Late summer neighborhood views and a local treasure

If there is any proof to the adage “there is no beauty without pain,” the late summer junglescape that’s grown from the sweltering heat and humidity could qualify. Some of the year’s most intense colors, astonishing cloud formations, and loveliest blossoms are on display now.

The crape myrtle is in full flower and will remain showy until about the first week of September. The spider lilies peaked a week or two ago, and I still see the Rose of Sharon, Korea’s national flower, blooming on campus.

I ran some errands in the north part of town yesterday, and once finished I decided to visit a local treasure that I love but hadn’t seen in some time – the Imdang and Joyeong tomb complex, which are relics of ancient Korean kingdoms that ended in about the 7th century CE. During that period, important personages were buried under elaborate mounds that historians call tumuli, all done with careful positioning and lavish burial goods that reflected their status. My university has been excavating these sites for decades, and has amassed a trove of artifacts in the campus museum that give insight into the region’s history and burial customs.

Here is a link to a Google map of this area: https://maps.app.goo.gl/2f9eWHD9hgK8V8xz6 Clicking the link in the map will take you to some more photos, and potentially down a rabbit hole of information; much of it will be in Korean, but translatable. Enjoy Google Maps’ 360 degree view of the site. See if you can find a dog in the shot.

Nearby one of the tombs is Noeul Cafe, whose whimsical garden has a seated statue of The Little Prince (yes, of the Saint-Exupéry novella). Inside, there are various groupings of framed Van Gogh and Degas prints on the walls, stacks of books in every corner, and muted jazz playing. From the large windows, one can see the ancient Joyeong tomb, and rows of modern, three-storey apartments just beyond.

There are about ten days before things get busy at work again. On the crafting front, I’ve just begun a new shawl and a new amigurumi – I decided to run with the Clydesdale horse as my next ami project. I look forward to catching you up on my progress in the next blog post. Until then, be well!