Read The Pachinko Parlour, which had been lingering for a couple of days despite being short enough to read in an hour. Quite good, though I preferred the other book recently recommended to me, about the laundries. This one had a pair of very good grandparents, Korean-Japanese, and some of the least appetising food I’ve […]
On the brink
I suppose I should be glad that we went to South Korea earlier this year, given the current international climate. Better timing than our earlier plans to visit Libya and Syria, both interrupted by war. So if the worst happens, we will have personal experience of what is lost. Not much of a comfort. When […]
Ulluengdo
Ulluengo lacks three things: thieves, snakes and something else undesirable. It certainly lacked thieves, for I left my Kindle on the ferry over and it was returned to me on my way back. I had not expected this and was downcast as it was quite new and the most expensive model, bought perforce fecause it […]
Temple stay
The Gentleman Friend enjoyed the temple stay more than I did, but largely because I have little affinity to anything meditative or spiritual. We had a small room, unfurnished, with a blanket on the floor to sleep on, and had surprisingly comfortable nights. As seems to be universal in South Korea the shower was spectacularly […]
Gwangju
Arrived in Gwangju yesterday afternoon. A pleasant city, which presents itself as a city of art and design. There is an ‘art street’ which had a series of small shops, many with genuinely nice ceramics and paper work, a few galleries with average but not terrible stuff. There is an art centre which appears to […]
Hanok day
A purposely quiet day in Jeonju, starting late with a stroll down to the Nambu market to have rice soup with bean sprouts for breakfast. Mistakenly had a beef tripe soup instead but this turned out to be for the best as it was quite mild and wholesome feeling. Then strolling about the centre of […]
Jeonju
Arrived here a few hours ago after some days in Seoul which were overshadowed by the news that my grandmother was seriously ill. For a couple of days I was planning to return to Lahore, leaving the Gentleman Friend partway through a trip meant to help him recover after the events of the past months, […]
Korea
Korea planning turns out to be quite difficult. Fortunately Hangul turns out to be very easy, though it’s hard to keep track of the very simple — characters? Letters? Much of it will have to be done tomorrow as I am currently locked out of some of my accounts. Leaving for Malaysia tonight.