E-journal post #2 - Unit 6 (Importance of place in a book or movie)

       “If I never come back, go to the Busan International Market and find your aunt’s store. We’ll meet there!” This is a sentence of dialogue said by the father of Deok-soo, the leading character of the Korean film called <Busan International Market>. So why does the film use a place name as its title? Apparently, it is easy to know that almost all the story happened in Busan International Market through the movie’s name. More importantly, the Busan International Market is a very important element of the movie, not only because Deok-soo would always return to this market to continue his life, but also because the place is so important and special that Deok-soo has to stay there throughout all his life.

       Deok-soo experienced an impressed parting with his father when he was a teenager because of the Korean War. Then he came to the International Market in Busan with his family, starting his new hard life here. With time passing by, he became an adult. In order to earn his living and feed his family, he decided to leave for Germany as a miner. After he married, he decided to leave for Vietnam as a skilled soldier to support his aunt’s store. What should be stressed is that no matter where Deok-soo removed to, he would always come back to Busan International Market again, and this is exactly the meaning of this place.

       On the other hand, Busan International Market has a special significance for Deok-soo. Some people will ask that why he didn’t settle down in Germany or Vietnam. The reason is what Deok-soo’s father has said to him-- they will meet in Busan International Market again. Deok-soo has always branded his father’s words on his heart. As a consequence he has been hoping to meet his father in Busan International Market again all the time. That’s why he didn’t want to leave his aunt’s store and sell it out even though his wife and his sister demanded it several times. Busan International Market represented the lifelong promise between he and his father.  

Busan is so unique and important in this movie that it can’t be set in another city. Busan International Market is a typical Korean traditional market. Local people who have grew up and lived here in this film are the epitome of the whole people who have experienced that period of history. Everyone could find what resonates with the deep emotions in themselves. So many young people were touched by this movie. They have showed their thanks and back pay through their actions until now. Will our children feel this touchful and thankful emotions through this movie in the future?

      

Tourism in Lijiang

              There is a famous ancient town known as Lijiang in Yunnan province. The old town of Lijiang was inscribed on the World Cultural Heritage List by UNESCO in 1997 because of its accomplishment and contribution to the Chinese ancient construction of city. People came here to enjoy and appreciate the ancient town built in a simple and artistic style since the 2000s. The traditional tourism has made the ancient town into an over-commercialized town, losing its own original beauty. The traditional tourism mainly produced two kinds of bad effects on the Lijiang city.

 One of the bad effects of traditional tourism in Lijiang is the destruction of the environment and buildings. The traditional tourism has brought so many travelers to this picturesque but tangible ancient town. According to the survey result from the Tourism Development Committee of Lijiang, the ancient town has received a total of over 30 million travelers from all over the world in 2015. On the one hand, the trampling from tourists has caused a heavy destruction to the traditional street. On the other hand, some tourists who are lack of culture and education would carve or write words on the historic relic. Even some people would sit or stand on the historic relic just to take pictures. All the rude behavior will accelerate the progress of damaging the town.

The other bad effect of traditional tourism in Lijiang is the serious noise problem. Since Lijiang opened its long-closed door to welcome the tourists, the commercialization in Lijiang has started. All kinds of shops and stores stood up for travelers. Those bookstores, restaurants and bars play music loudly all day and night. Not only the visitors but also the residents couldn’t stand the noise, which made Lijiang a sick town suffered from the noise. Lijiang has lost her beautiful silence.

Therefore, it is high time that the local residents should take account of developing the geotourism to produce active and optimistic effects. The geotourism will make tourists pay more attention to the ancient inhabitant architecture and those unknown but characterful houses instead of the florescent city roads. It can reduce the pressure of the city roads. At the same time, with the development of the geotourism, the chain stores and commercial restaurants will be replaced by the locally owned hotels and stores, managed by local craftspeople, travel guides and so on. In will help dealing with the noise problem. Also, it benefits both residents and travelers. The travelers could obtain a locally special experience, by the time, the residents could escape from the noisy and uncomfortable situation.

If the local communities develop the geotorism instead of the traditional torism, the old town of Lijiang could find the clean environment and silence again. Then, the world will discover a city full of beauty called Lijiang.