A Taste of Korea

I found a few pictures of Seoul on Trek Earth and thought I would share them. Only 5 weeks to go - it seems like a age away but is fast approaching. After writing endless 'to do lists' as part of my preparations I have now decided that the act of travel should not be contained by guide books and technicalities but rather brought alive by art and literature. I'm worrying too much about what I should and should not take rather than just looking forward to the new experiences that await me. So goodbye to apprehension, fear and inhibitions. Hello to open mindedness, discovery and adventure :)

Intoxicated Under the Shadow of Flowers

 Light mists and heavy clouds,
melancholy the long dreary day,
In the golden censer
the burning incense is dying away.
It is again time
for the lovely Double Ninth festival;
The coolness of midnight
penetrates my screen of shear silk
and chills my pillow of jade.

After drinking wine after twilight
under the chrysanthemum hedge,
My sleeves are perfumed
by the faint fragrance of the plants.
Oh, I cannot say it is not enchanting,
Only, when the west wind stirs the curtain,
I see that I am more gracile
than the yellow flowers.

Poem By Li Qingzhao tr. Lucy Chow Ho (Chinese Poet)

Happy New Year China!

I will be seeing you very soon!