"When I was young I set out to change the world.
When I grew older I perceived that this was too ambitious,
so I set out to change my state.
This too, I realized as I grew older, was too ambitious,
so I set out to change my town.
When I realized that I could not do even this, I tried to change my family.
Now, as an old man I know that I should have started by changing myself.
If I had started with myself, maybe then I would have succeeded
in changing my family, the town, or even the state-
and who knows, maybe the world."
(unknown)

December 10, 2010

Screaming 'Wait' at the 'No Wait Mountain'

GwangjuGwangjuIt seems I have missed a November post.. realizing I really had nothing to write whenever I tried to squeeze my brain to at least start some words.. It was really a final month to actually put an end on something. Looking back to my November, I recall about 'No Wait Mountain' translated from 無等山 (무등산, 'Mudeng-san'). I took a local bus from the first station to the last station early in the morning to meet a few quite important people I ever met here. We do Aikido 合气道 together including my beloved teacher, and we challenged the 'No Wait Mountain'. It was my first time to do hiking in my 2 years here, well, just a WALK, through some staircases, through some routes that never  parallel (or get any closer) to the water surface level.. As the result, I was the last person following the group, silently screaming 'WAIT' at the 'No Wait Mountain', while panting heavily.. ended up we had to turn back before even to reach half way. Anyway, clearly it was not reaching high that counts here, it was the good feeling of the family trip like outing, and the beautiful Autumn scenery with trees covered by either yellowish orange or bloody red color leaves, then a simple lunch.. and also our bonding memory at least captured in the form of  a bit 'emotional' photography~ and make sure we have chance to meet again.. Yes, started writing, so.. what's on December?