Aloha to the Han River - Gangnam Style

We booked another USO/Korridor Tours ... this time for the Han River Cruise!   Our guide drove us across the Han River to a popular park in Gangham.   We did not spot Psy ... but we did spy the 63 City (63 빌딩) ... more on this icon later.

Since it was Memorial Day (June 6), many families spent the day in the park, soaking up the good weather.  Our guided noted that "camping" was gaining popularity in Korea.

I loved these swan boats! 

We followed our guide onto our open top boat.  Many families brought picnics, including ourselves.  

I don't have a fancy camera, but I was able to catch the mountains that "guard" Seoul to the North.   Notice the faint white line on the mountain closest to the city - it is the Seoul Fortress (link).

I also captured the Seoul Tower on Namsan (I previously posted my husband's pictures of the Seoul Tower at night at this link). 

We watched the sunset from the upper deck.

Dusk fell over the city, including the country's assembly.

We had company on the river.

After the cruise, we drove over to 63 City.   I found this Hawaiian delight in the lobby.   From Visit Korea (link),

With 63 floors measuring a height of 264m, the 63 Building is Korea’s tallest and most recognized building. The 63 Building boasts spectacular views of the Hangang River and the surrounding mountains of Bugaksan Namsan and Gwanaksan.

63 City offers an aquarium  ... is this live or an optical illusion?   

These penguins are live!

This is a photo of the glass floor atop one of the tanks ... despite the thick glass, it was intimidating to walk across it!   The aquarium periodically broadcast "glass shattering" which jarred our nerves.

The seals had a great playground.

This leopard shark stared at the audience watching the synchronized swimming.

Andrew placed his hand in the "Doctor Fish" exhibit.   The fish are also called "nibble" fish as the small fish nibble at dead skin.   Doctor Fish are used in spas for manicures and pedicures but the practice is banned in the US.

After our fish manicures, we rode the elevator to the top for an eye popping view of Seoul's night lights.

Mahalo,

Kim in Korea

Aloha to Maui - Dusk turning to sunset

At dusk, I walked along the beach and found a few of nature's treasures.

Someone else laid out these coral pieces atop the volcanic rock.

  

I played around with the shadows ...

... the same rocks from different angles.

A fallen tree that will find new life on the beach.

The sun sets between Lana'i (left) and Moloka'i (right.)   What's your level of photography - click and hope for the best?  Or do you know how to use a lens?    One randomly selected commenter from this week's blogs wins a book choice from my convention stash.  This giveaway is open to all readers.  Comments are open through Saturday, October 20, 10 pm in Hawaii.  I'll post the winners on Sunday, October 21.

Mahalo,

Kim in Hawaii

The green flash is about to appear ...

Aloha to Maui - More from Lahaina

Lahaina is "cruel sun" in Hawaiian.   Yet it is a tourist mecca for West Maui with the Banyan tree holding center court.   From Hawaii Web (at this link),

This Banyan Tree was planted in April, 1873, and marked the 50th Anniversary of Christian missionary work in Lahaina. The tree was imported from India and was only 8 feet tall. It now stands over 60 feet high, has 12 major trunks in addition to a huge core. It stretches over a 200-foot area and shades 2/3 of an acre. Caring members of the community carefully maintain the symmetrical shape of the Banyan Tree. It is one of the largest Indian Banyan trees in the world.

On the makai (seaside) of the banyan tree is the Courthouse with the Hawaii State Flag.

Next to the courthouse is a fort from the Kingdom of Hawaii.  Again from Hawaii Web (at this link),

These ruins are all that remain of a fort that stood just south of the courthouse. This fort overlooked one of the canals of Lahaina, now a paved street, and was built to protect the town after unruly sailors who fired a canon at Rev. Richard's house. The missionaries saw the womanizing and drinking of the whaling sailors as a danger to Lahaina. Rev. Richard convinced the king to ban women from the ships and this sparked the incident. Later visitors to the island thought the fort looked like it was more for show than force. It was finally torn down in 1850 and supplied the stone for the Hale Pa'ahao Prison.

On the mauka (mountain side) of the Banyan tree are historic houses.  Above is made from lava rock ....

... and next to it is the Baldwin House.  From the Lahaina Restoration (at this link),

The owner, the Reverend Dwight Baldwin had his medical training at Harvard College prior to his theological studies.  As a practicing physician, Rev. Baldwin helped save the people of Maui, Molokai and Lanai from the scourge of smallpox during the terrible epidemic of 1853.

 

 Can you imagine having to sleep inside the netting at night?  

As the sun began to set, we drove to Ka'anapali for the sunset.   Do you have a favorite tree - in your backyard, neighborhood, or one from your travels?  One commenter from this week's blogs wins a book choice from my convention stash.  This giveaway is open to all readers.  Comments are open through Saturday, October 20, 10 pm in Hawaii.   I'll post the winner on Sunday, October 21.

Mahalo,

Kim in Hawaii

Sunset from Ka'anapali