Photo Diary on the Korean Visit: 8/12/06, Seoul

Dear all, I was so much tied up with editing the Jan 07 CSI Communications that I just had to abandon the idea of continuing my diary. But here is a short photo essay instead. I hope you enjoy.

1. My day starts here – at Issac’s – a small corner shop where they sell sandwiches.

2. Here is “Mrs Issac” (She is actually some chong ching chee) getting my breakfast ready. That green stuff is a kind of jam, she avoids it and also a slice of ham (beef) on my request. Puts a square omlette (no onion. NO chilie, but corns!, but it is good) alone.

3. Mrs Issac has finished – she packs it nicely and makes so many sounds like a cat – which I suppose means “Here is your sandwich, enjoy your breakfast”. For this and a cup of milk, I pay 1500 Won, which is 70Rs.

4. In Trivandrum Engg College I had a professor who was very very dark. He used to be called “Culb”. Bulb gives out light, and he absorbs all light ! I have named this electrical equipment as Naf. It has a heating coil at the centre and radiates heat. Inverse of fan – so Naf ! This is in Issac’s

5. This is in front of the University President (VC)’s office, and the main gate on the right. I stay near this gate and it is about 10 minutes walk from here to the Dept. Below this ground, there is the huge library.

6. A more near view of 5

7. This is the famous samarpandal I mentioned in the second diary.

8. This is the Samsung sponsored new building

9. Centre of the campus, this glass house is for a lift to take u to a HUGE parking space of 3 floors underground.

10. Trees have shed all their leaves last week. They had yellow leaves, in one look, you might think the campus is full of kani konna. I was thinking about the vaaka (forest fire ?) in the NH near our campus. When the bright red flowers fall on the dark soil, we need to deconstruct our campus vision to really enjoy it.

11. Centre of the Campus – Hanna’s square

12. They proudly display their Emblem on doors, on lifts and even in the grill they put around trees.

13. On the right is the “Innovation Hall” – 7 Floors, and my office is in the 5th floor. On the left is an older building where one set of lectures took place.

14. This is my office, in the corner. On the left side there is a similar cubicle occupied by another faculty. Visitors are received in the front area only, not inside cubicles.

15. Yours faithfully …

16. That is my class room.

17. A class group photo (Can u read RRM and Irena Cossic on the black board ?). The guy next to me is from Russia, “Sergei Anatolyevice Chalkov” ! The guy who wears a black shawl is from Brazil and all others are Koreans. The Java man was absent. All Koreans have to take a compulsory army service of 2 years. Hyuinjin (4th from left, front row) was with military. 18. On the back is the main Engg Dept Building. In my hand is a data compression book for Arun.

19. Here is the Dog restaurant. The name is Mad Dog. I think “peppaatti” may be more tasy than “patti”

20. That is my lunch. Yongyangbap, mushroom salad and a clear soup (so clear, like water)

21 Any idea ? I have none ! The tree seems to undergoing a treatment, bandaged ?

22. Laal Salam !

23. The University Bus (“100 Years of Global Pride”) – Globalisation is their slogan.

24. This is where I buy snacks

25. The student notice board

26. Ms Blue in Red !

27. Sea food in supermarket

28. A Tree cared for !

29. They drive on right side, but what is more they sometimes drive very fast through the footpaths !

30. I didn’t do any sight seeing. Here are two photos of a traditional Korean village I captured from a display before a shop !!!!

31. My day about to end. I wait near the Anam station for my dinner. My Indian friend brings rice, one or two curries and – oh my god – sambharam. That is what keeps me strong to fight homesickness.

32. The campus by night !!! Good night. I have 1 week more to go, and I look forward to seeing you all. Wish you a happy Xmas and a terrific 2007.