Risk:
To laugh is to risk appearing the fool.
To weep is to risk being called sentimental.
To reach out to another is to risk involvement.
To expose true feeling is to risk showing your true self.
To place your ideas and dreams before the crowd is to risk being called naive.
To love is to risk not being loved in return.
To live is to risk dying.
To hope is to risk depair.
To try is to risk failure.
But
Risks must be taken, because the gretest risk in life is to risk nothing.
The people who risk nothing do nothing, have nothing, are nothing, and become nothing;
They may avoid suffering and sorrow,but they simply cannot learn to feel,and change, and grow, and love, and live...
Chained by their servitude, they are slaves;they've forfeited their freedom.
Only the people who risk are truely free.
-Author unknown
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
Thursday, August 9, 2007
Day 1: Beijing, China
DAY 1: Tuesday, July 31, 2007:
Rise and shine ... time to get up and get ready for your flight ... this truly is an ungodly hour!
So many currencies ... so little brainpower at this hour ... which currency am I dealing with today...?!
CAD$1 = US$0.92 = Korean WON 891 = China RMB 0.133 ...
The tickets are still issued with carbon paper ... for a country so "wired" where are the electonic tickets?!
My travel companions/colleagues, JamieLynn (from Louisiana) and Rob (from Ontario), eating bagels and coffee at the airport! Notice the KFC sign in the background ... they are everywhere, bigger than McDonalds over here! :)
While waiting for our flight, which was delayed 1.5 hours, I painted a Korean Fan for my Goddaughter/niece, Natasha. The fan came with a stencil so it was a "paint by numbers" activity. I now have a better understanding of children learning to "colour between the lines" when they are learning to use a new tool (crayon, or paintbrush) it takes practice and patience ... each of which I am known to need work on from time to time! :)
Of course it had to be perfect for my neice and before I knew it I was done and it was time to board our flight! This free activity sponsored by the Korean Tourist Department wrote something Korean on the back as well. I selected the word "Joy" for Natasha Korean (forever the proud Aunt!). It will hopefully be a keepsake for Natasha as well!
Our arrival in Beijing!
We arrive at the Beijing Airport 1.5 hours late, and find out that another traveller from Korea will be joining our tour (making the number with our tour guide and driver 4!). His plane is scheduled to arrive at 1pm and it is 11:30, we go for lunch and then at 1pm we see the flight is delayed until 2:20pm. At this point we are starting to get a little anxious and fearful of "missing" out on some of the promised highlights of our tour. At 3:30ish we finally leave the airport, less than impressed with the mixup and without the person that we waited for. Our poor tourguide was flustered by this as well.
We tried to stay enthusiastic and by the time we got going with our tourguide we were in full enthusiastic mode once again! I started snapping photos immediately to put my new 2Gb memory stick to good use! I took over 800 photos, all of which I won't be placing here but will try to select the most impressive to share here. On day 1 I snapped numerous photos of random buildings and roadways, they are so very different from North America. Take this toll bridge as an example, typical in China, but so unusual for a North American ... I just couldn't help snapping that camera. By the 4th day, on the drive back to the airport I had become used to the architecture and didn't feel as strong an urge to capture everything I saw ... well, almost!
The first "stop" of our Day 1 agenda was to be the Temple of Heaven, but we had to skip it and head directly to the Acrobat Show for 5:15!
The unassuming building where the Troupe performs and their bus!!
I had not been been to an acrobat show before and was thoroughly impressed, snapping photos left and right (remember the 2Gb stick to use!!) The boy in front of me was less than impressed, but our tour guide said we could take photos but no video. Everybody else was snapping too and I have to admit it was a little distracting ... but this was very impressive so I had to capture it on film.
The girls on these unicycles had bowls on their head and the show was centered around that. The girl in the middle is about to toss the bowl on her leg to her head. She did it with amazing success! AND while balancing on the unicycle. Ah ... to be young, fearless and flexible again!!
The men on the right were equally impressive with these "flags" ... tossing them back and forth like they were as light as feathers.
These two men climbed up and down these bars while bounding back and forth between them. Another impressive section of the show. No doubt the performers of this show made their start in gymnastics!
My favourite part of the entire show, hands down, is captured in the following two pictures. As a former gymnast and current Tae Kwon Do student I was not only impressed with the flexibility and strength involved to achieve these moves on ones own, but also with the skill required in working with a partner. The girl in the blue in the photo on the left, not only has to get into this mind boggling position, she also has to engage almost every muscles in her body to balance herself on the hands of her partner. As well, she must be prepared to counter any "flinches" from her partner! A wonderful and amazing combination of strength, flexibility, fearlessness and trust in your partner!
Oh yes, and I should also mention that she has bowls on her vertical foot that she tossed about while her and her partner transitioned into various positions?!
Not hard to tell that I was completely impressed, is it?!
After the show we went out for dinner - Chinese Food of course! First I NEED to snap a few more photos! Oh look, over there ... some interesting sculptures! Click, click! And of course documenting our first dinner in China!
. . . and back to the hotel to check in, explore the amenities and head to bed. We meet our driver at 7:30 am tomorrow and it is a jam-packed day (including the Wall!) so we want to be well rested. Not to mention we have been us since 4am today!
Our hotel and impressive chandelier.
Day 2 will follow shortly!!
Rise and shine ... time to get up and get ready for your flight ... this truly is an ungodly hour!
So many currencies ... so little brainpower at this hour ... which currency am I dealing with today...?!
CAD$1 = US$0.92 = Korean WON 891 = China RMB 0.133 ...
The tickets are still issued with carbon paper ... for a country so "wired" where are the electonic tickets?!
My travel companions/colleagues, JamieLynn (from Louisiana) and Rob (from Ontario), eating bagels and coffee at the airport! Notice the KFC sign in the background ... they are everywhere, bigger than McDonalds over here! :)
While waiting for our flight, which was delayed 1.5 hours, I painted a Korean Fan for my Goddaughter/niece, Natasha. The fan came with a stencil so it was a "paint by numbers" activity. I now have a better understanding of children learning to "colour between the lines" when they are learning to use a new tool (crayon, or paintbrush) it takes practice and patience ... each of which I am known to need work on from time to time! :)Of course it had to be perfect for my neice and before I knew it I was done and it was time to board our flight! This free activity sponsored by the Korean Tourist Department wrote something Korean on the back as well. I selected the word "Joy" for Natasha Korean (forever the proud Aunt!). It will hopefully be a keepsake for Natasha as well!
Our arrival in Beijing!
We arrive at the Beijing Airport 1.5 hours late, and find out that another traveller from Korea will be joining our tour (making the number with our tour guide and driver 4!). His plane is scheduled to arrive at 1pm and it is 11:30, we go for lunch and then at 1pm we see the flight is delayed until 2:20pm. At this point we are starting to get a little anxious and fearful of "missing" out on some of the promised highlights of our tour. At 3:30ish we finally leave the airport, less than impressed with the mixup and without the person that we waited for. Our poor tourguide was flustered by this as well.
We tried to stay enthusiastic and by the time we got going with our tourguide we were in full enthusiastic mode once again! I started snapping photos immediately to put my new 2Gb memory stick to good use! I took over 800 photos, all of which I won't be placing here but will try to select the most impressive to share here. On day 1 I snapped numerous photos of random buildings and roadways, they are so very different from North America. Take this toll bridge as an example, typical in China, but so unusual for a North American ... I just couldn't help snapping that camera. By the 4th day, on the drive back to the airport I had become used to the architecture and didn't feel as strong an urge to capture everything I saw ... well, almost!
The first "stop" of our Day 1 agenda was to be the Temple of Heaven, but we had to skip it and head directly to the Acrobat Show for 5:15!
The unassuming building where the Troupe performs and their bus!!
I had not been been to an acrobat show before and was thoroughly impressed, snapping photos left and right (remember the 2Gb stick to use!!) The boy in front of me was less than impressed, but our tour guide said we could take photos but no video. Everybody else was snapping too and I have to admit it was a little distracting ... but this was very impressive so I had to capture it on film.
The girls on these unicycles had bowls on their head and the show was centered around that. The girl in the middle is about to toss the bowl on her leg to her head. She did it with amazing success! AND while balancing on the unicycle. Ah ... to be young, fearless and flexible again!!
The men on the right were equally impressive with these "flags" ... tossing them back and forth like they were as light as feathers.
These two men climbed up and down these bars while bounding back and forth between them. Another impressive section of the show. No doubt the performers of this show made their start in gymnastics!
My favourite part of the entire show, hands down, is captured in the following two pictures. As a former gymnast and current Tae Kwon Do student I was not only impressed with the flexibility and strength involved to achieve these moves on ones own, but also with the skill required in working with a partner. The girl in the blue in the photo on the left, not only has to get into this mind boggling position, she also has to engage almost every muscles in her body to balance herself on the hands of her partner. As well, she must be prepared to counter any "flinches" from her partner! A wonderful and amazing combination of strength, flexibility, fearlessness and trust in your partner!
Oh yes, and I should also mention that she has bowls on her vertical foot that she tossed about while her and her partner transitioned into various positions?!
Not hard to tell that I was completely impressed, is it?!
After the show we went out for dinner - Chinese Food of course! First I NEED to snap a few more photos! Oh look, over there ... some interesting sculptures! Click, click! And of course documenting our first dinner in China!
. . . and back to the hotel to check in, explore the amenities and head to bed. We meet our driver at 7:30 am tomorrow and it is a jam-packed day (including the Wall!) so we want to be well rested. Not to mention we have been us since 4am today!
Our hotel and impressive chandelier.
Day 2 will follow shortly!!
Sunday, July 22, 2007
Saturday Perfomance of Korean Music & Dance
Saturday, July 21, 2007: National Center for Korean Traditional Performing Arts.
Getting to and around Seoul always seems to take more time than one alots. We made it to the theatre just in time and rushed in to the theatre right under the wire.
Unfortunately, photos were not allowed, although I did snap a photo of the curtain prior to the performance! Quickly followed by a visit from a woman telling me photos were not allowed (this of course is not by jesturing an "x" by crossing two pointer fingers. Opps, my bad!
Words can not describe the performance. The ornate musical instruments, the costumes, the steady movement of the performers, the incredible voices of the singers... incredible. The beauty of music is that it transcends language barriers, while we could not understand the language, we were given an brief history of each performance in English and then our imaginations took us on a journey with the music.
The instruments were incredible, very different from anything I had seen before, of course I have a limited musical instrument background so that might not be saying much! Many of which have Chineese roots, and I name a few here for interests sake. [the haegeum (two-stringed fiddle from China), geomungo (twelve-stringed zither), ajaeng (horizontal zither) , danso (small notched vertical flute), deageum (large transverse fluet)].
The Yong-go. The instrument played during the Opening and Closing Cerimonies of the 1988 Seoul Olympic Games. it was designed by Park Kyun-Suk (1911-1989) who was later designated an Important Intangible Curtural Asset.
Token Jill shot!
I have more to "post" ... but I am exhausted. There was a lot of walking this weekend so I am going to take a nap.
I will continue ... soon!
Getting to and around Seoul always seems to take more time than one alots. We made it to the theatre just in time and rushed in to the theatre right under the wire.
Unfortunately, photos were not allowed, although I did snap a photo of the curtain prior to the performance! Quickly followed by a visit from a woman telling me photos were not allowed (this of course is not by jesturing an "x" by crossing two pointer fingers. Opps, my bad!
Words can not describe the performance. The ornate musical instruments, the costumes, the steady movement of the performers, the incredible voices of the singers... incredible. The beauty of music is that it transcends language barriers, while we could not understand the language, we were given an brief history of each performance in English and then our imaginations took us on a journey with the music.
The instruments were incredible, very different from anything I had seen before, of course I have a limited musical instrument background so that might not be saying much! Many of which have Chineese roots, and I name a few here for interests sake. [the haegeum (two-stringed fiddle from China), geomungo (twelve-stringed zither), ajaeng (horizontal zither) , danso (small notched vertical flute), deageum (large transverse fluet)].
The Yong-go. The instrument played during the Opening and Closing Cerimonies of the 1988 Seoul Olympic Games. it was designed by Park Kyun-Suk (1911-1989) who was later designated an Important Intangible Curtural Asset.
Token Jill shot!
I have more to "post" ... but I am exhausted. There was a lot of walking this weekend so I am going to take a nap.
I will continue ... soon!
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
Canada Day Celebration in Seoul
July 1, 2007: Canada Day in Seoul with Canadian Chamber of Commerce.
The "Bus", this lovely yellow bus continuously took Canadians from the Subway at ...
World Soccer Stadium to Namji Campground in Seoul for the day's activities.
For those of you from Ottawa, it was no surprise that we had a gloomy day with scattered showers ... but isn't that what we Ottawa folk expect on Canada Day?!! :)
We took cover from the rain one of many "tepees" on the site, and felt the need to document our Canadian paraphernalia . . . I WISH I had worn/brought my SENS shirt. 
... and the Band plays on . . .
while some crazy Canucks embrace the weather and prepare for the Annual Korean Mud Festival . . . I guess?!
while some crazy Canucks embrace the weather and prepare for the Annual Korean Mud Festival . . . I guess?!
Apart from the thrill of celebrating Canada Day abroad, there was another attraction to this event ... a round trip ticket from Seoul to Vancouver ... the Korean woman here was the winner and her excitement was infectious! I really was happy for her!
(read: darn, why her ... why not me?!)
p.s. note my festive choice of text colour!!
(read: darn, why her ... why not me?!)
p.s. note my festive choice of text colour!!
Saturday, July 7, 2007
Seoul Self-guided walking tour!
June 22, 2007:
My second tourist trip to Seoul was to take the "New and Old Downtown Walk" (self guided walking tour) compliments of The Lonely Plane. Final destination, N'Seoul Tower 4km walk (without getting lost or "off course). We started out early, meeting at 9:30am. The subway ride to Seoul took about an hour (with one stop), with our first stop at the travel agent to drop off our passports for Visa processing for our China trip. We spotted a Starbucks and had to head in for a Latte and a Scone -- oh happy Jill!
We jumped back on the Subway for one stop and started our tour. I was happy to be the "tour director" for this journey but was not sure how detailed the tour was or how easy it might be to get lost. Our first land mark was referred to as a "boulevard covered with giant black and white piano keys".
We turned the corner and found these! WooHoo, I was not bad at this tour director gig! :)
Now this what I call a piano ... I should have paid better attention in piano lessons in grade 3!!
We walked along the keys and of course had to stop to try our hand, or should I say feet, at a tune! I should have practiced more in grade 3!! ;)
Next, we found Cheonggye Stream where a massive US$313 million dollar restoration project was underway to help beautify the downtown core. While waiting in the "cue" to cross the stream I noticed a man with something unusual clipped to his shirt - they look like giant rabbits feet ... I must research their significane. Click on the photo to enlarge it and check it out!!
Across the stream was the following wall. Very interesting and of course snapping a photo of the details allowed me to share them! Isn't the digital age great?!
The royal palanquin for King Jeongjo, but the king riding a horse is behind the palanquin carrying Queen Hyegyeonggung, his mother. To the front are a horse carrying royal seals, a royal spokesman, a royal bodyguard with a sword, and veiled court ladies, followed by 50 military officials headed by Minister Sim I-ji. Next are officials bearing royal ceremonial flags decorated with various animal designs including a lion, a phoenix, and a red bird, and behind them are large flage of the pheonix and dragon, symbols of the king.
I saw these women crossing the street and had to take a photo! I am a "tourist" after all, so isn't it expected?!
Who knew ... flight attendants still dress like this! :)
Maybe I will see some for myself when I go to China, I'll keep you posted. The polar opposite to West Jet's philosophy!
Jamie and Jill at Seoul Plaza with our South Korean Flags. The background behind us is a collage of postcards/small flyers that were strategically placed to create a greater picture! This wall was blocking a construction site so I don't know if this was done for the festival or if this is the norm for all construction site in Seoul, but a self portrait with our South Korean Flags (being handed out as you entered the Plaza was a must!
Seoul City Hall and Seoul Plaza
Children cooling down on a hot day at the Seoul Plaza next to City Hall!
After this short stop at Seould Plaze and City Hall, we got back on "tour track", walked through the Namdaemun market and zig-zagged our way to the N'Seould Tower.
N. Seoul Tower - a view from the cable car on the way up! The tower is on the top of a very blush tree covered hill/mountain
Seoul Monument from the Joseon Dynasty:
This smoke signal station on Mt. Namsan was the central station where signals from across the country were gathered. The beacon signal system used fire and smoke to send warnings to central and border fortresses, as well as to warn citizens of emergency situations developing on the borders.
The information collected here was compiled by the Minstry of Military Affairs and presented to the Royal Secretariat early each morning. The Secretariat would then report to the king. In times of emergency, these reports would be made even in the middle of the night. As part of the "Campaign to Restore Mt. Namsan to its Original Appearance", one of the first stations as restored here in 1993.
The N'Seoul Tower from its base.
A postcard that displays the various heights of towers around the world! Of course with the CNTower at the top of the list, I just had to buy this card!
CNTower: 553m
N'Seoul Tower: 479m
A trip to the top of the tower appealed to me more that my friend Jamie, so I took the ride up to the top solo and this self-portrait is my evidence! In the background, the "hill" the tower is on and the city of Seoul. Unfortunately it was a hazy day with limited visibility. I will make another trip up the tower on a clear day for more photos. I love the contrast of the "concrete city" and the plush green "forest" surrouning the tower!
After my trip up to the top of the tower I joined Jamie and we sat down for a rest when we were approached by a Korean man who said he was learning English and wondered if he could have 5 minutes of our time to speak with us. I had heard about this and was happy to oblige. He knew quite a bit about Canada and the US so conversation came easily.
After a fun-filled day we made our way back to the Subway and returned to Uijeongbu. We stopped in the market at an Indian food for dinner and made it an early night. We were obth exhausted after our 10 hour day. But what a great adventure! The next morning would be my first trip to the American Army Base for Church (of which I have already posted the details) so I wanted to be well rested.
Another fun day of playing tourist!!
My second tourist trip to Seoul was to take the "New and Old Downtown Walk" (self guided walking tour) compliments of The Lonely Plane. Final destination, N'Seoul Tower 4km walk (without getting lost or "off course). We started out early, meeting at 9:30am. The subway ride to Seoul took about an hour (with one stop), with our first stop at the travel agent to drop off our passports for Visa processing for our China trip. We spotted a Starbucks and had to head in for a Latte and a Scone -- oh happy Jill!
We jumped back on the Subway for one stop and started our tour. I was happy to be the "tour director" for this journey but was not sure how detailed the tour was or how easy it might be to get lost. Our first land mark was referred to as a "boulevard covered with giant black and white piano keys".
We turned the corner and found these! WooHoo, I was not bad at this tour director gig! :)
Now this what I call a piano ... I should have paid better attention in piano lessons in grade 3!!
We walked along the keys and of course had to stop to try our hand, or should I say feet, at a tune! I should have practiced more in grade 3!! ;)
Next, we found Cheonggye Stream where a massive US$313 million dollar restoration project was underway to help beautify the downtown core. While waiting in the "cue" to cross the stream I noticed a man with something unusual clipped to his shirt - they look like giant rabbits feet ... I must research their significane. Click on the photo to enlarge it and check it out!!
Across the stream was the following wall. Very interesting and of course snapping a photo of the details allowed me to share them! Isn't the digital age great?!
The royal palanquin for King Jeongjo, but the king riding a horse is behind the palanquin carrying Queen Hyegyeonggung, his mother. To the front are a horse carrying royal seals, a royal spokesman, a royal bodyguard with a sword, and veiled court ladies, followed by 50 military officials headed by Minister Sim I-ji. Next are officials bearing royal ceremonial flags decorated with various animal designs including a lion, a phoenix, and a red bird, and behind them are large flage of the pheonix and dragon, symbols of the king.
I saw these women crossing the street and had to take a photo! I am a "tourist" after all, so isn't it expected?!
Who knew ... flight attendants still dress like this! :)
Maybe I will see some for myself when I go to China, I'll keep you posted. The polar opposite to West Jet's philosophy!
Jamie and Jill at Seoul Plaza with our South Korean Flags. The background behind us is a collage of postcards/small flyers that were strategically placed to create a greater picture! This wall was blocking a construction site so I don't know if this was done for the festival or if this is the norm for all construction site in Seoul, but a self portrait with our South Korean Flags (being handed out as you entered the Plaza was a must!
Seoul City Hall and Seoul Plaza
Children cooling down on a hot day at the Seoul Plaza next to City Hall!
After this short stop at Seould Plaze and City Hall, we got back on "tour track", walked through the Namdaemun market and zig-zagged our way to the N'Seould Tower.
N. Seoul Tower - a view from the cable car on the way up! The tower is on the top of a very blush tree covered hill/mountain
Seoul Monument from the Joseon Dynasty:
This smoke signal station on Mt. Namsan was the central station where signals from across the country were gathered. The beacon signal system used fire and smoke to send warnings to central and border fortresses, as well as to warn citizens of emergency situations developing on the borders.
The information collected here was compiled by the Minstry of Military Affairs and presented to the Royal Secretariat early each morning. The Secretariat would then report to the king. In times of emergency, these reports would be made even in the middle of the night. As part of the "Campaign to Restore Mt. Namsan to its Original Appearance", one of the first stations as restored here in 1993.
The N'Seoul Tower from its base.
A postcard that displays the various heights of towers around the world! Of course with the CNTower at the top of the list, I just had to buy this card!
CNTower: 553m
N'Seoul Tower: 479m
A trip to the top of the tower appealed to me more that my friend Jamie, so I took the ride up to the top solo and this self-portrait is my evidence! In the background, the "hill" the tower is on and the city of Seoul. Unfortunately it was a hazy day with limited visibility. I will make another trip up the tower on a clear day for more photos. I love the contrast of the "concrete city" and the plush green "forest" surrouning the tower!
After my trip up to the top of the tower I joined Jamie and we sat down for a rest when we were approached by a Korean man who said he was learning English and wondered if he could have 5 minutes of our time to speak with us. I had heard about this and was happy to oblige. He knew quite a bit about Canada and the US so conversation came easily.
After a fun-filled day we made our way back to the Subway and returned to Uijeongbu. We stopped in the market at an Indian food for dinner and made it an early night. We were obth exhausted after our 10 hour day. But what a great adventure! The next morning would be my first trip to the American Army Base for Church (of which I have already posted the details) so I wanted to be well rested.
Another fun day of playing tourist!!
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