Bongo

Dear All,

My heart is breaking.
This morning my adorable Bongo was fatefully hit by a cab. We were walking back home from our morning walk. He was on the leash. The hit was fateful and he died in my arms.
All of you know how much Bongo meant to me. He came to my life suddenly. I did not plan to have a dog but the moment my friend Diny told me “there is a shih tzu for adoption” I wanted him. When I saw his photo it was a love on first sight. I just could not resist his underbite.
Bongo was a street doggie who chose to hang around the right house in Itaewon. Heather and Frank saved him but as they were leaving Seoul they could not take him.
The first day I got him I took him for a walk. He actually did not want to go out and our first walk was me holding him in my hands walking around my neighborhood. It took few days for him to develop a taste for walks.
Our last walk ended me holding Bongo in my arms, running and trying to get a taxi to the hospital.

I miss him dearly. As most of you have a dog or a cat you can imagine how I feel.
Bongo was so good to me I am sure he is now well taken care of.

I am grateful to Faye, Karen, Jennifer and Darrel who were with me today to mourn Bongo. Without them I do not know how I would made through the day.

Special thanks to Dr. Kwon who took care of Bongo and me today. Without his kindness and help I would not be able to manage.

To all of you with doggies and cats – please give them a nice long cuddle.

God bless Bongo.

Gordie

October update

It has been a long, long time since my last blog. But I have been quite busy. The apartment purchase goes well. The completion date will be on November 1st. No need for me to sign the purchase agreement - the notary will sign it for me. I plan to finally see the apartment around New Year.
After Cambodia I have been to Bhutan. I traveled to Bhutan via Katmandu. It was nice to see Bibu and Praveen again. This time Katmandu had less garbage and more electricity than in February. Bhutan was great. Looks like fairy tale country with all the wiping cypresses, blue pines, dzongs and friendly people. To all of you I sent the album with photos so I am not going to write more about it.

Since mid August I had problem with my cleaning lady Fema. She worked for me two and half years. Mid August she complained of shoulder pain and did not clean for almost three weeks. Than she called that the father died and she went to Philippines. I did not hear from her for almost five weeks. Last Saturday she called. She is back. Time at home was difficult because not only her father died but a week after her father died her oldest uncle died, and the next week the mother’s cousin died. I told her I hope she went to the church every day because obviously heavens are taking to her family. Nevertheless Fema said she will come on Monday. Than on Sunday she called that she does not feel well and - she will not come on Monday. I was quite disappointed. I tried to call her Monday to Wednesday but could not reach her. Always got a voicemail. Than on Thursday Fema called to tell she feels better and will come on Friday. I told her there is no need to come. There is no more deep comfort zone she got used to. She is not reliable and with my way of life I have to have some I can rely on. It’s a pity as she was really nice and Bongo loved her.
Socially I had quite a week – Monday some Koreans came to my place to look at my Russian paintings collection; Wednesday I had a dinner with my girlfriends; Thursday I had Dessy and Raffaele at my place for some red wine; yesterday I went with Faye to the German restaurant at Somerset. They have best French fries in Seoul. The restaurant was fully packed - mostly with Koreans. We never saw it so packed. Usually it is a quite place with mostly western patrons who live in the Somerset. Faye and me had a great relaxing dinner. On our way out the owner who knows Faye came to say hello. She commented how full the place is. He replied that since Ms. Shin affair broke up the Koreans come to see the place and have the food Ms. Shin had. For people who do not live in Korea -Ms Shin is the art curator with the fake Yale degree and her "art friend" Mr. Buyon lived in the Somerset at taxpayers expense. For the details of the scandal visit following links: http://news.independent.co.uk/world/asia/article2765578.ece, http://www.londonkoreanlinks.net/blog/2007/07/22/fakes-and-curruption-in-art-and-academia/, http://english.chosun.com/w21data/html/news/200710/200710120015.html

Anyway I find strange people go to the restaurant and try food a woman with the fake Yale degree had, but it's great for the hard working restaurant owners.
Today was Bongo's play day. Somehow he knows it is Saturday today and he started to bark around the noon - which is almost a time we usually go to the park. My next trip is to HK in two weeks. I hardly wait to see Pauline and Wyger. Bongo will be with Françoise – a charming westi on the photo.