Seoul, South Korea

An overnight flight took us from Jakarta, Indonesia (from the 3 on 3 world championships) to Seoul, South Korea.  The team and staff had an eight-hour lay-over, but we have several days planned in Seoul so the Marriott driver picked us up at the airport and transported us to the JW Marriott.  Floor 17 in this beautiful hotel will be our "home" for 2 nights.

We booked an afternoon tour to one of the palaces and a market.

Changdeokgung - one of Seoul's five royal palaces.
Completed in 1412

The old stone brige - 1405

This building was used only for very special events for
royalty - weddings, funerals, etc.

Inside the building 

Elaborate painted buildings

Statues to scare away evil.

In front of one of the gates to the grounds.

Namdaemun Market

One of the few rice cake shops still open

He was making a Korean candy

Pigs feet and knuckles

Raw seafood

One of the four city gates that were used when the
city was completely walled.

We had planned to eat out, but who needs to eat out when you can go to the executive lounge at JW Marriott?  Unlimited wine, salads, snacks, main entrees, desserts!  Yes, we do love this hotel.  Tired from a busy day and overnight flight we retired earlier than usual. Awwww......

Wednesday, October 2
We booked a tour for today to the DMZ - demilitarized zone.  After the Korean War (June 25, 1950 - 1953) South Korea and North Korea negotiated and then designated the DMZ 2 km away from the truce line on each side of the border.

ID check at unification bridge

at the DMZ area

The 3rd North Korea infiltration tunnel.
South Korea has found 4 tunnels that N. Korea has dug to
get to S Korea to infiltrate.
No photos allowed as we walked down into and through
the first section of the tunnel.

View into North Korea from the Dorasan Observatory

The sign says "End of separation, beginning of unification."

Yep, a hoop at the observation area.

Dorasan Rail Station
It connected N & S Korea but was closed in 2008
after an incident.

On the trip back to Seoul......

Rice fields

Entering back into Seoul

Amethysts Center
Yes, I indulged in a bracelet and ring

After our DMZ tour we happened on the Bongeunsa Temple, a Buddhist Temple and assorted buildings.  It is a 1200 year old temple located in Samseong-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul.  Today, Bongeunsa is writing a new history for Korean Buddhism, establishing itself as the center of Buddhist practice.  Monks apply themselves to chanting, communal work and meditation.  

Gate of Suchness that leads us into the temple.

Dharma King Pavilion
It houses the Buddha, the king of the Dharma (teachings).

Main Buddha Hall, the heart of the temple.
Daily ceremonial services and prayers

Monks chanting

Another one of the many building in the temple

Great statue of Maitreya Buddha

In the bell pavilion there are four instruments
Here are the Dharma bell and cloud-shaped gong

And the Dharma drum and a wooden fish.
These 4 are struck just before services at dawn and in
 the evening with the intention of saving all beings in the universe.

Jakarta, Indonesia

Basketball took us to Jakarta, Indonesia.   A total flight time of 24 1/2 hours with 4 legs and 3 layovers - Chicago, San Fran, Seoul, Jakarta.  We are traveling with the USA U18 3 on 3 teams as they compete in the World Championships.  More info about that at www.usa3on3.blogspot.com

Bri, Arika, Don, Gabby and Katie Lou
WORLD 3 on 3 CHAMPIONS!

Dom, Demonte, Cliff, Larry
7-0 in pool play
eliminated by Lithuania in semifinals

Monday - a Day with Duane 
Duane, native of Kalona, Iowa lives in Jakarta and attended several evenings of our games.  We had the privilege to spend all day Monday with him.  He took us to his house in the suburbs, to the traditional mall to shop for souvenirs, out to dinner and to the airport for our 11:50 pm flight.  

Duane and Reti at their house

Don with Duane in the backyard

Don showing his traditional Indonesian instrument orchestra.

Duane collects Indonesan antique fold art - "reverse glass paintings"

Exploring the yard

Lunch with Duane and Reti
Duane is showing us how to eat these fruits

Reti with a guauve - it was huge.

We all flew to Seoul, South Korea.  The team had an eight hour layover, but Don and I have chosen to spend 2 days exploring Seoul then head on.  

Charleston, SC

Early Friday, Sept 13 we flew to Charleston, SC.  Don was invited to do a one day basketball clinic.  We arrived Friday afternoon and were pleased to be housed in a 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom loft condo in downtown Charleston.  We are in the midst of the market, restaurants, shopping, etc.  Friday evening we ate out on the harbor at Fleet's Landing.  I had shrimp and grits and Don had flounder.

Saturday Don reported to the gym for the clinic and I enjoyed the Charleston neighborhood.
Sunday we explored together with a carriage tour.

The Charleston Market - 4 blocks of shopping

On Monday we took a harbor boat tour with a trip to Fort Sumter.   South Carolina was the first state to secede from the nation from the Union, yet Union forces still occupied Fort Sumter at the entrance of Charleston Harbor.  The South demanded that Fort Sumter be vacated.  The North refused.  Finally, in 4/12/1861 South Carolina Confederate troops from nearby Fort Johnson fired on the fort - the start of a two day bombardment that resulted in the surrender of Fort Sumter by Union troops.

Fort Sumter

Back on Land - We walked around the downtown area.  Charleston is called "Holy City" because it has so many churches in this area.

Circular Church

At 9:30 pm we took a walking Ghost tour in Charleston.  We walked through alleyways, haunted streets, and went by graveyards with a tour guide who told stories about all of these.

Boone Plantation was our destination on Tuesday.
It is America's oldest working plantation started in 1681.  Through the years they raised indigo, rice, cotton, pecans, and now fruits and vegetables.  At one time they had from 200-300 slaves on the plantation.

Avenue of Oaks

Some of the slave houses remain and are
now museums of information about slave life.

We toured the lower floor of the main house.

Mary was making baskets.  I bought the one on the left.
Basket making is historic to the Lowcountry Gullah culture
that was transported across the Atlantic by enslaved African people.

Back at our condo and then to a "praise house" concert at the Circular Church.

Five musicians sang spiritual songs 

Our condo for the stay in Charleston.

Roof top patio.