Freaky Squirrels, Large Apples, and Balloons

We went to the Balloon Museum exhibit where you can both have fun AND take good pictures.

Above is my new LinkedIn pic, and below is Barry's. His legs are dissolving into dust!

Ok, maybe they're not ALL good pictures.

This summer we visited the important cultural icon that is Ontario's big apple, and Barry went with this portrait composition, so it's most of the apple.

But I think landscape for fruit.

We went to see Def Leppard and wore our custom T-shirts, which someone tried to buy from us.

We also saw the nature. Here is a freaky ginger-tailed black squirrel. Which is technically a grey squirrel. It's all very messy, and my mother worries they'll take over the world. Armageddon it.

And we admired the vast lake Erie Beach. If you look carefully, you still can't see Ohio at all.

---

Haenyeo, shallots and tangerines

Well, here we are being cute.

Jeju is known for its tangerines, which are actually green.

Korean photobooth stores the best. They are unmanned, a testament to the low level of crime.

Of course, dakgalbi with cheese was eaten.

And my tasting of lesser-known Korean liquors continued because these are delicious.

You can also make them into pretty cocktails that look oh so Korean.

Speaking of pretty, here are some more pictures of Jeju with its volcanic rock coastline.

Some of the beaches had shallots. Lots of shallots, drying in the sun. No one steals these, either.

We went to see the Haenyeo, who are the female freedivers of Jeju who collect seafood and seaweed.

You can eat their fresh fare on the beach.

We were lucky to be able to watch them bring in their bounty.

They are old, tough, loud, and don't need towels when emerging from the cold water.

Barry says this picture should be in black and white.

When they came onto the beach, the manfolk must gather the netted bags, while the women just drive themselves away in their pickup trucks.

---

Teddy Bear all around

Jeju is home to some of the world's foremost museums, including the Teddy Bear Museum.

The Teddy Bear museum features history, art, culture and nose rings illustrated through teddy bears.

Here is Chinese New Year in Hong Kong.

And this is traditional Jeju island life.

Here is the last supper.

Here is how teddy bears make art.

This, I believe, is a Teddy Bear Degas picnic.

This is Kevin with teddy bear art.

And here is Barry, making choosing to go beyond the bear.

We also went to the Car and Piano museum.

Together in one museum!

We learnt about Korean car history, which had a challenging start, what with poverty and poor quality.

It had teddy bears too! Do you know why?

Because Teddy Bear actually is all around.

We also went to the alcohol museum to learn how Korean alcohol was made. Apparently by women.

I suspect the men were making these sculptures instead!

But I'm not sure, because we didn't get to that museum yet!

We just got this challenging selfie instead.

---