The Tortoise and the Boy

Stacey and I have a fondness for botanical and zoological gardens.  They are oases that offer up a captivating, diverse array of flora and fauna, all in one stop.  Stacey loves greenery, flowers, and animals.  She really focuses in on the displayed subjects.

My mind wanders, and oftentimes I'm as fascinated by my fellow travelers as I am by the monkey in a cage.

We were at the Ueno Park Zoo in Tokyo recently, and stopped for a needed rest.  Some open benches in an out-of-the-way nook attracted our attention.  We sat down on one positioned near a bronze tortoise sculpture.  It wasn't long before the tortoise came to life.

In our age of zoom, bang, boom video gaming, I was amazed at how much fun kids of a certain age can have with a cold, inanimate object.

Boy sitting




Boy rising

Boy standing

Companionship

When the boys abandoned the tortoise,
this young girl hopped on.

Flimflam Man

Subtitle:  There's more than one way to spell "prayed upon"
                                                --or--
                        A healthy skepticism is a good thing
                                                --or--
                                   Shanghaied in Tokyo

Have you ever felt really stupid?  I'm not talking stupid like where did I put my car keys, or "Damn, I forgot the name of the president of Uzbekistan again".  I'm talking unbelievably, undeniably stupid.  As in how did I ever survive life's daily challenges and ordeals, and get to be this old, being so stupid.

One recent evening, Stacey and I were strolling along a promenade through Ueno Park in Tokyo.  All was right.  The world seemed a blessed, peaceful, trusting place.  From a grove of lovely cherry trees off to our right, a seemingly benevolent monk appeared, and made his way straight for us.

Monks are beyond reproach.  They embody the very essence of peace, trustworthiness, and goodness.  They wrap themselves in the sublimity of nothingness.  Encountering many of them in Korea and Thailand, after I had ditched everything to move overseas, they became an emblem of my newfound minimalism.  Who needs to be tied down by life's encumbrances.  I greeted him warmly.

I think he sensed I'm a heckuva nice guy.  He was very gracious.  He presented me a shiny little metallic doodad with printing in English extolling the virtues of hard work and peace.  I was inclined to argue the merit of work with him, but I cut him some slack as I was feeling extremely amicable that given day.  I turned to show the amulet to Stacey who, legs tiring after a long day of touristing, was lagging a few steps behind me.

"Look what this nice monk gave me," I purred, holding forth my gleaming prize.  What a kind gesture.  A warm feeling washed over me.

As Stacey caught up to me, I handed her our wondrous gift, and, thanking the monk, took a step or two as I turned to go.  The monk scurried to rejoin me at my side.

He whipped out a small notebook in which he recorded charitable contributions made by those to whom he had bestowed his gilded token.  I noticed some pretty hefty donations.  The world is full of generous souls.

The walkways where Ueno Station ties into Ueno Park are in need of some charitable work.  The area is home to a rather large homeless population.  I'm thinking this kindly monk has good use for a little of my money.  He's probably feeding the less fortunate amongst us.

I fumbled through my touristy money pouch, and dug out a few yen in coins which I offered him.

"No coins," was his rather brusque retort.  Should have been a tip-off right there, you're thinking.  Forgive me.  I was still jet lagged from the grueling two hour flight from Seoul to Tokyo.

In Japan, the smallest denomination of paper notes is 1,000 yen; or about ten bucks American at current, favorable exchange rates.  If you're flush with dollars, now is a good time to visit Japan (this story aside).

As I have noted, I had witnessed much need in this monk's domain so I coughed up a crisp 1,000 yen note and wished him well.

He turned to Stacey as he pulled another golden trinket from up his sleeve.  He offered it to her and she willingly accepted; forking over another 1,000 yen; making pure nonsense of the notion that two heads are better than one.

We parted ways, and the monk moved off rather briskly, disappearing back into the grove.  After taking ten or twenty steps down the promenade, both of us began scratching our heads at about the same time.  "What exactly went down here?" was flashing in our minds.  "You don't suppose...?".

Back in our hotel room, still holding out hope that we had done our part to feed Tokyo's downtrodden, Stacey took to the internet.  Keywords: monks, Ueno Park.  Verdict: SCAM (complete with mug shots of the talented, offending con artists).

Such intense hurt and searing pain.  When I was young, I had blackened out the word "gullible" in my American Heritage dictionary, reckoning there was no need for it in my vernacular.  Now, if you look up that very word in next year's newly printed edition, you'll surely see a picture of my dopey, grinning face alongside the definition.

Funny thing though.  Stacey dropped her cell phone onto a concrete sidewalk the next day.  I've seen plenty of shattered phones in Seoul caused by such carelessness.  Stacey picked it up.  No cracked touch screen, no problems, working fine.  That's good karma.  I attribute it to good intentions. 

Merriment

Kids in Tokyo amused by the presence of foreigners
in their midst.

On High

Photographers capture images of the Tokyo metropolis
from the 45th floor observatory
atop the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building in the
Shinjuku district of the city.

A Dog's Life

With the Tokyo National Museum as a backdrop,
this pampered pooch in a bicycle basket appears content
to ride along anywhere his master chooses.

Down to the Shore

In Japan, a bride and groom make their way down to the shore
of Tokyo Bay for a photo shoot.
I dedicate this shot to a special couple back in the States, whose upcoming wedding
I'll be unable to attend.
My thoughts were of them as I clicked the shutter on this unfolding
scene a few days ago in the Odaiba
district of Tokyo.

Shared Bench

In Tokyo, a crow and a woman share a bench
at the Ueno Zoological Gardens.

Four-wheeling

Navigating the Hongik University area of Seoul
on a four wheel ATV.

Trail's End

In the northern extremities of Seoul,
hikers make their way toward Dobongsan Station after traversing
the heavily trodden trails of Bukhansan National Park.

A Fragile Peace

Today is the 60th anniversary of the final armistice agreement ending major combat operations of the Korean War.




On the grounds of the War Memorial of Korea
in the Yongsan district of Seoul,
a sculpture pays tribute to civilians who frequently suffer
the worst indignities of war.

A lesson learned from extreme sacrifice
chiseled in stone
at the War Memorial of Korea.

The War Memorial of Korea with Seoul Tower
in the distance.

Friendly Street

After they asked me to pose for them, I turned
my camera on this
friendly, charming couple on Insadong Street in Seoul.

Korean Masks

Korean masks displayed in an Insadong shop in Seoul.
Traditionally, the masks were used in war, and in various
ceremonial and religious rituals.

Facelift

In Seoul, workers redo a storefront
facing Insadong Street.

St Croix River

Excursion boats docked on the St Croix River
at Stillwater, Minnesota, USA.

Dockhands prepare to moor an approaching riverboat
on the St Croix.

A stack shrouded in steam at Xcel Energy's coal-fired
A.S. King generating plant
near Bayport, Minnesota along the St Croix River.

Cumulus Clouds

Far away from Seoul, cumulus clouds suspended
in the blue, clear skies
of  Dunn County, Wisconsin in the USA.

Incheon International

At Incheon International Airport in South Korea, an American Airlines
Boeing 777 jumbo jet in the foreground
being readied for the boarding of passengers and crew.
Incheon International is one of the world's largest and busiest airports.

Dongdaemun Gate

In central Seoul, the Dongdaemun Gate
illuminated at night.

Dream Forest Summer

In Seoul, summertime in Dream Forest.

Child and dog in a Dream Forest fountain.

Dream Forest Observatory.

Cool Shoppers

With ice cream cones in hand, shoppers eye attire
on a clothing rack along a Seoul street.

Caricaturist

A caricaturist at work at the Free Market near
Hongik University in Seoul.
The weekly Free Market is a big draw for up-and-coming
artists and musicians.

Yongsan

Outside Yongsan Station in the Yongsan District
of central Seoul.

Cleaning Time

A tank being cleaned at COEX Mall
Aquarium in Seoul.

Dakgalbi

The city of Chuncheon, Korea, despite being a large provincial capital, is a getaway place for people looking to escape megacity Seoul for a day or two.  Chuncheon is about a one hour, scenic train ride northeast of Seoul.  Along the way, the view consists of forested hills and farmed valleys, intermingled with smaller cities.  Numerous reservoirs created from impounded streams sprawl beyond the original watercourses of the lowlands.

Chuncheon is a chicken producing region famous for dakgalbi, an indigenous dish comprised of chicken, sweet potatoes, cabbage, scallions, and rice cakes stir-fried in a chili pepper based sauce on a hot plate in the center of the diners' table.  The city's popular Myeongdong Dakgalbi Street is actually more of an alley, and is home to twenty or so restaurants featuring slight variations of dakgalbi at about the same, very affordable price.  Expect to pay about 10,000 won per diner (that's under 10 US dollars at current exchange rates).  We partook of the offering at Myung Mule Restaurant.

I've become quite nimble at handling chopsticks, and managed to eat my entire portion of the excellent fare without spilling any down the front of my shirt.  Aprons hang on hooks along the walls, and can be donned by customers whose dining skills are less refined than mine.

An entrance to Myeongdong Dakgalbi Street
in Chuncheon, Korea.

The famed stretch of restaurants,
between dining hours
and somewhat deserted on an early Thursday afternoon.

The interior of Myung Mule Restaurant,
which offers a choice
of Eastern or Western style seating.

Dakgalbi sizzling on the grill
between stirrings.

Outside looking in.

A shot out of the train window along the Gyeongchun Line
between Chuncheon and Seoul.

Balancing Act

Boys play on an improvised balance beam on the grounds
of the War Memorial of Korea in Seoul.

Street Photographer

Near Hongik University in Seoul,
looking down the barrel
of a street photographer's telephoto lens.

Riverboat Cruise

On the Han River in Seoul, revelers await the dinner buffet
aboard a riverboat cruise.

Overhead lighting in the dining hall
of the riverboat.

A passing riverboat and a gray evening on the Han.

Chopper over Chuncheon

A helicopter passes low over the city of Chuncheon,
the capital of Gangwon-do,
South Korea's northeasternmost province.

COEX Aquarium

A red tailed catfish at the COEX Aquarium in Seoul.



The aquarium's sea tunnel facilitates viewing
from the bottom up.

Aquarium visitors.

Poppies

Poppy blooms in Seoul along the Han River
across from the National Assembly Building.

A Summer Night Concert

In Yeouido Hangang Park last evening, kites, music, and fireworks filled the air as the Seoul Metropolitan Government hosted "A Summer Night Concert with the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra".

The venue well before the show as people
begin to trickle in.

Getting a kite airborne before the concert.

It was a good evening to spread out a lawn blanket
and kick off the shoes.

A young girl eyes the flight of a kite
as she controls the spool.

An attentive audience views the stage as the show begins.

The sun goes down.

Ji-Hae Park performs on the violin.

During the grand finale, fireworks erupted
as the orchestra
performed Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture.