tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20891277904290341362024-03-05T18:36:14.562-03:30Adventures in KoreaLaurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12081580917378309077noreply@blogger.comBlogger118125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2089127790429034136.post-2994889790691212212009-11-13T05:42:00.000-03:302010-02-12T14:43:16.035-03:30The Last Friday<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKMF2S97ycJVKBSYCHBgSmeSxFof9PeiMYufhIBbnWoyEkJ32ufrO7tFn905CxGPspfPXIGpFmTYD658fh5pQ-XD2bp5DCsYXGqNg87iWsBfRQAfqBrpEWI_e7O71zKkHKLSwhsRk5A4UZ/s1600-h/November+2009+007.JPG"></a>I have a sad, sad announcement to make to you folks. This is my first suitcase. I'm not leaving until tomorrow, but here she is all packed up and ready to go...<br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifXX_9Tf3Uia6f9viIY7qRk0vcuTOpOLy8UE8Nb7u_PUZtYe6HCRheNuyc_Zgf3sF_LEsRXgLzBJBUjtemUcUlWeVmX0BAQIHpsUFE1Cx8F2VdQqUkfV_hB7NMKiDR8RE0XBTUSWzMYDh2/s1600-h/November+2009+004.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 300px; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437411722007471890" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifXX_9Tf3Uia6f9viIY7qRk0vcuTOpOLy8UE8Nb7u_PUZtYe6HCRheNuyc_Zgf3sF_LEsRXgLzBJBUjtemUcUlWeVmX0BAQIHpsUFE1Cx8F2VdQqUkfV_hB7NMKiDR8RE0XBTUSWzMYDh2/s400/November+2009+004.JPG" /></a></p><br /><div></div><br /><div>... I'm not going to lie to you good folks, I find it a little depressing. My days left in Korea are so numbered that I barely need the entirety of a whole finger, let alone a hand to count the fingers on. It makes me sad. I've grown very attached to this place, and to all the wonderful people that I've met here.<br /><br /></div><div></div><br /><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTTGmlZ3SYistlQ0mNjYmxS3tw_-hM3rFbbxJb7sCvMK1OO4vewbHapOMrAcciDi7tcLsMDnhbEnU7uzUIF1-9bn_-qlFTRXvc-tCzWJKkCHcZoBhUqxE6YB0jxXCytOCcWlHqRPuuURUt/s1600-h/November+2009+005.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 300px; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437411735933846354" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTTGmlZ3SYistlQ0mNjYmxS3tw_-hM3rFbbxJb7sCvMK1OO4vewbHapOMrAcciDi7tcLsMDnhbEnU7uzUIF1-9bn_-qlFTRXvc-tCzWJKkCHcZoBhUqxE6YB0jxXCytOCcWlHqRPuuURUt/s400/November+2009+005.JPG" /></a></p><p align="center"></p><p align="left">One of those very people is sitting right here in this very picture, although I know you can't see her seeing as she is so cleverly hidden behind her hand. Or perhaps she is hiding because she can't bear to see my first suit case sitting there all lonely at the post office, waiting to be sent off into the wide, wide world to face an unknown fate. </p><p align="left">The process of mailing a suitcase is actually much more interesting than I had initially given it credit for. I wasn't really sure what we would be facing when we arrive at the post office on this drizzly Friday morning to meet Danny, about to send one of my suitcases off into the world by itself, without me, </p><p align="center"><em>**gathers up courage to finish the rest of the post** </em></p><p align="left">but it was actually pretty cool. I wish I had taken more pictures to document the event, because I'm a dork, and because I've never quite see anything like it before. </p><p align="left">What looks very simple in this picture... </p><p align="center"></p><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRx35ElEs2AEM3JaDAoJL_2iQn2UklEmh5PdMntydUKjEXTURR17piBoVjTbGDZEJr3Il5eEj840RGmF7_8n6xvG755GR7gfDln-08-tn0idAW_lR4o6_5eHhrQawDkLSUNy8DjOocGhNz/s1600-h/November+2009+006.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437412566744908898" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRx35ElEs2AEM3JaDAoJL_2iQn2UklEmh5PdMntydUKjEXTURR17piBoVjTbGDZEJr3Il5eEj840RGmF7_8n6xvG755GR7gfDln-08-tn0idAW_lR4o6_5eHhrQawDkLSUNy8DjOocGhNz/s400/November+2009+006.JPG" /></a></p>... was actually quite a complicated, and yet blinding fast, process of huge sheets of cardboard, folding, measuring and copious amount of packing tape. I was very impressed! I should have taken a picture of the end product to, but it seems like I've failed you in this instance. I'll do my best so that it never happens again! Pinky promise!<br /><br /><div></div><div></div><div>After out adventures in post-officing Meghan and I went on my last -- soo many lasts these days, too many -- trip to Insadong to get a few last minute souvenir items and to keep my mind of seeing my kids for the last time today. We wandered around for a good while, although the weather was not being cooperative, and happened to stumble upon these little creations.<br /><br />Naturally, I adore them.<br /><br /></div><br /><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih_RX5jaM1WF_x4EEDIGKQi0hOLaJIvO_DtEdxDEwcTRrEWN3jyiIl3j2qapEA46z49VXMX2_HOA1FIpdvkonOWJ1eKvEXN6RznK0S17o2urk_0w1FaNFZ8RT-d4_xzhSqL2NfEjTss7Cw/s1600-h/November+2009+007.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437411748049320498" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih_RX5jaM1WF_x4EEDIGKQi0hOLaJIvO_DtEdxDEwcTRrEWN3jyiIl3j2qapEA46z49VXMX2_HOA1FIpdvkonOWJ1eKvEXN6RznK0S17o2urk_0w1FaNFZ8RT-d4_xzhSqL2NfEjTss7Cw/s400/November+2009+007.JPG" /></a></p><br /><div>A model airplane made from a 7-up can! How cool is that!<br /><br /></div><br /><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_HP-e6WIkRwc1USGW-_EFuBGr4LG-qI5TnMeoI_eObgyDxeSdx1-_nMc_ylgp6YI89qOGE_K7_d-kLDC4FAr4UWhcX_mat6HM59BEIh3uC3fmdo3onRFrbvj4qUZR9nug254Tuyq4ziSi/s1600-h/November+2009+008.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437411754690138786" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_HP-e6WIkRwc1USGW-_EFuBGr4LG-qI5TnMeoI_eObgyDxeSdx1-_nMc_ylgp6YI89qOGE_K7_d-kLDC4FAr4UWhcX_mat6HM59BEIh3uC3fmdo3onRFrbvj4qUZR9nug254Tuyq4ziSi/s400/November+2009+008.JPG" /></a></p><p align="left"><br /></p><p align="left">Beer cans as well naturally... </p><p align="left">Only the fact that I was already going to be leaving some thing behind stopped me from buying one of these little trinkets. In hindsight, its probably for the best.<br /></p><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNWHN_MJebg-hoLrMTM8g5d53JMKb6C94-VTmkBUjcHTqA9jBizkf9nbzB6pLz0AVgMAWBlEsX8OVJMkTyhv8439r-dUXMQfemhiujztew0Q_QDQCiy6hOvZ2Poyi_dgEknk8nLaZfJFKx/s1600-h/November+2009+009.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437412574356806722" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNWHN_MJebg-hoLrMTM8g5d53JMKb6C94-VTmkBUjcHTqA9jBizkf9nbzB6pLz0AVgMAWBlEsX8OVJMkTyhv8439r-dUXMQfemhiujztew0Q_QDQCiy6hOvZ2Poyi_dgEknk8nLaZfJFKx/s400/November+2009+009.JPG" /></a></p><br /><div>You don't have to say it out loud, don't worry, I already know I'm a dork. :)<br /><br /></div><br /><div><br /><br /></div>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12081580917378309077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2089127790429034136.post-58877492946138081162009-11-12T14:43:00.000-03:302010-02-12T14:58:30.402-03:30Surprise! You can only have one suitcase!This may come of no surprise to you readers who are regular travellers in the European union, but something took me quite by surprise today, and it wasn't the fact that my manager, Danny Kim, is a sweet heart, because I knew that already.<br /><br /><br />To make a long story short, I found out that I only get to check one bag on my way to Europe, and seeing that I'm leaving the day after tomorrow... was a little stressed, may have freaked out and started crying in the office, made a scene, was taken care of by my wonderful coworkers, and am now in the process of switching stuff around in my suitcases so that one can be mailed home tomorrow.<br /><br /><br /><br />Whew...<br /><br /><br />You know, its the kind of thing that wouldn't have been a big deal if it had happened with a little more time to spare, or even if I wasn't already about to crumble from the stress of leaving a place that I've really come to love over the past year, but as it was, I was a wreck. I'm so lucky to work for such a great school, and to have a guy like Danny save the day. I really owe that guy big!<br /><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6Sdyhk1RNpOhNm3GdAyYecTyzSTb8R2VRJoDzSNl-CsnwCOlUEwbkSZHtxOk-G2Ovos2k1VyjI5HISszffo1H7yvh6sa5a7vhGIwgQ1pOb-Tl3UNWYx_FvkkJbalDyxnbF7lX-aU-VBaZ/s1600-h/May+2009+038.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437424709677058706" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6Sdyhk1RNpOhNm3GdAyYecTyzSTb8R2VRJoDzSNl-CsnwCOlUEwbkSZHtxOk-G2Ovos2k1VyjI5HISszffo1H7yvh6sa5a7vhGIwgQ1pOb-Tl3UNWYx_FvkkJbalDyxnbF7lX-aU-VBaZ/s400/May+2009+038.JPG" /></a></p><p align="center"><em>~Thanks Danny!~<br /><br /></em></p>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12081580917378309077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2089127790429034136.post-39963478449200999012009-11-05T05:35:00.005-03:302010-02-12T14:15:43.204-03:30Volunteer TeachingSince August, Meghan and I have been teaching English classes at the local community centre on a volunteer basis. Every second Thursday we get up early, which can be a bit of a hardship after an active Wednesday evening, and walk over to the community centre about a 10-15 minute walk from where we live.<br /><br />The folks at the community centre are a little older than our usual fare of elementary students, but we have a pretty interesting time teaching them. They are very motivated to learn English which helps them a lot, but at the same time struggle with shyness in a way that our younger students do not. We still manage to have a fair bit of fun with them of course.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY1tJzO4vuTUzJgq4kSdidKsLtK1mIRtJyFOQFwjs2VO7rtef1qj8hdErZTrG8D2OgF9L5QUForuyxm8PXXkPKZVoUrMkvt4lN1cQ32zxQHRzPF0BMlI1i64EOwKTOW4JfS0DAxHHI0k8A/s1600-h/November+2009+001.JPG"></a><br /><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFnLYu97aKWop16_qv8kugsvUOo2qvk0R5672mkQA7PJLDl3-BnPrIvc_bnN3Cao_dk0BNxEdjcKYrLN2dTLHADzrmJIsgcwU1fy50VOkBfR6PG_PrQI0c_9iqlYqw3682oDVQ3ZZY0pma/s1600-h/November+2009+002.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437405556419361346" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFnLYu97aKWop16_qv8kugsvUOo2qvk0R5672mkQA7PJLDl3-BnPrIvc_bnN3Cao_dk0BNxEdjcKYrLN2dTLHADzrmJIsgcwU1fy50VOkBfR6PG_PrQI0c_9iqlYqw3682oDVQ3ZZY0pma/s400/November+2009+002.JPG" /></a><br /><br /></p><p align="left">They often bring us snacks to munch on during the class, which is <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">pretty</span> nice, because let's face it, I love food. This particular spread was to have a bit of a going away party, as it was my last day of class before I left Korea. It was kind of sad... a little bit of a <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">preparatory</span> session for leaving my younger students who I see more often, and have grown more attached to. Our class consists of mostly ladies, and a few men who are a little less consistent in their <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">attendance</span>.<br /><br /></p><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY1tJzO4vuTUzJgq4kSdidKsLtK1mIRtJyFOQFwjs2VO7rtef1qj8hdErZTrG8D2OgF9L5QUForuyxm8PXXkPKZVoUrMkvt4lN1cQ32zxQHRzPF0BMlI1i64EOwKTOW4JfS0DAxHHI0k8A/s1600-h/November+2009+001.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437405553550438642" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY1tJzO4vuTUzJgq4kSdidKsLtK1mIRtJyFOQFwjs2VO7rtef1qj8hdErZTrG8D2OgF9L5QUForuyxm8PXXkPKZVoUrMkvt4lN1cQ32zxQHRzPF0BMlI1i64EOwKTOW4JfS0DAxHHI0k8A/s400/November+2009+001.JPG" /></a></p><p align="left"><br /><br />What the men lack in attendance though, they often make up for in gusto. One particular student, Scott -- on the far right in the above picture-- is a lifelong bachelor who takes great delight in making others laugh. Although I didn't realise that student paradigms continue into adult learning to this same level, he is <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">definitely</span> the class clown.<br /></p><p align="left">This video really wraps up his personality in a nutshell. Although its not quite evident from the short clip (I wasn't quick enough with my camera) what is happening here is that not only did he show us his pop-dancing skills, he also repeated it a second time so I could capture this potentially <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">embarrassing</span> moment on camera. What a guy!</p><p align="left"><br /></p><p align="center"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzHjaa0Imj76yScFVxwlCnTUrIP9IPcZ3jIq6rokXO1E9tXglHge0LeerdLwySu6e4UqmvjLPYCJyUMDhf_Sw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></p>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12081580917378309077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2089127790429034136.post-7693071833081301232009-11-02T23:52:00.003-03:302009-11-03T00:28:58.501-03:30SLP Shopping Day<div><br /><br /><div><br />The reward system for good behaviour here at SLP, revolves around a system of what we call "stickers." The kids have a "sticker paper," a piece of paper with so many spaces, that when completed with either stickers, stamps or teacher initials, can be redeemed at the front desk for SLP Dollars. </div><div><br /> </div><div>Twice a year, at Children's Day in May, and at Halloween, at the end of October, the kids get the opportunity to go to the 'SLP store' which is set up in our multi-function room, to spend their dollars, and get some prizes for all their hard work, and diligent homework completion. </div><div><br /> </div><div>Needless to say, some kids have more bucks to burn than others. </div><div><br /><br /><br /></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizdSfmFJzDIZ9eBrBCVqDdH6bYp-tWhFpcALScJBeWAXpx8vD93hN1Op9YQE9eCwgqjBY4hLMMXHB2ge4VIM7epkT_e7E-ktLkmATRmZV2Rl2dp9RRr045owuMet8K6ZuNHzb5-HWw4Jhf/s1600-h/October+2009+147.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399714485219800594" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 225px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizdSfmFJzDIZ9eBrBCVqDdH6bYp-tWhFpcALScJBeWAXpx8vD93hN1Op9YQE9eCwgqjBY4hLMMXHB2ge4VIM7epkT_e7E-ktLkmATRmZV2Rl2dp9RRr045owuMet8K6ZuNHzb5-HWw4Jhf/s400/October+2009+147.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><div align="center"><br /> </div><div align="left">Prizes range from the cheap, that any kid can afford, to the more expensive, that only the richest -- and therefor best behaved and most diligent students -- can afford to purchase.<br /><br /></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiktmOViNvfOgPACAGqU9Gl6TlOXVB4XaptsyXXnwIJwJrxBhtgkzjgsiNiwNXMcrf83AYwA3fmGna0VUX1KFjbdPinCVmrqhY_tx_iSXDOBFKUYFc7kXDM4TXvuWAlMWDGL7_Y47D1xxhR/s1600-h/October+2009+149.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399714480760637746" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 225px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiktmOViNvfOgPACAGqU9Gl6TlOXVB4XaptsyXXnwIJwJrxBhtgkzjgsiNiwNXMcrf83AYwA3fmGna0VUX1KFjbdPinCVmrqhY_tx_iSXDOBFKUYFc7kXDM4TXvuWAlMWDGL7_Y47D1xxhR/s400/October+2009+149.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><div align="center"><br /> </div><div align="left">The teachers are usually pretty lenient though, and the kids are encouraged to barter and ask for a discount.<br /><br /></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieiHDbEIf6txVm5BwNb-2Vk20FX2ZMznL4hKcRlujU-9e-kMBVdnl5Ia-701F2EXR_6JnMayz3nKZ5bsk2KH64V9m7MTUCnczYN_cwbpVYCbyuEzDLKpxj9k2q8RAwznzOobPSRSaCuYJ9/s1600-h/October+2009+150.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399714474951559170" style="WIDTH: 225px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieiHDbEIf6txVm5BwNb-2Vk20FX2ZMznL4hKcRlujU-9e-kMBVdnl5Ia-701F2EXR_6JnMayz3nKZ5bsk2KH64V9m7MTUCnczYN_cwbpVYCbyuEzDLKpxj9k2q8RAwznzOobPSRSaCuYJ9/s400/October+2009+150.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><div align="center"><br /> </div><div align="left">First, the kids all come in and sit down while a teacher explains the most important phrases of the day, "How much is it?", "Can I please have a discount?" and, "Thank you for your help." </div><div align="left"><br /> </div><div align="left">The kids tend to be pretty excited by this point, and are just barely hanging on to any explanations that you might give. It's time to let the feeding frenzy begin!<br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcdejMRnGU-IQSYMI6j2kolVLHRMRWiyvItWimvNIbKzKhif4WUETUwoKVNDMw1UcDks9CMaCHyuGbbA6g2EZGQfm3gf5gsqFL0jaRkYktnAH8izqTwNUiCfLvRLVtA0GZuJBB3aKStfsH/s1600-h/October+2009+151.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399713747137504786" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcdejMRnGU-IQSYMI6j2kolVLHRMRWiyvItWimvNIbKzKhif4WUETUwoKVNDMw1UcDks9CMaCHyuGbbA6g2EZGQfm3gf5gsqFL0jaRkYktnAH8izqTwNUiCfLvRLVtA0GZuJBB3aKStfsH/s400/October+2009+151.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><div align="center"><br /> </div><div align="left">It's interesting to watch the kids shop, as it really shows their personalities, and probably to a certain extent their parents spending habits.<br /><br /></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9gIfaxmNbxqcSThRhhvuRLWSIUkkZMhMmzMeKg0ORt50E5AW53dTEEay0P9upsTx_zpNcIT3L91k_ykypyusFf4kb83g2GQ1KaHMq3opJMHBtfR1ho50dh9RZssg6nZ-Njte-qLA_CNOc/s1600-h/October+2009+152.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399713744130757858" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9gIfaxmNbxqcSThRhhvuRLWSIUkkZMhMmzMeKg0ORt50E5AW53dTEEay0P9upsTx_zpNcIT3L91k_ykypyusFf4kb83g2GQ1KaHMq3opJMHBtfR1ho50dh9RZssg6nZ-Njte-qLA_CNOc/s400/October+2009+152.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><div align="center"><br /> </div><div align="left">Some kids rush to the first table they see, buy the first thing that they can get their hands on, and then bemoan having spent all of their money so rashly, when they wander around to the other tables and see something that they wanted more. </div><div align="left"><br /> </div><div align="left">Other kids, wander around to each table, see what there is to be had, make themselves a budget, and are finished shopping without making much of a fuss. </div><div align="left"><br /> </div><div align="left">Still other children wander around with their dollars clutched tightly to their chest, and have a hard time parting with any of them, remembering how hard they worked to get them. Each child must spend every dollar they have, or forfeit its value, so this is a quite difficult task for these particular children.<br /><br /><br /></div><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLhVzsxd0U-ryM2St3SPvhqnxbTWRUatAMwH6MGCSM-RO0o1LJYP0X8Ocr7LrMzIJIx3l4bHHQVWqI4EzrsEpOMeJH-eCy8LfJbutkg79jLq6fTIfBNwNF4B9oyOtfjRMWjznIJqeiuTCs/s1600-h/October+2009+153.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399713734597525714" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLhVzsxd0U-ryM2St3SPvhqnxbTWRUatAMwH6MGCSM-RO0o1LJYP0X8Ocr7LrMzIJIx3l4bHHQVWqI4EzrsEpOMeJH-eCy8LfJbutkg79jLq6fTIfBNwNF4B9oyOtfjRMWjznIJqeiuTCs/s400/October+2009+153.JPG" border="0" /></a></p><div align="left"><br />The last stereotype of child spender is the one that amuses me the most. This is the kid that walks around with a mitt-full of cash, playing hard to get with the teachers about how much their willing to spend at each table. They take the bargaining advice to the fullest extent, and will barter and beg for discounts on the moderately priced items, even when they have enough cash to buy the most expensive items several times over.<br /><br /></div><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOsBiVerCI67OoVMW7gNQdtWaviTxNX0eCCGGC-D29XCAjQD1M55B5uDeNZPQ3SV7LRKLmVtMBDyNZ2NPIrh0_roxLGL9GlCcJ9-8C9k5H6JJBqaWLaJWkoGFc6JrFOEid4uoLZljsN7U9/s1600-h/October+2009+154.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399713727751174610" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOsBiVerCI67OoVMW7gNQdtWaviTxNX0eCCGGC-D29XCAjQD1M55B5uDeNZPQ3SV7LRKLmVtMBDyNZ2NPIrh0_roxLGL9GlCcJ9-8C9k5H6JJBqaWLaJWkoGFc6JrFOEid4uoLZljsN7U9/s400/October+2009+154.JPG" border="0" /></a></p><div align="left">As much of a hassle as it would be if every kid was so shrewd, these kids are the ones who tend to get the most out of Shopping Day, both in terms of items acquired, and English experience, as they are forced to talk a lot more, and must use more advanced vocabulary and grammar than the kids who just shuffle up to a table and pay the asking price with only a thank you.<br /><br />It really amazes me that these, 'financial personalities' are expressing themselves in kids who are so young, many of them only in 2nd and 3rd grade.<br /><br /></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1KKO8zXmwb2k0tusDQ34RBelCLfSjxdq6p6Zgbs9lmOun_X_eyySVFFlGLhNWJPZWQE5BF1qLBS7o9K4CF4ceeFPCfjiT6Q28zZOPByLcGKdy8qzYZ3qJAAtsXuUtGmQYcOSA7nmnO9QB/s1600-h/October+2009+155.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399713716832958802" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1KKO8zXmwb2k0tusDQ34RBelCLfSjxdq6p6Zgbs9lmOun_X_eyySVFFlGLhNWJPZWQE5BF1qLBS7o9K4CF4ceeFPCfjiT6Q28zZOPByLcGKdy8qzYZ3qJAAtsXuUtGmQYcOSA7nmnO9QB/s400/October+2009+155.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><div align="center"><br /> </div><div align="left">Invariably, when we get back to class, I'll ask them what they thought of their trip to the SLP store. </div><div align="left"><br /> </div><div align="left">"Oh, Teacher!," they'll lament, "Everything was soo expensive!"</div><div align="left"><br /> </div><div align="left">If only they knew. </div></div>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12081580917378309077noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2089127790429034136.post-52773189125480259582009-10-30T11:02:00.005-02:302009-11-02T23:50:42.141-03:30Monster Mash vs. Mummy Rap<div align="center"></div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="left">Mummy wrapping has always been one of my favourite Halloween activities.<br /><br /></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy-H08E_4CsZqzLeiGO5cD-geOPm3sa9mKDJwDBwtuEjThdxfssag_9zw0-JY5VhgIyerZK94DKOXKd0e-dNHXXVlpsur4jdnHoyWFu0CWwepQXFnirr8oP-_EZSa5CAqYvN26bAkhWxY9/s1600-h/October+2009+125.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399703959895431490" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy-H08E_4CsZqzLeiGO5cD-geOPm3sa9mKDJwDBwtuEjThdxfssag_9zw0-JY5VhgIyerZK94DKOXKd0e-dNHXXVlpsur4jdnHoyWFu0CWwepQXFnirr8oP-_EZSa5CAqYvN26bAkhWxY9/s400/October+2009+125.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="left">I can't really put my finger on an exact reason, although I have some fairly good ideas.<br /><br /></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left">I always loved being the wrapper of course, but being the wrapee was always my favourite.<br /><br /><br /></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiNk-qfWpguqHkaclCRTg79zemWy1jT5hcgn56f15weBlqTRG40s_AzJyLKE4ygVHNsuib14EkziBKPwVwKXfwX4NOcBLaiFWx43bnZVgFhrkpQuCNlzkh9PMlgaWSFqsDc8bJXaNtf2TH/s1600-h/October+2009+129.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399703954407453650" style="WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiNk-qfWpguqHkaclCRTg79zemWy1jT5hcgn56f15weBlqTRG40s_AzJyLKE4ygVHNsuib14EkziBKPwVwKXfwX4NOcBLaiFWx43bnZVgFhrkpQuCNlzkh9PMlgaWSFqsDc8bJXaNtf2TH/s400/October+2009+129.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left">Whatever way you sliced it, there was always something a little giddy and fun and forbidden about playing with toilet paper. Plus, really, who doesn't enjoy playing with toilet paper? It just comes off the roll so easily. I think it's basic human instinct. Or, animal instinct, as I've heard that household pets also find unrolling a good roll of toilet paper quite enjoyable.<br /><br /></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrFVKKOwaMd4pIG4XdrU4BEwnXK0rxFx7B5ecBWsKLW1uxX1uBSRilv7BIKUyZt1nn6kp6p9-Yi5N3vSDoldeWXuwCR2nYIDxYr_4sVUb0ves3amDr7JyESdW3N0At5zNAuDkxe2nHNE2y/s1600-h/October+2009+131.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399703944240920258" style="WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrFVKKOwaMd4pIG4XdrU4BEwnXK0rxFx7B5ecBWsKLW1uxX1uBSRilv7BIKUyZt1nn6kp6p9-Yi5N3vSDoldeWXuwCR2nYIDxYr_4sVUb0ves3amDr7JyESdW3N0At5zNAuDkxe2nHNE2y/s400/October+2009+131.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><div align="center"></div><div align="left"><br /></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left">Especially as a small kid, I relished in giving the toilet paper a nice firm tug; watching it spool off the roll. ( Please, don't tell my mother.) This was always quickly followed by a bout of guilt and a fear of being caught. If there was time, I would always try to, flustered and heart beating wildly, put it carefully back on the roll. If this was the case I felt clever for having escaped detection. I am sure my mother always noticed, although she never said anything about it.<br /><br />If I was pressed for time, or felt that capture was imminent, panic invariably took over and the mass of toilet paper that I had just unfurled would quickly find itself dumped into the toilet, where I would frantically try to flush it all down in one go, pressing flush over and over again, and praying that the flush box would magically fill up, by the grace of God, more quickly than usual on this particular occasion -- solemnly vowing, of course, to never play with the toilet paper <em>ever </em>again.<br /><br /><br /></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtW_DS24Sy_8zbO_YRC-8IWDeDgC-FQExjtKG016Xxat-Wg3BjWTDIIyxUMjGjJib7qSaRJOFgZJZmAjx-WotD142txYLcQ3YVT40RHNMfdke-bPZX9JPNouEO2U2r_qh3kwvnSOfz-ZYG/s1600-h/October+2009+136.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399703932846237602" style="WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtW_DS24Sy_8zbO_YRC-8IWDeDgC-FQExjtKG016Xxat-Wg3BjWTDIIyxUMjGjJib7qSaRJOFgZJZmAjx-WotD142txYLcQ3YVT40RHNMfdke-bPZX9JPNouEO2U2r_qh3kwvnSOfz-ZYG/s400/October+2009+136.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><div align="center"><br /><br /></div><div align="left">I was so happy to discover, therefore, that Korean children were as excited about playing with toilet paper on Halloween day -- instead of studying-- as I was.<br /><br />I think that they did a particularly fabulous job.<br /><br /><br /></div><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdzz8w6cA2YA0Ozmr1q4ZsRWGyRdsSf3gX1VG0aXrup_9Barf5KMD8IMSkJi4dR6sd3dgV5XzULZtX6vNZIHPrfiOmkRj2VmRG8RUM0B-txyjgH_oYu1IJcsLBwde-Ok4AaBH86_qe0Tt3/s1600-h/October+2009+143.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399703925722958722" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 225px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdzz8w6cA2YA0Ozmr1q4ZsRWGyRdsSf3gX1VG0aXrup_9Barf5KMD8IMSkJi4dR6sd3dgV5XzULZtX6vNZIHPrfiOmkRj2VmRG8RUM0B-txyjgH_oYu1IJcsLBwde-Ok4AaBH86_qe0Tt3/s400/October+2009+143.JPG" border="0" /></a></p><div align="left">We made mummies as we wasted away the afternoon, and laid waste to rainforest somewhere.<br /><br />Do you think this counts as part of my carbon footprint, or as part of theirs?</div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"><br /><br /><br /></div>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12081580917378309077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2089127790429034136.post-707535228482255652009-10-20T23:53:00.001-02:302009-11-02T00:36:48.536-03:30Namiseom: The Naminara Republic<div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Did you know that in Naminara, we are all Naminarians?</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Neither did I, neither did I... that is until Amanda, Jen and I packed up our bags and headed out there on Sunday. Forever wanting to catch that early worm, we packed up our bags and started out. A subway ride, a train, a taxi and a ferry later we finally arrived at our destination. We were trying to play "How many forms of public transportation can you use in one trip?" I think we did quite well, don't you?<br /><br /><br /></div><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgsd6CIffVBDbL1lgsUBHu5CzKA2JwMY26r3UXcqPP9cLfQjYKHr6R5bgk1q1fsOIhWPIoM9ieInWuW0v2bROZy6vUjtSM5NI5rEIEkG98u3JVlpXXkNQEEXqP9q50SSfBgeP_7o79Y5Er/s1600-h/October+2009+073.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399343112481308018" style="WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgsd6CIffVBDbL1lgsUBHu5CzKA2JwMY26r3UXcqPP9cLfQjYKHr6R5bgk1q1fsOIhWPIoM9ieInWuW0v2bROZy6vUjtSM5NI5rEIEkG98u3JVlpXXkNQEEXqP9q50SSfBgeP_7o79Y5Er/s400/October+2009+073.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Leg one: Subway.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibO3-vOvE1J3ZOV9x-wm704pu-_VtImAoeo39pAiTf56zLNNzUfeE8Lew9tx1Qc6R8y6e5kkwCgdlkB2NkHchBCRo9dLIokP8m8vW4aMnexuDS7RERP0dlwq0_VFaYV1d2-oNnRaP-u9r1/s1600-h/October+2009+076.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399343105545021346" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibO3-vOvE1J3ZOV9x-wm704pu-_VtImAoeo39pAiTf56zLNNzUfeE8Lew9tx1Qc6R8y6e5kkwCgdlkB2NkHchBCRo9dLIokP8m8vW4aMnexuDS7RERP0dlwq0_VFaYV1d2-oNnRaP-u9r1/s400/October+2009+076.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><br /><div align="center"></div><br /><div align="left">There were three possible ferries that you could take to the Naminara Republic. A boring, regular looking ferry that we were on, and that didn't merit a picture. This fancy looking ferry surrounded by flags...<br /></div><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPRSMrkH9K_TLwX8GmPj9RYIghJ0X84pdDUPU8huYHo5k8lHNNQT16Qh4gnbmMx4p2cP_-OCP5jhn28peXQUpQIGDUJVE-TpKTKgx8foHzEcwSzTiTGNav_OsYodwik0dWNAiV5omW0tUP/s1600-h/October+2009+080.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399343097948721586" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPRSMrkH9K_TLwX8GmPj9RYIghJ0X84pdDUPU8huYHo5k8lHNNQT16Qh4gnbmMx4p2cP_-OCP5jhn28peXQUpQIGDUJVE-TpKTKgx8foHzEcwSzTiTGNav_OsYodwik0dWNAiV5omW0tUP/s400/October+2009+080.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><br /><div align="center"></div><br /><div align="left">... and this quaint looking ferry, also bedecked with flags. Why didn't our ferry have any flags? That's what I want to know?<br /><br /></div><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiccHnrNNbddc_MTNs-B0CG760XxmibOOEs-UZm-9btBaVsHJULHtDRXKpxi1IdBxboSP0sgmqvyEZG3gNvgRoVIjKGAtH5h9EAI_n4gNpvOdSN5c_RgU_AxmBZwzBRNSp2fatAzj-BslxH/s1600-h/October+2009+082.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399343086191175170" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiccHnrNNbddc_MTNs-B0CG760XxmibOOEs-UZm-9btBaVsHJULHtDRXKpxi1IdBxboSP0sgmqvyEZG3gNvgRoVIjKGAtH5h9EAI_n4gNpvOdSN5c_RgU_AxmBZwzBRNSp2fatAzj-BslxH/s400/October+2009+082.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><br /><div align="center"></div><br /><div align="left">As we had our entry visas checked before boarding the ferry -- have I mentioned that Naminara has its own passport, visa requirements and currency? -- it was all smooth sailing once we docked at our destination. Do be careful though, should you ever undertake this journey by yourself, to not fall off the wharf...<br /><br /></div><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLh_nPFNn83xavAaJF45_K1l1hO1ktAt8WFTCVpI7Q7xOicwuKBBr2Wqwb78mGlcZs3RhXuow9poSJ9meQd4ZNr4iw5YTGmAPP-gnX4iqsYO7xHuVj1rYnB5NzUYIDkgnjSUIJklNTW-c1/s1600-h/October+2009+088.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399343078365093602" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLh_nPFNn83xavAaJF45_K1l1hO1ktAt8WFTCVpI7Q7xOicwuKBBr2Wqwb78mGlcZs3RhXuow9poSJ9meQd4ZNr4iw5YTGmAPP-gnX4iqsYO7xHuVj1rYnB5NzUYIDkgnjSUIJklNTW-c1/s400/October+2009+088.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><br /><div align="center"></div><br /><div align="left">Although I cannot read Korean, something tells me that swimming in this water looks nicer than it would be in reality!</div><br /><div align="center"><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9Xo_GHtQpVbq9lmqcaFzuL7oZK2z813RNFYHIetzAvzubNsgScR5W7bai5cwAahcGY22wzvB75GuY2rPeGiOcDg2O_x1Lbo11LedSPWSrg4SMjoj150GdQq094jrypjEZlA7o9HXfnCrV/s1600-h/October+2009+090.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399345507822494930" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 225px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9Xo_GHtQpVbq9lmqcaFzuL7oZK2z813RNFYHIetzAvzubNsgScR5W7bai5cwAahcGY22wzvB75GuY2rPeGiOcDg2O_x1Lbo11LedSPWSrg4SMjoj150GdQq094jrypjEZlA7o9HXfnCrV/s400/October+2009+090.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><br /><div align="center"></div><br /><div align="left">The island is quite small, only around 4 km in diameter, and is home to the grave of its namesake General Nami (남이장군) who died at the age of 28 after being falsely accused of treason.<br /></div><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA17QhOL05_-Yja1yBc_0mE374WxcmlSzqE7GvqJv2Woj1eQN_JguMCpakdrZgGtkTsKB8YavONhcMQz9HhuhK0KAJt8HRWk1jb9WhShubVOT9mpXL-gQibhfPunGn7AzPLrD4jO2L3jcm/s1600-h/October+2009+091.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399345495014069778" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA17QhOL05_-Yja1yBc_0mE374WxcmlSzqE7GvqJv2Woj1eQN_JguMCpakdrZgGtkTsKB8YavONhcMQz9HhuhK0KAJt8HRWk1jb9WhShubVOT9mpXL-gQibhfPunGn7AzPLrD4jO2L3jcm/s400/October+2009+091.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><br /><div align="center"></div><br /><div align="left">It is a whimsical sort of amusement park with a focus on promoting the arts, and living in harmony with nature. Birch trees line the roads, and it is home to the location of filming of one of the most popular Korean dramas of all time, 'Winter Sonata.' It is for this reason that such a small island is flooded with and estimated 1.5 million visitor a year, many of whom are Japanese.<br /></div><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkJ5jikgB15ijAFWrNFFIx3lII-jkcU7CdKKMUx9UrcahNJzKpPeBoZTzGDx3wAFE0CCEgZ-7k6sgcqtirOuC755z9nmShBS8f6IsS_jvDxC_-QNE6EyGuFboUSWVyQ2ZSg7rc0G-f6dh4/s1600-h/October+2009+095.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399345478556365410" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkJ5jikgB15ijAFWrNFFIx3lII-jkcU7CdKKMUx9UrcahNJzKpPeBoZTzGDx3wAFE0CCEgZ-7k6sgcqtirOuC755z9nmShBS8f6IsS_jvDxC_-QNE6EyGuFboUSWVyQ2ZSg7rc0G-f6dh4/s400/October+2009+095.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br /><div align="left">Schools make projects about environment conservation which are displayed in the park. Amanda, Jen and I took advantage of some of them for an amusing photo shoot. Although you can't tell very well from the angle of the photo, we are in fact sitting on a plane.<br /><br /></div><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgesvAzH_T9hb_3RDJ3WIAhhdzL-_m3R_fmqGdwNM33IJAUspBIRokr-1eHirzvvNs0G1QKO3EB05Jo6EI7y50G-xDcAnD747gQDLKP-ydiNLQ76BmFq0-u5X9RTpF9BZKrtaJ77zeF_54G/s1600-h/October+2009+100.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399345473183758354" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgesvAzH_T9hb_3RDJ3WIAhhdzL-_m3R_fmqGdwNM33IJAUspBIRokr-1eHirzvvNs0G1QKO3EB05Jo6EI7y50G-xDcAnD747gQDLKP-ydiNLQ76BmFq0-u5X9RTpF9BZKrtaJ77zeF_54G/s400/October+2009+100.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><br /><div align="center"></div><br /><div align="left">There were many parts of the island that were very beautiful. It was a very peaceful afternoon of wandering around and enjoying ourselves.<br /></div><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDLEZp01fONSCJ_V3Zg6zhIDNI9TxtpDe83V_gQZfZjpHjKwIIEU3BOSrbRhdn-VvKWjXubdE3OZu-bDVcm15dOoed6grT6hbp-5cwLMMyMZgbmmcauIyXeZIM6GM52Kfx070EINlcTjIj/s1600-h/October+2009+116.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399345467596624978" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 225px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDLEZp01fONSCJ_V3Zg6zhIDNI9TxtpDe83V_gQZfZjpHjKwIIEU3BOSrbRhdn-VvKWjXubdE3OZu-bDVcm15dOoed6grT6hbp-5cwLMMyMZgbmmcauIyXeZIM6GM52Kfx070EINlcTjIj/s400/October+2009+116.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /></div><br /><div>Although I think it could be fun for groups of people to take advantage of the cabins that are available for rent on the island, or the hotel, for most people I think a day trip is sufficient. Information on the island, and how to get there can be found <a href="http://www.namisum.com/">here</a>.</div></div></div></div>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12081580917378309077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2089127790429034136.post-24821791572649543592009-10-14T22:35:00.001-02:302009-11-01T23:53:40.072-03:30The House of Sharing : Women's Rights = Human Rights<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNZQ_d1F6TEwmohlOHjK7A1PPe7zMHX-Bjdu4T78sEXegN7V-SIhyY8XIiPfQVwAWM_VoOHEMuzYIQz_4WMoyEUJw62vVG_IAb1vOJl3JEZ1D1iV0vKdbbOx0STnWEQ7UU7329MdeRKAYs/s1600-h/October+2009+017.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399324768486393474" style="WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNZQ_d1F6TEwmohlOHjK7A1PPe7zMHX-Bjdu4T78sEXegN7V-SIhyY8XIiPfQVwAWM_VoOHEMuzYIQz_4WMoyEUJw62vVG_IAb1vOJl3JEZ1D1iV0vKdbbOx0STnWEQ7UU7329MdeRKAYs/s400/October+2009+017.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><br /><div align="center"></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong><em>"We must record these things that were forced upon us." -Kim Hak Soon Halmoni </em></strong></span></div><br /><p>"Comfort Women" is a euphemism used to describe women who were kidnapped or sold by their families to be used as sexual slaves in Japanese brothels during WWII. Although the vast majority were from Korea, women were also used in the brothels from China, Japan and the rest of South East Asia. "Comfort stations" were found all over Japanese occupied Asia, and although the number of women involved in the network of comfort stations is debated by historians, some scholars believe that 410 000 women's lives were ruined by this barbaric system. </p><br /><p>"Comfort women" had a very hard life while living in the brothels of Japanese occupied Asia, and life was no cake walk when the war finally ended for those who survived either. Only an estimated 25% of "comfort women" survived, and of those who did the majority were never able to have children. They were often seen as a source of shame for their families, and due to the young age at which many of them had been forced into service many of them spoke neither their mother tongue, nor the language of the country where they were found very well, nor could they say where they had come from. </p><br /><p>The House of Sharing is a safe house for former Korean “Comfort Women.” It is located about an hour from Seoul and serves as both a place for the former "comfort women" -- who prefer to be called Halmoni (an affectionate and respectful term for "grandmother")-- to live out there days, and a museum, where people can go to learn about the Halmoni and their lives. As difficult as it is to remember the past, and also to face present day criticism from people who don't believe they are telling the truth, the Halmoni believe that their stories must be shared, to prevent something like this from ever happening again. </p><br /><div align="center"><strong><br /></strong></div><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRKpWRdoxL2PHTJgtPA5F3Niy8_jYCI2WHwhGG02wkY0oB4XrH_xF1ByaYJbbWVbSexMZlb4H0p1Cv9cGiae5EBVRQ2ZU4j_uGqVrSd1QrZ3tMZ7WCgrF5wT4_fJ4Yr1ICsnAWW1Zu0TcY/s1600-h/October+2009+015.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399324766882079490" style="WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRKpWRdoxL2PHTJgtPA5F3Niy8_jYCI2WHwhGG02wkY0oB4XrH_xF1ByaYJbbWVbSexMZlb4H0p1Cv9cGiae5EBVRQ2ZU4j_uGqVrSd1QrZ3tMZ7WCgrF5wT4_fJ4Yr1ICsnAWW1Zu0TcY/s400/October+2009+015.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><br /><div align="center"></div><br /><div align="left">When you enter the house of sharing, you are greeted by two images on opposing walls. The first (above) represents the dreams of the Halmoni, many of which were stolen from them during their time in sexual slavery. Congruent with the time in which they were born, their greatest wishes revolved around fertility, health, a husband and a family. One of the greatest regrets of the Halmoni today, is that either through the shame of what they underwent, or barrenness caused by their daily torture and forced abortions, most were unable to have children. Its a regret they will carry with them to their graves.<br /><br /></div><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRuia_gI0JNMT8vg-gx9QEoTN5q6BjpqaMIaOWy1AV4076t8VKPGnznw7QXwLMZMAgQ4VT_wzuI4kSNjVcHvJ7I65JfpTZVXtvKBAKw1dtSXIpFu0RosKGPi9XXq43OQGk-2UUzzC5eT0c/s1600-h/October+2009+016.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399324750840413922" style="WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRuia_gI0JNMT8vg-gx9QEoTN5q6BjpqaMIaOWy1AV4076t8VKPGnznw7QXwLMZMAgQ4VT_wzuI4kSNjVcHvJ7I65JfpTZVXtvKBAKw1dtSXIpFu0RosKGPi9XXq43OQGk-2UUzzC5eT0c/s400/October+2009+016.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><br /><div align="center"></div><br /><div align="left">The second image, which is to your right when you approach the House of Sharing, represents what they actually got, in lieu of fulfilled dreams. You can see how the woman cries and a tear falls as the bayonets of the soldiers' guns pierce her skin, and a bird drops dead from her left hand. The stark contrast between the two images, is a reflection of the loss that each of the Halmoni feel each day as they continue on living their lives, in spite of these atrocities that took away the things that many people live for.<br /><br /><br /></div><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuHv-vaq9E0nQ2ToK1Ubvwi3khsB06fmZ9IrM34FXNH1PWgnnQAF3NMkF35ukwChNNtW73v6YN5qoMTR4IH6bSJlmetUh6n6Q85wF3vCXu1ubuNhafh8hmgVOzr8Dhg1mXJzoi5cxlYrA_/s1600-h/October+2009+020.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399324740491133762" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuHv-vaq9E0nQ2ToK1Ubvwi3khsB06fmZ9IrM34FXNH1PWgnnQAF3NMkF35ukwChNNtW73v6YN5qoMTR4IH6bSJlmetUh6n6Q85wF3vCXu1ubuNhafh8hmgVOzr8Dhg1mXJzoi5cxlYrA_/s400/October+2009+020.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><br /><div align="center"></div><br /><div align="left">The Halmoni today express themselves through painting. They paint the things that they saw, and they paint their feelings. Here a Japanese soldier has arrived at a house to demand the daughters of this house be handed over.<br /><br /></div><br /><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYsUV6-LI3SRd0z1WMG4-_NMpMSLmL4g4ixmGFwwgmlLqVkuv_Rul0jNgFpey2qDdkZP500HRDjyQ6avfqnpCJNfTukHzDLh3lr_HmSLpgAMqp8UzWyxuHxIIIhEK-89oSmFdLMEns2rPm/s1600-h/October+2009+024.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399324734714237810" style="WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYsUV6-LI3SRd0z1WMG4-_NMpMSLmL4g4ixmGFwwgmlLqVkuv_Rul0jNgFpey2qDdkZP500HRDjyQ6avfqnpCJNfTukHzDLh3lr_HmSLpgAMqp8UzWyxuHxIIIhEK-89oSmFdLMEns2rPm/s400/October+2009+024.JPG" border="0" /></a></p><br /><div align="left">This picture was painted by one woman, to depict the first time she was raped and her innocence taken.<br /><br />The surviving Halmoni of Korea, of whom eight currently live at the House of Sharing, demonstrate outside the Japanese embassy in Seoul every Wednesday to petition the Japanese government to accept responsibility for the warm crimes it committed against South Ease Asian women during WWII. They haven't missed a Wednesday since they started, and for them I have the greatest amount of respect. I'm not sure that I could survive what they have, live to tell about and then go on reliving those terrible memories for the benefit of others, but they do. They have that grit and determination, and I hope that they get what their looking for one by one they slip away into a better place, and there is no one left for the Japanese government to apologize to. </div>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12081580917378309077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2089127790429034136.post-9553984760194119192009-10-12T20:56:00.003-02:302009-11-01T22:34:42.380-03:30Seoraksan<div><div><div><div><br /></div><div align="left">On Saturday, still a little bummed from not being able to climb Mount Fuji due to rain and foggy foggy weather, Amanda and I -- apparently becoming avid hikers -- made our way to the west of Seoul to get out of the city, and to hike the beautiful mountain, Seoraksan. It is among the highest mountains in our area, and well beloved by Korean people for beautiful views, especially in the fall when the leaving are changing. </div><div><br /><br />Our day started out as per usual, getting up early, hopping on the new Line 9 to get the express subway and proceeding to escape the concrete city that we call home. It was a beautiful day! The bus to Sokcho was long, of course, but we got to take some nice pictures of the countryside along the way.<br /><br /></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVarMYtHKaSLIEnZYVhMJYs8_h6euILyM_Vm_7QsRpjIeZFIdiYZ40D0eRQPBlGsx0IPSAZYohCmAtVVIfmkS8B1SCXt_QjWJEBCB9VpE9hFwDbCcBeJBTtfoV957-NQRvU1Y1XH53zW59/s1600-h/October+2009+510.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399305940741319810" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVarMYtHKaSLIEnZYVhMJYs8_h6euILyM_Vm_7QsRpjIeZFIdiYZ40D0eRQPBlGsx0IPSAZYohCmAtVVIfmkS8B1SCXt_QjWJEBCB9VpE9hFwDbCcBeJBTtfoV957-NQRvU1Y1XH53zW59/s400/October+2009+510.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><div><br /> </div><div align="left">Neither of us ever really having lived inland, Amanda and I both practically jumped out of our seats when we got to Sokcho, and saw the ocean. Cameras snapping, we both kind of looked at each other, realised how bemused our families would be that we were taking pictures of water, laughed and then kept taking pictures. Oh! the sea! How I've missed you these past 11 months! I can't wait until we are reunited at last!<br /></div><div><br /> </div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRx1FKo_l0BbHyG0w8dPaW2EDLLxX57NadMS-qmJmNGE3ffMekVQYB5AN_ppRQNU-cFPlO4AN73pgxtXQHh0_mk1KzZRLg3EmoN1fc1F0aqWryYpe4sRknrFhvzpVSTaq3DPR5X2UpR6I6/s1600-h/October+2009+515.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399305931644641682" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRx1FKo_l0BbHyG0w8dPaW2EDLLxX57NadMS-qmJmNGE3ffMekVQYB5AN_ppRQNU-cFPlO4AN73pgxtXQHh0_mk1KzZRLg3EmoN1fc1F0aqWryYpe4sRknrFhvzpVSTaq3DPR5X2UpR6I6/s400/October+2009+515.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><div><br /> </div><div align="left">Once we finally reached Sokcho station we had to again take another bus as far as the mountain. We were beginning to think the travelling would never end. In all from when we left our apartments until we got off the last bus we were in transit for a good 6 hours! Yikes! Everyone we talked to said it would be around four. I am beginning to be convinced that this type of thing only happens to Amanda and I.<br /><br /></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkxRQf_kj-0_cwNn8iGLPFa9sJWkrdmFR3YuuC1Q7csZV5NpqDZs14c16yod4frxeEeDMfOpi60GwNaGhiJBmprG9ekGsO8Fl-3VKzWZspdvLdW7Cgr1J8Z9I8iOss7Nzsih0ixws-Wfw-/s1600-h/October+2009+520.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399305927965102002" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkxRQf_kj-0_cwNn8iGLPFa9sJWkrdmFR3YuuC1Q7csZV5NpqDZs14c16yod4frxeEeDMfOpi60GwNaGhiJBmprG9ekGsO8Fl-3VKzWZspdvLdW7Cgr1J8Z9I8iOss7Nzsih0ixws-Wfw-/s400/October+2009+520.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div>Once we did get on the city bus however, we found it to be crowded with fellow hikers. It was a relief to know that we at least seemed to be headed towards the right place.<br /><br /></div><div> </div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM5t2wSlaA298yi3MguOG4Ib4yqtBhAYkUgSiIV-5zKKBrHomVsz8npEFstCYa2oHO0C_Im9fpB8tah7R8Bj-vCjP2k9ACWyhGh5locWlfMk4u1un3aYt-YpqF6cBosis5LlHDPUiWbjZN/s1600-h/October+2009+522.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399305920420055954" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM5t2wSlaA298yi3MguOG4Ib4yqtBhAYkUgSiIV-5zKKBrHomVsz8npEFstCYa2oHO0C_Im9fpB8tah7R8Bj-vCjP2k9ACWyhGh5locWlfMk4u1un3aYt-YpqF6cBosis5LlHDPUiWbjZN/s400/October+2009+522.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><div><br /><br />When we finally arrived, we knew that it had all been worth it. Mountains certainly have a way of taking your breath away, don't they?<br /></div><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpL6q1QRbh9JrKIwy1C7m8qiepT3GOrHz5rECm2Z6R7f32_kANfFfeUZ39s9ZCYLO_9nQGaX_g8PcOFhu_MBTW7U1tX1MYn3ZWQc48HzgqIHSwR-BO4WWScYRnPcQB7TH8FYacCAQqmPeS/s1600-h/October+2009+523.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399305911620412882" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpL6q1QRbh9JrKIwy1C7m8qiepT3GOrHz5rECm2Z6R7f32_kANfFfeUZ39s9ZCYLO_9nQGaX_g8PcOFhu_MBTW7U1tX1MYn3ZWQc48HzgqIHSwR-BO4WWScYRnPcQB7TH8FYacCAQqmPeS/s400/October+2009+523.JPG" border="0" /></a></p><div>The craggy peaks and shear cliffs... </div><div align="center"><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcL_QBrCTSGO8gXZEBOOTWqzEFTZNPUP2Fw1jMP3GYSVSAEEgcMXygFRThDkj7Wcq_6_JwCjbJJdVvhV-36yrGFP5IOTs0bJ_M7MkOBysCPwaZMfJUNpQfYJ8f9opAMtZ_1zsYvCVjdU78/s1600-h/October+2009+521.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399314058656911794" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcL_QBrCTSGO8gXZEBOOTWqzEFTZNPUP2Fw1jMP3GYSVSAEEgcMXygFRThDkj7Wcq_6_JwCjbJJdVvhV-36yrGFP5IOTs0bJ_M7MkOBysCPwaZMfJUNpQfYJ8f9opAMtZ_1zsYvCVjdU78/s400/October+2009+521.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><div><br /><br />The stark contrast of the horizon against the sky... </div><div><br /> </div><div align="left">The... wait. Hold up. Are those... cars? I'm trying to wax poetic here...<br /><br /></div><div> </div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjezCTgWRFMr_SkFpa7TxROhyJgsHL2RC-9Z0cjx5c-Y7iao3IOvIPsMmzbH3o9ng2LUXHeKD3TIL6JcAyrazrjjHD0AIN7yONrIEAHiQVaq82jT3OxV1CDw_gGoMZ2p7RCBCYdRX_Fs-TZ/s1600-h/October+2009+525.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399314055818641074" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjezCTgWRFMr_SkFpa7TxROhyJgsHL2RC-9Z0cjx5c-Y7iao3IOvIPsMmzbH3o9ng2LUXHeKD3TIL6JcAyrazrjjHD0AIN7yONrIEAHiQVaq82jT3OxV1CDw_gGoMZ2p7RCBCYdRX_Fs-TZ/s400/October+2009+525.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><div><br />Amanda?<br /></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo5VGb4OoCnArZOmbsvFi0jVI0Tsdor6qXVPv2t17TjJnP5PLfgXumjfW99T7cB0JZvQU2ejETx-uPNiS_iFZnYKRO2vxPnaOzJ9NZRbxr_qAvNBNgr11ldYUPF2FnRsrB7FLt9V7X4y0-/s1600-h/October+2009+534.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399314046945938162" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo5VGb4OoCnArZOmbsvFi0jVI0Tsdor6qXVPv2t17TjJnP5PLfgXumjfW99T7cB0JZvQU2ejETx-uPNiS_iFZnYKRO2vxPnaOzJ9NZRbxr_qAvNBNgr11ldYUPF2FnRsrB7FLt9V7X4y0-/s400/October+2009+534.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><div><br /> </div><div align="left">I thought you said that you were taking me to the mountains?<br /></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdCKAljMP7PVM8XrdIC6LHjCRyAOwd_chvGSheoBTv5iR9ziVLmKmDuQTpSucQ36HHs-5FJl3s177-Nm9rPjnmA__GnEFfIBPjYFsYa1SPIz2S4q5jx6Gst2ymCZzZy6Bxm4_glPDDwXgb/s1600-h/October+2009+545.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399314038132303410" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdCKAljMP7PVM8XrdIC6LHjCRyAOwd_chvGSheoBTv5iR9ziVLmKmDuQTpSucQ36HHs-5FJl3s177-Nm9rPjnmA__GnEFfIBPjYFsYa1SPIz2S4q5jx6Gst2ymCZzZy6Bxm4_glPDDwXgb/s400/October+2009+545.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><div><br /><br />Are you sure we didn't somehow miss the sign and take a wrong turn?<br /><br /></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd_OqoWVA8vlc6nM5upqb4OI5KsoIYAgSxrhD9I8xHuBNB9wrrTMjrlse0bpzrL_SDvm1w1h2nWFv7h_BcgiexJxnKFJa_2iWnGi5OI3N9EMNhX2Tyvz5xRWjnL02r0xnuyZtWmFBbYpbe/s1600-h/October+2009+546.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399314027554056402" style="WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd_OqoWVA8vlc6nM5upqb4OI5KsoIYAgSxrhD9I8xHuBNB9wrrTMjrlse0bpzrL_SDvm1w1h2nWFv7h_BcgiexJxnKFJa_2iWnGi5OI3N9EMNhX2Tyvz5xRWjnL02r0xnuyZtWmFBbYpbe/s400/October+2009+546.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><div><br />Apparently in English, Seoraksan, which I had always believed to mean Seorak Mountain, actually roughly translates to "Fall Carnival and Tourist Trap," at least for the first 20 mins of "hiking."<br /></div><div align="center"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6mjJwdMv2JF2bFgW6K1KRctZ6gyTIL2Xce_IZJxLrSqw9Nl2xxvLoPK5Pctn1tKTzomOWwedO86jk_6TDieJ_16yC2-fe8P8DIWC0ZytbapW1wxkFBThYddpnwFxmZcTGNNEuIzcdKmQe/s1600-h/October+2009+551.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399317285391985218" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6mjJwdMv2JF2bFgW6K1KRctZ6gyTIL2Xce_IZJxLrSqw9Nl2xxvLoPK5Pctn1tKTzomOWwedO86jk_6TDieJ_16yC2-fe8P8DIWC0ZytbapW1wxkFBThYddpnwFxmZcTGNNEuIzcdKmQe/s400/October+2009+551.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="left">Jokes aside, once you had been hiking for about half and hour or so, although the sheer number of people you were sharing the hiking trails with never abated, the touristy kitschy atmosphere did lessen and we were left surrounded by pristine, relatively untouched beauty on all sides.<br /><br /></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHTPXUeKwjYmaows1kpEa4GBmvSb2Bjk8GgQqzbRjjmt5oxLEmoGuyNoih6bH6CtPPA27tmye-lTEllbdrFCfQlk49GEOPgoQ9oQatK30o0P0Jp1R7N2sRtkB6euzqn_LUQG773l2YUVZS/s1600-h/October+2009+554.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399317277195398482" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHTPXUeKwjYmaows1kpEa4GBmvSb2Bjk8GgQqzbRjjmt5oxLEmoGuyNoih6bH6CtPPA27tmye-lTEllbdrFCfQlk49GEOPgoQ9oQatK30o0P0Jp1R7N2sRtkB6euzqn_LUQG773l2YUVZS/s400/October+2009+554.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div align="left">As we hiked the views just got more and more spectacular. I thought the colour of the water in the many small pools along the side of the path was just striking in contrast with grey of the rocks surrounding it,</div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgzFBk4Gu6DhJBT09pBFQK0gwRC9_kHHBmEzvDYxLadGWjv11M8P8uJJW_WWC8O_aHAogNTLcv9jGZRM9tpSe78Bti4_P4jMZgeOGQP4YKsDIWEznseWS_Jy6cGml7hFgPtuYBOq3h3MfR/s1600-h/October+2009+560.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399317266663862434" style="WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgzFBk4Gu6DhJBT09pBFQK0gwRC9_kHHBmEzvDYxLadGWjv11M8P8uJJW_WWC8O_aHAogNTLcv9jGZRM9tpSe78Bti4_P4jMZgeOGQP4YKsDIWEznseWS_Jy6cGml7hFgPtuYBOq3h3MfR/s400/October+2009+560.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="left">and I was fascinated with the centuries old carving of the stone walls that we passed.<br /><br /><br /></div><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGb4OyZkVwErBsHwc54WI2PgYTrr6wdT_M68K9CNvL2YVA02113F6jEAwBTldYeYUgJjkygQCEg1P5mPAQgNfb7hayc5zuSlkvQYo-Vro4I7Qf3AVqV0NdQBgt0ih09TRUkjaqgtWt_6Fm/s1600-h/October+2009+561.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399317257609150290" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGb4OyZkVwErBsHwc54WI2PgYTrr6wdT_M68K9CNvL2YVA02113F6jEAwBTldYeYUgJjkygQCEg1P5mPAQgNfb7hayc5zuSlkvQYo-Vro4I7Qf3AVqV0NdQBgt0ih09TRUkjaqgtWt_6Fm/s400/October+2009+561.JPG" border="0" /></a></p><div align="left">Mother nature sure knew what she was up to when she made Korea, I can tell you that much!<br /><br /><br /></div><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmf-cpeTX7u5E12wQ_nBYhqDdAIVUVZhFgBuezwxVhaandWM0dj3B61ozHcV15NSz1nuuU9E1Ha69PUj5pub35hT_9XBOhJaNpfIpmzcKgb6w22t8nrfcYNogj8BhPyYanuKfYZzsyjZVJ/s1600-h/October+2009+572.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399317249894112258" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmf-cpeTX7u5E12wQ_nBYhqDdAIVUVZhFgBuezwxVhaandWM0dj3B61ozHcV15NSz1nuuU9E1Ha69PUj5pub35hT_9XBOhJaNpfIpmzcKgb6w22t8nrfcYNogj8BhPyYanuKfYZzsyjZVJ/s400/October+2009+572.JPG" border="0" /></a></p><div align="left">Stunning!</div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left">I can only imagine how radiant this same view will be a few weeks from now when the leaves are changing colours. No small wonder that Koreans love hiking as much as they do! <br /><br /><br /></div></div></div></div>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12081580917378309077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2089127790429034136.post-37051424508055338212009-10-06T01:30:00.003-02:302009-10-30T01:41:25.618-02:30The Many Faces of Amanda Eating a Hashbrown<div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="left"><br />Amanda is practically like a sister to me.<br /><br /></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid7IJ3zfNseqanNscBD4kWMQchBneKJO_5bNAmFRUvYcaRug9a22zl5eOpnQx6c8DHACXh0bCTtGv5c_5O2ymKZzPIY-MuDXZp-MUZxbEvFTC0LecEGDFcn06OdJxlEY-KzygfILZXtzSs/s1600-h/October+2009+019.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398239242922554610" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid7IJ3zfNseqanNscBD4kWMQchBneKJO_5bNAmFRUvYcaRug9a22zl5eOpnQx6c8DHACXh0bCTtGv5c_5O2ymKZzPIY-MuDXZp-MUZxbEvFTC0LecEGDFcn06OdJxlEY-KzygfILZXtzSs/s400/October+2009+019.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><div align="center"></div><div align="left"><br />She takes me hiking, and to Japan, and tolerates me when no one else will.<br /><br /></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1PIvRHRVscN5XwBsUFR_cYDcjFM7kPHkcZ66kWjBwCObt-_PV7ZbkwZHqQcCkIn1QfHuhzJg-Z2MX7uYNiZRvzQvNgDEcGaZDPfAZvVyc4wWdzqAv2egaj36pWL9dc3huXSYRVOG_fVo8/s1600-h/October+2009+023.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398239233696517106" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1PIvRHRVscN5XwBsUFR_cYDcjFM7kPHkcZ66kWjBwCObt-_PV7ZbkwZHqQcCkIn1QfHuhzJg-Z2MX7uYNiZRvzQvNgDEcGaZDPfAZvVyc4wWdzqAv2egaj36pWL9dc3huXSYRVOG_fVo8/s400/October+2009+023.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><div align="center"></div><div align="left"><br />She even lets me take picture of her when she's eating. Mmmm... hash brown.<br /><br /></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrUvyMbbQz2hJFsypuMFJnZsgvuvwSNwDuCB_78jIH1jOrK3OSI17uXENfMQfkPpardPX0t2gXWrszgyWWtSWcj3BdF2jchwXHY4r3M3TbX17ItxPUsRXIq2XbNC7oYHknfIw9-Ko7YR6u/s1600-h/October+2009+024.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398239227655558402" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrUvyMbbQz2hJFsypuMFJnZsgvuvwSNwDuCB_78jIH1jOrK3OSI17uXENfMQfkPpardPX0t2gXWrszgyWWtSWcj3BdF2jchwXHY4r3M3TbX17ItxPUsRXIq2XbNC7oYHknfIw9-Ko7YR6u/s400/October+2009+024.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><div align="center"></div><div align="left"><br />This is Amanda's <em>second</em> hash brown. Rejected by yours truly, she was a good girl and made sure that hash brown had a loving home.<br /><br /><br /></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ7_7B4WK9FriwCmwPF3Mns0ic95IlAYlMsUXvWvMa9umdv7pCZCmmsuBKM0w9WBwGiItSs6HdBSPmvwtRpz0uFwIcpozUJtCJzJaIMLFZF_zPw22Bsea50Ah45SZgo5kyf8SopTsioNGT/s1600-h/October+2009+025.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398239221656814178" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ7_7B4WK9FriwCmwPF3Mns0ic95IlAYlMsUXvWvMa9umdv7pCZCmmsuBKM0w9WBwGiItSs6HdBSPmvwtRpz0uFwIcpozUJtCJzJaIMLFZF_zPw22Bsea50Ah45SZgo5kyf8SopTsioNGT/s400/October+2009+025.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div align="left"><br />Ah, I think she's finally noticed that I took more than one picture of her, and her hash brown affair. Is it moral to consume two hash browns?<br /><br /><br /></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVKT6SrT2y_ThBj2S8DYL16EeEVKQmw-JMUjFa_cXsf_LAPdbNvprXvDu68KnDQeN_aq03PYbJ9Vf4IRLtibEXwqnwzPMjCms2JXcOukTw1HJlitAJCUl7Agt5UZGf7Hb80FkS3xgG-T1a/s1600-h/October+2009+027.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398239213202825522" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVKT6SrT2y_ThBj2S8DYL16EeEVKQmw-JMUjFa_cXsf_LAPdbNvprXvDu68KnDQeN_aq03PYbJ9Vf4IRLtibEXwqnwzPMjCms2JXcOukTw1HJlitAJCUl7Agt5UZGf7Hb80FkS3xgG-T1a/s400/October+2009+027.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><div align="center"></div><div align="left"><br />Don't worry Amanda, you don't have to hide! I'm not going to stone you. </div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"><br />And, I won't tell the first hash brown either. </div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"><br />Your secret is safe with me.<br /><br /><br /><br /></div>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12081580917378309077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2089127790429034136.post-16002293752010257162009-10-01T00:58:00.003-02:302009-10-30T01:20:08.936-02:30Chuseok: Korean Thanksgiving<p align="left">Chuseok is the traditional Korea harvest festival, similar in many ways to Thanksgiving. It is a three day celebration, celebrated on the 15th day of the 8th month of the lunar calendar. This year it is taking place October 2~5 which means that we are lucky enough to have a four day week! As many of you know, Amanda and I are taking advantage of this our three day weekend to pop over to neighbouring Japan. I am so excited, I can barely breathe!</p><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzkLIVZPlnEP0TXolLvxYW_dGpKqeT92UQkvsvHEVZLyQhm-GJPq3nzL941I4Jm1qa2Pk5e5a-KDLji-hoWpqER9Pr6gjE4YhTiQICrkFFj7bShBQZIUNbU3MGm28cGAFOR9qzHTIo5I6N/s1600-h/hanbok+dance.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398230729222777378" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzkLIVZPlnEP0TXolLvxYW_dGpKqeT92UQkvsvHEVZLyQhm-GJPq3nzL941I4Jm1qa2Pk5e5a-KDLji-hoWpqER9Pr6gjE4YhTiQICrkFFj7bShBQZIUNbU3MGm28cGAFOR9qzHTIo5I6N/s400/hanbok+dance.bmp" border="0" /></a></p><br /><br /><p align="center"></p>Similar to many other thanksgiving traditions, Chuseok involves the gathering of family to celebrate the fall harvest. Koreans from all over the country flock to their ancestral hometowns to pay their respects to their ancestors, whom they traditionally believe were responsible for the bountiful harvest. They gather together, visit and repair ancestral tombs and eat traditional Korean food.<br /><br />One of the major foods prepared and eaten during the Chuseok holiday is songpyeon (송편), a crescent-shaped rice cake which is steamed upon pine needles. It is filled inside with a mixture of sugar and nuts. In my opinion, is quite delicious, although I have to admit that when I first arrived in Seoul, rice cake wasn't exactly my cup of tea. Like kimchi, its been an acquired taste since arriving in Korea. <br /><br />For those of you little familiar with Korea, you might be surprised that the following picture is of the songpyeon that I just described. Rice cake in Korea is quite removed from the dry, hard, crackers that we consider to be rice cakes in the west. In Korea, its soft, chewy, and can have different flavours and textures depending on how its made, and what its made with. You can only find western variety rice cakes at Starbucks.<br /><br /><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinCV9Dd5UcpC2mTlLt1cg0vmyxs29d10OpyEzSHQ2P_hyPw3SbrfJI50pi2zTrS8HSKoDNJWWasG7qAUCQoQfg7gMcUQgc82Cm9lA0c1PWnd6Q8LmLEqqB-8hzH1jFhXjRIHgbwJHy6tNK/s1600-h/sangpyeon.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398231471679242898" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinCV9Dd5UcpC2mTlLt1cg0vmyxs29d10OpyEzSHQ2P_hyPw3SbrfJI50pi2zTrS8HSKoDNJWWasG7qAUCQoQfg7gMcUQgc82Cm9lA0c1PWnd6Q8LmLEqqB-8hzH1jFhXjRIHgbwJHy6tNK/s400/sangpyeon.bmp" border="0" /></a></p>Like I said, an acquired taste.<br /><br /><br />Amanda and I are leaving for the airport tomorrow morning at 5:30am! Wish us luck, and a safe flight, and I'll be back to tell you all about our adventures before too long!<br /><br />Happy Chuseok!Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12081580917378309077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2089127790429034136.post-23119496313485163592009-09-27T23:19:00.000-02:302009-10-30T00:35:29.770-02:30Gwanak MountainOn our seemingly never ending journey to ready ourselves for Fuji-san next week, Amanda and I headed ourselves down to the Seoul National University this weekend for a little hiking on Gwanak Mountain. Our day was rife with mishaps, as we have become accustomed to, involving such instances as getting off the Subway at Seoul National University of <strong>Education, </strong>hiking two mountains instead of one, etc... all of the little unforeseen events that we've come to expect when we make plans with each other.<br /><br /><div align="center"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0F4MMc91ZtPZCB8G9POcxYvJ9jxT7GNvUE1tY3abwtPFpnRojHD5uStpV6CP-aYy8BZpdnmcOwzS1EyqzGdW1RvwzRQJaVzOiZFSmrsf2DAMD3RajBNdYfmpuke5CJ0ii3nyWjazqVyXW/s1600-h/September+2009+182.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398205522292170066" style="WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0F4MMc91ZtPZCB8G9POcxYvJ9jxT7GNvUE1tY3abwtPFpnRojHD5uStpV6CP-aYy8BZpdnmcOwzS1EyqzGdW1RvwzRQJaVzOiZFSmrsf2DAMD3RajBNdYfmpuke5CJ0ii3nyWjazqVyXW/s200/September+2009+182.JPG" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtux375L6zTXiY4w0YbTJetW2gt620h5MbFhmAXODXhZVyg7i8ECwTgIp0qbGmOuoA6tDoITN_OqalgEZNGVGCZ2VUCYlGldblOHumT6t7wFg0tkRsyGPDkvGgdKTtzfJfQiO1MlqdB-Ur/s1600-h/September+2009+175.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398205515319143746" style="WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtux375L6zTXiY4w0YbTJetW2gt620h5MbFhmAXODXhZVyg7i8ECwTgIp0qbGmOuoA6tDoITN_OqalgEZNGVGCZ2VUCYlGldblOHumT6t7wFg0tkRsyGPDkvGgdKTtzfJfQiO1MlqdB-Ur/s200/September+2009+175.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />(<em>click to enlarge</em>) </div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="left">We did finally manage to make it to the right subway station, and climbed the first mountain with ease, taking some absolutely beautiful pictures. The top of the mountain provided some beautifully, breath-taking views of the city, and of the Han River which snakes through Seoul from one end to the other. The pictures taken by my inexpensive point-and-shoot camera really don't do any justice to the view from the top of the first mountain, or show how you could pretty much turn 360 degrees and see little pockets of humanity nestled in the valleys between the mountains and hills. Koreans, as a rule, build generally between the mountains, instead of on them-- it makes for beautiful scenery. </div><div align="center"><br /><br /><br /></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTfBNqiK-mvuD1JrRfjOEr9OTbCjtNCkwJITAIlDbKVSEqZ9hwQFbOufm-rUd_W48EWU-vN2TejuOaznSMe1n9dpeSZfZXK3w-hl715arbBkAtxXmG96Us5G6Cx8oS_jmqufmbc82BGrbk/s1600-h/September+2009+166.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398206327339883874" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTfBNqiK-mvuD1JrRfjOEr9OTbCjtNCkwJITAIlDbKVSEqZ9hwQFbOufm-rUd_W48EWU-vN2TejuOaznSMe1n9dpeSZfZXK3w-hl715arbBkAtxXmG96Us5G6Cx8oS_jmqufmbc82BGrbk/s400/September+2009+166.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><div align="center"></div><div align="left">Amanda was also trying her very best to squeeze a few extra pixels of detail, or just the tiniest bit of zoom-a-bility from her little camera. I'm sad to say that she was no more successful than I was. She sure looked cute with her little pigtails though! Maybe that's why so many middle-aged Korean men stopped us along the way to say hello, or give us random snacks...<br /><br /></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left">It was here at the peak of the first mountain, that our trip got a little sidetracked and caused us to climb a second neighbouring mountain, instead of climbing down and heading home, as we had originally been intending to do at this point. I blame it all on this particular Buddhist shrine that we both felt compelled to take a closer look at. </div><div align="center"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWir1OKTHU9Od9CAwd9xpwWrz5jGhfGwdlShDWxFpwzj_p4QLz9raWD1FSRnsaQuGZ8oayDOyHzQkY_FnfQN3otbt_2AV6wTv3VLIxEMuEuEJFiKwSauiGZbGQt-i1mZEKmvn1e6MXY1im/s1600-h/September+2009+172.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398206339933128594" style="WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWir1OKTHU9Od9CAwd9xpwWrz5jGhfGwdlShDWxFpwzj_p4QLz9raWD1FSRnsaQuGZ8oayDOyHzQkY_FnfQN3otbt_2AV6wTv3VLIxEMuEuEJFiKwSauiGZbGQt-i1mZEKmvn1e6MXY1im/s400/September+2009+172.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div align="center"></div><div align="left">It was such an interesting sight, perched on the edge of this cliff like a sea bird, watchfully overlooking the city. How were we to know that our curiosity about this quaint little shrine would turn our planned two hour hike, into a six hour marathon? We weren't surprised of course, by the turn of events, being ourselves, and acknowledging the types of situations that we usually get ourselves into. Truly, we were all the happier for our little extension, and all of the different sights it let us see. I'm not sure if I'll ever tire of the juxtaposition of the city of Seoul, peaking through the pristine mountains to remind me that while I've hardly left the city, I'm in an almost entirely different world.<br /><br /><br /></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_2JdCvqqh5dJkBMv4fzRXuKGJXZwrew2jU8FFi8RJqeRQOSFaNksQPytSz5NIO_X0XgZMxYfDJ7aS9fx1Pjy106mDzjApkC_o5LQhn4cnT66t5xIFZ6GC1b9RC4i72te5gAjPpRFsHdse/s1600-h/September+2009+160.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398205506014659538" style="WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_2JdCvqqh5dJkBMv4fzRXuKGJXZwrew2jU8FFi8RJqeRQOSFaNksQPytSz5NIO_X0XgZMxYfDJ7aS9fx1Pjy106mDzjApkC_o5LQhn4cnT66t5xIFZ6GC1b9RC4i72te5gAjPpRFsHdse/s200/September+2009+160.JPG" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-bLFyfpGXQxV4uFTA7ErGjUljPb5DQtSvabFUOLfXismNafIexOrGgNA0zACaBR95N0KXFsZ3jR5o51C5fDzRlmcMHhrZBYfbJcPgVwdcLWkDVgxQiCcXfoWAvDRpml55PbuHueueqaQ9/s1600-h/September+2009+152.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398205499545293666" style="WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-bLFyfpGXQxV4uFTA7ErGjUljPb5DQtSvabFUOLfXismNafIexOrGgNA0zACaBR95N0KXFsZ3jR5o51C5fDzRlmcMHhrZBYfbJcPgVwdcLWkDVgxQiCcXfoWAvDRpml55PbuHueueqaQ9/s200/September+2009+152.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><div align="center"></div><div align="left">Korean people love hiking. For most of my time spent living here, I'd acknowledged it as a funny stereotype of Koreans that I didn't really understand. It only took a few weekends of trying it out for myself to convert me to their way of thinking. Some days, I feel like I'm practically Korean now.<br /><br />One of the funniest points of the day was near the end of the day when we had been hiking for 4.5 hours and weren't really sure how long of a hike we had left to eventually reach the bottom and start our tired bodies towards home. Coming through the trees into a clearing I happened to glance this out of the corner of my eye.<br /></div><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC0d_oR7vSDAMMA7S0YBZyZ0SjoE0DgkadEzfZZSh_0I7WtLktL4FOe4r-X_-dqVmi9-UgalKeIOSfBAMnmBo1nLEbx5_KPKXylvddm8V8UhEvcvoESbpvm_EZ5c9A9rvGQhbQpA_X4sOh/s1600-h/September+2009+181.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398206349536990098" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC0d_oR7vSDAMMA7S0YBZyZ0SjoE0DgkadEzfZZSh_0I7WtLktL4FOe4r-X_-dqVmi9-UgalKeIOSfBAMnmBo1nLEbx5_KPKXylvddm8V8UhEvcvoESbpvm_EZ5c9A9rvGQhbQpA_X4sOh/s400/September+2009+181.JPG" border="0" /></a></p><div align="left"><br /></div><div align="left">For the briefest of milliseconds both Amanda and I panicked, thinking we had somehow walked as far as Ingwangsan! Within the same second, we would both of course realize that it was impossible, seeing as we hadn't crossed the Han. This was obviously just another helicopter pad, but we both got a fair bit of amusement out of our initial gut reactions. </div><div align="left"><br /><br /></div><div align="left">Once we finally reached Seoul again, we decided that we were in need of, indeed deserving of, a treat. We managed to find ourselves an Out Back restaurant close to where the mountain finally deposited us in the city, a full six hours since we originally started climbing. It was the most delicious meal of ribs, baked potato, Aussie cheese fries and ranch dressing I think I've ever eaten. The hunger Amanda and I were both feeling, helped transport the already delicious food into something out of this world. We even ordered dessert.<br /><br /></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7RGjEAXu8oEbBFfzExPYPuV54Ltgvt3OI2scjU3KLeVu8GTY4-GhHlsTYsNyiOblY0mfn87H9KAEf0wOTMUmv4EdB1qQcCU-PJkX5hFv3-YCRJ8eYW7sL9ZiIlKGrwbQNgJDUF0ervFOW/s1600-h/September+2009+184.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398206356417505266" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7RGjEAXu8oEbBFfzExPYPuV54Ltgvt3OI2scjU3KLeVu8GTY4-GhHlsTYsNyiOblY0mfn87H9KAEf0wOTMUmv4EdB1qQcCU-PJkX5hFv3-YCRJ8eYW7sL9ZiIlKGrwbQNgJDUF0ervFOW/s400/September+2009+184.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div align="center"></div><div align="left">A perfect way to end a long, tiring and wonderful day!</div><div align="center"></div>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12081580917378309077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2089127790429034136.post-64768773821353589462009-09-21T01:39:00.001-02:302009-10-29T23:14:23.116-02:30Of Breakfast and Baseball<p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghYt3V24WSwVRJsf0XfpZ3OXguM3pghP6_lSt2_OWFobBbvlor8s9vskBbj6_zScuRAkRmheqRPzXCDPY9zAzmnpsEiwfNHoQm7Pynllz0kWLHRhuGiNfEm-HCIdk9367HKfLdXHAp1u89/s1600-h/Butterfingers.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398190878934404274" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghYt3V24WSwVRJsf0XfpZ3OXguM3pghP6_lSt2_OWFobBbvlor8s9vskBbj6_zScuRAkRmheqRPzXCDPY9zAzmnpsEiwfNHoQm7Pynllz0kWLHRhuGiNfEm-HCIdk9367HKfLdXHAp1u89/s400/Butterfingers.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /></p>Butterfinger Pancakes is, as the sign says, "my kind of place." Tucked away in a little part of Seoul mostly frequented by the well-to-do, some friends of mine came across this place quite by accident a few months ago, and its a haven for foreigners in a city where breakfast usually consists of rice, kimchi and fish.<br /><br /><br />Always having been a fan of breakfast restaurants, and having worked in one myself for over a year, I was aware that I had probably become a bit of a breakfast restaurant snob. As excited as I was for the visit, I was worried that said snobbery would be an obstacle in enjoying this decadent experience to the fullest. Happily, this was not the case.<br /><br /><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhmKRhllch68yxQ-LbdjNf31-q0CCx2ESuCA5_q8GWnkAkDBq8iGLbDdGxwtCM3CTNrD3zdzi8Bbg79UTv86RC6oUgSvoi2mgBpC-nzuXm0pAnsrUSVNNfyPk9Q2MiL1m6GJiSetfvubfH/s1600-h/Butterfingers2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398190877732953778" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhmKRhllch68yxQ-LbdjNf31-q0CCx2ESuCA5_q8GWnkAkDBq8iGLbDdGxwtCM3CTNrD3zdzi8Bbg79UTv86RC6oUgSvoi2mgBpC-nzuXm0pAnsrUSVNNfyPk9Q2MiL1m6GJiSetfvubfH/s400/Butterfingers2.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></p>Just feast your eyes on these two plates of deliciousness! The was also a stack of delicious blueberry pancakes and strawberry compote which didn't make it into the picture. As anyone in the tiniest bit knowledgeable about my likes and preferences can tell you, I have a soft spot in my heart for anything even suggesting of cheese. Please notice if you will the large waffle to the right that had been baked covered with a mountain of cheese. This breakfast had me <em>before</em> hello.<br /><br /><br />Whether this breakfast was truly as amazing and life changing as I make it out to be, or if I had just not had a 'proper' breakfast in such a long time, combined with idealized memories of my trip to Butterfinger, I'm not sure. Although a little on the pricey side, the fact remains that I'm itching to go back there again. Delicious!<br /><br /><br /><br />Although I have a lot of experience with breakfast and with breakfast restaurants, the next experience of the day was to be something that was a first for me. Those of you from Newfoundland will understand how this is plausible, although I think that those outside will find it a little ridiculous that Sunday after Butterfinger was my first time at a baseball game.<br /><div align="center"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK8k_EfT0kRFUQHy1_8amm9Z0dqYkSrm0Y6W1jogmreapkhEWFgGob12d2vvzRoPtOjW1es-_-Sm7bYsKLEK7kIZYXJ3LPv2ixgr0bAgNkHpBbD-rImKE9zk9FlLJt3Avq5BcQ95Y9sUKx/s1600-h/September+2009+131.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398198418647659234" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK8k_EfT0kRFUQHy1_8amm9Z0dqYkSrm0Y6W1jogmreapkhEWFgGob12d2vvzRoPtOjW1es-_-Sm7bYsKLEK7kIZYXJ3LPv2ixgr0bAgNkHpBbD-rImKE9zk9FlLJt3Avq5BcQ95Y9sUKx/s400/September+2009+131.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><div align="left"></div><div align="left">I had been to a baseball diamond before, I had even played baseball and softball in gym over the years. The last time I remember going to watch a baseball game, however, was when my cousin, Mark, now about to graduate from high school played T-ball. How old is a kid, when he's too little to have the ball thrown to him, and it just sits there on top of a stick waiting to be hit? Suffice to say it was a long time ago, and quite different from.... </div><div align="left"><br /></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS9px9CfuU3qjWUanuHIzQwBL-9gBoPOYxOK-bLMKO0Fv-pDuraNw_KpUUKbVXKiAjzN2GsjTKbxC14AbwDnu-1YmVVUKi9awXTdbUgxkiE7JbFDBIhuRWDnfnA3e2OWYPeTabPUc98QFB/s1600-h/September+2009+097.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398198402374704530" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS9px9CfuU3qjWUanuHIzQwBL-9gBoPOYxOK-bLMKO0Fv-pDuraNw_KpUUKbVXKiAjzN2GsjTKbxC14AbwDnu-1YmVVUKi9awXTdbUgxkiE7JbFDBIhuRWDnfnA3e2OWYPeTabPUc98QFB/s400/September+2009+097.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><div align="center"></div><div align="left">This! The Doosan Bears vs. the Lotte Giants, last game of the season, thousands of screaming fans (Koreans are a little fanatical about baseball), cheerleaders, drummers, costumes and strange hats made out of plastic bags. </div><div align="center"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXCvWsQJzazFmzEXlAkKOjbVPIHqTpf7HZZK8VbNDH4hp_L9IE2881g2L-JpU0j35CwKlV76btmarGAJuab5n_1TErPzj9xJfcygM2s3PvNT39bZLSCWYB5j-CFHiNJ5ZzqjOn89eHtKd1/s1600-h/September+2009+102.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398198391742615378" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXCvWsQJzazFmzEXlAkKOjbVPIHqTpf7HZZK8VbNDH4hp_L9IE2881g2L-JpU0j35CwKlV76btmarGAJuab5n_1TErPzj9xJfcygM2s3PvNT39bZLSCWYB5j-CFHiNJ5ZzqjOn89eHtKd1/s400/September+2009+102.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div align="center"></div><div align="left">Korean people are normally pretty reserved, and while this picture happens to show some people in rapt attention to what is happening on the field, it does an injustice to the madness that was happening around us. People were singing, and dancing, and as I said, wearing strange orange hats made out of plastic bags.<br /></div><div align="center"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-VC4o9JJ51D4TiCITnVsjYezmD8lyn39x47EaYo0j6uv2E5JaP5n7dqBQVbbGlt0uzCX4jwyYG-V8y-xqTRKNEfE2hGboEUh2Y1OPnz7cM6fYK2mIGBZCpfKIAAvU7H9ROHVWBsc6-fOx/s1600-h/September+2009+116.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398198416198622050" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-VC4o9JJ51D4TiCITnVsjYezmD8lyn39x47EaYo0j6uv2E5JaP5n7dqBQVbbGlt0uzCX4jwyYG-V8y-xqTRKNEfE2hGboEUh2Y1OPnz7cM6fYK2mIGBZCpfKIAAvU7H9ROHVWBsc6-fOx/s400/September+2009+116.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="left">This little boy doesn't seem to understand them much better than I do. Some cute, though!<br /></div>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12081580917378309077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2089127790429034136.post-89542369188767748712009-09-21T00:53:00.007-02:302009-10-29T01:34:13.268-02:30Ingwangsan, and a Rooftop BBQ!<div><div><div><div><div><div><br /><div><br /></div><div></div><div><br /></div><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRC2SYt36uui8sVIa47S44Z5OoACAABTZObS7tJFIW9Xy6Um8ABKKHc2HjQ0wHd-D3r0Jsmpl-ZOAubmfht2zvvQ3wOOsPHay9V-ZQY6qtdDkFV-NDFLHiox9IWXv1CwCAGOFkdaSl_p_Z/s1600-h/September+2009+009.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397858920408770450" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRC2SYt36uui8sVIa47S44Z5OoACAABTZObS7tJFIW9Xy6Um8ABKKHc2HjQ0wHd-D3r0Jsmpl-ZOAubmfht2zvvQ3wOOsPHay9V-ZQY6qtdDkFV-NDFLHiox9IWXv1CwCAGOFkdaSl_p_Z/s400/September+2009+009.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /></p><div><br /></div><div>The weeks have really started to go by more quickly, as my time in Korea comes to an end. I don't even know where they go anymore. Sometimes, I feel like I blink, and then another week has passed, and another weekend is upon me. Time sure flies when you're having fun!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Partially because we are headed to Japan at the beginning of October, and partially, just because we enjoy ourselves, Amanda and I have planned a series of hiking trips to prepare ourselves for the big one on our vacation... Fuji! We know that Fuji can be dangerous around in October, and therefor don't intend to summit the mountain, but we do want to have a little practice, so as to not thoroughly embarrass ourselves when we get there. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br />Thus, here we are... Inwangsan, or Inwang Mountain. </div><div><br /></div><div></div><div><br /></div><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgYtdtTyltrZat7veF8am6pTqLcEXQ15mPPpdLm5T0U1nAXOf65Le1SEXqi6ODtQgoepI58XyBFPO4v3fAk1_mmR1Wy23W6hMA1av4eYHW1JvlxaYOtVUroar7mPnm9li7r35FWLv7QxoA/s1600-h/September+2009+011.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397858922258799458" style="WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgYtdtTyltrZat7veF8am6pTqLcEXQ15mPPpdLm5T0U1nAXOf65Le1SEXqi6ODtQgoepI58XyBFPO4v3fAk1_mmR1Wy23W6hMA1av4eYHW1JvlxaYOtVUroar7mPnm9li7r35FWLv7QxoA/s400/September+2009+011.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /></p><div><br /></div><p align="left">At first, in true Amanda and Laura style, we couldn't quite seem to find the mountain in question, or more precisely, a path to get up the mountain. We wandered around the pathway to a temple for quite some time, were accosted by Korean school children, took pictures of some cool rocks, and generally wondered what we had gotten ourselves into. </p><div><br /></div><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOzV7GcIUx0aqT7vFL_Z6TeEKvm52ijOw2ZzRrbe5KaaZE-Oqp6CU-iwC4BfFhkZisHJJnYv_bLwZ80ed2UPbiag66l62vnngrwcEhRcHpX0OwF-j1x2DJ0tPspRh2f8sgg7qOZbaErd0i/s1600-h/September+2009+021.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397858931955880450" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOzV7GcIUx0aqT7vFL_Z6TeEKvm52ijOw2ZzRrbe5KaaZE-Oqp6CU-iwC4BfFhkZisHJJnYv_bLwZ80ed2UPbiag66l62vnngrwcEhRcHpX0OwF-j1x2DJ0tPspRh2f8sgg7qOZbaErd0i/s400/September+2009+021.JPG" border="0" /></a></p><div><br /></div><div><br />Eventually, however, we found our way to a path -- quite a distance from where we had originally been looking. Ah, the wonders of language barriers! -- and started our hike up the mountain. As has happened to us many times before, we started out a little frustrated with the experience, but quickly found ourselves just as enamoured with the area as we had been when we first read about it in a Korean guide book.<br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div align="center"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZKluCU0uhOktDzR1ALIb3whBcmzxf9HCMMiZWxNanAjwyrKxmzlqgDpWWIgjTO-nnittPaz2TyVDk2UQ0ACKaf9BSHZmlO0knxPAofwRSKD_WVxg0MX4rtynGgwrOhi1hfJo_6_fl9r2n/s1600-h/September+2009+033.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397862874834293250" style="WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZKluCU0uhOktDzR1ALIb3whBcmzxf9HCMMiZWxNanAjwyrKxmzlqgDpWWIgjTO-nnittPaz2TyVDk2UQ0ACKaf9BSHZmlO0knxPAofwRSKD_WVxg0MX4rtynGgwrOhi1hfJo_6_fl9r2n/s200/September+2009+033.JPG" border="0" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbwadjljcVxPinnLokH2B2rgP4vEngjOQLi5rOKp9VZBGVIFx5lhw5PEFGcSCtdoJHCPQX6KbCO_oqzw0jb2_UUcKeW7dOx9oR1BKYXm-B6cb6_Q4tvAbQaTF8pP-wAeqwI1ihSC5lLE2b/s1600-h/September+2009+035.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397862888462154738" style="WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbwadjljcVxPinnLokH2B2rgP4vEngjOQLi5rOKp9VZBGVIFx5lhw5PEFGcSCtdoJHCPQX6KbCO_oqzw0jb2_UUcKeW7dOx9oR1BKYXm-B6cb6_Q4tvAbQaTF8pP-wAeqwI1ihSC5lLE2b/s200/September+2009+035.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><div><br /></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEtMjaApJNhUaStXFE_NX4Po35J_7aMW_2jWy46qzy0T7Akx_zwIIL93W1J-G-FeBvCrI02UNwZNW0_LBYIqob1jTo6aFAOqld1MOQAGIVgxX9SvtSnNkwifbxqEQClG-6BviIxCBZG_an/s1600-h/September+2009+037.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397862898397984066" style="WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEtMjaApJNhUaStXFE_NX4Po35J_7aMW_2jWy46qzy0T7Akx_zwIIL93W1J-G-FeBvCrI02UNwZNW0_LBYIqob1jTo6aFAOqld1MOQAGIVgxX9SvtSnNkwifbxqEQClG-6BviIxCBZG_an/s200/September+2009+037.JPG" border="0" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6i_wiHOPfV8o6hk7Hj1xXEWUqM1CSf8Jm8rVW3sISqEbw4AwDXeYBfGM4hafkM9LiHx76DicQabfeIcAxTSB0OPXYZ8vscWADsrbA0zmCCcMJEXX4iOzi6-z3hpplACxV2AvX50LVmAFh/s1600-h/September+2009+038.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397862906282224082" style="WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6i_wiHOPfV8o6hk7Hj1xXEWUqM1CSf8Jm8rVW3sISqEbw4AwDXeYBfGM4hafkM9LiHx76DicQabfeIcAxTSB0OPXYZ8vscWADsrbA0zmCCcMJEXX4iOzi6-z3hpplACxV2AvX50LVmAFh/s200/September+2009+038.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><div><br /></div><div><br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvQY64yCfqzxYAq5Wstqe8SxZGrqN1AvPQoCCVDWCdUURM2bcyKAy3WD_Za9XXM_PykQ3DKHWnCriLfTVJPGTvjCedoyCTX3TSIQ3CadsxRINwznNuFjkbKxr9_cC2JnOzKUwJNoHx14ip/s1600-h/September+2009+042.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397863503097087938" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 225px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvQY64yCfqzxYAq5Wstqe8SxZGrqN1AvPQoCCVDWCdUURM2bcyKAy3WD_Za9XXM_PykQ3DKHWnCriLfTVJPGTvjCedoyCTX3TSIQ3CadsxRINwznNuFjkbKxr9_cC2JnOzKUwJNoHx14ip/s400/September+2009+042.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><em>Breathtaking!</em><br /><br /></p><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAEPvyLVXnZkR2rdEtZt_J05f34LmXKcQY3tVFBYl_oqEDlbSkwX5peH7jPvYfhEtwYZEaWXL0uBwUzgfiA27AULF8qxmrEfX6Y-4A8wcjxgtI1fcNckrvdHQLW2sQ-_L4heZF8EADveED/s1600-h/September+2009+049.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397864385727850834" style="WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAEPvyLVXnZkR2rdEtZt_J05f34LmXKcQY3tVFBYl_oqEDlbSkwX5peH7jPvYfhEtwYZEaWXL0uBwUzgfiA27AULF8qxmrEfX6Y-4A8wcjxgtI1fcNckrvdHQLW2sQ-_L4heZF8EADveED/s200/September+2009+049.JPG" border="0" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7JucIkFWsZF1jSZs66RbmBhmLek-_b1RXmJqp-56xoWzjs1AkFho5cnNGFnIkMOGUORIDZO-ae2-vH4VnLy599vFWEL349G7N-WsxbQYYdZ3lbyA4niUjvGxtCMtP36tNm68YDaA8EKh-/s1600-h/September+2009+050.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397864393441018658" style="WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7JucIkFWsZF1jSZs66RbmBhmLek-_b1RXmJqp-56xoWzjs1AkFho5cnNGFnIkMOGUORIDZO-ae2-vH4VnLy599vFWEL349G7N-WsxbQYYdZ3lbyA4niUjvGxtCMtP36tNm68YDaA8EKh-/s200/September+2009+050.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div><br /></div><div align="center"></div><div><br /></div><div align="left">Although we were tired and dirty from our mountainous travels, I can't say that our weekend ended there. Saturday evening, as were arriving back in the area of Seoul we call home, there was a birthday party and rooftop BBQ calling out names. I'm not going to show you my picture from that evening, as it truly is a sorry sight, but I will show you a picture of the beautiful Birthday Girl and her cake to make up for it! </div><div align="left"><br /> </div><div><br /></div><div></div><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbC3UUY54GFXwcnJEFNfkF2uxWg5RPvq8fxhxH7ybnA4qi8SRakRNZJls-EDLdjUi0MAofVYPH_rz9RWCLhzQwEtVAy8v4uT8Skff0OjvLYf5-LVE-5eT09p6z3gBATtDGJ-J4V9l25es7/s1600-h/September+2009+084.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397865850812607506" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbC3UUY54GFXwcnJEFNfkF2uxWg5RPvq8fxhxH7ybnA4qi8SRakRNZJls-EDLdjUi0MAofVYPH_rz9RWCLhzQwEtVAy8v4uT8Skff0OjvLYf5-LVE-5eT09p6z3gBATtDGJ-J4V9l25es7/s400/September+2009+084.JPG" border="0" /></a></p><div><br /></div><div>Danielle is not a coworker of mine, but is a fellow Canadian, and the best kind of girl that you could ever hope to meet! We celebrated her 23rd birthday in style on the roof of our apartment building, and was it ever a time. </div><div> </div><div><br />Did our evening end there? Most certainly not! After having left the house quite early to go hiking, and then having a BBQ in the evening, Amanda and I put on our game faces, did our hair and makeup, and headed out on the town to celebrate Lindsay's last night out in Seoul. I'm afraid I was a little too pooped-out to really give it the gusto that is deserved however, but we didn't call it quits until 1 am. Not to toot my own horn, but did I mention that Amanda and I are troopers?</div><div> </div><div>And that was only Saturday! </div><div> </div><div><em>To be continued... </em></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12081580917378309077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2089127790429034136.post-65108922545676607862009-09-14T23:18:00.013-02:302009-10-29T00:53:07.647-02:30Renting the Seoul National Museum... or something like that.<br /><br /><br />This was quite a busy weekend.<br /><br />Amanda and I kicked it off right, by heading back to the Seoul National Museum, where we had seen the Ancient Egypt a few weeks before, to take in the Museums regular fare, and we were not to be disappointed.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtoMxNPkXfAU4aY7EOlngCs_Pa2yXo7PvjA5eKltqkHggWSTAtWVPBp4JjmjUEbbZnFKu8s9rvotvTihAFBLF7e1TYmAgDmY9AUiSuJWNsm3bd292GJfTCiXvatucMuH-zfMVAdO_QTYrM/s1600-h/September+09+024.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397848186521976690" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 112px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtoMxNPkXfAU4aY7EOlngCs_Pa2yXo7PvjA5eKltqkHggWSTAtWVPBp4JjmjUEbbZnFKu8s9rvotvTihAFBLF7e1TYmAgDmY9AUiSuJWNsm3bd292GJfTCiXvatucMuH-zfMVAdO_QTYrM/s200/September+09+024.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo4aMiPdSX_EHXHl5JBIr6l3EPB1rNcOYPpaUDr5_wYbKqSIvcpvlRKGrEv08X2zSsl-VblLBHtojZiwbSxaMDPIAXFwKWQ7qRgybtHmF24WlhuiAvdKUQj4ZHoQ6dpj3cAYFA_0Rt06q6/s1600-h/September+09+025.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397848191325310690" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 112px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo4aMiPdSX_EHXHl5JBIr6l3EPB1rNcOYPpaUDr5_wYbKqSIvcpvlRKGrEv08X2zSsl-VblLBHtojZiwbSxaMDPIAXFwKWQ7qRgybtHmF24WlhuiAvdKUQj4ZHoQ6dpj3cAYFA_0Rt06q6/s200/September+09+025.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />The museum was, of course, absolutely beautiful, and Amanda and I wandered around for hours upon hours, finally leaving without seeing everything.<br /><br /><br />If you are determined to visit and see every last exhibit, I encourage you to wear good shoes, and bring a lunch. Well worth it, though, it was very interesting.<br /><br /><div align="center"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUimW0PBH3CptKbSR0f83-OSuBYwitfAIaNYsUJVrxbMWwh5jDRWxpDKw0fBzlVKV3H-P3houbbY70VxJYyPK4HibI-KqgXTcfUH47II_DhCEOr89fnoUhpDCwp8jU8Fup02hy6QaIHoxY/s1600-h/September+09+035.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397850742006272610" style="WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUimW0PBH3CptKbSR0f83-OSuBYwitfAIaNYsUJVrxbMWwh5jDRWxpDKw0fBzlVKV3H-P3houbbY70VxJYyPK4HibI-KqgXTcfUH47II_DhCEOr89fnoUhpDCwp8jU8Fup02hy6QaIHoxY/s200/September+09+035.JPG" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVfvg6cV24gwM8NpPoo65VJda3Dounxbr3-4R3KcH1GnDf9yoyoAvNmjMy484gw6m1K-VnYPflwrZZ1lLAsZPkl9H7e8zCDNemj3thpCrZZNEoKIVoHI-xx6Vq8LXFMf6muZEAQWNJJb63/s1600-h/September+09+039.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397850734074389522" style="WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVfvg6cV24gwM8NpPoo65VJda3Dounxbr3-4R3KcH1GnDf9yoyoAvNmjMy484gw6m1K-VnYPflwrZZ1lLAsZPkl9H7e8zCDNemj3thpCrZZNEoKIVoHI-xx6Vq8LXFMf6muZEAQWNJJb63/s200/September+09+039.JPG" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpWifmiR6B9MUxAuUXcxtOUqN7Jixiy9tRBuyBUqHKZkMLtd6ga0daZbae1dR3t3ND1X5BxzCc-GL3yhT5mjdgYlD93rj-bxs4diSWcaA4u0XSrMtnIDmjRNUcpySYbUd3j0UctqKgQXSJ/s1600-h/September+09+042.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397850726589939874" style="WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpWifmiR6B9MUxAuUXcxtOUqN7Jixiy9tRBuyBUqHKZkMLtd6ga0daZbae1dR3t3ND1X5BxzCc-GL3yhT5mjdgYlD93rj-bxs4diSWcaA4u0XSrMtnIDmjRNUcpySYbUd3j0UctqKgQXSJ/s200/September+09+042.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><em>I think the one on the lower one looks a little like a bikini from this angle... what do you think?</em><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheAAkf6fij9IFlnczwSlRtj8zKWO8rX6jjmZhoBfw6KmuCK8BRRQt9bJpXatBcnPojyRuuFalkvsfx1sByfTvMbVBTYUtJoRG6QNzv6PNtlA3Y8EkABU2-HsM91aZ37VbqsHe2sKfv3grs/s1600-h/September+09+041.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397852540164783858" style="WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheAAkf6fij9IFlnczwSlRtj8zKWO8rX6jjmZhoBfw6KmuCK8BRRQt9bJpXatBcnPojyRuuFalkvsfx1sByfTvMbVBTYUtJoRG6QNzv6PNtlA3Y8EkABU2-HsM91aZ37VbqsHe2sKfv3grs/s200/September+09+041.JPG" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNKmVhDiVOBEyVVYqUDSRjGV8RDFoAt7iK1WhVNI1Db1ML0-rJePFoVdbFA8pokPpkeIbiuVdz7b4XhfrUnWzSoUaH2OmPwPvAixs674TK1UGIPKhS1FPTfzMhMkLcZECGQkR4nAvphpUS/s1600-h/September+09+056.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397852555397946322" style="WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNKmVhDiVOBEyVVYqUDSRjGV8RDFoAt7iK1WhVNI1Db1ML0-rJePFoVdbFA8pokPpkeIbiuVdz7b4XhfrUnWzSoUaH2OmPwPvAixs674TK1UGIPKhS1FPTfzMhMkLcZECGQkR4nAvphpUS/s200/September+09+056.JPG" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwzHbyZkQqalMhmlG-lRwRgJnQ4ONOXrchsdwQ0zdTMW3xa1vsf0vrfy-0U4AY9xbFgfwjrVhbfbEwJ5mzfrNkBIGbemFBerBHnM6aP8_4YHw8jYBGt1Ry-RE5IcOo4Xx56wrk2WNOXmsj/s1600-h/September+09+054.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397853028603353890" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwzHbyZkQqalMhmlG-lRwRgJnQ4ONOXrchsdwQ0zdTMW3xa1vsf0vrfy-0U4AY9xbFgfwjrVhbfbEwJ5mzfrNkBIGbemFBerBHnM6aP8_4YHw8jYBGt1Ry-RE5IcOo4Xx56wrk2WNOXmsj/s400/September+09+054.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />We dragged ourselves home, exhausted, after trapezing around the museum for almost 6 hours! What troopers! We needed to get our beauty sleep however, because Sunday night...<br /><br /><br /><br /><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGGxnCsxgEykO-OqoX9JuAZEMaR5v_L02sr-dzWL8oc3vA8yvHHoPnWT4_Z3nHJAoJWFQfTiqK1Y49CjpBju56mVKTjlZ18wb0d4hyAzwW-18WGZ44kR0SgCF7XSSooicw23A1_XEf7c54/s1600-h/September+09+073.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397853651631957938" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 225px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGGxnCsxgEykO-OqoX9JuAZEMaR5v_L02sr-dzWL8oc3vA8yvHHoPnWT4_Z3nHJAoJWFQfTiqK1Y49CjpBju56mVKTjlZ18wb0d4hyAzwW-18WGZ44kR0SgCF7XSSooicw23A1_XEf7c54/s400/September+09+073.JPG" border="0" /></a></p><br />... we saw the ORIGINAL BROADWAY CAST OF RENT!! Well, in all honesty, I think that there were only a few of the original members, but really, who can blame them after all these years. It was nonetheless fabulous!<br /><br /><br /><br /><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNdCcSHHH5eWOvvbHZOsGf90XlkjIi1GmboEGFiJJnxeB_OS-UtUjB9Bqo5xDdMhEQ80VgcOTJN-BqErA07IWeK5TtdURPccpv7iJN5E0g2LEoHq3ehzAxs8Qphfo02gCbedq-DhmlVqZP/s1600-h/September+09+074.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397854097528274194" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 225px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNdCcSHHH5eWOvvbHZOsGf90XlkjIi1GmboEGFiJJnxeB_OS-UtUjB9Bqo5xDdMhEQ80VgcOTJN-BqErA07IWeK5TtdURPccpv7iJN5E0g2LEoHq3ehzAxs8Qphfo02gCbedq-DhmlVqZP/s400/September+09+074.JPG" border="0" /></a></p><br />Needless to say, the lot of us were so excited that we could barely breathe! It was, in one word, Wow.<br /><br /><br /><strong><em>On a completely unrelated side note</em></strong>: There was a mustache being passed around, so we decided to take some pictures with it. Enjoy!<br /><br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtPAReLH8HlbScaTGov9LXNbVAHYcRZKFV-w9nEmdzF5VqizHf2vGgZVR6CpI4BAVA2w0aiMO6GpJt6if5x2QLXR5kQuyi80D3xiPxpzvBDV7j52mcZq6BNoSgSTa8V2D3hNxTKaBCkFLY/s1600-h/September+09+078.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397855467795640834" style="WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtPAReLH8HlbScaTGov9LXNbVAHYcRZKFV-w9nEmdzF5VqizHf2vGgZVR6CpI4BAVA2w0aiMO6GpJt6if5x2QLXR5kQuyi80D3xiPxpzvBDV7j52mcZq6BNoSgSTa8V2D3hNxTKaBCkFLY/s200/September+09+078.JPG" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg32HUUgSrZDk3E8uhbvqEI9vw6ct3AKByc6MEXZFZ9l48taf7rJzRYEP0tzSbORBexzHx6s4wT20-19rlmkGZQ1BhhFOzde7DDCdsJ9R4yrMMu5XB__SPTlYmbMuvn_cK9_g4ca5QdZbj-/s1600-h/September+09+079.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397855468593294418" style="WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg32HUUgSrZDk3E8uhbvqEI9vw6ct3AKByc6MEXZFZ9l48taf7rJzRYEP0tzSbORBexzHx6s4wT20-19rlmkGZQ1BhhFOzde7DDCdsJ9R4yrMMu5XB__SPTlYmbMuvn_cK9_g4ca5QdZbj-/s200/September+09+079.JPG" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvcf1I55syaLXilCscJyfMCIVP77zyDO_AOHBG6LiQ3zPanbtbB1o84PLWfZIDwCfT4qxO-_tOoSpsxb8ynuEkMrtG747bhkdwz7F5Vyrl7A7UU25U0bTDXmZJQnDrne6neuntiVraWrfR/s1600-h/September+09+080.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397856053010653266" style="WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvcf1I55syaLXilCscJyfMCIVP77zyDO_AOHBG6LiQ3zPanbtbB1o84PLWfZIDwCfT4qxO-_tOoSpsxb8ynuEkMrtG747bhkdwz7F5Vyrl7A7UU25U0bTDXmZJQnDrne6neuntiVraWrfR/s400/September+09+080.JPG" border="0" /></a></div>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12081580917378309077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2089127790429034136.post-79293656772639864242009-09-11T01:13:00.004-02:302009-09-13T22:31:57.858-02:30Happy Blogaversary!!Blogspot just informed me that today marks my one year anniversary since I started this blog. This is both exciting, and a little bit sad, as one year ago my Korean adventure was only just revving its engine, and now we're nearly at the end.<br /><br /><br />WARNING: <em>I may henceforth be a melancholy blogger from time to time. Please don't hate me. </em><br /><br /><br /><br /><em></em><br />Its been quite a tumultuous year, filled with ups and downs, although I'm happy to say that I do belive there were more ups. I like to think that through the year my blogging has gotten a little bit better since my <a href="http://laurasinkorea.blogspot.com/2008/09/start-of-journey.html">first post</a>, but of course I've also had better and better things to write about, so that may have contributed.<br /><br /><br />For example, nights, like Amanda's birthday, where under the expert tutelage of Amanda and Meghan and I start the night looking like this:<br /><br /><br /><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqpLY1Yo_27qgSWeTyy8UkINPhVjKwpLxPPZEmzOSUgxmxziVSsqS_f4Tm9er5pFH7rkdG8xkb7pLmISsh1MBXb62uEi-JpdMPL-iOmjQI28Ww22vT-k48gbr7B_Ui3j6cHDm70Bd0AEtl/s1600-h/Profile.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381115827750812466" style="WIDTH: 165px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqpLY1Yo_27qgSWeTyy8UkINPhVjKwpLxPPZEmzOSUgxmxziVSsqS_f4Tm9er5pFH7rkdG8xkb7pLmISsh1MBXb62uEi-JpdMPL-iOmjQI28Ww22vT-k48gbr7B_Ui3j6cHDm70Bd0AEtl/s400/Profile.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><em>Happy Birthday Amanda!</em></p><br /><br /><br />Or, perhaps better yet, the nights where under the sordid influence of my youngest sister, Ricki, I end up looking more like this...<br /><br /><br /><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiIm5VRNcl77Nw-ecuNoU2Ml5zsQaHEG1c6-uIOWyp2T-p9u71H4bFjIFByheOHaXu959mysjHJAoVIwBetaPHVj_sngKnd4V-IHTinlweSj2VC23rsOymgAknwFP4xngk05V_Fdd24VAx/s1600-h/August+2009+384.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381115844465846306" style="WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiIm5VRNcl77Nw-ecuNoU2Ml5zsQaHEG1c6-uIOWyp2T-p9u71H4bFjIFByheOHaXu959mysjHJAoVIwBetaPHVj_sngKnd4V-IHTinlweSj2VC23rsOymgAknwFP4xngk05V_Fdd24VAx/s400/August+2009+384.JPG" border="0" /></a></p><p align="left">Frightening... isn't it?</p><p align="left">Here are some of my favourite from the year thus far: </p><ul><li><div align="left"><a href="http://laurasinkorea.blogspot.com/2008/11/less-than-6-hours-till-airport-time.html">Less than 6 hours till airport time...! Eeek!</a></div></li><li><div align="left"><a href="http://laurasinkorea.blogspot.com/2009/01/happy-new-year.html">Happy New Year!!</a> </div></li><li><div align="left"><a href="http://laurasinkorea.blogspot.com/2009/04/cherry-blossoms.html">Cherry Blossom jeans, boots with the furrrr... (Part 1)</a><a href="http://laurasinkorea.blogspot.com/2009/01/happy-new-year.html"> </a></div></li><li><div align="left"><a href="http://laurasinkorea.blogspot.com/2009/04/cabbage-that-we-ravage-with-chili-paste.html">The Cabbage that we Ravage with the Chili Paste Taste</a></div></li><li><div align="left"><a href="http://laurasinkorea.blogspot.com/2009/06/i-know-that-this-cartoon-is-difficult.html">ABO Blood Type and your personality...</a><a href="http://laurasinkorea.blogspot.com/2009/04/cherry-blossoms.html"> </a></div></li><li><div align="left"><a href="http://laurasinkorea.blogspot.com/2009/04/korean-folktales.html">Korean Folktales: The Farting Woman</a> </div></li><li><div align="left"><a href="http://laurasinkorea.blogspot.com/2009/06/hi-kids-2.html">Hi-Kids: 2</a> </div></li><li><div align="left"><a href="http://laurasinkorea.blogspot.com/2009/07/monsters-inc-its-real.html">Monsters Inc... its real!</a> </div></li><li><div align="left"><a href="http://laurasinkorea.blogspot.com/2009/07/escape-from-routine-life-with.html">Escape from Routine Life with an Experience in Mud</a> </div></li></ul><p align="left"><br />There are of course some others, but I thought that the list was getting big enough already, so I thought it best to leave it at that. I instead turn it over to you, which are your favourite posts?</p><p align="left"> </p><p align="left"> </p><p align="center"> </p><p align="center"> </p>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12081580917378309077noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2089127790429034136.post-31283803987578093312009-08-30T22:33:00.002-02:302009-09-13T22:58:15.451-02:30A Korean Street Treat<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiCJU5QTwY9EMLJgwXVlsw3xHN85B7_aEGwZyPUyCH66Y9o7u0zYw3A74WMFW_rFEWNkiQHsm5qYDiN4rDd8ZKwyGMvuESuGi4uY7RhVIaHy3dCHLaD7FazdQ8atIH8qZeUwiTjEULUQNt/s1600-h/potato.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381125486697494530" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiCJU5QTwY9EMLJgwXVlsw3xHN85B7_aEGwZyPUyCH66Y9o7u0zYw3A74WMFW_rFEWNkiQHsm5qYDiN4rDd8ZKwyGMvuESuGi4uY7RhVIaHy3dCHLaD7FazdQ8atIH8qZeUwiTjEULUQNt/s200/potato.bmp" border="0" /></a><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div>This deceptively simple, and unassuming little guy is hiding one of the snack food industries best kept secrets. It's amazing, and delicious, and similar to a french fry. Only, its better, much better, so good in fact that I'm thinking about running outside to get one now. Only I won't, because the street vendors obviously aren't open at 10 am on a Monday morning... <em>*sigh*</em><br /><br /></div><div> </div><div> </div><div>What I'm talking about of course is the infamous potato... on a stiiiiiick. </div><div> </div><div> </div><div><br />The road to my ultimate demise usually starts with a shopping trip to Idea, which is where I most often fall prey to these little morsels. They start out innocent looking enough, raw potatoes minding their own business, hanging out on a street vendors cart in Seoul. A more practiced eye, however, can spot that these particular potatoes are out for trouble right from the get-go. Why else would they be spiraled like that... so enticing-like.<br /><br /></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3mUdaVuvoK3c-zGEXgKvbp5bTpj0EYaOHiNFOsg5v0FmMXANigN6qFjVgo6LkWilug5CHlVtI1MH8Us1wqsaC7KGhY4wZaml0MnKNHJc8HVqRiY7A-jELtVX_S1obvoiMO29o-ynY3va2/s1600-h/July+2009+246.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381123725471593202" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 225px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3mUdaVuvoK3c-zGEXgKvbp5bTpj0EYaOHiNFOsg5v0FmMXANigN6qFjVgo6LkWilug5CHlVtI1MH8Us1wqsaC7KGhY4wZaml0MnKNHJc8HVqRiY7A-jELtVX_S1obvoiMO29o-ynY3va2/s400/July+2009+246.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="left"><br />Before you know it, their innocent act is over, and the second they draw you in, practically forcing you to order one, they plunge themselves into a deep frier; doing the best they can to cause you a heart attack right then and there, just from thinking about all the fat and grease that's soon going to be coursing through your veins.<br /></div><div><br /></div><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgosjmW_Ece_11pTMTgOqhvxYY8VuK1OjmmAJ82GMdJ-n7O651ZI0oytvUyqz9LOXnGb8bAYUs8q8DWlfeumGEkulHdr972t3VYHm14B2AADO1LfkG0D9BJPJPL8iygjOrlfIa4E7b90eU3/s1600-h/July+2009+247.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381123714832003138" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgosjmW_Ece_11pTMTgOqhvxYY8VuK1OjmmAJ82GMdJ-n7O651ZI0oytvUyqz9LOXnGb8bAYUs8q8DWlfeumGEkulHdr972t3VYHm14B2AADO1LfkG0D9BJPJPL8iygjOrlfIa4E7b90eU3/s400/July+2009+247.JPG" border="0" /></a></p><div align="left"><br /><br />The tongs are ready to fish them out, and you think the worst of it is over until....<br /></div><div><br /></div><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2J96TBVqAkL1BIqm-Naa8KU1s1G1-T4osTFUMbqwbqnzx5Fj_hRckqulmrweFFpyZmm4L2zzUTB4FPo-h8zPmKpWGwm1ZE_5bTq9Xgrflx2whOeNXj2_tRxZwDkkWGXVbSzIv7t-4R2Tc/s1600-h/July+2009+248.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381123707346817218" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2J96TBVqAkL1BIqm-Naa8KU1s1G1-T4osTFUMbqwbqnzx5Fj_hRckqulmrweFFpyZmm4L2zzUTB4FPo-h8zPmKpWGwm1ZE_5bTq9Xgrflx2whOeNXj2_tRxZwDkkWGXVbSzIv7t-4R2Tc/s400/July+2009+248.JPG" border="0" /></a></p><div align="left"><br />... until you notice the dastardly cheese sauce that lies in wait to be sprinkled all over what was once an innocent looking potato. You didn't know that they could be so sneaky, did you?</div><div><br /></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrgXwDWE4ke5T6N8VQtbdBpiQb8PCZiY2VKBGK6fC_WF-yeBbN12FKCzG_IJNdOlfSG1yWr6rafq72m_mA78WNvFbVDB4NCd9adYs0160tsO5EpzM3SAckxVUvkaoXbe_2qjTKwiwPTexv/s1600-h/July+2009+249.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381123695449209778" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrgXwDWE4ke5T6N8VQtbdBpiQb8PCZiY2VKBGK6fC_WF-yeBbN12FKCzG_IJNdOlfSG1yWr6rafq72m_mA78WNvFbVDB4NCd9adYs0160tsO5EpzM3SAckxVUvkaoXbe_2qjTKwiwPTexv/s400/July+2009+249.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /></div><div align="center"> </div><div align="left">Neither did I my friends, neither did I.... </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2yLukvkQHxO6shNeSmS-c2v56Y8b06eQQotp0JvyX8iwkX4Pu9Suq_OIGBh9uTaXPjK3PssmLz4jenFiovrThvktxqpwoRFJfw7f2V-rMHvFR7Ec_4IXonswggXK0gQYR9p_GmJ57VSjz/s1600-h/potatoe.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381123955846760034" style="WIDTH: 344px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2yLukvkQHxO6shNeSmS-c2v56Y8b06eQQotp0JvyX8iwkX4Pu9Suq_OIGBh9uTaXPjK3PssmLz4jenFiovrThvktxqpwoRFJfw7f2V-rMHvFR7Ec_4IXonswggXK0gQYR9p_GmJ57VSjz/s400/potatoe.bmp" border="0" /></a><br /><br /></div><div>That being said... its never stopped me from buying one yet.</div><div> </div><div>Potato on a stiiiick, you had me from hello.<br /></div><div></div>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12081580917378309077noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2089127790429034136.post-67879993157642788682009-08-16T01:23:00.001-02:302009-09-10T22:48:32.428-02:30Seould Meets Ancient Egypt<div> </div><div> </div><div>Despite the fact that we have been experiencing a so called, monsoon season for the past few weeks, we've been having an awful lot of beautiful weather here in Seoul. I think whoever decided to call summer in Seoul the rainy season, had never been to Newfoundland, or the west coast for that matter.<br /><br /></div><div> </div><div>Not that I'm complaining of course, the sunny weather is wonderful... just that calling all of this sun the 'rainy season' seems like a bit of a misnomer. It confuses people.<br /><br /></div><div> </div><div> </div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2PV3LQiTQTydPyDFv5eqQ82SpnSj_6-1cbzK2Ha8iOYQWYAMpVgqkM7yf91D5WVAZ9wstSv-hOBF59VD-lz2FGdZraHtIvqYpSa_mebJQiEe1h7juOHUqRGOQvHyz6svLGtsmyjkvK8Q/s1600-h/August+2009+401.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379683941428516498" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2PV3LQiTQTydPyDFv5eqQ82SpnSj_6-1cbzK2Ha8iOYQWYAMpVgqkM7yf91D5WVAZ9wstSv-hOBF59VD-lz2FGdZraHtIvqYpSa_mebJQiEe1h7juOHUqRGOQvHyz6svLGtsmyjkvK8Q/s400/August+2009+401.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div align="center"><br /> </div><div align="left">Getting back on track here... Yesterday Amanda, Meghan, Suzie, Lindsay and I decided to use our Saturday to take in an exhibit about Ancient Egypt at the National Museum of Korea. It was pretty amazing.<br /><br /></div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ6U29w4-_k5dOWaMHXMItfBwJp0DX4Jk_EuFSHrFDo6zaZzkVjkxlhaoTYyrXykeij45nKwCEc17GX7cau58vi5MjvSfVI_lqVtmz2sLLk8HWgH8MhQK0yH-zr4STLMinSyfiSDjAeCE/s1600-h/August+2009+403.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379683950857985986" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ6U29w4-_k5dOWaMHXMItfBwJp0DX4Jk_EuFSHrFDo6zaZzkVjkxlhaoTYyrXykeij45nKwCEc17GX7cau58vi5MjvSfVI_lqVtmz2sLLk8HWgH8MhQK0yH-zr4STLMinSyfiSDjAeCE/s400/August+2009+403.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /></div><div align="center"> </div><div align="left">The National Museum of Korea is located about a 5 minute walk away from Icheon Station -- not to be confused with INcheon -- and is really quite easy to get to. The building is pretty impressive from the outside, and even more impressive on the inside. Definitely worth a visit if you are going to be in Seoul and are interested in Korean history. </div><div align="center"><br /> </div><div align="left">This picture below is significant for two reasons. One, is because I love the painting of the Sphinx and the pyramids that are on the stairs, and two because this is the line up to get into only the Ancient Egypt part of the exhibit, which had a separate line up from the main body of the museum. Notice how it snakes back and forth multiple times before it finally goes into the exhibit (on the left) at the very back of the picture before the stairs. Suffice to say, it took a few minutes to get inside. </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3LGvwp4mmEhyphenhyphenQ1aazfc2Qtve3xuSdZYIKV5lB0RHyacn2ner7nYFQDOQLooetUb3k3Q5tSg8NRGZI_RLW6-wk0zYcottJFW4CBMORRw4tn_sv5W8kV2oMd6FdVn1JyMC58xTA2GHrnrA/s1600-h/August+2009+407.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379683967165122178" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 225px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3LGvwp4mmEhyphenhyphenQ1aazfc2Qtve3xuSdZYIKV5lB0RHyacn2ner7nYFQDOQLooetUb3k3Q5tSg8NRGZI_RLW6-wk0zYcottJFW4CBMORRw4tn_sv5W8kV2oMd6FdVn1JyMC58xTA2GHrnrA/s400/August+2009+407.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /></div><div>Here we are making our way towards it. From left to right featured here are, Lindsay, two Korean men who just happened to be there when I took the picture, Meghan, Amanda and Susie.<br /></div><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeTo_iusNdiR0xyL66Hazh4T4pXa_JaEr4ewSbwB2RuHFQRDot1Hgdn2PZPm4PRCvvMBPh_Rlrf_eA8SlqQNDJtXzVivvdI0Jhg7JZQpuUHpZg2xPZY6Hfm5yZLarXCFkqYGCTbVLPfhM/s1600-h/August+2009+406.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379683957795088530" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 225px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeTo_iusNdiR0xyL66Hazh4T4pXa_JaEr4ewSbwB2RuHFQRDot1Hgdn2PZPm4PRCvvMBPh_Rlrf_eA8SlqQNDJtXzVivvdI0Jhg7JZQpuUHpZg2xPZY6Hfm5yZLarXCFkqYGCTbVLPfhM/s400/August+2009+406.JPG" border="0" /></a></p><div><br />After quite a lengthy wait however, we were finally there! We're here! It's Egypt!<br /><br /><br /></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbbwd-lspIAyIFtxFOlcFVXsfTjh494gany-c1SSZr2gECnkyxejmZXvJZvyl4hC9C2b5e9YUgSoMhu_ZF_sTK6yjYdvLSBYIxRMttbR6FKF3V6iqNy9fUSwI6fi923mwX9jOoN8gHzCY/s1600-h/August+2009+417.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380001386989656338" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 225px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbbwd-lspIAyIFtxFOlcFVXsfTjh494gany-c1SSZr2gECnkyxejmZXvJZvyl4hC9C2b5e9YUgSoMhu_ZF_sTK6yjYdvLSBYIxRMttbR6FKF3V6iqNy9fUSwI6fi923mwX9jOoN8gHzCY/s400/August+2009+417.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><em>kmt = 'Egypt' written in Hangeul</em></div><em></em><br /><br />We weren't allowed to take any pictures once we were actually inside unfortunately. It appears that flash photography, or bright lights of any kind are actually quite harsh on the ancient artifacts.<br /><div align="center"><br /></div><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1pOlPjnP-7-XCB1Bc0I-aG4E7s7TnGzcUR38u4Cj3EU9cBCDbUEeOIXtMypC4Nb-iEMMLYFB9aKqfY_38Lc5NByIkjnab9P0b6-dmEg5TuYFoCx1HKndA439A-HvX8Wc2y0KwMRzpYxQ/s1600-h/August+2009+416.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380001376320990578" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1pOlPjnP-7-XCB1Bc0I-aG4E7s7TnGzcUR38u4Cj3EU9cBCDbUEeOIXtMypC4Nb-iEMMLYFB9aKqfY_38Lc5NByIkjnab9P0b6-dmEg5TuYFoCx1HKndA439A-HvX8Wc2y0KwMRzpYxQ/s400/August+2009+416.JPG" border="0" /></a></p><div align="left"> Or... maybe, just maybe... the mummies are afraid of looking fat in their wraps...<br /></div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left">Yep, I think that's the one.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div></div>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12081580917378309077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2089127790429034136.post-91206234129755788482009-08-10T01:18:00.002-02:302009-09-10T22:48:55.352-02:30Leaving Day<div></div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><div>Yesterday, I tried to convince my parents that they could take me home for a little while, as one of their carry-<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">ons</span>. I proved that it was possible by fitting myself into a bag for them to bring with them, but unfortunately I don't think it fit carry on size or weight limitations. </div><br /><br /><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7aNbF1m89nimU9OsYZwnON3t63O6MS2FTEA7op9PcIbdvcKAM25dxiLe8xzL2aCJsgxnJIqykZ-T-j9uX9rPu-F1isSNcvvR_wXOTQ6noyPJU-_gFpsA8qxcYxipGPkve7uXYquMOKM0/s1600-h/August+2009+394.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379681071929188370" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7aNbF1m89nimU9OsYZwnON3t63O6MS2FTEA7op9PcIbdvcKAM25dxiLe8xzL2aCJsgxnJIqykZ-T-j9uX9rPu-F1isSNcvvR_wXOTQ6noyPJU-_gFpsA8qxcYxipGPkve7uXYquMOKM0/s400/August+2009+394.JPG" border="0" /></a></p><br /><p align="center"></p><br /><p align="left">I am not exactly happy to be leaving Korea and all the great people that I've met here in three months time, but I sure am looking forward to being home for a little while. Not much time left, my days here are officially numbered. </p>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12081580917378309077noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2089127790429034136.post-7776581064227656112009-08-08T21:17:00.000-02:302009-09-10T01:16:04.199-02:30Days 11 & 12 : DMZ and N'Seoul Tower ... and beyond!Day 11 was Saturday, July 8<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">th</span> and it was a good thing we had gone home early the night before, because boy did we ever have an early rise that day... 4:30 AM!!! We were tired but excited, and we even brought Lindsay with us.<br /><br /><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUZoOfMMR6Vce-pcNel9MhIN7aXjSjdw9QP2sSt8MItwxIZYk-_lZ2nvVISwgR_IgC_s0G0Ell-SKPmJMLVeS3MeRFowuWn8BJ7KfYvP46JUDeqny-BZqo0Ob3SSE7rlRTwyCqYIq2U4Q/s1600-h/August+2009+146.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379619882466663970" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUZoOfMMR6Vce-pcNel9MhIN7aXjSjdw9QP2sSt8MItwxIZYk-_lZ2nvVISwgR_IgC_s0G0Ell-SKPmJMLVeS3MeRFowuWn8BJ7KfYvP46JUDeqny-BZqo0Ob3SSE7rlRTwyCqYIq2U4Q/s400/August+2009+146.JPG" border="0" /></a></p>Oh? Where were we going? Let me show you...<br /><br />Back in time, perhaps? A war zone?<br /><br /><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdT3lhoPaUuTnwIuvAijuEeZuJxPZW2Xu6q0XKe5kV3AAVYb2ZlOmoLte4ckkR-8aDh7vmSkmELxTEOxBaVhR7RxrJUSwIj3d1iKKnlibKghPQTJMrFWHHDboERIqDFC9fbYjcv8m0rrY/s1600-h/August+2009+166.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379620605350864386" style="WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdT3lhoPaUuTnwIuvAijuEeZuJxPZW2Xu6q0XKe5kV3AAVYb2ZlOmoLte4ckkR-8aDh7vmSkmELxTEOxBaVhR7RxrJUSwIj3d1iKKnlibKghPQTJMrFWHHDboERIqDFC9fbYjcv8m0rrY/s200/August+2009+166.JPG" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdJIWa-7hLenYRDkX-s5F3TG5lFdCVLfEwAAjF_8ZbE5WcseTcTIfKTJqCEpE9LOTokUsP0Dw2MuE2v5YDRWEV02UBA1TuCYhA9vyO4AcNAnqCZOMU_EeZw-_kCOLkZBf4qNZkjYMR4LA/s1600-h/August+2009+163.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379620594270355426" style="WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdJIWa-7hLenYRDkX-s5F3TG5lFdCVLfEwAAjF_8ZbE5WcseTcTIfKTJqCEpE9LOTokUsP0Dw2MuE2v5YDRWEV02UBA1TuCYhA9vyO4AcNAnqCZOMU_EeZw-_kCOLkZBf4qNZkjYMR4LA/s200/August+2009+163.JPG" border="0" /></a></p>Well figuratively yes to the first, and technically yes to the latter. Both! Although I must say the pictures look a little less menacing in colour.<br /><br /><br /><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht1GMck6QJTA8D_wptWadGJfDrN1i7BGgTiQ57Aa-SAbqEkU6rskVbU69mSrZ6k1dgGJO6kZAdnCd7GVcb4h4jTgw4aIM7yZewy9t8r9TVje5Mf5dpow_d86JVwqWv7Kr2Ox0fOO2M_xk/s1600-h/August+2009+162.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379622716345149842" style="WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht1GMck6QJTA8D_wptWadGJfDrN1i7BGgTiQ57Aa-SAbqEkU6rskVbU69mSrZ6k1dgGJO6kZAdnCd7GVcb4h4jTgw4aIM7yZewy9t8r9TVje5Mf5dpow_d86JVwqWv7Kr2Ox0fOO2M_xk/s200/August+2009+162.JPG" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjIL6YRIrLAnGrUcvGoWbSh3iEY9umJIAF3-c3LCKfa2LQYO4oqeixUPVMny7h2AdZgmhL3kP4J9G_-zzYtFz4jD2dWWgs_QngiyI4YQ8JOuPh7-tzpBqjDnQvs2eH7C8jriXxzj_zUMY/s1600-h/August+2009+155.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379622730597953218" style="WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjIL6YRIrLAnGrUcvGoWbSh3iEY9umJIAF3-c3LCKfa2LQYO4oqeixUPVMny7h2AdZgmhL3kP4J9G_-zzYtFz4jD2dWWgs_QngiyI4YQ8JOuPh7-tzpBqjDnQvs2eH7C8jriXxzj_zUMY/s200/August+2009+155.JPG" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZTt8HjaR2t9DGnRTQtaYLGfEH6H05u75992MNkOEUlTAeOgPb255T4aUSfq9BBH1qLtPMR53Hd9xa21fQKKbqCz49R3cSLXRe90FzZ5zSZvB2VUhP4KxdtaIPUgd1qp9TI1st2Mojoi8/s1600-h/August+2009+149.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379622747938188674" style="WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZTt8HjaR2t9DGnRTQtaYLGfEH6H05u75992MNkOEUlTAeOgPb255T4aUSfq9BBH1qLtPMR53Hd9xa21fQKKbqCz49R3cSLXRe90FzZ5zSZvB2VUhP4KxdtaIPUgd1qp9TI1st2Mojoi8/s200/August+2009+149.JPG" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguo1u62uNpRndPXwxM8flSvohdWlYhzeven_oyWJXKXcsE3I_fN5KMdPOR81uRugPJ31jgrqZi8tnd0_M77d1gU2SOUzGPpOkZdoP7PkJydW7zVlcXXMvwjtNNFt0iuvAcENNbOOLU1rU/s1600-h/August+2009+150.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379622736598020850" style="WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguo1u62uNpRndPXwxM8flSvohdWlYhzeven_oyWJXKXcsE3I_fN5KMdPOR81uRugPJ31jgrqZi8tnd0_M77d1gU2SOUzGPpOkZdoP7PkJydW7zVlcXXMvwjtNNFt0iuvAcENNbOOLU1rU/s200/August+2009+150.JPG" border="0" /></a></p><br /><br />On an interesting side note however, all of the grey building in this picture are owned by communist North Korea. They have creepy soldiers who peer out from behind windows and make obscene gestures to the American and South Korean soldiers who are protecting the tourists... crazy!<br /><br />If you look very closely in this picture in fact, you'll see a North Korean solider watching our every move with binoculars... double crazy!<br /><br /><br /><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE0EF8pOzN8LMDf2gMczwQYluERYRwbFtTWmCxdBZdRBLdzsP2GrKE2rzhdGRKjTGMdUlEIJzqeNKOtH4rbyiZpRXC6p7CGXfkQEByCkBlLPF3QZpOP_6SbQeGTSx6KAeRN9FHSW0Pzvc/s1600-h/August+2009+161.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379623720054021042" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE0EF8pOzN8LMDf2gMczwQYluERYRwbFtTWmCxdBZdRBLdzsP2GrKE2rzhdGRKjTGMdUlEIJzqeNKOtH4rbyiZpRXC6p7CGXfkQEByCkBlLPF3QZpOP_6SbQeGTSx6KAeRN9FHSW0Pzvc/s400/August+2009+161.JPG" border="0" /></a></p><br />Well all got to take out picture on the North Korean side of the DMZ, and saw a whole bunch of other places in the DMZ that we weren't allowed to take pictures of. It was pretty amazing, and I would highly recommend it to anyone else who was interested.<br /><br /><br /><div align="center">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</div><br /><br />Day 12, Sunday saw me with the family back at the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">COEX</span> mall to do a little more shopping and we had a really great time. We also went to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">N'Seoul</span> tower that day which was quite a hike (we didn't take the cable car), but completely worth it for the view of Seoul.<br /><br /><br /><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt6xCO-tBAlGORkDG0tOivu2fXUJcmtfjDGmiZrlR78HHKDSt5YomsBlORkpr-uMzhuti_tNCKNkFKFyJiNvaQdi3N_bzN7X_Z3YArUiJAY6VPD3SbTjG3hW8Z0CQAQOYsIbrYIwmEeLI/s1600-h/August+2009+208.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379628229058650354" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt6xCO-tBAlGORkDG0tOivu2fXUJcmtfjDGmiZrlR78HHKDSt5YomsBlORkpr-uMzhuti_tNCKNkFKFyJiNvaQdi3N_bzN7X_Z3YArUiJAY6VPD3SbTjG3hW8Z0CQAQOYsIbrYIwmEeLI/s400/August+2009+208.JPG" border="0" /></a></p><br />First when you arrive at the base of the mountain, you must either take a cable car to the top of the mountain and then hike to the tower, or you can hike the entire way if you feel so inclined. We had originally intended to take the cable car ourselves, but we hadn't anticipated the volume of people who were present on that Sunday evening. The wait to ride in the cable car was over an hour, and so we decided to hike on up.<br /><p align="center"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRjjZLU23jHv3bueCiuhl5MoHA16vaMXrjEfEREN0vgBTg9ZicMdz6cVqKKykxXmt_rzmu0rJppwLOjZlnigsjxgZAkpfhwmbwS73KUiCnvDKpq_k3cB0e9E356PIIQ3DGfv-2jo8K96Q/s1600-h/August+2009+264.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379668299607457906" style="WIDTH: 112px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRjjZLU23jHv3bueCiuhl5MoHA16vaMXrjEfEREN0vgBTg9ZicMdz6cVqKKykxXmt_rzmu0rJppwLOjZlnigsjxgZAkpfhwmbwS73KUiCnvDKpq_k3cB0e9E356PIIQ3DGfv-2jo8K96Q/s200/August+2009+264.JPG" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDLwqZv7A10xCBW0bcePiiiZm2yD9l4k2JBrFaUyv-vxBMy1rlZbSvKMh7d__RmgziBr2xdn-OZHuLMnk0aI2BGNeJ1MDbXbUdoMygdibjo6Frg8z7woiBY5QC1Zvwxmrnr-1IeWUP3M4/s1600-h/August+2009+253.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379668283697520786" style="WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDLwqZv7A10xCBW0bcePiiiZm2yD9l4k2JBrFaUyv-vxBMy1rlZbSvKMh7d__RmgziBr2xdn-OZHuLMnk0aI2BGNeJ1MDbXbUdoMygdibjo6Frg8z7woiBY5QC1Zvwxmrnr-1IeWUP3M4/s200/August+2009+253.JPG" border="0" /></a></p><br />As we have been apt to do over the past week or so, we took many a picture, including this one on the right, which is only a small part of a rather large fence. The fence is covered for dozens of metres in locks and love notes. Young lovers go to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">N'Seoul</span> Tower and put their locks on the chain link fence, throwing away the key to symbolize the eternal nature of their love... *<em>sigh*. </em>Naturally, I fall for that kind of stuff, I thought it was sweet.<br /><br /><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie9h7NPwtX2viSwIBjkxQZGquyaOBsmvMMf-Z1YZZ709NPtU6vkszzcsYKl0nRwYeTj8nchHv-N-r-wUpVDVj5Yl5HJUntdoe3vYEfDK6XKkt1uoQh-YJhLDZRu5lDFfSoAStOJ8mnMr8/s1600-h/August+2009+238.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379668277948242226" style="WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie9h7NPwtX2viSwIBjkxQZGquyaOBsmvMMf-Z1YZZ709NPtU6vkszzcsYKl0nRwYeTj8nchHv-N-r-wUpVDVj5Yl5HJUntdoe3vYEfDK6XKkt1uoQh-YJhLDZRu5lDFfSoAStOJ8mnMr8/s200/August+2009+238.JPG" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsImWIf6NgIJUFdEw0osyzPcTAyZyJ_OAZNjQ5xxV_dhyphenhypheno9om58d8maIYcfyOXKTFfKsqlSixHpv2kPVXaOUGlSIzDXc15P4s-4BvKxhQ6XQ7-dErM4A624zxNhdz0I6reecV0weVcyvg/s1600-h/August+2009+231.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379668264428649250" style="WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsImWIf6NgIJUFdEw0osyzPcTAyZyJ_OAZNjQ5xxV_dhyphenhypheno9om58d8maIYcfyOXKTFfKsqlSixHpv2kPVXaOUGlSIzDXc15P4s-4BvKxhQ6XQ7-dErM4A624zxNhdz0I6reecV0weVcyvg/s200/August+2009+231.JPG" border="0" /></a></p><br />Located in Seoul Tower, is also strangely enough a Teddy Bear Museum. Who knew?<br /><br /><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQFhSRvHqi4n11zT63qGYdn1R1rVYheEW1WzjNoNreMxI1zfEiJEMilS9eM2ZOKfZi3L2CToIbr4b7TjO_KOsuL_RTx26enYdr-qr_j_520AUETN12LCAnkBLDmOnrQhul9QJ_czDIhuc/s1600-h/August+2009+220.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379667054661686066" style="WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQFhSRvHqi4n11zT63qGYdn1R1rVYheEW1WzjNoNreMxI1zfEiJEMilS9eM2ZOKfZi3L2CToIbr4b7TjO_KOsuL_RTx26enYdr-qr_j_520AUETN12LCAnkBLDmOnrQhul9QJ_czDIhuc/s200/August+2009+220.JPG" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ511bqiR0a8mmrhPO746eGoDPP_n8O4X02s43-rxGSqgnIQXrZab7BIfYmsZaWFplfknXmeESjuRGZ7cGQBsfjf66HamvUcDf9Rl2J5ef0wVa1MHi9RtuNkPc7Kz7KtJYYkeB4zObNEQ/s1600-h/August+2009+218.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379667039092295522" style="WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ511bqiR0a8mmrhPO746eGoDPP_n8O4X02s43-rxGSqgnIQXrZab7BIfYmsZaWFplfknXmeESjuRGZ7cGQBsfjf66HamvUcDf9Rl2J5ef0wVa1MHi9RtuNkPc7Kz7KtJYYkeB4zObNEQ/s200/August+2009+218.JPG" border="0" /></a></p><br /><br />We were also treated to a pretty fantastic light show that evening, AND we had Cold Stone ice cream (my <em>favourite</em>). ALL, before we even went up the tower itself. Fabulous!<br /><br /><br />The view from the top of the tower was incredible! My camera, however, is not fancy enough to help you appreciate it, so I'm not going to put up any of the pictures that I attempted to take. They were very sad attempts indeed.<br /><br /><br />When we finally got back down from the tower itself, the wait to take the cable car down that mountain was even longer than it had been to go up the mountain.<br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhurXWp_FEY9S191_hks7EkaBbW0cZ_Xmyji9950OV4djm6TJH8msiEDueGj3pWKmaHwu-TAAzHmdaSOgtPtQPjN9gplYvmqVqD5q-u2Jv8lEwh3Y8y9iNEp3Sl6gJQbC7SLbk0R4AzkDA/s1600-h/August+2009+317.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379675428801955922" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhurXWp_FEY9S191_hks7EkaBbW0cZ_Xmyji9950OV4djm6TJH8msiEDueGj3pWKmaHwu-TAAzHmdaSOgtPtQPjN9gplYvmqVqD5q-u2Jv8lEwh3Y8y9iNEp3Sl6gJQbC7SLbk0R4AzkDA/s400/August+2009+317.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div align="center"></div><div align="left">So down the stairs we went... </div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI7swPLVqWH89SjRHorTZ0axklHBUgG2DsVh4_iZS7ZSEUX3NnPfSj18eRveEtHu2d5fop-FoTuqo-pqIcNi-_C-uKHPeg4wzDnoiYUgT9QS0G2OeesX8l5AJniUxKS7eqz148_pOzUiY/s1600-h/August+2009+318.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379675440302650082" style="WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI7swPLVqWH89SjRHorTZ0axklHBUgG2DsVh4_iZS7ZSEUX3NnPfSj18eRveEtHu2d5fop-FoTuqo-pqIcNi-_C-uKHPeg4wzDnoiYUgT9QS0G2OeesX8l5AJniUxKS7eqz148_pOzUiY/s400/August+2009+318.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div align="center"></div><div align="left">Down... </div><div align="center"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTvM6N6YA8p99TPfKmV4qhV9bMdqngFd3NKAmwxuiAyJ86lmqZM2mHMbfGQKoqnmQmc9rNGyoimQPZQZOwq-rPO6ZP-3TEtY5lV2x4tsFWvzh7dvysviUCCxP5gGmFzQ80HKdoxVcOHuo/s1600-h/August+2009+324.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379675462800147266" style="WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTvM6N6YA8p99TPfKmV4qhV9bMdqngFd3NKAmwxuiAyJ86lmqZM2mHMbfGQKoqnmQmc9rNGyoimQPZQZOwq-rPO6ZP-3TEtY5lV2x4tsFWvzh7dvysviUCCxP5gGmFzQ80HKdoxVcOHuo/s400/August+2009+324.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div align="center"></div><div align="left">Down... </div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8_esc4BtTqi6KXwlOjs9GhFu3zNAxTS_ZDcYBfhDYMAFVOT3HpfN96_7s2uCEw_IFDQn6h9mMLqaSkA25Szo9B2yG-JcuR_1wIs36QX3GgZvBthvmUrGlHDyCZbVLS1UHLA4UcUpEUZw/s1600-h/August+2009+322.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379675447480535714" style="WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8_esc4BtTqi6KXwlOjs9GhFu3zNAxTS_ZDcYBfhDYMAFVOT3HpfN96_7s2uCEw_IFDQn6h9mMLqaSkA25Szo9B2yG-JcuR_1wIs36QX3GgZvBthvmUrGlHDyCZbVLS1UHLA4UcUpEUZw/s400/August+2009+322.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div align="left">Down... </div><div align="left"></div><div align="left">I promise that we <em>did</em> eventually reach the bottom. It just took a while. :)<br /></div><br /><br />The rest of the week went off without a hitch, but also without a lot of participation from me, as I started back to school on Monday morning. We had a relaxed day today, Saturday, Day 18, with a little On The Boarder <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Mexican</span> deliciousness, and some final shoe shopping in Idea, and now they're leaving tomorrow. Boo....Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12081580917378309077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2089127790429034136.post-28453735161078678052009-07-31T21:40:00.012-02:302009-09-09T21:14:45.003-02:30Days 5 -10: A Whirlwind<div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><br /><br /> </div><div>I have good news and bad news... I've decided I can't possibly blog about each individual day as it passes. Days of family vacation will be crammed together starting... now! It's both the good news and the bad news, I hope you like it!</div><div><br />We left off of Saturday the 25<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">th</span>, exhausted from a full day of going, so I'm proud to report that my family rallied again early the next day, Sunday July 26<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">th</span>, to head to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Changdeok</span> Palace & Secret Garden. It was home to a few kings during Korea's <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Joseon</span> Dynasty, and was rife with exactly the traditional kind of <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Asian</span> architecture and plants that foreigners love to see.<br /><br /></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOmSD54wXE-pJH90bb7rxIjml0LL0g76bkqENuLOltuJz8lOxYWkvsuQUk5R3Jq0VWuhi9BwXJMKmZfornZ8CVzmQt5WQg5IXwXqat4IupoQcLbOLGE8aKxD2xz0jZdxWoxcI5BWJmroA/s1600-h/July+2009+323.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379269042324930434" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOmSD54wXE-pJH90bb7rxIjml0LL0g76bkqENuLOltuJz8lOxYWkvsuQUk5R3Jq0VWuhi9BwXJMKmZfornZ8CVzmQt5WQg5IXwXqat4IupoQcLbOLGE8aKxD2xz0jZdxWoxcI5BWJmroA/s400/July+2009+323.JPG" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhda5SprL11cTASKqYQyheT-8lnXtde9n1LLBeiFZ9Hn9UC-M06uqI7A7okEQwjzOmcmOGwBzwvtii6Kvj-bJrNcO5EFq9B43lhs2VWugOHSfZnQIHwmNI3Nmf2yVVk-VoyMjIanxpylr4/s1600-h/July+2009+303.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379269027853342258" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhda5SprL11cTASKqYQyheT-8lnXtde9n1LLBeiFZ9Hn9UC-M06uqI7A7okEQwjzOmcmOGwBzwvtii6Kvj-bJrNcO5EFq9B43lhs2VWugOHSfZnQIHwmNI3Nmf2yVVk-VoyMjIanxpylr4/s400/July+2009+303.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div><br /><br />We even got a few glamour shots of Dad and Ricki to show off the incredible detail that goes into painting these palaces.<br /><br /></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG_ublH-2owJBXa3jS2vyopNflbY1JPMEBis8FS3bRwOjRZ9fBkjQ_nPditHjJuD_oxfHSX0ZKSZ4Rdr_df7_cgmnMLFRM4bTC-YUp-M4R9dFLObKX9Ni-sy9_8LvAVEsjE5kO5QM4nvk/s1600-h/July+2009+358.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379271622499195074" style="WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG_ublH-2owJBXa3jS2vyopNflbY1JPMEBis8FS3bRwOjRZ9fBkjQ_nPditHjJuD_oxfHSX0ZKSZ4Rdr_df7_cgmnMLFRM4bTC-YUp-M4R9dFLObKX9Ni-sy9_8LvAVEsjE5kO5QM4nvk/s320/July+2009+358.JPG" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0XFVopIa7ZiAiCYyNSjPA9huustEpDcokOGTurXnqooJbBKjK31pXNiJq6GDtgM-pzjOs2x8yepC5hTun7M-9aeihGXwz8jaSBegvJek5gzTM1rfPuiq5-EL9elj6GOwiGgMXBB3kP_Y/s1600-h/July+2009+359.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379271639005082018" style="WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0XFVopIa7ZiAiCYyNSjPA9huustEpDcokOGTurXnqooJbBKjK31pXNiJq6GDtgM-pzjOs2x8yepC5hTun7M-9aeihGXwz8jaSBegvJek5gzTM1rfPuiq5-EL9elj6GOwiGgMXBB3kP_Y/s320/July+2009+359.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ3qim_1qpLggZMc7Tl2PFi-TKm6A900yTJOyaQPA9Ib2nE1wDbiX2OoginKXuH1OqekxUNrp1FFu7fWa-g0BIbZ5Xwoj4N-PYjkaN_36VcWGO9RvFffo_kMvg6m6s7oNM0W3BVtLo5eA/s1600-h/July+2009+347.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379271596554319282" style="WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ3qim_1qpLggZMc7Tl2PFi-TKm6A900yTJOyaQPA9Ib2nE1wDbiX2OoginKXuH1OqekxUNrp1FFu7fWa-g0BIbZ5Xwoj4N-PYjkaN_36VcWGO9RvFffo_kMvg6m6s7oNM0W3BVtLo5eA/s320/July+2009+347.JPG" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-RJ16Lkvaj-Fz2NPsyK8LRwiw1TwpUUmgxJbXXB9T70R4vfSlE9JvZ5OE8FwtV37cki9MwEJKhCmHit-wHRk9HhDRzgwGGa-_y2mo9oVIVOtuA33w-VBwdcF5d79wJBWPjl9rph2EfDk/s1600-h/July+2009+348.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379271612083783426" style="WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-RJ16Lkvaj-Fz2NPsyK8LRwiw1TwpUUmgxJbXXB9T70R4vfSlE9JvZ5OE8FwtV37cki9MwEJKhCmHit-wHRk9HhDRzgwGGa-_y2mo9oVIVOtuA33w-VBwdcF5d79wJBWPjl9rph2EfDk/s320/July+2009+348.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY2BuqVigjHg0FQJOHtmfXS99e2Sz6hPdl0uekW_E68Fm7FQpO0jhjoQBMWzCRKfYP80-S5M9xcShsQ_ssX5kScjkXhcGWHbNccgAtvHzuEw3NmKog1Em49d6BEmt1lYmctqvfQme3p0Q/s1600-h/July+2009+373.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379272991807331618" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY2BuqVigjHg0FQJOHtmfXS99e2Sz6hPdl0uekW_E68Fm7FQpO0jhjoQBMWzCRKfYP80-S5M9xcShsQ_ssX5kScjkXhcGWHbNccgAtvHzuEw3NmKog1Em49d6BEmt1lYmctqvfQme3p0Q/s400/July+2009+373.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div><br /><br />And the day didn't even end there! After our tour of the beautiful <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Changdeok</span> Palace and it's even more beautiful Secret Garden, we headed out to do a little tourist shopping, in the shopping district of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Insadong</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Insadong</span> is home to one particular very busy street lined, on both sides with traditional Korean <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">knickknacks</span> and souvenirs, and busting at the seems with people, vendors hawking their wares, food that you can't even imagine, and random live entertainment.<br /><br />We shopped for souvenirs for quite some time, and just as we were finally about to call it quits and head home for the day, what should we stumble upon, but a street show with men and women, dancing, singing, and playing traditional Korean musical instruments. I couldn't have created a better ending for the day if I had tried! </div><div><br /> </div><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsFXfkNqILrmczJgLBHQizlBGC4jYjxNu0NnXMpDQMquIXSmv9aaZFc4xmltLD5R7o8u4Mw6_b8755F7vxXyBw2_66OWmkczwbBMwfnd0N1ctGmQf5DeAy1zjtAyXMeJS2JjzpaUTi218/s1600-h/July+2009+399.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379274338141426962" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsFXfkNqILrmczJgLBHQizlBGC4jYjxNu0NnXMpDQMquIXSmv9aaZFc4xmltLD5R7o8u4Mw6_b8755F7vxXyBw2_66OWmkczwbBMwfnd0N1ctGmQf5DeAy1zjtAyXMeJS2JjzpaUTi218/s400/July+2009+399.JPG" border="0" /></a></p><div><br />We called it quits relatively early on Sunday, because we knew we were going to have a big day on Monday. </div><div> </div><div align="center">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</div><div> </div><div align="left">Monday was July 25, and another beautiful day. We had such good luck with weather this whole week! We woke up bright and early and hopped on the subway to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Suwon</span>, and the Korean Folk Village. There was a lot to see, and we were there nearly until it closed.<br /></div><div><br /><br /><br /></div><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh77aCYM1QlBlTy8crgcmwdop2dX0fVNmTLaxfRT79oHl9GnT5klmBNkRq9E-aGTAFWgr5ArLzjixVXf5Hrij7y8dpfSxL7bFf-pdMjUTGnMeTkWyguzKPmLa1TKi_sfXMTNDSJhw0sPgY/s1600-h/July+2009+140.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379277003057125442" style="WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh77aCYM1QlBlTy8crgcmwdop2dX0fVNmTLaxfRT79oHl9GnT5klmBNkRq9E-aGTAFWgr5ArLzjixVXf5Hrij7y8dpfSxL7bFf-pdMjUTGnMeTkWyguzKPmLa1TKi_sfXMTNDSJhw0sPgY/s200/July+2009+140.JPG" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwS8dF02XtoVWk4k3hVMeq27A84DkCemJ_CYYjn3-Yem6vSrkmUk9cxo5OPLySjKSTYNn_u3jebo8sMPqZ7QW7bPigRLl7hqY6DsX_HowampDwl7Nl3Gvk0W2hQ1fW-iPAvZoSA8ZMEEY/s1600-h/July+2009+044.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379285588832992802" style="WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwS8dF02XtoVWk4k3hVMeq27A84DkCemJ_CYYjn3-Yem6vSrkmUk9cxo5OPLySjKSTYNn_u3jebo8sMPqZ7QW7bPigRLl7hqY6DsX_HowampDwl7Nl3Gvk0W2hQ1fW-iPAvZoSA8ZMEEY/s200/July+2009+044.JPG" border="0" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju1Kigsqu9jhRCh3P6KUqngr4hWXxD6bUSoAUDFZEUVe0raDo3DTj5-mupMMuupXaM8qibK0-DNd8YY1R4WNJY54X_xNY87z0Jg6RwekllueGTCXRaHSOxx0pqM-GlIm0a4sxo2tlbDVc/s1600-h/July+2009+150.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379285579683069586" style="WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju1Kigsqu9jhRCh3P6KUqngr4hWXxD6bUSoAUDFZEUVe0raDo3DTj5-mupMMuupXaM8qibK0-DNd8YY1R4WNJY54X_xNY87z0Jg6RwekllueGTCXRaHSOxx0pqM-GlIm0a4sxo2tlbDVc/s200/July+2009+150.JPG" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjv6AdlZw0kBkzhtSod6ATI0nZyt8-ySaFtQ9_YcKK01EkgR7uwWpIdGA-BObhGcDD5TKXwQPvnnKGYqcKL4vIfoIHpqb3BzzWeXVJhhWck9NYx927a0HX6SzR2GKFIEkgZzs0txfC72w/s1600-h/July+2009+009.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379286068539142898" style="WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjv6AdlZw0kBkzhtSod6ATI0nZyt8-ySaFtQ9_YcKK01EkgR7uwWpIdGA-BObhGcDD5TKXwQPvnnKGYqcKL4vIfoIHpqb3BzzWeXVJhhWck9NYx927a0HX6SzR2GKFIEkgZzs0txfC72w/s200/July+2009+009.JPG" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM5heNwi15SnNT6_k6iXydvwYIKxPoazkaXwanyl-MIcJEzqj756pjjGI-BevZZVHpnXwm2KX3ePKBz7Vt74yjBi6pHl3MTmtQMFa_NhBdQptEZzI9Efg3OcdJ8atngzsLQ_vGHXiVmLs/s1600-h/July+2009+126.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379276993343092386" style="WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM5heNwi15SnNT6_k6iXydvwYIKxPoazkaXwanyl-MIcJEzqj756pjjGI-BevZZVHpnXwm2KX3ePKBz7Vt74yjBi6pHl3MTmtQMFa_NhBdQptEZzI9Efg3OcdJ8atngzsLQ_vGHXiVmLs/s200/July+2009+126.JPG" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglr1hltZPNpZrt8Np7NvLNfWPe0yTzb93p012-hkQYwhtb-ogOcPizKckE7Y2KHkvbEufTXNGjTQoBsv_5mHba6o_Fr_53lHtKQa_7xWTUIROWk0FQvCVaqcZzOtJUKt2dpal1d8pk00E/s1600-h/July+2009+120.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379276979096923906" style="WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglr1hltZPNpZrt8Np7NvLNfWPe0yTzb93p012-hkQYwhtb-ogOcPizKckE7Y2KHkvbEufTXNGjTQoBsv_5mHba6o_Fr_53lHtKQa_7xWTUIROWk0FQvCVaqcZzOtJUKt2dpal1d8pk00E/s200/July+2009+120.JPG" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSs1rNRdj3nl-BwN_2olTFr9ztQ4HTF_buwKN-2z_rXUSpwrI_qXZYFRQEa1eAgxV5u-Mk5D6mh7VHqaBcZWpKCHPO6QKf9FSQIFo-qr-S4V4olZiyesqT6hQwTsK3UMniISxE1HsisE4/s1600-h/July+2009+108.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379276966272642946" style="WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSs1rNRdj3nl-BwN_2olTFr9ztQ4HTF_buwKN-2z_rXUSpwrI_qXZYFRQEa1eAgxV5u-Mk5D6mh7VHqaBcZWpKCHPO6QKf9FSQIFo-qr-S4V4olZiyesqT6hQwTsK3UMniISxE1HsisE4/s200/July+2009+108.JPG" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7jTDPtbcw9JjBifboceyb9SNNg_EEZVt46bCWrRJ08rslqY1CcVprm0ToXJFZNq_DdDLM3zNGbTnZoubylCK74pGlaR0lSseHOI2rmf94FzLE2y1kLa0wWYJZXZqtIs_1P6NSTZidYnM/s1600-h/July+2009+105.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379276951539256546" style="WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7jTDPtbcw9JjBifboceyb9SNNg_EEZVt46bCWrRJ08rslqY1CcVprm0ToXJFZNq_DdDLM3zNGbTnZoubylCK74pGlaR0lSseHOI2rmf94FzLE2y1kLa0wWYJZXZqtIs_1P6NSTZidYnM/s200/July+2009+105.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /></p><div><br /><br /><br /></div><div>A word to the wise however: If you don't like Korean food, <em>really</em> Korean food, pack a lunch. You'll be glad you did.<br /></div><div><br /><br /><br /></div><div align="center">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<br /></div><div><br /><br /><br /></div><div>Day 7: Tuesday, July 28, was a well earned recovery day for the family, without any major plans. One of my mom's bigger goals for the trip, aside from seeing me of course, was to find herself her dream leather jacket, at a very affordable price. We headed to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">Itaewon</span>, otherwise known as foreigner-central, and the home of many tailors who will hand make anything for you, at a special price of course, because you have a beautiful family. We wandered around for a little while, took in the sights, enjoyed the ability to communicate in English and eat whatever we wanted, and I'm happy to report that Mom found exactly what she wanted at this little shop right here.<br /></div><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKXXdXYFYeEpbsUhjO0y8rSlvolakXJk2UWtbxqqgJ6K0X_lcntkhlPiq2w1csw4lhHeH6sOgAbw72CO307tQfMpEIgjNKlobpXYE_CPefUudSycITKW352b5EPze3KGY0CS37gNha8fk/s1600-h/August+2009+001.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379287383673400386" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKXXdXYFYeEpbsUhjO0y8rSlvolakXJk2UWtbxqqgJ6K0X_lcntkhlPiq2w1csw4lhHeH6sOgAbw72CO307tQfMpEIgjNKlobpXYE_CPefUudSycITKW352b5EPze3KGY0CS37gNha8fk/s400/August+2009+001.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><em><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">Perfecto</span>!</em> </p><p align="center">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</p><div>Day 8, Thursday, July 30, was one of the biggest days of all. After our relatively restful day on Wednesday we got up at the crack of dawn on Thursday to leave for the greatest place in all of Korea... <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">Everland</span>! It's of <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">course</span> no secret to anyone that I love amusement parks, so I was super pumped about spending the day there.<br /></div><div><br />I won't write too much about <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">Everland</span>, as I already have, but suffice to say it was a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">rockin</span>' good time. My mom even went on some of the rides. We also fed birds, very exciting!</div><div><br /><br /><br /></div><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCyEC8euCa5uHRuulrr07x5wxlZXNTJkrv7OrayKLh6YGnmsc1FigQzqjQgzpNFdal1ILUaMOtmUfgT2C4tsKSaRZSmiA94wgh17i0FgWoqgOgeNQH80iZp8hnDGYRuWtFSY7zbXMMqiE/s1600-h/August+2009+108.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379290688833537570" style="WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCyEC8euCa5uHRuulrr07x5wxlZXNTJkrv7OrayKLh6YGnmsc1FigQzqjQgzpNFdal1ILUaMOtmUfgT2C4tsKSaRZSmiA94wgh17i0FgWoqgOgeNQH80iZp8hnDGYRuWtFSY7zbXMMqiE/s200/August+2009+108.JPG" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8lshFagNHZXcj2pwNgEuCrKvgs_laTa22G5XW3VlDxMRO9B8GBPBl_cU7CxxEhn7D5FW9X3dBjJyyMjEFRUOsVLnl_u6Ac8RuMQx8yQ_A_hwxI6CgBovM-wPz-USN-jb8uXpDF-Pefzw/s1600-h/August+2009+106.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379290680828069602" style="WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8lshFagNHZXcj2pwNgEuCrKvgs_laTa22G5XW3VlDxMRO9B8GBPBl_cU7CxxEhn7D5FW9X3dBjJyyMjEFRUOsVLnl_u6Ac8RuMQx8yQ_A_hwxI6CgBovM-wPz-USN-jb8uXpDF-Pefzw/s200/August+2009+106.JPG" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ8s2E9GR0lCifmx9uaxxB7NN2QHDTzQ2i5sPyK0JsZ0Us1kFAfskLZgCvu97N3GUhfOL3NLpFzQToTSuo0SZTwTu2SaytqzxrF2i_MT1IH8mrT30wssbKz8KFcw7R4y_xrAGfkEZNbjo/s1600-h/August+2009+110.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379290696772548098" style="WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ8s2E9GR0lCifmx9uaxxB7NN2QHDTzQ2i5sPyK0JsZ0Us1kFAfskLZgCvu97N3GUhfOL3NLpFzQToTSuo0SZTwTu2SaytqzxrF2i_MT1IH8mrT30wssbKz8KFcw7R4y_xrAGfkEZNbjo/s200/August+2009+110.JPG" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimyRlbuijvl1M6aHyCUb8Wzma86efRSUL8XbPsg2vpC8z9SPVHhC2dAMXycNCPkVa6T-qONmKtiV9TipiKr4AXd6kSRqDTnEUs0d_8UbVBRaSJjnvxvNZ8WHUivwgKg6pLNzW-Yfa1Tp4/s1600-h/August+2009+118.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379290707068973570" style="WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimyRlbuijvl1M6aHyCUb8Wzma86efRSUL8XbPsg2vpC8z9SPVHhC2dAMXycNCPkVa6T-qONmKtiV9TipiKr4AXd6kSRqDTnEUs0d_8UbVBRaSJjnvxvNZ8WHUivwgKg6pLNzW-Yfa1Tp4/s200/August+2009+118.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /></p><p align="center">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</p><div>Day 9, and my <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">family's</span> second Thursday in Seoul, boasts no pictures, as I forgot my camera. It was mostly a stay-home sort of day, and recover from everything that had happened thus far. In the early afternoon my parents went to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">Yeoido</span> island and 63 building, while Ricki and I lounged and enjoyed not moving for a few hours. We met up with them that night for a breathtaking Han River boat cruise. You should do it if you get the chance. </div><div><br /><br /><br /></div><p align="center">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</p><div>On Day 10, our original plan has been to visit the Olympic park, but we were rained out and instead spent some time wandering around <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">COEX</span> mall, before meeting a friend from Home, Brian and his wife to have dinner. We ate at a Vietnamese restaurant and it was delicious! </div><div><br /><br /></div><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimofVnoUA47WUpkci_ZLmPBGvg_82xnSWAaUEvYG5NZqCLEG8Z2F7k6LIrvt8ziHMzO7GEHbvtdxkUe2zllo9HN2S3Sain3aNosrbZFhN5_mJx3W8E0cQjWJuMOIsnwkmrfvqFwaIZdSo/s1600-h/August+2009+135.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379293890058902242" style="WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimofVnoUA47WUpkci_ZLmPBGvg_82xnSWAaUEvYG5NZqCLEG8Z2F7k6LIrvt8ziHMzO7GEHbvtdxkUe2zllo9HN2S3Sain3aNosrbZFhN5_mJx3W8E0cQjWJuMOIsnwkmrfvqFwaIZdSo/s200/August+2009+135.JPG" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiViSJQ8tNP5ZF_WArkRjJZK2o5ruY3GVKPwQoZOS-4kZOGvoSUHsafx9Z2LfON27d-5qQ-3Vc32PWpGphhCxSB8N-pstAARqowe3gfAYEZv9W4ivuHQiY-rw48Dm-7Fd-ewZYl4Q-4D0s/s1600-h/August+2009+134.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379293880298449314" style="WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiViSJQ8tNP5ZF_WArkRjJZK2o5ruY3GVKPwQoZOS-4kZOGvoSUHsafx9Z2LfON27d-5qQ-3Vc32PWpGphhCxSB8N-pstAARqowe3gfAYEZv9W4ivuHQiY-rw48Dm-7Fd-ewZYl4Q-4D0s/s200/August+2009+134.JPG" border="0" /></a></p><div> The dinner was lovely, and Mom and Dad made plans to do something with Brian and Jenna while I'll be in school next week, which means I don't have to stress about that day. Excellent!</div><div> </div><div>On our way home from dinner we were shopping a little outside in one of the markets, but it started to rain on us -- I think my Dad may have cleverly orchestrated this with mother nature, to covertly end the days shopping. And so ended Day number 10.<br /><br /></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12081580917378309077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2089127790429034136.post-46773439468906398712009-07-25T00:53:00.012-02:302009-09-08T22:35:04.694-02:30Day 4: A Large Day<div><div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br />The first Saturday morning of my family's visit to Korea dawned bright and early, and we looked forward to a busy day out and about exploring the sites of Seoul. We hopped on the newly opened Subway Line 9 that leads directly from my apartment in the boonies of Seoul, straight to just about everything important near the centre of the city. (Ah, the benefits of living close to the airport!)</div><div><br /></div><div></div><div><br /></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP9qAFhyJpxw4PXectzzUbdxYnu9RY13nl_p7NaVDyZX7QG0nyDRIH0dHSPrBtf8CFjA5U7m6zIPmH16k_T92fOGqJek8tt5DMDDlH7WdJkDVsJpieCDzqgC32KuRyaxccT90M2-QhVWA/s1600-h/July+2009+232.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368873095577542162" style="WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP9qAFhyJpxw4PXectzzUbdxYnu9RY13nl_p7NaVDyZX7QG0nyDRIH0dHSPrBtf8CFjA5U7m6zIPmH16k_T92fOGqJek8tt5DMDDlH7WdJkDVsJpieCDzqgC32KuRyaxccT90M2-QhVWA/s400/July+2009+232.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br />Having little-to-no experience with subways, my parents were particularly impressed by the journey to our initial destination, and thus the day started off on a good foot, even before we had officially done anything. Its so easy to forget that the whole world doesn't have the convenience of using the subway, when you practically live on top of a subway station, and use it yourself twice a week. I am decided going to miss Seoul's public transportation when I arrive back in Newfoundland. </div><div><br /></div><div></div><div><br /></div><div>We arrived at our destination, a discount shopping district called <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Idae</span> without fuss. The pictures don't really do it justice, but it is just streets upon streets of incredibly cheep, quality suspect, clothing, bags and accessories.<br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOaS4r1jLCLrsfG2kE3-beY9D_VjEb13IjG7CxPXUDWaisj_rJy-iqnUBwzCiWgGNqkjDDO2Bmsd85rMpoExuopLH9c9gBVgr0hFDUys346c-XfwxpSBlSGroAvAQ29d-uzi_LSIVBIdM/s1600-h/July+2009+238.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368874755834525186" style="WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOaS4r1jLCLrsfG2kE3-beY9D_VjEb13IjG7CxPXUDWaisj_rJy-iqnUBwzCiWgGNqkjDDO2Bmsd85rMpoExuopLH9c9gBVgr0hFDUys346c-XfwxpSBlSGroAvAQ29d-uzi_LSIVBIdM/s400/July+2009+238.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>This stores entire stock was 10,000 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">KRW</span> a pair, taxes included!<br /></div><div><br /></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKc2HcYk-bbuoGK0tVDRiTz-sxjMD08khsfn6G-WJuyZ0lvKoJ191FDqx_xyBH69korxkH8tfeL5pJCa0dNuQZqG26fbpZk2X79nj_xVxUG0TyuoW8ztzSzSl5FPycBdPOa6qsv2fAKKY/s1600-h/July+2009+235.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368874743534257730" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKc2HcYk-bbuoGK0tVDRiTz-sxjMD08khsfn6G-WJuyZ0lvKoJ191FDqx_xyBH69korxkH8tfeL5pJCa0dNuQZqG26fbpZk2X79nj_xVxUG0TyuoW8ztzSzSl5FPycBdPOa6qsv2fAKKY/s400/July+2009+235.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div><br /></div><div align="left"><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Every thing in this area is of course contingent on if you can fit into "Korean" sizes, which are of course much smaller than what the average North American would consider normal to be. As a reference for those who know me, I'm at the very top of acceptably large. I can buy shirts at most stores without a problem, and pants at half to 3/4 of those stores.<br /></div><div><br /></div><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-ZPCiX7hyQfZi239P6CXyA0r_0Q8ZxWKITgH1nF-op3AjKEa2jGgCpuIyTlvhTTg0gTZLIYE8bhjSG6Sk-0mAuVC0MH-o1AZNXTKoAHmpFNrRjE4HONQbbpk1F01hF43sKdwMx4CChRA/s1600-h/July+2009+245.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368881843164204562" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 225px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-ZPCiX7hyQfZi239P6CXyA0r_0Q8ZxWKITgH1nF-op3AjKEa2jGgCpuIyTlvhTTg0gTZLIYE8bhjSG6Sk-0mAuVC0MH-o1AZNXTKoAHmpFNrRjE4HONQbbpk1F01hF43sKdwMx4CChRA/s400/July+2009+245.JPG" border="0" /></a></p><div><br /></div><div>These particular pants are 'one-size'.. in this case meaning about a size 3.<br /></div><div><br /></div><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmEAtCCjU8cjhi3UYnVcbMlEpG_Fywej8g0ouvl44Sdg8jHw9hZBFi-IqqzPM3WsqeHs_5Uw3igsn6KJ5HYQLW-kQBBymgaED2fHMpbptZktaHd5UD7MhjjN4rUGAEibtzNNxnL2zWIvY/s1600-h/July+2009+240.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368881825275275266" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmEAtCCjU8cjhi3UYnVcbMlEpG_Fywej8g0ouvl44Sdg8jHw9hZBFi-IqqzPM3WsqeHs_5Uw3igsn6KJ5HYQLW-kQBBymgaED2fHMpbptZktaHd5UD7MhjjN4rUGAEibtzNNxnL2zWIvY/s400/July+2009+240.JPG" border="0" /></a></p><div><br /></div><div>Mom and Dad mostly watched and took pictures, while Ricki and I wandered around salivating over shoes, handbags and accessories for a good chunk of the afternoon. As it was around noon when we arrived, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Idae</span> had still be <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">relatively</span> deserted, which ended up being a good coincidence as my family was still overwhelmed by the number of people that we saw. They couldn't believe their eyes as the afternoon wore on and more and more people crowded themselves into the streets. </div><div><br /></div><div></div><div><br /></div><div>Next stop for the day was a complete turn around from the pedestrian charms of Idea's market area. We hopped back on the subway, and headed to one of Seoul's most ritzy areas, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Gangnam</span>. </div><div><br /></div><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAbyf8UfwkWp8cmhcD-l6z0LU4F-mQBHX08tj_18TsStx7DI4QRCHOsvRz4C_56hYP7eo9Dwa4dqOBTtt9W0CMWp4Xu6lmOGrhHOYLHTOIC7XPc0d4xJV3QYKUT4Oo8LS0IYoB6Q-2Sb8/s1600-h/July+2009+259.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368893024729744850" style="WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAbyf8UfwkWp8cmhcD-l6z0LU4F-mQBHX08tj_18TsStx7DI4QRCHOsvRz4C_56hYP7eo9Dwa4dqOBTtt9W0CMWp4Xu6lmOGrhHOYLHTOIC7XPc0d4xJV3QYKUT4Oo8LS0IYoB6Q-2Sb8/s400/July+2009+259.JPG" border="0" /></a></p><div><br /></div><div>There is some pretty <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">stunning</span> architecture lining the streets of the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Gangnam</span> area, which provided quite the contrast for my family when compared with the low, crowded and not so well kept stalls when we had been shopping in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Idae</span>. The prices and quality of merchandise was also reflected in this change, going from 5000<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">KRW</span> no name shoes in the early afternoon to $5000 Jimmy <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Choo's</span> in just a 30 minute subway ride. Yikes! </div><div><br /></div><div></div><div><br /></div><div>Although we did do a little shopping, (Not <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">Chez</span> Jimmy!) it wasn't the main focus of the latter part of our day. Instead we came to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">Gangnam</span> to experience the worlds greatest and most natural pedicure... Dr. Fish!<br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2gN9f0Qr6RS8TSWv34ztqqf8P1HeCVMHeQ_gukwXfmjL7EPzTjr7wS9TaGIW2CGTZ67hTwKE9fLGZsrQBq-iXxjtrMY7zqfITYZoO52TpBI3M8iPpaOeCfni1ypLkhjjnsqhsQV7ZOlY/s1600-h/July+2009+279.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368894224072344594" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2gN9f0Qr6RS8TSWv34ztqqf8P1HeCVMHeQ_gukwXfmjL7EPzTjr7wS9TaGIW2CGTZ67hTwKE9fLGZsrQBq-iXxjtrMY7zqfITYZoO52TpBI3M8iPpaOeCfni1ypLkhjjnsqhsQV7ZOlY/s400/July+2009+279.JPG" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6hmiQXaDS8x_zYZPOZP4kPhwWDsJTLL1W2H8FyV6IMfcwM7rNK8djcUxgFukGKbhyphenhyphenqCLoLCdnpjDvjzJw0wFwY6jxgnqHIJHxMX-Lt3iHATgl7ND-HZcxqHkNfjBQku1-Bj6sxrE8ehQ/s1600-h/July+2009+282.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368894670925909170" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6hmiQXaDS8x_zYZPOZP4kPhwWDsJTLL1W2H8FyV6IMfcwM7rNK8djcUxgFukGKbhyphenhyphenqCLoLCdnpjDvjzJw0wFwY6jxgnqHIJHxMX-Lt3iHATgl7ND-HZcxqHkNfjBQku1-Bj6sxrE8ehQ/s400/July+2009+282.JPG" border="0" /></a></p><div><br /></div><div>While the pedicure-like qualities of having one's feet eaten by tiny fish are pretty great in and of themselves, the most amazing part of the experience was obviously the facial expressions! Knowing what to expect myself, I calmly put my feet in the water and pretended it was no big deal... little did they know! Here are the results!<br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzIp76hkt-F9dsceO-_i9AwMXAtcwxJ45jt5iouAzZdgvF8A9dxvceVtHDuykzyAws7lFtMBYthv8cRUTtQ5lNie4PxvpmSWAwTJRQuDuej-gWz7zrl9xWZML3VyAncC1o2RFSj-ssVx0/s1600-h/July+2009+269.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368895691324881010" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzIp76hkt-F9dsceO-_i9AwMXAtcwxJ45jt5iouAzZdgvF8A9dxvceVtHDuykzyAws7lFtMBYthv8cRUTtQ5lNie4PxvpmSWAwTJRQuDuej-gWz7zrl9xWZML3VyAncC1o2RFSj-ssVx0/s400/July+2009+269.JPG" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiysZ5rS7Z-gqky6Ho_g7F9dBZUalwLTPvhKmJ6xMZiEnithrc-kYEnzUSjFXyVQudjDVRtHBuRkO-p6s41BZs23un9vC5lbp9TtxyBJyEkr_uLInl0ZqtV2Hzino80DD_9aVIFzvV4pA/s1600-h/July+2009+263.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368895678667043714" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiysZ5rS7Z-gqky6Ho_g7F9dBZUalwLTPvhKmJ6xMZiEnithrc-kYEnzUSjFXyVQudjDVRtHBuRkO-p6s41BZs23un9vC5lbp9TtxyBJyEkr_uLInl0ZqtV2Hzino80DD_9aVIFzvV4pA/s400/July+2009+263.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div><br /></div><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_isuIvSAqCZohAQKf8SHDrBTrjjQP64bbKHZ4BEFlwGnSgss1G3Fwi6z0GQeR-ki1hDfr4Mfv8a3l4yeRL9EmV91F2NfpC5GW-uy4Tn4PT6Eb1tRxy6Lo9wM9TV86Eko3pE3qqsQeoz0/s1600-h/July+2009+262.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368895663545723954" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_isuIvSAqCZohAQKf8SHDrBTrjjQP64bbKHZ4BEFlwGnSgss1G3Fwi6z0GQeR-ki1hDfr4Mfv8a3l4yeRL9EmV91F2NfpC5GW-uy4Tn4PT6Eb1tRxy6Lo9wM9TV86Eko3pE3qqsQeoz0/s400/July+2009+262.JPG" border="0" /></a></p><div><br /></div><p align="left"><br />Ricki's and my mother's obviously being the most excellent!<br /><br /><br /></p><div><br /></div><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtREBKKZrwaOuPQ_W_7KJ_yWQc4DcV3YlPsNKkM6V14c8h9dL0ujLy01vZNvIjzP7SCV2kiWaVccJauwltTRoUK4_nhbpNs-O3_-UCbDo7cymO4NHq0NY2KSa4HQuOEDhNM0f_ZMrMzKU/s1600-h/July+2009+278.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368899032919368642" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtREBKKZrwaOuPQ_W_7KJ_yWQc4DcV3YlPsNKkM6V14c8h9dL0ujLy01vZNvIjzP7SCV2kiWaVccJauwltTRoUK4_nhbpNs-O3_-UCbDo7cymO4NHq0NY2KSa4HQuOEDhNM0f_ZMrMzKU/s400/July+2009+278.JPG" border="0" /></a></p><div><br /></div><p align="left">My mom even managed to make some cool Korea friends over in the pool with the small fish. She's a Korean-friend-making-machine!<br /><br /><br /></p><div><br /></div><p align="left">To commemorate the occasion, we had out picture taken at a camera that was on the side of the street specifically for that purpose. Those Koreans, they think of everything!<br /></p><div><br /></div><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxk8WYcPayqgpqH0BNFTlVohxcdrhz7hsFnXYbqf14Gp_Fyzq16sDmppxl1sP-wyU9Uc_sfw_ArP30V1phtXCnREXvGWxLwMKEVbUhZIUYeQMBfVOOqTO91ioYSHJYrgC5qajjcURjnCU/s1600-h/gangnam_blog.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368900708764904418" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxk8WYcPayqgpqH0BNFTlVohxcdrhz7hsFnXYbqf14Gp_Fyzq16sDmppxl1sP-wyU9Uc_sfw_ArP30V1phtXCnREXvGWxLwMKEVbUhZIUYeQMBfVOOqTO91ioYSHJYrgC5qajjcURjnCU/s400/gangnam_blog.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><div><br /></div><p align="left">The rest of the evening was, in true vacation style, not what I had expected. I had done a famous job up until this point of neglecting to remember what my first in-country experiences had been like, and this evening was to be no different. I had been very excited to introduce my family to my favourite Korean dish, a spicy chicken stew called <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">Jjimdalk</span>, of course not remembering how low my tolerance was for spicy food when I had first arrived in Korea myself.</p><p align="left">Here is a picture of the delicious, foreigner-offending beast.</p><div><br /></div><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5p9GY2VpB3LAOv_FGqFrSVGLJQIhpMtbeC2CDWEfDdLCOSHoxBAJeOIQwogUv9Mn-_S_vqJ-fP47Rk5USHsoamvCVtM8kzVXngfbSjbasIzy17ldO9NKM3q99s6vUJ6lArafe3V0llAI/s1600-h/Jjimdalk.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379264778557105378" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5p9GY2VpB3LAOv_FGqFrSVGLJQIhpMtbeC2CDWEfDdLCOSHoxBAJeOIQwogUv9Mn-_S_vqJ-fP47Rk5USHsoamvCVtM8kzVXngfbSjbasIzy17ldO9NKM3q99s6vUJ6lArafe3V0llAI/s400/Jjimdalk.bmp" border="0" /></a></p><p align="left"><em>*sigh* I think I'm in love... </em></p><p align="left">My family tolerated the food for my benefit -- it was much too spicy for their Newfoundland palates, but were completely <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">fascinated</span> with the process of getting to the restaurant, which I of course was breezing right through, as I considered it just transit. Silly me! </p><p align="left">It really is amazing how you can completely immerse yourself in another culture, and find it normal... completely forgetting how different your own is until someone helps you to realize it. </p></div></div>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12081580917378309077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2089127790429034136.post-44413343289989751692009-07-24T21:44:00.008-02:302009-08-11T00:52:07.509-02:30Day 3: Lunch With My BossWow!<br /><br /><br />What another busy day! Whew.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtWh2FLs86wTACrLLD9jSQIhvvyv7rJSJlvfZw2va472x8YlUXzdVVZec6kr5Ak1OmDHT901etxtYV1vl9JCs1YHVB8Aofrqr7aU_5aEL6kKeeacYi3Trd9mB3-HtoVLsdICVc1qsMPP0/s1600-h/July+2009+208.JPG"></a><br /><div align="left">The title of this post, I find to be rather self explanatory. In short, it was a Grande Affaire.<br /><br /></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtWh2FLs86wTACrLLD9jSQIhvvyv7rJSJlvfZw2va472x8YlUXzdVVZec6kr5Ak1OmDHT901etxtYV1vl9JCs1YHVB8Aofrqr7aU_5aEL6kKeeacYi3Trd9mB3-HtoVLsdICVc1qsMPP0/s1600-h/July+2009+208.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368503481022903042" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtWh2FLs86wTACrLLD9jSQIhvvyv7rJSJlvfZw2va472x8YlUXzdVVZec6kr5Ak1OmDHT901etxtYV1vl9JCs1YHVB8Aofrqr7aU_5aEL6kKeeacYi3Trd9mB3-HtoVLsdICVc1qsMPP0/s400/July+2009+208.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /></div><div align="center"></div><div align="left">Starting on the left there was, my father, my mother, my sister, myself, Dan's sister, Dan, Dan's sister's friend, Kelly's Dad, Kelly, Kelly's brother, Kelly's mom and Susan... whew, I'm out of breathe. Also, my boss, Jane was there, but conveniently she was taking the picture.<br /><br /><br /></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiccT7csFw5Dy7D8HjJ0sARPJXwkoE2BYVMnzQKW5BUKhBKCWq9eO-3v32iySEfLULixwNepBNZPYaHfRpUUHSx_QvzlsR2x1JxbRKU3eWA1vwg16_twlomwmy5zLOcQSzoSflOMG35rcA/s1600-h/July+2009+208.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368503472338915778" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiccT7csFw5Dy7D8HjJ0sARPJXwkoE2BYVMnzQKW5BUKhBKCWq9eO-3v32iySEfLULixwNepBNZPYaHfRpUUHSx_QvzlsR2x1JxbRKU3eWA1vwg16_twlomwmy5zLOcQSzoSflOMG35rcA/s400/July+2009+208.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /></div><div align="center"></div><div align="left">Aren't we a fabulous crew?<br /><br /></div><div align="center"></div><div align="left">Here's how the story goes: At 12:00 today we all met up at a traditional Korean restaurant that is really close to the school where I teach, to have lunch together as a welcome to Korea treat from Mr. Han, the school's owner. Not in the memory of anyone I work with have so many family's (three) come to visit teachers all at the same time! I guess it was a pretty big deal.<br /><br /><br /></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left">We walked into the restaurant and were let upstairs to a private room. Along the way we could hear Korean music being played on a traditional string instrument, and it really added to the atmosphere of the whole experience. Traditionally, Korean people eat at low tables while sitting on mats on the floor and today at lunch, that's just what we did. Although I have lived here now for more than eight months I have only done this once or twice since arriving, so it was a treat for me as well.<br /><br /><br /></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left">Lunch was served on a hotplate in the middle of the table where it cooks as people munch on appetizers and talk. Everyone eats from the same dish, putting a little of the main meal on a plate before them. Today's meal of choice was bulgogi, a delicious marinated beef dish, and it was a bit hit among everyone there.<br /><br /><br /></div><div align="left"></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgick49uG5_vxNotbsfzTv8JqC-ptl-58EqN4CsTQ7OcJ0D6N26NW7p6sf1itkJrkPLIsTTsjfrT07M7vpm9aCVoClucKwTrjroGSTdN37kGU4Ut0XznHQ9zzyXYzHajWDH3K3LDHem1DA/s1600-h/July+2009+207.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368503457760467746" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgick49uG5_vxNotbsfzTv8JqC-ptl-58EqN4CsTQ7OcJ0D6N26NW7p6sf1itkJrkPLIsTTsjfrT07M7vpm9aCVoClucKwTrjroGSTdN37kGU4Ut0XznHQ9zzyXYzHajWDH3K3LDHem1DA/s400/July+2009+207.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="left">As our lunch sizzled away, cooking itself to perfection, we had the opportunity to take a few pictures, and to investigate some of the side dishes that were present with our meal. As you can see from the picture below, there were quite a few. Some we quite delicious including a salad with yogurt dressing, and of course kimchi others however...<br /><br /><br /></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7ZWXNnbhHvwEiS9uKObtrTKo5u1TmY83cm9FfcwipFXyXiNaGglVM3vAPNwjRC4vmg2ahnTwSWm8Nb16PGexbvNWbc9mRZTT2iuIxVpz9M0doIIv1nAMlqjHDQJIoJ41QcsFdrVH89CI/s1600-h/July+2009+209.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368503489717693666" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7ZWXNnbhHvwEiS9uKObtrTKo5u1TmY83cm9FfcwipFXyXiNaGglVM3vAPNwjRC4vmg2ahnTwSWm8Nb16PGexbvNWbc9mRZTT2iuIxVpz9M0doIIv1nAMlqjHDQJIoJ41QcsFdrVH89CI/s400/July+2009+209.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="left">... were not quite so appealing.<br /><br /><br /></div><div align="left"></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFYJI4H9Ps-Ak4RoL8F-sb6Q-GHtMN2p99pnzFLEGisn4VcfhXywPyYOFsmIeMiMPIsVVtU6EyGF9Aqsl1Thvt4OL6c-JbZmjUgLqscevdu5e4BeI0L69mqb5FNQQY907UlfbPsU_vqdw/s1600-h/July+2009+210.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368503500557240402" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFYJI4H9Ps-Ak4RoL8F-sb6Q-GHtMN2p99pnzFLEGisn4VcfhXywPyYOFsmIeMiMPIsVVtU6EyGF9Aqsl1Thvt4OL6c-JbZmjUgLqscevdu5e4BeI0L69mqb5FNQQY907UlfbPsU_vqdw/s400/July+2009+210.JPG" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgI6TznhkfNx9idvIXI6-ozXAw9u_5QhBI_lw1-NjjsD4zKQrvBQ2lj2qiLlZthnt_Y13_yIMhyCpmh6mndizZeNkIns4QdjNU8vwIlNVK5Rhc1-rIVEpOUq-PB8oB36Z3w_MULeeaQNA/s1600-h/July+2009+213.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368504968565147026" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgI6TznhkfNx9idvIXI6-ozXAw9u_5QhBI_lw1-NjjsD4zKQrvBQ2lj2qiLlZthnt_Y13_yIMhyCpmh6mndizZeNkIns4QdjNU8vwIlNVK5Rhc1-rIVEpOUq-PB8oB36Z3w_MULeeaQNA/s400/July+2009+213.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /></div><div align="center"></div><div align="left">I don't think I'm every really going to be able to bring myself to eat something that is looking at me as I am moving it towards my mouth. Perhaps that makes me a weak individual, but frankly in this case if I am wrong... I don't want to be right. Naturally my dad had a go at eating everything, as did Kelly's. Dads are always good like that for being adventurous.<br /><br /><br /></div><div align="left"></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOsqRGaCVLqKdH-j_AeTf_iiudXB1CFmcGCQ9-YrwEQO2XTR7v1vq6Uh-wbuTmgrbtxsTMNYIvR01QWWjb9-SKy7NsFzkfUcf_rShUQDDtyEu9XbkVOfO0I8YSjofW6ulPzEf1qObtgqc/s1600-h/July+2009+212.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368504961840786706" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOsqRGaCVLqKdH-j_AeTf_iiudXB1CFmcGCQ9-YrwEQO2XTR7v1vq6Uh-wbuTmgrbtxsTMNYIvR01QWWjb9-SKy7NsFzkfUcf_rShUQDDtyEu9XbkVOfO0I8YSjofW6ulPzEf1qObtgqc/s400/July+2009+212.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="left">My dad and I both enjoyed the ice noodles though.<br /><br /><br /></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqZtN1mbPgvYVwaHwIYTjySTv96Yk5QOtVuifYHiFCQx_cPhobw620H6LmZ2dBcjA6EJihue4lk71l5eVJJYuE5esrLUEZkCmdlyvk1U9QfpXk6gSDD3BvVIDhh1juYWzTDz2riIbqwsU/s1600-h/July+2009+219.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368506207688056178" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqZtN1mbPgvYVwaHwIYTjySTv96Yk5QOtVuifYHiFCQx_cPhobw620H6LmZ2dBcjA6EJihue4lk71l5eVJJYuE5esrLUEZkCmdlyvk1U9QfpXk6gSDD3BvVIDhh1juYWzTDz2riIbqwsU/s400/July+2009+219.JPG" border="0" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-xUmOIZDfYuOSg8nGlvMJ5dCl_DMtqlkZy0UHutCZU73wQyOzyjJ4cXxSWljmpRZc6Cjn60d3xSu_S6TkZeGQ26jWBaDDnrb2fr62uXHRTEmxEBHubbzXfh_M1wtzFuqILDnkotgz214/s1600-h/July+2009+216.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368504996147519042" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-xUmOIZDfYuOSg8nGlvMJ5dCl_DMtqlkZy0UHutCZU73wQyOzyjJ4cXxSWljmpRZc6Cjn60d3xSu_S6TkZeGQ26jWBaDDnrb2fr62uXHRTEmxEBHubbzXfh_M1wtzFuqILDnkotgz214/s400/July+2009+216.JPG" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM07CHuygNe2z0wfwFj8m9-aKfK5y7nnRmsm3M6yoIpWlTjM0sW-1oTjQupRibuJdbFVClR5goYMdKdyy8EhMYY8yB_23sXii6gzp7OLL9KIEvD-EQKqMETOr6OypweZGvr1YvGLndFbc/s1600-h/July+2009+214.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368504973647991362" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM07CHuygNe2z0wfwFj8m9-aKfK5y7nnRmsm3M6yoIpWlTjM0sW-1oTjQupRibuJdbFVClR5goYMdKdyy8EhMYY8yB_23sXii6gzp7OLL9KIEvD-EQKqMETOr6OypweZGvr1YvGLndFbc/s400/July+2009+214.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /></div><div align="center"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left">While Mom, under no pressure to either be manly, or show how Korean she could be after living here for more than eight months, just took every thing in and enjoyed herself.<br /><br /><br /></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left">I can't say that I blame her, these eating pictures that amuse everyone else so much aren't exactly what I would call flattering. I've accepted not being terribly photogenic as my lot in life however, so long as no one makes too much fun. Please be kind. :)<br /></div><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvnetxSNwhqpOgtiBjEApTJrqlEL07JX5NVcUPkym_0i23cANLNP2GJpEkR8sa_75_1Qr5vydxxfgBdCoa_s1vs5LbAHtRBtu6T82nBkqlTOyAVF3fgUJFLh1ij-knLtj8-eqaZuf3KYY/s1600-h/July+2009+218.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368506198452171730" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvnetxSNwhqpOgtiBjEApTJrqlEL07JX5NVcUPkym_0i23cANLNP2GJpEkR8sa_75_1Qr5vydxxfgBdCoa_s1vs5LbAHtRBtu6T82nBkqlTOyAVF3fgUJFLh1ij-knLtj8-eqaZuf3KYY/s400/July+2009+218.JPG" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb-RjVFbobqPcWQ6RJCUGIMIfA1BPHqCHhtK2ZhR9VWUvg6watETh6q9jEW-3EZJGj0GdastFMxknamtZNxmYjcjdBfkvlR9J1U9g6vuTFRWXaoZ-ny4DiNzlNFTEQncncnwyQLR9OrpY/s1600-h/July+2009+217.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368506187742203554" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb-RjVFbobqPcWQ6RJCUGIMIfA1BPHqCHhtK2ZhR9VWUvg6watETh6q9jEW-3EZJGj0GdastFMxknamtZNxmYjcjdBfkvlR9J1U9g6vuTFRWXaoZ-ny4DiNzlNFTEQncncnwyQLR9OrpY/s400/July+2009+217.JPG" border="0" /></a></p><div align="left">Tomorrow, we're off to the wonderful land of Dr. Fish. I can't wait to see their faces when things that look like what we had for lunch today, make lunch of their feet tomorrow.<br /><br /><br /></div><div align="left"></div><div align="center">*<em>giggles mischievously</em>*<br /><br /><br /></div><div align="center"></div>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12081580917378309077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2089127790429034136.post-18964549626282167732009-07-23T21:50:00.000-02:302009-08-10T22:18:17.283-02:30Day 2: Watermelon PartyAfter finishing up <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Galbi</span> last night Mom, Dad, Ricki and I went back upstairs to my now quite crowded apartment, and quickly fell asleep. We slept like babies until morning, at which point some of us --- the ones older than 25 -- decided that they couldn't sleep anymore, and got up at 5:00 am. To be honest, this also happened to me when I arrived here first, I imagine it has something to do with the time difference. Ricki however, was unaffected, and continued to sleep like the teenager that she is well into the morning.<br /><br /><br /><br />We had decided that this first day dealing with jet lag would be a good day to relax and get familiar with our surroundings, so the very first thing we did was to take a little walk over in the direction of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Homeplus</span>. We were wandering around minding our own business, oohing and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">aahing</span> over <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Koreaness</span> and Fish heads when we couldn't help but notice a gaggle of older Korean women all but fighting over the contents of a large box.<br /><br /><br /><br />Of course we were going to head over there and see if we could get our hands on some of that too, or at least figure out what was causing all the commotion!<br /><br /><br /><br />Upon our arrival we discovered... watermelon; gigantic watermelon the size of... the size of, well, a gigantic watermelon, and on sale for W 5,<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">ooo</span>! We forged into the gaggle, and snagged our self a prize and the watermelon party was born!<br /><br /><br /><br /><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigRWH4LdYYABNVpE8cztcEN1sXkGf2dfXVmvwmXOBtywuH5eFeII7J2mReYigoZAl4GTW8pihPFo4U3PjSsn0wPZsLxuvOuv1Y7QpDXfjKdyEzEA5FII8CII7BORukl-QDu4EFRyJ42RU/s1600-h/July+2009+200.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368495831038548178" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigRWH4LdYYABNVpE8cztcEN1sXkGf2dfXVmvwmXOBtywuH5eFeII7J2mReYigoZAl4GTW8pihPFo4U3PjSsn0wPZsLxuvOuv1Y7QpDXfjKdyEzEA5FII8CII7BORukl-QDu4EFRyJ42RU/s400/July+2009+200.JPG" border="0" /></a></p><br /><p align="left">That night Ricki and I lugged the beast downstairs to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Fish'n'Grill</span> where the Watermelon/ Tara's Birthday party was going down. </p><br /><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheU9xP44bmdYy1y0Op9Ss3cdl6bHy5BxbFuHYX9W-wupiqnMxQkg6NCONza7oUKWBKAiw3Cc8d12b3SHb1FiJhUgbHc-rLcwhyphenhyphenkUCAlmfuNpECY55cr3H48KYkZ09_eVfqNnHxnYJj-B4/s1600-h/July+2009+201.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368495843294788898" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheU9xP44bmdYy1y0Op9Ss3cdl6bHy5BxbFuHYX9W-wupiqnMxQkg6NCONza7oUKWBKAiw3Cc8d12b3SHb1FiJhUgbHc-rLcwhyphenhyphenkUCAlmfuNpECY55cr3H48KYkZ09_eVfqNnHxnYJj-B4/s400/July+2009+201.JPG" border="0" /></a></p><br /><p align="center">...and truly a beast it was. This is a mere 1/8 of the original size!</p><br /><br /><br /><br /><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUIc1cJeoMR15wb_xS3_pf6ntlxOAcdG9kk3lDt_RWQ3qNJQbuNINU56B6CqpvxxSbR0iSNbvtRdMRu9zM14UTIMGONs1bNwz3DP4RicWQhOnwl1ezV6sY5ZYalg18wFSZ5p0yyKz-6Tg/s1600-h/July+2009+202.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368495852936318978" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUIc1cJeoMR15wb_xS3_pf6ntlxOAcdG9kk3lDt_RWQ3qNJQbuNINU56B6CqpvxxSbR0iSNbvtRdMRu9zM14UTIMGONs1bNwz3DP4RicWQhOnwl1ezV6sY5ZYalg18wFSZ5p0yyKz-6Tg/s400/July+2009+202.JPG" border="0" /></a></p><br /><div align="center">We chopped it up, posed for pictures and served it up to my wonderful fellow co workers at <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">SLP</span>. </div><br /><div align="center"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf6nZbTClskfzKSxExtP4Ir0NVyfQUwVlZZKtYwBJpUSAk11lqh9_fx54FrCs2DV1YQPRm3B3EV9gHMhSA-UH9ask9ZzwYNdbcTGaRtxxE54oqDXTYPTosMFQP4EJi6jNv1Bw7O2Ab1Ok/s1600-h/July+2009+203.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368495865204941522" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf6nZbTClskfzKSxExtP4Ir0NVyfQUwVlZZKtYwBJpUSAk11lqh9_fx54FrCs2DV1YQPRm3B3EV9gHMhSA-UH9ask9ZzwYNdbcTGaRtxxE54oqDXTYPTosMFQP4EJi6jNv1Bw7O2Ab1Ok/s400/July+2009+203.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br /><div align="center">Before I knew it, my family were virtually local celebrities! Clever of you parents, very clever. </div><br /><div align="center"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhprbQDUbE1vCfT-dbUUBahKDlyl02cm-AenqewPH7h3upXW0vKby6G7qAOyvZxrKNV9UtpuiX64uYUofK5OUhSSxNCUvjRmZ_iMszGn8Ujj1qJcOQAmZx-oRu4GyB7VkyDtA0FiOd-XA8/s1600-h/July+2009+204.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368495874744458226" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhprbQDUbE1vCfT-dbUUBahKDlyl02cm-AenqewPH7h3upXW0vKby6G7qAOyvZxrKNV9UtpuiX64uYUofK5OUhSSxNCUvjRmZ_iMszGn8Ujj1qJcOQAmZx-oRu4GyB7VkyDtA0FiOd-XA8/s400/July+2009+204.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><br /><div align="center"></div><br /><div align="center">If I'm not careful, soon my friends are going to like my parents better than they like me!<br /></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>ALSO: </strong><br /><br /><strong></strong><br /><br /><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">HAPPY BIRTHDAY TARA!!!</span></strong></div><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-size:180%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh_T8Ma17ImePI7ZuhJK6iwaSjHEmezwikeAePExFBh5BzP_aIO5ZgoJrdHE9zoB3i8rJv_W6ChZdh03GhxA9fJWzzGGtxe_TOb-j6SuQhex7ZhQdDekPHn_8tPwK8AQEZ0BgQvXXLm4w/s1600-h/tara.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368501163093567474" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 324px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh_T8Ma17ImePI7ZuhJK6iwaSjHEmezwikeAePExFBh5BzP_aIO5ZgoJrdHE9zoB3i8rJv_W6ChZdh03GhxA9fJWzzGGtxe_TOb-j6SuQhex7ZhQdDekPHn_8tPwK8AQEZ0BgQvXXLm4w/s400/tara.jpg" border="0" /></a></span></strong></div><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-size:180%;"></span></strong></div><div align="center"><strong>Hope you had a wonderful birthday, and that your trip to Thailand is awesome!</strong></div>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12081580917378309077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2089127790429034136.post-90937399010657860792009-07-23T00:37:00.006-02:302009-08-10T22:19:14.680-02:30Galbi : Their First Korean Meal<div align="left"><br /></div><div align="left">Last night after we got back to my apartment from the airport, dropped of all the bags and settled down a little bit the four of us decided to go out for a bite to eat at a local <a href="http://laurasinkorea.blogspot.com/2009/06/korean-barbeque-galbi.html">Korean barbeque</a> restaurant that is located right behind my apartment.<br /><br /></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0sYxrHDZaD1o9fnxx55Njuc5rVrkCNKtOPeW2RgsRjRB52zSZMUYM5QS5w7tnFOOTAA5c4CbPSQHtaaZii10UyfF3C1tRoFdXRTRft0go4xl3FdUBDgbO0z4WCgrS7VkGt1jEh0EgUQ0/s1600-h/July+2009+195.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364457282042864306" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0sYxrHDZaD1o9fnxx55Njuc5rVrkCNKtOPeW2RgsRjRB52zSZMUYM5QS5w7tnFOOTAA5c4CbPSQHtaaZii10UyfF3C1tRoFdXRTRft0go4xl3FdUBDgbO0z4WCgrS7VkGt1jEh0EgUQ0/s400/July+2009+195.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div align="left">You can read about Korean barbeque, or Galbi <a href="http://laurasinkorea.blogspot.com/2009/06/korean-barbeque-galbi.html">here</a>.<br /><br /></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdn9mjsrpOdOLuEVAmmBIhifWY27kiLDcrR5NAdkrGxgcZUIkhpqWLlyoYjxp1AWc5PgjgSfzpHP9yj43LKtJn5Yqpq4AR541QjwnVzfd-Tn4zjqBVHIGNnymTXx-9Jd8N8DpF6qcMDhI/s1600-h/July+2009+196.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364457273795007858" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdn9mjsrpOdOLuEVAmmBIhifWY27kiLDcrR5NAdkrGxgcZUIkhpqWLlyoYjxp1AWc5PgjgSfzpHP9yj43LKtJn5Yqpq4AR541QjwnVzfd-Tn4zjqBVHIGNnymTXx-9Jd8N8DpF6qcMDhI/s400/July+2009+196.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /></div><div align="center"></div><div align="left">Mom really liked the way that you cook the food yourself in the middle of the table, and everyone eats from the same place, wrapping the meat in lettuce. She also loved the way we cooked up some garlic with the meat. They also had their first taste of Kimchi... as far as I'm concerned it was a success. Everyone ate some, and no one was sick. Although Ricki did end up going back to the apartment a little early.<br /><br /><br /></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-ySnyGRxZb4z7jqHYxQ11ivBf88vQ_8oTXBZ13fFeW6u9M7Lg-PRa0oS8yVs0KLDqQBRJmRfj7loAFK6M0skfNmMYqCsbO-byFNp-VZNqzr-lo-PVHawn5HnWEfdG4mm3dkPs-f8fiMw/s1600-h/July+2009+197.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364457269231823922" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-ySnyGRxZb4z7jqHYxQ11ivBf88vQ_8oTXBZ13fFeW6u9M7Lg-PRa0oS8yVs0KLDqQBRJmRfj7loAFK6M0skfNmMYqCsbO-byFNp-VZNqzr-lo-PVHawn5HnWEfdG4mm3dkPs-f8fiMw/s400/July+2009+197.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /></div><div align="center"></div><div align="left">Look at the happy couple, just off the plane and enjoying their first Korean meal.<br /><br /><br /></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnwdwzYWeivnH7ou10IyZvQJznswixtD_rQcBSeZxkj5rs2Roh2cepD7l_GTrcTqOPG6sOV5mgBBSdjSznbWgUuDjmpPBp4EHgZ6FeqUwG18WA22fQKvSzcdA837GxoBQSwNJ0eJafTD8/s1600-h/July+2009+198.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364457259370974018" style="WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnwdwzYWeivnH7ou10IyZvQJznswixtD_rQcBSeZxkj5rs2Roh2cepD7l_GTrcTqOPG6sOV5mgBBSdjSznbWgUuDjmpPBp4EHgZ6FeqUwG18WA22fQKvSzcdA837GxoBQSwNJ0eJafTD8/s400/July+2009+198.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /></div><div align="left">And, here is Ricki... enjoying her first Korean beer! **<em>gasp!**</em> Ricki! How could you do something like that. </div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"><blockquote><p>**Disclaimer: Ricki was framed. This picture was only posing. No minors consumed<br />any alcohol for the purpose of taking this picture. **</p><p></p></blockquote></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9UPTAY7Ludc8w3stoT_W3jz2qeNUs9zuvNl6X25er4M_vf2m0TemJKFBDk8wvhgKdBchO7cNEBXSNXq0LE4ygJKwpYA19DJFvfuuCL85O0or1qCyaZfb2ez9E8wcHjMmE9Ui9ZAVVzKQ/s1600-h/July+2009+199.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364457249714965842" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9UPTAY7Ludc8w3stoT_W3jz2qeNUs9zuvNl6X25er4M_vf2m0TemJKFBDk8wvhgKdBchO7cNEBXSNXq0LE4ygJKwpYA19DJFvfuuCL85O0or1qCyaZfb2ez9E8wcHjMmE9Ui9ZAVVzKQ/s400/July+2009+199.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div align="left">Mmm... the critics agree. Galbi is delicious! </div>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12081580917378309077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2089127790429034136.post-73944098892054229992009-07-22T21:36:00.007-02:302009-07-31T00:36:50.511-02:301 + 3 = 4<div><br /><br /><br /></div><div><br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>My parents and my little sister are coming to visit me for 2 1/2 weeks today and I am so excited!! </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtSQTDcY7NQ0D2srsXcIiDcpTVoEYvWbQ7ARzkZSdCHYZvkSahXe5Ozqu1VP65cafVHi-e9Bz2EAbVg6IURrwKB_l7dPxlUSbJP-Q6593MaF5-5ovHzSNNNJ6prSux7SKFWAvj5PXBySk/s1600-h/Korea!+(1)+001.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364414248239273906" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtSQTDcY7NQ0D2srsXcIiDcpTVoEYvWbQ7ARzkZSdCHYZvkSahXe5Ozqu1VP65cafVHi-e9Bz2EAbVg6IURrwKB_l7dPxlUSbJP-Q6593MaF5-5ovHzSNNNJ6prSux7SKFWAvj5PXBySk/s400/Korea!+(1)+001.JPG" border="0" /></a></p><div><br /></div><div>The last pictures I have of them are the pictures I took at the airport when they came with me as I was departing on this 'trip of a lifetime.'<br /></div><div><br /></div><div>It was early in the morning, and it was winter... and I think we look accordingly; like people who are up a little too early in the winter. So early in fact, that in all my preparations I left my passport at home in the rush, and my father had to go back and get it! Actually.... he wasn't too pleased about that, so let's all forget about it, shall we?<br /></div><div><br /></div><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnfQudJoxj-m-KxVb-k_H_XWeRJGZI_iyB8fXadWxFEjOoWG_Wx-rsfv_iamjTPQPgjlDW4o_wWU8D85qT5aGGS56U7ja6kpH1CUoi20C5RoUIR22Q1CvmTFsI90usAKbZzy3jGPrPzoY/s1600-h/Korea!+(1)+002.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364414240089526546" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnfQudJoxj-m-KxVb-k_H_XWeRJGZI_iyB8fXadWxFEjOoWG_Wx-rsfv_iamjTPQPgjlDW4o_wWU8D85qT5aGGS56U7ja6kpH1CUoi20C5RoUIR22Q1CvmTFsI90usAKbZzy3jGPrPzoY/s400/Korea!+(1)+002.JPG" border="0" /></a></p><div><br /></div><div></div><div><br /></div><div>The day so far has started out as a usual Wednesday, albeit with a little extra Wednesday morning cleaning, but my last two classes are being covered and at 6pm I'll be off to the airport! <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Whoo</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">hoo</span>!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><strong>*** UPDATE ***</strong></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div align="center"><strong>They're here! </strong><br /></div><div><br /></div><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPctOlRKhG1a4gXuofkVIgYDF7OCUfsq7MB-iy4U2LhnhiaI7Rg5w_VPTCj2RxcVCqNc1LdCfJFAoVRFwHmRz-dsMJuLIl4Xn5xpJwef4q6MlF5mpEbkcVR8ZPIMdAicYPC_I9006SIqY/s1600-h/July+2009+186.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364413151795537570" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPctOlRKhG1a4gXuofkVIgYDF7OCUfsq7MB-iy4U2LhnhiaI7Rg5w_VPTCj2RxcVCqNc1LdCfJFAoVRFwHmRz-dsMJuLIl4Xn5xpJwef4q6MlF5mpEbkcVR8ZPIMdAicYPC_I9006SIqY/s400/July+2009+186.JPG" border="0" /></a></p><div>And they look happy to be here too!</div><div><br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_hLGT2z4oRkHbkbhNLL1tuw_Ir4ZZIRVb8vlh9Ey-NT0EFArg6Bfwe8DDqwELwlzD5xEj6l3m-kszBJfLshX9cxJB4PJxw8TdSjxya3iiozoq7SAaEPYeyQblcizDI8ciyFLG9GNPD4s/s1600-h/July+2009+189.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364413154760814994" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_hLGT2z4oRkHbkbhNLL1tuw_Ir4ZZIRVb8vlh9Ey-NT0EFArg6Bfwe8DDqwELwlzD5xEj6l3m-kszBJfLshX9cxJB4PJxw8TdSjxya3iiozoq7SAaEPYeyQblcizDI8ciyFLG9GNPD4s/s400/July+2009+189.JPG" border="0" /></a></p><div>I was so excited that I couldn't stop taking pictures of them.<br /></div><div><br /></div><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFHlPVu0L-FD2bpfc36p1GcvC3vUIzsOBNKJ8Q4Tx6Ztelq9uuIvcm7EF53CWCpXNkVYG0FN-JV-s2C_R0sCjTFRBGIMiX3AoGt1WE3afXMr_mZ7VIdM5za5IqWh_V1PBsQ8f8Y-np0ZA/s1600-h/July+2009+191.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364413156818673106" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFHlPVu0L-FD2bpfc36p1GcvC3vUIzsOBNKJ8Q4Tx6Ztelq9uuIvcm7EF53CWCpXNkVYG0FN-JV-s2C_R0sCjTFRBGIMiX3AoGt1WE3afXMr_mZ7VIdM5za5IqWh_V1PBsQ8f8Y-np0ZA/s400/July+2009+191.JPG" border="0" /></a></p><div>Here's an airport picture of me and Ricki to match the picture at the beginning of this post.<br /></div><div><br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPS401noqt33HpInhixs3PTMNfHPghCjUz1a89-N22UAvXc1r0HWrktx3omAFrR65z3ZnUj2Ry32TyODYsi3OVB8tU3yzfkEY7HkdI7yETCkGw1oqwBwBbd-wH8vzHlLtOftjgRYyBz98/s1600-h/July+2009+192.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364413166290486866" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPS401noqt33HpInhixs3PTMNfHPghCjUz1a89-N22UAvXc1r0HWrktx3omAFrR65z3ZnUj2Ry32TyODYsi3OVB8tU3yzfkEY7HkdI7yETCkGw1oqwBwBbd-wH8vzHlLtOftjgRYyBz98/s400/July+2009+192.JPG" border="0" /></a></p><p align="left"> </p><p align="center"><em><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Yay</span>!! They're here!!!</em></p>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12081580917378309077noreply@blogger.com0