COEX Mall Aquarium

When you're already a little wet, you might as well just dive in. It's the third rainy Saturday in a row, so we decided to ditch our plans for the mountains for something farther below sea-level.

The admission for adults is steep (pun intended) at 15,000 wan per person, but the exhibits are interesting and full of atmosphere.

When we looked back at this picture, we were struck by how times have changed. It seems that the modern world presents a false sense of security...like the thin layer of glass that separates this child from the shark.

Jelly fish

This Lionfish reminded me of Adjoshies

More Photographs of Seoul

Strings of kites in Hangang Park.

One of the many bridges that stretches across the Han River.

On the hill, you can see Seoul Tower.

To me, the boats seem to mirror the patterns of the apartments.

Jamsil Station, Seokchon Lake

Now that we're wrapping up our time here in Seoul, I thought it was high time that I go out and take some photographs of the area around our school. With views like this, teaching indoors all day has been difficult.

At any time of the day, you can find Ajemas (directly translated as married woman, but means so much more) capering around the lake. Some cloister themselves in jumpsuits, uv-visors, and surgical masks; others sport lycra; and more than a few brave stilettos while making their circuits around the lake.

Ajoshies (married men) play card games and drink soju under the pavilion during the day, but you see fewer in the evenings.

Around the lake, the night belongs to couples. Gazing out over the lake is a favorite past-time for young lovers. I remember watching Korean soap operas in the WOW (a love motel/staging ground for new foreigner teachers furnished by our academy, ECC).

Despite my total lack of comprehension of Hangul, something--let's call it acumen--told me that the reoccurring scenes of lover’s quarrels over-looking some body of water (ranging from a beautified retention pond to the Pacific) hold some cultural significance.

Just go out to the lake after work hours. You'll see that soap-operas are important cultural indicators!

Gangnam Gu

Seoul is a city to see at night. Stack after stack of lights vies for your attention. Restaurants and bars hold late hours all days of the week!

This is a city to take in measure. It's easy to feel overwhelmed by everything at first--and then, after a few months, bludgeoned by its repetitiveness.

Gangnam is a neighborhood where you can find a slew of international cuisine not listed in the Lonely Planet.

Dos Tacos is popular with English teachers.
Gang-nam Station, exit 6 walk 5-7 minutes. It's on the left, just past Bella.

Have you ever wondered how they change signs?

Advertising climbs along the sides of towers, and some times large cranes are needed to swap out billboards.