Korea

The Decade of Inertia

Obama was perhaps catapulted into power by nifty social media outreach and a moderately credible promise of change we can believe in. When I look at the news, I don't believe in " real change" any more. Isn't the 'outcome' of climate conferences, such as those in Rio and Doha, always the same: empty promises ...

We have reached KoreaLate January, 2011. Estonia, Russia, KoreaWe have taken the train from Saint Petersburg to Vladivostok, the transsiberian, good for about 170 hours, crammed in a 'platzkart' waggon together with moderately inebriated Russians - and it's great. Please consider this as a statement for the environment and don't fly unless when strictly necessary.
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April 9 –

I seem to have flown to Korea today. For beautiful personal reasons, I take a time off from Charity Travel, with the pleasant exception of MWTV, Migrant Worker Television. We find their office, tucked away on the central Namsan hill in Seoul, through a friend of Yeon. It was founded in 2004 by migrant workers ...

July 15. South Korea, West to East.

We take the bus to Sokcho today. We tried to do the same thing yesterday but it didn't work out. This time we make it to the terminal on time and find the correct bus. It's a comfortable way of traveling, though dangerously air-conditioned. We cross the country in about four hours and arrive ...

June 23. Seven Lively Sins.

Let's do nothing today! Look around a bit, peek in a bookstore, and read some theater. Walk the busy center of Seoul, observe the people moving on and off. I am shocked that Namdaemun, the "Great South Gate" has been burnt down by some lunatic protesting againt the incumbent president. It is perhaps the ...

June 22. What does Literature do?

So I live in a megalopolis again. I'm so behind with the writing I need to make long hours in fancy coffee houses here. It's hard work to keep up with the poignancy. After repeating yourself a few times, reactions will be lame and "whatever". It ages too fast. Writing that is not thought through ...

June 20. Serendipity.

An early flight to Seoul. I am so careful not to miss it that I spend the night in the airport. Twenty box for my taxi driver it's a long way from downtown Taipei to the international airport. I arrive there at 2am and try to lay down on the chairs (why don't they have ...