July 2007 ArchivesMain page is here. |
July 29 2007
Our New Apartment
After we finished in Hannam we took a taxi to Oksu, another area Jung wanted to see. When we arrived we found a lovely neighbourhood where all the neighbours had conveniently moved out. We found a mother and her kitten and walked around one apartment without the help of a real estate agent. It was difficult finding real estate agencies that were open because July is when the tax collectors are out. Apparently the procedure is for them to drive around and try to find real estate offices that are open. If they catch you open, they charge you 7 million won and you aren't allowed to operate for 40 days. So real estate agencies stay open, but keep their ears out for any signs of tax collectors, when they'll close up and hide. It sounds like they're doing something dishonest like hiding incomes or something worth going to jail, but this is how it's done. It actually sounds more like an evil game devised by tax collectors. The previous day, we were at one office when they got a call the tax collectors were coming, so they closed up quickly. We then wandered to Achasan where we found a real estate office that was open. The woman was friendly so Jung warned her the tax collectors were near. She had her shop closed up and then took us around to a few apartments. |
July 22 2007
Sindaebang
I was feeling restless and returned to the condemned neighbourhood in Sindaebang. This time I slipped inside three condemned houses and looked around. I think these are some of the best pictures I've taken there. |
July 17 2007
Constitution Day
We had the day off on Tuesday so I took Jung out on a scooter ride. We went to the demolished neighbourhood which she'd never seen before. Our visit was cut short when we came across an arsonist in the act of setting a fire. He was extremely nice to us and had the typical conversation with me that all foreigners go through in this country, and all the while I was looking over his shoulder at the flaming box and wondering if he was going to stab me. We also went to Planet Boramae, a park that always seems to be in a state of disrepair whenever I see it. |
July 14 2007
Scooter Ride
I went to a few places on Saturday. First I returned to Little Nagasaki, but there were too many people around so I left. I headed up one of the small mountains nearby, and made it to the top just at the start of dusk. There was quite a view. Then I went down back to Little Nagasaki to take some pictures under the cover of dark. |
July 13 2007
Planet Themepolis
I returned to the rooftop a second time to get a better look around without being interrupted. This time I found there really wasn't much, but it gave me a good view of the city. |
July 13 2007
Planet Themepolis
Next to the building where I work there's a small shopping mall called Themepolis with movie theatres and a supermarket. For some reason Korean malls tend to have shopping underground, and parking above ground. In this building levels five, six, and seven are parking, and level eight is a rooftop park. Anyway, this mall doesn't seem to be doing so well, judging by all the empty retail space. I went up to the park yesterday only to find the doors leading into it were chained shut and in view of security cameras. The park is a mess, littered with debris and dust, despite the decent health of the trees. But sneaky me I found a service stairwell with the door unlocked at the top. I looked out and verified I could get out there, but my SD card was full. |
CONTACT
Jon underscore Dunbar at Hotmail
010-3212-2812
Please remember that these photos are all copyrighted to me. If you want to use them in any way, there's a 90 per cent chance I'll give you my permission, and be able to give you a copy with a higher DPI.Copyright Jon Dunbar 2004
Photos taken by
Nikon CoolPix 950
digital camera.