Friday, May 28, 2010

Muuido

Well ...the long weekend was a bit of a bust ...for a couple of reasons.  Number one of course being the fact that it rained all day Saturday, Sunday & Monday.  That being said, our long weekend started on Friday which was one of the most beautiful days that we have seen this season.  Unfortunately, we did not 'see' this day until approximately 3pm in the afternoon, which was the time that we literally pulled ourselves out of bed, into the shower and to lunch to get our day started.  This might have something to do with a little soju and a 5:30am bedtime the night before.

Regardless, it was an interesting and fun weekend - and even though we got rained out and had to come home early, I'm still happy we ventured away from home.

Muuido is a small island (only 400 people actually live there) close to the Incheon Airport, which isn't too far from where we live.  The island is so close to the mainland that if you were to line up 3 ferries beside each other, you would be able to walk across. 


Once you get off the ferry, you need to hop onto a bus that will take you to the beach which is about a 20-30 minute bus ride away.  Sadly we did not know this.  We got right off the ferry, started following the closest people and then realized about 30 minutes later that we were still walking and were now alone.  Over 90 minutes later we arrived.  Another tiny disaster - we had, had a Korean friend help us book the 'hotel' where we would be staying (dammit, I just realized that we didn't take any pictures of where we stayed, details to come!) and somewhere around the 45 minute walk portion of our afternoon we realized that she had booked the wrong beach, and we aren't even sure to this day that she even booked us into a place near the beach ...or in Muuido for that matter.

Here are some pics from our 'hike'

Anyways, I was a bit panicky at this point.  The place was absolutely rammed.  It was a long weekend and foreigner/tourist city on this beach.  We watched as couples went up to the booth and were turned away, we even watch a couple fight for a room that they apparently booked, but was not left open for them. Thankfully (once we were told that they were full) we found a park that had vacant rooms.  And by room, what I mean is a little hut (and that's really not the best word for it, but the best that I can do) which essentially had 4 walls (2 walls were just windows,) 3 moldy pillows & 2 blankets for the 5 of us.  Do the math ...even without the dirt factor it wasn't great.  Not that sleeping on the floor is ever my first option.  Apparently I did not need to bring my straightener or hair dryer - there would be no showering in my future, or running water for that matter.

But we absolutely made the best of it ...even when everything we ordered on the menu at the one restaurant that didn't serve fish was sold out, and even after we watched an extremely drunk bunch of foreigners (I swear, sometimes they make us all look horrid) flash each other, while yelling obscenities from across the beach.


But we only lasted one night.  It was an incredible beach, and so nice and small that it was almost quaint ...but as soon as the rain started pouring on Saturday, and we looked up into the sky and saw no chance of reprieve, we called it a day and packed it in.  And after 3 bus rides and a ferry ride home, we were completely soaked to the bone, but happy to be home, drinking wine and showering:)



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Wednesday, May 26, 2010

Mom and Dad in Korea ...the Photobook


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Monday, May 24, 2010

Pen Pal Buses

I have always known that 'boundaries' are not the same in Korea as they are at home ...but I don't think I have ever seen anything quite as funny (or downright ridiculous) as when I walked out of our school and was confronted with over 5 different buses with banners covering the entire length of them.

They are actually using something that Wayne & I put together to get the kids excited about writing, to sell the school.



In some ways, I absolutely cannot believe it ...but in others, it completely figures.  .

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Monday, May 17, 2010

Busan

Our second weekend with my parents here was spent in Busan.  The weather couldn't have been more beautiful, and we had some great company. 

We started out our road trip at 7am.  Getting Wayne out of bed to be ready for that time was no small feat.  I figured if I could accomplish that, I could accomplish anything that I set my mind to.  The 4 of us met Marty & Em at the corner and we grabbed cabs and headed to the bus terminal.  Once there Em did her customary shop for anything that might catch her interest to buy, before we got onto the bus and started the 5 hour trip to Busan.

I really had to no idea what to expect, and I think that if I had to of made guesses before arriving I would have completely missed my mark.  It was entirely different than anywhere that I have ever been in Korea.  There were still millions of people on the streets and fish stands on every corner, but the entire vibe and atmosphere was different.

People walked slightly slower, every seemed to be smiling a bit more and the beautiful beach that was before our eyes was filled with people relaxing and having fun.  It made me want to pack my bags and see if they needed any English teachers.


Our first task was to find a Love Motel.  Which Wayne assured us would be easy, and confirmed that absolutely every Love Motel was exactly the same inside so we didn't need to concentrate on anything other than price.  He was wrong on both accounts.

But it gave us a story to tell.

Then we filled our bellies and started walking down the beach.  It didn't take long before we were grabbing beers, and finding our way to the shopping areas.  We found a great formula that worked for every couple.  As long as the boys had a beer in their hands, they would wait patiently outside the shops while we tried on shoes and looked at clothes.  Fabulous.

We stumbled down a very interesting street.  Definitely different than anything I have ever seen before, that's for sure.


Our night ended with fireworks, literally.

The next day was a relaxed, touristy day of walking around and checking out the town.  You may notice that Wayne is not in any of the pictures ...he was in bed.


Then back on the bus for the 5 hour trek home.  Was it worth the drive? Absolutely.  Will I go again? Definitely ...but hopefully next time we can make it a long weekend.

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Wednesday, May 12, 2010

The Fish Market




Here are some tips if you are going to visit a Fish Market in Asia:


  • Try to go on a windy day ~ while it sometimes blows the smells your way, they tend to float past you with the next gust of wind

  • Try to go on a cool day ~ the heat makes the smells mentioned above slightly more potent

  • Do not go while it is rainy ~ but if you do, wear rubber boots and short pants. Again, the smells mentioned previously seem to cling to cotton when wearing LuLus

  • Don't look too closely ~ things are often looking back

  • Do not be alarmed at the sight of Korean men & women sitting alongside the vendors on blankets (or directly on the ground) mowing down on some raw fish and straight Soju

  • Enjoy ~ this is definitely not something you are going to see everyday
And here are some pictures of a Fish Market in Asia:






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Monday, May 10, 2010

Mom & Dad ...in Korea

I can't speak for my parents, but I know for me ~ their 2 weeks in Korea were definitely the highlight of my year so far.  It was incredible to have them here ...at first surreal and then completely natural, to the point that the apartment felt empty after they had left.  It started out with 2 suitcases completely full of treats & snacks and it ended with tears at the airport and a very soggy bus ride back to our place.  And the inbetween was jam packed of sight seeing and 'living our lives' Korean experiences.


For me, some of my favourite memories are definitely:

  • Watching my dad struggle with chopsticks for the first time (and then the 30th)

  • Seeing the musical 'Jump' ...though not necessarily for the show itself

  • The trip to Busan

  • Watching 2 seasons of Survivor and beating the boys in both of the pools

  • 2 Baseball Games and having the Thunder Sticks

  • Getting to eat my dad's pancakes

  • Having my mom show me up in Soju shot drinking

  • Having my parents experience first hand what we go through at school

  • Introducing my parents to our kids ...and watching my dad trying to explain to the boys how a rocket is designed (yah, they don't know what 'design' even means)

  • Shopping, shopping, shopping with the woman that gave me my love of shoes and ' pretty things'

  • Watching Father of the Bride and picking our wedding dance song

  • The best one of all ...my dad on the microphone at the Nora Bong and my mom with the tamborines


Though, ones not to forget would be:

  • The Korean Palace in Seoul

  • Learning to navigate the Subway system

  • Eating Shabu Shabu on the floor

  • Buying chopsticks & a beautiful ring

  • Dinner with the bosses

  • Baskin Robbins - 4 flavours

  • Skype dates with them on this side of the computer

  • Buying Wayne about 8 new pairs of socks





I'm certain that I have not mentioned everything because every single day seemed to be full of best moments and so much fun.  Did I mention that I loved having them here?

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Sunday, May 9, 2010

Lori 2010

Well, it's been a busy month and definitely the best one since we got here.  So I will start with the recap through a few different posts - the first being, 'Lori 2010.' Which I honestly did not think would take place this year ...and low and behold, not only did it take place, but it came as a surprise, that even included balloons, sparklers and treat bags! Thanks to Em & Wayne for all the planning.  And to my mom who secretly brought over decorations to help celebrate the big 3-0. 

And now, I am not in my 20's anymore, but I stand strong to the declaration that 30 is the new 20 and that pink is the new black ...and I think that will carry me through to my 40's where I need to invent some other slang saying to ease the stress of getting older.

The day started out with the surprise Shabu Shabu lunch and ended with beers and party hats at the ball game.  Overall, a fabulous way to spend my birthday.

It made me realize that even though I miss home every second of every day (especially now that my parents have left) I have some incredible friends here these are days that I will remember always.


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Monday, May 3, 2010

Matt in Korea


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