Lotte World@Summer

The under construction Lotte Tower: the gonna-be tallest building in Korea. 

It's the 2nd time that I got this up close to the construction.

Going into the indoor, I was just sitting waiting for the kids doing whatever they're doing. 

Gee...having an annual membership card really pays off.  

I think it's the 2nd time this month that the kids went into the park. 

As for me, though it's my 2nd..I didn't do a thing for my age...^^since it's all about the kids having their time. 

Another 'Let's Dream' parade put on the show. 

And..another carousel trip. 

Where's me? behind the camera, for sure. 

Gathering @ Ashley, Hongdae (part 2)

Since it's dubbed as an American grill & salad, people would surely understand as to why the whole decoration on the wall is mostly dedicated to the world stars, especially those of the United States. Didn't have a chance to take a look closer, though. 

But, one of them was this strikingly obvious display of Whitney Houston's attire she was wearing on her role at one of her movies--The Bodyguard. This is the concept that Ashley wants to (re)create--an essence of American (contemporary) pop culture. 

Before leaving the place, I got a chance to take a pic with ms. Park again. Thanks for coming, Ibu Park.  

Then...we're discussing about where to go for the next session of our gathering....2차는 어디로 갈까????? 

*Happy Memory with friends, students, colleagues,*

Ashley, Hongdae.

Royal Tomb of Joseon Dynasty (part 7)

Now..after I visited the 중종대황릉 (the tomb of King Jungjong), I got to walk for about one kilometer up the hills towards another royal tomb, i.e. the tomb of 성종대왕 (King Seongjong) 

Okay..let's start the tour. As I was walking through the alley, I bumped into the birds....that happened to be about to fly...and just they were about to...I snapped my camera...and I could see the flutter of their wings...

and oh..the sun rays that shone through it....

what a sight.

Trivial as it may seem, for me...it's a masterpiece of my own.:-) ^-^ 

because that's how I always enjoy the beauty of life.

phew...gosh..should I go up these trails? 

no other way around, Suray. You got to. 

The trails seemed to be left naturally like this without any tiles or rocks. This was just perfect! 

Oh, I noticed that each tree had its name plated on it. And what's more is that...most of the trees along the trails were covered in black wrapping plastic...so as to keep them from being vandalized. ^^ ok, I agree to that. Only that I thought...it was for the protection against the winter season. 

Oh..another magpie(?) that I spotted on my way to the other place.... 

Phew..finally...the descending trails were visible. 

and...da..da...I arrived safely at Seolleung (선릉) or the Royal tomb of King Seongjong.

He's the 9th ruler of Joseon Dynasty (1457 - 1494).

JEJUDO's amazing sunset

I was so perplexed by this picture...Well, I did not take the picture. But this is the very picture that more than often relive and visualize the characteristic of what Jeju offers to its visitors.

I was lucky enough to be able to visit this Ilchulbong or the very place where the majestic sunrise was visible from this famous seaside dormant volcano.

(More about my other Jejudo's stories....later on)^^

JEJUDO's Stud Farm^^

Stud? hmm....well, for those who like muscle man...this is not the place. This is the place for those who like stud which also bears another meaning .....a horse^^

It was about 6 pm and the sky was glowing orange and red and it was becoming darker....but...^^

We were intrigued by the very eye-catching glimpse of vast green meadow where wild horses or studs..were freely roaming the areas. 

Of course, we stopped the car and parked it somewhere near the road and got off the car..and started exploring the ranch...meadow...lawn? (NO), ranch, farm....anyway...it was all good.

The picture does not indicate any studs nearby.....^^NO, I am not a stud, myself. 

I loved the combination of the weather, climate, atmosphere, nuance, green ranch, and the serenity surrounding them...

It sort of encapsulated the wholly feeling of being in a land where I've never been

These are my friends who were also on the same group during our 3-day trip to Jeju. 

I loved the place except....the telecommunication antennas that dotted the hills beyond...:(

OH, I got one stud behind me.^^

Dynamic Busan: (part 36): Makgeolli

Continuing my previous post on Makgeolli making experience. 

After we mixed all of the ingredients, we put them ito a bottle jar and ready to put some water into it..

Some teams were still busy mixing the makgeolli ingredients..

And some were already on their last part of making the makgeolli: the water's inside the jar and what we needed to do was to close it tightly...

and they would look like this.

Now ...back to the rice wine cupcakes again. See the shimmering moisture sprouting from the bamboo oven?

Once again..this is what they looked like. the texture itself is quite traditional-looking cake, right?

worth to try.

I'm a bit numb of having to stand....for a couple of hours...so why not take a chance of putting on a jibsin or Korean traditional slippers.

We finished our experiences of making rice wine cupcakes and makgeolli with a smile.

This was the picture I took just outside the very place where we made our cupcakes. It really was rural, right? But with a small touch of putting a coach overlooking the view, what a life! It was such a nice way to spend an evening there...^^

The Parade was over...so

Empty chairs.....no more crowds and cheers..... amazing.

I was petrified to know that a minute ago, lots --thousands-- of people were poured into this now deserted street of Jongno. Yes, after the lantern parade, these chairs were then...empty. So, why not use the chance to take the picture to capture the moment.

It is not everyday...that we could just slip away into the middle of the street at Jongno--infamous for its never-ending extravaganza of shops and eatery in downtown Seoul. So, look at this now.^^

Then..since the party's over...we needed to go somewhere else to see what other parties that Seoul had to offer during this lantern parade.

we were walking, treading along, strolling along the  ways until we bumped into the famous Cheonggyecheon. Nope, we were not going there. The pic. above shows the lit lanterns hanging over the Cheonggyecheon. Not that clear. (^^

As we were walking, we were apprehended by the loud noise and cheers coming from Jonggak intersection.  So, we could not help but wondering what that was...

It turned out to be very place where all of the lantern festival participants stopped and celebrated the day. The confetti and the lightning, and of course..the sound system did enhance the uproar and excitements that most people had---judged from the looks on their faces. (not visualized here^^)

Eyra and Freya were so captivated by sights and sounds of the extravaganza that they started to dance along the rhythm as they were drawn closer and closer...

And...yes...the party seemed to get started. Two big monitor screen TV projected on both sides of the stage, the moving crane that helped move the camera, the shouting and hand clapping..were all too much to handle, no matter how exciting it was.

So, I looked up at the sky so as to find some consolation...only to find that we were so dwarfed by the immensity of the surrounding party goers and excitement seekers. 

So, we might as well...once again...get ourselves hooked and soaked in the hilarious party and excitement ignited there.

The funny part was that...when Eyra and Freya could not stop collecting the confetti. They were struck- amazed at how wonderful and cheerful the night was....simply 'coz they were like the only children who could earn the falling confetti...

'Look! I've got lots and loads of them. Could we just take them home?'

Oh, no..that would've brought home the whole Jongno, then...^^

Seoul Cinema

The first time I laid my eyes on this theater...I fell in love. Not that I wanted to go there...but the fact that this cinema been around for more than 50 years alone made me want to appreciate its mere existence.

What's more? As I was walking pass its front facade after getting out of the Jongno 3-ga subway station...I was simply impressed by the sheer color that it had to offer, especially at a night like this. 

This reminds me of any olden time American cinema back then. (not that I am a keen expert on this), but judging from the pictures, photos, movies I saw...this kind of facade does indeed reflect the 60's golden era.  I wonder how's the interior of the cinema itself....hmmm ...it might be worth-trying.

Hangang again

 Sunset over us. Sunset overshadowed the bridges across Hangang River. The silhouette of evening darkness set in.
...it was like ....a call for all of us to churn in the moment....
(gosh..what am I rambling about here?:)

First thing first...

we were all gleefully excited of being there.

The whole family wrapped up the trip with the last few pictures with the bikes we rented. ^^

our friend, Wawan and Ulfa (his wife), Wulan (my student) and of course my family were all taking time to share the moment of happiness right at the River bank.

Now, I got to ask someone passing by .....to take the picture of us (including me) for sure. 

What would an evening be without each moment passing by being counted. It all came down to this: the simple happiness gleaming upon my daughters' faces was more than enough to tell that the whole afternoon was well spent.^^

More than that, it was all the shared moment that counts. (that's what some would say)

But, for me, apart from that, fulfilling the promise I made myself .....(like putting my own personal things aside and let others know that I cared about them) was more than what this trip was all about.

Yippeee We Loved It!!!