Pictures from a walk along the Cheonggye Stream (청계천) and some nearby areas in Seoul in August 2009. The Cheongye Stream is a recently restored stream that was originally paved over in the fifties, and over which an elevated highway was built in 1976. A few years ago, the mayor launched a project to restore the stream with landscaping and walkways. Apparently this was controversial and expensive, but the results are pretty spectacular. I wish we had money and the will to create or recreate spectacular public spaces like this in LA. Click here for a selection of favorites from this gallery.