The Weather

I really hate this hot and humid weather.  It's not just Korea--I have lived in hot and humid places in the U.S., Italy, and Japan.  I have liked most of the places but not the accompanying summer weather.

Part of the problem here is that it is almost impossible to get a cross-breeze, as there are apartments on 2 sides of a hallway.  There are no "through" widows.

I tried opening the door to my apartment (sacrificing privacy) and pointing my fan alternatively at the windows and at the door, but I didn't notice any temperature change.

Outside tonight it will be quite cool, yet inside my apartment it will remain hot.  Cool nights and hot days, at least for another week here.

I know that fall is coming, and that my apartment will eventually cool down, yet it is hard for me to envision spending another 4 months next summer in a hot apartment.

Yes, I can turn on the air con, and I often do for an hour at night and in the morning, but what a waste that is.

Sigh.  The earth is getting warmer . . . time for everyone to think about the future.

Seoul Tower, aka Namsan Tower

Monday I took a trip into Seoul with a friend to do a touristy visit to Seoul Tower/Namsan Tower. Basically it is a needle-lie tower with a ufo-like observation deck, perched on top of a hill in the middle of Seoul:

1,160 meters = 3,805 feet . . . all uphill, up steep stone stairs.  The smart people ride the cable car, though the line can be long.

I thought Chuseok day (Korean Thanksgiving) would be a good time to go, as many Koreans leave Seoul.  This is true, but unfortunately many other foreigners had the same idea that I did.  So it was a bit crowded, but not terribly so:

It was hot, a bit too hot for steep hiking, but it all worked out fairly well.

Unfortunately the sky over Seoul is seldom clear, so it is hard to get any good pictures from the observation deck:

This pic is from the hike back down to the parking lot:

I'd recommend the trip once to anyone, but try to go early on a cooler day (and consider riding the cable car up!).

Bobby Caldwell (jazz) Videos

I recently got turned on to this guy's music:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=laStiu_sUd4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jQzR05o6gZM

Thanksgiving Gifts

This week (today and the next 2 days) is Chuseok (추석), the equivalent of the American Thanksgiving holiday.  During this time most Koreans visit their grandparents' home(s), and many people gift gifts to each other, often consisting of boxes of fruit or gifts sets purchased from stores. Here are a few pics from a grocery/department store:

The "Archer" Fish

Check out this amazing nature video from National Geographic:

http://newswatch.nationalgeographic.com/2014/09/04/animals-archerfish-science-water-physics/

IKEA Ad

Check out this video advertisement from IKEA:

http://time.com/3265308/ikea-catalog-2015/

Vietnamese Noodles for Lunch

Good food at a fair price: