I was there under the auspices of Berklee College of Music. The visit included auditioning potential Berklee students and recommending qualified students for scholarship awards, and performing with a local Korean pop star, and doing a tv show and a performance in a local hall, plus music clinics at the Seoul Jazz Academy (SJA).

I also took time and travelled to the DMZ the boundary between North and South Korea.

I took a bus tour to the DMZ. Seoul has a pretty railroad station built in 1910. It reminds me a little of Copenhagen. It was built by Japanese architects, but I detect a European style dome.

For me the theme of this trip is reconciliation with two personal friends and reconciliation for North and South Korean families who are missing each other.

I saw the South Great Gate which was built in the 14th century and rebuilt in 1960 after the terrible Japanese occupation. This is classic oriental style structure. It's just a huge structure which serves as a gateway.

I saw the huge Lotte Hotel in the Central part of Seoul City. That is where I stayed in 1995 when I performed with Jack Lee in Seoul.

According to our guide, In 1592 the Japanese invaded Korea the first time. The history of Japan invading Korea is a very vivid memory for the Koreans. I can sense the sense of indignity every time it is mentioned by the guide. I saw the Royal Palace in Seoul... beautiful 15th c architecture with a traditional oriental roof.

As I was riding in the tour bus, I passed 6 Buddhist butsudan shops... 7 8 in one block 3 more in the next block! Woo hoo wow there appears to be a huge Buddhist presence here. Korea is the joint: because the people are perspicacious from their experiences with invasion, they seem resistant to being swayed by any authoritarianism.

I saw the demilitarized zone which is 155 miles from west to east. From the Southern boundary I caught a beautiful view of North Korea.

In Korea, the equivalent of our "White House" is their "Blue House".

19 century foreign missionaries began building hospitals. The new religion which was introduced was Christianity.

The guide informed us that there are 10 million separated family members in total in Korea. Sad.

There are 37,000 servicemen protecting South Korea currently.

Apparently, the US may reduce the numbers if there is progress on re-unification with the North.

Chanting for peace in Korea was fantastic. I spent all day and travelled to the demilitarized zone between North and South Korea. I went into the "third tunnel", a once secret tunnel which was dug in 1978 by the North Koreans to infiltrate South Korea in violation of the 1951 armistice agreement. Now the tunnel is open for tourists.

A service man stopped me from going any further towards the North South border, so I asked permission to chant for world peace facing the border. (How's that for turning poison into medicine!) he said ok! :-)

The next day I read in the news that Kim Jong Il (the North Korean President) will travel to the US to facilitate the process of re-unification. Three days later I learned that the South Korean president Kim Dae Young received the Nobel Peace Prize. Yaaay! Though obviously I do not take direct responsibility for these events, you can imagine my pure joy!!! I also purveyed this future scene of peace and boundless human exhilaration and joy from a lookout point from which I could clearly see North Korea. Yaay! It is called the Tora observation platform.

I am determined Sunday soon to view the same scene again only without the tragic Military Demarcation Line between the people.

I got a chance to understand the hearts of the Korean people. The woman who started the Seoul Jazz Academy where I performed is amazing.

At the tender age of 10, she was abandoned by and uncle and she made her way across the border with only her 10 year old sister. At the border, a female North Korean official took them in as if they were her nieces, and sent them on their way to South Korea! Incredible good fortune. Incredible courage, don't you think so? Especially for a ten year old, huh?

When she finally got settled and became an adult in Seoul South Korea, she started this jazz and contemporary music school where there had previously only been classical schools.

Now she has many imitators who unscrupulously try to capitalize on what she is doing.

The sense of family is so strong for her and her sister, when they were subsequently living in two different countries, sometimes they would have phone conversations which consisted of each others names... and then tears!...
That's it!
Can you picture that?!...

I determined to see the view from the Tora observation platform sunday soon again only this time without the scourge of alienation and separation! Can you imagine the yearning of the people for a just peace? I am praying for the mending of family ruptures and lifetime friendships. I am praying for reconciliation. Transcending differences. Go Go Go ! Do you feel me? I am praying for human friendship...between US! -as human beings-! Can u feel it?

I will go one day and share the sublime happiness of the people :-) Did you see the unified Korean men and women in the olympics? I can feel it in my heart already. "DONE DEAL!" let's have just peace! :-) I didn't see the olympics. I want to see the real thing! :*-)

My parents participated in the USO during the Korean War. There have been old photos and momentos from Korea around my house all during my childhood. Korea has always held a place of wonder in my heart. How happy I was to tell that to the co-founder of the SJA. Turns out she has supported the USO every year for many decades.

:-) not just peace...
just peace!

I'm not talking about just advance...
... I'm talking about just advance

Peace! :-)