Still in Iksan

It's been a busy time in wonderful Korea. On Friday Rona's aunt and cousin Airang (I think I am spelling it wrongly) picked Rona and me up and we went on a trip to Jeonju, where Airang is doing her Master's degree in fashion, and it is the capital of Jeollabuk province and famous home of traditional culture,  where we went for a typical lunch of bibimbap (rice, vegetables, an egg). Meals all always served with bowls of kimchi (fermented vegetables such as cabbage or radish, but there are many many types). Then we went to a park with a fountain that 'dances' to music playing over loudspeakers, and to Jeon Dong Cathedral, the most beautiful Catholic cathedral, built in a mix of Byzantine and Romanesque style, in Korea ( there are many Christian churches in Korea, many more than I expected). The Cathedral is across from  the Gyeonggjeon shrine. We toured a paper museum, which included high fashion gowns made entirely out of hanji, traditional Korea mulberry paper, and then went for herbal tea in a lovely cafe in the Jeonju Traditional Cultural Center in the traditional Hanok village, which contains over 800 traditional Korean houses called hanok.  After that we drove about an hour to Gunsan, which has a port, airport and university, on the coast of the Yellow Sea, where we visited Rona's aunt who had a meal for us waiting, although she was going with friends for dinner. She is a wonderful traditional watercolour artist and crochet expert who makes crocheted mats, slippers, sweaters and even suits!  She gave me a beautiful mat she had crocheted!  Her husband is an architect and ex professional baseball player and they live in a beautiful, big apartment.  Then we went to the recording studio in an area with the work "American" in itwhere Stephen was wrapping up recording his 7th CD.  We took a taxi from there to the Gunsan bus station, took at bus for about 30 minutes back to Iksan and another taxi from the bus station to their place.  All in all, a good and busy day! 

at Gyeonggjeon temple, Jeonju

at Park

lunch in Jeonju

Rona's aunt in front of her painting

Stephen, Rona and cat Felix