Sinchon Rotary, Yonsei University, Bongwonsa Temple, Ansan Mountain: The Truth Will Set You Free.

For six years, I played the role of an English instructor at Yonsei University Foreign Language Institute. I want to say that I hope I did no harm, but I can't. There were a few slip-ups, a few bad decisions made and later regretted. Let me say that I hope I did as little harm as possible given my shortcomings at that stage of my life.

As it turns out, that job was probably the best job I ever had. Great students, great coworkers. Great city. Looking back with the benefit of hindsight, it was six great years.

Now here I am 25 years later walking these streets, climbing these mountains, and riding these subways. I wonder if I have come across any of the children of my former students. If so, I am sure they are excellent too. There's excellence all around me here. 

Seoul, Korea. You just might be the best big city in the world. 

Had to visit the beautiful Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf to recover my power.

Thank you, Korean food, for being so healthy.

Proof of a conspiracy against me.

They closed the path to the subway station.

I did NOT drink the water from the spring.

Decades ago, I did, and the results are remembered to this day.

This was for sending smoke signals.

There's Namsan Tower.

It sees everything.

Imagine the 300-plus-year-old tree I forgot to take a photo of...

I would really like to have seen this...

It actually debuted in NYC in 2001.

I am just now learning of it in 2022.

Take the first left,

and that's where I saw The Driving Buddha in 199?.

He was flowing through crowds of drunk people

who didn't get angry at all.

They just politely and efficiently cleared a gap for his car.
I have never again seen anything like that anywhere.

I did.

I started the day with a piping hot lamb-filled bread.

20220913

Walked the 청계천 / Cheonggyecheon all the way west

Once I got started, I wasn't about to stop. I finally hobbled my way into Cheonggye Plaza, having walked too far once again (all the way from Dongdaemun Subway Station). But there's no penalty here in Seoul. Walk too far and all you have to do is walk a block or two more to the nearest subway station and then ride back. That's what I did.

I hope an apple a day really does keep the doctor away.

Don't know if it's true year-round, but in apple season,

even the convenience store apples are good.

Bought a box (10 pack) of Cheongshimweon.

Each one gives me a couple hours of breathing through my nose.

Mouth breathers of the world, unite!!!

The Tim Burton exhibition was okay, but way too crowded.

I broke every one of my Covid rules by attending.

I'll have to buy another self test kit.

Not sure if this is a tablecloth, or just being used as a tablecloth.

It's at the Uzbek restaurant, and it sure is beautiful.

When you see the ice cream cone,

that's when you'll know you're near the western end of Cheonggyecheon.
All the way to the Han River at the eastern end...

I HAVE TO HAVE 김치 / kimchi, 깍두기 / diced radish kimchi, and 밥 / rice. 

Everything else is negotiable.
It doesn't get any healthier than 닭곰탕 with a jujube and a piece of ginseng root.

 

There's that Ambassador Hotel up there on the hill.

Seoul city authorities deal with reality.

While encouraging smokers to quit,

they set up smoking areas because smokers are going to smoke.

20220912