Jeondeungsa

JeondeungsaTemple, originally uploaded by tgolamb.

On Friday, Sue and I went with Sue's sister and her husband to a place called Jeondeungsa. Jeondeungsa is an ancient Buddhist temple complex located near the Mt. Jungjok Fortress Wall, on Gangwha Island. Ganwha Island the largest of a group of islands located on the far North West corner of South Korea, about 500 km away from Seoul and connected to Kimpo with the Gangwha Bridge. This is the closest I've been to North Korea, which is only separated from Gangwha Island by a small span of water.

Anyway, we drove there to get a look at this very old and lesser know temple. We had lunch and made the steep, but short walk to the entrance. There were lots of young school age kids there, who were eager to take the opportunity to use their English and say "hello" to an English speaking foreigner. I said Hi a lot, but when I tried to engage any of them in more than just Hi, I usually got blank stares, then a quick retreat to the safety and giggles of the rest of the group.

No one know exactly when the temple was originally built, but it is estimated to be somewhere around 381 to 384 AD.

There is a web site where you can read about Jeondeungsa. It has English, so if you're interested, check it out. It's really quite fascinating.
Go to: http://jeondeungsa.org/eng/info/index.html

TeaHouse, originally uploaded by tgolamb.

There is a really beautiful and interesting tea house just below the temple complex. We didn't go in it, but it looked very inviting.

Who's smart and who's not?

The following is from an article from a book published by Morgan Quitno Press, an independent private research and publishing company, who have been doing studies like this since 1989.

States are ranked from smartest to dumbest. These are the findings of the Education State Rankings, a survey by Morgan Quitno Press of hundreds of public school systems in all 50 states. States were graded on a variety of factors based on how they compare to the national average. These included such positive attributes as per-pupil expenditures, public high school graduation rates, average class size, student reading and math proficiency, and pupil-teacher ratios. States received negative points for high drop-out rates and physical violence.

The smartest state in the union for the second consecutive year is Massachusetts. At the bottom of the list, for the third year in a row, is New Mexico. Unfortunately, Arizona placed 48. Maybe because we are the 48th state, but I doubt it. Not much to brag about here.
Ms. Napolitano, I hope you are reading this.

Here’s how things stack up…

1. Massachusetts
2. Connecticut
3. Vermont
4. New Jersey
5. Wisconsin
6. New York
7. Minnesota
8. Iowa
9. Pennsylvania
10. Montana
11. Maine
12. Virginia
13. Nebraska
14. New Hampshire
15. Kansas
16. Wyoming
17. Indiana
18. Maryland
19. North Dakota
20. Ohio
21. Colorado
22. South Dakota
23. Rhode Island
24. Illinois
25. North Carolina
26. Missouri
27. Delaware
28. Utah
29. Idaho
30. Washington
31. Michigan
32. South Carolina
33. Texas and West Virginia (tie)
35. Oregon
36. Arkansas
37. Kentucky
38. Georgia
39. Florida
40. Oklahoma
41. Tennessee
42. Hawaii
43. California
44. Alabama
45. Alaska
46. Louisiana
47. Mississippi
48. Arizona
49. Nevada
50. New Mexico

Great Sushi in Seoul

SushiHiroba, originally uploaded by tgolamb.

Last night, Sue and I went to one of our favorite spots to eat. Sushihioba takes a little over 30 minutes by bus from our place, and I don't know about Sue, but my mouth was already getting prepared all the way there. We went there for the first time a few years ago when we made a short trip to Seoul. Sue's sister took us there and I never forgot it. Now that we are living here, it's one of those small rewards we give ourself from time to time.

They're only open for lunch and dinner, so you have to time your visit to them, but once there, they will keep tempting you with dishes passing by in front of you until you finally say, "No More."

It's a bit pricy, but if you don't do it every day, you don't mind rewarding yourself as we do for a great eating night out.

You can check out their site. Unless you can speak Korean, the site won't be too informative, but you can click around and checkout the menu, etc.

Homeward bound

If you haven't heard from us already, Sue and I have decided to move back to the states. We'll be visiting there in early November to take care of some things and to set up our move back, which will be in early January. It's something we've been building up to for a lot of reasons, but I guess we've gotten to the point when it's time to act on it.

I think Sue is ready to go back. We both miss some of the things that we couldn't get or see in Korea. We've watched a lot of movies here, because if you speak English (and not Korean) TV is not that great, and radio is worse. I'm not so sure people listen to radio much here, except in taxis and busses.

Once we're back the first order of business will be to find a place, drag all of our pots and pans out of storage, etc., etc. Next will be to find a job, and visit a few places I've missed... A&W, Krispy Kreme... you know, important stuff.

Myst IV Revelation

MystRev, originally uploaded by tgolamb.

For any of you out there who know anything about Myst and it's history, then you'll want to know that Myst IV Revelation was released in September for both Mac and PC. I already have the first three and have enjoyed them immensely. If your curious, check out their web site.
http://www.mystrevelation.com

Tink and Sue in Hong Kong

TS_HK, originally uploaded by tgolamb.

Here's the requisite composite tourist shot of the Golambs in Hong Kong. Don't we make a gorgeous couple? This was actually sort of a late honeymoon for us... about three and a half years late to be more precise. We always planned to do something, but for some reason never got around to it. Sue wanted Hawaii, but budgetary constraints made Hong Kong a better choice this time. She made me promise to take her to Hawaii one day before we are too old to enjoy it, and with some coaxing I agreed. (The cast on my broken arm will come off in about six weeks.) HA!

Hong Kong was a great break from our life in Korea and I hope you enjoy the following shots and commentary.

AberdeenSampan, originally uploaded by tgolamb.

One of the first things we did was to take a tour, which included a ride in a sampan around the fishing village in Aberdeen. It was amazing to think that the people who live on the boats in this fishing village seldom set foot on land. They spend a lot of their life there on their boats, eating, sleeping, and doing business. We saw kids, dogs, and plants all residing comfortably in this setting; a real life "Water World."

OldAndNew, originally uploaded by tgolamb.

I was continuously amazed at the contrast between the old and the new, the modern and the antiquated. The people there still do many things in the tried and true methods they always have. But even in an old setting, you will invariably see a bit of new technology tossed in to replace or enhance some portion of the job that needs to be done. You'll find 200 year old buildings next to sparkling new architectural marvels. Many of the streets with their tall buildings on either side of the road form a maze of deep canyons, where if you aren't familiar with the terrain, it's not hard to lose your way. Hong Kong is an odd but exciting mix of cultural diversity, and well worth the time to explore.

JumboRestaurant, originally uploaded by tgolamb.

This is the Jumbo Floating Restaurant in Aberdeen. It is one of the most well known sites in Hong Kong and is parked in exactly the same place it has been in since I first came to Hong Kong in 1970. In Fact, it looks EXACTLY the same as it did then (to my recollection anyway). Sue and I didn't go there to eat. We had so many things to do, we never made it back here to check it out on the inside. I'm sure it is quite good though, because there seemed to be a steady stream of small taxi like boats ferrying people to and from it's waterfront entrance.

Man Mo Temple

ManMoTemple, originally uploaded by tgolamb.

Man Mo Temple was built in the 1840s and is one of the oldest in Hong Kong. 'Man Mo' means civil and military, and the temple is dedicated to the God of Literature Man Cheong and the God of War Kuan Ti. Man Mo Temple is used by both Buddhist and Taoist.

ManMoTemple2, originally uploaded by tgolamb.

Huge hanging bell shaped coils of incense are burned by the devout. The temple is normally enveloped in smoke and the scent of burning incense. This can be quite overpowering to some, who find it necessary to take some quick photos and leave.

The Yuen Yuen Institute

YuenYuenInstitute, originally uploaded by tgolamb.

This shot is of the Yuen Yuen Institute, a temple complex dedicated to the three major religeons in Hong Kong, Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism. It was founded in 1950 and advocates the integration and the teachings of these religeons.

A curious blast from the past

RedLipsBar, originally uploaded by tgolamb.

I don't know why, but the memory of this particular experience came to me as Sue and I sat at a spaghetti place having lunch. As I looked across the street and saw the signs, the image of one particular evening came rushing back, as vivid as if it happened only a short time ago. I took the picture and told the whole story to Sue. Now let me tell it to you.

As a young sailor of about 21 or so in the Navy, one of our ports we visited for liberty in 1972 was Hong Kong. It was an exciting time for someone so inexperienced.

One evening, another friend in our squadron and I decided to roam around Kowloon and sample from as many bars as we could manage (silly us). As we made our way down the narrow streets and dropping in to one nightclub or another having a beer and then leaving, we happened down one tiny alley to a place called the "Red Lips Bar".

It was a curious arched entrance with one of those beaded curtains you had to pass through. The bar was dimly lit in a deep red glow, giving it sort of an exotic feel. Business was apparently slow for them, because my friend Dave and I were the only two in the bar. There weren't even any of the requisite female hostesses we had come to expect, waiting to surround you as you entered a place, hoping to get you to buy them a drink, and maybe more. We didn't know or care why by that time in the evening, mostly because by then we were well on our way to having a pleasant glow ourselves, and just wanted to see how long we could continue our undertaking.

Anyway, it seemed like an interesting place, so we ordered a beer and sat down at a table in the middle of the room. Only a brief time has passed when we heard some commotion from behind another beaded curtain at the other end of the bar. The curtain spread and out from behind it came our hostesses.

For a split second I was excited and hopeful. We were the only guys in the bar and would get their undivided attention. In the next split second, I understood why. The three or four women that glided through the parted curtain were older than my mother. They weren't especially attractive, and the lipstick they were wearing looked like it was applied with a caulking gun.

Dave and I looked at them, looked at each other, and with nothing said further between us, turned our beer glasses up and downed our drinks in Olympic record time. We got up, said a very polite good night, and got the hell out of there. We chuckled about it later, and chided each other about who picked the bar in the first place, but it was a great story to tell the rest of the guys later on.

After our lunch and with a memory so alive, I couldn't resist my own curiosity and convinced Sue to accompany me down the alley to have a look inside the place. The alley now was full of hawkers, selling their merchandise, and nothing like it was all those years ago. As we got to the spot where I knew it would be, a darkened neon sign was above the entrance, and a metal curtain was pulled down in front of the door, covered heavy with dirt and dust. A display of cheap luggage was piled in front of the metal curtain and had been for some time. The Red Lips Bar was no more.

I had to admit I was a little disappointed to find it closed. I don't know what I expected to see, but I will always remember the look of distress (and relief) on Dave's face as we passed through that beaded curtain for the last time more than 30 years ago.

Some interesting facts about Hong Kong

Apts_HK, originally uploaded by tgolamb.

I found so many contrasts and blends of new and old technology while touring the city. The apartments in the picture are about forty stories or more. What I found the most facinating is that they still use bamboo lashed together for scaffolding on all construction, even on modern towers rising to eighty stories.

It is truly amazing, but when you think about it, it makes perfect sense. It is light, incredibly strong, and can be easily modified to suit any need. I have to admire those guys working on the stuff. Even the assembly of bamboo on the outside of the building is very impressive.

Cars are a total luxury in Hong Kong. The streets are packed with them, even very expensive ones like Porche and Ferarri. Since every car must be imported to Hong Kong, the government poses heavy taxes for anyone wanting to drive a car.

What is the tax for a car in Hong Kong you ask? The minimum tax to license a car there is 100%! That's right boys and girls... the tax is the value of the car. This means if you want to put your $40,000 BMW on the road, it's going to cost you an additional $40,000 in tax to do it. Ouch!

And it gets worse as the car becomes more exotic. That tax on a Ferarri or Rolls Royce you love so much, 130%. If you're on top, life is good in Hong Kong.

Of course you know gas prices is between $5 and $6 a gallon, and I'm sure insurance costs are commensurate as well. Maybe I'll just walk. I need the exercise anyway, and shoes are much less expensive.

Sha Tau Kok, China

ShaTauKok_China, originally uploaded by tgolamb.

One of the tours into the New Territories took as near to China as we could get. The view across an inlet of Dapeng Bay gave us a look at Sha Tau Kok, China. The border between Chins and Hong Kong is tightly controlled, primarily to keep people in China from sneaking across to Hong Kong. Apparently they have the same problems the border states in the USA has with Mexico... a chance for a better life. We were told that even residents in Hong Kong with passports issued in Hong Kong must obtain visas to cross the border.

National Day and our Lei Yue Mun seafood dinner

Lobster, originally uploaded by tgolamb.

October 1st was the birth of the New China, in which the National Flag was raised over Tian'anmen Square on October 1, 1949. Since Hong Kong is now part of China, this celebration is also a part of the new Hong Kong. There was a huge fireworks display in the harbor, which we watched from a boat parked in just the right spot in the middle to see it all. It was very impressive.

But before we did that, we had a great dinner at the Lei Yue Mun Restaurant. To get there we had to walk back past dozens of small restaurants and fish markets. In the tanks displayed along the walkway was some the most interesting fish and sea creatures I'd ever seen. Some of the fish were big enough to feed ten to fifteen people. These lobsters were huge, with bodies easily as large as my upper arm.

CuttleFish, originally uploaded by tgolamb.

I wonder if these cuttle fish know they are on tonight's menu for someone? I've had dried cuttle fish long ago, but seeing them in the tank looking back at me gave me a curious feeling. Watched too many programs on the Discovery Channel I guess.

The Victoria Peak Cable Car

VictoriaCableCar, originally uploaded by tgolamb.

Riding the cable car up Victoria Peak is one of the must do's while in Hong Kong. This attraction has been in operation since 1888 and is still one of the most popular ways to get up the mountain. The original cars were coal-fired steam engines, but they switched to electric in 1926. It takes you up the 368 meters in altitude in about five minutes. The view from the top is the best in Hong Kong.

Sea horses anyone?

SeaHorseSoup, originally uploaded by tgolamb.

As we were walking around in the Hong Kong airport, to return to Korea, we happened upon this restaurant. Everyone thought I was odd taking a picture of the menu in the display case, but I couldn't resist. They had a dozen different selections to choose from displayed in the case, but the one that caught my eye, was this sea horse, green turtle, abalone soup. Kind of a Chinese seafood minestrone I guess. The locals may like it, but I think I'll stick with chicken noodle.

Shark fin soup... Yum!

SharkFinSoup, originally uploaded by tgolamb.

One of the last purchases we made before we left Hong Kong was this boil-in-a-bag shark fin soup. Sue has always been wanting to try some, and although this isn't like the kind you'll find in a restaurant, it's not bad. Very rich. Not all that cheap either.

Sky Captain in Hong Kong

SkyCaptain, originally uploaded by tgolamb.

While we were in Hong Kong we had an opportunity to see Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow.

If you like comic books and the old black and white serials, this movie might be for you. It was an interesting look back at the way films were made, but I think they were trying to do too much.

I really enjoyed parts of it. Some of the aspects of the film were well done, especially the way they attempted to use old technology of the time to do clever things. However, they introduced some things into the film that just popped in and out without any explanation, and really didn't add to the overall story.
Because of the washed out color nature of the film and the fuzziness of the scenes, it was hard to tell where CGI came into play, but I'm sure there was plenty.

I walked away from the film not able to decide whether I liked it or not. I'll probably watch it again sometime on DVD to take a closer look.