For the next couple of Mondays I’ll be finishing up the set of photos that, for whatever reason, seem to say Korea to me. Of course, some images are more obvious (e.g., traditional Korean roof construction), but then there are those, like some of this week’s collection, that remain much more of a mystery. In that case, I’m going mostly on the look of the trees and the mountains and any other contextual clues I may spot. So, maybe I’ve watched too many episodes of M.A.S.H. (yes, I know it was actually filmed in Southern California!) but I’m pretty sure the photos this week were shot in Korea, some in the wintertime.

The traditional stone walls and the metal or tile rooftops certainly evoke images of a Korean village. So do the large clay pots visible in more than one photo. I may have jumped to a few conclusions here, but I wonder if the big piles of cut wood might be used in firing clay pots — either that or keeping warm in the winter!

Clay pots (center) and a dog (left)!

Sorry, I have no clue on this one! A pile of old tires and back end of a cart just visible (right)

More rock walls and curved roofs

My attention was drawn to the right edge of the image above — specifically to the narrow dirt lane curving up to a wooden gate and what looks like a covered lean-to stocked with fresh hay. I would have loved to get a closer look at this village and perhaps the people who lived here.

I’ll finish off this week’s photos with some of my favorites. In writing this post, I did learn a little bit about traditional Korean roof construction; those gracefully curved roofs are not only attractive but also very practical!

A Hanok tiled roof has a cheoma, or the slightly raised edge whose purpose is to let in sunlight in winter and protect the interior from the summer sun. Because the sun is closer to Earth in winter than in summer, cheoma allows sunlight to enter a Hanok in the cold. Moreover, a Hanok roof curves inwards to prevent rainwater from being trapped or the tiles from slipping off — Why Hanok and Hanbok have many curved lines, Korea.net

Photo album flyleaf illustration

Clay pots and hand water pump in a courtyard