Nami Do

I spent an early fall weekend with my English Center co-teachers at the Jarasum International Jazz Festival in Gyeongi province. It was my first experience listening to real live Jazz, not the cheezy elevator Kenny G crap you hear in jazz bars around Seoul. I was skeptical when I saw the name Dizzy Gillespie All-stars headlining the first night. I figured they would be a decent cover band at best, but a couple of musicians actually played with Dizzy and other Jazz legends. Seeing jazz live, I now have a better appreciation for this kind of music.

Here are my coteachers at the cabin we stayed at on the festival grounds. Paddy, Teri, and Jenny shared the main area while I got my own room with a bed. Not bad being the only male on the trip.


The next day we traveled to Nami Do, an island in the middle of the Han river. Many families flock here on the weekends to walk or bike around the park. Surprisingly, the island is home to a group of ostriches, who run around and try to steal picknickers' food. I was waiting for this guy to pick up a little child and carry it off, but all he did was roll around in the dirt. Here's a livelier one sneaking up on some tourists having lunch.






Cool works of art could be found all over this island, none of which I understood.