Hearts Full of Joy: Ancient & Modern

March 28, 2014

Ancient & Modern

One of the things I love most about Asia is the mixture of the ancient and the modern, the old and the new. I am captivated by the juxtaposition of rickity old buildings next to sparkling new skyscrapers, electronic shops with all the latest techonolgies next ancient shrines.

Our neighborhood in Daejeon, Korea is an old neighborhood. And while many old and run-down homes and buildings are being cleared away and replaced by new high-rises, many intriguing and old structures & homes remain.

Last week, on the first day of spring, I tried to capture these contrasts & their beauty with my camera.

A picturesque scene from old Korea painted on a house wall. At first glance, it seemed to me like a cowboy riding a horse - a western scene, but on closer insepction I saw it was a man in traditional Korean dress.

I LOVE Korean roof tiles.

This green seems to be the most popular color for gates.

More roof tiles

As I was taking pictures of the roof tiles above, a man asked me in what seemed to be an unfriendly and accusatory tone "why". Why was I taking pictures? It made me nervous, but I tried to stay calm, and told him it was because I thought it was pretty. He beckoned me to follow him, and I questioned the wisdom of it. But I tried to follow my heart, and it felt right to go with him. He led me into a narrow alley way between two old houses, which made me a little nervous, and then he proudly showed me this gate, and wanted me to photograph it. The yellow tape seems to be caution tape. I wonder if it will be torn down soon.....I hope not.

It is common to see people pulling carts like this around, even on busy streets.

The "backwards swastika" is the sign for a Buddhist Temple. And actually, the swastika is a backwards sign for a Buddhist Temple. Hitler stole it and turned it backwards.