面通団: 'Expert Noodle Makers'

This is not the first meal sought out after my arrival in Japan, but it is a close approximation. Powerful udon. Tempura egg and eggplant, onigiri. I've been dreaming about this place.

Hangai!

Hangai thought it would be funny to show up with the exact same camera body and lens as I did. I saw her holding it all of a sudden. It totally messed with my head, man. Hangai's heading back to Italy soon. She's going to Matera. I told her how to find the fig trees.

Finally made it to Changdeokgung

Just a small taste of Changdeokgung. A longer post is in the works; Changdeokgung is an amazing place. This morning, I'm taking in a couple of screenings at the migrant workers film festival, then Kyongbukgung for one last look and hopefully a chance to finally get into the folk museum. Tomorrow, nihon!

Kyongbukgung First Looks

My birthday present to myself was a trip to Kyongbukgung. I more or less came to Seoul to see this complex of buildings, and these photos are from my first traipse through their midst, a little over a week ago on the first of August. Kyongbukgung abuts Insadong and Kahoi-dong, two other neighborhoods where I've been spending a lot of my time. They're all wrapped into what was old Seoul.

Jongyesa, Go, Gravity, Garwood

Met up with Danny Garwood, Seunghyun and Catherine (friends from Cooper all) at the opening for 'Flavor of Asia,' an exhibition that Seunghyun worked on. 11 photographers, a ton of photos: eating, growing, buying, selling, making FOOD. I liked much; there's supposed to be a book coming out later this year.

Tiny little dog tile.



I found a shop off Insadong-gil (gil = street) selling statues. If you don't know already, I have a super thing for Korean dogs: shrine guardians, always in pairs.

After showing up just barely too late for the exhibition that I was really after, I wandered down the street and into Kang-Ok Jeon's 'Gravity.'

Instead of showing up on time for the 'Crafty Arty Party' (pottery exhibition), I decided it would be better to wander around by Jogyesa temple and then get lost. Ah well. At least I found out where all the old men go to get drunk and play Go ^____^

At least, mostly Go. There was also some Chinese chess going on. Fewer games, but spectator interest was through the roof.

First photo of the day (Wednesday)

Flight: JFK to NRT

Pictures are posted in roughly chronological order, shot last Monday inside of a great arc from NYC to NRT. I'm pretty sure I passed out for the entire connecting flight to Seoul, so this set ends with touchdown in .Jp, Enjoy ..

The trailing end of North America, somewhere to the west of Bethel, Alaska

First sight: Japan