Saturday, May 3, 2008
I spent three and a half hours on a beautiful day riding a bike ride along the Han River.




I saw a modest entrance that was covered with murals, or a breathing Shangri-la that made my heart beat real fast:




More photos from the ride will be posted here.
April 9, 2008: Seoul, South Korea
Today was election day here in South Korea. From this day forth, there will no longer be lines of ajummas (elderly women) donned in sashes doing synchronized thumbs-up-swing-of-the-arms in front of mobile podiums with loudspeakers advocating for one of countless candidates. There will no longer be feathered portraitures of smiling men and a few women on enormous, elongated banners hanging along roadways.
Today was also exceptionally cold and wet, where the weather felt like it had dropped to 2 degrees Celsius. Small umbrella stands made profit and colorful parasols trafficked most sidewalks. A lot of cafes and Korean restaurants in Hongdae this evening were packed with young men and women.
Today was also the first time I had a taste of a charming Paris Baguette (?) cake that I usually see carried around in equally charming boxes in public by men and women who typically occupy their other hand with a bouquet of flowers. Today was also my birthday and I have been enormously grateful by the warm wishes made by many here in Seoul and from afar. As a private individual with no expectations for such occasions, I’m not used to such a reception.
Thank you all from the bottom of my heart.




Monday, April 10, 2006
My 21st American birthday was yesterday. I received the following e-mail from my dad:
Date: Saturday - April 8, 2006 1:11 PM
Subject: RE: Jackie’s Birthday
Dear Jackie
Appa sent you today the following birthday package by U.S. Priority
Mail:
a highligher from a legal seminary I attended.
Appa.
Note: It was The same highlighter you would receive as a complimentary gift for purchasing a notebook at an office supply store.
Good Morning Ma’am: Philippines series
To release and enjoy a brief and spontaneous adventure is personally difficult. Knowing that people are struggling and die without ever having experienced Paradise - except perhaps in small moments, in which a warm $2.99 plate of pancakes with a loved one on a calm morning is the most one might see into Shangri-la - I never take the rare step into an airplane for granted, nor do I take what I see as a mere glance. To be in a world of calm / laissez-faire is extraordinary, if not, unbelievable. That said, I couldn’t help but think of my parents and extended family who endured more and deserved this more than I did.
Just visiting? start from the beginning.





