Thursday, October 30, 2008

Recyclable Art?

Saw this at at a shopping area. Is it trying to tell us to recycle or is this creative art?


- Karen

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Wednesday Hero

Wednesday Hero was started to put a spotlight on the men and women of the United States military and the bravery their show day in and day out. But on a few occasions a service members of an allied nation has been profiled. Such is the case this week.

Despite being shot twice during an ambush in Afghanistan, an SAS (Special Air Service) soldier from Australia lashed himself to the front of his patrol vehicle so he wouldn't be left behind if he passed out from loss of blood and kept on fighting.

The Digger is expected to be recommended for a high level bravery award.

Suffering from serious upper body wounds, the soldier struggled on to the front of his SAS long range patrol vehicle (LRPV) and, under heavy fire, used a rope to attach himself firmly between the vehicle's bull bar and radiator.

Once he was secured, and there was no chance that he would fall off if he fainted, he picked up his rifle and resumed firing at the enemy during a two-hour fighting withdrawal.

SAS troops and their special forces comrades from the Commando Regiment are well aware of the slow and painful death that awaits them if they are captured by the Taliban.

The Digger, who cannot be identified, faded in and out of consciousness, emptying several magazines as volleys of enemy rounds and rocket propelled grenades, rained down around him.

He was finally evacuated from the battle field at high speed still lashed to the front of the LRPV.

A source told The Courier-Mail the Digger was now "up and about" and would recover fully from his serious gunshot wounds. His heroic deeds will be recognised when he is recommended for a high level bravery award.

Several others engaged in the do-or-die battle on September 2 are also in line for top honours.


These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives so that others may enjoy the freedoms we get to enjoy everyday. For that, I am proud to call them Hero.
We Should Not Only Mourn These Men And Women Who Died, We Should Also Thank God That Such People Lived

This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. For more information about Wednesday Hero, or if you would like to post it on your site, you can go here.

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Tuesday, October 28, 2008

Interesting Gadgets

This shoeshiner robot machine was at the entrance of the city's main subway station. I would be a little afraid to stick my feet into that machine in case it doesn't let go.


I saw this little neat gadget at Kentucky Fried Chicken fastfood restaurant. It dispenses a little wet napkin with a push of the button. I think the little light in the middle indicates how many napkins are left in the machine.


This isn't a very good picture, but it's a cup sterilizer machine on the right and a water dispenser to the left. When people buy a meal at the food court they can get a free drink of water by grabbing a clean metal cup from inside the sterilizer machine and filling it up with hot or cold water. Used cups are thrown into the opening at the bottom of the sterilizer machine. A woman comes by and picks up the used cups for cleaning and then returns them to the sterilizer machine.


Do you like sharing soap in a public bathroom? I had to take a picture of this to show you it does exist.


- Karen

Monday, October 27, 2008

Aquarium Tanks

Fishes in the Coca-Cola machine. This was a working soda machine which was converted into a fish tank.


This is the first toilet bowl tank I have seen.


These fishes are sparkling clean in a washer.


Shoes and Horseshoe crabs


This frog lives in Legoland.


These fishes swim around a computer all day.


Don't drink the water from this water cooler.


Hands off this sink.


- Karen

Friday, October 24, 2008

Unusual Aquarium Fishes

Big Jowl Fish


Bulgy Eye Fish


Sheep Fish


Curly Hairdo Fish


These are the most unusual fishes I have ever seen at an aquarium. Since I do not read Korean I cannot tell you their true names nor can I tell you if these are original or altered species. I did; however, give them nicknames, but you can come up with your own.

- Karen

Wednesday, October 22, 2008

Wednesday Hero

Sgt. Carlton A. Clark
Sgt. Carlton A. Clark
22 years old from South Royalton, Vermont
2nd Brigade Troop Battalion, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault)
August 06, 2006
U.S. Army

Sgt. Carlton Clark graduated from South Royalton High School in 2002. While in high school, he was co-captain of his soccer team and a member of the track and field and basketball teams. He graduated from basic combat training and advanced individual training in Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. in 2002 and was stationed at Fort Campbell, Kentucky. as a combat engineer. He was air assault qualified and deployed during the initial wave of Operation Iraqi Freedom for one year. He was subsequently assigned to West Point to train cadets. He re-enlisted and was deployed for a second tour of duty in Iraq. He earned a Purple Heart, an Army Commendation Medal with Valor, a Bronze Star Medal and was posthumously awarded a second Purple Heart.

Sgt. Clark was killed in action when an IED detonated near his Humvee while conducting combat operations in Baghdad. Also killed in the attack were Staff Sgt. Stephen A. Seale and Cpl. Jose Zamora.


These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives so that others may enjoy the freedoms we get to enjoy everyday. For that, I am proud to call them Hero.
We Should Not Only Mourn These Men And Women Who Died, We Should Also Thank God That Such People Lived

This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. For more information about Wednesday Hero, or if you would like to post it on your site, you can go here.
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Monday, October 20, 2008

A Busy Day at an Aquarium

This COEX Aquarium is located inside a huge Seoul shopping mall. It doesn't look like much from the outside, but there is quite a few interesting exhibits in there I have never seen before. I will show these in subsequent posts.


I happened to visit during a weekday along with a ton of school children.


This is the same koi pond exhibit as the above picture after the kids have walked by.


Many aquariums have this type of walkway where the fishes and other sea creatures in a huge tank are swimming all around you. You can stand still to watch or get on the moving walkway as indicated by the arrows in the photo.


This was the meeting place for all the school kids. It was quite noisy in there as you might have imagined.


I loved watching these little chipmunks perform, but never expected them to be displayed at an aquarium.


- Karen

Sunday, October 19, 2008

Have a Seat



I saw these adorable, but uncomfortable seats at an outdoor shopping area. No one took advantage of them during the time I was there. The figure in the second photo looks like she is about to sneeze.

- Karen

Saturday, October 18, 2008

Seoul Highrise Workers



I happened to see the above scene when going by on the tour bus. It is a pair of workers hanging pecariously by a rope down a multi-story highrise. At least there are two of them in case something goes wrong.

Originally, I thought they were window washers, but it looks like they were either patching or cleaning up the exterior of the building.

Have a nice weekend,
Karen

Friday, October 17, 2008

War Memorial of Korea

Our City Bus Tour stopped at 26 locations including this must-see location as indicated on their brochure. It is the War Memorial of Korea documenting the country's 5,000 years of combat history. I could not get over how huge this place is. If you click on the photo, notice the little placard on the ground that informs visitors where to stand for the best vantage point for their picture.
To read more about this museum, click here.


Because we had a limited time, we only visited the exterior of the museum at no-charge. If you like planes and tanks, this is a place for you.


I thought this was an interesting statue. I didn't read its description (seen in the next photo) until I got home.


"Statue of Brothers". Click on the photo to read about the statue above.


- Karen

Thursday, October 16, 2008

Cheonggyecheon Stream

The Cheonggyecheon Stream flows East-West through downtown Seoul. In 2005, the government spent $900M restoring the area. This place is very popular with tourists and I stumbled onto it by accident.


I descended the stairs to get a closer look further down the stream. It was quite an intriguing place to be at such a peacefully and lush place, yet surrounded by skyscrapers and a busy city life.


I thought this little stream and corkscrew structure were quite interesting. I wonder how many tourists didn't see the water and stepped into it.


This placard by the stream tells visitors about its history. Click on the photo if you are interested in reading it.


- Karen

Wednesday, October 15, 2008

Wednesday Hero

Sgt. Anton J. Hiett
Sgt. Anton J. Hiett
25 years old from Mount Airy, North Carolina
391st Engineer Battalion, Army Reserve
March 12, 2006
U.S. Army

Misty Hiett, the widow of Sgt. Anton Hiett, said in an interview that he, Sgt. Hiett, asked to transfer to the 391st Engineering Battalion when it looked like his reserve unit would not be deployed.

Sgt. Hiett was a truck driver who joined the military right out of high school because he "wanted to go help out" during the current conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq. After his transfer to the 391st, he was deployed to Afghanistan on April 22, 2005.

On March 12, 2006, Sgt. Hiett, and three fellow soldiers from the 391st, Staff Sgt. Joe Ray; Spc. Joshua Hill and Sgt. Kevin Akins, were killed when an IED detonated near their Humvee during combat operations west of Asadabad, Afghanistan. He left behind his wife and their then 2(now 4)-year-old daughter Kyra.


These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives so that others may enjoy the freedoms we get to enjoy everyday. For that, I am proud to call them Hero.
We Should Not Only Mourn These Men And Women Who Died, We Should Also Thank God That Such People Lived

This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. For more information about Wednesday Hero, or if you would like to post it on your site, you can go here.
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Tuesday, October 14, 2008

Stores by the Tower

After touring the Tower, I wandered over to this store and curious what they were selling in the pot. After a closer inspection, I think it was a pot of boiling bugs.


I took a picture of this store because of the interesting wording on the sign, but I have no idea what it means.


- Karen

Friday, October 10, 2008

Love heArt Project








These heart sculptures were on display at the bottom of the N Seoul Tower. I have seen similar sculptures all over San Francisco, but I have never seen them anywhere else.

According to the sign, it is part of the Love heArt Project or Love Letter Project, but unfortunately, I could not find anything about it on the internet. If you know of this project or can interpret the sign in the last photo, I would appreciate it.

- Karen

Thursday, October 09, 2008

N Seoul Tower, Part 3

The Tower has 2 observation decks. This is the top deck with metallic-like seats for visitors to rest and enjoy the 360 degree view.


Each window displays the direction of a city or country. From this window, I am looking in the direction towards home.


Looking out the windows, you can see how overcast it was.


If you have a fear of heights, don't stare at this picture too long.


The Sky Cafe is located on the lower observation deck. You can eat, sit, and enjoy the view.


This is the view from the women's bathroom. The Tower is said to have the best bathroom view in the world.


I am glad my husband was there to take a picture of the men's bathroom. For the men, you can enjoy the view as you go.


- Karen