Recurring Thoughts

Forced Labour Cave.

While you read about my recurring thoughts, as you dismiss them as trivial, or as things you had figured out long ago, be listening to the birdies.
I captured 5 minutes of bird sounds with my phone on Mang Oreum. It was the first hottish day.  The leaves are finally popping out of their buds, and beginning to obscure my views of the pimpled landscape that exists as the slope of Hallasan and down to the sea.  The Oreums are little bursts of lava, creating little mountains (300+ of them) that pock the slope of their mother volcano.  These forests are so lovely and fragrant.  Lots and lots of pine.  The undergrowth is different from what we have at home, but the scrubby flowers and greens are the same.  There is lots of red clover, and forget-me-nots, and other familiar little greens. My recording is an m4a file, which was supposed to overtake mp3 but never did that and the sound is so compressed it is sad, so go into the bush and listen to your local birds.  Or wake up early.

Just another crater.

And as you listen to birds, I will be foolish with my recurring thoughts, and also give you a couple more recent crater and cave shots.
I have left Jeju, and am in Busan, awaiting my boat to Japan.
Recurring Thoughts
Chewing:  I have watched lots of pretty young women chewing.  Their cheeks are full of food.  Stuffed full.  And they chew and chew and chew.  With nice lipstick, untouched. Kinda like a gopher except for the lips.  So, I have been trying it, except for the lips.  Like my Mom always said, chew your food.  So, no more wolfing.  I am gonna gopher it now.

Pier Gasan East China Sea

Golf Scrapers:  I have not taken any photos but the landscape is populated with golf driving ranges that make ours look like toyland.  These are 10-storey green nets.  It seems the goal is to see how high you can hit the ball, not how far.  If I find a photo I'll add it later.
Masks:  The whole uncover your face or you will be stigmatized and criminalized and get sideways glanced is so outdated.  Everyone wears masks, especially on bad air days.  Flowered, black, medical, construction, full face, mouth only, nose mouth, balaclavish, grannies, fashionistas, children, everyone.  Bus drivers, barristas, fishers, bankers, yogis.  It is laughable that face covering has some kind of criminal or religeous significance when air pollution is the reason.  Protect your lungs.

Squid Shadows

Musak:  On the busses, in coffee shops, blaring from hotel atria across onto the beautiful sea.  It is the anthem.  No, it isn't Celine, but I am not a DionFan and whatever they are singing about, it feels like it is the mountain-top proclamation of the new world reality.  Young guys at pedestiran crossings are crooning and swaying to this IkMan.  I am not a friend of the soaring ballad.  Here, it is a universal #itsOK.  I find it exhausting.
Dogs: Two classes:  small in human clothing.  white coat and independent or placidly on a rope. Jindo is the Korean national dog.  Lovely, one-person dogs.
Cats: Furtive.  Sneaking around. Same.
Toilets:  Lots of heated seats.  I want one.
Age: Even with limited English, at least 30 people have manufactured, "How Old?" Really? I do not know from their reaction if I look younger or older. I have been pitched on wrinkle cream at least 3 times. I give the truthful answer. Le sigh.
Packaging:  WAYWAY to much.  Sadly, options are slim. Recycling is mandatory, but the trash is loaded with plasticy metallic brightly coloured packaging.

Last Gonae Sunset

It is a bad air day here today, the fourth in 35 days, so not bad.  But, it makes me grateful for the fresh air at home.  I will never be complacent.

~~n Post 34 Day54/75