It is springtime in Korea. The best time of the year (although autumn is a close second). I admit to having a developed a rather strong case of Spring Fever. And the best cure is to hit the road and see something new.
So this morning I’m off to the east coast. Of Korea, that is. From the photos I’ve seen it’s relatively rural, scenic, and most importantly for me, someplace I’ve never been. New is good. My specific destination is Gangwon-do, Yangyang-gun, Naksan Beach. Here’s a link from the Tourism Office if you want to know exactly as much as I do at this point.
I’m driving. Which is something I almost never do in Korea (except within my comfort zone–a 10km radius of Itaewon). So, wish me luck with that. If I’m not back in a couple of days, send out a posse!
Although I won’t be posting during my travels, I hope to have something blog-worthy to write about the trip upon my return. Stay tuned!
Hey John,
I totally envy your upcoming trip and would have definitely enjoyed to tag along. Having not referenced a map of Korea for awhile (your inset is too small to find it on – realizing it is not intended for that purpose) sounds like your travels might take potentially near to Kang Nung which is on the upper east coast almost directly east of Seoul if I remember correctly. I mention it because my former business partner is originally from there and she always spoke well of it. She comes to mind as you speak of this trip and did also when you commented recently on Korean feminine beauty (which I totally agree with, and even more I really appreciate the maturing Ajima process and result – gorgeous maturing women, none better, IMV).
I had forwarded to her the clip of how Korean mothers discipline their kids and she thought it was hilarious proclaiming that, though childless herself, if she had a child she would no doubt be just that way too. This diminutive and still perfectly proportioned at now 50 YOA, and whom I miss tremendously and count as a major error in my life for not having held on to with both hands, is beautiful, more feminine then you can imagine, BRILLIANT, in caps no less, with degrees in nursing (was an RN in a former incarnation) as well as a former ROK Army Captain, a BA in Psychology (at 4.0 GPA), and another in Accounting (another 4.0) and a CPA to boot. She worked for awhile at one of the big eight accounting firms in DC and while there passed the exceedingly difficult 4-part CPA exam on the first try (a nearly unheard of feat, I’m led to understand) – and as an immigrant, mind you. She was the only accountant at this fairly prestigious firm to ever have done so. Surprisingly at first, though in retrospect somewhat understandably, she decided after only a year at the firm and already on the fast track of progression, that accounting was simply too boring so she decided to look into something else and settled on real estate investing. That led us, with me freshly retired from the USAF, to team-up in buying and selling foreclosures, which I gave up after five or six years when I relocated to So FLA, (gave up not by desire but by state governmental hassle in FL) and she is still doing in NoVA, and doing quite well too.
As a side note, I hope you will do a post on your observations of the Korean work ethic and desire to excel if you haven’t already done so. And I add, that I have met and known many many people in my life and travels but I have never before met any person as gifted and just plain smart as the lady I speak of above. And having met and known many other Korean people in my life have always been impressed with their native abilities. Your insights might be interesting.
One last unrelated point: If you get a chance look to see if Netflix has a DVD titled, “The Civilization of Maxwell Bright”. This movie is about a pretty much disgusting example of male flesh, a guy in LA who, fed up with his experiences with American women, decides to import an Asian bride and does so – he wants one who will wait on him hand and foot, he thinks – you get the picture. What then ensues carries the viewer through a range feelings and emotions seldom experienced in a movie, hilarity, distain, anger, compassion, sadness and awe…..no fooling..and I haven’t begun to touch on all of them. Not to give away the end in any way, but it turns out that the girl he ‘buys’ for 100k is a former Chinese Buddhist nun (interesting story here too) who he thinks initially is well beneath him but then as events proceed, learns in reality, is eons ahead. In the process the comparatively soiled underbelly of the ‘popular’ American culture is exposed in all it’s raging stain and it really gives the viewer something to think about. A fairly low budget film I had not before heard of, it stars Patrick Warburton and includes in the cast, Eric Roberts too (well established brother of Julia), along with other recognizable characters – the movie is quite well done. Warburton http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patrick_Warburton, if you remember, is the guy who played Puddy, the love interest of Elaine, in Seinfeld. Please, find this movie and watch it if you can, then tell us about it. Though American made, it fits your Asian theme profile, quite well, STM. Even if it didn’t the contrast is like nothing you’ve seen before.
Nuff said this go round. Enjoy your trip.
I understand spring-fever quite well too, BTW.
As always, regards to all,
Dennis (Dentoku)
in SE Florida
Dennis, thanks for the great comment. I will definitely checkout that film and will do a post soon on the Korean work ethic. You are correct, it is so outstanding it is sometimes astounding…