In the summer of 1971, Jeju Island was anything but a tropical paradise. Frederic H. Dustin, an American who had recently married, was trying to complete his house so that he could bring his bride, Marie-Louise, to live with him on the island. The worst drought in 37 years gripped the island and many fervently wished for a storm to come and bring relief. Dustin was one of those praying, despite not being very religious (although he married a missionary’s daughter), for rain as he feared for his crop of watermelons and cantaloupes. He should have heeded the old saying, “be careful of what you wish for, lest it come true.” His wish did come true, and a powerful typhoon struck the island in early August.
Seoul is a vibrant, never-sleeping, energetic city of museums, palaces, shopping centers, restaurants and contemporary culture hubs that beckons tourists (of all ages) from around the world. Traffic jams of buses, taxis and cars try even the most patient while subways - packed during the rush hour - rush commuters to and fro. The Seoul of the present is not the Seoul of seventy years ago.