buddha.bday.1

buddha.bday.1, originally uploaded by ekissam.

before the parade, there is a mass of people and lanterns to move out from the temple.

buddha.bday.2

buddha.bday.2, originally uploaded by ekissam.

watermelon lanterns. . .

buddha.bday.3

buddha.bday.3, originally uploaded by ekissam.

dragon on a cloud.

buddha.bday.7

buddha.bday.7, originally uploaded by ekissam.

i really liked these snail and owl lanterns, but they were really hard to get in focus.

buddha.bday.9

buddha.bday.9, originally uploaded by ekissam.

children with elaborate lotus lanterns.

buddha.bday.11

buddha.bday.11, originally uploaded by ekissam.

smiling monks and. . .

buddha.bday.12

buddha.bday.12, originally uploaded by ekissam.

and smiling women.

buddha.bday.13

buddha.bday.13, originally uploaded by ekissam.

it wasn't a short dragon, but you'll have to look in my flickr to see more.

buddha.bday.16

buddha.bday.16, originally uploaded by ekissam.

so sweet and whimsical.

buddha.bday.18

buddha.bday.18, originally uploaded by ekissam.

a little more ethereal.

buddha.bday.20

buddha.bday.20, originally uploaded by ekissam.

so colorful, as if the lanterns weren't enough.

buddha.bday.22

buddha.bday.22, originally uploaded by ekissam.

even beyond the canopy of lanterns, the tree held more than i've noticed in past years.

pumpkin.restaurant

pumpkin.restaurant, originally uploaded by ekissam.

something to tease my brother. . . a shot from the pumpkin restaurant. (not so much pumpkin incorporated into recipes as all things being cooked in a pumpkin) fried rice topped with cheese in a pumpkin. . . toppokki topped with cheese in a pumpkin. . . something seafoody in a pumpkin. . . and it was led with pumpkin porridge and ended with a delicious pumpkin smoothie.

old.helmet

old.helmet, originally uploaded by ekissam.

i bought a shiny new helmet recently. i didn't want to throw away my old one, so i left it on a well traversed bike rack. i hoped that someone else in need of a helmet would pick it up. that was thursday. this picture was taken on saturday. the helmet was still there. (it was gone by the next thursday.)

cirque.in.seoul

cirque.in.seoul, originally uploaded by ekissam.

a few of us caught varekai in seoul. there was a large crowd for the show and for the baseball game just across the parking lot. swon missed the first 20 minutes due to traffic, and hazel had hot coffee accidentally poured on her (landing her in the nurse's office for a while) but we were finally all seated and enjoyed the show. afterward we had some great thai food for dinner.

swon.new.apt.2

swon.new.apt.2, originally uploaded by ekissam.

swon's new livingroom, complete with hazel and the dog that swon has been looking after for a friend. i'm pretty sure that when the dog has to go home, both swon and her mom will want their own dog.

swon.new.apt.1

swon.new.apt.1, originally uploaded by ekissam.

swon's new apartment overlooks the french school courtyard. she said she woke up once and saw horses in the courtyard.

swon.new.apt.4

swon.new.apt.4, originally uploaded by ekissam.

the wonderful rooftop of swon's new apartment, where i hope to someday relax and grill when it isn't too hot.

swon.new.apt.6

swon.new.apt.6, originally uploaded by ekissam.

huh, the french school also has a rooftop basketball court.

sorae.blossoms.4

sorae.blossoms.4, originally uploaded by ekissam.

there are many wonderful restaurants and bakeries in sorae (the french village). i feel a special kinship with the girl in this painting.

sorae.blossoms.2

sorae.blossoms.2, originally uploaded by ekissam.

i wasn't there for the overcrowded cherry blossom festival in yeouido, but the cherry blossoms in the sorae village were just as pretty with the quiet scenery.