Whistler

In a rural Thai village, older boy shows off
his whistling capabilities
as younger boy beams with pride at such masterful accomplishment.

Stuck in Traffic

In northern Thailand, men riding in bed
of pickup truck.

Mekong River

Mekong River at its confluence with the Ruak River where Thailand, Laos, and Myanmar converge.

Looking upstream with Thailand to the left,
Laos to the right,
and Myanmar (Burma) in the distance.

Boat landing in Thailand.

On Thai bank looking downstream.

Chinese barge makes its way downriver.

Tour boat guide.

Laotian riverboat.

Self-portrait in Laos.

Laotian rooster.

On the Laotian side of the river.

Companions along the way.
We shared lunch time and pleasant conversation
with this trio.
(L to R) A Spaniard from the Seville area, a South African from Johannesburg,
and a Spaniard living in the south of the Netherlands.

Work in Progress

High-rise construction sites.
Incheon, Korea.

Phantom of the Opera

At Seoul's Blue Square Theater, the English version of Phantom of the Opera has been playing to packed houses since early December.  Friday evening's performance was no exception.

Stairs leading to balcony lobby.

The phantom's mask.

Lobby ceiling celebrating Phantom's 25 year
Broadway run.

Chiang Mai Zoo

These recent pictures of the Chiang Mai Zoo in northern Thailand stand in stark contrast to the snowy Seoul photos posted earlier this week.  Today in Seoul, biting northwest winds have ushered in some of the coldest air of the winter season.

Flamingoes.

English lad spouting near zoo entrance.

Giraffes.

Young boys taking in the view.

Baby elephant.

Novice Buddhist monks on a zoo roadway.

Vibrant gardens.

The zoo is home to three giant pandas, two adults
and their one offspring.

An adult panda resting.

More Snow Pics

Here's a few more images of Sunday night's snowfall.  Associated Press has reported that it was the heaviest  accumulation in Seoul in modern Korean history.  The state weather agency called it the worst (or best, I guess, depending on your point of view) snowfall since Korea undertook meteorological surveys in 1937.  In excess of ten inches fell across the metropolis.  One of Stacey's coworkers said it was definitely the largest snowfall in her nine years in the city.

Our boulder stairway leading up to street level
is treacherous when snow covered.

Up on the street.

Stone wall near Wolgye-ro.

Cleaning up near Dream Forest Visitor Center.

In Dream Forest.

Lack of wind allowed snow to accumulate
on branches.

Bicyclist making his way through snow.

Bushes.

Traffic on Wolgye-ro passes the lower reaches
of Dream Forest parkland.

 

Overnight Snowfall

It began snowing in Seoul around suppertime last evening.  The ground was bare up until then.  When we awakened at 5:30 this morning, the city was blanketed in white.  By Seoul standards, this would be deemed a large snowfall.  Even Wisconsinites would have regarded it as a respectable snowstorm.  After breakfast, I grabbed my camera and headed outdoors.

Just outside our backdoor.

Boughs heavy with snow.

A lady in the courtyard wears
a scarf of snow.

Across the street in Dream Forest.

Shovels awaiting shovelers.
I somehow resisted the impulse to grab
one and get to work.

The distant observatory in Dream Forest.

Out for a walk in the newly fallen snow.

Winter landscape.

Park benches.

In Dream Forest.

Stream in the lower reaches of Dream Forest
looking out across Wolgye-ro.

Shovelers.
Much of the snow removal here is reminiscent
of my childhood in Wisconsin.
"Get out there and shovel".

A narrow city street.

Scooter

Girls on scooter near Tha Pae Gate.
Chiang Mai, Thailand.