Thoughts about the situation in Korea...

As I was up in Seoul, going about my business and trying to meet with some friends (ah that is another story)...life seems to be oddly normal considering the political firestorm that is going on between North and South Korea. The media has stated that we are on the brink of war. Yes, there is a cold war feeling that is ever present.

However, as we do know, there are no winners in using that kind of option...of course you all know what I am talking about...something we don't want to even contemplate...that thought of course is anything having to do with the use of nuclear weapons. For decades the US and the USSR (now Russia) lived with the 'red button' and the world had great hopes when the wall fell. The hope of all Koreans...whether they are in the North or in the South...is that one day they will be unified.

There is even a temple, Buinsa Temple, that is dedicated for prayer for unification of Korea. Unification of the North and the South is very much a part of the fabric of this culture, as it was in Germany...and having been there when they were two separate states, I can tell you that the feelings in this present time echo the past.

However, as I walked around the streets of Seoul on Saturday night, the youth were trolling the streets...revelling in their youth (as young people do)...and there was no thought of what the world leaders were doing. Perhaps in search of a good Soju bar, or a chance connection...or perhaps this is simply the calm before the storm. Even today in Daegu...there is not much talk of war. Though the world talks of it, through the media, and politicians...the everyman of the street is calmly going about the day doing what they do.

The consequences of even thinking of what a war would do to this peninsula...well it would devastate both sides. Though I am starting to notice things like how gas masks are located by the elevators of the building I work in. The remaining bits of my past life, in another world, where I realize the world will never be quite the safe place I would love it to be...but you can't be fearful of living. You just have to go out there...after all it isn't how you die...it is how you live your life...and I have never been comfortable with sitting in a corner.

Life in South Korea...Life anywhere...is risk....there is no such thing as security...my dear friends...that is all a painful illusion.

Some risks are just more visible than others...

Oddly touching...

What is and isn't noticed when you wander around in unfamiliar surroundings...well, I am not sure what that says about a person. However, there was something common and uncommon about this woman who is under 4 feet tall, pushing her cart with her rough hands and slightly stooped body down the streets of Seoul. I don't know why exactly she caught my eye, but she did. She wasn't begging for anything, just making her way through this world, but she had a toughness about her in the way she walked despite her advanced age.

It wasn't like she was selling anything, or even gathering anything. No, she was just pushing her cart along like so many do.

Seoul journey....

I was off to Seoul alone, by the incredible means of communicating through prepared notes, symbols, and gestures. Somehow, someway...I happen to make it to Seoul and back in one piece. This was a lot more challenging than I had thought it was going to be. When you think about it, more than not knowing a language, or the symbols they use for their writing to at least make an educated guess about a destination or instruction, you have to use your wits to plan out things with far more precision and a lot less whimsy.

The first hurdle, may have seemed simple on the surface. Hail a taxi from Chilgok to get to the train station on time. Problem, I woke up, late...already the self-sabotage had begun, I had less than an hour to make it. Not a problem, I was dressed and out the door within five minutes. Where to get a taxi...hmm...just walked a bit and happened to see a taxi going the opposite direction and waived the car down. He must have been hungry for a fare because normally they will blow on by. I would like to think I didn't look absolutely pathetic with my rolling suitcase on the side of the road...but it was morning rush hour and I was damn lucky. I didn't say a word. I showed my train ticket...and pointed at the departure time...and closed my eyes while he did the driving...and made the train.

A little about this marvelous train for you Westerners...

The KTX travels at an incredible rate of speed...in excess of 300 Kilometers an hour. I left at 9:05 in the morning and arrived in Seoul before 11 am...this gave me about two hours to figure out how to get to my next destination...which I admit was a little more challenging...

Ah...but then I saw something that stopped me cold. Something I absolutely did not think I would find in Korea...
In of all places...a French bakery...in a train station...there they were...pain au chocolat...damn to hell the schedule...this was on my list for my personal scavenger hunt. I procured one...and then was on my way.

I went through my trusty notes to continue my journey, but to my dismay...something wasn't quite right. So I found myself making a few calls (thank God I actually got a cell phone) and sorting out the details...was able to get to where I needed to go...with an hour to spare.
Ah...finally I am starting to see some art...and actually in Seoul there is quite a bit of it...but this time, TIME was not my friend...

...and did I mention Jazz??? Ah, but this was a tease...this really was a restaurant...but as I found out when I checked into my hotel....

some things never change. In a city with 22 million people...I would love to see a place that had a private bath. Damn, I will have to go back...for a real exploration when the weather is grand and I have the luxury of time.