Finding Internet connections has proven to be the trickiest part of the blog. In Seoul, our hotel had wifi, but only in the lobby. Like Chicago or New York, it bustles all night long with buses, trucks and people. So much to do, so little time. 파리 파리! Bali Bali– hurry hurry!
Now we are in Jeonju- a historic city, home to the Lee dynasty. The city is modern but more like West Allis or Riverwest in character. Homes are much more modest, the city streets are not as modern, high tech and as corporate as Seoul.
The Hanok Maul 하녹 말 is a small city in a city. It is the older city with 17-late 19th century architecture. Picture a large historic district with very precise building regulations. The streets are narrow, homes are often down alleyways that look more like driveways which barely handle the little Kia’s and Hyundai’s.
But there are surprises down theses little winding lanes- like traditional Korean tea houses, artisan’s studios, and wonderful out-of-the-way restaurants and guest houses like the Floating Little Cloud that we are staying in.
Master Kim, our book and paper teacher lives down one of these maze like lanes. Open her old wooden and iron hinged gate and you get a good scolding by Chumbi, the dog. The little garden with bonsaied trees, kimchi pots and flowers is her domain- but one shush from Master Kim and she settles back under a stunted pine at the top of a little raised garden by the door. She let me scratch her ears on my way out to lunch and gave the sad tail wag like she didn’t want me to leave. Somehow I knew I would find some four footed friends here.
I have a ton of pictures- over 400 in the last 5 days. When I can get a steady strong connection, I will embellish the posts. Lots of fantastic architecture, wonderful meals and incredible sties. Probably just as well that I can’t get them up- this way I can edit a bit more before I post.
Time to turn in – more projects with Master Kim at 9 and carving stone seals in the afternoon.
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Book binder, printmaker and sometime ukulele bass player with a fondness for Baroque music, Arts & Crafts designers and out of date technology. Always a student, always trying to learn something new about the world. As Dorothy Parker quipped "The cure for boredom is curiosity; there is no cure for curiosity."
Forest of Dreams 