The monument in memory of Korean victims of A bomb – Hiroshima, Japan

Since I’m in Korea for the anniversary of the dropping of the atomic bomb on Hiroshima, I thought I’d share a photo of the memorial you can find in the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park of the Korean victims. Nobody knows exactly how many Koreans were killed or injured by the bomb, but estimates put the total between 20,000 and 40,000 people. The monument features a pillar on a large turtle. The top is a crown of sorts with two dragons listing the names of over 2,500 Koreans who are known to have been killed when the A Bomb exploded. The inscription on the monument reads, “Souls of the dead ride to heaven on the backs of turtles.” I have seen several similar turtle monuments in Korea so this must be a somewhat common tombstone or memorial of some kind in Korea.

Posted on August 6th, 2013 under Japan, Korea. Tags: hiroshima, Nikon 24-120mm f/4 VR G lens, Nikon D600, 広島平和記念資料館 Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum. Comments: 2

View from Owolru or Owoldae Tower (오월루)

I took today’s photo (photos actually as this is a eight photo photomerge covering about 160 degrees) from the top floor (3rd floor) of a pagoda/tower in the May 18 Memorial Park in Gwangju.

When they built this tower, Owol-ru or May Observatory, more than a dozen years ago, I don’t think they thought about what would happen once the trees all grew to their full height. Right now, most of the views are obscured by trees, and that condition will only grow worse. I had to stand my 6’4″ body on the top of the top rail to see anything above the trees and take this panorama. I saw a photo in the 5.18 Memorial Culture Center (in this same park) that showed the tower with no trees around it. As things stand, if they don’t do a massive trim job on the trees soon, they will need to add another story or two to the pagoda or the views from there will be of only trees regardless of how tall you are or where you stand.

The 5.18 Memorial Culture Center shows a 12 minute or so video of the Gwangju massacre that is narrated in English. Don’t miss it if you are in Gwangju. There are also many large photos of late May 1980 in the room that I haven’t seen elsewhere.

Posted on August 2nd, 2013 under Korea. Tags: gwangju, May 18 Memorial Park 5.18 기념공원, Nikon 24-120mm f/4 VR G lens, Nikon D600, Owolru 오월루, panorama, photomerge. Comments Off on May 18th Memorial Park (5.18 기념공원)

Gwangju rice

I have seen loads of rice paddy fields on the edges of Gwangju and even more on the few bus trips I’ve taken away from the city. Today’s photo is of the only rice paddy I have observed right in the middle of the city, and I get to see it daily as it is right next to where I live on the Chonnam University campus. Watching the rice grow over the past six weeks has been amazing. The stalks have more than doubled in height in that period of time, and now there is actual rice on the top.

Posted on August 1st, 2013 under Korea. Tags: chonnam national university, gwangju, Nikon 24-120mm f/4 VR G lens, Nikon D600, rice paddy. Comments Off on Rice

Jikso waterfall

The Jikso Falls can be found inside Byeonsanbando National Park (변산반도국립공원). You can’t drive to this location. You can hike to it from two different directions. We took the shorter route (not the route from Naeso Temple) which was probably about 3 kilometers and not as steep. The waterfall can be seen in the far right portion of today’s panorama. We ate lunch right next to the waterfall even though a sign had been put up in the prior month saying you can no longer eat there or go in the falls. Our guide did not know about these new rules.

Posted on July 31st, 2013 under Korea. Tags: jikso falls, Nikon 24-120mm f/4 VR G lens, Nikon D600, panorama, photomerge, waterfalls. Comments: 1

Baekyangsa (고불총림 백양사) in Naejangsan National Park (내장산국립공원)

Today’s photo is of the aforementioned “classic” shot of the entrance to the Baekyangsa Temple.

Posted on July 29th, 2013 under Korea. Tags: baekyangsa temple, Nikon 24-120mm f/4 VR G lens, Nikon D600. Comments Off on Naejangsan (내장산)