That mouth, those eyes!
I am really going to try to live in Samcheondong next year, or maybe not. That’s where I found these two images while strolling through my favorite neigborhood which also happens to be one of the priciest. Of course. I missed the exhibition but will make my way there in the coming weeks to see what I can see. Samcheondong is the antithesis of Shinchon. Shinchon, my neighborhood, has a plus side or two but it’s all about Samcheondong.
Posters: Mike Myers is Asian now?
Well, I guess if Madonna can suddenly become “British”, Mr. Myers can turn Japanese! Seriously, I found this and other posters in Insadong on Christmas day and had to snap it up! These are really old posters (I boosted the color a bit) and Mike Myers and this Japanese (my assumption) do look awfully alike. It’s all so Austin Powers does James Bond does film noir, Asian style.
Yoga Goddess: Magic Day
My yoga instructor is not only inspirational but she is also a kind soul that gives me both emotional and physical relief. God bless her. I wasn’t feeling too good today and informed her that today was a little um, special. You know the deal, ladies. I asked her what the term was for the wonderful event in healthy women’s lives and she gave the Korean term as well as the more popular term which is (drumroll!) called: MAGIC DAY! I had to laugh which instantly made me feel better.
I went to change into my yoga clothes and upon returning to the waiting area, she’d pulled out a soft warm blanket and two equally comfy pillows just for me! She spread the blanket onto the floor and demonstrated how I would find relief for stomach and back ache using the two pillows. I followed her instruction and the next thing that I knew, she proceeded to give me a lovely back massage with her knee and hand. She took me higher! The pain was gone!
It was now time to start class and man was it deep. Deep stretches, deep breathing, both slow and meaningful were welcomed by all who attended tonight’s session. We were one unit, all together learning and at the same time, teaching our Teacher. Very strange but perfect. As I lay there in the darkness she came to my side and gave me a serious hand massage, pressing in and around the fleshy area located between thumb and forefinger. Afterwards she started on my legs and although it was a little painful, I felt so light, as if she’d taken away something that was holding me down.
Mentally I was so surprised at how easy the class seemed and I only realize now that I was holding on to something that I no longer needed and am back to trusting my body, mind and soul.
Thank you, Teacher
An open door, The temple
This was my Christmas spent in and around Samcheondong and Jongno. What beautiful colors, scents and shapes I witnessed yesterday. The door is always open and thankfully it was also open to me. Can you believe these colors just on the temple grounds?! Stunning. This particular temple educates westerners about Zen Buddhism at the weekend. Yours truly will be there this Saturday, hopefully with a less heavy heart and a clearer mind.
Merry Christmas!
I wish all of you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
My favorite Christmas was spent with my brother and my Mom in our home town of Portsmouth. We were watching the Ten Commandments in our pyjamas, the apt. was impeccable and cozy as usual and I do believe chocolate chip cookies and milk were enjoyed by all. I will never forget how everything was so peaceful and how happy we were just to be together. It was actually the night of Christmas Eve (the most sacred day, to me). I’ve noticed that ever since I was a child, Christmas Eve has a quiet, a stillness like no other day or night of the year. I believe that it is so because all those who believe in God, The One, The Great Spirit tune into their hearts and actually acknowledge how precious life is. I am not with my family this year because I live in Korea, but I am always with them in spirit and I take them everywhere I go, so I guess that I do have my family with me.
Thank You, God. Thank You for everything.
Andy Goldsworthy:”I am so amazed at times that I am actually alive.”
I’ve seen Mr. Goldsworthy’s art before and was just as amazed then as I am now. I surfed over to www.theworldinstituteofslowness.com and there he was for me to slow down and admire his work once again.There was something very special about this particular video of him and the work that he created. He said certain things that I feel all the time and KNOW. Do you know what I mean? When he said “I am so amazed at times that I am actually alive”. I feel this way all the time. I felt this morning as I was walking down the stairs on my way to work. I said to myself “it’s amazing being able to walk, to see and to hear!” I’m so grateful to be alive.
What I like about this artist is that he uses what Mother Nature creates and gives so abundantly and effortlessly to us and in turn creates something so precious and the opposite of timeless.
Chairs: foam, plywood and steel, by Kim Jon-jin
Talent all over the place at Hongik University!
Oragami chaise lounge by Jo Han-yong
It’s always wonderful to see something extraordinary.
Sanford and Son theme song was in full effect!
I just had to post this. I saw this on Monday in the Samcheon-dong area, I was speechless. At first I was going to walk right by it but something made me stop and start shooting and stop, then admire it, stepping back. I admire the man or woman to whom this truck and business belongs.
Tis’ the season for getting! Uh, I mean giving!
Just kidding folks. I know that you all give everyday of your lives: a smile, a helping hand, words of encouragement to all that cross your path. I would just like to say that I wish you all a very Happy Holiday! Merry Christmas! Happy Hanukkah and just Happy to Be Alive Day!! Of course I’d like to give you a little beauty before you go and here it is.
