Smoke Signal

Korea is lined with old smoke signals near the coasts and on top of the mountains to warn the villages of Japanese attacks.  We recently hiked up to one on a beautiful evening.

The view of the shipyard and surrounding mountains.  Beautiful.

E inside the tower.

Jinju Lantern Festival

Last week we were able to go to the Jinju Lantern Festival which is a large international festival held every year in Jinju (a city about an hour away NW of us).  This is a very historic city with a large river running through it.  It was the location of many Japanese/Korean battles.  Along the river is a large fortress E and I went to back in June (see this post).  Along both sides of the river were several booths with traditional foods, carnival games, lanterns, lantern tunnels, games, etc.  The river was full of huge floating lanterns with 2 floating bridges to go across.  It was quite impressive...photos can do it no justice.

View of the river from the fortress.

Lantern prayer tunnel.

Close up of some of the lanterns.

There was a kid's area that had several kid lanterns, traditional games and activities.  We made a doll out of rice straw.  We also saw E's Uncle Mike (the red Teletubby...don't ask).

It wouldn't be a good Korean festival without a herd of middle school girls attacking E.

Messy Day

We've been hanging onto nice weather for a few weeks so I decided we needed to have an outside messy day before it gets too cold. Some girls got more into the messiness that others so it was a good thing we had the hot tub ready to wash off. Maybe E is still too young to appreciate being messy but I have great memories of shaving cream fights, water balloons and mud volleyball. E's favorite part was popping the chalk paint balloons with the end of a paint brush...can you tell by looking at her face?

Rice Harvest

There are two reasons I have become very interested in rice production. First, we are in Korea where almost any flat and empty space if farmed, usually for rice. Plus, rice is started in flooded fields...isn't that interesting to you? Second, I married a farm boy.

When we got to Korea the fields were planted and still partially flooded but young and green. We've recently seen the change in the field to a golden color. Harvest time. Before they pulled out the combines we were able to snap a few pictures. Isn't it beautiful?

Windy Hill and Hakdong Pebble Beach

A few 'famous' sites on our island are Windy Hill and Hakdong Pebble Beach. We recently spent a Saturday morning there. The goats may have been the coolest thing at Windy Hill and there isn't much better than rocks for this 2 year old. Here is a view of our outing.

And for those who are interested...

This is a Korean squatter. They aren't found in too many places anymore...just parks, beaches, the occasional rest stop and some of those types of public areas. And in case you are wondering (because I know you are), E is the only one in our family who has had to use one yet.