monday string beans, sunday cicadas

Another day, another walk. I take a lot of walks, and the camera helps me to see things in a positive light. Instead of being aware that someone is staring at me, I'm busy looking for a good picture. Something I can take home with me that goes beyond the day to day, from the particular to the whole.


I've always liked how the vendors take the time to arrange the fruit in these perfect pyramids.




A lot of women here use parasols to protect themselves from the sun. They are very apt at holding their parasol while biking, one hand holding it and the other on the handlebars. It has been so hot lately, even when the sun is not out. My days of caring about pit stains are long gone, and I've become somewhat accustomed to being sweaty most of the time. Even my eye lids were sweating today.




These guys were having a heated discussion as they walked by. Maybe about all the homework they have, maybe about North Korea...probably about video games.




For the last few weeks I've noticed really loud sounds coming from the trees on my way to work in the morning. One day I realized it was so loud I could barely hear my iPod. It sounded like a million little bird-crickets (brickets?). I asked the Korean teachers and they told me the sound is made by cicadas. So since then I've been determined to see one. I've been pausing under the trees, attracting even more attention and curious stares than usual, to try and get a glimpse.
Today I tried again.
Staring up at leaves that were no more than two feet away from my face, I suddenly saw what had been in front of me the whole time--and jumped about 6 inches off the ground. Although I knew they were big, their size still surprised me. What unnerved me even more was the way in which they cling to the underside of leaves, upside down, like they're going to fall off (and into your hair) at any moment. Once I saw one, I saw others everywhere I looked. As the wind blew their leaves around threateningly, I slowly stepped out from underneath them.
There are several species of cicadas, and since seeing these ones I've seen different-looking ones (deceased) on the ground, so I get the impression a single area can harbor several species.
The batteries in my camera died just as I found these guys, and so I couldn't zoom in at all. I'll get a better shot soon.

Various items from July 12 and 13th

After trying in vain to create a cohesive posts with these photos, I'm admitting defeat and resolving myself to a Mish Mash entry for this week. Above, two men relaxing in front of the river this morning. I feel so silly. I finally figured out what all those seemingly abandoned chairs on the side of the road are for-- for sitting in! Why be uncomfortable when you can drag your lazyboy out?





Some shoes I found for a really reasonable price yesterday. I've never had yellow shoes before :)



I also treated myself to a pack of crayons. Here in Korea, it seems there are generally two kinds of crayons, this being one of them. The others come in a plastic tube and the crayon itself is pushed out of the top. Those ones also have harder texture, so I like the ones shown above better. However, it would be nice if they have more of a point on the end. I accidentally bought another pack of crayons, thinking I was buying markers. How frustrating to not be able to read packaging sometimes. Oh bother.



Sunny and I at Seomun Market on Saturday. Seomun Market is the oldest and largest tradition market in Daegu, and one of the oldest in Korea. Seomun means "west gate" because the market is located where the west gate of the Daegu Castle used to be. The market dates back to the Joseon Dynasty. Seomun Market is part of Deagu's main shopping district, which is primarily concentrated in the downtown core. This area has been the city's shopping district for centuries. The market is huge, composed of several blocks and buildings. You can find anything from furniture to electronics to western deodorant to dried octopus.



Sunny bought me some lunch and we sat to eat outside. We had Korean pancake, and sujebi, a Korean soup.



I also had my fortune told yesterday, something I've been wanting to do for a while. It's not uncommon for people here to get their palm read or their cards read on a regular basis, and the results are often taken seriously enough to affect their decision making. For example, a coworker recently mentioned that as a child her name was changed after her parents were advised to do so by card reader. Another coworker told me that her parents no longer approve of her boyfriend because a fortune teller suggested he was incompatible with their daughter.

Hope you're having a good weekend,