Thursday, 30 October 2014

From Korea - October 29th and 30th

So good to be met by Minju and Jordan at the airport in Busan. We had been in transit for about 20 hours, with no sleep. We spent the following day recovering and the day after that we did some exploring of local fish, veggie, and fruit markets. Jordan and Minju live in an apartment complex right on the harbour in Tongyeong.

 Mt. Fuji from the plane.

Windows of gold at Narita Airport.

 Old shipyards (closed for months) from Minju and Jordan's living room.

 Constant activity on the water - my dad would have loved this place!

 Fishing boat setting out.

 Customs' boats across the street from Minju and Jordan.

 Tongyeong cityscape.

 Across the water.

 Squid drying on a rack at the side of the road.

 All kinds of fish set to dry - the fish is used for fish soup, stew, and broth.

 More fish for drying.

 Tongyeong - rimmed by hills and ocean.

 Dried anchovies for sale in the market.

 Korean market - tourists flock here on weekends.There are 2 fish markets in  Tongyeong.

 Two kinds of persimmons. The orange variety (hongsi) is sweeter and softer.

 Mostly fruit and veggies along this road.

 Fishing supplies.

 A fish seller commandeered this spot along the road to dry his fish.

Bunk-beds for dried fish!

View from the fish-seller's working site.

Prepping the fish to hang.

Fish bodies propped open for drying.

Heron surveys her domain.

Lots of activity happening on the boats.

Just a block from Jordan and Minju's.

Jordan and Minju's building.

Trying to figure out which window belonged to Jordan and Minju.

Miruk-do from Minju and Jordan's.

October 25th, 26th, and 27th - Last Three Touring Days in New Zealand

Our post-tour started on Saturday morning in Dunedin. We toured a number of gardens and spent the last evening in Christchurch at a hotel close to the airport. We enjoyed this short post-conference tour, but between you and me - we were by then kind of gardened-out. The last day it was rainy and cold - definitely a damper on strolling through gardens, however beautiful. Thankful for amiable travel companions, for sure. Elaine and I decided to stay in the bus and play double solitaire during one of the garden stops!

 Happy we remembered to pack our umbrellas.

 A garden  on the hillside - amazing.

 Great raindrop photo-op!

 Ornamental cabin on the edge of a garden pond.

More water lily pads and wonderful raindrop patterns.



Friday, 24 October 2014

October 23, 2014 - Larnach Castle Garden, Glenfalloch, and Portobello Road Gardens

Our day tour began at 9 am.
Our first stop was Larnach Castle - built by William Larnach in the 1870s in the outskirts of Dunedin. Larnach's summer home - he referred to the castle as 'camp.'
 Dunedin has the most Edwardian buildings of any city in the southern hemisphere
 Such amazing architecture - and it's everywhere here
 On the way to Larnach Castle

 On the castle grounds - morning tea
 Twelve members of the Japanese Rhododendron Society attended the conference
 The castle
 One delegate's gluten free scone!
 Sue enjoys her dessert!
 Tree peony
 The castle through the peonies
 The grand staircase
 The garden is massive  - developed by the current owner
 Overlooking the bay
 Such a beautiful scene
 Clematis everywhere

At Glenfalloch Gardens - an easel of pansies
Coach drivers chatting with police officer
Brugmansia
Waiting for the coaches
At the final banquet - Tony was a great emcee

Gluten free desserts!