Spring's Almost Over?

This photo by Tak Ki-hyoung was taken on the 22nd of April after heavy showers and strong gusts caused the cherry blossoms to fall from the trees around the National Assembly building in Yeouido. Jackson Pollock could draw inspiration from the pretty picture they make on the ground.

What I'd like to know is where the photographer was standing to take this great shot.  Perched on a tree or does he have access to a high floor on some official building nearby?

Check out this article on where to catch the last sights of this all-too-fleeting season in Korea this year.

sources:
http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2011/05/05/2011050500411.html

http://english.hani.co.kr/arti/english_edition/e_entertainment/474508.html

Vertical Marathon of Sorts At 63 Building?

Guess these people have every reason to look self-congratulatory. I would, too, if I had also walked up the entire staircase to reach the top of the 249 meter or  817- feet  high 63 Building ( 63 빌딩 or 육삼 빌딩). In addition to the great views of Yeouido island and  the Han River in Seoul, they also could claim the privilege of being in an exclusive group of sportspersons who have taken part in a vertical marathon.

Interestingly another vertical marathon is also organised for Singaporeans who can also run up the full 63 floors of the One Raffles Place Building.  Congratulations to all those who made it to the top - ajumma salutes you!

Caption from Chosun Ilbo: Participants in a stair walk pose after reaching the 63rd floor

of the 63 Building in Yeouido, Seoul on Sunday. /Newsis

sources:
http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2010/10/18/2010101800337.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/63_Building
http://www.alck.org/blog/?p=2014

Nature Plays Cat and Mouse With Korea's Weather Forecasters?

I used to trust the annual schedules that indicated the best times to visit different parts of Korea to see the cherry blossoms - didn't have problems in 2007 using the schedule posted on the KNTO website to plan my itinerary.  But these days, it looks as if nature is making difficult the job of predicting when the cherry blossoms will appear. The discrepancy of more than a week is quite glaring and most inconvenient for those outside Korea who want to fly in specially to see these springtime flowers and to take part in the spring festivals. Now I wonder how much credence the autumn foliage schedule will have.

"What took you so long?" Cherry blossoms finally bloom at Yeouido around the 16th and 17th of  March.

According to this 2010 schedule taken from the KNTO website, the cherry trees were expected to bloom around the 6th of April in Seoul.

sources:

http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2010/04/19/2010041900396.html

http://asiaenglish.visitkorea.or.kr/ena/FU/FU_EN_15.jsp?nCategoryID=&searchType=&keyword=&gotoPage=5&cid=970238&cCode=&nCategoryID=&searchType=&searchKeyword=