Prestige

After packing and checking out of our hotel, we headed to the popular Myeong Dong (명동) neighborhood. We walked up and down busy shopping streets and you can see Namsan (남산) tower:



A lot of foreigners come here to shop for their favorite K-Pop merchandise:



We also came to attend mass at the cathedral in Myeong Dong (명동) which is where my parents and all my mom’s siblings got married:





I don’t get to attend mass in Korean often anymore, so it was quite comforting. I also wanted to come and see the panels painted by my beloved Priest, Father Chang’s father - he had been the Dean of the College of Fine Arts at Seoul National University and an accomplished painter:



As I left, I took a selfie with the cathedral and my new pin from my aunt:



For lunch, we visited my cousin Soon Hyup’s (순협) new apartment and his sweet wife is an excellent cook:







She baked these cookies and we brought some Japanese treats:



I enjoyed chatting with my nephews, Hyun Jin (현진) and Seong Jin (성진). We tried to walk off the calories by exploring the grounds of the new apartment complex that was replete with amenities:







Then we were off to the airport. On the way, we made our calls and rounds of goodbyes as that’s also the Korean etiquette to our elders. But at the airport, we had one more goodbye. A cousin surprised us and with some recent family drama, the two rendezvous at the tail end of our trip have been both a surprise, but has brought a sense of closure. I am so glad for my mom and my family overall.

While trying to look for three seats in the Prestige Lounge, someone was trying to flag us down. I thought it was my brother’s friend we saw in the security line, but it was an old church friend and excellent opera singer. He was in town visiting his mom and we took this selfie:



Although my mom and brother flew business class on the way here and using my dad’s family pooled miles, the three of us have never flown business together. So I forced Justin to take this family selfie:



I’ve always been grateful for my family and have felt blessed by their warmth and hospitality throughout my childhood. And the extra efforts by my cousins and the surprise rendezvous reinforces the special bonds we share. I definitely don’t need an airplane ticket to tell me that, but am feeling super special today and for this special trip my brother and I were able to coordinate. So good night and see you back stateside!

Empathy

Today after some acupuncture treatment for my mom’s ankle and my aching lower back, we took a Kakao Taxi to Bundang (분당) cemetery. We were returning to visit with the 4th family and the anniversary of my 4th uncle’s passing. He passed just shy of 2 weeks after my dad, but was about 10 years younger. It came as a shock and for my dad’s siblings to lose 2 in such a short time.

Although Justin has seen him, I hadn’t seen my cousin, Yeonwoo (연우) since 2006. Here’s a photo of us with my 4th aunt with my cousin’s kids, Hyunjae (현재) and Hyunjo (현조):



Then just our generation with our cousin’s wife:



Then our moms:



My 4th uncle was kind and witty and always very warm. He loved to hike:



Here’s an old school photo when my uncle visited us in New York:



We spent a lot of time with the 4th family during the summers, often eating at one of my uncle’s favorite restaurants in the once tallest building in Korea - 63 Building, named after its number of stories:







Here’s an old school photo of just us kids - my cousin Yeonwook (연욱) and Yoonjoo (윤주) couldn’t join:



After lunch and coffees, we did a rendezvous and as planned, met with my mom’s 4th family who coincidentally lives in the same neighborhood. Our beloved cousin Taesoon (태순) hosted us at a Korean restaurant called Four Seasons:



We returned to our uncle’s and enjoyed desserts including these delicious chocolate bars and for fun, an old school photo:





Taesoon (태순) drove us back to the hotel where we had another rendezvous drinking beers and whiskey highballs, sharing the love and feeling refreshed. There was empathy all around. Special thanks to Taesoon (태순) for being an amazing cousin and coordinating everything.

Free Friday

With no hard plans today, we relaxed and slept in. For an early lunch, we walked around the corner to a famous gomtang (곰탕) restaurant known for their beef bone broth soup. It was also popular with my dad’s generation. The original name was Ha Dong Kwan (하동관), but due to family drama they renamed it to Soo Ha Dong (수하동). Comically, they asked if we’re Chinese - always happens on trips, even in Korea! A photo of the soup and fresh kimchi:



For a midday coffee, I stopped into a Starbucks and into the popular Starfield Coex Mall which is known for their bookstore / library. There were many foreigners like me taking photos:





We had pondered sightseeing a temple or palace, but we ended up stopping by our aunt’s house to pick up some photos.

Then we had dinner plans with our 1st aunt and my cousin, Yoonhae (윤혜). Her father was my dad’s elder brother. A photo of my uncle below on his birthday with my cousins, Yeon-Wook (연욱) and Yoon Joo (윤주) from the 4th family:



We had a wonderful Korean meal at Mo Dam (모담):



And then took these selfies:





Here’s an old photo of the three female cousins and we all share the same generational character of Yoon (윤) - Yoon Joo (윤주) is the oldest on the right, Yoon Hae (윤혜) is the youngest on the lower step, and I’m in the middle as Yoon Kyong (윤경) on the left:



After dinner, Justin and I headed to our close cousin’s, Jung Hae’s (정혜) house where we hung out with her family of 3 kids and husband, Hee Young (희영). My nephew, Jinhyung (진형) joined in on the late night snacks:



Here’s Jung Hae (정혜) and me rocking our bathing suits on one of our many family trips. As we are the same age, we spent a lot of time together:



It was a relaxing day as we had a lot of freedom, but also some hearty eating!

My Dad's Family

Today, the plan was to spend the day with my dad’s side of the family. My father was one of four brothers. Here’s an old school 70s photo and from my left to right: 3rd-4th-my dad who was the 2nd-1st.



Here they are with my grandparents at their 50th wedding anniversary in 1986 and from left to right: 3rd-1st-4th-my dad:



Their graves are in Bundang (분당) about 30 minutes south and my great grandparents, grandparents, 1st and 4th uncles are here:





Our 2nd aunt, my dad’s younger sister, escorted us to the gravesite and we enjoyed snacks and the views of the cherry trees on the hillside:





We returned to Seoul and had a delicious lunch with 3rd uncle and aunt at Homuran (호무랑) in the Josun Hotel:



We are looking in different directions in this photo as my Luddite aunt uses a film camera:



Here’s also a photo from 1989 with my 3rd uncle when we were visiting and with my cousin Yeonhang (연항). This photo makes me smile and laugh at the same time - oh the 80s!



In the afternoon, my 2nd aunt brought her elder sister to stop by our hotel and we enjoyed ice cream snacks:





We then met with the 3rd family again for dinner at Sushi Sunsoo (선수) and also joining were my cousin, Yeontae’s (연태) lovely kids, Yoon (윤) and Mi-Sol (미솔), both in college:







Today was a lovely day of spending time with my father’s surviving siblings while paying respects to those who have passed and in honor of that, an old school photo of all of them with my grandparents…