Open your mind and sight on Mt. Bukhansan

The friend who kindly shares some photos once said that there are a number of mountain lovers who are haunted by Bukhansan, located at the northeastern end of Seoul, and that he was becoming one of them. The main routes are usually very crowded on weekends like Myeongdong but there are numerous less-known ways that are rarely trodden, he says. So you will never get easily bored if you take a new route after another every time you go. And you'll find each way gives some unique sights and feelings of its own, he claims. Many of the Bukhansan mania may have frequented it for decades, not just for years. Everybody living in and around Seoul can enjoy Bukhansan or Cheongyesan or Gwanaksan any time, as long as one can open one's mind and sight with some curiosity and energy. After the seasonal long rains ended, temperatures go up and up day by day. You can beat the heat with heat, according to an old saying. So don't try to get your nose stuck indoors onto a virus-friendly airconditioner or a fully-abused fan, when you are free with no exciting plan. For now, however, you and I may enjoy some latest images of Bukhansan the friend took a few days ago. BEWARE that some parts of Bukhansan are quite dangerous for general hikers without proper equipment and skills, but there seem to be plenty of easy routes to go about there in rubber shoes or even barefoot.

Something valuable but not valued right

A friend was gladly willing to share the photo images he had taken while trekking along some of the mountains surrounding Seoul, including Bukhan-san and Gwanak-san. Below is part of what he took on the Gwacheon side of the Gwanak-san during the last weekend, when the heavy rains receded. The mountain is close by for me, offering favorite routes of walking or light trekking whenever I'm inclined, but it seems apparent now that I have never appreciated it properly but have taken it just for granted for long. Like any other mountains, Gwanak-san looks greater and is more pleasant right after a big rain. Hope this round of rain will affect nobody, nowhere, and that all the survived victims from the last floods will get over very shortly. And don't forget the lesson. Don't go out for golfing or something amid such heavy rains, whether you are a famous politician or comedian or whatever.

Don't hate naengmyun too much

Earlier this afternoon, a friend called me in after a long while. He, code-named Samshikee, forty-something of age, is a typical anti-communist Korean to the bone marrow. The friend seemed to have been very much angry with Kim Jong-il for the stupid, childish yet very expensive fireworks. At a point, he even swore he’d never eat any naengmyun, whether it's originally from Pyongyang or anywhere else in North Korea.

As some of you readers may already know, naengmyun is a famous sort of Korean food originated from the North. That's based on buckwheat or sweet potato noodles, and there are two different types available. The one called Pyongyang naengmyun is served in cold, meat broth with some army, navy and/or air-force toppings, and the other called Hamheung naengmyun goes with a specialty hot sauce of a number of ingredients and toppings but with no cold broth readily filled in.

Actually, there are two varieties of Hamheung naengmyun: hoe (raw fish) naengmyun and gogi (meat) naengmyun. It seems the same or a similar sauce is used for each but the toppings are different. Warm broth is served with Hamheung naengmyun to appease your mouth and stomach -- and perhaps your irresistible anger together if you have -- that would feel hot and pungent at all the spicy ingredients. The broth is one of the critical elements to determine the overall taste and quality of any type of naengmyun.

'Naengmyun' actually means 'cold' (naeng) 'noodle' (myun). It is widely loved as one of the most popular dishes for summer. According to a relative, who lived many years in Hamheung until 1950, naengmyun was originally for winter rather than summer. They used to eat it as mid-night food for the long nights of winter, at times along with grilled 'ddeok' if available, the relative said.

My preferred formula for naengmyun, in particulary for the Pyeongyang type in broth, is to go with 'bindaeddeok', which is a sort of pancake made of mung bean powder with some pieces of pork and vegetables added in. When a bowl of naengmyun does not make you full, you may try it out as side dish, or even as appetizer.

Unfortunately, the favorite naengmyun house in my area went out of business months ago, and I have found no alternative place to go, yet. I'm inclined to visit my old favorite restaurant in Myeongdong when I have a chance to go around there next time. That's perhaps Myeongdong Hamheung Myun Ok or something, located at an alleyway behind Myeongdong Gyoja which specializes in 'kalguksu' meaning ‘knife noodle’. (It's a bit regrettable or keoshigi to see there are some bizarre or weird names for some Korean dishes.) Anyway I hope the owner has not changed, as it's been quite years since I last went there. I like hoe-naengmyun the most there. Warm, tasty broth should be refilled with no limit. I'm not sure if I should invite my friend Samshikee or any other anti-communist friend then to cool down. Anger is not good for anyone, in any case.

Naengmyun is far from a short or long-range missile. It has nothing to do with any sort of nuclear weapons. So don't hate the North Korean styles of cuisine, whether it has something to do with Pyongyang or Hamheung. And I'm just curious if Israelis and their Islamic neighbors eat noodles, too. Naengmyun may help them cool down each other, possibly making them think over whether warring, bombing, gunning or revenging is the best way to solve a serious, complicated problem. Naengmyun might be also good for some Japanese and American politicians, too.

It was good and relieved for me to find this morning that an American daily newspaper does not hate the naengmyun. Now I like the U.S. daily more than any Korean one called Ilbo for many reasons. I just don't want to be so patriotic in picking up a paper. I don't like any people or any newspapers that are too temperamental or too vulnerable to anger. On the other side, Rooney or Zidane, who I don’t think is too hostile by nature, has never killed or break anyone anywhere, although they did in some unusual ways for something uncontrollable. It’s good to hear that Rooney has already forgiven Ronaldo. He is not a reckless kid anymore. He seems to have already cured himself without an anger-management specialist. By the way, just click below if interested in enjoying naengmyun, even in New York:

Korea's taste of summer is a long, cool slurp

In praise of Zidane without asking why

Zinédine Zidane is gone. Not out of the earth but off the World Cup and football.

It was very sad to see such a scene, but sometimes life goes on just like that. Full of contraditions. Full of disappointment or regret, at times.

I don't blame him at all, although I don't know what made him so angry to lose control. It may not be so important to know why. Probably he has a reason. A very good, fully justifiable reason, I believe.

He is -- more accurately, he was -- one of the greatest football players in the world's football history. He is the one who made football fans invent the words 'art football' or 'art soccer'. He himself was the very art.

He just punished a sleazy guy with a headbutt. He used just a way of footballing -- not a gun or a weapon of mass destruction or something.

If I were him there then, probably I did something else to punish harder. More than stamping the one in some part. More than what Wayne Rooney did at the other match.

Zidane just did what he could do on the ground. He didn't use a fist or something. He was a real football player. Not a boxer or a K-1 player. He wanted to remain a football player even in such a dire, volatile moment.

I'm just remaining until I'd hear what made him so angry to take all the risk in the last minutes of all his glorious career. Sometimes, we are destined to sacrifice something important for another, more important thing.

Zidane is human, too. That's now another reason why I like and respect him even more.

I'm still checking out for who's the best anger-management specialist in Korea. I must remain more reserved and humble before I find one. A really capable anger-management expert.

Typhoon is gone. Temperature goes up. Humidity still hovers.

Good luck and take care through the upcoming summer days, Friends.

100 Most Beautiful Roads in Korea

The missile fireworks from the North may have dampened the southern brethren's pleasure of planning on summer vacations. To relieve the people from worrying too much, Korea's ministry of construction and transportation kindly released a timely story about a selection of Korea's 100 most beautiful roads. They include:
* Changseon-Samcheonpo Daegyo (Grand Bridge), Gyeongsangnam-do (Above)
* Stone-wall alleyway outside of the Deoksugung Palace (덕수궁 돌담길), Seoul
* Metasequoia road in Damyang, Jeollanam-do
* Suyoung Gwangan-daero, Busan

Hope Mr. Kim Jong-il and his friends do not disturb or baffle anymore. It may be more constructive and rewarding that they pick and list up North Korea's 100 most beautiful sights for all the peoples from around the world to travel around peacefully and joyfully, rather than building and showing off any dangerous things.

Rooting for Rooney

The weekend was not so good for me as far as the World Cup games are concerned. My favorite teams England and Brazil were kicked out, unfortunately, and some dull, so-and-so teams like Portugal and Italy turned out to be still afloat to march on. They don't look so qualified for the last four, except Germany. Perhaps Korea, who defeated each of them nicely four years ago, may be more qualified than the other three. And France could barely draw with Korea days ago. Germany seems the only team who deserves the championship, just because they gave good chances to Cha Bum's family. And they have a good coach who knows how to enjoy and celebrate a victory.

While watching the match the other night, all my family got very much upset and disappointed that Wayne Rooney was kicked out for stamping by the same handball referee as did the Korea-Switzerland match. In fact, my wife and daughter are real fans for Rooney. They seemed to believe the Portuguese guys did some very dirty things to Rooney earlier than what he did some unusual but understandable things. What I guess is that wife and daughter were just angry that the cunning, stupid referee took away their chances to enjoy more of Rooney's childlike complexions and action. Another reason the patriotic daughter likes Rooney is that she heard Rooney used to like Park Jisung a lot, the Korean teammate with the Manchester United. Perhaps Rooney thinks Park looks uglier or more childlike than him, which makes him quite happy. Rooney looks candid. Straightforward. Doesn't disguise. Doesn't cheat. Above all, he is cute. Like a second grader at elementary school. I don't like a kid who thinks and acts like a wicked, trecherous adult.

I won't blame Rooney at all in any ways. If somebody annoyed me like that, perhaps I did the same as Rooney did then. And I'll probably hate any and all the players by the name of Ronaldo. On the other hand, I still don't understand what the true meaning of 'stamping' somebody at something keoshigi between the legs. If you really 'stamp' somebody right on it, he'd never stand up firmly once again to get back to the game. Every man should know that very well. I swear. Perhaps I should enrich and refine my English vocabulary much harder. But I understand 'stamp' is just 'stamp', like when you 'stamp' a round or square wooden stamp on a form or a contract very hard and firm. However, don't try to stamp anyone on any part, if you don't want to make your life hard and miserable.

I am afraid I may need an anger-management specialist, too. It's getting too humid.

Buy Merrill Lynch

Not sure if these are good news or bad news for me, and for general Koreans at large. What about for the Korean millionaires? Above all, for the major Korean newspapers called ilbo? Let's wait and see. Looks like American dreams are now fading off quite fast. Then dream a Korean dream, instead. Otherwise you may do an Indian dream, a Russian dream, or a Chinese dream. Maybe the world is getting smaller and flatter as somebody puts. And Merrill Lynch looks quite smart. Buy Merrill Lynch.

"The number of wealthy Americans climbed 6.8% in 2005, down from a 9.9% pace in 2004. The number of wealthy individuals, those with at least $1 million in investable assets, grew 21.3% in South Korea, 19.3% in India, 17.4% in Russia and 6.8% in China.

""Behavior patterns in North America ran counter to these worldwide trends," the report concluded. In 2005, the report noted, markets such as India, South Korea, Poland and South Africa all returned better than 40%, while the S&P 500 generated 3.0% returns."

U.S. wealth growth rate slows (marketwatch.com)
지난해 한국 백만장자 증가율 세계 1위 (연합)

Rain or shine

The strange Korean guys made an incomprehensible goal. It seems they did nothing too bad against France through the match. They only lacked a bit of luck to beat the haggard cocks completely, in particular with the first goal handed gracefully. Park Ji-sung, who made an equalizer towards the last minutes, said all he did well there was just to get the goal, expressing he was not so satisfied with what he did through the game, in spite of the goal. In the meantime, the crazy northern guys do not seem to have launched the test missile yet. The U.S. and Japan could and should be fully capable of handling such a rogue behavior. The South’s all Taegeuk warriors would never allow such a silly yet dangerous thing to hover overhead, rain or shine. Don't trust a fortuneteller, though, over whether it will rain or shine for the next match with Team Switzerland. And always be careful in buying or selling any chicken stocks. Feel a bit sleepy thanks to the rare, unusual and exciting game. Need to have some nap. I'm nowhere for the rest of the afternoon. I need some sunshine, too.

Koreans profit as French farce continues
US again cautions N Korea ...

A fortuneteller says

On this clear, beautiful Monday, a friend called me in as I came back into the office from a two-hour lunch over budaezzigae or Koreanized army stew. He justed wanted to do some small talk with me about some personal and social matters, of couse off the record. He is an amateur fortuneteller as he frequently identifies himself, saying he has studied it hard for long by himself. He claims he even spent a couple of years around Mt. Jirisan and Mt. Gyeryongsan, taking some serious lessons from real sages and old Buddhist monks. Mt. Gyaeryongsan, located in Chungnam, is the traditional mecca for hermits, sorcerers, sorceresses, fortunetellers, heretics, all the other types of dubiously religious or superstitous people.

I don’t know how much capable he really is as a fortuneteller. I don’t know who actually asks him to read his or her fortune or foretell anything else. And I don’t know if he can read his own fortune too. One thing, however, I must recognize about his fortune-telling ability. He had been accurate a hundred percent in predicting who’d be elected as the next President of Daehanminguk (the Republic of Korea), perhaps since General Chun Doo-hwan plundered the presidency in 1980 from the somewhat apolitical interim president Mr. Choi Gyu-ha. The amateur fortuneteller also accurately picked later on those who actually grabbed the presidency months before the election days. They include Roh Tae-woo who's an old buddy of the general president Chun, the veteran democratic warriors Kim Young-sam and Kim Dae-jung, and more recently Roh Moo-hyun, revealed some other friends drunkenly at a soju party the other night.

The fortuneteller friend is most proud that, among others, he successfully predicted Mr. Roh Moo-hyun would become the next president even well before he was elected at the primary within the political party he then belonged to. He says nobody foretold Mr. Roh would be selected at the primary there because he was one of the low-profiled candidates in the very minor league within the party, and because he had a wrong hometown for that party. Like in some other less advanced nations, having a right hometown is very much important for serious politicians in Korea. Moreover, none of the major ilbo's generously gave any slight glance at him in the beginning. The amateur fortuneteller said Mr. Roh got less than two percent of the voters’ approval a year before the presidential election, but somehow he successfully passed the primary scrutiny and eventually beat the strong, much more handsome and wealthy competitors. Well, if what the amateur fortunerteller claims are all true, I will ask him sometime who will become the next president this time around.

Now I trust the fortuneteller friend much more than any local daily at least, called ilbo or shinmun, in predicting about the presidency. I’m least interested in politics, but it’s always fun to hear some absurd fortune-telling stories on any tipics. They say fortunetelling is not a superstition but a very science. It seems, on the other side, some famous fortunetellers -- I mean real, fulltime fortunetellers -- are of all different opinions about the Team Korea’s fortune in the World Cup now taking place in Germany, ranging from becoming the last final winner through a last semi-finalist to a quarter-finalist or something poorer. What I can foresee is at least one of them will turn out to be really capable and will become more famous for a moment as a wonderful fortuneteller. Anyway it’s not bad to have a fortuneteller friend. I’ll try to pass along some of his stories as things move along.

Thunderstorms here and there

When thunderstorms come down like today, I'd find at times my mind already running back to the days when I stayed in a university town in northern Texas. That's already a few decades ago, as I count back. I went there as a graduate student, nominally and for the sake of visa at least. I felt then I was like a half-refugee, if not like a boat people.

Sometimes there were quite strong thunderstorms and 'real' tornados hitting the area, which I had rarely seen at home before. It seems I felt then a tornado in Texas was much different from a typhoon in Korea in some ways. Quite daunting and fearful they usually were, but I feel, on the other hand, I had enjoyed immensely the sights and sounds of the tornados and the Texan style of heavy thunderstorms. Also I liked a lot, when the weather was clear, the endless prairie, including the impressive scenes of sunrise and sunset over the horizon.

Before getting down there then, I probably had had quite depressed or suppressed emotions for some reasons when I was in Seoul, like sort of quite complicated hatred toward some people and situations at home country. Anyway living in Texas for a couple of years then brought in quite a cure to me, quite effectively, both mentally and physically, as I recall now. Then I liked to play tennis like a mad cow even to an extent that I got completely drained and exhausted, usually at night to avoid the near 100-degree temperature in Fahrenheit. Golfing looked too boring, too cowboyish, or a bit silly for the scorching sunshine lighting up the tiny holes in the wide field amid the Texas prairie, as I felt. I thought it was just a joke when some Korean immigrants and students around there desperately talk about exciting golf games anytime, anywhere, even amid a peak Texas summer. Nevertheless all the easy-going, slow-moving Texan lifestyle seems to have helped me a lot nicely then.

Now I think I can really love and enjoy the weather getting along with any thunderstorms or heavy rains here in Gwacheon or Seoul or anywhere else. Today's thunderstorms are more, much more like those of Texas. Not bad at all for me, if they do least harm. It's June. Summer is starting.

More trees and forests, and more water

After a while, I went out on a walk along the neighborhood in the late afternoon yesterday. I was taking the favorite and convenient routes in Mt. Gwanaksan from Gwacheon. The rain was not much enough to make the mountainside stream teem with water, but the forest air was refreshingly balmy and pleasant as always. It was a wise decision of me to cancel, at the last minute, the late-afternoon teleconference that didn't appear so important. I don't like to be engaged or interrupted anytime in the afternoons. And I need more trees, forests and water through the life, as an old fortuneteller from a remote cave of Mt. Jirisan is said to have advised to my parents when I was born. I'm very much tempted to go out there again this afternoon. No more calls or meetings this afternoon, please. I think I need more fresh air. Enjoy your Friday.

Thanks for the emails

Since I started blogging early this year (actually resumed it after a long while), I received quite a number of emails from various countries and areas of the globe. Most of the senders were other bloggers and website operators, many of who appear to run great sites in diverse fields of their own. They include travel, culture, e-learning, sports, politics, and business, to name a few.

Today I'd like to take this opportunity to thank all those who sent me emails. I think I have responded to only a few of them. So my apologies should be directed to all who did not hear back. I'm aware that most of the sites addressed to me were great, but I did not pay proper attention for some reason or another.

I will try to keep all those emails in storage so I will be able to take any proper action someday, as I'm inclined and time permits me. Also I will try to have some samples of the good news addressed on this blog to share with all the dear readers and random visitors.

When Koreans were all happy

Four years ago most Koreans looked really happy over the Korea-Japan Worldcup games. The main reason was of course that the Korean team did very well on a game after another against the world-class big, expensive guys. Everybody enjoyed cheering up together whenever, wherever they were going. When they met eyes one another on the street, they automatically chanted "Dae-hanminguk!" together raising both hands.

To my recollection, people then were also very happy because they didn't have to encounter any headline news about domestic politics and politicians. Newspapers and television networks rarely featured those political things and figures. I guess there were plenty of nasty clashes and disgusting scandals in the political arena around those days. Some clever political guys wanted to take advantage of that mood to their interests, but general people were cleverer so they didn't allow such a silly attempt. So all politicians just had to remain very quiet until the games all ended.

I have no idea about what sorts of things will develop in politics over the upcoming Worldcup games. But I can predict one thing, at least. President Rho would be badly, even more severely criticized if the Korean team does not do well. Now everything that goes wrong is the President's fault. Even many of the stupid Uri-dang guys seem to be joining such a force that enjoys bashing Rho. That's another reason why they are helpless and useless. They are least interested in what's their own fault. Perhaps they have even no ability to think over something like that.

I'll surely root for our Korea team very hard over the next several weeks or just a few weeks. Partly to enjoy the games even more, and partly to have more chances not to hear about the boring politics and politicians. I have a divine and constitutional right to be happy. Nobody can discourage me from enjoying the right. And I will try to avoid any political pieces of the Cho-Jung-Dong at all possible. Enjoy the Korean Memorial Day holiday.

Breaking News on a Monday

Hope all the friends and other readers are starting a great week on this beautiful Monday.

Here are several great news I've lately encountered and want to share with you this morning:

A great blogger Seoul Hero has lately fathered to the Little Hero, according to his recent posts. Congratulations to him and all his family. I've not known him directly but I'd like to just send my best wishes. I think knew of his blog through Mr. Sumiyoshi of Sumiyoshi Pilgrim at first.

Ms. Song of What is Life has got admission to HUFS Graduate School, according to her recent post. It seems she was going to study Teaching of Korean as a Foreign Language. Also I look forward to reading her travel story into Tibet. Wishing all the best on her way ahead,

A new Anonymous friend left a kind comment to a previous post of mine, "Kimchi is good for mice."

Another Anonymous friend made a kindest comment to a bit old post (Confession over sushi and patriotism) about my ambivalent liking for sushi vs. patriotism, and somewhat flip-flopping attitude in diet habit and preference. Thanks, Mr./Ms. Anonymous.

Charley of Juz Charley from Singapore patted me on the back, saying "... no worries ... and keep posting...". Thanks, Charley, for the cheering me up, and the music on your site. I like it. Also I like Charley's Chocolate Factory, too. See you around.

My good old blog pal Mr. Sumiyoshi in Bundang near Seoul seems to be working out well on his running/jogging program, while planning to visit his original hometown in Canada this summer. Take care and good luck, Sumiyoshi.

Enjoy your week.

Like a Father

Haven't looked around for a while. I mean my favorite photo site. Assumed that site would be mainly for pro photographers to promote their talent. But I was wrong. That's a playing field mainly for amateurs, a friend advised by email. Many of those guys look like real something. Have just found sort of quite an artistic work that made me gloat for a while. But I won’t do something like that when I happen to be with my kid on an outing, say somewhere at the COEX mall or Myeongdong. No, I can’t. Never. We’re of a yangban family in a royal bloodline from the old Shilla. Anyway, enjoy the weekend.

애나 어른이나 (A Kid or An Adult) (Pink Sherbet)

Kimchi is good for mice

This time around, kimchi is on the menu, aside from the most controversial somethin'tang. Days ago, an American ilbo ran an interesting piece about kimchi's health benefits and even some medicinal efficacy, along with the possibly very harmful effect. I didn't know before kimchi was recognized as a panacea, or even as a poison.

In the oriental medicine, a modicum of some poison like 'arsenic' or 'mercury' can be added in prescribing for some diseases in some acute cases, as I heard. But kimchi can't be the same as that kind. Kimchi is just kimchi. Kimchi could be more humble, and should try to be more civilized. Kimchi can't challenge Janggeumee or any other court cook of Korea. Never. Anything too much can't match nothing at all, said the disciples of Confucius, perhaps.

Anyway, kimchi is reported to have been scientifically proved to be beneficial to hairless mice raised in the cage, at least:

Koreans' Kimchi Adulation ...
"A researcher at Ewha Woman's University in Seoul reported that kimchi lowered the stress levels of caged mice by 30%.
"At the Kimchi Research Institute in Busan, hairless mice fed kimchi were reported to develop fewer wrinkles. ... the institute is developing a special anti-aging kimchi ..."

A few of Korea's summer attractions

An Australia-based site gives an informative piece on Korea's summer attractions, covering several summer festivals including the Boryeong Mud Festival and the 'Moses Miracle' of the Jindo Sea-Parting Festival. (Link on the bottom)

On a recent outing to the World Trade Center area, I saw a photo exhibition offered somewhere outdoor. The theme was '물오르다' in Korean, which is beyond my translation ability and imagination. I think I can translate a sentence like this: "Somebody or something is '물올랐다'." But I don't know what to do with just '물오르다'. At times, I find the Korean language very hard for even a typical Korean to master, as likely as Enlglish can't be the first language for him, forever.

Anyway, the mini photo show seemed to be mainly about calling for preserving precious water resources, I guess. There I had to pass through fast, unfortunately, barely stopping at a few impressive photos. One of them was of the very Moses Miracle in Jindo, which I managed to steal an image of. Perhaps that's against some laws. But I'm not so ready to be gladly put into jail yet because I have not earned enough through any illegal, irregular or suspious means. So all I'm practically willing to do in case is just taking the image off from this blog. A good thing is, as I believe, environmental activists and their sponsors are not so ruthless. I like them, generally. Enjoy, as long as I remain all right with this dubious image.

Join the Summer Festival Fun in Korea
(e-Travel Blackboard)

A no-brand tile-roof house

Have nearly forgot what shouldn't be. That's no-branded, maybe little known, but looked as great as any of the well-known. That was a few weeks ago. I had an occasion to visit an art school, Gyewon or Kyewon, near Pyeongchon, Anyang. There I happened to find this house. A traditional tile-roofed one. No mock-up. No replica. Real, as I saw. Looked pretty old. The gates, perhaps two, were locked. Renovation was underway. Tried to take some images. It was late afternoon on a cloudy day. Should't forget to come back later, hopefully after the renovation is done. Still don't know who knows something about it. No info at the art school's website. Need to do some research who's who, what's what. Anyway I'm glad I haven't forgot completely.

Seoul is not always safe

One day last week, I met with an American gentleman who visited Seoul on business. He, who has a typical American name of Bob, said he'd been here several times already. At a point of the conversation, he said Seoul seemed to be very safe enough to walk around even at midnight, as he heard from some source. I said I'd think so, too, but I warned him a bit cautiously to be always careful when strolling outside. This is the city where more than ten million people live and work together on such a relatively tiny area of land.

Taking all the satellite cities and bed-towns into consideration, perhaps over twenty million might come and go about in Seoul and its vicinity. If a mere one percent of those people are not mentally in good shape, that means at least 200,000 rather abnormal, if not mostly insane, people move around. And the chance is that a few of them may possibly hang around somewhere nearby. The public transportation system is well built and run, giving them full mobility.

The city where I'm originally from has a population of slightly less than 200,000 as I guess. Bob said his city is of approximately the same size in population. Seoul can't be always safe, like New York, Shanghai, Tokyo or any other populous cities in the world. The only advantage for Seoul may be, the possibility is relatively low that the bums carry bombs or machine guns or just handguns. You'd better use a more capable and reliable security agency, as you want to move about among the crowd and if you can afford. And Seoul is not free from any terrorist attack even if, as I hear, the police and the military maintain greatest units to win over promptly and effectively.

Prevention is always the best policy. It’s better than the remedy, for sure. My dear American friend Bob promised he'd never go outside alone at night anywhere in the world, not just in Seoul, because he just couldn't afford and because he is not so bold. As a final note, I’d like to express best wishes for fast recovery to Ms. Park, a political celebrity in Korea, who was attacked by a terrorist heavily armed with a paper cutter over the weekend, which the terrorist bought at a stationery shop nearby. Perhaps for a US dollar or two. Take care of yourselves, pals, in this cruel age of terrorism. Don't worry too much, though. For most ordinary people, any bright streets of Seoul still appear quite safe and enjoyable.

Thanking a new blog pal from Singapore

Responding to a somewhat stupid post and a silly comment of mine, a nice blogger from Singapore kindly left a comment that was really straightforward and stimulating. I'm now ashamed of my myopic, narrow-minded patriotism. Someday I should be writing another piece of confession or repentance. Thanks, charley. Also I must say your blog looks great indeed, and I look forward to reading more of your stories at your site. Good luck.