By James | January 1, 2010
Here’s the google maps view of our hotel in the old quarter in hanoi:
New Year’s was a very uneventful evening as we arrived at the hotel almost at the stroke of midnight, extremely tired from our almost 34-hour trip. The old quarter in Hanoi is very much as I envisioned it, but maybe a little dustier, from all the descriptions that I had heard and read. It is very atmospheric and lively. But no description could prepare you for the chaos of the traffic. There are no lights and, seemingly, no rules. Everyone just honks and goes for it. You certainly have to be vigilant at all times, and cross the street slowly.
Happy New Year from Hanoi!
It has been a busy, joyful, wonderful, holiday season . . . full of friends, families and pets. We have had such a lovely time at home spending time with the people that we love.
We hope that your holiday season has also been wonderful!!
Merry Christmas and Happy new Year!
Love James and Charlotte
By James | November 15, 2009
It’s been a beautiful fall so far. I don’t know if fall is normally like this in Korea, but it’s been sunny and warm and altogether pleasant. Nights have been getting a little cooler, but the daytime temperatures were still getting up over 20 degrees. That is until last week… All of a sudden on Monday temperatures dropped precipitously and we had our first frost. On Tuesday morning, luckily before I went out for my run around the lake park, I think it was down to seven below zero! And look at what happened to all the poor sunflowers that were so beautiful last week!
When I arrived home in Canada, after being off the plane for about 5 minutes, I went to my girlfriend’s wedding and was stunned by the beauty of my childhood friend. Deanne was a vision in her white dress, walking down the aisle, looking positively elated. Darryl was also a site of loveliness. Their wedding was beautiful and I couldn’t be happier for both of them. They are absolutely perfect for each other. I felt so happy to see her happy and actually I guess there is nothing that you want more for your friends than for them to be just that – happy – and of course to be with someone who loves her more than the last number . . . .
Congratulations you guys! We love you!!!
I went for lunch on Wednesday with two lovely ladies that I have met here in Hwajeong, – Ashley and Migo.
Ashley gave me these cute little dolls. She bought them in Insa-dong.
They are a Korean couple dressed in their traditional Hanbok outfits for their wedding day.
I think she is trying to tell me something.
Posted in korean | Tagged clothes |
Great weekend. Caught up with friends whom we hadn’t seen in far too long on both Friday and Saturday night. We ate, we drank, we talked, we laughed, we applied body paint, we posed for silly photos, we danced, we sweat, we walked on uneven pavement in heels, we came home smelling of smoke, we woke up Sunday feeling exhausted and completely unprepared for the week ahead of us. Great fun . . .
Posted in Partying | Tagged friends |
Quite some time ago, when Nate was here actually, we spent some time at the War Memorial Museum in Seoul. The building itself is tremendous and into every corner of this grand place is interesting display after display after display. I couldn’t believe the vastness of the building when we got inside. It is definitely worth the visit, though I believe at least a couple of days to see everything is necessary.
Dear Dad,
Today I am thinking about you. I read this somewhere – “We assume that just because we have always done things a certain way in the past that we will always continue to do it in that way. Surprise yourself today and change!” I know you can.
Love Charlotte
Today we were lucky enough to have a day off from school! After getting up a little late, we hopped on the bus and over to the bottom of Bukhansan Mountain where we began our trek upward. What a lovely day. The sun was out, the leaves were stunning and the vigorous hike up (and down) the mountain felt great. After a day on the mountain, we joined the rest of the million hikers to a feast of vegetable and seafood pancake, perfectly paired with a lightly carbonated, and somewhat thicker in texture, version of rice wine – otherwise known as Korean Makkoli. All of that mountain air has left us exhausted though. I can’t wait to crawl in to bed.
This past Friday had us at Bongeunsa Buddhist Temple which is right in the middle of Seoul City, pretty much across the street from one of the largest malls in Korea – COEX. That contrast of having such a sacred place in the middle of an incredibly busy city, was in itself, quite interesting. Of course the temple was beautiful – awnings covered in traditional vibrant paint, pathways lined with gardens of brightly colored flowers and majestic statues of Buddah throughout the area. As the prayer music sounded in the middle of the city, we quietly made our way around the grounds (coffees in hand).
