More travel stories

One of the more interesting places we visited was a 분재 (bonsai park), called the Spirited Garden.

분재 is a dwarf plant. It is an art form of trees. At a very young age, a tree is restricted of nutrition so that it grows abnormally. I do not know too much of it neither. But apparently, it is a very complicated process that takes hundreds of years of caring and attention. My dad once tried to grow them in our veranda long time ago but they all died. There were probably many things he did wrong. To make it easier for all of us, I will let wikipedia do the explanation of 분재 and I will just provide you with my own pictures.



This was a short update... but I have to go. But before I leave, I must tell you I got a girlfriend. She said she would wait for me even if I go back to the States after this semester. I even have a picture to prove it. Isn't she pretty?



Night!!

승우

2007. 3. 29.

Some updates.....

View in the plane on the way to Jejudo.... Clouds....

Hi all. I am going to start with the things I have done already. When I arrived in Korea early February, I flew to Jejudo, which is an island off the southern coast of Korea west of Japan. This is where my family is from. My parents were born and grew up on the island. I think I am the first generation to grow up outside the island. My name, 양(梁, YANG) is native to the island and there are lots of people with same family name on the island.

I traveled around the island as I would always do when I come visit Korea. My dad and I drove around the coast of the island. We didnt make it all the way around, but I visited lots of place, most I have been to already. I love Jejudo. Such a beautiful place. Many of my cousins still live on the island. My parents, and especially my grandparents, still speak Korean with Jeju accent. I feel some type of connection whenever I visit. Maybe it is in the blood.



This is the first place I visited, a big dragon shaped rock called 용두암 (Yongduam). It is actually not that big when you see it. But it looks really big on pictures and this stamp I have of it.



Too bad I have really few pictures of this place. This is a town my dad was born. Another really interesting fact. When we were driving through, they were having an inauguration for a new village president. My dad told me many years back, his dad was the village president. How interesting.



The background is 한라산 (Mt. Halla), vocanic mountain on Jejudo. Our family gravesite is on the foothills of 한라산. With my dad, I went to take care of the graves and perform rituals for my ancestors. My dad is the oldest son. So he takes care of all the graves as often as he can. It gets very difficult during summers because of weeds and stuff like that. But he accepts it as his responsibility.


I believe under that mound, my 8th generation grandfather is resting there.

I will continue with more stories later. For now, I will leave some pictures for your pleasure. Good night!!!

승우

2007.3.28

안녕~~

So I started a new blog. I am going to promise myself that I will write as often as possible and keep it interesting. I will try not to write about my crazy thoughts that are impossible to comprehend... even to myself. But yea, be excited.

2007.3.26

승우