tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2349411594567874652024-03-13T21:28:12.453-07:00Seoul ManEl Colinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18387003152354830187noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-234941159456787465.post-63610071943458370292008-07-21T06:38:00.000-07:002008-12-11T19:50:54.393-08:00In the Tune of June and Half TimeJulyThere is so much to say and I have not said much at all. In the post that follows, you will see pictures that have made me happy and read words that express odd feelings I have about the state of things and what's to come. The words and feelings don't truly express the feelings I have about the pictures and my experiences in Korea, as they have all made me happy. Although, Seoul has been a rainy place so far this summer but I am still happy about my time here. While the state of the world is questionable, my mental state has been right good. I have been picking up Britishisms from friends. It is now August and I have but a month to go in Seoul before I return home. There are a lot of things I will miss in Korea. The pictures that follow are a small glimpse of what I will miss. I do miss home though, and although the following does not include most recent events, I will be updating again soon with reflections on my trip to Japan. Until then...<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/SJRn8bUuSsI/AAAAAAAABFI/f2HUlFBvp70/s1600-h/IMG_5167.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/SJRn8bUuSsI/AAAAAAAABFI/f2HUlFBvp70/s320/IMG_5167.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229919355108477634" border="0" /></a><br />The start of the Summer in Seoul<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/SJRn8cq3UXI/AAAAAAAABFQ/ZC9_DcgM1EA/s1600-h/IMG_5180.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/SJRn8cq3UXI/AAAAAAAABFQ/ZC9_DcgM1EA/s320/IMG_5180.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229919355469779314" border="0" /></a><br />Neon and Fast<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/SJRn8tjsbQI/AAAAAAAABFY/HbHZzWdbTsA/s1600-h/IMG_5181.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/SJRn8tjsbQI/AAAAAAAABFY/HbHZzWdbTsA/s320/IMG_5181.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229919360003108098" border="0" /></a><br />Artistic and Unrefined<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/SJRn8xzPupI/AAAAAAAABFg/TGi3rqgb6Hk/s1600-h/IMG_5183.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/SJRn8xzPupI/AAAAAAAABFg/TGi3rqgb6Hk/s320/IMG_5183.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229919361142078098" border="0" /></a><br />Cavemen with Kanye West Glasses<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/SJRn9Ou0LfI/AAAAAAAABFo/22wIXp1zGdc/s1600-h/IMG_5185.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/SJRn9Ou0LfI/AAAAAAAABFo/22wIXp1zGdc/s320/IMG_5185.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229919368908123634" border="0" /></a><br />Telling our Survival<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/SISSPYw1uKI/AAAAAAAABAI/AOXE8UsGxt8/s1600-h/IMG_5172.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/SISSPYw1uKI/AAAAAAAABAI/AOXE8UsGxt8/s320/IMG_5172.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225462260699609250" border="0" /></a><br />Migrations towards the Music<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/SISSHUA3wzI/AAAAAAAABAA/fJQWu3tPvxQ/s1600-h/IMG_5162.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/SISSHUA3wzI/AAAAAAAABAA/fJQWu3tPvxQ/s320/IMG_5162.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225462121985721138" border="0" /></a><br />False Advertising<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/SJRnFknCw3I/AAAAAAAABFA/-f4y8uQ8jlE/s1600-h/IMG_5194.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/SJRnFknCw3I/AAAAAAAABFA/-f4y8uQ8jlE/s320/IMG_5194.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229918412708430706" border="0" /></a><br />Like Harry Potter<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/SJRm2Xow_DI/AAAAAAAABEo/Bn5yIzFiE-E/s1600-h/IMG_5207.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/SJRm2Xow_DI/AAAAAAAABEo/Bn5yIzFiE-E/s320/IMG_5207.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229918151527955506" border="0" /></a><br />A Strange World<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/SJRm2nUdGFI/AAAAAAAABEw/HUR2YEHllx8/s1600-h/IMG_5206.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/SJRm2nUdGFI/AAAAAAAABEw/HUR2YEHllx8/s320/IMG_5206.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229918155737733202" border="0" /></a><br />Butt Familiar<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/SJRm22zSnbI/AAAAAAAABE4/fhE2ZJqQAdg/s1600-h/IMG_5251.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/SJRm22zSnbI/AAAAAAAABE4/fhE2ZJqQAdg/s320/IMG_5251.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229918159893601714" border="0" /></a><br />Seoul Tower pierces the Sky<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/SJRmYdruLII/AAAAAAAABEg/_FtErAsW95c/s1600-h/IMG_5271.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/SJRmYdruLII/AAAAAAAABEg/_FtErAsW95c/s320/IMG_5271.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229917637754891394" border="0" /></a><br />Deer feces pleasantly odoriferous in the midst of City Smells<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/SJRlyWaQ8xI/AAAAAAAABD4/ZDQD2KpLiiY/s1600-h/IMG_5289.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/SJRlyWaQ8xI/AAAAAAAABD4/ZDQD2KpLiiY/s320/IMG_5289.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229916982967595794" border="0" /></a><br />Far from the Herd<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/SJRlydd1oGI/AAAAAAAABEA/xLsju54Tt6E/s1600-h/IMG_5294.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/SJRlydd1oGI/AAAAAAAABEA/xLsju54Tt6E/s320/IMG_5294.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229916984861630562" border="0" /></a><br />Far from a recent Past<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/SJRlyi0CgxI/AAAAAAAABEI/73uhD_snvv0/s1600-h/IMG_5298.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/SJRlyi0CgxI/AAAAAAAABEI/73uhD_snvv0/s320/IMG_5298.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229916986296926994" border="0" /></a><br />Trying to tame Nature<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/SJRly5JJsjI/AAAAAAAABEQ/tu9RDvhvkNs/s1600-h/IMG_5300.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/SJRly5JJsjI/AAAAAAAABEQ/tu9RDvhvkNs/s320/IMG_5300.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229916992291058226" border="0" /></a><br />Increasing the Baroness of Our Earth Mother<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/SJRlzBAgtlI/AAAAAAAABEY/3NCQoFnt2M0/s1600-h/IMG_5303.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/SJRlzBAgtlI/AAAAAAAABEY/3NCQoFnt2M0/s320/IMG_5303.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229916994402301522" border="0" /></a><br />The Future is Over and Over Again<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/SJRkekN21_I/AAAAAAAABDw/_Tr6T2gm3jc/s1600-h/IMG_5356.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/SJRkekN21_I/AAAAAAAABDw/_Tr6T2gm3jc/s320/IMG_5356.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229915543564638194" border="0" /></a><br />We will be on the Move<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/SJRkO_3AgII/AAAAAAAABDo/XUDVG0U711Y/s1600-h/IMG_5370.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/SJRkO_3AgII/AAAAAAAABDo/XUDVG0U711Y/s320/IMG_5370.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229915276107088002" border="0" /></a><br />And Masking our Feelings<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/SJRkAMNpQTI/AAAAAAAABDA/MdET7Ogv0rs/s1600-h/IMG_5411.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/SJRkAMNpQTI/AAAAAAAABDA/MdET7Ogv0rs/s320/IMG_5411.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229915021725221170" border="0" /></a><br />Enforced by Tanks in Public Places<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/SJRkApdxiDI/AAAAAAAABDI/snnoIeHK1lA/s1600-h/IMG_5420.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/SJRkApdxiDI/AAAAAAAABDI/snnoIeHK1lA/s320/IMG_5420.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229915029577500722" border="0" /></a><br />Caged while trying to cross Bridges<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/SJRkA85PTGI/AAAAAAAABDQ/t25OT68Dy4s/s1600-h/IMG_5424.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/SJRkA85PTGI/AAAAAAAABDQ/t25OT68Dy4s/s320/IMG_5424.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229915034792971362" border="0" /></a><br />Stone Statues of a Feasible Future<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/SJRkBOi4K_I/AAAAAAAABDY/SeOGGDeoOiM/s1600-h/IMG_5431.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/SJRkBOi4K_I/AAAAAAAABDY/SeOGGDeoOiM/s320/IMG_5431.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229915039531019250" border="0" /></a><br />A New World Order<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/SJRkBrXTttI/AAAAAAAABDg/GSj68e52X2o/s1600-h/IMG_5470.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/SJRkBrXTttI/AAAAAAAABDg/GSj68e52X2o/s320/IMG_5470.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229915047267120850" border="0" /></a><br />Saying how to be happy<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/SISdWKWyF_I/AAAAAAAABCY/XF1ERGInyXs/s1600-h/IMG_5477.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/SISdWKWyF_I/AAAAAAAABCY/XF1ERGInyXs/s320/IMG_5477.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225474471719213042" border="0" /></a><br />Hotter than<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/SISdWp0nGvI/AAAAAAAABCg/xaw_MgcOv0o/s1600-h/IMG_5482.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/SISdWp0nGvI/AAAAAAAABCg/xaw_MgcOv0o/s320/IMG_5482.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225474480165821170" border="0" /></a><br />Kids being cool<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/SISdW1ibkfI/AAAAAAAABCo/k9_3R-mnZek/s1600-h/IMG_5487.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/SISdW1ibkfI/AAAAAAAABCo/k9_3R-mnZek/s320/IMG_5487.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225474483310793202" border="0" /></a><br />National pride<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/SISdXDuu3zI/AAAAAAAABCw/06N2gvp0q4M/s1600-h/IMG_5500.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/SISdXDuu3zI/AAAAAAAABCw/06N2gvp0q4M/s320/IMG_5500.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225474487120486194" border="0" /></a><br />And people waiting<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/SISdXvr9OCI/AAAAAAAABC4/NQk_Y_5kwEA/s1600-h/IMG_5505.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/SISdXvr9OCI/AAAAAAAABC4/NQk_Y_5kwEA/s320/IMG_5505.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225474498920003618" border="0" /></a><br />to Unify<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/SISb6z86yBI/AAAAAAAABCQ/oIhDVugWIeY/s1600-h/IMG_5553.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/SISb6z86yBI/AAAAAAAABCQ/oIhDVugWIeY/s320/IMG_5553.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225472902337054738" border="0" /></a><br />while concrete fights a pretty Sky<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/SISa9162tZI/AAAAAAAABCA/oUzJ-HXULdo/s1600-h/IMG_5625.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/SISa9162tZI/AAAAAAAABCA/oUzJ-HXULdo/s320/IMG_5625.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225471854893249938" border="0" /></a><br />Lost Love letters are given to Strangers<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/SISa-PmhDLI/AAAAAAAABCI/vww8jVE9Wyg/s1600-h/IMG_5627.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/SISa-PmhDLI/AAAAAAAABCI/vww8jVE9Wyg/s320/IMG_5627.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225471861787266226" border="0" /></a><br />We all want to be beautiful<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/SISZQXhqWvI/AAAAAAAABB4/SrLFW1HdjuA/s1600-h/IMG_5649.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/SISZQXhqWvI/AAAAAAAABB4/SrLFW1HdjuA/s320/IMG_5649.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225469974128777970" border="0" /></a><br />and wish we could fly<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/SISWkh3DFaI/AAAAAAAABBY/WrYOsh9tw8Y/s1600-h/IMG_5654.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/SISWkh3DFaI/AAAAAAAABBY/WrYOsh9tw8Y/s320/IMG_5654.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225467021965333922" border="0" /></a><br />Boobi Boobi<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/SISWk1eIo-I/AAAAAAAABBg/C4LszNh3paY/s1600-h/IMG_5656.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/SISWk1eIo-I/AAAAAAAABBg/C4LszNh3paY/s320/IMG_5656.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225467027229549538" border="0" /></a><br />Belly Dancing<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/SISWlYb6ySI/AAAAAAAABBo/yJFojAlperY/s1600-h/IMG_5664.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/SISWlYb6ySI/AAAAAAAABBo/yJFojAlperY/s320/IMG_5664.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225467036615493922" border="0" /></a><br />Loosing One's head amidst all of the Trash<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/SISWlUjqlKI/AAAAAAAABBw/yatBs1z4FV8/s1600-h/IMG_5670.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/SISWlUjqlKI/AAAAAAAABBw/yatBs1z4FV8/s320/IMG_5670.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225467035574244514" border="0" /></a><br />Feeling Homeless regardless of Prosperity<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/SISUEWnyOhI/AAAAAAAABAw/Vlx6Gwr9cQI/s1600-h/IMG_5677.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/SISUEWnyOhI/AAAAAAAABAw/Vlx6Gwr9cQI/s320/IMG_5677.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225464270169455122" border="0" /></a><br />The sun sets on construction<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/SIST0cdOt8I/AAAAAAAABAo/BcQ3qn1HQfQ/s1600-h/IMG_5682.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/SIST0cdOt8I/AAAAAAAABAo/BcQ3qn1HQfQ/s320/IMG_5682.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225463996857890754" border="0" /></a><br />Friends celebrate their last days together<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/SISS_xT0qbI/AAAAAAAABAQ/Uzl0vgc5rvc/s1600-h/IMG_5703.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/SISS_xT0qbI/AAAAAAAABAQ/Uzl0vgc5rvc/s320/IMG_5703.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225463091922512306" border="0" /></a><br />Bombs buried in the Globe<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/SISTAAW_1dI/AAAAAAAABAY/63-7s7sLUGY/s1600-h/IMG_5706.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/SISTAAW_1dI/AAAAAAAABAY/63-7s7sLUGY/s320/IMG_5706.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225463095962359250" border="0" /></a><br />Monopolies happy to capitalize<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/SISTAiz7uZI/AAAAAAAABAg/quvfmmQRoXE/s1600-h/IMG_5709.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/SISTAiz7uZI/AAAAAAAABAg/quvfmmQRoXE/s320/IMG_5709.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225463105210530194" border="0" /></a><br />but there is still Solace in Summer...El Colinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18387003152354830187noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-234941159456787465.post-30411042104995506792008-06-06T12:44:00.000-07:002008-12-11T19:51:04.811-08:00May BeI loaded the pictures the wrong way.<br />It is too late to change their lay.<br />Try to make sense of what I say,<br />As I run you backwards through May.<br /><br /><br /><br />These pictures were actually in June.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/SEt5WKobjPI/AAAAAAAAA_g/MAIhAtmKl_g/s1600-h/IMG_5093.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/SEt5WKobjPI/AAAAAAAAA_g/MAIhAtmKl_g/s320/IMG_5093.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209390815702125810" border="0" /></a><br />Can you tell what it is that we're doin?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/SEt5WguT9vI/AAAAAAAAA_o/VCCmkunmF1w/s1600-h/IMG_5099.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/SEt5WguT9vI/AAAAAAAAA_o/VCCmkunmF1w/s320/IMG_5099.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209390821632374514" border="0" /></a><br />We are at the top of building 63<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/SEt5XAY6s0I/AAAAAAAAA_w/KDHrfkoULA0/s1600-h/IMG_5118.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/SEt5XAY6s0I/AAAAAAAAA_w/KDHrfkoULA0/s320/IMG_5118.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209390830132572994" border="0" /></a><br />that also features things from under the sea!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/SEt5X-6dPXI/AAAAAAAAA_4/sKjHzv3r4wo/s1600-h/IMG_5154.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/SEt5X-6dPXI/AAAAAAAAA_4/sKjHzv3r4wo/s320/IMG_5154.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209390846916246898" border="0" /></a><br />Jellyfish that look like snow,<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/SEt4DQshznI/AAAAAAAAA-4/5d9_BVPj89w/s1600-h/IMG_4997.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/SEt4DQshznI/AAAAAAAAA-4/5d9_BVPj89w/s320/IMG_4997.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209389391400783474" border="0" /></a><br />which is a penguin's best friend, you know!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/SEt4EpTbaFI/AAAAAAAAA_A/M6MDQ7aeKW8/s1600-h/IMG_5014.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/SEt4EpTbaFI/AAAAAAAAA_A/M6MDQ7aeKW8/s320/IMG_5014.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209389415186262098" border="0" /></a><br />It's ok if you call them by their name,<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/SEt4Fa7eXQI/AAAAAAAAA_I/dGRiODZxBSc/s1600-h/IMG_5042.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/SEt4Fa7eXQI/AAAAAAAAA_I/dGRiODZxBSc/s320/IMG_5042.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209389428507565314" border="0" /></a><br />or call me by it, when I act lame.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/SEt4GKnPKLI/AAAAAAAAA_Q/NJPyiC8YVsw/s1600-h/IMG_5080.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/SEt4GKnPKLI/AAAAAAAAA_Q/NJPyiC8YVsw/s320/IMG_5080.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209389441307584690" border="0" /></a><br />Into a million lives we could be spying,<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/SEt4Gjii5bI/AAAAAAAAA_Y/h2A7wnAJGw8/s1600-h/IMG_5083.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/SEt4Gjii5bI/AAAAAAAAA_Y/h2A7wnAJGw8/s320/IMG_5083.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209389447998793138" border="0" /></a><br />but of course, I would rather be flying!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Outside of the world cup qualifying game,<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/SEt2KemvIFI/AAAAAAAAA-Q/QvHfsjJ8lvk/s1600-h/IMG_4909.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/SEt2KemvIFI/AAAAAAAAA-Q/QvHfsjJ8lvk/s320/IMG_4909.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209387316370415698" border="0" /></a><br />it was too hard to sit and be tame.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/SEt2LDBtrOI/AAAAAAAAA-Y/M9dAYOnT6Dk/s1600-h/IMG_4916.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/SEt2LDBtrOI/AAAAAAAAA-Y/M9dAYOnT6Dk/s320/IMG_4916.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209387326147243234" border="0" /></a><br />Korea and Jordan's flags on his back<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/SEt2LhgrssI/AAAAAAAAA-g/kxkVS_4UgFU/s1600-h/IMG_4918.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/SEt2LhgrssI/AAAAAAAAA-g/kxkVS_4UgFU/s320/IMG_4918.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209387334330200770" border="0" /></a><br />people lined up for ramen but hot water they lacked:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/SEt2MFCfoyI/AAAAAAAAA-o/KD4I8z_vTVU/s1600-h/IMG_4920.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/SEt2MFCfoyI/AAAAAAAAA-o/KD4I8z_vTVU/s320/IMG_4920.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209387343867257634" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />Somehow this picture snuck in from before?<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/SEt2MvZj-2I/AAAAAAAAA-w/0ShHzr0VUEI/s1600-h/IMG_4989.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/SEt2MvZj-2I/AAAAAAAAA-w/0ShHzr0VUEI/s320/IMG_4989.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209387355238300514" border="0" /></a><br /><br />A shirt Renae made me pictured on the same floor:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/SEt0Dssi3VI/AAAAAAAAA9o/tOuod3nS6b8/s1600-h/IMG_4821.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/SEt0Dssi3VI/AAAAAAAAA9o/tOuod3nS6b8/s320/IMG_4821.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209385000870534482" border="0" /></a><br /><br />It says Penguin in Korean on the back:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/SEt0EDJy1wI/AAAAAAAAA9w/r5Ao_bBeTfw/s1600-h/IMG_4822.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/SEt0EDJy1wI/AAAAAAAAA9w/r5Ao_bBeTfw/s320/IMG_4822.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209385006898796290" border="0" /></a><br /><br />and we got couple rings that are blue but look black:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/SEt0EgRoC8I/AAAAAAAAA94/ZQjT97OQbW4/s1600-h/IMG_4857.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/SEt0EgRoC8I/AAAAAAAAA94/ZQjT97OQbW4/s320/IMG_4857.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209385014716271554" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />Somehow this got here: A Keyboarding Fountain:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/SEt0FBWirnI/AAAAAAAAA-A/NYWXbi_uLQo/s1600-h/IMG_4887.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/SEt0FBWirnI/AAAAAAAAA-A/NYWXbi_uLQo/s320/IMG_4887.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209385023595261554" border="0" /></a><br /><br />then it goes back to the man made mountain...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/SEt0Fu2C-cI/AAAAAAAAA-I/-XeH4GoE5BY/s1600-h/IMG_4907.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/SEt0Fu2C-cI/AAAAAAAAA-I/-XeH4GoE5BY/s320/IMG_4907.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209385035806996930" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />Street lights decorated with bicycle rims:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/SEtyx4aa0NI/AAAAAAAAA9A/MBX99jrGPsk/s1600-h/IMG_4734.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/SEtyx4aa0NI/AAAAAAAAA9A/MBX99jrGPsk/s320/IMG_4734.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209383595266461906" border="0" /></a><br /><br />And the new instrument called the "Ohming Beacon"<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/SEtyyQ25FVI/AAAAAAAAA9I/efaGlQrRslg/s1600-h/IMG_4795.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/SEtyyQ25FVI/AAAAAAAAA9I/efaGlQrRslg/s320/IMG_4795.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209383601828336978" border="0" /></a><br /><br />We followed the funny sign for a while:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/SEtyyxDy5kI/AAAAAAAAA9Q/Lxqdp4R1lUE/s1600-h/IMG_4811.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/SEtyyxDy5kI/AAAAAAAAA9Q/Lxqdp4R1lUE/s320/IMG_4811.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209383610472392258" border="0" /></a><br />causing this girl to dance in the chicken style.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/SEtyzcwLmOI/AAAAAAAAA9Y/DkEyg_Yf0jM/s1600-h/IMG_4814.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/SEtyzcwLmOI/AAAAAAAAA9Y/DkEyg_Yf0jM/s320/IMG_4814.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209383622201284834" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Anniversary time in Sok Cho, it seems<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/SEtxA5raR1I/AAAAAAAAA8Y/x-cisUaRFng/s1600-h/IMG_4643.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/SEtxA5raR1I/AAAAAAAAA8Y/x-cisUaRFng/s320/IMG_4643.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209381654280947538" border="0" /></a><br />was a pretty cool fantasy/dream<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/SEtxBTu0l3I/AAAAAAAAA8g/uS8vrR_rmMY/s1600-h/IMG_4669.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/SEtxBTu0l3I/AAAAAAAAA8g/uS8vrR_rmMY/s320/IMG_4669.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209381661274576754" border="0" /></a><br />They had live fish and dead ones and some in between<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/SEtxBmI41_I/AAAAAAAAA8o/F1M2t1nRRqM/s1600-h/IMG_4670.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/SEtxBmI41_I/AAAAAAAAA8o/F1M2t1nRRqM/s320/IMG_4670.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209381666215745522" border="0" /></a><br />and one of the coolest buildings I have ever seen:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/SEtxCHvRO8I/AAAAAAAAA8w/Ok__gH2By_s/s1600-h/IMG_4676.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/SEtxCHvRO8I/AAAAAAAAA8w/Ok__gH2By_s/s320/IMG_4676.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209381675235097538" border="0" /></a><br />The lake with the rims mentioned above,<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/SEtxCiBiXKI/AAAAAAAAA84/UGifbBSkeKc/s1600-h/IMG_4710.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/SEtxCiBiXKI/AAAAAAAAA84/UGifbBSkeKc/s320/IMG_4710.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209381682291039394" border="0" /></a><br />and the cold eastern sea causing nipples of love.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/SEmfS7R9J9I/AAAAAAAAA7s/PxzDlAUBVf0/s1600-h/IMG_4479.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/SEmfS7R9J9I/AAAAAAAAA7s/PxzDlAUBVf0/s320/IMG_4479.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5208869591530153938" border="0" /></a><br />The view from our roof was bangin' at night.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/SEmfTGcLd6I/AAAAAAAAA70/n9lsmdtBHgs/s1600-h/IMG_4505.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/SEmfTGcLd6I/AAAAAAAAA70/n9lsmdtBHgs/s320/IMG_4505.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5208869594525824930" border="0" /></a><br />We witnessed an awesome fireworks fight... (ed. not pictured)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/SEmfTaDR2eI/AAAAAAAAA78/T1B8a8b1VXY/s1600-h/IMG_4541.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/SEmfTaDR2eI/AAAAAAAAA78/T1B8a8b1VXY/s320/IMG_4541.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5208869599790094818" border="0" /></a><br />Same lake as before but right near the shore:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/SEma4tc87pI/AAAAAAAAA7M/7MkjhP4yFAA/s1600-h/IMG_4432.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/SEma4tc87pI/AAAAAAAAA7M/7MkjhP4yFAA/s320/IMG_4432.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5208864743095070354" border="0" /></a><br />Viewed from our room on Helios top floor:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/SEma4_CwglI/AAAAAAAAA7U/fRpAVo6EuIM/s1600-h/IMG_4436.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/SEma4_CwglI/AAAAAAAAA7U/fRpAVo6EuIM/s320/IMG_4436.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5208864747817042514" border="0" /></a><br />I don't know what I'm doing in this picture:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/SEma5hIUzzI/AAAAAAAAA7c/hc-FT25Jb1A/s1600-h/IMG_4461.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/SEma5hIUzzI/AAAAAAAAA7c/hc-FT25Jb1A/s320/IMG_4461.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5208864756967198514" border="0" /></a><br />and I really really liked this sideways faced creature:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/SEma53XWVfI/AAAAAAAAA7k/W0v7Of5npvY/s1600-h/IMG_4474.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/SEma53XWVfI/AAAAAAAAA7k/W0v7Of5npvY/s320/IMG_4474.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5208864762935793138" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />Back to late April, slash early May:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/SEmXqP-_ifI/AAAAAAAAA6c/YG0byY_lUww/s1600-h/IMG_4293.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/SEmXqP-_ifI/AAAAAAAAA6c/YG0byY_lUww/s320/IMG_4293.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5208861196131731954" border="0" /></a><br />Sparklers and fires in bars; What the Hey!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/SEma4HnGrqI/AAAAAAAAA7E/CU1yvLaxTNQ/s1600-h/IMG_4418.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/SEma4HnGrqI/AAAAAAAAA7E/CU1yvLaxTNQ/s320/IMG_4418.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5208864732937105058" border="0" /></a><br />Chinese in Korea celebrate Olympic fire<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/SEmXqoWjdoI/AAAAAAAAA6k/zpbX35dV1C0/s1600-h/IMG_4315.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/SEmXqoWjdoI/AAAAAAAAA6k/zpbX35dV1C0/s320/IMG_4315.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5208861202673006210" border="0" /></a><br />and Buddha's birthday brings colored lanterns on wire:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/SEmXrCJetXI/AAAAAAAAA6s/HzzpuqARtR4/s1600-h/IMG_4320.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/SEmXrCJetXI/AAAAAAAAA6s/HzzpuqARtR4/s320/IMG_4320.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5208861209597490546" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The baseball games are awesome. I'll never go back<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/SEmXrepdPWI/AAAAAAAAA60/2lKIlQZmDWc/s1600-h/IMG_4384.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/SEmXrepdPWI/AAAAAAAAA60/2lKIlQZmDWc/s320/IMG_4384.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5208861217247804770" border="0" /></a><br />to American baseball, for all that it lacks.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/SEmXr_L-aFI/AAAAAAAAA68/22EljIvTX3Q/s1600-h/IMG_4385.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/SEmXr_L-aFI/AAAAAAAAA68/22EljIvTX3Q/s320/IMG_4385.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5208861225982519378" border="0" /></a><br />Rachel Issabel and Kimmy, but Kimmy was fired<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/SEmVz5MlCYI/AAAAAAAAA50/Vzim5rX_9Wk/s1600-h/IMG_4064.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/SEmVz5MlCYI/AAAAAAAAA50/Vzim5rX_9Wk/s320/IMG_4064.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5208859162790136194" border="0" /></a><br />playing foot-volleyball but not looking tired:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/SEmV0SDqo6I/AAAAAAAAA58/Vi2CU4amgWk/s1600-h/IMG_4077.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/SEmV0SDqo6I/AAAAAAAAA58/Vi2CU4amgWk/s320/IMG_4077.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5208859169463640994" border="0" /></a><br />Punk Kid of Love destroys American Captain<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/SEmV0yt468I/AAAAAAAAA6E/_UveCKVLzVw/s1600-h/IMG_4078.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/SEmV0yt468I/AAAAAAAAA6E/_UveCKVLzVw/s320/IMG_4078.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5208859178230672322" border="0" /></a><br />Weird picture of people peeing into a trash-bin?<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/SEmV1cok91I/AAAAAAAAA6M/Ozl3_lBAikI/s1600-h/IMG_4080.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/SEmV1cok91I/AAAAAAAAA6M/Ozl3_lBAikI/s320/IMG_4080.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5208859189482682194" border="0" /></a><br />and the cutest of kids, my students of six:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/SEmV1v_ddLI/AAAAAAAAA6U/w7TprFWO8Ls/s1600-h/IMG_4196.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/SEmV1v_ddLI/AAAAAAAAA6U/w7TprFWO8Ls/s320/IMG_4196.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5208859194678932658" border="0" /></a><br />and that will conclude my May in Seoul Pics.El Colinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18387003152354830187noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-234941159456787465.post-35349452421890175992008-04-05T21:10:00.000-07:002008-12-11T19:51:09.390-08:00Korea in Color... and suddenly everyone's umbrellas changed from black to pastel ...<br /><br />The gray of the winter is fading away and with spring comes a new sense of purpose and direction.<br /><br />I have been hold up in my apartment for most of the past months. There have been a few shining exceptions to the darkness that passed in the past months. Mostly, I have been working on an album, which I feel reflects the sullen nature of nature in the city of Seoul during the winter.<br /><br />I think that part of the reason I haven't blogged any of this is because the events of the past months have been somewhat ambiguously effectual.<br /><br />All of the friends I made at my school left at the end of February, The school's staff dropped in half, I changed from teaching 7 year olds to 6 year olds and the school changed its curriculum, owner, and orders for the teachers. There are three new foreign teachers at the school (replacing 6) and new Korean teachers who, thankfully all speak English, so it makes for a friendlier work environment.<br /><br />I hate the school and its changes and hoped it would get better, but after a month, I can see that it will most likely continue to suck until I leave in 5 months. Life outside of school is still a challenge. On top of keeping in touch with everyone at home (and I apologize for pretty much failing at that) and trying to make friends again here, and hang out with Renae, and accomplish tasks I have set out for myself, it has contributed to the feeling of being overwhelmed and tired that the winter had already bestowed upon me.<br /><br />I read a book recently called The Conjurer's Bird - great book - that recalls some life around the time of the late 1700's. I was jealous that an explorer could leave on a journey for three years, write maybe one or two letters during his time abroad and just focus the rest of it to peace of mind and discovery.<br /><br />I do find my piece of mind though. And, with the album I have been working on, have surely made some discoveries of my own. New instruments are the next bit to tackle. I have a few big tricks to pull out my sleeve over the next 5 months.<br /><br /><br />A few highlights since January that I can offer:<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R_hVS45E7oI/AAAAAAAAAy4/ZDVpuuyJtfs/s1600-h/IMG_2799.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R_hVS45E7oI/AAAAAAAAAy4/ZDVpuuyJtfs/s320/IMG_2799.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5185988753914916482" border="0" /></a><br />Renae made me a couple of awesome knitted hats - based off of an under helmet hat from world war 2 or something like that.<br /><br /><br />Valentines day was the most crazy day! There is a community center right across the street from us and there was a valentines concert going on and i thought it would be nice to go. it only cost 5 bucks -- well i made dinner and we got off just in time. Other teachers from oue school were there and a korean teacher and her family were there.<br />somewhere in the middle of this great performance, there was a pause and people were looking all around. I had made a joke about standing up earlier in the night when they were acknowledging honored guests but now the korean teacher and her kids were motioning at me to stand up from a couple aisles over... I end up on stage somehow and then they get me to ask renae up there... then they give us a gift...'of music' and play us "Kiss the Girl" We werent sure if they wanted us to sing or what but i ended up convinving renae to dance with me on stage in front of hundreds of koreans and it was crazy --- It turns out later that they wanted someone to propose to their girlfriend... well, that didnt happen but i think it was funny that it was the pretext why everyone thought we were up there.... oh also - they ooed and ahhed when renae came on stage ... i dont have a picture of her dress but it was stunning/<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/SAdWixjTvKI/AAAAAAAAA2c/frP3Kmn4gdQ/s1600-h/DSC07396.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/SAdWixjTvKI/AAAAAAAAA2c/frP3Kmn4gdQ/s320/DSC07396.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5190212250984758434" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/SAdWjRjTvLI/AAAAAAAAA2k/XTv9hVMBaK4/s1600-h/DSC07399.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/SAdWjRjTvLI/AAAAAAAAA2k/XTv9hVMBaK4/s320/DSC07399.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5190212259574693042" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Deanna and Lauren and other teachers left my school. We had a going away dinner at 'On the Border" We told them it was Deanna's birthday and they gave us free cheesecake and put hats on us. Deanna is wearing the poncho - that is amber next to her:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R_hVTI5E7pI/AAAAAAAAAzA/HLHuHEj-nDk/s1600-h/IMG_3372.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R_hVTI5E7pI/AAAAAAAAAzA/HLHuHEj-nDk/s320/IMG_3372.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5185988758209883794" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />March came around and I got a new class and i new school system and owners - and a slew of new teachers. The new teachers are great - they get me through the day - because the transition to the new school has been like kindergarten hell. I downgraded from 7 year olds (6 year olds american age) to 6 year olds (5) - and i am happy with that change. The young ones dont understand as much, but the new 7 year olds are all brats. my korean partner teacher is awesome and my two classes are good too - they make me smile more than i should in the situation i am in. here is one of my two homerooms: Mozart class<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R_hVTY5E7qI/AAAAAAAAAzI/YgvUhmbhG4A/s1600-h/IMG_3423.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R_hVTY5E7qI/AAAAAAAAAzI/YgvUhmbhG4A/s320/IMG_3423.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5185988762504851106" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Three of them are siblings of my previous students... being good students definitely runs in the fams.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />When I was out with Kimmy and John, the new teachers from usa, and Renae, we found a bar with Fooseball!!! aaaaand came across Batman Hof:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R_hVTo5E7rI/AAAAAAAAAzQ/1NPNID-SVV8/s1600-h/IMG_3444.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R_hVTo5E7rI/AAAAAAAAAzQ/1NPNID-SVV8/s320/IMG_3444.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5185988766799818418" border="0" /></a><br /><br />speaking of masks,<br />renae and i made some awesome ones:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R_hVT45E7sI/AAAAAAAAAzY/w3mHxJYBXjc/s1600-h/IMG_3583.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R_hVT45E7sI/AAAAAAAAAzY/w3mHxJYBXjc/s320/IMG_3583.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5185988771094785730" border="0" /></a><br />Renae's<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/SAdMVxjTu_I/AAAAAAAAA1E/657pS9iJZoA/s1600-h/IMG_3794.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/SAdMVxjTu_I/AAAAAAAAA1E/657pS9iJZoA/s320/IMG_3794.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5190201032530181106" border="0" /></a><br />Mine<br /><br /><br /><br />St. Patrick's Day was awesome!!!!!! Free Guiness - An amazing Korean Irish band: Dancing and drinking in the street by a beautiful stream - and a parade to top it off.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/SAdPcxjTvAI/AAAAAAAAA1M/eQvQeDUiMf8/s1600-h/IMG_3466.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/SAdPcxjTvAI/AAAAAAAAA1M/eQvQeDUiMf8/s320/IMG_3466.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5190204451324148738" border="0" /></a><br />Lucky Post its - Clover shaped - renae is putting hers up in the orange section<br /><br />The parade was led by a snake being chased by hippy st. patrick<br />then were followed by a clover, every irish related association in Korea and a guiness bottle with a stilty dude and small guiness bottles that looked like they wanted to give up every now and then.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/SAdPdhjTvBI/AAAAAAAAA1U/SRJQBi_h058/s1600-h/IMG_3472.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/SAdPdhjTvBI/AAAAAAAAA1U/SRJQBi_h058/s320/IMG_3472.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5190204464209050642" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/SAdPdxjTvCI/AAAAAAAAA1c/YwWTCmSYOMA/s1600-h/IMG_3494.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/SAdPdxjTvCI/AAAAAAAAA1c/YwWTCmSYOMA/s320/IMG_3494.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5190204468504017954" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />Shortly after was Lynn's birthday. Three of the awesomest korean teachers:<br />Lynn Alison and Chloe<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/SAdPeBjTvDI/AAAAAAAAA1k/vtUF89XFLYw/s1600-h/IMG_3646.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/SAdPeBjTvDI/AAAAAAAAA1k/vtUF89XFLYw/s320/IMG_3646.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5190204472798985266" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />The day after Lynn's bday was Renae's! We saw this - it is an 'o' but from our particular vantage point.... the question mark adds the the greatness of the scene.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/SAdPeRjTvEI/AAAAAAAAA1s/svNdZyBsHng/s1600-h/IMG_3656.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/SAdPeRjTvEI/AAAAAAAAA1s/svNdZyBsHng/s320/IMG_3656.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5190204477093952578" border="0" /></a><br />On that friday we celebrated Renaes bday with a diverse group of friends - we had mexican food (sushi restaurants were too small) and went to a hookah bar - i am bad at taking pictures - the only thing i really took a picture of was a spider in the wall of the hookah bars - which, by the way, make you feel like you live down in fraggle rock!:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/SAdTtxjTvFI/AAAAAAAAA10/ap6bR5BDKNM/s1600-h/IMG_3670.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/SAdTtxjTvFI/AAAAAAAAA10/ap6bR5BDKNM/s320/IMG_3670.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5190209141428436050" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />The begining of April is Cherry Blossom time - the dates however were wrong about the festival on a website though so we got to the area of a small festival a week early: did a few fun things and explored:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/SAdTuBjTvGI/AAAAAAAAA18/2WHa-i1lU8A/s1600-h/IMG_3813.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/SAdTuBjTvGI/AAAAAAAAA18/2WHa-i1lU8A/s320/IMG_3813.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5190209145723403362" border="0" /></a><br />leest<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/SAdTuRjTvHI/AAAAAAAAA2E/lY3tvRPGuV4/s1600-h/IMG_3825.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/SAdTuRjTvHI/AAAAAAAAA2E/lY3tvRPGuV4/s320/IMG_3825.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5190209150018370674" border="0" /></a><br />Kimmy and John on the han (rhymes with john) river<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/SAdTuRjTvII/AAAAAAAAA2M/geS_sElkOfE/s1600-h/IMG_3844.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/SAdTuRjTvII/AAAAAAAAA2M/geS_sElkOfE/s320/IMG_3844.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5190209150018370690" border="0" /></a><br /><br />the place was pretty packed - like central park if it were 10 times smaller and 2 times more populated.<br /><br />The cherry blossoms werent out yet but the magnolias were :<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/SAdTuxjTvJI/AAAAAAAAA2U/QqeKG_ceYp8/s1600-h/IMG_3853.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/SAdTuxjTvJI/AAAAAAAAA2U/QqeKG_ceYp8/s320/IMG_3853.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5190209158608305298" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />well later that week I bought renae a cool handmade outfit<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/SAddBBjTvMI/AAAAAAAAA2s/9_vVpkDHOMA/s1600-h/IMG_3915.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/SAddBBjTvMI/AAAAAAAAA2s/9_vVpkDHOMA/s320/IMG_3915.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5190219367745567938" border="0" /></a><br />and we both got haircuts<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/SAddBRjTvNI/AAAAAAAAA20/vMn5kk00ZnQ/s1600-h/IMG_3918.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/SAddBRjTvNI/AAAAAAAAA20/vMn5kk00ZnQ/s320/IMG_3918.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5190219372040535250" border="0" /></a><br />we finally made it to the right place at the right time and you could tell that there was something going on:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/SAddBxjTvOI/AAAAAAAAA28/dg1CHdef9hs/s1600-h/IMG_3944.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/SAddBxjTvOI/AAAAAAAAA28/dg1CHdef9hs/s320/IMG_3944.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5190219380630469858" border="0" /></a><br />luckily, no zombie outbreaks occured<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/SAddCBjTvPI/AAAAAAAAA3E/r9PJOjXHWSQ/s1600-h/IMG_3947.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/SAddCBjTvPI/AAAAAAAAA3E/r9PJOjXHWSQ/s320/IMG_3947.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5190219384925437170" border="0" /></a><br />google was running around with the more popular korean search engines - i had to chase after google to catch up - this goes along with my prediction that in the future - even if you are naked and lost in the woods - you will be able to pull google out of thin air to help you --<br /><br />and the cherry blossoms:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/SAddChjTvQI/AAAAAAAAA3M/7HRbo7TjAeM/s1600-h/IMG_3968.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/SAddChjTvQI/AAAAAAAAA3M/7HRbo7TjAeM/s320/IMG_3968.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5190219393515371778" border="0" /></a><br />people crowd around the only flowers they will see in the city to take pictures<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/SAdlHRjTvRI/AAAAAAAAA3U/4CzSLMpXi1A/s1600-h/IMG_3994.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/SAdlHRjTvRI/AAAAAAAAA3U/4CzSLMpXi1A/s320/IMG_3994.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5190228271212772626" border="0" /></a><br />and they turn on the cool vision at night when they light the trees up<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/SAdlHRjTvSI/AAAAAAAAA3c/q6KmpZczdKk/s1600-h/IMG_4017.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/SAdlHRjTvSI/AAAAAAAAA3c/q6KmpZczdKk/s320/IMG_4017.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5190228271212772642" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />That is pretty much it - also I finished the new album during all of this: you can see hear and download it here: <a href="http://whereheremeetsthere.blogspot.com/2008/04/fortune-favors-brave.html">http://whereheremeetsthere.blogspot.com/2008/04/fortune-favors-brave.html</a>El Colinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18387003152354830187noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-234941159456787465.post-20046952520455323512008-03-03T02:27:00.000-08:002008-03-03T02:28:40.164-08:00New Glasses!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos-a.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sf2p/v188/62/123/19207190/n19207190_35248080_5745.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px;" src="http://photos-a.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sf2p/v188/62/123/19207190/n19207190_35248080_5745.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />Go Korea! Cheap glasses, awesome for all occasions!El Colinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18387003152354830187noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-234941159456787465.post-79194594640354146652008-01-05T17:17:00.000-08:002008-12-11T19:51:33.245-08:00Roam for the Holidays<div>(me: I made it to Chapter 2 of this post and decided that it should be split into chapters... you may want to ration your enjoyment)<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Introduction<br />Why It Is<br /></span></span><br />Look who finally decided to post on his blog...<br /><br />Well to my defense, over the past couple months, I have been through a lot. I think over the next few months I am just going to relax so that I don't have so much to say in the next blog post.<br /><br />There is going to be a lot packed into this one so you may want to split it up. I am continuing from the last post, forwards in time. I left off on Halloween. This one brings you up to last weekend. Lately I have been working on a new album. It will be released on February 29th; the day we wait four years for.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Chapter 1<br />Mountain and Machine<br /><br /></span></span>Way back in November...<br /><br />I decided, since Fall is a beautiful season and there are mountains in Korea, I should go to the mountains! I didn't get to the crazy ones I wanted to take a trip to, but Renae lives right near Bukansan Park; three mountains on the north side of Seoul have their own park dedicated to them. I am not sure if it still stands but it has the record for the most frequented park in the Guinness Book of World Records. (or something like that.) It is not surprising because of the population here.<br /><br />I live in a city of 10 million or so. I think it is 44,000 people per square mile. If there were ever a situation where a Zombie Virus started spreading, I am pretty much screwed. I corresponded with my friend Courtney about this and came to the conclusion that my only hope is a human-powered flying machine that can get me the hell out of here... I have not yet begun construction of such a device, but it has been a dream of mine ever since I learned of Red Bull's Fluugtaag: (a human-powered flying machine contest.)<br /><br />So Renae and I went to the mountains. It was about a 15 minute bus ride from her house and then a free shuttle a little ways up the mountain to a Buddhist Temple there.<br /><br />Arriving, I saw a cloud over the tree line that reminded me of a wave on the ocean:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R4SzDM5ZCPI/AAAAAAAAAsE/4U82vvUqRaM/s1600-h/IMG_1403.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5153440741201610994" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R4SzDM5ZCPI/AAAAAAAAAsE/4U82vvUqRaM/s320/IMG_1403.JPG" border="0" /> </a><br /><br />There was a very nice Korea gentleman who saw us looking at the map and let us know about the trail up to the peak. It was a hike that I was sort of prepared for and Renae got dragged into: I kinda told her it was going to be a relaxing day in the park... I didn't know what to expect though and as soon as I found out there was a peak, of course, I wanted to make it to it. Renae was awesome and agreed to forge through the path that lie before us.<br /><br />Before we started up the trail, I saw a pink pigeon:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R4SzDs5ZCQI/AAAAAAAAAsM/KKEP8-gldLE/s1600-h/IMG_1404.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5153440749791545602" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R4SzDs5ZCQI/AAAAAAAAAsM/KKEP8-gldLE/s320/IMG_1404.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />I read somewhere that Pigeons were supposed to be Seoul's representative bird of peace and calmness (or something like that) but fact checking now I see that its the Magpie? OK. Anyway... I also saw this sign that basically translates to:<br />"If there is Lightning coming for you, and you are on a cliff, we suggest jumping!"<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R4SzD85ZCRI/AAAAAAAAAsU/0bAHA3vGqUg/s1600-h/IMG_1407.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5153440754086512914" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R4SzD85ZCRI/AAAAAAAAAsU/0bAHA3vGqUg/s320/IMG_1407.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />(It doesn't really say that.) Since Renae is a little scared of lightning, (an understatement,) I told her she could trust the bear, who can apparently dodge lightning and balance on the edge of a cliff, all while keeping his feathered cap neatly upon his head.<br /><br />We made it just before all of the beautiful colors would be gone for another year:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R4SzEc5ZCSI/AAAAAAAAAsc/TfonSMShagg/s1600-h/IMG_1413.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5153440762676447522" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R4SzEc5ZCSI/AAAAAAAAAsc/TfonSMShagg/s320/IMG_1413.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />There were peaks around us that were breathtaking, especially being right in there with Seoul, it seemed impossible that we had escaped the concrete formations and found beautiful rock formations five minutes away.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R4SzEs5ZCTI/AAAAAAAAAsk/zMPP1LcCboM/s1600-h/IMG_1423.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5153440766971414834" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R4SzEs5ZCTI/AAAAAAAAAsk/zMPP1LcCboM/s320/IMG_1423.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Some people want to develop the land I am sure, but Korea has been protecting the park. The closest people can get is displayed in the next picture. Click on it to see the enlarged version. People set up a tent on the middle peak. I don't know how it stayed there with the wind, or how they got up there... unless they could jump 16 feet straight up... or were hiking with a ladder... There were people rock climbing up the face of an actually peak across from our mountain. It was fun to see people dangling in the middle of nothingness and rock. I was sort of jealous, but happy I had my feet on the ground.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R4SxRs5ZCKI/AAAAAAAAArc/5GxJRG5Zm30/s1600-h/IMG_1485.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5153438791286458530" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R4SxRs5ZCKI/AAAAAAAAArc/5GxJRG5Zm30/s320/IMG_1485.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Almost all the way up the mountain there was a nice lookout. We sat on a rock and I stared at Seoul with such weird feelings. There are 10 million lives I am looking at that weren't there a short while ago. The buildings almost look like a disease, like a calcium growth a lizard gets on the side of its face. It can turn a beautifully streamlined creature into the face of hideous evil. On the other hand, there is something beautiful about it in and of itself... I still don't know what to think.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R4SxSM5ZCLI/AAAAAAAAArk/SmuYSJLiXPg/s1600-h/IMG_1487.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5153438799876393138" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R4SxSM5ZCLI/AAAAAAAAArk/SmuYSJLiXPg/s320/IMG_1487.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Renae was awesome and made it that far up the mountain. She definitely conquered some fears on the way. It was kinda treacherous. We were so close to the top and I needed to get there. Renae wasn't going anywhere after what I put her through to get to where we were. She graciously allowed me to continue onward an watched over my pack too. It was pretty important, I found, leaving the bag behind. It was narrow, steep and slippery getting up to the tippy top, and it was just so nice to feel separated from that weight up there. Freedom. I took one picture at the top. It felt weird pulling out the camera up there and I almost didn't do it but everyone I saw up there had a camera or were on cell phones... weird to get yourself away but keep yourself connected. I have been much happier not having a cell phone. I won't get one while I am here. That is a promise I made to myself.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R4SxSc5ZCMI/AAAAAAAAArs/0ZIeF__AYUU/s1600-h/IMG_1507.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5153438804171360450" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R4SxSc5ZCMI/AAAAAAAAArs/0ZIeF__AYUU/s320/IMG_1507.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Korea is all about technology, which is nice. They have big flatscreen TVs in the subways and all sorts of advanced shit... (Oh my goodness... did I say advanced shit... hahahaha! That was totally an accident of subconscious flow. I was about to set up this picture and I think that's all I need to say... advanced shit!)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R4SxS85ZCNI/AAAAAAAAAr0/gS_3ixAqXuE/s1600-h/IMG_1515.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5153438812761295058" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R4SxS85ZCNI/AAAAAAAAAr0/gS_3ixAqXuE/s320/IMG_1515.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Yes, you are looking at solar powered porta-pots! ...On a mountain!<br /><br /><br />We went to the temple after we came down. It was beautiful. Again, I felt weird taking pictures in a sacred place and avoided it, although, if i was quick enough, I would have taken a picture of the kid, who instead of rubbing Buddha's tummy, caressed his nipple! I loved it! It made me so happy. That is my sacred prayer. Rub the nip. (I am not sure if that is appropriate... Oh well!)<br /><br /><br />A friend, Corey, who works with Renae was going to be on the same mountain as us on the same day. He ran into us on our ascent and blasted past us, hiking at incredible speeds. I was surprised because he had a rock climbing competition at his rock gym in Korea called O2. For those of you who don't know I used to climb and Renae and I really wanted to go see the competition. It was a pretty awesome set up they had, with some difficult configurations. In the middle of the competition Corey gave us a peak at the world's largest indoor ice wall!!!!!!!! There were parkas outside of the door:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R4SxTM5ZCOI/AAAAAAAAAr8/iziGkf2k1Ug/s1600-h/IMG_1616.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5153438817056262370" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R4SxTM5ZCOI/AAAAAAAAAr8/iziGkf2k1Ug/s320/IMG_1616.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />A couple people climbing inside:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R4Su885ZCFI/AAAAAAAAAq0/_62qkudh1Uc/s1600-h/IMG_1618.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5153436235780917330" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R4Su885ZCFI/AAAAAAAAAq0/_62qkudh1Uc/s320/IMG_1618.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />and an igloo just in case the lock froze over or something:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R4Su9c5ZCGI/AAAAAAAAAq8/xH_xgcvVvzk/s1600-h/IMG_1619.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5153436244370851938" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R4Su9c5ZCGI/AAAAAAAAAq8/xH_xgcvVvzk/s320/IMG_1619.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Chapter 2<br />Thankful in Seoul<br /></span></span><br /><br />During the holiday season, (my holiday season starts with Halloween,) I experienced quite a few wonderful things. I was still sickly on and off, but managed to keep up with the flow of things.<br /><br /><br />While hanging out with my now departed (from Korea, not dead,) friends from Canada, and Renae, Abby (Renae's roomate) and our friend Amber at a teahouse, I discovered something in the bathroom straight out of a horror movie... I don't know what it was, or why it was there. I dared not touch it... just kinda pondered it for a bit and left. I haven't been the same since...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R4Su9s5ZCHI/AAAAAAAAArE/VbB_h5xf5VM/s1600-h/IMG_1672.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5153436248665819250" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R4Su9s5ZCHI/AAAAAAAAArE/VbB_h5xf5VM/s320/IMG_1672.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />There was the first snow in Seoul:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R4Su-M5ZCII/AAAAAAAAArM/KyUBlhTsMbg/s1600-h/IMG_1729.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5153436257255753858" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R4Su-M5ZCII/AAAAAAAAArM/KyUBlhTsMbg/s320/IMG_1729.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />followed by a few more. The snow, for the most part, would be gone by morning. It was nice to have a gray city blanketed in white. I didn't go out and play like everyone else though because I was still sick. This is a small shared balcony on my floor.<br /><br />Then there was Thanksgiving!!!!! Oh thank goodness for Thanksgiving! The teachers at our school organized a dinner and were permitted to use the school's oven and kitchen to cook a turkey. (Ovens are rare in Korea.) Everyone contributed something and we had a great dinner because of it. The turkey was being cooked while we were teaching during the day and wasn't really finished till about 10 p.m or so. We set up a dining room in the gym and before the dinner was ready we used the sound system and the video projector to pump out tunes and Futurama! An awesome time was had by all... except for maybe the principal and director, who stayed downstairs and waited for us to go... weird, a little. Pictured left to right is Renae, a blurry Kurt (who is also from New Jersey,) Alison and Danny from Korea with awesome English skills, and Deanna from California. Danny is the one who translated the Seoul MP3 experiment into Korean. (Did I post about that on this blog? I don't know - that was also in November and probably what drove me to sickness but it was awesome and worth it. Check it out if you haven't already. <a href="http://mp3seoul.blogspot.com/">Click Here!</a>)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R4Su-s5ZCJI/AAAAAAAAArU/-gsYPJfAcG8/s1600-h/IMG_1766.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5153436265845688466" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R4Su-s5ZCJI/AAAAAAAAArU/-gsYPJfAcG8/s320/IMG_1766.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Then we went to a Korean wedding! One of the Korean teachers at our school got married. It was a catholic wedding and it made me feel at home. (So many memories...) I even knew most of the songs they sang (even though they were in Korean, I sang them in English. I used to be in the choir.) But, instead of showing you a picture of the actually wedding, I will show you a picture on the way out of the building with the church in it. It is a wall of a church affiliated school. You tell me what is going on in this picture:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R4SslM5ZCAI/AAAAAAAAAqM/Uwu9psvfseQ/s1600-h/IMG_1783.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5153433628735768578" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R4SslM5ZCAI/AAAAAAAAAqM/Uwu9psvfseQ/s320/IMG_1783.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />This is not the first time I have seen a painting of something passing gas on a wall in Korea... Also I forgot to mention, during Thanksgiving, I was treated to an awesome Korean book! It surpasses 'Everybody Poops' by a mile! IT is a story of a mole that gets pooped on. He goes around with the poop still on his head asking different animals if they did it to him... I don't know why we didn't have this book as required reading.<br /><br />Also during this time, Korea's presidential election was going on. These are posters of<span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">all </span>of the candidates that were around the city.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R4Ssls5ZCBI/AAAAAAAAAqU/cKVwRsnJBm4/s1600-h/IMG_1853.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5153433637325703186" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R4Ssls5ZCBI/AAAAAAAAAqU/cKVwRsnJBm4/s320/IMG_1853.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Pretty sweet I thought. I wished our democracy looked more like this. Also I wish the campaigning was similar. I have videos of people going by on the back of trucks doing karaoke for their candidates! It is sanctioned and thought out campaigning! Just as important as commercials, you better have people in bright colored jackets with your number on it doing a choreographed dance on a street corner somewhere! There were groups of these campaigners tha shouted the numbers and held up there fingers with the corresponding amount of fingers... (My theory to why candidates 6-10 didn't do well is because you had to put up two hands for their numbers... 11 and 12 didn't even have a chance...) I reeeeeeally wanted 3 to win! I still know nothing about the viewpoints of any of them, but based on looks, 3 stole my heart and my support. Number 2 eventually won the election. He kind of looks like a douche bag rodent to me. I get feeling akin to the one when I see George W. Bush's douche bag face and so I am still uneasy about the guy, but since I know nothing about him, I am still willing to give him a chance.<br /><br />I miss Katamari Damacy! This ad pretty blatantly steals from it:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R4Ssl85ZCCI/AAAAAAAAAqc/kdpY2kpkIrk/s1600-h/IMG_1861.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5153433641620670498" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R4Ssl85ZCCI/AAAAAAAAAqc/kdpY2kpkIrk/s320/IMG_1861.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />It was amazing that I happened to be listening to the Katamari soundtrack when I ran into the ad on the subway! Weird huh? - In other news, I got to play a quick demo of Beautiful KAtamari in a department store last night! It made my day!<br /><br /><br />There is a store near Renae's apartment called 'Dirty Math' The Korean on the door is phonetic. "Daw-Tee Mae-Thuh" - It is hard to write out phonetically back into English... I am doing a pretty good job with reading Korean... but still barely know much vocabulary.<br />The door of the store says:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R4Ssmc5ZCDI/AAAAAAAAAqk/tGMN1C7X3PY/s1600-h/IMG_1906.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5153433650210605106" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R4Ssmc5ZCDI/AAAAAAAAAqk/tGMN1C7X3PY/s320/IMG_1906.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />..and I love it. I want to start my quest to obtain the wisdom of dirty math immediately!<br /><br />and because we are on the math theme, as a bonus, i am including a picture of the fabled "Anti-Calculus Toothpaste" that I spoke of in a previous post:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R4TJrM5ZCUI/AAAAAAAAAss/zcTObZwkNOU/s1600-h/IMG_1987.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5153465617652189506" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R4TJrM5ZCUI/AAAAAAAAAss/zcTObZwkNOU/s320/IMG_1987.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />... for those of you who hate math, use this toothpaste!<br /><br /><br />There are a lot of awesome snacks sold by street vendors, but so far the Wafflisoney kicks all dey asses! It is a freshly made waffle, smeared with honey, with five flavors of ice cream folded inside! The combination of hot and cold, sticky and creamy, rich taste and cheap price, puts this one on the top of my list thus far. You get one of these bad boys for a whopping 500 won! (That's 53.3 cents!) In New York City this thing would cost $10 at least! Life in Korea can definately be sweet sometimes:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R4Ssms5ZCEI/AAAAAAAAAqs/QmmB_8n-UtA/s1600-h/IMG_1916.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5153433654505572418" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R4Ssms5ZCEI/AAAAAAAAAqs/QmmB_8n-UtA/s320/IMG_1916.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Chapter 3<br />Christmas in Korea<br /></span></span></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>Christmas time is very pretty in Seoul. There are corporations that own entire blocks decked out in lights and ads and consumerism... you take the good with the bad. What is really cool is the area near city hall. When we were leaving the subway, some of the campaigners for my boy, # 3 were chanting and parading out of the subway. We joined them and chanted and held up our three fingers. It was fun. They had posterboards with his face on it, pasted on a stick. I was jealous, but knew I couldn't obtain one. The we is Renae, Lauren, Deanna and me. We are on our way to an outdoor ice skating rink we heard was nice. It was awesome. Surrounded by lights. The only downside, they were sold out of tickets. It is really inexpensive and quite popular. It is still open. I will try to go back. We had a lot of fun anyway:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R4Bj785ZB7I/AAAAAAAAApc/6i6QgiNaECU/s1600-h/IMG_2112.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5152227855322122162" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R4Bj785ZB7I/AAAAAAAAApc/6i6QgiNaECU/s320/IMG_2112.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>The ice rink is in the middle of this huge light display.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R4Bj8M5ZB8I/AAAAAAAAApk/vOJp9u1Bfi8/s1600-h/IMG_2114.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5152227859617089474" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R4Bj8M5ZB8I/AAAAAAAAApk/vOJp9u1Bfi8/s320/IMG_2114.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R4Bj8c5ZB9I/AAAAAAAAAps/CcoNeAKNnyE/s1600-h/IMG_2120.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5152227863912056786" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R4Bj8c5ZB9I/AAAAAAAAAps/CcoNeAKNnyE/s320/IMG_2120.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>When we couldn't go skating we walked around the city hall area. It was nicely decorated all around...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R4Bj885ZB-I/AAAAAAAAAp0/Vt4kpcPgR3U/s1600-h/IMG_2135.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5152227872501991394" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R4Bj885ZB-I/AAAAAAAAAp0/Vt4kpcPgR3U/s320/IMG_2135.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>We all took pictures of our group at the same time from different cameras. We are all looking at different ones.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R4Bj9c5ZB_I/AAAAAAAAAp8/8kAn8fSxnRE/s1600-h/IMG_2145.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5152227881091926002" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R4Bj9c5ZB_I/AAAAAAAAAp8/8kAn8fSxnRE/s320/IMG_2145.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R4Bgec5ZB2I/AAAAAAAAAo0/eXiHd-fEqSE/s1600-h/IMG_2149.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5152224049981097826" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R4Bgec5ZB2I/AAAAAAAAAo0/eXiHd-fEqSE/s320/IMG_2149.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R4Bges5ZB3I/AAAAAAAAAo8/2uzP5zDPivg/s1600-h/IMG_2153.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5152224054276065138" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R4Bges5ZB3I/AAAAAAAAAo8/2uzP5zDPivg/s320/IMG_2153.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>This is the America and France display... Although that is definitely the Eiffel Tower, the guard looks Russian to me?<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R4BgfM5ZB4I/AAAAAAAAApE/OKNMLyA6FY4/s1600-h/IMG_2156.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5152224062865999746" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R4BgfM5ZB4I/AAAAAAAAApE/OKNMLyA6FY4/s320/IMG_2156.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>Korean traditional snowmen.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R4Bgfc5ZB5I/AAAAAAAAApM/Z58_IoJBQU8/s1600-h/IMG_2163.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5152224067160967058" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R4Bgfc5ZB5I/AAAAAAAAApM/Z58_IoJBQU8/s320/IMG_2163.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>I thought this was a sign for the company that owned the building at first. I completely overlooked it. As you can see the message is 'STOP CO2.' Maybe they tried to camoflauge it on purpose...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R4Bgf85ZB6I/AAAAAAAAApU/aMkY2gOe2TY/s1600-h/IMG_2167.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5152224075750901666" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R4Bgf85ZB6I/AAAAAAAAApU/aMkY2gOe2TY/s320/IMG_2167.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>The next building is a two-faced monster that eats the light of the world:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R4Bdbc5ZBxI/AAAAAAAAAoM/TIA_j0-Sx3g/s1600-h/IMG_2168.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5152220699906606866" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R4Bdbc5ZBxI/AAAAAAAAAoM/TIA_j0-Sx3g/s320/IMG_2168.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>...It is a bank.</div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>While looking for a place eat in the area, we stopped at a TGIF's. It was a Tuesday, but we had off on Wenesday for the national election (except for Renae, whose school is a little evil.) so it felt like a Friday. There, we discovered the greatest thing known to man or beast. Apparently, some people are already familiar with the concept but laying my eyes on it for the first time, I temporarily went blind with joy. Be careful when looking at the next picture:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R4Bdbs5ZByI/AAAAAAAAAoU/Ql71OFMNpAA/s1600-h/IMG_2173.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5152220704201574178" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R4Bdbs5ZByI/AAAAAAAAAoU/Ql71OFMNpAA/s320/IMG_2173.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>Fried balls of Macaroni and Cheese!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!</div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>I just drooled on myself a little...<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Chapter 4<br />Trekking to Thailand</span></span><span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></span></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>Getting ready to go for Thailand was a mad rush on Friday night. I had to get up to Renae and Abby's apartment and get ready to powersleep until 4 something a.m. We all stayed awake too late but Renae go to bed before me and Abby. Renae still wins for the best morning face pictured below.<br /></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>I am sure you are all familiar with the Waking-up-at-4-something-a-m-face, displayed here on an adult female subject:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R4BdcM5ZBzI/AAAAAAAAAoc/NeeTOr7HyOg/s1600-h/IMG_2198.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5152220712791508786" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R4BdcM5ZBzI/AAAAAAAAAoc/NeeTOr7HyOg/s320/IMG_2198.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>Also on the way to the bus, "You need Gun?"<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R4Bdcs5ZB0I/AAAAAAAAAok/KiryFWBBmYw/s1600-h/IMG_2199.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5152220721381443394" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R4Bdcs5ZB0I/AAAAAAAAAok/KiryFWBBmYw/s320/IMG_2199.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>Well not that it took very long, but if I had taken any longer to take this picture, we probably wouldn't have caught the earlier bus to the airport. This was crucial because we had about 2 extra hours to sit around at the airport... (why did we wake up at 4 something again?)<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:180%;">Chapter 5<br />Bangkok: Like a Virgin </span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:180%;"><br /></span></span>Bangkok is a monster to someone who doesn't know what's going on, and we didn't really know what was going on, save the info we gathered from a travel book and the web. As soon as we walked out of the airport people were trying to rip us off. Any price anyone offers you in thialand is about three times what it should be. We managed to make it to our hostel without forking over too much Baht.<br />The guy working there was about to start a 32 hour shift and ready to show us what to do. We wanted to make it to the famous temples there but they were closed for the evening so we walked around and took a commuter boat around the city...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R4Bdc85ZB1I/AAAAAAAAAos/CwVVzW0jWp4/s1600-h/IMG_2206.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5152220725676410706" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R4Bdc85ZB1I/AAAAAAAAAos/CwVVzW0jWp4/s320/IMG_2206.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Saw some street art in various places.<br /><br />Took a boat ride down this canal:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R4BcMM5ZBsI/AAAAAAAAAnk/9WDBnExW58o/s1600-h/IMG_2211.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5152219338401973954" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R4BcMM5ZBsI/AAAAAAAAAnk/9WDBnExW58o/s320/IMG_2211.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />We were pretty much the only foreigners on the boat. It was a beast; huge steel gas tank, long and thin, but not fragile in the least. During the ride you pretty much see into the back of people's homes. Life in Bangkok seems to be more relaxed on the edge of the canal. We had to get out for some tranfers into different boats and ended up staying at one of the stops. We found a really cool park/monument area at sunset:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R4BcMc5ZBtI/AAAAAAAAAns/M2_0yQUvLA8/s1600-h/IMG_2222.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5152219342696941266" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R4BcMc5ZBtI/AAAAAAAAAns/M2_0yQUvLA8/s320/IMG_2222.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Trying to find out where we were wasnt too hard with the map I had but we needed to find a bathroom. 7-11's are everywhere in Bangkok. 1-2 per block. Luckily they told us that there was a gas station a half a block down. When we got there, both bathrooms were occupied. A man and woman walked out of the men's room and a guy was showering in the woman's room?!? OK. While I waited outside, three people came around, saw the bathrooms occupied, and peed on the side of the building.<br />It was dark and we had to leave early the next day but we knew we had to do one thing while we were in Bangkok, Thailand: Go to Chinatown!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R4BcMs5ZBuI/AAAAAAAAAn0/Cm6rMQAVh28/s1600-h/IMG_2226.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5152219346991908578" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R4BcMs5ZBuI/AAAAAAAAAn0/Cm6rMQAVh28/s320/IMG_2226.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />The streets were pretty hoppin' everywhere in Bangkok. We came from 20 degree weather into 80 degree weather and the nights were alive with people. The sidewalks were rivers of people. The sides of the streets, where food carts met passerbys and came in close proximity with cars, bikes, motorbikes, took-tooks, and other various transport vehicles.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R4BcM85ZBvI/AAAAAAAAAn8/fi5w3oaQkYM/s1600-h/IMG_2229.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5152219351286875890" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R4BcM85ZBvI/AAAAAAAAAn8/fi5w3oaQkYM/s320/IMG_2229.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />This boy carried flowers on his head... The edible flower from Intermezzo (a short lived Rutgers fine dining experience) is all over Thailand. It is the purple and white one.<br /><br />There are vespa-like motorbikes all over Thailand. I am not sure why there aren't more that are tricked out, but can you imagine rollin' up in this Bad Boy?<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R4BcNM5ZBwI/AAAAAAAAAoE/o5SbWBzC4TA/s1600-h/IMG_2230.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5152219355581843202" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R4BcNM5ZBwI/AAAAAAAAAoE/o5SbWBzC4TA/s320/IMG_2230.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />...Pimp.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:180%;">Chapter 6<br />Christmas in Khao Sok<br /></span></span><br />At the hostile, there were people staying mad long there. Underwear and other unmentionables all over the room; a shared co-ed dorm full of bunks. Luckily they were out till the wee hours drinking so it was easy to fall asleep and easy to wake up early enough when they all came in.<br />We had a flight from the old airport in Bangkok. The new airport was as pimpin' as that sleek tank bike; a sundae with all the toppings. The old airport was an ice cream cone that was manufactured in the 70's and left on a shelf till present; stale and tasteless. We made it there with enough time to get breakfast in the only restaurant, where I proceeded to spill a massive blob of Ketchup on my pants...<br />The ketchup top was not sealed and I shook it. Now, Ketchup NEVER, EVER, comes out on the first try but somehow, on the first shake of this particular bottle, the cap flew off along with a heaping helping of Catsup. Right onto my shorts! I hate stains and I hate the smell of old ketchup... I rubbed with ice, water, a lime, and finally soap and more water. The result, the stain would not stay, but I would smell heavily of ketchup, lime and soap (in that order) for the duration of our flight.<br />(note: Although I personally do not agree with the spelling of "Catsup," I still wanted to represent it here for reasons unknown. Also Ketchup and Catsup have been capitalized. The reason being, Ketchup is special enough to me that it deserves it.)<br />So we got to the place we were going, just outside of Surat Thani, and there was a bus to bring us there so we were set.<br />Except for the scary bug in the bus, I wasn't worried about anything in particular at this point:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R4BarM5ZBnI/AAAAAAAAAm8/lsBJyONw3iE/s1600-h/IMG_2233.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5152217671954663026" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R4BarM5ZBnI/AAAAAAAAAm8/lsBJyONw3iE/s320/IMG_2233.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />WTF is that?? Google needs to get an image search... you can find out what something is by taking a picture of it... I am sure it is in the works somewhere... I mean... Copyright Colin Challender January 13, 2008. - I will add that one to my million dollar idea list. (The other ideas are top secret, though a few people do know- I am a genius!)<br />Well after getting ripped of for a crappy bus ride by a 'travel company' I was a little downtrodden. I knew that they knew that I would never see them again. They took me for a ride, Abby and Renae facing the decision I made to go along with their scheme. Well we got to where we need to go for only a little more than we should have paid so I wasn't too upset... but I will not forget the face of the guy who took the money from me... revenge shall be mine!<br />We went to the rainforest... Khoa Sok, part of one of the oldest rain forest systems in the world!<br />After seeing some of the most beautiful scenery past the sleepy heads of Renae and Abby, or the cute, playful heads of two Thai baby girls, we arrived in Khoa Sok. Stepping off the bus we were attacked by representatives from various places to stay in the area. We told them we were already booked and paid at the place we were going. (half true) Then they offered to drive us there for too much money. We told them we would walk but one guy said 10 Baht (34 cents) so we agreed. It was hot and the ride was nice. The driver asked us where we were coming from and we told him Korea but at some point he heard us say USA and said "Why did you tell me Korea, I don't work with Americans." He gave us a guilt trip about being rich and then refused to take any money from us after dropping us off at our place... It was really weird. I tried to tell him I was not rich, but looking back on it, try to tell someone who will drive you somewhere for 30 cents, when you are traveling internationally, that you are not rich...<br /><br />Pheww, we are here and people are nice. Our room is great and the view from our porch is a reflection of the mountains and vegetation behind us, only distant and separated by a small stream. We arrive again, later in the day, to our destination, and missed the action, so we made our own... Walking around the area we had a lot of fun and saw some pretty sights...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R4Barc5ZBoI/AAAAAAAAAnE/kBmCzn2l_a4/s1600-h/IMG_2256.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5152217676249630338" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R4Barc5ZBoI/AAAAAAAAAnE/kBmCzn2l_a4/s320/IMG_2256.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Flowers...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R4Bar85ZBpI/AAAAAAAAAnM/r4oBlSegLtQ/s1600-h/IMG_2257.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5152217684839564946" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R4Bar85ZBpI/AAAAAAAAAnM/r4oBlSegLtQ/s320/IMG_2257.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Huts using fire...<br /><br />A couple of nuts...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R4Basc5ZBqI/AAAAAAAAAnU/C2t0ROpY-UU/s1600-h/IMG_2259.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5152217693429499554" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R4Basc5ZBqI/AAAAAAAAAnU/C2t0ROpY-UU/s320/IMG_2259.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />and coconuts.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R4Bas85ZBrI/AAAAAAAAAnc/SanJgMe_nyA/s1600-h/IMG_2262.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5152217702019434162" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R4Bas85ZBrI/AAAAAAAAAnc/SanJgMe_nyA/s320/IMG_2262.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />There was a huge scary spider.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R4BY1c5ZBiI/AAAAAAAAAmU/U23SHfzsgck/s1600-h/IMG_2263.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5152215649025066530" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R4BY1c5ZBiI/AAAAAAAAAmU/U23SHfzsgck/s320/IMG_2263.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />This is one of my favorite flowers.<br /><br />There are pictures missing from this section that I will post in a sequel to this post. You can look forward to them when I get them from Renae and Abby...<br /><br />We went back and made it an early night. We had an early start the next day, but I still was able to enjoy a Thai beer. Chang Beer is probably the second most popular beer in Thailand. I liked it a lot because of its two elephants. IT was also slightly cheaper than the more popular beer and its taste pleased my buds:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R4BY1s5ZBjI/AAAAAAAAAmc/AEWII99I-JY/s1600-h/IMG_2267.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5152215653320033842" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R4BY1s5ZBjI/AAAAAAAAAmc/AEWII99I-JY/s320/IMG_2267.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />A blurry Chang Beer. (probably what it look like for reals at the time... sk)<br /><br />That night we met out fearless leader, Bee. Bee was an awesome dude, who was famous in the logs of the guest books we examined. He was down to Earth and had a lot of stories. We asked him about the caves we were going to the next day and he told us about a friend of his who died in a different set of caves due to rising water levels... I think it scared Renae a little but we would not be going to those caves. He also presented me with a puzzle. I was able to unlock two pieces of wood from each other in less than 3 minutes... with 3 seconds left... Whoa! he said it was a fluke... "Do it in 1 minute." I failed. He showed me the solution out of courtesy. That night we were already talking with another family from Colorado. The young daughter tried it, also getting it by chance, and the younger son was frustrated at his failure. We would be going on our trek with them and ze Germans.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R4BY185ZBkI/AAAAAAAAAmk/OIF40Wqsptg/s1600-h/IMG_2273.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5152215657615001154" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R4BY185ZBkI/AAAAAAAAAmk/OIF40Wqsptg/s320/IMG_2273.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />This is Bee. I thought he was just being quiet and meditative at first, then I realized he was spotting animals for us. I was being quiet and meditative. I miss green things and blue sky. Also, some of it, I had never seen before. I wondered if it will last long enough for others to see too.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R4BY2c5ZBlI/AAAAAAAAAms/1Hb7H15fNb4/s1600-h/IMG_2279.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5152215666204935762" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R4BY2c5ZBlI/AAAAAAAAAms/1Hb7H15fNb4/s320/IMG_2279.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />A tree lizard like whoa!<br />The monkeys were too quick to pic and I wasn't there for the animals really.<br />I tried not to take to many pictures.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R4BY2s5ZBmI/AAAAAAAAAm0/f6oHirPf1Z0/s1600-h/IMG_2282.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5152215670499903074" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R4BY2s5ZBmI/AAAAAAAAAm0/f6oHirPf1Z0/s320/IMG_2282.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />but it was so beautiful.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R4BUdM5ZBdI/AAAAAAAAAls/bf0xxJgWHKA/s1600-h/IMG_2298.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5152210834366727634" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R4BUdM5ZBdI/AAAAAAAAAls/bf0xxJgWHKA/s320/IMG_2298.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />After some hiking, chasing chameleons, and playing Peter Pan, (pictures of that when I get a hold of Renae's pics...) we made it to these cool little bamboo boats that took us to Coral Cave, named so because of the way it looks like coral. Pictures can't show its awesomeness. Some of it was really something else.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R4BUds5ZBeI/AAAAAAAAAl0/8pywz2t3JSs/s1600-h/IMG_2308.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5152210842956662242" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R4BUds5ZBeI/AAAAAAAAAl0/8pywz2t3JSs/s320/IMG_2308.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Cricket in the Cave<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R4BUeM5ZBfI/AAAAAAAAAl8/BgYfB-JbHEI/s1600-h/IMG_2320.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5152210851546596850" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R4BUeM5ZBfI/AAAAAAAAAl8/BgYfB-JbHEI/s320/IMG_2320.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R4BUec5ZBgI/AAAAAAAAAmE/plWb1inngDk/s1600-h/IMG_2328.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5152210855841564162" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R4BUec5ZBgI/AAAAAAAAAmE/plWb1inngDk/s320/IMG_2328.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Elephant-looking things...<br /><br />and the awesome boats:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R4BUe85ZBhI/AAAAAAAAAmM/QL5cAdd7gvs/s1600-h/IMG_2335.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5152210864431498770" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R4BUe85ZBhI/AAAAAAAAAmM/QL5cAdd7gvs/s320/IMG_2335.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The next picture is of a German woman named Ursula, with whom I spent a lot of time talking. She was a good friend for a couple of days and told me about Germany, Africa, and discussed cultural differences in holidays/vacation time with us. The expression on her face captures the awesome thrill I felt most of that day.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R4BPIc5ZBYI/AAAAAAAAAlE/IcOIT--FyV4/s1600-h/IMG_2353.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5152204980326303106" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R4BPIc5ZBYI/AAAAAAAAAlE/IcOIT--FyV4/s320/IMG_2353.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Among all of the sunsets I have seen, this one will not be forgotten. Cameras (at least in my hands) can't begin to touch upon the magnificent beauty that I experienced at sundown.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R4BPI85ZBZI/AAAAAAAAAlM/VOPOuGU8RDw/s1600-h/IMG_2374.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5152204988916237714" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R4BPI85ZBZI/AAAAAAAAAlM/VOPOuGU8RDw/s320/IMG_2374.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />We went to a typical Thai market. There weren't any foreigners around the area we were at. We were on our way home. It was nice to be somewhere we weren't expected. It was the one time I didn't feel hassled while I was shopping in Thailand. They had beautifully prepared squid:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R4BPJc5ZBaI/AAAAAAAAAlU/HjgA0wvxrPY/s1600-h/IMG_2377.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5152204997506172322" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R4BPJc5ZBaI/AAAAAAAAAlU/HjgA0wvxrPY/s320/IMG_2377.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />It looks so much more appetizing than the squid in Korea. But I still wouldn't eat it.<br /><br />At this point I will touch upon the food in Thailand; omg so bangin'. I had nothing but delicious curries and other traditional Thai dishes. It was enough to make you want to move there. All vegetarian options (a miracle after being in Korea,) and great drinks... all for cheap cheap.<br /><br />The two loves of my life (jk):<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R4BPJs5ZBbI/AAAAAAAAAlc/TcuaeEC64eU/s1600-h/IMG_2384.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5152205001801139634" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R4BPJs5ZBbI/AAAAAAAAAlc/TcuaeEC64eU/s320/IMG_2384.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Singha is the original Thai beer. Me no likey as much as Chang.<br /><br />When we got back, it was already dark (well, sorta, it was a full moon that night...) and there was a whole new decor about the place:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R4BPJ85ZBcI/AAAAAAAAAlk/lMzwHS9-JfU/s1600-h/IMG_2385.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5152205006096106946" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R4BPJ85ZBcI/AAAAAAAAAlk/lMzwHS9-JfU/s320/IMG_2385.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />It turned out to be Christmas decorations! I was Christmas Eve!<br /><br />That night there was a big party going on at the place we were headed to the next day. A huge full moon party. If we had gone there first, I probably would have slept through Christmas morning.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R4BNkc5ZBTI/AAAAAAAAAkc/V7VfnRKN1tE/s1600-h/IMG_2389.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5152203262339384626" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R4BNkc5ZBTI/AAAAAAAAAkc/V7VfnRKN1tE/s320/IMG_2389.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Merry Christmas!<br /><br /><br />but, Christmas morning, we:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R4BNk85ZBUI/AAAAAAAAAkk/ac-1fHnsaj4/s1600-h/IMG_2433.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5152203270929319234" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R4BNk85ZBUI/AAAAAAAAAkk/ac-1fHnsaj4/s320/IMG_2433.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />I was saddled up with Ursula. It was lovely to talk with her. Our Elephant was a little frisky... She thinks it is a teenager and wants to do its own thing. It stopped a bunch of times to let out a crazy elephant cry! It was awesome, of course, then I started thinking what would happen if this guy didn't want me on his back anymore, or if it started running at 30 miles per hour, as elephants do.<br />Ursula told me about safaris in Africa and a documentary she saw while she was there about how elephants have a strange sense. The had tracking devices on elephants and one died... a years and hundreds of miles later, all the elephants came back to the same exact spot, on the dot, that the elephant died, and did something that looked like paying respects. She described it as "going inside themselves with the memories of that elephant" I think. That was extrmely touching and the best I could do was say "elephants never forget..." lame.<br /><br />Renae and Abby psychically communitcate with their animal about girl stuff...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R4BNlc5ZBVI/AAAAAAAAAks/6gqtMMMx-_s/s1600-h/IMG_2427.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5152203279519253842" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R4BNlc5ZBVI/AAAAAAAAAks/6gqtMMMx-_s/s320/IMG_2427.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I tried to psychically communicate with someone else's elephant:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R4BNls5ZBWI/AAAAAAAAAk0/z1iBz3siDMA/s1600-h/IMG_2429.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5152203283814221154" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R4BNls5ZBWI/AAAAAAAAAk0/z1iBz3siDMA/s320/IMG_2429.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />This picture was taken about 5 seconds before I accidentally, psychically told it to breath on my face via its trunk! It was wet steamy and strong, but surprisingly odorless. I psychically thanked it afterwards to avoid further confusion and we went our separate ways.<br /><br />It was time to haul out. I took one more picture of that cool flower, at a different location:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R4BNmM5ZBXI/AAAAAAAAAk8/tsMImrU8gE8/s1600-h/IMG_2436.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5152203292404155762" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R4BNmM5ZBXI/AAAAAAAAAk8/tsMImrU8gE8/s320/IMG_2436.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />And a picture of a superhero:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R4BL_c5ZBOI/AAAAAAAAAj0/w32968CrDco/s1600-h/IMG_2439.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5152201527172596962" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R4BL_c5ZBOI/AAAAAAAAAj0/w32968CrDco/s320/IMG_2439.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />...too cool for me to know what it is. I wouldn't search for it even if I could.<br /><br />We left Khao Sok in the dust on Christmas morning:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R4BL_s5ZBPI/AAAAAAAAAj8/mxCu4pXL4s8/s1600-h/IMG_2441.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5152201531467564274" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R4BL_s5ZBPI/AAAAAAAAAj8/mxCu4pXL4s8/s320/IMG_2441.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />(note the pretty flowers in the background) - Also, that morning, we stopped by Bee's house so he could bring his wife and little boy to see the elephants. His house was so beautifully landscaped with all sorts of wild flowers and bushes. He did it all himself. His family was too cute, coupled with the cuteness of his 6 puppy dogs... oh man.<br /><br />And a caterpillar:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R4BMAM5ZBQI/AAAAAAAAAkE/j8Fakr_TsxY/s1600-h/IMG_2442.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5152201540057498882" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R4BMAM5ZBQI/AAAAAAAAAkE/j8Fakr_TsxY/s320/IMG_2442.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />We waited for a minivan to talk us back to Sarat Thani, in order to catch a bus and ferry from there to the island. It was cheaper, more comfortable, and quicker than the huge bus we took to get to Khoa Sok. When we got in the town we told the driver we were going to Khoa Sok and needed to go to the bus depot... Wouldn't you know... he drops us of with the same guys the ripped us off on the ride the other way... The shock on the one guys face was priceless. I am sure it is a comfort that you know you will never see these people again, but when you do... hahaha! Your face was good enough revenge for me. I tried to get them to come down on the price that they gave me out of spite but it was a good deal this time so we got in a minivan this time (they were trying to put us in a big bus again - yeah right) That took us straight to the port, (instead of stopping all over the place; even once long enough for someone to come on with food and a seperate time with drinks to sell!) The port was nothing special... A parking lot and a huge dock.<br /><br />By this point in the trip we had just past the shortest day of the year. We spent most of Christmas Day commuting. It was not a big deal but not something I'd ever imagine I'd be doing on X-mas. Departing is such sweet sweetness! Goodbye Sarat Thani! I hate your guts! A whole hub city and all we did was wait in the same damned place both times! (You would agree with the damned part if you saw the bathroom... It looked like the thrown Satan would assume shortly after his fall.)<br /><br />Anyway, we made it to the ferry. I got a map and a ferry schedule/fare sheet and we set sail into the Gulf of Thailand on our way to an island paradise.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:180%;">Chapter 7<br />Oh Boy, Koh Samui!<br /></span></span>On the way to Koh Samui, I fell in love with you...<br /><br />It was still daylight when we boarded the ferry. A huge Buddha could be seen on the receding shore:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R4BMAc5ZBRI/AAAAAAAAAkM/6BL5XO3AF3Y/s1600-h/IMG_2448.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5152201544352466194" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R4BMAc5ZBRI/AAAAAAAAAkM/6BL5XO3AF3Y/s320/IMG_2448.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The ferry took a little over an hour to get to Koh Samui. In between, the sun decided it was time to give some other part of the world our shine:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R4BMA85ZBSI/AAAAAAAAAkU/_S7y_AJRkls/s1600-h/IMG_2457.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5152201552942400802" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R4BMA85ZBSI/AAAAAAAAAkU/_S7y_AJRkls/s320/IMG_2457.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R4BKys5ZBJI/AAAAAAAAAjM/jiexbpMfoIg/s1600-h/IMG_2458.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5152200208617637010" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R4BKys5ZBJI/AAAAAAAAAjM/jiexbpMfoIg/s320/IMG_2458.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />It was another spectacular sunset.<br /><br />When we got to the island, it was dark. A guy on the boat had offered us a ride in a minivan while we were waiting on the boat. With everything we experienced so far, we knew that it was too expensive and decided to take a cab to the group of bungalows at which we hoped to stay. All of the cab drivers waiting at the pier we in cahoots with each other. They all claimed that they could not turn on their meters (the only thing that would stop us from getting ripped off.) "No one uses them... The meters are from four years ago... Gas prices are too high now..." and so on. I sympathized a little but the guys in Bangkok were obviously still running theirs. Well we got them down to a reasonable price after walking toward the pick-up trucks full of people and arrived on the north shore at our expected destination in no time.<br /><br />As we walked up to the beach-side front desk, we saw Christmas lights and people hanging out on the beach. We were so excited... Then we were informed there was no room at the inn...<br /><br />Ok let's try the next one. A short walk later, we were received in the same manner; accommodating, but not rooms.<br /><br />We found one room at the next one. Only one room... with one bed. They said it was small. We knew we could find better... we couldn't find better. The bed was actually big enough to fit all of us and it was much cheaper, so we decided to go for it. We didn't rfind any reason to leave so we stayed in that one, cigarbox of a room, for three nights.</div><br /><br /><br /><div><br /></div><br /><br /><br /><div>We stayed on the beach that Christmas night, sipping on tropical cocktails, relieved to finally be settled. It was not a full moon, but in the distance the famous full moon party beach was surely hoppin' with people who had probably not even slept yet. You can see the light trail of a plain just over the horizon of this overexposed picture of the moon and the beach:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R4BKzM5ZBKI/AAAAAAAAAjU/dOB37M1gH9Y/s1600-h/IMG_2462.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5152200217207571618" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R4BKzM5ZBKI/AAAAAAAAAjU/dOB37M1gH9Y/s320/IMG_2462.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><div>Suddenly, to our right on the same beach we were lounging on, we noticed a stream of lights going into the sky; the souls of the world's largest candles burning straight up to the sky.</div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div>It turned out to be something that looked like a paper lantern with a big disc to burn in the middle. Renae and Abby lit one later but I accidentally deleted the picture... oops! It was beautiful. A make shift hot air balloon for G.I Joe's and their Barbie girlfriends (or Ken boyfriends...) </div><br /><br /><br /><div></div>The first time we saw it it was magical. So many all at once! The rest of our stay there would be random candle hot air balloons floating up toward the sky... meanwhile, sea turtles are being strangled by their remains?.<br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R4BKzc5ZBLI/AAAAAAAAAjc/DlEUBF2L7js/s1600-h/IMG_2471.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5152200221502538930" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R4BKzc5ZBLI/AAAAAAAAAjc/DlEUBF2L7js/s320/IMG_2471.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Just as curious, of course, were the palm trees with Christmas lights:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R4BKzs5ZBNI/AAAAAAAAAjs/51YxMdrmpHo/s1600-h/IMG_2480.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5152200225797506258" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R4BKzs5ZBNI/AAAAAAAAAjs/51YxMdrmpHo/s320/IMG_2480.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div>We had to walk underneath of the scary spider of doom every time we travelled to and from our room:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R4BJC85ZBEI/AAAAAAAAAik/oGBvGkjtEIQ/s1600-h/IMG_2502.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5152198288767255618" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R4BJC85ZBEI/AAAAAAAAAik/oGBvGkjtEIQ/s320/IMG_2502.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><br /><br /><div>and I saw a fat little frog outside of our door:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R4BJDc5ZBFI/AAAAAAAAAis/TPjJC52rsLw/s1600-h/IMG_2516.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5152198297357190226" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R4BJDc5ZBFI/AAAAAAAAAis/TPjJC52rsLw/s320/IMG_2516.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><br /><br /><div>There was another bug... It reminded me of the caterpillar in the movie <em>Labyrinth. </em>It has wisdom antennae and fuzzy, unfunctional wing-type things sprouting out of its shoulders. Because it was crawling on a light, there was no way for me to capture properly that it has strange, neon green bumps on its back. I didn't try to get it on my finger because of the "Cute but Deadly" principle. I assume it is a bug that bites the fingers off of its prey and injects the most venomous toxins known to man straight into the vein. I call it Q Beedee:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R4BJDs5ZBGI/AAAAAAAAAi0/vmhTdzMj7iE/s1600-h/IMG_2521.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5152198301652157538" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R4BJDs5ZBGI/AAAAAAAAAi0/vmhTdzMj7iE/s320/IMG_2521.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div>My dream finally came true. I was obsessing over renting a motorbike in Khoa Sok, but alas, time did not permit it and there was no where to go. Due to the expense of the cabs on Koh Samui, we decided to rent a motorbike! It costs less than one cab ride and we got to go all over the island. Abby and I went out in the afternoon on the second day there and saw some really cool things. The croweded beach in Koh Samui was very busy and tourist oriented. We walked there for a while, checking out shops and resorts. The sand was so soft on that beach. (The beach we were at had hearty sand that was fun to walk on, terrible to run on, and grating when between your foot and your sandle.) On the way to the Grandfather and Grandmoter rocks, (two rocks, across from each other, that resemble the reproductive organs of the male and female specimens of the human species,) it started raining like a moaf! </div><br /><div><br />We pulled over and tried to wait it out, but Renae was still waiting at home and we had another stop. Luckily, we were stopped next to a store that had rain slickers. I didn't mind the wetness, but got some sunglasses for eye protection. There are some awesome pictures of that trip that I have to acquire from Abby. Coming Soon! We had to go through a bit of a treacherous trek to get to the rocks. There was a sort of Rasta bar in the cove where they were located. When we were leaving, The guy at the bar pointed us in a different direction, a paved road leading right to the street.... Duh, I don't know how we missed that one. After that we rode back up toward the northern beaches. The rain came to a stop and we were doing awesome on the bike. We went to the beach adjacent to ours, that boasted the Big Buddha, a towering wonder of awe and... wonder. Before the day rental ran out on the bike, I took Renae the next morning to the Big Buddha. I do have pictures from that day:</div><br /><br /><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R4BJEM5ZBHI/AAAAAAAAAi8/89zBqu__CbA/s1600-h/IMG_2525.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5152198310242092146" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R4BJEM5ZBHI/AAAAAAAAAi8/89zBqu__CbA/s320/IMG_2525.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><br /><div>A cool pond. (note the statues coming out of the water)</div><br /><div> </div><br /><div>Big Buddha<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R4BJEs5ZBII/AAAAAAAAAjE/6pK5o-dIvic/s1600-h/IMG_2526.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5152198318832026754" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R4BJEs5ZBII/AAAAAAAAAjE/6pK5o-dIvic/s320/IMG_2526.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><br /><div>It was a little humbling to be there, but it was also empowering, being on the coast and looking out from this huge sacred monument. There were such cool handrails that were serpents, or rather, a 7-headed serpent!:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R4BG2M5ZA_I/AAAAAAAAAh8/KllkiZm_UpM/s1600-h/IMG_2527.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5152195870700667890" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R4BG2M5ZA_I/AAAAAAAAAh8/KllkiZm_UpM/s320/IMG_2527.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><br /><div>Also, someone at the bottom of the monument, where a few shops were set up, has this amazing metal statue shop. It has all sorts of characters; Darth Vader, Predator, (vs.) Aliens, (2) Gremlins, Yoda... the whole deal.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R4BG3c5ZBAI/AAAAAAAAAiE/b75OmvMZS4U/s1600-h/IMG_2529.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5152195892175504386" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R4BG3c5ZBAI/AAAAAAAAAiE/b75OmvMZS4U/s320/IMG_2529.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />(In order to finish this blog post sometime this year, I am going to be as flavorless and a school lunch in Korea from now on. Please accept my apologies.)<br /><br />Last night, beautiful sunset.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R4BG3s5ZBBI/AAAAAAAAAiM/cZVpRT4TaqA/s1600-h/IMG_2544.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5152195896470471698" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R4BG3s5ZBBI/AAAAAAAAAiM/cZVpRT4TaqA/s320/IMG_2544.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />We had to wake up at 4 something a.m. that morning - there were barely any cabs- got way way overcharged but didn't want to miss the early ferry. Got there in time to find out that we could take a cheap bus/ferry combo to the airport if we waited another hour (of sleep lost)... Well it was worth not having to stay in Sarat Thani again, although we had to pass through it and traffic was miserable... I was scared we were going to miss the plane anyway.<br /><br />While we were waiting, I took a picture specifically for Reid:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R4BG5M5ZBCI/AAAAAAAAAiU/P9U3jFrpA_w/s1600-h/IMG_2553.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5152195922240275490" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R4BG5M5ZBCI/AAAAAAAAAiU/P9U3jFrpA_w/s320/IMG_2553.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />A Milk Crate Truck!<br /><br />And it was a beautiful morning so it wasn't too bad waiting. We had some for of breakfast. (Did I already mention there are 7-11's everywhere?)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R4BG6c5ZBDI/AAAAAAAAAic/613QWDjhXRY/s1600-h/IMG_2556.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5152195943715111986" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R4BG6c5ZBDI/AAAAAAAAAic/613QWDjhXRY/s320/IMG_2556.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />We made our flight. Security let us on the flight with a huge thing of water and a razor blade we didn't realize we had in out bags till later... I watched the Nancy Drew movie on one of the flights, which was totally kick ass! (she performs an emergency tracheotomy during a high school party!) Well that was a different flight but definitely worth mentioning.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:180%;">Chapter 8<br />Bangkok: Nice Knowin' You<br /><br /></span></span>Oh man! I felt so much better in Bangkok the second time around! I was prepared after the week of extra things on bills (one of my bills was even doubled!!!!! I went back to check the check and they brought me away from all of the other customers and apologized and gave me my money back... I dont think these things were accidents.) Someone told me that it it usually more busy and people who are dependent on tourist money are feeling it. Sucks, but I've been ripped off enough thanks.<br /><br />At the main train station in Bangkok, we stored our bags and there was a demonstration against drunk driving. I don't know if the military was there for a separate reason or not but I loved the people who were bringing drunk driving to everyones attention.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R4BE_s5ZA6I/AAAAAAAAAhU/zwbp5kfXgjk/s1600-h/IMG_2557.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5152193834886169506" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R4BE_s5ZA6I/AAAAAAAAAhU/zwbp5kfXgjk/s320/IMG_2557.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />We got to make it to some of the famous Buddhist temples in Bangkok. We used our time well and got to appreciate a lot, but I was happy we weren't doing something like this all day. I followed around a tour for a while so I could hear some of the significance of the structures we were passing. It made me feel sneaking; 'stealing' someone else's tour information.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R4BFAM5ZA7I/AAAAAAAAAhc/WtFmvIpThN8/s1600-h/IMG_2574.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5152193843476104114" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R4BFAM5ZA7I/AAAAAAAAAhc/WtFmvIpThN8/s320/IMG_2574.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R4BFAs5ZA8I/AAAAAAAAAhk/uVtw8EnYPbI/s1600-h/IMG_2568.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5152193852066038722" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R4BFAs5ZA8I/AAAAAAAAAhk/uVtw8EnYPbI/s320/IMG_2568.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R4BFBM5ZA9I/AAAAAAAAAhs/8hMxjeNwf_0/s1600-h/IMG_2578.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5152193860655973330" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R4BFBM5ZA9I/AAAAAAAAAhs/8hMxjeNwf_0/s320/IMG_2578.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />We went to one last market place and had dinner on the river, there were a lot of cool longboats, sadly i waited to take a picture until i was done eating, and got one sponsored by pepsi...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R4BFDM5ZA-I/AAAAAAAAAh0/P7AyFiLtZ4c/s1600-h/IMG_2582.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5152193895015711714" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R4BFDM5ZA-I/AAAAAAAAAh0/P7AyFiLtZ4c/s320/IMG_2582.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Walking around a little more before we left:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R4BDYs5ZA1I/AAAAAAAAAgs/ibOSk064Jzs/s1600-h/IMG_2584.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5152192065359643474" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R4BDYs5ZA1I/AAAAAAAAAgs/ibOSk064Jzs/s320/IMG_2584.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />This is the king: I am pretty sure I told you his picture is everywhere. This is a montage of his awesomeness:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R4BDY85ZA2I/AAAAAAAAAg0/aJh1m6DVyik/s1600-h/IMG_2588.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5152192069654610786" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R4BDY85ZA2I/AAAAAAAAAg0/aJh1m6DVyik/s320/IMG_2588.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />And a lot of people were wearing yellow shirts, partly to show support for the king. Renae really wanted one and we were already at the train station. I went for a little adventure to find one. First, I found these:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R4BDZM5ZA3I/AAAAAAAAAg8/XY9GOWsxMYw/s1600-h/IMG_2593.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5152192073949578098" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R4BDZM5ZA3I/AAAAAAAAAg8/XY9GOWsxMYw/s320/IMG_2593.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Then, I found a million yellow shirts that were not the right size or style. Finally, I found the awesomest one in the world.<br /><br />The new airport was awesome as well. We didn't spend anytime there when we arrived but leaving we had lots of time:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R4BDZs5ZA4I/AAAAAAAAAhE/SBQ9xNUfBL8/s1600-h/IMG_2594.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5152192082539512706" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R4BDZs5ZA4I/AAAAAAAAAhE/SBQ9xNUfBL8/s320/IMG_2594.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />More awesomeness...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R4BDac5ZA5I/AAAAAAAAAhM/OCflCR2MeZ0/s1600-h/IMG_2595.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5152192095424414610" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R4BDac5ZA5I/AAAAAAAAAhM/OCflCR2MeZ0/s320/IMG_2595.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />There were sweet restaurants set up in the middle of all the stores. Renae and I had sushi because we had a bad experience trying to get some in Korea. Airport Sushi in Thailand: Bangin'!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R4BCKc5ZAwI/AAAAAAAAAgE/R0e2MpX4UcI/s1600-h/IMG_2596.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5152190721034879746" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R4BCKc5ZAwI/AAAAAAAAAgE/R0e2MpX4UcI/s320/IMG_2596.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />I was tired on my way home. The bus is super easy from the airport. I was happy to be somewhere semi-familiar again...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R4BCKs5ZAxI/AAAAAAAAAgM/08JYOj3H8fA/s1600-h/IMG_2626.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5152190725329847058" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R4BCKs5ZAxI/AAAAAAAAAgM/08JYOj3H8fA/s320/IMG_2626.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:180%;">Chapter 9<br />A New Year in Seoul<br /></span></span>Ah, the last holiday of the holiday season; New Years!<br /><br />Renae and I got gussied up:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R4BCK85ZAyI/AAAAAAAAAgU/su31UJ7nF3c/s1600-h/IMG_2651.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5152190729624814370" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R4BCK85ZAyI/AAAAAAAAAgU/su31UJ7nF3c/s320/IMG_2651.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />We went to City Hall. Deanna thought there would be fireworks... oops. The Ice Skating rink there is pretty and there were a bunch of people. (Renae and I finally got to go skating this past weekend... we got there around 7 and had to wait for the last shift, 10-11, because all the others were sold out already...) There were awesome Koreans making a fuss, a crappy band, some guys from Iraq, and a few random Americans, all of who were fun to get excited and make a fuss with!<br /><br />Making a fuss with Koreans:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R4BCLM5ZAzI/AAAAAAAAAgc/V9ZFAR6o8pg/s1600-h/IMG_2658.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5152190733919781682" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R4BCLM5ZAzI/AAAAAAAAAgc/V9ZFAR6o8pg/s320/IMG_2658.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:180%;">Epilogue:<br />Heavy Metal Knights<br /><br /></span></span>You really want an epilogue? Well, here it is:<br />Screw that. I'm going to bed it is passed my bedtime and I am tired and did all of this for you and you still want more!>><<??? Where's your blog, huh? Why don't you tell me what's going on?<br /><br />SK, SK (slightly kidding - something i am trying to spread instead of jk - when you are actually a little serious about something say SK, [slightly kidding] - and then the person will know you really do have a little contempt in there somewhere.) again, I am SKing. hahahahahaha!<br /><br />Speaking of SK, it is a huge corporation here that owns cell phone stuff and oil stuff, and apparently, a basket ball team! I have been to two games so far! I got a jersey and then everyone copied me... hahahaha... and The second game, I caught a frisbee a cheerleader through in to the crowd and thought 'this is a sucky present' It looks mad old. Well, it was mad old... one of the koreans around me managed to tell me I had to go down to the court after the game. I shot and missed a few 3 pointers for some stupid prize (free film developing) but got to stay and get autographs from pretty much the whole team! now that is what I call awesome! Awesome awesome awesome awesome awesome (I didn't reach my 'awesome' quota for this post...)<br />Lauren, Amber, Yours (Truly), and Deanna.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R4BCLs5ZA0I/AAAAAAAAAgk/qEoGNBrydCM/s1600-h/IMG_2714.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5152190742509716290" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R4BCLs5ZA0I/AAAAAAAAAgk/qEoGNBrydCM/s320/IMG_2714.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />basketball.<br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Appendix A:<br /></span>I just wanted to explain that I posted all the pictures (and chapter titles shortly after) before I really began writing, so you see why i couldn't have posted the blog, without giving away some pictures without proper explanations, a little bit at a time. i am a jackass but it is done and I am happy. I hope you enjoyed!<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Appendix B:<br /></span>awesome, awesome, awesome, awesome, awesome, awesome, awesome, awesome, awesome, awesome, awesome, awesome, awesome, awesome, awesome, awesome, awesome, awesome, awesome, awesome, awesome, awesome, awesome, awesome, awesome, awesome, awesome, awesome, awesome, awesome, awesome, awesome, awesome, awesome, awesome, awesome, awesome, awesome, awesome, awesome, awesome, awesome, awesome!<br /><br />Awesome quota reached: 72!!!!!!<br /><br />Thats really great!<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br />Index<br /></span> It is all on this page...<br /><br /><br /> </div>El Colinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18387003152354830187noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-234941159456787465.post-2518060096314876062007-11-27T05:16:00.000-08:002008-12-11T19:51:37.335-08:00Backwards in TimeOk!<br /><br />I'm alive. I have been sick for a couple weeks and very busy with school and a special project.<br /><br />I am going to take you on a quick trip backwards through time. This is starting about a month ago and going back to the last post.<br /><br />here we go:<br /><br /><br /><br />On the real Halloween day, we went to an area of Seoul looking for Halloween parties and ended up at an empty bar that serves "Soju Kettles" which is Sugar and Soju in a cut off soda bottle:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R0wf-VY5GtI/AAAAAAAAAbg/TZb3Z4E0V1I/s1600-h/IMG_1379.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R0wf-VY5GtI/AAAAAAAAAbg/TZb3Z4E0V1I/s320/IMG_1379.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5137516430676794066" border="0" /></a><br /><br />A couple days before that I took part in the circuit bending challenge! It was a lot of fun. I found out in November that I was one of the winners!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R0wf-lY5GuI/AAAAAAAAAbo/tD_2Zf696c0/s1600-h/IMG_1322.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R0wf-lY5GuI/AAAAAAAAAbo/tD_2Zf696c0/s320/IMG_1322.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5137516434971761378" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The weekend before Halloween was a little more happenin' than Halloween. I got a lot of good reactions from people.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R0wf_1Y5GvI/AAAAAAAAAbw/-Y9qIP2lq8Q/s1600-h/IMG_1232.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R0wf_1Y5GvI/AAAAAAAAAbw/-Y9qIP2lq8Q/s320/IMG_1232.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5137516456446597874" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Renae was shiny!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R0we01Y5GoI/AAAAAAAAAa4/rbbHPbDCSRU/s1600-h/IMG_1207.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R0we01Y5GoI/AAAAAAAAAa4/rbbHPbDCSRU/s320/IMG_1207.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5137515167956408962" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Alien on the Subway!!!!!!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R0we1VY5GpI/AAAAAAAAAbA/yHZ5tE4a7gc/s1600-h/IMG_1228.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R0we1VY5GpI/AAAAAAAAAbA/yHZ5tE4a7gc/s320/IMG_1228.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5137515176546343570" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Jesus has a store in the mall:</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R0wdHlY5GiI/AAAAAAAAAaI/5QQqUUgwzLg/s1600-h/IMG_1074.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R0wdHlY5GiI/AAAAAAAAAaI/5QQqUUgwzLg/s320/IMG_1074.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5137513291055700514" border="0" /></a><br /><br />This is my new makeshift studio:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R0wdJFY5GjI/AAAAAAAAAaQ/lAAU0RvgUl0/s1600-h/IMG_1113.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R0wdJFY5GjI/AAAAAAAAAaQ/lAAU0RvgUl0/s320/IMG_1113.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5137513316825504306" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Renae bought me a bike for my birthday and it rocks!<br />It has a generator for the headlight!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R0wdKlY5GkI/AAAAAAAAAaY/Ak4HNiCQs9w/s1600-h/IMG_1115.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R0wdKlY5GkI/AAAAAAAAAaY/Ak4HNiCQs9w/s320/IMG_1115.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5137513342595308098" border="0" /></a><br /><br />My bed with awesome blankets and a new friend.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R0wdMVY5GlI/AAAAAAAAAag/JeqQbU6P0ko/s1600-h/IMG_1116.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R0wdMVY5GlI/AAAAAAAAAag/JeqQbU6P0ko/s320/IMG_1116.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5137513372660079186" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I wore shorts at our school's Halloween party (the Friday before Halloween)<br />so I wouldn't expose myself to the kids.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R0wdMlY5GmI/AAAAAAAAAao/zsbc0aTQn0Y/s1600-h/IMG_1138.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R0wdMlY5GmI/AAAAAAAAAao/zsbc0aTQn0Y/s320/IMG_1138.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5137513376955046498" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Some of my kids at the party:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R0wih1Y5GwI/AAAAAAAAAb4/4Ucid4d6BwY/s1600-h/IMG_1147.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R0wih1Y5GwI/AAAAAAAAAb4/4Ucid4d6BwY/s320/IMG_1147.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5137519239585405698" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Cool street art:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R0wb4lY5GdI/AAAAAAAAAZg/rt_CNVvnSN0/s1600-h/IMG_1033.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R0wb4lY5GdI/AAAAAAAAAZg/rt_CNVvnSN0/s320/IMG_1033.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5137511933846034898" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Robots outside a public bathroom:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R0wb41Y5GeI/AAAAAAAAAZo/7ipn27zmMZ4/s1600-h/IMG_1038.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R0wb41Y5GeI/AAAAAAAAAZo/7ipn27zmMZ4/s320/IMG_1038.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5137511938141002210" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Murals in a walkway under the street.<br />This is Brett from the Drum Festival.<br />This week in November is his last week here.<br />He gave me an awesome cd he made and maple syrup!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R0wb61Y5GfI/AAAAAAAAAZw/2Jh7NfBnPFs/s1600-h/IMG_1052.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R0wb61Y5GfI/AAAAAAAAAZw/2Jh7NfBnPFs/s320/IMG_1052.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5137511972500740594" border="0" /></a><br /><br />This doesn't make me want to take the stairs.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R0wb9FY5GgI/AAAAAAAAAZ4/l0Y7acl0ipE/s1600-h/IMG_1046.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R0wb9FY5GgI/AAAAAAAAAZ4/l0Y7acl0ipE/s320/IMG_1046.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5137512011155446274" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The Korean bathhouse gave me my man clothes!<br />Its a nice place to relax and soak in different herb water of different temps.<br />You can sleep there too. It is cheaper than a cab home.<br />Unfortunately this one wasn't working properly and smoke was getting to us.<br />We left at 5a.m. and unsuccessfully tried to get soft pretzels before boarding the early morning subway. Also, I got a pimpin' hat for my pimp suit.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R0wb9VY5GhI/AAAAAAAAAaA/u8hRxvK6cIo/s1600-h/IMG_1058.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R0wb9VY5GhI/AAAAAAAAAaA/u8hRxvK6cIo/s320/IMG_1058.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5137512015450413586" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I didn't go to this place.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R0wa31Y5GYI/AAAAAAAAAY4/vDkj2LJOF4Q/s1600-h/IMG_1024.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R0wa31Y5GYI/AAAAAAAAAY4/vDkj2LJOF4Q/s320/IMG_1024.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5137510821449505154" border="0" /></a><br /><br />But I played my guitar in an awesome club of rockin' Koreans that welcomed Renae Brett Coreen and I with beer and awesomeness.<br /><object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/GdXagRFVras&rel=1"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/GdXagRFVras&rel=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object><br /><br />Cool store that I didn't go into:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R0wa4lY5GaI/AAAAAAAAAZI/0Dl0w5AjCIw/s1600-h/IMG_1026.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R0wa4lY5GaI/AAAAAAAAAZI/0Dl0w5AjCIw/s320/IMG_1026.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5137510834334407074" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Cool store that I did go into:<br />This was awesome. The girl running the store had a cat.<br />I have been obsessing with only one TV show: Heroes.<br />I think it's cause I feel like the world needs saving.<br />She was watching Heroes when we went in.<br />I was so happy. The store was also happifying.<br />There is a lot of awesome handmade stuff in there!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R0wa41Y5GbI/AAAAAAAAAZQ/y4YiCRq8ki4/s1600-h/IMG_1029.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R0wa41Y5GbI/AAAAAAAAAZQ/y4YiCRq8ki4/s320/IMG_1029.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5137510838629374386" border="0" /></a><br /><br />More cool ad/street art.<br />These are cool in my book. They are awesome and for independent stores.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R0wa_1Y5GcI/AAAAAAAAAZY/PFju9ggL5C4/s1600-h/IMG_1031.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R0wa_1Y5GcI/AAAAAAAAAZY/PFju9ggL5C4/s320/IMG_1031.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5137510958888458690" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />Some of my homeroom kids before a bday 'party'<br />We had one today. It is mostly an opportunity to force cute pictures on the kids.<br />Birthdays aren't really fun but you get a lot of awesome food!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R0wa4FY5GZI/AAAAAAAAAZA/-UDTrbya55Q/s1600-h/IMG_0992.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/R0wa4FY5GZI/AAAAAAAAAZA/-UDTrbya55Q/s320/IMG_0992.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5137510825744472466" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />That just about catches us up, although I have no idea what you are up to. Send me an email or some snail mail. I have received 3 letters so far and they have made me very happy. Thank you so much. As soon as I can jump out of school to go to the post office a lot of you will be getting something in the mail and I will be broke again.<br /><br />The next couple of posts should catch up to present time. Not a lot has happened due to my illness. I am much better now.<br /><br />If you want to find info on the circuit bending challenge go to the w<a href="http://whereheremeetsthere.blogspot.com">here here meets there blog.<br /></a><br />If you want to find out about the awesome music of Brett's band go to <a href="http://www.tongueandgroovemusic.ca">tongue and groove's site.</a><br /><br />Also, with December coming up, I have been here almost 3 months! That is 1/4 of a year!<br />I am 25% done my contracted time here! Don't worry, I'll be back after that. I have to...<br />My Dad get married in September next year! See you in another 75% everyone! -- just think of me as a really long, but very worth it, download on an old 28.8k modem! wooooo those things could fly! I also need to get away from the computer (did i just call myself a download?) you wish it were that easy! so do i sometimes. peace and love.El Colinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18387003152354830187noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-234941159456787465.post-27366779259961674632007-10-27T03:30:00.000-07:002008-12-11T19:51:37.806-08:00Seoul Drum Festival Appendix A<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/RyMTxtPge1I/AAAAAAAAAQg/nfIbVxIid_0/s1600-h/Drumming+Festival+in+Seoul+011.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/RyMTxtPge1I/AAAAAAAAAQg/nfIbVxIid_0/s320/Drumming+Festival+in+Seoul+011.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5125962545556912978" border="0" /></a><br />Brett sent me this picture of the riot police. There are more in the background but it doesn't show the crazy amount of them there. I watched a line march by of about 4 across and 200 deep! They were chanting like they were in the military, too; raising there helmets and shields, shouting. I think I mentioned before that all Korean men are required to go into the military when they are my age for 2 years. Fighter jets fly by my classroom almost everyday.<br /><br />Reid brought up the <a href="http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/10/19/SS6JS8RH0.DTL&hw=pacific+patch&sn=001&sc=1000">Great Pacific Garbage Patch</a> or <a href="http://www.bestlifeonline.com/cms/publish/travel-leisure/Our_oceans_are_turning_into_plastic_are_we.shtml">Eastern Garbage Patch</a>. I wish we could put all the money and manpower devoted to the military toward making the world a better place. Things are not looking good for good old planet Earth.<br /><br />Life goes on... for now.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/RyMTyNPge2I/AAAAAAAAAQo/m9-TYNgFtqg/s1600-h/Drumming+Festival+in+Seoul+026.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/RyMTyNPge2I/AAAAAAAAAQo/m9-TYNgFtqg/s320/Drumming+Festival+in+Seoul+026.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5125962554146847586" border="0" /></a>El Colinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18387003152354830187noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-234941159456787465.post-7641662223119993482007-10-25T08:07:00.000-07:002008-12-11T19:51:41.337-08:00Seoul Drum FestivalThe drum festival was a beautiful experience. I met up with two new good friends, Brett and Coreen, a couple of awesome Canadians that I spent most of the night with. I was waiting for Jesse, Tiffany and Renae to get there and eventually they showed up and we had a blast.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/RyCzU9PgeqI/AAAAAAAAAPI/ux5ftJPSdaM/s1600-h/IMG_0917.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/RyCzU9PgeqI/AAAAAAAAAPI/ux5ftJPSdaM/s320/IMG_0917.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5125293548565985954" border="0" /></a><br />Did I mention I have seen the craziest spiders in Korea? I have not moved too close to any of them because of an irrational fear that the one I am looking at will turn out to be a Korean <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jumping_spider">jumping spider</a> but it doesn't keep me from taking pictures. I was camera-less when I came across the nastiest one I have seen so far. This was early in the day before I boarded the subway on the way to the festival.<br /><br />I got out of the subway near the World Cup Stadium where I was surrounded by SWAT team members. I would say about 400 cops, all in full gear, were marching around, some were just chillin'. I was too scared to snap a pick after I heard about some crazy riot police incidents in Korea. Apparently, they have messed some people up and killed some people in the middle of peaceful protests. I have not looked it up yet. Later, Brett told me he took some pictures and I am waiting on him to send them. He told me that there was a protest of about 50 workers going on and that is what attracted so many riot-geared five-o. Scary.<br /><br />They had free shuttles to the show but I couldn't find them among the prison buses (later, I found out they didn't start till 5pm) so I had a nice long walk to the park it was being held at. I knew I was close. People pointed me in the general direction until I made it. I ended up seeing some nice scenery.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/RyCytNPgepI/AAAAAAAAAPA/ukcPYg6YG9Y/s1600-h/IMG_0918.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/RyCytNPgepI/AAAAAAAAAPA/ukcPYg6YG9Y/s320/IMG_0918.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5125292865666185874" border="0" /></a><br />I walked across this bridge 3 times, figuring out which way I needed to go. It was a beautiful place to stall.<br /><br /><br />I saw a rollerskating team at the stadium and happened to end up behind them after getting a little lost. I figured they were probably going the right way but I didn't ask till we were almost there. One of the awesome things about Korea if you are a roller skater, bicyclist, or skater (or wheelchairer, i guess) are the ramps they have on the stairs:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/RyCystPgeoI/AAAAAAAAAO4/9WaY1ZNVJBM/s1600-h/IMG_0925.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/RyCystPgeoI/AAAAAAAAAO4/9WaY1ZNVJBM/s320/IMG_0925.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5125292857076251266" border="0" /></a><br />It would be so much easier if they were wearing their roller blades! I know one day I am going to make trouble for myself on one of these sets of stairs.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/RyCysNPgenI/AAAAAAAAAOw/fhVObck2cY4/s1600-h/IMG_0922.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/RyCysNPgenI/AAAAAAAAAOw/fhVObck2cY4/s320/IMG_0922.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5125292848486316658" border="0" /></a><br />Right before going down the steps I snapped this photo. All of the bridges are individually special looking; most of the buildings are not. I said it in a previous blog entry that the buildings would be so ugly if they weren't uniformed and scattered close together but I think, especially against the water they look atrocious.<br /><br />When I got down to the park I saw another crazy spider:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/RyCzVNPgerI/AAAAAAAAAPQ/yUc8Tq2KTrI/s1600-h/IMG_0927.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/RyCzVNPgerI/AAAAAAAAAPQ/yUc8Tq2KTrI/s320/IMG_0927.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5125293552860953266" border="0" /></a><br />Sorry for the poor quality but I am not sticking around something that looks like that and asking it to pose and smile; that's what nature photographers are for...<br /><br />Speaking of nature photography, just after the spider, I snapped this one and thought of a career change, then I thought of the spider again... I'll stick to teaching for now.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/RyCzVdPgesI/AAAAAAAAAPY/nf42V6dZ6Ns/s1600-h/IMG_0928.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/RyCzVdPgesI/AAAAAAAAAPY/nf42V6dZ6Ns/s320/IMG_0928.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5125293557155920578" border="0" /></a><br />But I am still really happy about this one! I once thought dragonflies only have a lifespan of 24 hours. Tis a common misconception. I don't know where I got the idea from but I am not the only one who pulled it from somewhere. Some adults do only live for 4 weeks or so (some a lot longer) but I still thought it was beautiful to see one relax and not move at all. For a couple minutes I stared at it and thought about that. Then it flew away.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/RyCzVtPgetI/AAAAAAAAAPg/s-hjw2dX_MU/s1600-h/IMG_0931.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/RyCzVtPgetI/AAAAAAAAAPg/s-hjw2dX_MU/s320/IMG_0931.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5125293561450887890" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The dragonfly was outside a campground that I thought was the festival at first. It reminded me of <a href="http://tentstate.com/">Tent State</a><br /><br /><br />The show didn't start till late, but there was an early preview performance on a small stage.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/RyCzV9PgeuI/AAAAAAAAAPo/wSQCw4d39rM/s1600-h/IMG_0936.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/RyCzV9PgeuI/AAAAAAAAAPo/wSQCw4d39rM/s320/IMG_0936.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5125293565745855202" border="0" /></a><br />The lady with the trumpet rocks it. It sounds more like a Rusted sweet voice singing in a high pitch. I loved it. They went on for longer than and hour, non-stop.<br /><br />There was also a drum circle and tents for all of the performers. I recieved some free cds and dvds.<br /><br />To my surprise, I passed the main stage when I turned the corner of the last tent.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/RyCz9dPgevI/AAAAAAAAAPw/3uCOZDsvBI4/s1600-h/IMG_0938.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/RyCz9dPgevI/AAAAAAAAAPw/3uCOZDsvBI4/s320/IMG_0938.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5125294244350687986" border="0" /></a><br />How did I not see this before?<br /><br />I made friends with a Korean guy, whose job it was to give out free water. He let me use his phone.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/RyCz9tPgewI/AAAAAAAAAP4/HiTT5mPv_EA/s1600-h/IMG_0944.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/RyCz9tPgewI/AAAAAAAAAP4/HiTT5mPv_EA/s320/IMG_0944.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5125294248645655298" border="0" /></a><br />I saw this scene sometime after I met Brett and Coreen.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/RyCz99PgexI/AAAAAAAAAQA/MtcJxKewTsU/s1600-h/IMG_0947.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/RyCz99PgexI/AAAAAAAAAQA/MtcJxKewTsU/s320/IMG_0947.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5125294252940622610" border="0" /></a><br />The toilets are nicer than indoor toilets; brought in on trailers and more than enough for everyone. Right as I was taking the picture a woman rode by on her bike... (I flashed a lady right outside of the bathroom. - hahahaha)<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/RyCz-NPgeyI/AAAAAAAAAQI/xbucPY6KtLI/s1600-h/IMG_0948.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/RyCz-NPgeyI/AAAAAAAAAQI/xbucPY6KtLI/s320/IMG_0948.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5125294257235589922" border="0" /></a><br />GS 25 is a convenient store. They have so much goodness at this traveling location. Hot water for making ramen noodles, cold drinks in refrigerators, hot coffee and tea drinks in hotterators, and some glowing things I tried to do some fire spinning with. I took this picture to remind myself of the hotterators that I tried to get a cold coffee drink from.<br /><br /><br /><br />The show was amazing. An all woman's group kicked ass, an all blind group ripped it up, a band performing at the Olympics from China was there. They rocked some E L O 14 person band deal and some cool electrodrums. There was a DJ (represent - just needed a beat boxer and they would have had almost everything.) Julliard music school broke the fast paced beats with some composed weirdness. There was African drumming, awesome Korean drumming (the group from earlier really put on a show!) Another girl saw me and Jesse busting out fire spinning and she had her glow balls with her. She was from Australia and I desperately wanted to spin fire with her. I miss it, especially with such driving rhythms. I didn't take my camera out much. I was happy dancing and talking. But I do want a costume like this:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/RyCz-tPgezI/AAAAAAAAAQQ/ogGTjDtqhY0/s1600-h/IMG_0961.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/RyCz-tPgezI/AAAAAAAAAQQ/ogGTjDtqhY0/s320/IMG_0961.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5125294265825524530" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />Also the awesomest guy in the history of awesome came on pretty late and stunned me. First playing with 3 drum sticks in each hand with crazy rhythms and a wall of sound from 1 guy. He was playing the drums with his long hair too! Then he did fire spinning drumming! That girl already left - she would have been so happy. Then rocked it on this awesome hammered string instrument: (I hope the video works - it is crapquality but you can tell) he also played some drums with mad water as a finale. It was so good. A group from England went on after him. They were also cool but no one wants to go after this guy.<br /><br /><br /><br />{video not working yet - sorry}<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />On a completely unrelated not, Seoul has a lot of these 'punch-this-thing' games. The first one I tried (and most of the ones by my house,) is called 'Girl Fighter.' They also have soccer 'kick-this-thing' games.<br /><br />Renae punches the living stuffing out of a bag...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/RyCyrdPgelI/AAAAAAAAAOg/m8nn1NmnCCQ/s1600-h/IMG_0783.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/RyCyrdPgelI/AAAAAAAAAOg/m8nn1NmnCCQ/s320/IMG_0783.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5125292835601414738" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />!!!! Amber got <span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-style: italic;">THE </span>HIGH SCORE!!!!!! </span>Holy Moley!!!! There are people who have been punching this thing for years and she rocked all of them! She put me and all of the Koreans at the batting cage to shame! Oh yea, there are just batting cages randomly outside some places.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/RyCyrtPgemI/AAAAAAAAAOo/s2VEK-OB2C8/s1600-h/IMG_0784.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/RyCyrtPgemI/AAAAAAAAAOo/s2VEK-OB2C8/s320/IMG_0784.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5125292839896382050" border="0" /></a><br />Awesome Amber!El Colinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18387003152354830187noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-234941159456787465.post-83408264284042321272007-10-20T20:34:00.000-07:002008-12-11T19:51:45.580-08:00The United States is a Clown Named Big Head<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/RxrTNaBrbFI/AAAAAAAAALo/trh200pvIP0/s1600-h/DSC02708.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/RxrTNaBrbFI/AAAAAAAAALo/trh200pvIP0/s320/DSC02708.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5123639753365482578" border="0" /></a><br />This is what I looked like on actual Chuseok Day. Renae and I went to the amusement park in Seoul called Lotte World because it would be less crowded on the family gathering oriented holiday. There were still some lines, but from what I hear they were not comparable to the unbearable waits on some busier dates.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/RxrUMKBrbGI/AAAAAAAAALw/nn0VYTLnTBA/s1600-h/DSC02715.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/RxrUMKBrbGI/AAAAAAAAALw/nn0VYTLnTBA/s320/DSC02715.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5123640831402273890" border="0" /></a><br />They rock Oktoberfest in Korea depending on where you are.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/RxrUtKBrbHI/AAAAAAAAAL4/C46eaeHgt0U/s1600-h/DSC02729.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/RxrUtKBrbHI/AAAAAAAAAL4/C46eaeHgt0U/s320/DSC02729.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5123641398337956978" border="0" /></a><br />It is 'the thing' at Lotte World to where ears on your head. We didn't go on one of the only rides we waited in line for because we had an appointment time set up for another roller coaster before we got to ride. The other roller coaster was way cooler; "The French Revolution!" It was indoors and we did a loop over and around people on a walkway.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/RxrWGaBrbJI/AAAAAAAAAMI/JzAD_ZTUTCs/s1600-h/DSC02742.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/RxrWGaBrbJI/AAAAAAAAAMI/JzAD_ZTUTCs/s320/DSC02742.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5123642931641281682" border="0" /></a><br />I took a picture of the picture the camera took of me on the coaster. This is, of course, strictly prohibited, but I pleaded ignorance and got a two photos off before they stopped me. This picture is slightly better than the last. I am still messing around with the camera a lot. The bitch is, sometimes, there's no time to adjust settings.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/RxrXdqBrbKI/AAAAAAAAAMQ/dvSuhvJfCGE/s1600-h/DSC02794.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/RxrXdqBrbKI/AAAAAAAAAMQ/dvSuhvJfCGE/s320/DSC02794.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5123644430584868002" border="0" /></a><br />This is about 1/3 of the amusement park. It is muti-leveled inside and there is a large island outside.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/RxrV16BrbII/AAAAAAAAAMA/acTnMkH4m-A/s1600-h/DSC02740.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/RxrV16BrbII/AAAAAAAAAMA/acTnMkH4m-A/s320/DSC02740.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5123642648173440130" border="0" /></a><br />They have a magic castle too.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/RxrYH6BrbLI/AAAAAAAAAMY/QUafjK0oHuQ/s1600-h/DSC02806.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/RxrYH6BrbLI/AAAAAAAAAMY/QUafjK0oHuQ/s320/DSC02806.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5123645156434341042" border="0" /></a><br />Again, not a great picture, but I was on an escalator and didn't want to go all the way back up and down again. They have countries from around the world represented with their flags and a cartoon character. The United States is a clown named Big Head. All the other countries were pretty dignified in comparison; the Big Head stands alone.<br /><br />I spent the last hour of my time at Lotte World at a crane game trying to win a stuffed animal. The crane games suck here but I thought I might get lucky. Well on Renae's go at it, the machine malfunctioned and gave us infinite turns. We tried every animal in the cage. One was moving so we tried to edge it towards the hole. We did this for about an hour, then it was time for Lotte World to close and we were very hungry. I have never been so frustrated in my life. I know that I have not learned my lesson and still will try at these impossible crane games until a miracle happens. I will keep you posted...<br /><br /><br /><br />We had off the day after Chuseok also. It was a Wednesday that felt like 3 Sundays combined. Winding down from a looooong weekend, Renae and I went out for a relaxing day and ended our Chuseok at a jazz club called Once in a Blue Moon. It was the perfect ending for the busy break.<br /><br />This was in a really high class area. I saw some street art outside of an Armani store. There are a lot of designer stores and high class automobile retailers there. I am not sure if it is an advertisement or a satire but the stencil has a registered "r" on it:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/RxrbLqBrbMI/AAAAAAAAAMg/ToimRDqb6R4/s1600-h/IMG_0685.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/RxrbLqBrbMI/AAAAAAAAAMg/ToimRDqb6R4/s320/IMG_0685.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5123648519393733826" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />Also in the area was the world's largest tribute to something a few of us at Rutgers invented known as the "1-up." I post these pictures for their pleasure.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/RxrbMKBrbNI/AAAAAAAAAMo/CQPJTgvgJ3I/s1600-h/IMG_0689.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/RxrbMKBrbNI/AAAAAAAAAMo/CQPJTgvgJ3I/s320/IMG_0689.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5123648527983668434" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/RxrcVqBrbOI/AAAAAAAAAMw/EwDnnRm1OW0/s1600-h/IMG_0690.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/RxrcVqBrbOI/AAAAAAAAAMw/EwDnnRm1OW0/s320/IMG_0690.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5123649790704053474" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Also I found a place to invest all the money I make while I am here:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/RxrcWKBrbPI/AAAAAAAAAM4/IortRJUuxQw/s1600-h/IMG_0676.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/RxrcWKBrbPI/AAAAAAAAAM4/IortRJUuxQw/s320/IMG_0676.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5123649799293988082" border="0" /></a><br />With a name like that, how could I go wrong? Maybe one day, just for fun...<br /><br /><br /><br />Updates on other things since then:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/RxrebqBrbSI/AAAAAAAAANQ/SyfZs9Qyroo/s1600-h/IMG_0719.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/RxrebqBrbSI/AAAAAAAAANQ/SyfZs9Qyroo/s320/IMG_0719.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5123652092806524194" border="0" /></a><br />Mad for Garlic is a restaurant that has nothing but amazing garlic dishes! Everything was so good. Also the walls are decorated in garlic. There was even a wreath of garlic!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/RxreaqBrbQI/AAAAAAAAANA/qQYt59S6lJE/s1600-h/IMG_0706.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/RxreaqBrbQI/AAAAAAAAANA/qQYt59S6lJE/s320/IMG_0706.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5123652075626654978" border="0" /></a><br />...and ice in their toilets??!<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/Rxrea6BrbRI/AAAAAAAAANI/oNX_c9i8-RM/s1600-h/IMG_0720.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/Rxrea6BrbRI/AAAAAAAAANI/oNX_c9i8-RM/s320/IMG_0720.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5123652079921622290" border="0" /></a><br />Blue lights are serious.<br /><br /><br />A creepy outside of a restaurant:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/RxrecqBrbUI/AAAAAAAAANg/CbIQ5oedYtg/s1600-h/IMG_0765.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/RxrecqBrbUI/AAAAAAAAANg/CbIQ5oedYtg/s320/IMG_0765.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5123652109986393410" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/Rxreb6BrbTI/AAAAAAAAANY/TU7FnkV09ws/s1600-h/IMG_0760.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/Rxreb6BrbTI/AAAAAAAAANY/TU7FnkV09ws/s320/IMG_0760.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5123652097101491506" border="0" /></a><br />In this version of dodge ball, apparently the opposing team gets to have some people surrounding the other team! Awesome!<br /><br />When I rule the world this will be the flag:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/RxribaBrbVI/AAAAAAAAANo/m_yyC1mod50/s1600-h/IMG_0768.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/RxribaBrbVI/AAAAAAAAANo/m_yyC1mod50/s320/IMG_0768.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5123656486558068050" border="0" /></a><br />The Earth will be called Crazy Pepper and everyone will eat awesome spicy food.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/RxricqBrbWI/AAAAAAAAANw/kOwybC5o1Os/s1600-h/IMG_0794.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/RxricqBrbWI/AAAAAAAAANw/kOwybC5o1Os/s320/IMG_0794.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5123656508032904546" border="0" /></a><br />A mega crowded hip-hop club.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/Rxric6BrbXI/AAAAAAAAAN4/VI2MYbUO4Dg/s1600-h/IMG_0819.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/Rxric6BrbXI/AAAAAAAAAN4/VI2MYbUO4Dg/s320/IMG_0819.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5123656512327871858" border="0" /></a><br />A not-so-crowded hip-hop club next door to the crowded one.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/RxrieKBrbYI/AAAAAAAAAOA/xXRKYRHMZCU/s1600-h/IMG_0912.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/RxrieKBrbYI/AAAAAAAAAOA/xXRKYRHMZCU/s320/IMG_0912.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5123656533802708354" border="0" /></a><br />This picture is from Renae's window. A woman dries peppers on her roof. When I walk down the street there are people who just lay them out on the side of the road. I wouldn't know what to do with so many. Some people do; there is an amazing condiment here: red pepper paste. I love it. I can't get enough of it. It is my wildest flavonoid's dreams come true.<br /><br />I am gonna go get me some of that pepper paste. Next time I will update all of you on the international drum festival they had here a couple of weeks ago and more!El Colinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18387003152354830187noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-234941159456787465.post-83451086671214320072007-10-10T07:26:00.000-07:002008-12-11T19:51:48.284-08:00Anti-Calculus ToothpasteIt is no surprise that when I was in the store today, I saw "Anti-Calculus" toothpaste. I wish I had a camera, but you get the idea. There are plenty of horrible translations, but I think this was someone who was just probably fed up with math, and working for a toothpaste company, where no one else would catch on.<br /><br />While I was teaching some of my elementary students about time, we had to figure out how much time they go to school. From 8 a.m. until 6 p.m. for English class. And it doesn't end there! Afterwards it is time for piano class or violin lessons or learning how to play the ocarina (one of the kids is enrolled in classes for all three!) If I spent 12 hours at school when I was 10 years old... I might end up a little crazy too.<br /><br />Recently I heard that Korea surpassed America for number of hours worked in a week or day, but thqat there production is still about one third of an average American. People basically just go to work to do normal life stuff, even sleep in some cases.<br /><br />My job feels like it follows this ethic in someways. I am there but for three hours some days, I don't have to do anything! I have free periods. It is basically a 9:30-6:00 job but after dealing with the Hyatt, I might as well be lounging on the beach sipping some Mai Tais... or Chillin at a Hof sippin some Soju.<br /><br />I am going to take pictures of work life tomorrow. One of my homeroom students celebrates his birthday tomorrow, which is a huuuuge deal in Korea. It is awesome for me, because I get to eat cake instead of teaching.<br /><br />Yes, that is right, the 6 year olds I teach have homeroom, and switch classes every period; something I didn't do until High School, and it scared the crap out of me.<br /><br />I am improving on my teaching skills in leaps and giddy skips.<br /><br />My Hangugo (Korean language, I think) skills are still not that great, but I am now able to read almost everything around me, even though the words still don't mean much to me. I have the basics down now and it is becoming very natural for me, which feels comforting. I am ready to continue on the quest to learn this language, even if it will only be applicable for only 11 more months of my entire life.<br /><br />On top of my language studies and work, my perpetual attempts at furthering my art in music and writing continue. I have been staying away from the computer and sticking to cassette and paper. The TV has only been a distraction twice so far, although I may be able to count my Korean television show watching in the category of learning the language. I met a guy here who was well into chopping down the language barrier and he recommended watching Taxi Driver and Friends in Korean repeatedly, he was, however, also an ass and I don't want to take his advice.<br /><br />Overlapping and in between, I have been experiencing Seoul and the Republic of Korea. It is expandingly interesting here. There is so much to take in and be a part of, it follows that when I speak of it, my time here will sound like a long vacation. Even sometimes I feel as though this blog may be one long, boring, vacation slide photo session. On the contrary, I am doing my best to live life to the fullest. Maybe life should just feel like a long vacation. Some of you reading this will think "I wish" but even vacations have their drawbacks. Maybe in life, those drawbacks are just drawn out sometimes too.<br /><br />Here are some of the life I have been living:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/RwzpWBMIEJI/AAAAAAAAAJQ/NTUai7nYyK4/s1600-h/IMG_0496.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/RwzpWBMIEJI/AAAAAAAAAJQ/NTUai7nYyK4/s320/IMG_0496.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5119723440899100818" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/RwzrhxMIEKI/AAAAAAAAAJY/RcmvBIFfQrI/s1600-h/IMG_0505.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/RwzrhxMIEKI/AAAAAAAAAJY/RcmvBIFfQrI/s320/IMG_0505.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5119725841785819298" border="0" /></a><br />Renae and I were walking around here area and there was a small dirt road between two buildings. We took the trail and it lead us away from the cars and the buildings. It is nice to get away into nature, even if it is just an island of it, in the middle of a super sized metropolis. I like taking pictures of bugs. I am on a bridge, a straight overpass, suspended over a six lane road, but it is built for more than walking. There are beautiful bushes surrounding a winding path that makes you feel like you didn't just step out of the woods; that the road below you is a mirage and when you continue forward into the thicker forest, the sound of the cars disappears back into your imagination.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/RwzvSBMIEMI/AAAAAAAAAJk/rxpBv0e3SJs/s1600-h/IMG_0515.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/RwzvSBMIEMI/AAAAAAAAAJk/rxpBv0e3SJs/s320/IMG_0515.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5119729969249390786" border="0" /></a><br />Chuseok is a thanksgiving holiday. It happens on the full moon in September. It was on a Tuesday this year. Most jobs were off for Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. Some people get off the whole week. Family's gather to pray for and to recent ancestors and to share thanks. There are a lot fo tradition games that I was in charge of doing with all the classes. I didn't know about any of them... except for Chiki Chagi! I impressed everyone at the school, including the teachers, with my Chiki Chagi skills. (Little did they know that I had been practicing for years in America under the guise of Hacky-Sack! That was so cool. I felt like the Mac of Chuseok. In the picture above, Renae's Tae Kwon Do class was invited to Chuseok Dinner with their Master, Sun. I happily tagged along, and even though they were serving duck, there was another vegetarian and they made some extra-special dishes for us. We took a bus to the mountains. The bus was innovative and I have not seen one like it before. In Mexico, there was a stool in between the pilot seats of a van to fit more people. This van has two fold down seats in the isles; so cool:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/Rwzx2RMIENI/AAAAAAAAAJs/KAJTKy20JBQ/s1600-h/IMG_0509.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/Rwzx2RMIENI/AAAAAAAAAJs/KAJTKy20JBQ/s320/IMG_0509.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5119732791042904274" border="0" /></a><br />After making some a great new friend and going to a bar with Renae's Tae Kwon Do instructor (who seems to hover around the same intensity with rockin' out that I do,) we decided to go to the Korean Traditional Village the next day.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/Rwz19BMIEOI/AAAAAAAAAJ0/VvRiwiXe8hA/s1600-h/IMG_0556.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/Rwz19BMIEOI/AAAAAAAAAJ0/VvRiwiXe8hA/s320/IMG_0556.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5119737305053532386" border="0" /></a><br />On the entrance to a small village area.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/Rwz2XhMIEPI/AAAAAAAAAJ8/sbFN1uv0vm0/s1600-h/IMG_0570.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/Rwz2XhMIEPI/AAAAAAAAAJ8/sbFN1uv0vm0/s320/IMG_0570.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5119737760320065778" border="0" /></a><br />This structure is a tribute to a Woman's fidelity after marriage.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/Rwz3AxMIEQI/AAAAAAAAAKE/fF6sWd9wJZg/s1600-h/IMG_0578.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/Rwz3AxMIEQI/AAAAAAAAAKE/fF6sWd9wJZg/s320/IMG_0578.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5119738468989669634" border="0" /></a><br />An older gentleman relaxing by the river. No one lives at the village except for some animals and the Buddhist monks there.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/Rwz4DxMIERI/AAAAAAAAAKM/5naTC76OXe0/s1600-h/IMG_0588.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/Rwz4DxMIERI/AAAAAAAAAKM/5naTC76OXe0/s320/IMG_0588.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5119739620040904978" border="0" /></a><br />and Korean scarecrows.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/Rwz4yBMIESI/AAAAAAAAAKU/VGD8aa_YXDs/s1600-h/IMG_0646.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/Rwz4yBMIESI/AAAAAAAAAKU/VGD8aa_YXDs/s320/IMG_0646.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5119740414609854754" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/Rwz5IhMIETI/AAAAAAAAAKc/LMMvJ5B1YGk/s1600-h/IMG_0599.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/Rwz5IhMIETI/AAAAAAAAAKc/LMMvJ5B1YGk/s320/IMG_0599.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5119740801156911410" border="0" /></a><br />...cool statues and lame people who want to be like them.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/Rwz6WBMIEVI/AAAAAAAAAKo/lllpQ0pckPM/s1600-h/IMG_0633.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/Rwz6WBMIEVI/AAAAAAAAAKo/lllpQ0pckPM/s320/IMG_0633.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5119742132596773202" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/Rwz6vRMIEWI/AAAAAAAAAKw/IbOTEZjVBB0/s1600-h/IMG_0634.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/Rwz6vRMIEWI/AAAAAAAAAKw/IbOTEZjVBB0/s320/IMG_0634.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5119742566388470114" border="0" /></a><br />On the way to the temple; lattic has never looked close to this cool.<br />I didn't take pictures near the temple out of respect. I feel some things have to be left out of my world in the age of digital information. I was humbled. I pictured monks rising at 3am to do their chores and prayers; the one whose job is to beat the drum, the other whose job it is to sweep... chilling. Awesome.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/Rwz8xhMIEZI/AAAAAAAAALA/1VDQx4d5lK4/s1600-h/IMG_0654.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/Rwz8xhMIEZI/AAAAAAAAALA/1VDQx4d5lK4/s320/IMG_0654.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5119744804066431378" border="0" /></a><br />I have a series of this turtle coming out of its shell. I could not believe after I took the first picture, that its neck kept stretching further. The next shot is a catfish scaring it back into the shell. How long is the neck...? the world may never know.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/Rwz9WxMIEaI/AAAAAAAAALI/7k_u52JhE78/s1600-h/IMG_0584.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/Rwz9WxMIEaI/AAAAAAAAALI/7k_u52JhE78/s320/IMG_0584.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5119745444016558498" border="0" /></a><br />Renae and I say 'Hi.' The folk village was quite nice. There are many other pictures and there is much to explain. I know I will be back someday, but the Korean teacher who recommended I go to this place during the holiday (less of a crowd) told me of another place, an actual folk village. I know these boots will take me there. I am not sure if they will bring me back.<br /><br />I want to live in a small community growing peppers. I love peppers.<br /><br />I hadn't charged my camera for a month in Korea. It died in the folk village. I was relieved.<br /><br />The next day is Chuseok...<br />the adventure, told through the new and exciting medium of blog, will have to be serial.<br />I have to teach in the morning and it is getting late.<br /><br />I hit my first little bought of homesickness a few days ago. I miss you all.El Colinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18387003152354830187noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-234941159456787465.post-38411728312947501332007-09-22T08:30:00.000-07:002008-12-11T19:51:51.015-08:00Oh My Gubeundari<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/RvU3UiQOqJI/AAAAAAAAAGM/fVIl7B7gW0c/s1600-h/IMG_0385.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/RvU3UiQOqJI/AAAAAAAAAGM/fVIl7B7gW0c/s320/IMG_0385.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5113053777880852626" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/RvU2fiQOqII/AAAAAAAAAGE/qAhenaDPQjg/s1600-h/IMG_0265.JPG"> </a><br />This is my new home. It is quite nice. The picture is from a couple days after arriving but it is starting to shape up. There is a lot of space. I have three rooms: the bathroom, the balcony, and the living space. In the picture you can see the kitchen reflected in the doors to the enclosed balcony. I have a large refrigerator, a nice sink and two counter-top burners. The bathroom is awesome and spacious. It is a big shower with a toilet in it basically - the shower is attached to the sink and there is a drain on the floor. It makes cleaning the bathroom so easy. The balcony has a washing machine and i use the drying rack in the picture to hang the clothes. I live in the same building as my school so my morning commute is 3 steps: 1. walk out the door 2. walk down one flight of stairs 3. walk into my classroom. It is really awesome. Also the is a small fake soccer court on the roof and some really great people I work with that make my job great.<br /><br />My job is tough to start out because I had no idea where the last teacher left off, but I made new lesson plans and it should be easier to deal with from here on out.<br /><br />Right now it is Chuseok, Korean Thanksgiving. Koreans know how to make thanksgiving rock. I have off 3 days from work = 5 days weekend. I will spend it trying to figure out Seoul (Renae said "with my girlfriend Renae!) and settle myself in a new home.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/RvU7AiQOqKI/AAAAAAAAAGU/MRe-gaegC9E/s1600-h/IMG_0330.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/RvU7AiQOqKI/AAAAAAAAAGU/MRe-gaegC9E/s320/IMG_0330.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5113057832329980066" border="0" /></a><br /><br />My vegetarian meal on my way to Seoul on Japan Airlines. I want to fly Japan Airlines for everything. They were the best.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/RvU8liQOqLI/AAAAAAAAAGc/XxToARLNyVI/s1600-h/IMG_0396.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/RvU8liQOqLI/AAAAAAAAAGc/XxToARLNyVI/s320/IMG_0396.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5113059567496767666" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Cool street art in Insa-dong.<br />Renae took me to a cool market in Insa-dong, Seoul. The market was great I want to go back. I think what I want to do with the rest of my life is just sit on the side of the street and sell things. There are a lot of markets in Seoul and I am going to have to stop myself from going broke on cool stuff from street vendors. We went out to eat at a nice restaurant on a side street.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/RvU-bSQOqMI/AAAAAAAAAGk/Skzt5H8Brfk/s1600-h/IMG_0402.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/RvU-bSQOqMI/AAAAAAAAAGk/Skzt5H8Brfk/s320/IMG_0402.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5113061590426364098" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/RvVLSSQOqNI/AAAAAAAAAGs/QTvaWWuWCHc/s1600-h/IMG_0404.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/RvVLSSQOqNI/AAAAAAAAAGs/QTvaWWuWCHc/s320/IMG_0404.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5113075729458702546" border="0" /></a><br />The silverware is usually spoons and chopsticks and are at the table already. These were in a drawer under the table.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/RvVLSyQOqOI/AAAAAAAAAG0/4_qWC2-PIU8/s1600-h/IMG_0406.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/RvVLSyQOqOI/AAAAAAAAAG0/4_qWC2-PIU8/s320/IMG_0406.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5113075738048637154" border="0" /></a><br />I was feeling a little uneasy about eating seafood. I am still trying to eat veg but had some seafood that evening. It was good but I didn't feel to happy about it. The prickly pear wine (the pink drink) was strangely sweet and I didn't like it too much. Despite all of this it was still a wonderful dinner. I like the way Korea does its dishes. A lot of it is communal and there are plenty of side dishes. We went for pizza today and it was so good. Sweet potato pizza with<span class="on" style="display: block;" id="formatbar_Add_Image" title="Add Image" onmouseover="ButtonHoverOn(this);" onmouseout="ButtonHoverOff(this);" onmouseup="addImage();" onmousedown="CheckFormatting(event);;ButtonMouseDown(this);"></span> mushrooms, onions, and peppers for 8900 won ($9) and it came with salad and pickles (I was very happy about the pickles) I am not sure if it was just because the owner was so nice but he gave us free soft serve ice cream and I think he was doing it for everyone! It was soooooo awesome.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/RvVLTCQOqPI/AAAAAAAAAG8/_k9EsCPlw0o/s1600-h/IMG_0407.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/RvVLTCQOqPI/AAAAAAAAAG8/_k9EsCPlw0o/s320/IMG_0407.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5113075742343604466" border="0" /></a><br />Maybe next time little friend... I almost cried for this tiny octopus thing.<br /><br /><br />Some crazy photo op at the largest underground mall:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/RvVOaCQOqQI/AAAAAAAAAHE/IQyR-XVnF38/s1600-h/IMG_0416.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/RvVOaCQOqQI/AAAAAAAAAHE/IQyR-XVnF38/s320/IMG_0416.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5113079161137572098" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />This sign warns of how foreigners can summon flames from there bare hands and light midget construction workers on fire and at the same time humiliate them to the point of crying... or it is just me wanting to be Jimi Hendrix and make fire come out of anything I touch.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/RvVOaSQOqRI/AAAAAAAAAHM/0Qou18O8Rvk/s1600-h/IMG_0422.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/RvVOaSQOqRI/AAAAAAAAAHM/0Qou18O8Rvk/s320/IMG_0422.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5113079165432539410" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Speaking of Jimi Hendrix...<br />I went to a bar called Freebird, with my friend Lauren (a teacher at my school from Texas) and she accurately describe it as looking like a hookah bar with large b&w pictures of rock stars like Jimi Hendrix. It was a great time, two bands played called:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/RvVQmiQOqSI/AAAAAAAAAHU/FTqPuMUACNw/s1600-h/IMG_0448.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/RvVQmiQOqSI/AAAAAAAAAHU/FTqPuMUACNw/s320/IMG_0448.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5113081574909192482" border="0" /></a><br />I am still learning Korean so I will get back to you with that one. (Note that happy hour is from 11-12pm = the subway stops at 12pm so they try to keep people in there i think. On another not I love the subway here. More on that later)<br /><br />The first band was awesome funky dance rock and came running out after the set in a big picture frame - I didn't have time to change any settings before they got camera shy but I am happy I got this photo.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/RvVQmyQOqTI/AAAAAAAAAHc/kTVJ4gAdYJA/s1600-h/IMG_0435.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/RvVQmyQOqTI/AAAAAAAAAHc/kTVJ4gAdYJA/s320/IMG_0435.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5113081579204159794" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The second band opened with a folky version of:!!!!!!!<br /><br />the video is too big and i am too tired right now<br /><br />and if that weren't awesome enough, the singer broke out a:!!!!!!!<br /><br />ditto<br /><br />So it has been a lot of fun. I went back to the area (Hongdae) where Freebird is the night afterwards to see The Queers at a venue called <a href="http://www.skunklabel.com/eman.html">Skunk Hell</a> which was really amazing (almost as good as a New Brunswick show) with Renae and Jesse and two friends, Deanna and Lana. I forgot my camera but am glad because it would have been destroyed. But i took pictures of the area the night before and there is an awesome park where kids hang out and it is right next to a huge art college that has "Free Market" every Saturday where people sell art and stuff they made and I don't know what else... I can't wait till next Saturday. I just heard about it so didn't go today. In the park a band brought a generator and rocked out. It was beautiful to see a space alive like that. Also, you are aloud to walk anywhere with your booze so some people make a night of it to hang in the park. (Who needs to pay a cover and too much money for drinks when you have friends, a mini mart that sells drinks and a guerrilla band with its own generator!) I think this will be my favorite place to be in Seoul but I have soooo much to see. Outside of Skunk Hell and in the park there were awesome murals:<br />I think the first one is a Nike ad but the artwork is cool and I don't have picture from SKunk Hell... next time.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/RvVWqCQOqWI/AAAAAAAAAH0/yz1-BEKfYD0/s1600-h/IMG_0424.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/RvVWqCQOqWI/AAAAAAAAAH0/yz1-BEKfYD0/s320/IMG_0424.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5113088232108501346" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/RvVWqiQOqXI/AAAAAAAAAH8/ZWdZPIX_RlU/s1600-h/IMG_0427.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/RvVWqiQOqXI/AAAAAAAAAH8/ZWdZPIX_RlU/s320/IMG_0427.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5113088240698435954" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />Also after researching some other info about Korea, I saw some pictures of people who dye their dogs' hair. I witnessed this today in the form of a poodle with yellow ears crossing the street. I love it and wish I thought of that.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/RvVYDSQOqYI/AAAAAAAAAIE/89iTyu4QnEg/s1600-h/IMG_0466.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/RvVYDSQOqYI/AAAAAAAAAIE/89iTyu4QnEg/s320/IMG_0466.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5113089765411826050" border="0" /></a><br />Today, after a long night last night, Renae and I, Lauren, Deanna (another teacher from my school from CA, who is awesome) and Lana (a teacher who was fired from my school but found another one, and is also awesome) had an omelet picnic on the roof with fresh pineapple for dessert. It was so nice I am feeling everything all at once but optimistic even when I am scared or sad. I spent the day exploring my neighborhood with Renae. I am so sad that I lost my new glasses before I came to Korea - I will never find a more perfect pair. But I bought new glasses today to. They give you a free eye exam on the spot and I like my new glasses almost as much as my missing pair. I will go take a picture now even though I am tired and then it is off to bed. I have been here two weeks and sorry I havent got in touch with everyone personally yet. I am doing a lot, learning a lot and working a lot too. I am sure there will be more time once I feel settled but I am enjoying the process of discovering a new place and new people.<br /><br />I Love you all, (even the strangers,)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/RvVb_iQOqZI/AAAAAAAAAIM/DDhFNy9Jc2k/s1600-h/IMG_0483.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/RvVb_iQOqZI/AAAAAAAAAIM/DDhFNy9Jc2k/s320/IMG_0483.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5113094099033827730" border="0" /></a><br />p.s. the heart came with my bathroom and Gubeundari is my yuk (subway stop)El Colinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18387003152354830187noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-234941159456787465.post-21048746420104237122007-09-09T16:51:00.000-07:002008-12-11T19:51:52.038-08:00Trials of TravelationWelcome friends and family and strangers! This is about how I got to Seoul, in the Republic of Korea and what I am doing here.<br /><br />For those of you who know my circuit bending exploits, (whereheremeetsthere.blogspot.com) you can imagine getting through airport security was a bitch. The lady took one look at "The Awesome-ator" and said "Are you kidding me!" She didn't even say anything else before that... Well they let me on the plane after I played all the instruments for them and they ran samples to test for explosives... you know the usual. The first flight from Newark, NJ to Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN was really smooth. I didn't have to go through security for the transfer to Tokyo but the plane was behind. They said there were some "minor checks" that had to be run; nothing important, 'just for their paperwork.' Well, with the hour delay it was a fat chance i was getting through security in Japan in order to get to my connecting flight in Seoul so I was a little stressed. I had no cell phone or any way of contacting anyone.<br /><br />It was supposed to be a 14 hour flight. I was really happy when the hit TV show "The Office" had an episode on my plane. I was laughing obnoxiously while all sorts of people were trying to sleep around me. The flight was supposed to have sunlight the entire way through. I thought that was awesome: No nighttime for 32 hours or so! I thought I might not go to sleep but the first movie was Spiderman 3, which I saw once and knew it would be more enjoyable to sleep through even if I wasn't watching it. So I fell asleep and I wake up to that horrible feeling of your head crushing itself while a plane descends. "Holy Crap," I thought to myself, "that was easy! I slept through the whole thing!" Moments later the pilot came on the intercom and said "Uhhhhhhh, folks, you've probably noticed" in his pilot-type voice "that we have begun a decent a little earlier than expected..." He continued to give no information except that we were making an emergency landing in Anchorage, Alaska and that he was going to be too busy to tell us what was going on while they landed.<br /><br />I had to stop myself from writing letters to all my loved ones and putting them in plastic bags, which I consider doing about three times before I thought I would just accept my fate and see them all somewhere on the flip side... To make a long story short, Anchorage looks nice from inside the cabin of a plane and everyone on the flight missed their connections. We stayed in a Radisson Hotel in Narita, Japan where I saw these guys:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/RukbhMyPXTI/AAAAAAAAAE4/GJ6v5B7kVgA/s1600-h/IMG_0314.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/RukbhMyPXTI/AAAAAAAAAE4/GJ6v5B7kVgA/s320/IMG_0314.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5109645509410118962" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Oh man, totally cool Japanese Jazzers. They were layin' it down and I was soaking it in. Also I told the bartender I was with the airline and he accidentally gave me my beer for half off because he thought I was on the crew = Colin, the pilot. The bass player had this sparkly, America-colored bass with 'fuckaholic' and 'thc' stickers on it. When I turned on Japanese TV, I saw the phenom of saw players ripping it up on the saw with a bow and a hammer. ( I will post a video of this later - I almost cried because of how awesome this guy is. ) So I got free dinner and free breakfast and a free trip back to the airport. Also with a crap coupon the airline gave me I bought a beautiful bottle of Japanese 'shochu' which I am still not sure of, except that it tastes flowery and alcoholic.<br /><br />I told the security at the Tokyo/Narita airport that I needed to see a supervisor because of the suspicious nature of what was in my bag but she said "just try once." So they pushed me through the detector and I saw them scrutinize my bag full of wires and buttons in homemade cases for all of two seconds before passing it through like it were a bag of candy. What a huge relief and a horrific reality at the same time. That shit could have been anything. They could have at least asked wtf it was.<br /><br />I got to Seoul on Sunday afternoon after leaving home early Friday morning. A driver was waiting for me at the airport with my name (customs didn't even bother with me) - and I took some pictures on the way in to my crazy new life...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/RukgScyPXYI/AAAAAAAAAFg/QSvQXBz0RyA/s1600-h/IMG_0376.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/RukgScyPXYI/AAAAAAAAAFg/QSvQXBz0RyA/s320/IMG_0376.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5109650753565187458" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/RukgH8yPXXI/AAAAAAAAAFY/TAEXRMdmj0w/s1600-h/IMG_0371.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/RukgH8yPXXI/AAAAAAAAAFY/TAEXRMdmj0w/s320/IMG_0371.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5109650573176561010" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/RukfqcyPXWI/AAAAAAAAAFQ/7L4jZB7m_P8/s1600-h/IMG_0366.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/RukfqcyPXWI/AAAAAAAAAFQ/7L4jZB7m_P8/s320/IMG_0366.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5109650066370420066" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/Ruke_cyPXUI/AAAAAAAAAFA/LcRIZI-TD6k/s1600-h/IMG_0358.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7z7kzwiAr80/Ruke_cyPXUI/AAAAAAAAAFA/LcRIZI-TD6k/s320/IMG_0358.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5109649327636045122" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The pictures are from the airport to my place bottom to top, jsyk (just so you know)<br /><br />While I was in the airport I spoke to a Chinese woman who said that Seoul buildings were too big and too small at the same time. I saw what she meant and someone here elaborated: 20 story buildings go up 10 at a time, all right next to each other in such a small amount of space. And all the buildings are the same. If they didnt all look exactly the same they would be ugly plain buildings with no relation to the land or skyscapes but because there are so many all next too each other, they create this weird bouquet of buildings that is at least interesting to see all uniform and scattered over a small space.<br /><br />I want to tell you about the rest of my week but alas there is so much and my time here is but little in the scope of life. So until next time, Annyonghi gase yo (stay in peace)El Colinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18387003152354830187noreply@blogger.com3