My winter vacation wasn't much of a vacation. Instead of relaxing and enjoying myself I spent all of it packing and moving and unpacking (which I haven't yet finished). I wanted to move and Christmas day the landlord made the decision easier by saying I either had to get rid of the dog or move. I still have to find a new home for the dog (that makes me so sad but it's hard to find a good home here that will allow dogs) but at least I'm out of the horrible home I was in before. The old home was good in the summer and fall because of the little outside rooftop area, but once it started to get colder the bigger problems started to show up. The landlord didn't get the heating floor mat that was promised, the living room (and sometimes kitchen) ceiling rained and water ran down the walls and behind the book shelves and sofa.
[Black spots are mold - it was all over along this part of the wall/ceiling, and all along the floor and wall behind the sofa and book shelf.]
The landlord's explanation - it's because of the difference in temperature. Her solution - open the door or windows for an hour or so every day. Ummmm... so I should make the inside the same as the outside in the winter???? When she decided that she didn't agree to provide heating for the living room??? Also, the water pipes froze so quickly that the hot water had to be running a little bit at all times when it was freezing out. That wouldn't be a bad thing if it were dryer or if the bathroom had a vent but it didn't so in order to use the bathroom I'd either need an umbrella or the bathroom ceiling had to be mopped from the dripping water.
Ugh.
So I was told Christmas Day that I had to move. The next day I found a new home to move to, with Thursday being the moving day. Then Wednesday the new landlord decided she wanted to renovate the home instead and so changed her mind. Ack!!! So I found a new home on Wednesday and moved on Thursday. The new home is great except for the tiny bedroom. It's got a nice living room
[still a tad disorganized] with a little balcony-ish outside space through large sliding windows, a decent kitchen , a wonderful bathroom - bathtubs in small apartments here are rare
(although once again, no vents so the window has to be opened a little to let the steam out), and a nice back storage/utility area where the washing machine is.
It's been a stressful week but at least I'm in a much nicer home. :)
But... Now I need a vacation!!!!
Sunset
Freehand zoomed in shot of the moon.
Wandering out past the mudflats to reach the distant knee deep water: the view back to the beach.
On the way back to the beach, rescued a little dragonfly that was floating in the water. Half an hour later he was finally able to fly away. :)
Tents on the beach. Love the teepee tent! Belonged to a Korean hippy family. They befriended us later that night. Said they saw me earlier and thought I was like a hippy. ^^
It says,
Tasted okay, but not great.
It's a nice place for walking when the weather's nice. 
Last weekend the cherry blossoms were still out in full force. Beautiful. 
It's an interesting contrast when some trees are covered in flowers and some are still dragging themselves out of winter mode.
And of course Namsan has some fantastic views of Seoul.
Inside the base of Namsan Tower there is a restaurant and store. 
Along the central wall, little tiles have been bought and decorated by friends, boyfriends/girlfriends, etc. I love it! Such a great idea.
A gift. :) Did I ever mention that I LOVE giraffes?!!
It says, "Me there will be a possibility of carrying that it peels?
Going down.
That's a little house on the right. It looks short because it is lower on the hill.
Turn the corner and you get to...
Looking down.
Looking back up at the stairs.
Go to the left. Looking down over a more traditional style home below.
A view of Seoul.
Going down again.
And around a corner.And around another corner:
More stairs. Around the corner:
Here is another picture that I took at this point.
And so on...
[After her first bath at the vet. They put a cutesy little ribbon on her for some silly reason. Only in Korea?]
[Black spots are mold - it was all over along this part of the wall/ceiling, and all along the floor and wall behind the sofa and book shelf.]
The landlord's explanation - it's because of the difference in temperature. Her solution - open the door or windows for an hour or so every day. Ummmm... so I should make the inside the same as the outside in the winter???? When she decided that she didn't agree to provide heating for the living room??? Also, the water pipes froze so quickly that the hot water had to be running a little bit at all times when it was freezing out. That wouldn't be a bad thing if it were dryer or if the bathroom had a vent but it didn't so in order to use the bathroom I'd either need an umbrella or the bathroom ceiling had to be mopped from the dripping water. 
Ugh.
[still a tad disorganized] with a little balcony-ish outside space through large sliding windows, a decent kitchen , a wonderful bathroom - bathtubs in small apartments here are rare 
(although once again, no vents so the window has to be opened a little to let the steam out), and a nice back storage/utility area where the washing machine is.
