Gate of Heavenly Peace and The Forbidden City. The area was cleared in the first 20th century, then quadrupled in size in 1959, allowing up to 1 million people to gather. That is exactly what it felt like on our trip to the square, drenched with sweat from heat and humidity, standing and waiting with the large crowds.

Tian’an Men Guangchang (The Square of the Gate of Heavenly Peace) is a public plaza that is not very appealing on the eye. It is associated with death and the founding of the People’s Republic of China. It is the center of modern life in Beijing, surrounded by national institutions.

Tian’an Men Square was our first day excursion.
The small garden, we thought, was the best part of the square.

Wangfujing’s Night Market – A nightly occurrence
A line up of 40 to 50 stalls both enticed and repulsed our senses. We walked by a good 10-15 stalls and stared in awe at what we saw being served on the open streets to brave passerby’s. Everything from flame-grilled snakes and scorpions to octopus and baby lobsters. I opted for sweet glazed goodness.. otherwise known as, fruit on a stick. This was a one time occurrence for mom and me. The smells were starting to get to her olfactory senses. We were too mesmerized to snap any photos, guess you will just have to go see and taste for yourselves!

A soft and fluffy bed for a week and beautiful Chinese money to spend! Life is good.

The Silk Market (Xiushui)
The Silk Market’s proper name is, Xiushui, this is the most infamous market in Beijing. It is the city’s third main tourist attraction after The Forbidden City and The Great Wall. It’s safe to say we did our fair share of shopping. See below.

Giving mom a laugh as she stepped out of the shower, by wearing only half of my purchases. We hit the markets 4 times in 8 days!

Taking a shopping break in a pub just outside the silk markets; we went here twice to unwind from the exhaustion bargaining brings.

Random China…

Helmets… anyone?

On our first day in the city, we went out walking looking for an authentic Chinese restaurant to eat in and we came across a traffic accident involving a bicyclist victim. From my view, I didn’t see her wearing her proper head-gear. The policemen, however, are wearing helmets.


Proof of our first authentic Chinese restaurant. Our recommendation out of 5 stars: ★
Our first and last bad meal in Beijing, the other meals were delicious!

The restaurant wrapped everything in plastic.. what a waste.


Fashion do or don’t? You decide!

How would you like to ride around in this tin can? The “safety first” rule, doesn’t apply in this country.

I’ll leave you with this lasting image… Oh Yeah!

Our trip to China was a success! We had an amazing time sightseeing Beijing and spending 8 days with each other. Sunday morning was a tear filled good-bye. I must say, it was a little difficult letting go of my mom’s warm embrace once again and head back to Korea, instead of taking the same flight home to the states.

I hope to find everyone is having a relaxing and fun-filled summer. Take care of the ones who love you.

Lots of love,

Heather

China: Part II

The Great Wall – Mutianyu – North of Beijing

Mutianyu appealed to mom and I because it was a less intrusive tourist path. It was a very dramatic and hilly climb with a series of watchtowers along the restored edges. Mutianyu dates back from 1368.



I was swatting and kicking away at the flies and dropped my water bottle down the mountain. It was essential that I climb over the rope and retreat my bottled water!

This is not fog, but rather smog. Welcome to Beijing.

5 languages to say “No Climb Over”

Mom waving from afar.

Picture perfect subject

There were dragonflies everywhere and I managed to capture one in flight. See top right hand corner.


My high-five champion!



Accomplished the Great Wall of China!!! Taking the cable car down!

The Forbidden City – It’s official name is the Palace Museum
This was the symbolic center of the Chinese universe, it was completed in 1420. The modern world stepped foot into the museum in 1949 and it has been open to the public since then.

Every 3 years court officials would select girls between the ages of 13 and 17 to join the eight ranks of imperial concubines.

Check out the cute bum on this little guy. The toddlers wear shorts with a slit open from front to the back, for bathroom purposes. The kids go to the bathroom wherever they want and the parents come behind and clean up the mess. The only diapers I saw in China were on an advertisement. Mom said potty training must be a breeze for these kids and parents.

China: Part I

Ni hao (hello/nice to meet you) in Mandarin. I realize there has a been a gap in between posts and I apologize for my absence. It’s been a very busy Korean spring and summer thus far – I will do my best to catch you up!

My amazing globe-trotting mother met me in China and we experienced the beauty of Beijing together. We embraced each other on foreign soil for 8 days. We climbed the Great Wall, walked through Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City. We shopped at the silk markets, purchased tailor-made silk pajamas and visited as much of the historical sites that we could take in.

Getting Around Town – 2 days spent lost and found among the Historic Hutongs – North of the Forbidden City

We spent two days walking down the wide and narrowed, crooked and vibrant shop-filled alley ways. We were among the very charming and quaint avenues for hours. We strolled along the lakes, shopped, ate Greek salads and gelato, drank coffee and browsed some more. We spied on the residences and courtyards, pondering if we were actually still in Beijing. We took advantage of the picturesque settings and took note of the next place we would stay if we ever come for a return visit! It was a very refreshing taste of the beauty Beijing had to offer up.

Life in the Hutongs

“Does the pot to open the flesh and blood” WHAT??? We ate here.. I wonder if we really ate chicken???

Beihai Park – Boating on the Lake

Located in Central Beijing, it’s one of the oldest imperial gardens in China. It has a history of 1000 years. Since the 1919 revolution, the Beihai was established as a park open to the public.

Xie xie (thank you) for visiting!