Scrapbook Stuff

I've been going here and there, getting ticket stubs, receipts, brochures, maps, etc.  I'm getting quite a collection of scrapbook stuff.  All mementos of a once in a lifetime trip for me.  But some of my most precious mementos will be the intangible ones.  The ones that I will hold and relive in my heart and mind.  Indeed, some of our most precious possessions are the dear memories we have of friends and loved ones who are no longer with us, first words or funny things our children did when they were young, and the list goes on. 

picture of some of my little cuties eating lunch.  this is the place where i get to eat lunch with them.

Last week another adoptee arrived (from Washington DC area).  She has been to Korea before, but she will be staying five months this time, teaching English in the same program as me, and also studying Korean at one of the local universities.  We had chatted on line before we both came and have been sharing information along the way.  She has been staying at the guest house, like I did.  So I've met her now twice for dinner...because it's very quiet and a little lonely at the guest house all alone for hours upon end.  We both have a sweet tooth.  Here's a picture of our latest dessert adventure.

 Today, we met and went to the Spring Cherry Blossom Festival.  The blossoms are a little late this year because it's been so cold.  It's been in the 30s in the mornings and at night, and the wind is really cold.  During the day it has been warming to mid- to upper-50, sometimes into the 60s.  We definitely would be happier with a little warmer weather.  The festival was taking place in Namsan (san, meaning mountain) where Seoul Tower is located.  It's a beautiful, windey path up to the top of the mountain. We even saw a number of blind people out for a walk.  The yellow dividing line in the middle of the path has bumps on it that helps guide them.  There were cherry blossoms, forsythia, beautiful flower beds, a rippling stream...it was a beautiful spring day.  At the top there is a wall with thousands of padlocks, each bearing some sort of love note.  Not sure the significance, but it seems to have caught on, so much so that the gift shop now sells padlocks.  

At the top of Namsan there is a tower with an observation deck and it also serves as a big antenna from which at least one radio station broadcasts.  There is a restaurant or two at the top.   The top of the mountain was also used as a signal mountain, where lights would be lit to warn of approaching danger.  It was so interesting and in good shape still.  There were also several sculptures suspended above the plaza at Seoul Tower that looks like someone is flying.  They are really incredible.  I probably would not have even noticed, had someone not pointed them out.

So, I continue my scrapbooking...an e-scrapbook of my trip to Korea.  Enjoy!