So last Sunday we were invited by John's advisor and his wonderful family to go to the house of this famous Korean dancer. Her name is Lee Sun Ok and she created a style of dance called zen dance. She combined her training in traditional Korean dance with some zen buddhist styles. It was very innovative and toured all over the world. She also lived in New Jersey for awhile so she speaks perfect English. It was such an incredible place. It is in Seoul but really secluded in the mountains - we had to walk up quite a few steps to get there but it is on National Park Land. It's hard to believe that there's a place where you feel in the middle of the woods -- within the limits of one of the largest cities in the world.
there were lots of butterflies and moths flying around. One species was as big as a hummingbird, and very hairy. Olive spent a long time playing with caterpillars. In the above picture, a butterfly landed on Olive's head. 
Here's the view off her enormous deck.
The grounds were left pretty wild. A few things were encouraged to grow, but it was basically an extension of the forest. That's the Korean aesthetic of gardening, Sun-Ok explained.
Ok- you could actually see some high-rise apartments from one spot in her yard. But still, it's nicely tucked away.
The house used to be owned by a shaman, but she left because there was too much chi. Something about a rock that hovered over the house. The shaman had headaches and couldn't sleep.
This tree is kind of like a Japanese maple, but the leaves are more thin and feathery.
Netta was catching tadpoles in the stream.
Netta stood on the rock that gave the Shaman headaches, until Sun-Ok got nervous she would fall and told her to get down.
There was a gorgeous chestnut tree. Total peace.
Raw stone steps near the stream.
Poor little tadpole! But she was released soon after.
John took a picture of his feet standing on a root of the beautiful chestnut.
So last Sunday we were invited by John's advisor and his wonderful family to go to the house of this famous Korean dancer. Her name is Lee Sun Ok and she created a style of dance called zen dance. She combined her training in traditional Korean dance with some zen buddhist styles. It was very innovative and toured all over the world. She also lived in New Jersey for awhile so she speaks perfect English. It was such an incredible place. It is in Seoul but really secluded in the mountains - we had to walk up quite a few steps to get there but it is on National Park Land. It's hard to believe that there's a place where you feel in the middle of the woods -- within the limits of one of the largest cities in the world.
there were lots of butterflies and moths flying around. One species was as big as a hummingbird, and very hairy. Olive spent a long time playing with caterpillars. In the above picture, a butterfly landed on Olive's head. 
Here's the view off her enormous deck.
The grounds were left pretty wild. A few things were encouraged to grow, but it was basically an extension of the forest. That's the Korean aesthetic of gardening, Sun-Ok explained.
Ok- you could actually see some high-rise apartments from one spot in her yard. But still, it's nicely tucked away.
The house used to be owned by a shaman, but she left because there was too much chi. Something about a rock that hovered over the house. The shaman had headaches and couldn't sleep.
This tree is kind of like a Japanese maple, but the leaves are more thin and feathery.
Netta was catching tadpoles in the stream.
Netta stood on the rock that gave the Shaman headaches, until Sun-Ok got nervous she would fall and told her to get down.
There was a gorgeous chestnut tree. Total peace.
Raw stone steps near the stream.
Poor little tadpole! But she was released soon after.
John took a picture of his feet standing on a root of the beautiful chestnut.
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