SEOUL
I'm in seoul now.... slept super early last nite so i'm up now and i cant sleep anymore.
I headed out to the gyeongbokgung palace yesterday and spent the entire day just hanging out at the palace grounds and the area around there. Apparently this gyeongbokgung palace was built and lived by the king.. in the 13th century.
It was all burnt down and destroyed during the japanese invasion and occupation. it was rebuilt then burnt down again a couple of times. Eventually it was rebuilt and restored in 1990 and to date it's almost all done up. the schduled date of complete restoration will be in 2009. ONce that's done, it's said that it'll be the max of 40% of the original structures. It was so badly destroyed that most of the structures were lost. Some parts of the place were patches of grass that they sealed off - they contained the foundations of the palace that they'll restore in due time.
I was just wondering how the koreans actually has such deep history and pride about their own culture. And how serious and important they see restoration projects such as these. Compare this to how our country deals with historical buildings. Sure we do not have any 500-century structures, or a long deep history. We are a pretty 'new' nation comparitively and do not have a long traditions (dun we already know that?)
But look at the way our 'older' buildings are being treated. Take the national library for example..... it's still such a shame. and how all the older black and white houses are restored with ugly glass panels with tastless interiors. It totally destroys what they use to look like and teached our younger generation absolutly nothing.
Call me sentimental, but i'm a sucker for such things. Maybe that explains why my room is like a junkyard. with things dating back to my really young age. I even have a case of stuff that belonged to my dad. -- oh oh and an ancient enlarger lens from my grandfather. (he was into photography too). And maybe that explains why i'm getting the exact same apartment that i lived in during my childhood days.. haha....
okie.. on to vancouver now!
Darkroom Withdrawal
I've just spent the past 3 days just being at home and sleeping. Havent really done anything that's actually worth mentioning. The only highlight was choosing the tiles for my place, the kitchen and bathroom fittings. At least that's one thing down.
I so cant wait to move in, set up my darkroom and start printing pictures all over again. It's irritating that the pics i see from the digicam arent anything close to what i want them to be. I cant wait to save up enuff to buy myself a new hassey, and then bring it ard with me. Do what i've loved to do. I hate it that i dont have anything to put up on my blog worthy of mention - I think i'm suffering from darkroom withdrawal.
I'm whiney now and i need to prepare for flight. sigh.....
I've just spent the past 3 days just being at home and sleeping. Havent really done anything that's actually worth mentioning. The only highlight was choosing the tiles for my place, the kitchen and bathroom fittings. At least that's one thing down.
I so cant wait to move in, set up my darkroom and start printing pictures all over again. It's irritating that the pics i see from the digicam arent anything close to what i want them to be. I cant wait to save up enuff to buy myself a new hassey, and then bring it ard with me. Do what i've loved to do. I hate it that i dont have anything to put up on my blog worthy of mention - I think i'm suffering from darkroom withdrawal.
I'm whiney now and i need to prepare for flight. sigh.....
BACK from Shrek town
Was just in LA last week and became a little boy when i was at universal studios. Shrek, spongebob, woverine and lots more... really felt like a kid..
in the midst of sorting out the photos. meanwhile....
http://kevan.org/johari?name=Medaman
an old old friend~!
Was in Melbourne just a week ago and i met up with Grace Jadyn Cheng. Yes, it has been almost what.. 3yrs since i've seen her and all of us back in SG totally have no idea wat happened to her. Well, she's married to a really nice guy - Daniel, and now resides in Melbourne. Gosh... has it been that long a time? We had coffee, bread and a nice long catch up chat. It was really really nice to see her.
Darren was suppose to meet me after but he shut off his handphone so i only got to see him back in the hotel. We then head to Crown for a lil luck. But he only stood behind me while i was on the black jack table - which was really really a thrilling experience. I started with 4 $25chips and ended up with... lets just say a little profit. Will be back in Mel next month... maybe i'll end up loosing that little profit! haha..
as usual - here are the pics. Grace and Daniel in their nice cosy home, the church which they got married in....and the group of us at the casino thereafter.
friends
alywin
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the snow at grouse
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wtf
okie.... it's been a long while.. min min reminded...
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