ok korea

Smoker

noreply@blogger.com (ok korea) — Thu, 04 Sep 2014 05:07:00 +0000

A Bride in Intramuros

noreply@blogger.com (ok korea) — Thu, 21 Aug 2014 22:03:00 +0000

We were walking around Intramuros and came upon this bride waiting outside the church doors for her grand entrance.

Spoliarium

noreply@blogger.com (ok korea) — Thu, 21 Aug 2014 21:34:00 +0000

If you visit the National Museum of the Philippines, beware that there probably won't be any toilet paper. However, you will find this painting.

Philippines

noreply@blogger.com (ok korea) — Sat, 16 Aug 2014 17:22:00 +0000

From Seoul onwards to Manila.

And on to the provincia. No bike lanes needed here.

And back to the "Pearl of the Orient".

Grayscale Seoul

noreply@blogger.com (ok korea) — Fri, 15 Aug 2014 04:32:00 +0000

A few more photos from our whirlwind revisit of Seoul. No colour for these guys.

Deerhoof in Seoul

noreply@blogger.com (ok korea) — Fri, 15 Aug 2014 04:24:00 +0000

We had the good fortune of catching Deerhoof in Seoul. 'Twas a nice show and we had a nice chat with the guitarist and what appeared to be (but wasn't) a one-piece jumpsuit he was wearing.

Yayoi Kusama

noreply@blogger.com (ok korea) — Tue, 22 Jul 2014 04:02:00 +0000

We saw the Yayoi Kusama exhibition "A Dream I Dreamed" at the Seoul Arts Centre.

Both the art and crowd were a trip.

Back In Korea

noreply@blogger.com (ok korea) — Sat, 19 Jul 2014 14:50:00 +0000

We went back to Korea for a week to see the old sights, eat our favourite things, bathe in nostalgia and note what has changed. It was a lovely time and of course I took some pictures.

And of course we did a little hiking (at Bukhansan).

And of course we made some fast friends who shared their hiking snacks of goguma and makgeolli, crammed into a taxi with us and took us out to a delicious post-hike lunch of spicy catfish stew.

And of course we gallivanted around Seoul and we were happy...

Cicada Molting

noreply@blogger.com (ok korea) — Tue, 27 Aug 2013 05:11:00 +0000

Colleen called me out to see a cicada molting. We'd certainly heard them before, seen their empty shells, and also live specimens occasion in Toronto and teeming in trees in Korea. The shells I've seen are brown and the live ones bluish black, so I was quite surprised to see this vibrant, green-orange-pink creature frozen in a backwards dive. It twitched slightly and vibrated in short bursts. The wings slowly unfurled, looking fresh, new surfaces catching air for the first time. We wondered whether it was aware of us, perhaps thinking, "Crap, I feel vulnerable."

Vulnerable, yes. But also amazing!

Golden Gate Bridge

noreply@blogger.com (ok korea) — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 04:48:00 +0000

We rented bikes and rode them across the Golden Gate Bridge. A touristy thing? I'm glad we did. Halfway, we stopped to peer over the edge. I got that tingle in the feet brought on by heights or maybe by the thought of falling. A heavy fog rolling in and engulfing us, a close-up cloud stealing away with your body's heat. The unsettling roar, not of the ocean, but of the cars traversing. Looking out over the water and the vast space above it ready to take you in, carry you away. The bridge, indifferent sentinel, red pillars reaching to infinity.

As we continued biking, I looked up at the beautiful details on the bridge, to my eye very Art Deco or maybe Art Nouveau and I kept thinking of that scene in The Neverending Story where the protagonist must cross a gate and the Sphinxes slowly open their killer-beam eyes.

San Francisco

noreply@blogger.com (ok korea) — Sun, 21 Apr 2013 18:07:00 +0000

Baker Beach

noreply@blogger.com (ok korea) — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 05:55:00 +0000

My cousin took us to Baker Beach where we caught our first glimpse of the Golden Gate Bridge to the North. A beauty!

At the Southern end of the beach we found big rocks with barnacles and mussels (I could be wrong), a rather large starfish (my first in the wild, so hard to the touch!) and some brightly coloured algae (the tide was out).

de Young Museum

noreply@blogger.com (ok korea) — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 05:47:00 +0000

The de Young Museum, a rather strange and ominous structure in Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, was one of my favourite galleries in California. In fact, it may be one of my favourite art spaces, with great natural light and an intuitive layout. I didn't take any indoor I'm particularly happy with, but here's one of the sleek exterior.

I joined a docent-led tour. The group was so small (myself and an elderly, local couple) that I had a lots of opportunity to talk about the pieces with the knowledgeable docent. She even reversed the order of the tour, starting with the modern stuff because I prefer it!

No photos of the art either. Instead, here's a tasty lentil salad I had for lunch.

California Flora

noreply@blogger.com (ok korea) — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 05:32:00 +0000

I visited California in March and the first thing that struck me is the plantlife. Below, a snapshot from the 'burbs of Palo Alto and another from Berkeley.

Wayne's World

noreply@blogger.com (ok korea) — Fri, 01 Feb 2013 06:21:00 +0000

Collecting

noreply@blogger.com (ok korea) — Fri, 18 Jan 2013 03:38:00 +0000

Niagara

noreply@blogger.com (ok korea) — Thu, 29 Nov 2012 06:32:00 +0000

Jaisalmer

noreply@blogger.com (ok korea) — Sat, 17 Nov 2012 19:00:00 +0000

Some pictures from Jaisalmer which is in the middle of the Thar desert.

These dudes were my waiters at a restaurant and gave me a free Hindi lesson while the kitchen was opening up. We had a blast. They both had decent English skills despite never having gone to a single day of school.

Summer

noreply@blogger.com (ok korea) — Wed, 15 Aug 2012 00:09:00 +0000

A short break from India photos for some summer shots.

Amer Fort

noreply@blogger.com (ok korea) — Wed, 08 Aug 2012 01:43:00 +0000

Oh dear, this blog is living in the past. Below are some photos from Amer Fort, a mere three days into my three-week India trip, which happened over seven months ago. My memories are stale now but a peek at my journal turns up: "My sense of wonder is alive and well."

Also playing catch-up is my friend Jenna, blogging about her first visit to North America, including our trip to the Bonnaroo music festival back in June. She posts at HARROW KIMCHI: A wee trip, Mammoth Cave, Nashville and Lynchburg, Bonnaroo 1, 2, 3 & 4, Middle America Car Views & TORONTO-TOWN!

While we're on the topic of friend-blogs, my compadre Craig, is chronicling his days in Seoul over at CHAMCHI GIMBAP. It let's me vicariously enjoy Korea.

And, friend Jhaqui is snapping away in Toronto and posting on 500px.com/JHAQUI. Digging that black and white.

Finally, the magical Kerri spreads her travel love at the EXPAT KERRI BLOG and video wonders on her youtube channel.

Onwards! To the fort!

Jaipur

noreply@blogger.com (ok korea) — Wed, 27 Jun 2012 22:34:00 +0000

More photos from old, bustling Jaipur.

Street Shave

noreply@blogger.com (ok korea) — Sun, 24 Jun 2012 16:49:00 +0000

After seeing the Taj Mahal and surroundings in Agra, I took a late train to Jaipur, the Pink City and capital of Rajasthan. I encountered this a short walk from my hostel.

I was nervous but couldn't pass up the opportunity to have my face shaved by someone else, a first for me, in India and streetside no less.

I would not regret it. The whole process took several steps which are now blurred in memory but involved being sprayed down, vigorously towel scrubbed, lathered, razored, oiled, massaged and lotioned. I closed my eyes, stealing peeks at the mirror every now and then but mostly concentrating on the Indian sun and Indian hands on my face and scent upon new scent wafting up my nose.

Baby smooth, mentholated, and chewing on a bit of paan, I felt supremely ready to explore the Pink City.

Agra

noreply@blogger.com (ok korea) — Fri, 22 Jun 2012 03:39:00 +0000

Agra Fog

noreply@blogger.com (ok korea) — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 18:16:00 +0000

Jaisalmer

noreply@blogger.com (ok korea) — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 05:07:00 +0000

I visited India for 3 weeks in January, and while I do want to write many things and share many pictures from that trip, for now let me just say it was an amazing experience.

This picture is from my first week there. I took it in Jaisalmer inside the fort that is at the heart of that place. It is currently my desktop background and I find myself studying the little details that, at the time, I did not even notice: the little painted designs on the left, the things etched into that weathered door, the broom perched on what might be a drainage spout.

What draws me in the most is the woman's veiled face. Did she cover herself because I was taking the picture? Did I catch her in the middle of a readjustment? Is her expression a response to me and my camera? The glare of the sun? Neither? I have no idea. This was just an unthinking snapshot, a quick raise of the camera and click. I did not even break my stride or otherwise interact with the woman and child. It's only now that I really look and wonder.