13 | April | 2010 | Long Time Gone

Ah, Springtime in Korea! Really the best of the famed 4 seasons of Korea. Perhaps this year feels all the sweeter with the knowledge that this is my last spring here. Bittersweet is probably more accurate.

Anyway, these pics were taken outside my office. Literally. Not the best possible location for photography, but it will suffice. Actually, the blossoms will probably peak in a couple of days, so these shots are a bit premature.

Magnolia flowers starting to open…

A cherry tree with the Korean War Memorial building in the background…

A Yongsan Garrison street scene…

During the occupation, this was a Japanese military base. Rumor has it they planted these cherry trees. I don’t know if that is true or not and I guess it doesn’t matter either.

They sure are purdy though, don’t ya think?

One of the nicest things about living in the D.C. area was the bicycle trails along the Potomac river. Well, we’ve got ’em in Seoul too. Not as scenic, but pleasant enough in an urban kind of way.

Anyway, seeing as how I’m working on living a healthier lifestyle and given the fact that I’m growing bored with my “walks” on the treadmill, I decided to reintroduce myself to the joys of bicycling. It’s been probably ten years since I last rode, but it’s something you don’t forget, er, like riding a bike. Sunday morning was a fine day in the Land of the Morning Calm, so I hit the trail…

So, I purchased this fine bicycle on base for $422. You might notice the bike rack on my car behind me. I barely have the courage to drive on the streets of Seoul, ain’t no way I’m riding a bike on the road. But once you get to the riverside, it’s all cool.

Jee Yuen came along on her tiny one speed bike. The lack of gears meant she had to work a hell of a lot harder than I did. She was whupped pretty good after a 3 hour ride…

Signs of Spring were in evidence as the Gaenalee (Forsythia) was in full blossom…

…and leaves were sprouting on the trees.

Across the river is the National Assembly Building. The cherry blossoms weren’t in evidence yet, but any day now the streets of Yeouido will be lined in pink…