When was the last time you saw this?

I have to admit that I don't ever recall police officers sitting in a park...just relaxing on a couple of swings. I paused and watched them for a few minutes and took this single shot of their break. This was a first for me. It is kind of sad that this would even be classified as an odd scene from my life experience. In this simple scene I saw an innocence that is lost in the majority of the world. The absence of a gun belt is striking. The police were simply enjoying a break at a park on a beautiful day. They could have sat on a bench...but that would have been ordinary...adult.

It made me think about the very last time I even sat on a swing...perhaps as a young mother...but even then, I probably felt foolish. I think at times we do need to get a little foolish and find those things we no longer do...the simple things that gave us pleasure...and be children again, just being in a moment.

In this time of deep uncertainty, to see such a calm scene in early spring does give you hope. After all, there is no freedom when you walk around entrenched in fear.

An oasis for lovers in the center of Daegu

Near the center of down town Deagu...just off and away from the night life, I found this little park. Now most parks at night are not so heavily travelled, but as I walked through it kind of reminded me of the mythical lovers lanes that populated American folklore.

Two-by-two they sat together, having their private moments of conversation. Somehow, I found this scene oddly unique. Somehow, it seemed innocent and childlike...and romantic.

It isn't springtime, yet here they are, gathering in their private oasis, in the midst of this city. It almost makes even the most jaded person want to believe in love again. I had to really think of a time when I had seen anything quite like this...in any other place. Sadly, I couldn't...not even at the Eiffel tower at night when I walked through the park and photographed it with all of its beauty. For the tourists are told to take extreme care.

Yet, here, in this large city, couples are able to sit unmolested. Where, even in these complex days of wars, terrorism, and even the rumblings from the North...lovers and friends gather to sit and appreciate the relationships that are important to them. Somehow it made me ache with the hope that this way of life could be preserved.

Yes, the night was truly beautiful in this city of hope. Even though the city is all around, you just have to stop for a moment to really see what is around you, and if you are lucky...you might just see the unexpected.

I wonder what the Eides of March has in store for me?

Wall climbing...sure why not?

I have to say I just LOVE the parks in South Korea. They aren't just for lounging around, but are very functional. This park had a climbing wall set up so that climbers can hone their skills before doing the real thing. I wouldn't underestimate this wall, as I looked around, there seemed to be a lot of challenge built in, minus the loose holdings you sometimes encounter when you are doing the real thing.But what a way to expend all of that pent up energy...

the couch at the end of the stairs

While out on my initial explorations I crossed an abandoned couch, while I am not in the habit of photographing abandoned furniture, I thought about the placement. You have come from a long hike and here is this couch just sitting there in the middle of Unam park...not on a sidestreet for the refuse collectors to gather, but in the middle of a park...set against the backdrop of beautiful mountains.

It could be someone wanted to avoid having to pay for their trash collection, or perhaps that there might be some use of it here. People are not prone to littering here so it was a little against type. Trash is separated as a way of life, which food waste is separated from the rest. Ah, in the states, such a long way to go with respect to our environment.

Well rather than get wrapped up with the idea of how the couch wound up in the middle of the park, I snapped the picture and kept on up the stairs. I highly doubt that anyone will be using it anytime soon....