Shanghai, the city which was once called the “Paris of the East”.

Dunno who said that, but ‘t was a dude with access to some righteous ganja. And today of course the comparison is even more ridiculous…

Tuesday September 11th, 7:30 pm: Lecture Meeting with our own Dr. Andrei Lankov, on “North Koreans in the Borderland: Chinese North East and North Korea, from the 1980s to the Present”. Residents Lounge Somerset Palace.

Sat-Sun Sept 15-16th: WANDO and JINDO ISLANDS TOUR — a great weekend spent in the unspoiled and rural extreme southern tip of the Korean peninsula, visiting the scenic islands of Wan-do, Bogil-do and Jin-do. On the return trip, we will visit the venerable Daeheung-sa Temple.

Sat Sept 15th: 1-day TOUR TO BUSAN CITY by KTX train — this trip takes us to Yongdu-san Park which offers great views, then the famously dynamic Jagalchi Fish market, the Taejongdae Cliffs Park, the UN Memorial Cemetery, the City Museum and Haeundae (the most famous beach in Korea) with a visit to the APEC Conference Hall located on a very scenic peninsula near the beach.

Sun Sept 16th: Walking-Tour of DOSEON-SA TEMPLE in BUKHAN-SAN NATIONAL PARK — originally supposed to be guided by my own bad self, but unfortunately the date will be postponed or another guide designated, as something urgent has come up.

BUKCHON WALKING TOUR
SEPT 29 (SAT) – Strolling for a few hours through the neighborhood of traditional are remodeled Korean houses (hanok) just north of downtown Seoul, guided by an expert in its history. We will visit the new Bukchon Culture Center to learn about the preservation projects, the Gahoe Folk-Art Museum, a few great old hanoks and some traditional artisans who operate workshops there. Led by Professor David Mason.

SEPT 29-30 (Sat-Sun): JEOLLA PROVINCES TOUR: BYEONSAN-BANDO NATIONAL PARK, TAMYANG BAMBOO MUSEUM and UNJU-SA PAGODA VALLEY - We will spend the first day in Byeonsan Peninsula National Park with its spectacular scenery, fine views of the Yellow Sea and lovely Byeonsan Beach, and near here we will also be able to visit the famous Seonun-sa temple. The next day we will go to Tamyang for a visit to the bamboo museum before continuing our journey to mysterious Unju-sa in Pagoda Valley, with its dozens of unique-styled millennium-old stone Buddhist artworks.

SEPT 29-30 (Sat-Sun): CHUNGMU PORT (TONGYEONG CITY) and GEOJE-DO ISLAND TOUR - A chance to learn and explore some of Korea’s most outstanding scenery - the beautiful island and seas of Geoje-do and the Hallyo Waterway National Park.

OCT 5-8 (Fri-Mon): HONSHU JAPAN TOUR - This trip to Japan’s main island focuses on the industrial and historical Kansai region. The tour begins in Osaka, moves on to Asuka and Nara, the eighth century Japanese capital, and continues to Kyoto, the capital up until 1868. Castles, shrines, temples and museums insure a varied experience of Japan.