The world's last non-porn website

"Anyone who thinks that humans are basically good and kind to each other has never been to a playground. Just go and see how kids treat a kid when he first walks into the playground... because he's the 'other'" - David Wolpe

Occasionally, I see other westerners walking about town. They aren't common though, perhaps I see one or two each day out of many many thousands. I am still having trouble accustoming myself to the uninvited attention I get when I'm out. Just looking the way I do, with blond hair and blue eyes, exceptionally long eyelashes and oddly white arm hair, attracts all sorts of attention from men and women alike. The women tend to stare a bit, then smile and giggle things to their friends in Korean... one of the many reasons I intend to pick up the language. The men just smile respectfully and often want to shake my hand for being western (especially if they know I'm Canadian). It is, in a small way, like being a celebrity, in the sense that no matter I go, people follow my with their eyes, and whisper to each other. Jordan's darker hair and eyes attract a bit less attention, which in most ways is a blessing. As I was listening to some incredibly cheezy and melodramatic Korean ...

Yesterday I was gazing a rather interesting-looking mountain or two while I was enjoying my balcony view: So, I decided to find the foot and do a solo hike. Here are some photos from various points on the mountain. In the first picture you can see much of Nowon, and in the second I zoomed in to my general area and circled my house for your viewing pleasure. The wonders of digital photography and Microsoft Paint... You will also notice a picture of my afternoon snack, a nutritious dried octopus. They cost a mere 500 won here, and are, as I said, nutritious. As for aesthetic value... let's just say they're an acquired taste. Included also is an interesting bug I noticed, as well as a pretty blue flower: Today I ended up sightseeing around town, including an inner-city stream and Seoul Tower. At the tower there is a tradition for young lovebirds to take two locks and lock them together on a particular chain link fence. The locks are often inscribed with sweet nothings. Here...

Many times, I've had trouble using my camera because people generally don't like their pictures taken. I've seen all kinds of cool foods, signs, and street-performers, but have been stopped before I could take a photo. The photos I'll put up here aren't even close to representative of what I've thus far seen, but they are a good little bite anyway. To begin, a few photos from the jet, as we flew up over Alaska and back down over Russia. In order, you can see some glaciers and arctic mountains, as well as Anchorage (Alaska), and the mountains of central Korea. I live in a small alleyway near a busy street, but far enough in as to be relatively quiet. I am only a short walk from a subway/tram station, and the subway system here is so efficient that just about all of Seoul is within an hour's reach. So here's the alleyway: My balcony is in the top right of the photo, while the open door on the left is Jordan's. Below is my balcony view, first to the ri...