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.

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.

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.