We did not see much of the Vancouver Winter Olympics as we were in Brazil . . . though it was a delight to watch some events on Brazilian TV, which was uninterrupted by commercials!  Whatever you may think of the Olympics, the athletic feats are impressive, the stories behind some of the Olympians are compelling, and it looks like Vancouver put on a great show.  I'm not surprised--it's a beautiful city and the perfect place to showcase such an event.

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Two events occurred after I left Korea that I wished I could have witnessed.  First, the 2002 World Cup, though being there in 1996 when Korea the bid with Japan was interesting for Koreans' collective angst at having to settle for co-hosting that extravaganza.  Second, last week much of Korea was buried in 10 inches (25 cm), of snow, a record since the country first gauged statistics in 1937.  In addition to the traffic, I can only imagine the mayhem resulting from those trying to trudge through Myong-dong in platform shoes or delivering noodles or appliances on the back of a motorbike.  Perhaps this was a case of best witnessing the news from the safety of television.  However, what that odd weather pattern does remind us is of Korea's third attempt to host the Winter Olympics, this time in 2018 in PyeongChang. (more...)

When I lived in Korea during the mid-90s, one of the simple pleasures in life was having everything delivered.  Whether it was the yogurt lady, adorned in yellow vinyl in case the tropical monsoon storms suddenly unleashed their fury; the dry cleaning cantor (when he came to our building, I thought he was loudly chanting "Satan," but he was just booming the Korean word for laundry); the devilishly delicious plates of greasy jja-jjang-myun, a noodle dish swimming in black bean sauce; or a refrigerator that my dear friend arranged to have dragged across town to her apartment . . . delivery, usually by a scooter, was mostly a happy way of gathering goods and services. 

 

What amazed me is that anything got delivered at all:  Korea has the most illogical address system, a matruska-like mess where you go from large (as in country, then province), to small (the block number or building name on the street).  I always loved going into the local restaurants and looking at the local precinct maps.  Block number 2 on my street may have been next to number 3, or 31, with number 77 following.  I got dizzy trying to figure out the madness.  When Korea co-hosted the World Cup in 2002, logistics slightly improved as streets were given name, but that U2 song still reminds me of Korea. (more...)

It looks like today's DME Wednesday.  I just profiled BC's Blue Fuel Energy, and came across an announcement from Korea's natural gas monopoly, Korea Gas Corp (Kogas), stating that the company is investing US$338 million into a plant that will produce cooking fuel from DME.  Long range plans call for Kogas to develop DME for auto fuel, but Kogas' investment takes DME back to its roots:  a clean, cost-effective form as cooking fuel. (more...)

Sooner or later I had to write about Korea—I lived there in the mid-1990s and every time I return, I’m amazed at all the changes. (more...)