I have always been interested in Korean art, particularly Korean pottery. Today, I would like to discuss Goryeo celadon pottery and Joseon white porcelain.
In March 2022, I featured celadon pottery of the Goryeo Dynasty (918-1392) in my blog:
You might want to take a look at that post. To summarize, green was a desirable color. Many celadon pieces were green with a distinctive crackling (tiny cracks) in the glaze.
It is said that Goryeo promoted Buddhism, and the art and architecture of that period reflected this.
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Then, General Yi overturned the Goryeo monarchy and ushered in the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1897). Joseon promoted Confucianism. Buddhism was disliked so much that Goryeo kilns and pottery were destroyed, because Goryeo espoused Buddhism.
The pottery of Joseon is very different from the pottery of Goryeo. Goryeo celadon was predominantly green. Joseon porcelain was white, which upheld the virtues of purity and simplicity espoused by Confucianists.
Joseon white porcelain (aka Joseon baekja):
Then, cobalt blue designs were added:
Iron oxide designs were also used when cobalt blue was difficult to obtain:
Moon jars were popular during the Joseon era:
These Joseon moon jars are prized by collectors. They are still produced in Korea today by artisans using traditional methods.
It is said that Japanese invaders prized Joseon porcelain. They kidnapped Korean artisans and forced them to produce porcelain in Japan. As a result, pottery production decreased in Joseon Korea.
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Contemporary artisans now use both traditional and modern technology to produce their wares.
Here are images of contemporary Korean pottery sold on Etsy:
$1,384.00:
$693.00:
$458.00:
$3,750.00:
$159.00:
It is incredible what Etsy sells on its website. Check it out.
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In 1999, my older daughter, Maria, attended a 6-week course in Korean language at Yonsei University in Seoul, South Korea. She scored at the top of her class. Her teacher awarded Maria with a beautiful celadon bowl.Lucky Maria!
There are times when I have flashbacks of precious times spent with my children when they were little.
My favorite memory dates back to 1984 when my younger daughter Lisa was just 2 years old. I was sitting on the carpeted floor, and Lisa was sitting on the arm of the sofa. (Maria was attending preschool at the time.)
Lisa and I were watching “Charlotte’s Web” about a very smart spider named Charlotte and a somewhat helpless pig. The pig had grown so big that the farmer was considering slaughtering it for consumption. Charlotte felt so sorry for the pig that she began spinning words out of her web to impress the farmer with the pig’s intelligence. Gradually, however, Charlotte began to die from the exertion.
As I watched this heartbreaking story, I heard sniffles behind me. I looked back and saw Lisa weeping. Tears streamed down her face while she sucked her 2 middle fingers.
“Whoa!” I thought. “This kid just made 2 years and cannot speak English. Yet she understands the story.”
I had not given her any credit for being so intelligent and empathetic, especially at age 2.
So, imagine my surprise when Lisa actually understood “Charlotte’s Web” on TV and wept when the spider died.
Lisa went on to graduate with a Doctorate in Physical Therapy and is now a licensed physical therapistin Nevada.
As you know, David and I own a 3-bedroom 2-bath house on Oahu. The location is great. It’s close to the Pali Momi Medical Center, the airport, several shopping centers, restaurants, and 3 public schools.
The weather is consistently pleasant. There is no need for winter clothing at all.
No wonder so many celebrities want to own a piece of paradise, too.
According to estimated data from Hawaii property records, 37 billionaires own 11% of Hawaii’s private land.
And because these billionaires are willing to outbid other buyers, the cost of home ownership has risen to astronomical heights, too high for most middle-income local families. There have been many complaints about this, but it’s a hopeless situation.
Listed here are famous celebrities, who own real estate in Hawaii.These are the ones I recognize. There are others, of course, but I am not familiar with their names.
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Oahu:
Former President Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle, own a 3-acre beachfront property in Waimanalo, Oahu. The previous owner was actor Jim Nabors, who died in 2018.
Pierre Omidyar, who founded eBay, and his family live on 11 acres of land in Honolulu, Oahu. He also has a home in Henderson, Nevada.
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Kauai:
Mark Zuckerberg, the Meta cofounder, spent at least $145 million on land that he’s turning into an enormous 1,450-acre, partially walled-off retreat in Kauai. He is raising beer-fed Wagyu and Angus cattle on the land. Many residents are grateful that Zuckerberg and his wife have donated expensive medical equipment to the community hospital and were active in vaccinating residents against the Covid.
Steve Case, the AOL cofounder, was born and raised in Hawaii, where he attended the same high school as Barack Obama. Case is now the state’s second-largest billionaire landowner (after Larry Ellison) with 57,400 acres on Maui and Kauai, including his 35,170-acre Grove Farm on Kauai, which leases out land for sustainable development projects.
Frank Vander Sloot, the billionaire founder of health-and-wellness business Melaleuca, owns the historic 105-acre Valley House estate in Kauai, where parts of Pirates of the Caribbean and Jurassic Park were filmed. An advocate for localizing Hawaii’s beef industry, he operates the state’s two largest meat processing plants.
Actor Jason Momoa owns a 5.5-acre property on Kauai’s North Shore, even though he was born and raised on Oahu. His reason for being there is that he loves the lush greenery of Kauai.
Actor Pierce Brosnan and his wife Keely reside in a gorgeous oceanfront estate in Kauai. It’s located on the North Shore, and it sits on 5 acres.
Singer Carlos Santana paid $20.5 million to upgrade to a larger vacation home on Kaua’i overlooking Hanalei Bay.
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Maui:
Billionaire Oprah Winfrey reportedly owns 2,130 acres of land across Maui. Winfrey’s hilly pastures feature ancient stone walls, grazing cattle, a bed-and-breakfast operation for hosting friends and an (unprofitable) organic farm. Intent on preserving the land, she’s committed to keeping it vacant and planting native species to help restore lost watershed.
Billionaire Jeff Bezos recently acquired a prized oceanfront estate consisting of 14-acres on Maui at La Perouse Bay, south of Wailea on Maui.
Tadashi Yanai, Japan’s richest man—and the founder of clothing retailer Uniqlo—is also a golf enthusiast. More than a decade ago, he bought two golf courses for $75 million from Maui Land & Pineapple, which is majority owned by Hawaii-born Steve Case.
Billionaire David Murdock owns 1 acre on Maui.
Actor/Director Clint Eastwood owns an oceanfront house in South Maui. He directed the film Hereafter, which was partially shot in Lahaina, about 30 miles from his house.
Actor Owen Wilson purchased an $8 million home in Pāʻia on Maui’s north shore back in 2009. Wilson has been known to visit north shore beaches or frequent shops and restaurants in Pāʻia Town.
Actor Woody Harrelson’s house in Huelo, Maui, is an eco-friendly compound, spanning 8.5 acres.
Singer Willie Nelson has owned a 6,038 square foot home located on the north shore in Paia, Maui since 1983. He enjoys playing poker with Woody Harrelson and Owen Wilson.
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The Big Island of Hawaii:
Actor Matthew McConaughey purchased a $7.5 million house in Kailua-Kona on the Big Island of Hawaii. It is part of the Kukio Beach and Golf Club community.
Billionaire Marc Benioff, whose wealth comes from business software, owns many acres of mostly vacant land that he and his wife Lynne bought. The couple intends to put it to philanthropic use. Aside from that, Benioff has had a residence for himself in Hawaii for two decades.
Other billionaires on the Big Island —
Rob Walton owns 230 acres,
Michael Dell owns 4 acres,
Steve Ballmer owns 3 acres,
and Charles Schwab owns 2 acres on the Big Island.
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Lanai:
Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison is the biggest private landowner in Hawaii. He owns 98% of the island of Lanai, which he purchased in 2012. He has permanently moved there and operates his company, located in Texas, via Zoom.The other 2% is owned by the State of Hawaii.
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Molokai:
Billionaire Quek Leng Chan, the Malaysian tycoon, owns a third of the island of Molokai—once famous for its leprosy colony—through his conglomerate Hong Leong Group. Until 2008, Quek operated an enormous ranch there, including a golf course and hotel, but ended its operations after the state rejected his development proposals. Now island residents are trying to buy it back.
I recently purchased a Nespresso Vertuo Plus Coffee and Espresso Machine from Target. It cost $130 and came with 12 free pods.
This is the one I bought:
It can make 5 different types: Espresso, Double Espresso, Gran Lungo, and Coffee. These range in size from 1.35 oz. to 7.77 oz. per cup.
Since I dislike espresso, I ordered a box of 30 Sweet Vanilla coffee pods and a box of 30 Roasted Hazelnut coffee pods. Each pod produces 7.77 oz. of coffee. All delicious!Next, I think I’ll order Caramel coffee pods. There are many other flavors to choose from, too.
If you prefer unflavored coffee, then you can order it.
They all produce rich coffee with a layer of foamy crema on top. This crema gradually sinks into the coffee below, adding to the overall rich flavor. This crema is not milk, although it tastes like milk. It is composed of a combination of coffee oils, suspended particles, and air bubbles, which give it a smooth and silky appearance.
The roast level, in particular, plays a critical role in determining the flavor and crema of the coffee, with darker roasts generally producing a more intense flavor and a thicker crema.
The high-pressure pumping system is the heart of Nespresso’s crema creation technology. The system uses a powerful pump to force the water through the coffee grounds, which helps to extract the optimal amount of coffee oils and solids. The high pressure also helps to emulsify the coffee oils and solids, creating a smooth and creamy texture, which is characteristic of a good crema.
The Nespresso Vertuo Plus is so much better than the Keurig I used to own. I have no regrets buying it.
Mansei!!! Happy 80th. (“Mansei” is a Korean cheer, which means “Long Live.”)
I recently celebrated my 80th birthday with family. Even my younger daughter Lisa flew in from Las Vegas for the occasion. Cousins came, too.The party was held at my home.
Since my birthday falls in early January, I am one of the first baby boomers to reach 80.
We all had a wonderful time.
I ordered food from Mark’s Drive-Inn.
Chicken Vegetable Fried Noodles, Beef Broccoli, Orange Chicken, Crispy Gau Gee, and White Rice.
I also made a Tossed Salad with 3 bottled dressings: Italian, Ranch and Thousand Island.
Lisa brought a beautiful Chantilly Cake. We also had Mini Blueberry Muffins.
It was all so delicious.
I truly had a very happy 80th birthday celebration. One to remember.
So, here I am living a very isolated and secluded life in a very quiet section of Honolulu, the capital of Hawaii. I just love it!
Here, I live far from the wars in Venezuela and in Ukraine. It’s maddening over there in those two countries. Lots of buildings bombed; lots of civilians dead. War is senseless.
But here in Hawaii, my life is very peaceful.
Most of the time, I sit in my recliner, watch TV, and let the Alpha waves flow through my mind and body. These Alpha waves are self-induced, of course. Alpha produces a peaceful mindset and relaxes me.
If only Trump and Putin would experience Alpha as I do. They would then have no desire to wage a war.
Neither person qualifies for the Nobel Peace Prize. Definitely not.
Alpha induces peace. And that’s what we all need now in the world. Peace.
Maria brought her family to our home to celebrate Christmas:
It was nice to see Julia again, as she is now a freshman at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City. Soccer tournaments and school have kept her very busy, but she is truly enjoying college life. Not to mention she got straight A on her report card, a 4.0. She is also trying to establish residency in order to qualify for cheaper instate tuition. She is majoring in Strategic Communication and minoring in Business and has already declared her major.
As for Rylan, he is a high school sophomore and has been getting straight A on his report card, a 4.2 not a 4.0, because he is taking AP History and AP Seminar, which means he gets extra credits. He still plays on the Junior Varsity High School Volleyball Team, which won the state championship last year. Let’s see if they can win again during his sophomore year.He plans to join the Varsity team next year when he is a junior. In his senior year, he plans to apply to universities in California, Utah and Hawaii, focusing on schools with a strong science curriculum.
For our Christmas dinner, we ordered Korean food as well as Japanese sushi. For dessert, Maria brought a creme brûlée cake from Costco. Unfortunately, my computer could not publish the food photos for some reason. The fields all came up “empty.” So, you’ll just have to imagine the food.
As a Korean American married to a white man, I feel very comfortable here in Hawaii. The primary reason for this sense of wellbeing is the ethnic diversity and racial tolerance of Hawaii.
Our wedding picture in 1980:
My cleaner, Jodelle, is terrific. She does 2 loads of laundry, brings in the groceries from the porch, and cleans the house thoroughly. She also is fluent in English. Best of all, Jodelle is affordable, charging $25/hour. We are lucky to have her. I found her on Care.com.
My Eucharistic Minister, Bridget, is also very good to me and David. Because of her and Jodelle, our lives are much better. We see both women every week.
Jodelle and Bridget are Filipina. David’s PT and our yardmen are Filipino. Our favorite neighbor is also Filipina. It seems we are surrounded by Filipinos.
This is not surprising, because Filipinos are the dominant ethnic group in Hawaii, numbering367,525.
Whites number325,356.
Native Hawaiians number 320,000.
Chinese number199,872.
Blacks number only25,998.
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Japanese number 185,000. They are the wealthiest group in Hawaii with a median income of $114,825. They are also the most educated with Bachelor’s degrees or better.
Most of my close friends are Japanese. We get along very well.
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Koreans number only 50,000. At the peak in the 1970s, more than 1,000 Koreans immigrated annually to Hawaii, but that number has decreased to a few hundred each year because of the great economy of South Korea and the better employment opportunities in the continental U.S.
My Korean grandparents immigrated to Hawaii in 1904. However, my maternal grandmother came here as a picture bride in 1914.
My Korean parents were born in Hawaii. I am the eldest of 5 children, all born and raised in Hawaii. We have a large extended family.
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Is Hawaii a good place to live in?
High taxes, pricey homes and condos, rush hour traffic and more contribute to the downside of living here.
Turtle Bay Resort on Oahu:
However, Hawaii is also known as being one of the most beautiful, outdoor friendly, diverse and laid-back states to live in, making it desirable for families to stay in the islands and raise their children.
Hawaii has the highest longevity in the U.S., with a life expectancy of 79.9 years and older.
What’s not to like about living here? I love Hawaii!
Yes, it’s here. I received a new watercolor painting from my blog friend, Jeanie Croope, from Michigan. Many of you see her commenting here as Marmelade Gypsy. We have known each other for years.
So, here it is, a cat painting the portrait of another cat:
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It sits next to a previous watercolor I purchased from Jeanie, a picture of a cottage in the Cotswold, which was featured in the movie, “Bridget Jones Diary:”
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This painting is a painted etched wood piece from my Thai friend, Pontip Placzek, from Thailand. It is called “Fishing” by artist Kamala:
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These 3 pieces adorn my wine glass cabinet next to my front door. They are admired by many who enter my home:
gigi-hawaii 