No Ordinary Dummy

Union workers in Seoul most likely have low regard
for this guy who's more than willing
to work long hours with minimal demands.

Go Fly a Kite!

A kite flies high over Seoul.

"On the streets of Seoul, it has remained business as usual with no signs of panic, a testimony to the resilience, or perhaps resignation, of a people who have grown use to the North's threats."  --New York Times; March 11, 2013.

The temperature shot up to a balmy, unseasonable 72 degrees Fahrenheit in Seoul this past Saturday.  Despite what the Korea Meteorological Administration may have said about wind direction and such, I believe this onslaught of hot air was directly attributable to the vitriol emanating out of Pyongyang.  As an anonymous comment leaver in the Times queried, "What did Dennis Rodman say to him?"

After a fruitless, time consuming search for a subterranean cavern in Bukhansan National Park, I'm back by popular demand.  Secure, undisclosed locations are harder to come by than you may think.  I thought I'd stake out my claim early, reckoning the price of such digs could soon skyrocket in the Seoul area.

I couldn't find so much as a crevice to crawl into, and I discovered entrenching tools don't dent solid granite. I returned to Seoul crestfallen, expecting to find the populace cowering in sewers and subway stations.  Nope.  As the Times reported, "business as usual".

I can attest to that.  On Saturday, relishing the warm air after enduring winter's grip, I hit the bricks.  The parks were full of kite flyers, Seoul Plaza was abuzz with festivities of some sort, the shopping streets of Myeongdong were so packed I feared venturing in, and swarms of young lovers lined the banks of Cheonggyecheon Stream smack dab in the vibrant heart of Seoul.

Resilience, resignation, carpe diem, whatever.  I'm learning from friendly Koreans in Seoul that there's something to be said for living in the moment.  Neither handwringing nor bated breath are apparent here.

Pyongyang claims to have nullified the 1953 armistice agreement effective yesterday.  I've heard no blistering rhetoric spewing forth as of yet today.  Hopefully, calm and the simmering tension of a sixty year old standoff will prevail for the time being.  To those of you back in the States, do us all a favor and keep Rodman home!

Even kite flying has its perils.

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.