Chungnyeolsa

URBAN SUNSET

After work on Friday, we witnessed a magnificent sight as we strolled down the path by the river.

At first, I didn't like seeing the power lines, cement pillars, and other signs of civilization.

Later I decided that the colors of the sky behind the black silhouettes were stunning, and even a freeway sign or a post can be beautiful. 

CHUNGNYEOLSA

The Chungnyeolsa Shrine is dedicated to the Korean fighters who died resisting Japanese invaders in the years between 1592 and 1598.

There are six figures on this monument - a civilian, administrator, soldier, signal officer, bugler, and woman - representing the resolute unity of the Korean people in defending their nation.

Uijunji Pond

This serene pond full of lily pads and koi fish is said to hold the spirits of the martyred ancestors. As someone walks by, they are to contemplate the significance of protecting their homeland. 

Interesting landscape and unusual trees - perfectly manicured

 There are thirteen buildings in all on the grounds - lecture hall, monument to women, education hall, and a museum, among others. Inside the museum we were thrilled to see many important documents from the 1500's and 1600's. We couldn't believe they were originals, but they are!

 This helmet and armor coat were made in the 1700's. Again, we asked if they were facsimile, or originals. "Originals"!

Military uniform and war hat of the Governor of Dongnae

 

 A poem painted on cloth

 Main Hall

I like the contrast of the old Korean architecture and the new.

 If you walk up the mountain behind this building, there is a fortress wall and a watch tower.

 

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These two men are about 25, and one works at one of the banks that Bryan visits frequently. He asked if he could "Meet outside the bank" sometime. We arranged a meeting place, "Casa Bonita" (you guessed it - Mexican actually Korean restaurant). We ordered four sparkling Martinelli's and they brought it in  bottles but accompanied by cups full of ice! This was the first time I had seen ice since arriving here last October.

We thought it was a little mysterious, and of course we were curious about the purpose of the meeting. It turns out, they just wanted to talk about America and be our friends (can you believe it?) They don't realize, I'm sure how uncool they are being, going with two sixty year olds to Casa Bonita in the middle of the day. Anyway, they were nice, and we invited them to dinner at our house in a couple of weeks.

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The following are a few more pictures of our mountain hike - view from the top!

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Last week, it rained really hard for a couple of days. The road to the river, where we usually walk and run, was blocked off and completely flooded. The next day was just a little cloudy, so we went for another walk. This bicycle had the misfortune of being parked right in the middle of the flood, so that when the water receded, the front of the bicycle was a mass of sticks, leaves, mud, grasses, trash, and debris of all kinds. 

Can't you just hear the Korean mother saying, "I told you not to leave your bike down by the river!"

JUNE - RANDOM

RANDOM

Flower of the Week

Hydrangea is a genus of 70 - 75 species of flowering plants native to southern and eastern Asia and the Americas. By far the greatest species diversity is in Eastern Asia, notably China, Japan, and Korea.

(I thought they came from California!)

Funny

This man got tired on a Saturday morning, and decided to just park his scooter next to this store and take a little nap. I was worried that he might fall off but Bryan assured me he was safe!

Hanbok

We were invited to Vicky's mother's home for Korean Barbecue. After the dinner, she mentioned that she had some traditional Korean clothing (called Hanbok) that she had used over the years for dancing, acting, parades, etc. Would I like to try it on? It has a separate dress underneath, and little cloth "boots". The best part is that she pulled my hair back and put a black twisted hairpiece at the nape of my neck so I look truly Korean.

Bryan agreed to put on the traditional men's hat. The purpose of this hat in olden times was to hide the long hair of the Korean men. They would twist the long hair and put it up in the black hat, and no one could see their hair. Invaders ordered the Korean men to cut their hair in the European style.
Can you believe he agreed to put this on?

Vicky's mom is a wonderful woman - also a dancer!

Resourcefulness

With six million people running around and not much space, the people of Busan started building things underground! What a great idea - massive areas of the city have huge underground shopping malls, restaurants, and millions of stores. In addition to the stores, there are little places like this (below) where people just set up shop and sell anything they want!

There are places where there are three levels underground, so you can even take an elevator or go down the stairs or escalator once you're underground.

When we walk to our English class at the Community Center on Wednesdays, we walk through a massive marble-walled and marble-floored walkway that is underground. It is really handy when the rain is pouring, it's terribly windy, or it's freezing outside. In this underground "tunnel", there are more stores, restrooms, and occasionally we see a Granny Exercise Class! Below is Bryan walking toward the Advertisement for Braces. 

We certainly take straightened teeth for granted!  I've seen one or two people with braces, but it is not commonplace.

The underground malls go for miles!

SURPRISE!

Friday night we decided to walk through a different part of Dongnae. We saw the usual 2,000 little restaurants, turned the corner and surprise - a historic building that was once a Confucian School. There were dormitories for the children to live in, and further digging by archaeologists uncovered some very old books. We wandered around although it was completely deserted. A caretaker- type person motioned for us to come into the back and see all the buildings and grounds, which we did!

What a great find!

The overhanging roof, usually multicolored with dragons, was brown, black, and white and the favorite animal in this case is a chicken!

Dormitories

   A little cemetery

Contrast old and new

On our way home, we saw some funny things:

A truck is parked not only on the wrong side of the road, but also on the sidewalk.

This picture shows the outside of a restaurant (see the "mudfish"?) Something is covered with a red tarp, and on the ground are hot red chilis spread out on a wooden tray to dry them out (hot red paste made from these chilis is one of the main ingredient in kimchi).

The owner of this bicycle does not want it to get wet, so he has covered it with all different kinds of materials, and then put bricks on top so it doesn't all fly away!

FATHER'S DAY

For Father's Day, Bryan received walking sticks, a hiking shirt, hiking socks, and a new backpack. The plan was for him to open the packages on Sunday, but...since we had planned to go hiking on Saturday, we gave in and let him use his new Father's Day hiking gear!

This rock face is good for climbing. 

We hiked up Guemjeongsan, which is a large mountain close by.  Around the top of the mountain is a fortress, built for defensive purposes. The wall that goes around has watchtowers periodically along the way, and has large gates on the North, South, East and West sides.

Mountains are sacred in Buddhism, and most Buddhist temples are built in or around a mountain.

Here you can see the fortress wall and one of the gates.

Wildflowers everywhere! Windows in the fortress walls used for lookout or weapons.

Bryan at East Gate

North Gate

       

 I was curious about this little pink/purple flower

Lush green ferns everywhere

The mountain is so beautiful

We are getting closer to the top

View from the top of Godangbong Peak, the highest peak of Geumgeong Mountain.

                                                           

  Bryan at the very top

We ate our lunch on the top of the mountain - a very Korean traditional peanut butter sandwich.

HOORAY!

MORE GRANNY ZUMBA

It's really not worth it getting up at 4:45 am to go to this zumba class where I fit in perfectly (except for hair color)...but it is so fun to watch the Elders interact with the ladies and then talk to them after the class. They are hilarious. We all wear "granny pants", one size fits all - perfect for any kind of exercise!

This woman gets so excited that she usually yells out a "whoop!" at the end of each exercise.

Coming up next week: Chungnyeolsa Shrine!