What a year it has been. It has been an adventure, that is for sure, and a learning experience, and loads of fun, and so much more (and what? it's not over just yet?). I have selected some of my favorite photos from 2011to share you. Each highlighted link will take you to a previous post with more details on each photo or story.
This is an important shot, it is my first view of one part of Seoul as seen from Namsan Tower. This photo was taken on our first day in our new city. It was a cold and crisp day and a steep hike up the mountain path but the view was a great reward.
This is the view from one of our apartment windows. I have grown accustomed to this sight and the many ways it appears, in day or night, storm or sunshine. See more shots here.
This is a small japanese izakaya restaurant near our house, we went here one time. This is just the entrance and immediately you descend a long staircase to a beautiful, open basement dining room.
I can almost feel the brisk breeze when I see this photo! It was taken at the top of one of the many peaks at Bukhansan mountian, just North of the city. We went on a winter hike last year and got more than we bargained for; we accidentally committed to the most difficult path that traversed several peaks. Amidst the danger and exertion was this fresh air and nice view.
Ruf (called "roofs") is an artist space/cafe/lounge/venue located atop a hill in the Gyungridan part of Iteawon. This spot has three levels of rooftop seating to enjoy the killer view.
Gyeongbok Palace in northern central Seoul
The cherry blossoms were such a feast for the eyes when spring rolled around, coloring the cold, slumbering trees with their pink and white petals. A true sign of seasons changing.
Nathan and Irina had their wedding at the aforementioned Rufs on a sunny spring day. It was a sweet party with good food and drinks, lots of good people, and dancing late into the night.
Hongdae is an artsy neighborhood in western Seoul, lots of street art and funky cafes, wine bars and thrift shops, and a serious party on the weekends.
Soon to be the newest addition to the almost 30 bridges that cross the mighty Han River
While doing some urban exploring one day we randomly encountered a side street with lots of funky antique shops. Love it. Old things are cool.
The meals here are entertaining, visually pleasing, and seriously tasty! I have become so accostumed to having a dozen side dishes with each meal, that the standard meat, potatoes, and veg are just not gonna thrill me the way they used to (of course, I do miss some certain foods back home...)
For a weekend we traveled with some friends to Gyeongju, this home was where we stayed. it was perfect. We did a lot of stuff including eating a lot of food (as usual), visiting some mountain temples (just in time to view the pretty decorations up for Buddha's birthday celebrations), and riding scooters all around town.
in central Seoul we found this back alley with some seriously run down apartments and homes. The slums of Seoul, perhaps? This door is great.
A wonderful long weekend with our buddies Ryan and Ida to Chuncheon, Korea. We got to spend some time in the beautiful rugged nature, a good break from the city.
one of our meals we sat at this outdoor restaurant with these sort of oversized pallets precariously situated between the rocks with a stream running below us.
The DMZ on the east coast. For Nathan's 30th birthday a group of almost 20 of us packed up and rented a huge house near the beach and near North Korea! So we just had to make the trip up there to have the guards check and double check our cars and all our documents just to let us into the viewing areas to see the crazy neighbors to the north and drink their superior beer.
The it is! The most dangerous place on earth some people call it.
The Ttukseom overpass and museum
It rained and rained and kept on raining for a few weeks. This rain was incredible and ended up causing deadly floods and landslides.
Vietnam was an experience that I will remember with joy for all my days! The trip was long and held many different highlights, not to mention it is a seriously photogenic place with generally beautfiul, happy people. My morning fruit lady in Saigon:
we spent lots of time on boats when we were in the Mekong Delta region. I love the water and sun!
at the sunrise floating market in Cai Be. What a sight to behold. People cruise in on their massive or tiny boat homes to sell fruit and other necessities.
the rainy season was upon us and we got daily reminders of that!
This man is a poet/musician named Duy Viet. We went to his house and had tea and cakes with him. He played guitar with Ryan and gave me flowers, what a good man!
side street market in Dalat, in the central highlands of Vietnam.
from my second floor veranda I looked down each morning to these ladies selling fresh fruit
rooftops in Dalat
a lone tree near the central coast of Vietnam
Josh and I love this little used book store in the Iteawon area. They have a decent collection of English language books and a nice old man that runs the place.
On one of our trips to the southern coastal city Busan we encountered a hot summer night with a bright full moon. Seen here over the Gwanganli bridge.
In a southern neighborhood of Seoul we spotted this old guy, collecting cans and bottles for recycling. This guy puts any shopping cart load to shame! All this and a smile too!
It's pretty sweet hanging out with these dudes
The "63" building at Yeoido
my love! we go lots of places and do lots of good things together
a busy chinese restaurant in central Seoul, also knows as "the crack house"
the floating building off the Banpogyo
Namsan by night (playing with my camera)
The honeycomb building on Gangnam Daero
One of the oldest structures in all of Korea. In the southeastern city of Andong
this boy got a good view of the dance performances at the Andong mask festival
an old temple gate in Andong, with an antique filter
a peaceful lake on some local temple grounds
autumn. i love the bright leaves seen against the pale blue sky.
grain for sale on the street outside a subway station
at the Seoul Arts Center in Seocho
And here's to making 2012 even better!
No comments:
Post a Comment