Runaway Juno

Juno go round, round, and round!

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You are all invited! To my grand, world round (imagination) tour!

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From last year, I met so many great fellow travelers and witnessed tweetup after tweetup. It occurs to me, I could do that, you know. Make my itinerary according to people I want to meet and who let me meet them. And, maybe someone could offer me a couch?

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So I call this,  “Juno-go-round, Tweetup-couchsurfing RTW”. Cool, hu?  :)

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I apologize in advance just in case if you feel bad about I mentioned your name and these random things to do. I didn’t really ask all of you permission. So I’m sincerely sorry for that. Also sometimes I only know just a gist of where you are, so please forgive me and correct me if I’m wrong.

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So, here we go!

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My dream Round the world trip, I would like to start with Trans Mongolian and Trans Siberian.

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From Incheon, will take a plane to Beijing and take Trans Mogolian. Explore Mongolia and Russia along the way. All the way to Moscow. It would take about a month or a month and a half. Oh it would be fun!! Ride some horse, and other animals out there.

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Then fly up to Finland. There’s my friend, Simo. He will offer me a couch, right Simo? Actually this is Simo and his buddy, Kalle’s root when he go back home from a year of like in Korea. He will gladly let me crash his couch, won’t you? I have this wild image of Finland, and I would love to see all. You and Kalle live in different city, right? Guide me! :)

Finland then move on to Sweden. Up to Norway, and hopefully catch some Northern light. This is the closest way to be near the north poll, so hopefully! In Sweden; I will meet awesome couple, @AsWeTravel. They will know all the cool stuff about Sweden. Will be count on you!

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Down to Denmark, and the great UK. Does Denmark really have greatest milk? Well, anyhow Andy, @501places, Darren @TravelRants, Lynne @lynnerosie, Abi @Insidethetravellab, Zoe @quirkytraveller  would love to see me, wouldn’t you? We can do a little group tweetup! Hoot!!

From Andy’s blog few months ago, his trop to Scotland and England were just fascinating. I want to do that when I get there.

And some of my friends I met in New Zealand. Matt, Saul and Laura will be happy to meet me after these years. I see your status via Facebook but that’s not realistic considering we met a long time ago, right? Can’t wait to meet you all. Saul is almost a celebrity, aren’t you?

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Then explore Europe west to east. From Portugal, Spain. Nellie @WildJunketwill guide me where to enjoy myself in Spain. Since you are just an awesome traveler, I’m so excited to meet you!

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France, when I hit Paris, @ParisBuffand @EasyHike101are going to see me! Pleas have one expensive cup of coffee in front of Eiffel tower. Please, please?

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Belgium, hanging out with lovely @Isabellestravel. Promise me to introduce the best Belgium waffle and Belgium chocolate!!

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@VelvetEscapein the Netherlands. However I’m not sure he is going to be there when I arrived. He is in all over the world, I tell ya! If you are around, hang out with me in the beach with the airplanes.

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Germany. Melvin, @TravelDudes. I think we could get along just fine. Also I’ve heard you are a great tour guide!  When I meet him (finally!) there’s a lot to talk about in so many subjects. Start with ‘Traveldudes.org’, right? Well, take our time!

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Now, this beautiful Italy. I wanted to learn Italian but haven’t done yet. Maybe I will start when I get there. Lovely Simon @1Step2theleftand I will have some lovely time at beautiful Italy. Would you do with a bike tour to Rome? Michela @RockyTravel! Would you like to meet me in somewhere in Italy? Point some great winery out for me!

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Mediterranean Sea is one of thing I really expect. I’ve heard weather there is dry and fantastic, and ocean in Croatia is one of the most beautiful places in the world. So definitely Greece, Croatia, and Italy. Oh and since I love Greek food, that should be included. Anyone based on Greece? Would you love to hang out with me?

Slovenia, if @MKLis around. I think you know pretty great place to around, right? I’m counting on you! :) Frankly I know so little about Slovenia.

Kosovo, hiking with Todd, @ToddVassel. I’ve seen his photo from his hiking, and that is just too beautiful. Take me to one!

Up to Romania, Lori @Travelmomentswould love to hang out with me, right? Do you think your husband let me drive one of his remote control plane? :)

Rest of Europe, Eastern Europe. I always want to visit Prague, Turkey, and probably I would love rest of Eastern Europe. @Turkeysforlifeis an expert of Turkey travel, so I will ask you some advice, cool?

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The amazing Africa. Wow Africa. I thought Africa was a country when I was 8 or 9. Teacher wanted us to pick a country and research about that country. And I choose Africa. I’ve read books and everything and she said Africa is not a country. That is a name of continent and I didn’t understand what that was. Anyhow that is my first relationship with Africa. Okay Africa, now it’s time to hangout with me!

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Morocco, Algeria, Senegal, Angola, Namibia, Botswana, South Africa, Madagascar, Tanzania, Kenya, Ethiopia, Sudan and Egypt. And so many other places in this wonderful continent. I will visit you all. Oh I can hardly wait! Wherever you are, @AcasiaAfrica, please come out and hang out with me! And if you are around Giulia @giuliaccia, meet up with me in Cairo! Or, Italy, that’s fine too.

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Then up  the Middle East. Frankly I’m little afraid of Middle East. There were so many issues, war, religion and everything. Phew, oh well, I think that is different to travelers? Hope so. We do a lot of projects base on Middle East, and everytime people told, they have to spend too much money on security. Have to prepare for random people shoot, fight or kidnap. Hopefully, for travelers that does not apply.

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Now Adam @TravelsofAdamis in Middle East, so I could get some advice from you when I’m heading to Middle East, right?

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Grand tour of India, Nepal and Sri Lanka. Maybe climb Mt.Everest and lots of trekking in Nepal.

Then back to Asia. Quite weird, since I left from Asia but now it’s time to South East Asia. Start with Burma, then Thailand. If @Eloren@Gotpassportand @OurownPathare still there, let’s hangout! I haven’t met @Gotpassportbut I think you guys are really cool. And we ( @OurownPathand I) only met once, but I think we become a good friend since that was our first tweetup, right? Oh and @KevinRevolinskimight be there.  Kevin is all over the world too, so hard to keep it up! :)

Daniel @Eloren, you and I have to do some photo shoot!! Let’s do long exposure! Can’t wait! Photography buffs are always my best friends. If you let me of course. :)

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Laos, Vietnam, and Malaysia. In KL, there’s going to be my favorite gal pal, @AgentCikay. I will bring great quality running shoes, so you have to take me all the great food places on your blog. We start with running and then eat, right? And your blogger friends too!

There are so many things we could do, and we have to do! You know. I’m really looking forward to it!! You know it!

I may don’t want to leave because of you. :)

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Philippines and Indonesia. Island hopping. Looking forward to it! Dave @TLWH, if you are still around, let’s hang out! No? You wouldn’t!

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Now it’s time to road trip in Australia. I really look forward to do it. Well, everything is but Australia. According to what I’ve read and heard, I will fall in love with this country.Desert, I really want to see, and ocean, surfing, oh and don’t forget the Opera house.

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My friends I met few weeks ago, Bryony @Brypieand Paul are going to be there I hope. Let’s do another tour in your city!

Oh and when I hit Sydney, can I join Sydneytraveltribe? Then I can meet all of you at once! Please include me in!

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Sorry I thought symbolize Austrailia as “Yellow Tail” wine, but what can I do, I love this wine! When I do some road trip in Austrailia, I might buy dozens of bottle of this. But you know what? It has wildness and kangaroo in their picture. So.. It’s Austrailia, right? :)

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New Zealand. How can I leave you out? I’ve been there already twice, and I explore everywhere but still there are more to see, more to do. I lost my chance to visit Milford Sound last time because of heavy snow storm, and more beach? I bet there are still milion things to do, and I will like the most of it.

@BackpackingMatt, @TrailsofAnt, @Kiwitravwriter, and who else? Let’s come out and travel with me!

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I think @illuminatdtrvlrcould be there. If you are, we could be travel mates!  :)

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Now it’s time to another grand tour, on my list forever, South America. Homeland of coffee, Mayan, Inca Empire, and all the monuments. I love coffee, but descent coffee is too expensive. Well coffee is generally over priced in Korea. I don’t know why. So I buy coffee bean and make my own. In South America, gorgeous coffee.. hmmmm… Yum!

Not only coffee, I’m really excited to see all of those cultural monuments. It’s almost overwhelming. History always fascinates me and this ‘grand’ history will blow my mind.

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Seriously, I want to go every bit of this continent. Maybe skip where it’s too dangerous. I would not know because I’ve never been but from what I’ve heard, some places in South America could be dangerous. For solo-female travelers. Sometimes danger could be overrated but don’t hurt to be safe, right? Oh and I might include Antactica in. It is my ‘the’ destination, but I’m not sure there will be a tour to South poll in that time. We’ll see.

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America, I already set some plans to meet Leslie @LeslieTravel, Jeremy @Budgettravelsac, Mark @Planetnomad, and Ted @TravelingTed. I will visit each and every of you and we could do some trip to somewhere, like Hawaii? I’m thinking, Chicago to meet Ted, like he said, since Chicago is in the center of the country. I will introduce you to my good friends, Luke and Laurie! They are fascinating.

Then Ted and I go to NY to get Leslie. Then cross all the way to San Francisco. Meet Jeremy, Mark oh and Ashley @NonionsXpickles, and then fly to Hawaii. How’s this? Perfect? Oh and please promise me to visit the world gratest observatory of all, Mauna Kea.

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We can convince Gray @Solofriendlyto guide us to Vegas. Since she is an expert!Oh and I can’t leave out the capital. So I’m going to twit @Landlopers. According to his articles, he is a master of DC! So, would you? It will be fun!! I bet!

Stephanie @TravelDesignedis in Illinois, so I will twit you before I go. Would you let me visit your town? I will bring great Korean food recipies :)  I know states in Ameria are huge, and I have no idea how big is Illinois and what’s there. Oh! I can meet Mr.Traveldesigned, right?

And team GotSaga @GotSaga@GotsagaLatino@PatriciaVance, wherever you are, I have to meet you! Some of you are my twit-sters, aren’t we? :)

Of course there are so many more places I want to visit. So I will do that and then visit you. I don’t want to drag you all around.For starters, I will watch tons of musicals in New York. No one is going to stop me! :) Well, maybe my wallet will stop me.

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Up to Canada, there’s our favorite lady, Janice @Solotravel. She officially offered me a couch so I will be her house for few days. (Still available?) Maybe we travel solo and together at the same time. Since Janice and I are fan of solo travel, so maybe, why not? But it’s interesting to travel two solo travelers together, right?

Dave and Deb @TheplanetDseem like fantastic people to hang out. I think you guys are amazing. I will twit you when I get there.

I beliebe @Globetrooperis in Montreal, right? I’ve never met anyone from Montreal, so please inform me about this great place!

If you are there Evelyn @JourneyWomanplease have a cup of coffee with me. You are so awesome!

Hope I can catch Northern lights at northern Canada. Expecting to see some amazing forest in Canada.

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And then, maybe… just maybe I will fly home, to Korea. That simple.

ONLY If I didn’t find any path for me on the road.

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How’s my plan?

Phew, feel like I just went all those places! Just thinking about it, makes me happy.

And who want to be in, and offer me a couch for my grand ‘Juno-go-round, Tweetup-couchsurfing RTW‘?

Let’s comment away! :)

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We usually call Korea as ‘a country of four significant seasons ‘.

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Well that was that. Was just a fact, a statement.

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What travel makes me realize is that, well so many things but this ‘season’ is quite particular thing.

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The very first backpacking was to New Zealand like I mentioned few times. It was end of September that means in the middle of autumn. Red, yellow, magenta maples draw colored picture all over the country. The weather in New Zealand that time should be almost the same as Korea.

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Next I went to Singapore and Malaysia and that was in January, so in the center of winter. That year I had two summers and no winter. These experiences repeat one after another. I even thought summer Christmas in New Zealand should be a hoot! So I knew there’s a place only summer, or opposite than ours. As an earth science nerd, of course I knew how it works. The rotation of the earth along with revolution around the sun, blah blah blah.. yeah sure I knew about that.

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The summer.

When the summer came, my family packed our bags and went short summer break to close place. Where near the pool and more nature than Seoul. Saw gorgeous butterflies, hunt down cicadas, played with dragon flies, and hung around numerous trees. Sometimes we put up a tent on the roof top to sleep because it was too damn hot.

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The winter.

In winter, we made snowman in our rooftop and rode a sleigh in small hill behind our house. One winter I could not go to school because of all the snow. It was knee high, easy. In the city!!

We go on a trip to view the autumn color to mountain, and enjoy flower view in spring.

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The Wardrobe.

When the weather starts to cold, we sat down and reorganize the entire wardrobe. Put out all the winter coats and sweaters from deep in the closet and pack all shorts and t-shirts away. Of course have to leave something for the layered style for my pleasure. Same thing in about five months but the other way around.

That’s the time we clean the closet and almost the entire house. Two times a year. We’ve done every year, no exception. You don’t want to leave your big fat coat hang around the closet for six months.

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So yes. All these little rituals are just simply normal thing to me. Naturally I thought these things are just another ritual everybody does. You know, we tend to think ourselves in the center of the universe.

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Since this is summer, so vacation and lack of free time were the main issues during this time. So I asked Mei (@Agentcikay) live in Malaysia, “How long is your summer vacation?” and she answered me “Summer? We are summer all year!” And that hit me.

It isn’t like I didn’t know that but I really understand that meaning.

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One night, I had a dinner with Laurie who is from California. She and her husband lived in Korea for two years and about to move to Chicago. We were talking about crazy weather in Korea because this year is particularly hot and cold. Don’t mention snow in this winter. Phew! And she said it was first time to see snow. And I said what? And that scarf was very first one she bought ever. And I said again what? Oh my god. Yes! You didn’t have to own a scarf because you lived in California!

I often say I want to live in California for few years, and I didn’t thought about that.

She is about to move to Chicago, so I told her how we organize our wardrobe. It was such an interesting experience! Talk about wardrobe system.

These little facts were just nodes. Then BAM! It made lines. Now I’m drawing lines, shapes and even 3D features with all these nodes.

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Traveling the world, and learning the world, while on the process I learn how to connect just facts to stories and realize everything is relevant. Also, nothing is ‘correct’. It is just ‘different’. Often ‘different’ adopted as ‘wrong’. That causes so many wars, racial difficulties, and numerous problems around the globe.

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How much travel could teach us. Now  I really thank to, whoever, for these great four seasons.  How awesome? Exctly four months later, different atmosphere, like promised. Before you realize what you own, what you take for a granted, you can never appreciate others’. First is first. See what you own. That’s what I’m thinking.

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Thank you for letting me know the smell of early summer breeze, a delicate fragrance of autumn wafted through the air, and gave me the opportunity to play with snow every year. This is, a truely beautiful country, indeed.

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*Location : Island Guesthouse, Jeju island

*Occasion : Island guesthouse in Jeju, 3rd night, that was a one busy night. We could put a ‘No Vacancy’ sign out side.

There was a guest, Lydia, from Seoul, originally from States, who is deeply into photography like I do. We understand each other right away. The fact has the same passion, that does that.

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She just bought a tripod and a fancy camera bag, and there was many of guests, we decided to do some photo shoot. Since the tripod we could do group shot and everything!

We were wondering around the hostel with our cameras. It was such fun. There was two mirror on the wall opposite side of a bar counter, so Lydia suggested do a photoshoot using this mirror. We could capture both of us using this mirror.  Cleaver!

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We took so many pictures in the house, and on the Olle course.

Meeting people on the road, has a same passion in life, and understand each other. That is really, simply the greatest thing could happen on the road.

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Can’t wait to hang out with you and camera, Lydia! :)

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This is my, our first #AstronomySunday. It was something  Giulia Cimarosti  (@giuliaccia) suggested. Since she and I loves astronomy so much, she suggested to me to create another hashtag fun and I couldn’t agree more!

So I thought about it for weeks, and here I go. My astronomical photography adventure.

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Photography. It is one of my biggest passions. It leads me to so many different directions. Science project I did in middle school light the fuse. It was about cloud and weather. So I took photos of cloud everyday on the roof top, and I fell in love with both. Photography and sky.

From middle school, I was deeply into astronomy. It was for fun rather than for study. It was fun, reading science magazine or books about universe. Science was always my thing, especially physics and earth science.

My dear friend handed me her fully mechanical camera when I was freshman at high school. It light the fuse second time. Since then it became astronomical photography. It contains with long exposure photo only mechanical camera could do, and travel around the country to find no-light pollution sites. Voila! Before no one knows, I combine photography, astronomy and travel all together. How cool is that?

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I want to tell you all about my memorable photography trip.

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Reason 1. It was the coldest day in my life. I realize how can people ‘freeze to death’.

Reason 2. Photos from that day were the best piece. Hats off.

Reason 3. I climb second highest mountain, for just take photos!

Well, it could go on and on, but let’s talk it through, shall we?

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I worked at observatory (for astronomy not for the view) as a part time job. Four of us who are working there, wanted to take some amazing trail photos. You could say ‘why don’t you take photos at observatory?’ well you are right. We could and we did, so many times. However that observatory was not in ‘deep’ enough, so light pollution was quite bad. It was just for visitors and hot for study purpose so it is not bad for visitors.

So we set a plan to go somewhere memorable, and we choose Jiri san (Mt.Jiri). The second highest mountain in the country and one of the most popular hiking places.

I don’t recall how we choose that place, maybe someone did that before, I don’t know. Anyhow Jirisan is great place for so many reasons.

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It was a day before New Year’s Day. It was snowing, and of course we didn’t have any proper hiking devices because we weren’t going there for hiking, for taking photos! We have to hike to do that but that we just concentrated on ‘cold’ part, not ‘hike’ part.

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4 hours train to Namwon, stay one night there and we headed to top from there. Our goal was to ‘Tokki bong’ not ‘Chunwang bong’. Chunwang bong is the top 1915meters) and Tokki bong is 5^th higest (1538meters). So we climb to shelter which was just below the peak. It took a whole day, as I recall. For sure, we didn’t wear neither cloths nor shoes properly, and guess that we had at least one camera body, two lenses, loads of films and a heavy tripod. Phew. Anyhow we could climb through the shelter. Our photo time is at night (naturally), so we cook some dinner and take some rest till the dawn.

It was very first time I stayed at shelter in this deep in the mountain. There was bunk bed, but not just a bed it was a bunk floor – more correctly. One heater in the middle of the cold, stone wall room, nothing to heat me up. Just my sleeping bag and my clothes.

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Well, I expected to be cold, since I’m top of the mountain in the middle of cold, cold winter, so now just get to work!

We climb again to Tokki bong. Oh and Tokki means Rabbit in Korean. How cute?

Tokki bong was quite perfect to take photos. It is open to north and south sides and east and west sides are filled with beautiful small hills to other peak and pine trees. It was beautiful. Good that we got such a great place for just one try.

Long exposure photography is sometimes frustrating. Because I literally have to wait to be done all the exposure time. It usually from a half an hour to two or three hours according to what you want to take.

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I’ve decided to start with one and a half an hour exposure photo toward the northern star. It is a poll of the rotation of the earth, so it means the trail is shorter than the equator direction.

I set the tripod, stuck deep into all the snow, measure the balance, calculate the angle of trail, and calculate the exposure time. Connect the release, ready, set, and go!

Then what? Just wait. Till it ends.

That is why photographers bring several cameras. Set one and one and another one. Then you can occupy yourself other than just sit and waiting.

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When I took these photos, usually I set the camera and went inside and out when the time comes. But I could not do that here! Because of the openness of north and south sides, it was really windy. Winter, high ground over 1500 meters, and winter! Figure out that. So I had to wait and prepare in case our tripod fall down. It was so cold and I was almost frozen to death but I didn’t want to blow once in a life time chance.

My watch stopped. Magically. Yes it was that cold. Thankfully I brought pencil rather than pen, so I still had something to write. I wore the warmest glove, hat and thousand layers of clothes but I was still cold. I seriously thought ‘this is how people die over cold.’

Still, I didn’t want to blow these chances. Weather was great, and the effort!

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So we took a shoot after shoot. Two of us went down, can’t resist the cold but I stayed. It was just too good opportunity. We were out almost 5 hours.

Who knows these pictures come out what we want. We had to wait to go back to Seoul, and few hours in the photo developing studio.

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Well, now most of people shift to digital camera, so they can make photo more beautifuly then what they actually take, and don’t have to wait around. I also shift to digital but not for these photos. I am quite an old fashion, and can’t wait to go on another long exposure adventure. :-)

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Check out my work from Jirisan. Are those count as success? I would say, hell yes!

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Accidentally, there’s a shooting star! What a luck! :)

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I had to expose this longer. It was Northern star centered angle, so it’s prettier if I did more than 3 hours of exposure. Shame. Well, next time! Nonetheless this is my favorite.

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Orion’s fall. After several hours after, this is one of my best colorful trail. See, all the stars have different colors. Did you know?

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Another lucky coincedence, someone was hiking with lantern when I open my shutter. Thank you, someone! You light mt photo.

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Up.

I knew I’d love this movie right after I saw the poster but I didn’t watch it till now. It was not because I didn’t want to, because I want to save the best piece for something special occasion. Do you get it? I know seize the day and all, but sometimes my mind wants me to hold on to something, don’t waste it too quickly. You know?

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Anyhow, while I was waiting for something special, that day came. The day, my Wi-fi was broken. I have absolutely nothing to do, and it was a quiet night.

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Good, it’s time. What is more dramatic than broken wi-fi to bloggers like me? So I dig into my window explore and double click it. The one labeled ‘Up’. (Yes I downloaded from friend’s computer, sorry)

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Oscar award is the one I enjoy every year. Not for the actors/actresses, (well, if wolverine hosts, that changes everything, however) for others who contribute to the movie making procedure. Directors, producers, editors, and numerous other brilliant ones do fantastic job.

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In the latest one, the producer and the one who wrote the number got the award. The producer, happen to look like an animated feature said ‘this is from our parents, grand parents, from their dream.’ Well not the exact words, but it pretty much was what he said. Credit toward to his family, parents, and other’s families. That was beautiful moment.

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From the first shot of this movie, I deeply fell in love with it. I always loved animated features. My brother and I are huge fan of comics, animated features and figures of them. We have long history with those movies. Anyhow, just few minutes later, it got me. “Adventure is out there!” Yes indeed!!

Airplanes, balloons, cute little children, dog, strange yet beautiful creature and the excitement!

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The progression of story is quite faster than I expected. Their whole life, dream and the end. It was short, however I feel his sorrow, I feel his resentment, I feel his regret.

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During the whole time, there was something sitting in my heart. Sorrow? Resentment? Or, regret? I don’t know what that was exactly but I know something is there. I was up lifted with his house like thousands of balloons are on my shoulder, I hold my breath when he stopped over the cloud, I fought with the bad guy with them, I wanted to yell at him to stop drag the house around even though I know why he does that, and tears stand in my eyes when he finally found the beautiful waterfall.

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Finally I burst my tears filled with emotions, the ones that sit in my mind. Well, I knew it.

This movie is not just about ‘dream’, about ‘dream to adventure’!

I am not the silver hair old man, I don’t have to lift my whole house with thousands of balloons to travel but somehow I project myself onto him. Various circumstances are familiar with me, and the location, I don’t know that waterfall is real but South America is my dream destination, maybe because of all that.

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This tear isn’t from regret of resentment, it is from joy and excitement. I am extremely happy he finally get to see the waterfall and live his, no Elle’s dream.

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Short moment, I feel little embarrassed to cry over an animated featured movie, but that was just a second. Animated feature movie is easier to get emotions because it is not real, ironically.

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It was one of my best travel movie. In any of review, there was no ‘travel’ in it but I divided as ‘travel’ section. Is there a ‘dream’ section? I would like to add this one on it. Adventure with random person, like the little boy and the dog, and defeat the problem as they come, everything is the same like we met on the road.

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What a refreshing movie. In just short moment, I worried ‘what if I become Elle?’. Just have a dream for a whole life and never make it to be true. But I know it I am doing it already, so I’m good.

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Up, you deserve ‘travel’ title in front. You certainly ‘up’ lifted me!

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