Each day we seem to spend an inordinate amount of time at very wide crossings waiting in vain for a green man that appears only once in a while and then for a very short space of time. Another thing to note in Korea - nobody jay walks any more. Dang ... the place has become so law abiding!
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| waiting for the green man |
(I have just called someone on the phone. No more ring tone here but everyone has their own choice of music to which you are obliged to listen until they answer the phone or not depending on where they are! She happened to be in church until 11 p.m. but have made contact at last! Mansei! Mansei!)
Back to Chusok, for this was the day of the moon, so we headed for the down-town Buddhist Temple to see what was happening. Not as many people as I expected. I do think they have beautiful ceilings.
Now note the convenient ATM. No you don't have to pay to go in but you may want to leave an offering at the office next door.
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| convenient ATM |
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| beautiful ceiling |
(a brief stop for late night coffee with toast and jam. We have become quite addicted to Korean style coffee, pre-packaged with a lot of sugar already in it so it's not your fault)
Now here's a bonny lass but let me tell you that obesity or even being a little bit overweight is not a problem here in Korea, and yet there are more coffee and cake shops, fast food places, to say nothing of snack bars and restaurants of every hue and cry. Who eats all this food we want to know and why don't they get fat? Tim and I constantly feel as though we are very big people but we're not (are we?).
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| making chusok prayers |
Even Buddhist monks have to eat so they are no doubt grateful for Chusok and the gifts of food that were being added to the piles in the little temples. What happened to those Easter offerings they used to give to vicars? By the way, Korean Buddhist monks favour grey.
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| food offerings for monks |
Actually this very large temple called Bongun-sa, on a wonderful green sight, is a place of serenity and tranquillity as it jostles for space in this dynamic city.
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| the city and the temple |
We left the temple and headed for the city and a little more shopping. In case you think we are letting it all go to our heads we have a strict list and have stuck to it! And we did manage to find one or two more things on the list while jostling with all those other people who had nothing to do because it was a holiday. We have seen news coverage of the miles and miles of cars as they left Seoul to return to their ancestral homes, for some to make offerings to their ancestors, but for others just to be together as families and remember and respect those who have died. The concept of filial piety and the accompanying virtue of respect still govern this society and is part of the reason why society, country and family are both ordered and respected on every level.
As for us, we eventually made our way to Dr. Kim Young-won's little children's clinic. She is the dearest of friends and the most gentle and loving of doctors still practising at 74. We share the same birthday but ten years apart. During the last 8 years of our time here in Korea she lovingly cared for us as a family and saved us hundreds of dollars and, on two occasions, kept our children out of hospital by her dedicated care of them in her home and ours.
Tim and I were both persuaded to lie down while the final preparations were made for supper. We had such fun that evening. She brought out old photograph albums of when we lived here and the many happy occasions we spent together. We laughed and laughed.
Finally she took my blood pressure and, yes, it was up, so I was sent home with various advice and expressions of concern (today she checked it again and it was down ... so too much laughing must put it up - well that's what I think anyway!)
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| the consultation |
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| impressive modern building |
This has been something of a pilgrimage so at last back to where it all began - Tim's life that is, though strictly speaking it had begun 9 months before though not exactly sure where! Tim made his entrance into the world in this very building on November 25 at 2 a.m. right in the middle of the curfew so the obstetrician who had been sure I would not deliver that night, and had gone home, could not get to me. Still, his understudy did a good job and there he was. Terry rang his mother to say Tim had been born tomorrow. You work it out!
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| the proud mother |
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| the fine son |
Near the hospital, which is near Dongdaemun for those who know their Seoul, is something that has caused great excitement, the unearthing a of a stream that flows through the city. Of course such a thing must be made a feature so the road which we knew well - all four lanes of it has been removed so that the stream can flow freely and provide something lovely in the city. It flows from Dongdaeman all the way to the City Hall (or for those of you in the know, from yuk ga to il ga). Quite a walk and lovely it was too.
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| the discovered stream |
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| mother crossing stream on stones |
Now, how else would we end a day if it were not yet another meal with yet another group of long lost friends? At last Tim got to eat bulgogi, so another one crossed off the list. And more reminiscences of times shared and things which I had forgotten but were apparently precious and life shaping.
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| bulgogi at last |
And so to today! Hurrah, we are up to date with this blog, even if it is nearly midnight and most of you lucky people out there have yet to live through your Friday.
We have spent a lot of time on these trains. There are 9 lines and a cross section of some station reveals trains on four levels. It is a very marvellous system.
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| fellow travellers |
Tim has got it down to a fine art and knows exactly where to go at all times. I meekly follow.
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| Tim striding ahead |
Today we had an appointment with the dentist, but not any dentist - Korean daughter! Lovely clinic, gentle television, offers of coffee but we had cleaned our teeth so no thank you - mul man ("just water").
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| nice clinic |
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| many certificates comfort patient |
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| waiting patient |
Mi Hae is the one in the white coat. She's had her own clinic for two years. It's called
Me Plus Dental Clinic. My teeth were cleaned by her sister-in-law (pictured in the family of the Lees and Kims the other night). It seemed to take an hour. I felt very embarrassed as she laboured away and I was only at the hygienist two months ago. So much for the NHS and the ten minute slots they assign to you.
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| now wouldn't you love them to do your teeth? |
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| one of Mi Hae's slogans that certainly made me smile |
Back to Dr. Kim's for that reassuring BP check. A certain amount of discussion broke out as to where we were going for our next assignation. Would you believe it? Tim was right again!
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| Discussion of destination for Pyes |
We ended the day with a stroll along yet another beautified river and a specially created paddy field alongside it so that the city children could see how to grow rice. I have found out that these days Korean farmers produce too much rice! Contracts exist with rice growers of other nations that have to be honoured, so Korean rice is ... My informant felt strongly that there should be some attention to the story of Joseph and Pharaoh's cows and storage places should be set up. Tim reckons these outside gyms, of which we have seen several, would not survive in London parks.
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| outside gym |
And so the day ended with some more Kims and more love shown and shared. Terry has a new tie and Tim too, though Tim tends not to wear ties unless he has to so Terry may have two new ties. I got a bag because I don't wear ties either! Till next time. Annyong hee keishipsio.
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