Photos, Part 2

Here are the photos from Ian and my camera.  We are not as artistically talented as Mom, but I thought I'd share nonetheless.

Before we went on our trip, Ian's diploma finally showed up.  It arrived on April 27th.  It was postmarked January 7th.  As you can see, it was sent airmail.  Where did it go for three months?

Busan and Beomeosa Temple:

We stayed in hostels (this is the Blue Backpacker).  I think Mom adjusted to them pretty well, but I'm not sure she'd chose to do it again.

Tiles with prayers/wishes on them at the temple.

Bamboo.

I actually caught a stomach bug in Busan.  We stayed in all Saturday night and I stayed behind and slept while Ian and Mom saw the temple.

Jeju-do Island:

Common room of the Island Guesthouse.

Giant spider in the common room on the last morning we were there.

Those statues are called dol hareubangs (or "grandfathers" in casually translated English).  They are thought to offer protection from demons as they travel through "realities."

Cheonjaeyeon Waterfall.  It was too dry to have a fall, but still amazing.

It was very sunny and I am very pale.

Volcanic pillars on Hallasan (Mt. Halla).

Sanbangsan (Mt. Sanbang).

On the jet boat.  Mom was pretty nervous about it at first, but we had an awesome time.  It was just the three of us, too.

Famous Jeju tangerines.

Fishing off the jetty.

Good night!

Mini-Vacation with Mom in Pictures

It was incredibly hard to say goodbye this morning.  I thought it might be easier than it was before; we'll be apart for less time, and we've been through it before.  But, come this morning, none of that mattered.  All those old feelings, successfully repressed for months now, came rushing back.  Today dragged on.  All the lonely moments far more punctuated, all the silences so much quieter.

One little girl who really hit it off with Mom (she's not my student, so I don't know her name) came up to me and asked for her by name.  She was pretty bummed out to find out she'd left.

I have tons of pictures (from Mom's camera and mine).  So, I thought I'd show you some of my favorites from Mom's camera tonight and then our camera tomorrow.  Of course, there will be some repeats, but I figure it's best to prolong the joy.

Uirimji:

Downtown Jecheon:

Beomeosa Temple in Busan:

Jeju-do Island

The boat we thought we were taking.

The boat we actually took.  It was a little scary, but totally awesome and it was just us.

Ylang Ylang plant on the corner in Jeju-si (city).  It smelled very good.

Good night!