Cut-N-Paste...Cut-N-Paste ...

Eyeballs are now 16:9. Much editing has been done but a lot remains. Should I upgrade the CPU and MOBO and add some more RAM? Some of the videos take over an hour to render and the temperature of the brain reaches a near dangerous level ... no, I've not over-clocked too much ...

Using my "old" computer takes 12 hours ... yes, 12 hours ... to process single a DVD! Now if I relegate my "new" computer to "old"  maybe a i7 will do things a bit faster ...

Here are some more pics ...

Lincoln Cathedral

Spooky Elizabethan Dudette 

Keeping Things In Focus

After many hours sat at the computer editing the videos, I have to report a high degree of dissatisfaction. I knew that the "old" Sony camera was having the of off-day ... wibble-wobbling the picture now and again. sadly, even my poor efforts at manually trying to correct the problem don't seem to have had much effect. The result is a loss of a lot of "takes". This mean ... we'll just have to go to the places again and re-film. Oh dear! What a poor excuse for another trip next year ...

Some of the film is spectacular. This is part of the front of Amiens cathedral:

Editing And Editing ...

Onward and endless editing seems to be the everyday activity briefly interspersed with visits to the Cafe Favorite for the life giving beverage and cake.

Here is a pic of the local one-and-only bridge ...

Its The Same, Same Old Song ...

Editing hours of video gives me eye-ache. The sad thing is that my Handicam seems to have intermittent bouts of rolling-shutter-flutter. Which means some of the film is Anglo-Saxoning useless. There is plenty to digitally cut-and-paste so there will be loss to gawk at later.

The Quietness Is Defening

Here we are, back in the cage. The weeds have grown in profusion. The overall feeling is quiet, backwoods tranquility. No traffic noise. No street lighting at night. The sound of Zimmer frames scraping their way from public loo to cafe. Is good to have a rest and charge the batteries before the next trip ...

Hurry Up And Wait

So here we are at Narita airport.

We had the hotel shuttle to ourselves and checking-in was a breeze ... as usual with JAL. Fortunately, we got the seat we like ... two at the very back of the plane.

Only three and a half hours to hang about. Eating seems to be a good idea followed by a time-wasting stint of plumbing ... being in Japan means there are always a few buttons, knobs and switches that you have never tried before and, because we're in an airport there are hidden plumbing areas which you have not explored before. No matter where you travel there are always the basics of life to occupy those odd waiting hours.

Then there are 10 hours of flying to Sydney followed by a two hour wait and the five hour buy coach to BB. The coach is the only way - no trains and flying is more of a pain.

Back to the Colonial Antipodes ...

Last Trains, Final Visits In Narita

The last day in Narita ... so far as going anywhere. After the obligatory coffee, we took the train to Sogo Reido Sanctury (Tosho-ji Temple). The sun shone and, as is always in Japan, walking through the town was a quiet experience. What little traffic there was unhurried. The temple is a reasonable size extending over extensive grounds which have  cherry trees and hydrangea plants in abundance. The place must be a riot of colour in blossom season.

Back in Narita we had lunch ... delicious sashimi ... and then walked down to the main temple where there had been a chrysanthemum show. Some splendid plants were still on show ... they have to be seen to be believed. Families were out in numbers for some sort of religious even which, we think, involve girls who where dressed, along with their mothers, in full traditional costume.

A slog back up the hill followed by coffee and the best multi-crepe cake we've ever tasted ... Mt Doutor's "Chritmas Mill Cake" ... its addictive!

That ends our trip - this year ...

Sold On Seoul

Yep we're definitely sold on Seoul. A very interesting place and the food, once you get over the kimchi, is excellent. We caught the Airport Express coach from the hotel back to Incheon which allowed us to avoid several sets of stairs in the metro ... no lifts or concessions for aged travellers ... if you have a wheelchair it is possible to get some help .. unfortunately we didn't see anyone in one so that we could nab it!

Incheon airport is splendid and huge. The JAL flight left on time and landed late ... 4 mins to be accurate. As per the service was first class even in the cattle pens. The lunch was excellent; as was the malt beer.

U-City Narita hotel transfer coach got us to the hotel in comfort and we were out-and-about for coffee and eats by 6 pm. In all aspects a perfect day's travel.

A few tips for Seoul:

Book a hotel with a coach transfer or on one of the Airport Express coach's route; the metro is fine but the stairs are a pain.

Most, if not all, the signs you want have "English" names/directions and the ticket machines in the metro have an English option ... too easy.

Don't be afraid to say "No chili", when ordering Korean food ... or be prepared for afterburner surprise!

Don't be put off by the large number of old men in the streets, especially at night when you're hunting for food ... they may be tanked but we found them totally harmless.

A little bit of politeness and less western bombast get you what you want with a great deal of smiles.

We thought Seoul was a mixture of Tokyo and Bangkok ... more Tokyo, less Bangkok. The setting, surrounded by mountains is stunning and the modern steel-and-glass exceptional.

To paraphrase MacArthur, "We shall return" ...

Namsangol Hanok Village

Another sunny and cool day, ideal for wandering.

We braved  tourist-town and took the metro to Namsangol Hanok Village. A hanok being a traditional Korean house. This village is the site of several re-built hanok from different areas. A pleasant couple of hours can be spent here. The immediate appearance of the houses has a simple impression that belies the clever use of under-floor heating as well as a pleasing aesthetic in design that uses traditional materials. The inclusion of a veranda adds an extra feature which completes the overall effect.

Wandering In Bitter Wind

Another sunny day and cloudless sky but the wind was bitter. Undaunted we strode out for more adventure in the concrete and glass mountains.

The metro took us to Samseong in the south of Seoul where we walked to Seonjeongneung   - some of the Royal Toms of three Joseon dynasty. The three tombs in this area and situated in a tree covered park. Fortunately the tombs are fenced off and are not available to the look-at-me-I've-been-there photographers. The tombs are spectacular even though, on fist impression, they look very simple.

The bitter wind drove us into a cafe for lunch. Warmed and fed we took the metro back to City Hall station.

The Deoksugung Palace stands opposite to City Hall on one of the busiest roads you could imagine right in the centre of a city ... at least eight lanes. The palace has been fully restored and is a delightful contrast to the splendid adjacent modern architecture.

Walking back to the hotel we visited the Anglican Cathedral which, though a modern build, looks like a Romanesque Italian church. The mosaics in the apse were a surprise and the modern stained glass echoed some typical Korean fabric art. We had a quick look at the convent garden which comes as a surprise since it is situated slap-band in the centre of the city.

Bitter wind drove us back to the warm hotel where we thawed out before a delicious Korean dinner.