Friday, September 26, 2008

Us


Us
Originally uploaded by karmking1111.
So I've been really bad about this blogging thing lately. I used to be Johnny on the spot with posting random stuff that had happened. Now it takes me three days to write about something that I did two weeks ago. That's what happens as you get older--time just keeps expanding. Amazing.

Anywhoo-- the occasion that leads us to this picture, standing next to a marker in Chinese on a Korean mountaintop, is that wonderful Korean fall holiday--Chu-sok. It's the equivalent of Korean Thanksgiving and for each of my three Chu-Soks here I've gone camping and hiking. This one was no different. My version of camping since I've come to Korea has been greatly modified, so cramming in a small hotel room with Fritz, Jason and Sarah will count as camping this time. Sarah has actually documented enduring a small hotel room with three guys better than I can: Here and Now. It was fruitful and joyous time. It's nice to know, being so far from home, that Thanksgiving/Chu-suk is universal. Happy Chu-sok everyone.

Tuesday, September 23, 2008

The Peace and Solitude of the Outdoors

Ah, the peaceful summit of Birobong peak. After 3 hours of hiking we got to the top of the mountain where we were greeted by a low flying helicopter. The guy in this picture looks like he is about to be gunned down. Shortly after the helicopter left, a family with a eight year old boy showed up. The boy took great delight in practicing some form of Korean yodeling which was basically screaming at the top of his lungs. One or two yells is tolerable, but the boy went on and on and on and on. I almost lost it. In my classroom, if a kid is being a pain in the ass, I have a means to deal with that. In public I just have to wait and see if the parents will do anything. The boy on the mountain must have been the first born son as the father was content, and seemed to encourage his boy to yell and yell and yell. After about five minutes the family trooped on down the mountain, and I took great delight in passing them and their child, the child crying as he was too tired to hike.

The Trail


The Trail
Originally uploaded by karmking1111.
Jason and Fritz wander off into the sunset.

Ant and Flower 2


Ant and Flower 2
Originally uploaded by karmking1111.
Random ant in a random flower.

Korean Falls


Korean Falls
Originally uploaded by karmking1111.
Random Korean stream.

The Decision


The Decision
Originally uploaded by karmking1111.
Pictured is Fritz. Fritz is new to Korea, been here for about two weeks. I love the new people because they remind how strange Korea can actually be. Ah, the naive innocence and all the new experiences. In this picture Fritz is experiencing Korean cheese in a tube. He eventually decided it was not to his liking. Not to worry Fritz, there are plenty of other food products in tubes here. I'm sure we'll find one that suits you.

Blood Sucking Fiend 2


Blood Sucking Fiend 2
Originally uploaded by karmking1111.
One night in our hotel room, we got torn apart by these suckers. In the morning it was my turn to extract vengeance. I slapped this one down, took it's picture, and then squished the bastard when it got vicious. See the red belly? That's my blood in there. I want it back. Let this be a warning to all mosquitoes.

(Bonus points if you can figure out what the bug is standing on.)

Blood Sucking Fiend 4


Blood Sucking Fiend 4
Originally uploaded by karmking1111.
The annoyance that lives among us.

Me, the Rabbit and the Elephant Asses

Here's me, ecstatic to be with my zodiac sign though the elephants don't seem to think too much of us.

Sarah


Sarah
Originally uploaded by karmking1111.
This is Sarah and temples in Guinsa. Guinsa was one of the coolest temple complexes I've ever seen. It was it own self sustaining community tucked this hidden valley.

Surprised and Angered


Surprised and Angered
Originally uploaded by karmking1111.
These dudes are at the entrances of all the major temples in Korea. They are supposed to look menacing to scare off the evil spirits. This guy has a look like he just caught you stealing his beer. Angry indeed.

Cave 4


Cave 4
Originally uploaded by karmking1111.
Fritz says this looks like something from a James Bond flick, like the criminal's underground lair. To me it hearkens back to Aliens or the cheesy computer cave in Superman 3.

Stairs and Goop


Stairs and Goop
Originally uploaded by karmking1111.
Gosu Cave

Who Wants a Mouth Full of Dream?

Koreans co-opt some words from English and twist them until they no longer retain their original meaning. "Dream" is one of those words. As near as I can tell, dream is supposed to mean something good, however, they get carried away here. I don't know if I really want a mouthful of dream. I want to explain to Korea that there are such things as bad dreams. Who wants a mouthful of nightmare? I also walk past Dream Animal Hospital everyday. Kind of an odd name when you consider that euthanizing an animal is also called "putting it to sleep." In that case I think I'd rather go to vet who named his place Awake Animal Hospital.

Monday, September 01, 2008

New Bee


New Bee
Originally uploaded by karmking1111.
My favorite bee photo.

Me and the Old Fort I Burnt Down

Once upon a time my friend Paul and I had the coolest fort in the world. We used to hike into the hills around my house, build up the fort, and just goof off. One day we met some other kids up in the hills and it looked like it was going to rain. We scurried into the fort and built a small campfire. One kid, Carry, threw in a large branch of dead pine needles, the fire flared up, and that was that--the fort went up in smoke. So the title of this post is actually wrong. It was Carry! Carry was the bastard that burnt down the coolest fort in the world! I demand a new fort! I still really haven't gotten over the trauma of that day.

Mountain Biker and Landscape


Mountain Biker and Landscape
Originally uploaded by karmking1111.
Wyoming--it's a little different than Korea.

Hiking Mom


Hiking Mom
Originally uploaded by karmking1111.
The ultimate hiker-- the Gladyator. (Makes more sense if you know that my mom's name is Gladys.)

Wyoming Waterski


Wyoming Waterski
Originally uploaded by karmking1111.
My sis waterskiing on the blue, blue, lake against the blue, blue sky.

Funky Bug


Funky Bug
Originally uploaded by karmking1111.
Behold the Golden Buprestid. I found this one hiking close to Yellowstone. These beetles are known to lie dormant for up to 51 years before emerging. I never got the chance to ask this guy how old he was. He was actually quite small, about a 1/2 an inch long.

Sunset


Sunset
Originally uploaded by karmking1111.
Sunset in Cody.