Calligraphy to the Chinese is called 서법(書法), to the Japanese 서도(書道) and Korean 서예(書藝). I learned this during my Hanja lesson.
Actually Hanja lesson had nothing to do with Korean calligraphy except that the professor who taught me Hanja is very passionate about it. He is a master in calligraphy and conduct lessons for the public during his free time.
It was two weeks to end-of-term exam and the turnout for the Hanja lesson was quite pathetic. To be exact, only three of us were present. Instead of going through our Hanja textbook, our professor wanted to introduce calligraphy to us.
He brought in his calligraphy paper, brushes, ink and inkstone and we arranged the tables and spread out the calligraphy paper. Before we could start our practice, our professor spoke at length the philosophy of calligraphy.
Calligraphy is not just writing; it is also a training of our mind. Once you can get your mind to focus on the brush strokes, it will start to calm down naturally. Soon, it will be fully relax as it leaves the mundane world behind.
It seems like calligraphy, at its best, is sort of a mind meditation. Anyway, I was quite hopeless at the writing but my Japanese classmates were very good. I practiced my writing with the word "된사람" (be a man) and it ended with my professor writing the word and giving it as a gift to me. His masterpiece (left) was originally written across. To accommodate this posting, I make it runs vertically.
To be a man, as in a man with high moral standard and discipline, is not easy. As a word, "된사람" is quite easy to write but a lot of hard work is needed to live up to it.
Enjoying a cup of hot mocha while looking out at the rain-soaked Myeongdong street. I was fortunate to have escaped into the cafe before the chilly spring rain started falling.
The main street of Myeongdong looks quite empty as it was still early in the afternoon. By about five, carts and crowd will start appearing from nowhere and fill up the street in a flash. 
This was my last cup of coffee at Caffe Pascucci, Myeongdong. The cafe has since given way to Nature Republic, a beauty products chain. Everything is memory now.
Cherry Blossom @ KHU (벚꽃, 樱花) or 'Cheery' Blossom (because they cheer people up) only last for a week in early April. Despite that, 3 days are all you have to see them at their best - the day before peak, the peak and the day after peak. Their beauty lie in their sheer number. Cherry Blossom is beautiful so is cherry blossom rain. 벚꽃비를 맞는 산뜻한 느낌은 평생 잊지 못 하는 느낌이 될 것 같다.
Lavender @ Goyang (라벤더, 薰衣草). What I like about Lavender is their fragrance. Sweeping my hand through them is like dipping my hand into a bottle of diluted Lavender essential oil. The smell was light, sweet and calming. I had contemplated going to a Lavender farm in Goseong, Gangwon Province but gave up eventually as it was too out of the way. 향기로운 라벤더를 보면 한눈에 반할지도 모르겠다.
Tulip @ Goyang (튤립, 郁金香). It is hard not to like tulips. Their beauty is their sheer elegance. Anywhere they are planted, the atmosphere of the place will be elevated. Tulips have to be planted in autumn before the first snow and be exposed to cold before they can bloom in spring. Flowers that endure winter and bloom in spring are my inspiration. 겨울엔 얼어죽지 않고 봄엔 활짝 피어 있는 튤립의 아담한 모습은 내 인생 최고의 목표이다. 
I was walking in the direction of Cheongwadae (Blue House) when a security staff halted me. "어디로 가세요?", he enquired dutifully. "구경하러 왔는데요", I replied. He nodded and let me through. It was the beginning of spring and all open plots on the pavement were covered with flowers. A nice time to take a walk.
Water had thawed and Cheonggyecheon was flowing again. There was some crowd but not as much as in summer. A Korean Amercian detached from his group and approached me. "사진을 찍어 주실래요?", he asked. "네.", I obliged. "하나, 둣, 셋... 하나 더... 사진 잘 나왔네요." 
Walking the alleys of Samcheongdong can be quite an inspiring experience. The shop owners take great effort to do up their shops and because of that, every shop comes with its own unique character. Here, you have a cafe called "Ice Sand". I am quite curious about the origin of the word "ice sand" though I know it means shaved ice. Anyway, the tricycle which was used to carry the menu board caught my attention. Though a simple decor concept, I have never seen such a presentation anywhere else.
I know herbs are good for health but I don't quite know what they are actually good for. Here is something that was of some help - a herb's timetable. Lavender is good for calming nerves and making you sleep well. Rosemary helps to elevate your mind so that you can remain caffeine free. Camomile aids digestion after a heavy lunch and peppermint gives you energy at the end of a tiring day. Leading a daily life surrounded by herbs sounds refreshing.
