Korea

Korea

As of July 2009, I am back as a professor at Keimyung University in Daegu. This page is written more for photographs and for tourist travel to Korea. I work here now and I have a separate English teachers in Korea section here.

Korea
Korea isn't a must-see from a tourist's point of view, but it's underrated as a fun stopover. Seoul has some good shopping and sights. The lack of English can be a problem, but there are mountains and beaches worth seeing and it's not hard to get around. Seoul to Busan is a three-hour train ride on the KTX bullet train.

I'm often asked about North Korea. I've never been and have no intentions to go. "Cold weather, bare fields, bad food, spies everywhere, hard glares, and Great Leader statues.. c'mon, it'll be fun!"

Namdemun Gate, Seoul, 2003<br> Like many medieval European cities, Seoul has ancient gates at each corner to keep out children selling raffle tickets.

Jeonjeyeon Falls, Jeju Island<br> There are three falls of increasing size. Is this where that Froot Loops bird hangs out?

A stone guard at the entrance to Gapsa temple, Gyeryongsan.<br> Touring places such as this is popular and makes Koreans very sedimental (sorry).

An ancient Chinese terracotta general, Coex, Seoul.<br> These statues were meant to guard the emperor, who took nothing for granite (oops).

Autumn scenery at Seoroksan, on the east coast. Color overload.

Daechon Beach, Northwest Coast<br> Great beach, peaceful, and lots of restaurants surrounding the beach.. as long as you like fish.

Fish for sashami in tank, Jungja. Sorry, fish.

Gate to Mungyeong park, Near Songnisan<br> The path was a traditional route to write civil service exams in Korea. Opening the metal gate is a test in itself.

The restaurant strip at night, Daechon beach.<br> Let's hope no one in Korea ever discovers that neon causes cancer.

<i>Tripitaka Koreana</i>, Haeinsa<br> The only full set of ancient Buddhist writings in the world. Heavy.

Street Food in Daegu<br> Not sure what you're eating? That's when you need <i>more</i> soju.

A chef cutting sashimi (raw tuna) in Seoul. "I always forget—poison fish, tasty fish."

An old-style building in Gyeryong mountain park, near Daejon. Things I'd like to see: the TV antenna pops out when the park closes!

Jeju Harubong, near Jeju City<br> Harubong is close to the word for 'grandfather.' Pretty low-maintenence relatives.

My hot wheels in Miho. Doesn't it make you hum Steppenwolf just seeing it?

King's crown from one of the Korean dynasties, Gyeongju. Like the British crowns, the early ones didn't have a lot of jewelry.

Dolphin Jump, Jeju Island<br> A considerate dolphin; no splashing!

Gapsa Temple, Gyeryongsan Park<br> Millions of paper lanterns in May for Buddha's birthday. I prefer candy or wine meself.

Gyeongpodae Beach, on the Northeast Shore<br> It was a little cool in late September, but there's lots of fish restaurants, albeit with Seoul prices.

Miniature Land, Jeju Island<br> Here we have constructions from Egypt, France, and Japan. Korean technology can shrink anything down.

Autumn leaves at Mungyeong, northeast of Cheongju, in October. Now I feel more he-manly. They're colored with <i>blooood</i>!

Peppers drying on the ground, Gyeongju. Most Korean dishes have a spicy pepper sauce which looks like ketchup&#; but<i> isn't</i>.

Chinese Tea, Seomon Market, Daegu<br> I wouldn't go back there for all the tea in... okay, I won't. But it was waayy too crowded.

Tree Plate, Insadong, Seoul<br> I don't know what the lettering says. Those are old-looking trees; maybe it's a warning to the caterpillers!

The fishing village of Jungja, near Ulsan on the east coast. We had a dinner of sashami, raw fish. When Korean food tries to be edible it can be excellent.

Wheat at Harvest-Time, Miryang<br> I think it would be a fulfilling life as a farmer, except for all that work and living in the country and stuff.

October scenery at Seoraksan, on the northeast coast of the country. "And all I brought was black and white film!"

Rice Terraces near Haeinsa<br> Land is scarce in Korea. You grow the rice sideways if you have to!

Preserved roots and vegetables, Miryang. My mother-in-law's friend owns a smallfarm and bottles her food. Let's just say it's better than it looks.

Lightning, 2010<br> Daegu has some of Korea's harshest weather, with cold winters and hot, rainy summers. In compensation, it has... uh...

Elephant Grass, Daegu<br> A very pretty walk along the riverside. Not so peaceful for my co-workers with allergies.

Paper lanterns for Buddha's birthday, Gapsa temple, Gyeryong mountain. "Let's put paper around the flame.. what could possibly go wrong?"

A little islet at the south coast near Tongyung, where we stayed for Chuseok (Thanksgiving). Calling our hotel a <i>pensione</i> didn't make it French!

View from ancient temple near Chungpung, Chungju. Like eastern California, if you could stretch the mountains flat, I think Korea would triple in size.

The jazz band Volcano appearing at Keimyung University, Daegu. Great music, and holy<i> color</i> after living in grey Korea in the winter.

Obama and Simpsons socks, Seomon Market, Daegu. I recently saw a t-shirt with "The Baetles" on it. Piracy + bad spelling is a nice touch.

A Buddhist monk playing a drum, Bulguksa temple, Gyeongju. Wait, I'll get my guitar if I can find a plug-in.

Roses in May, Keimyung Campus<br> I always think of the wartime Dutch, who ate flowers when they had no edible food. In Korea, the idea has come to me.

Vines at Keimyung, Daegu<br> You leave your plants unattended for a few weeks' holidays, and they take over.

Apples Growing near Yesan<br> I went to conference in late August there, and the food there made these sour apples look pretty good after two days.

View of Christmas lights from library, Keimyung University, Daegu. It looks a little too much like a lighted runway for comfort.

<i>Nammaetap, </i>brother and sister stone pagodas, Gyeryongsan park, built in, uh, previous centuries.

Foreign food in Korea is not always very authentic. The cook thought the 'white stuff' on nachos was whipped cream!

Buddha's Birthday at Jogyesa, Seoul<br>Fortunately, Buddha apparently wasn't born during rainy season, or those delicate paper lanterns wouldn't last long.

Night Beachside Glow, Bukbu, Pohang<br> Really fun little beach on the east coast in Pohang. It's not really a nightclub area, but all the coffee you can possibly drink.

Keimyung Christmas lights. Their blue light district.

Pots for aging sauces and vegetables, Miryang. They're left out all season and no one takes any. Try lifting one!

Barbed wire on the beach near the DMZ, next to Seoroksan. <i>That </i>should keep the postcard hawkers off the beach!

Wooden Statue, Canola Festival, near Jochiwon<br> A blank, expressionless face—is this where future customs officials go to train?

Inscribed Roof Tiles, Cheongju, near Temple<br> You have anything commemorative you like written. "For a good time call Sunny 273-8652"

Rice paddy and deer corral next to my apartment building in Miho. Looks natural.. sounds natural.. smells natural.

Sheep on Hillside near Pyeongchang<br> They're gentle animals, but they could keep their wool sweaters cleaner.

Medieval Garden at Herbnara, near Pyeongchang<br> Not really sure what's medieval about it, but it's better than another identical temple.

Hanok Village, Seoul<br>North of Insadong and Myeongdong there is a small area of traditional homes back from before Korea's love affair with grey concrete.

View of Gyeongbok Palace from Hanok Village, Seoul<br> Built in 1394 and, as usual, repeatedly destroyed by the Japanese. It must have blocked their cell-phone reception.

More Autumn Scenery, Seoroksan<br> Korea really is a hiker's paradise. As for me, the rice wine cafes on the paths helped a little!

Totem-style Statues, Mungyeong Park<br> Reminds me somehow of the first teaching practicum I did in Canada.

Roof Dragon, Jangansa Temple, near Ulsan<br> I didn't know the ancient Buddhists liked bowling so much.

Girls at Jewelry Stand, Myeongdong, Seoul<br>I'm trying not to make a joke here about red-light districts, but man, it's hard.

Gang-Il Lee Orchestra, Keimyung University<br> He's a friendly guy and he plays or conducts classical and jazz. I'm still talking him into doing some metal.

Jungmun Seals, Jeju<br> Unlike the dolphins, they really seemed to be having fun. Maybe being thrown a fish every ten seconds helps the fun!

Bupchusa Temple, Songnisan<br> Well, Korean temples can be a little repetitive, but this one looks somewhat Japanese. And when the sun glints off that gold, wear sunglasses.

Vines on Temple, near Songnisan<br> "Why yes, we have <i>several </i>openings for gardener."

Bulguksa entrance doors, Gyeongju. The temple was first built in 751. "Check out those knockers!" Nothing but class on this web site.

There's an old proverb that horses should go to Jeju and people to Seoul. Well, then how did people get to Seoul with no transportation?

Wise Man Figurine, Gyeongju Museum<br> Either that or ZZ Top has been around longer than I thought.

March Blizzard in Gangnae<br> Yes, it does get cold and snowy in Korea. I <i>wish</i> there were tropical palm trees swaying year round.

Street Signs in Insadong, Seoul<br> Insadong is an area of Seoul where you can find traditional crafts and art, at pretty non-traditional prices.

Reflection from Paper Lanterns, Gapsa Temple<br> Lots of shadowy figures in these places.

Deer lights, Christmastime at Seoul Station. On Dasher, on Electro...

My "lunch" in the faculty cafeteria, Keimyung, Daegu. And by "lunch," I mean "war crime."

South Coast Islands near Tongyung<br> If you had to be stranded on a desert island, these wouldn't be a bad choice. And being Korea, they probably deliver pizza there.

Neon at Gyeongpodae Beach. They say modern Singapore would be impossible without air conditioning. For Korea, I think it's neon.

Women Planting, Jeju Island<br> The women of Jeju are known as being tough. Perhaps the headscarf colors are really gangster insignias.

The view from our apartment window on the west side of Daegu. To the left there's a small vegetable farm. My type of neighbors.

My co-worker Brian & Hanna's wedding, June 2010. Korean weddings are fun but über-cheesy. And that's by my standards of cheese.

Temple Complex, Bulguksa, Gyeongju<br> One of the prettier temples in Korea. But even with the bars the tourists still get in somehow.

Nightlife in Gangnam, which is called the Manhattan of Seoul, assuming that Manhattan has neon every ten feet.

Nightlife in Banwoldang, the downtown district of Daegu. "Dead-gu" is pretty conservative, but it tries to come alive somewhat at night.

Underground Cave at Seokguram, near Gyeongju<br> We weren't allowed to take pictures (the statue didn't complain).

January Blizzard, Keimyung campus<br> Being a Canadian means I <i>know</i> winter, not that I <i>like</i> it.

Rock Garden Statues, Keimyung University<br> My type of garden where nothing ever <i>dies</i> on you.

My trainee students at the norebang, Gangnae. Karaoke is either fun <i>or</i> painful.

Myeongdong Neon at Night<br> Myeongdong is part of the 'heart' of Seoul, a huge market area downtown. Its arteries are pretty clogged.

Chinese jugglers and acrobats at the Canola festival near Jochiwon. "I feel a sneeze coming on."

<i>Jindaley</i> (Azalea) Flower, Gyeryong Mountain<br> Nice to see something beautiful without a microchip in it now and then.

Gyeongbok Guards, Seoul<br> I wasn't one of those people who taunt the guards. After carrying a sword all day I would be tempted to use it less 'ceremonially.'

Ancient Korean Coins, Keimyung Library<br> To run the ancient karaoke machine.

East Gate by Keimyung University<br> My students claim this is where they study the most. I wasn't aware there was a beer major.

Late Autumn Forest, Odesan Park<br> We arrived at the tail of autumn in October, and that's why it looks like a photo-negative of Seoraksan.

Jazz Festival, Daegu<br> Much of the festival was the whitest lounge piano jazz you can imagine, but some of the bands really did get down.

Keimyung Traditional Village (Hanokchan), Daegu<br>The medieval Koreans lived in these square-like complexes. Now, which door led to the medieval Family Mart?

This'll be the player

	Bupchusa Temple, Songnisan Park (April 2005) 0:29			Sea Lion Show, Jungmun, Jeju Island (September 2004) 0:43
	Korean Countryside (September 2005) 0:32			Chinese Acrobats, Cheongju Canola Festival (May 2005) 0:30
	Changing of the Guard, Gyeongbok (July 2003) 0:07			Kang-Il Lee at Keimyung, Daegu (December 2009) 0:30
	Guard Parade, Gyeongbok, Seoul (June 2011) 0:42			Fireworks on Bukbu Beach, Pohang (June 2011) 0:13

Cherry Blossoms
They only bloom once a year in early April. Here are some photographs of cherry blossoms and other greenery from Busan, Jinhae, and Daegu. Lest you think I'm becoming a sissy for having too many pictures of flowers, here are some hot chicks to reassure you of my masculinity.