I'd be fine to live the rest of my life this way..
Trip Start
Jul 10, 2010
1
9
10
Trip End
Ongoing
Hwaseong, Gyeonggi, Korea Rep.
Saturday, October 16, 2010
Sorry it's been so long since my last entry. I know it might sound weird, but keeping up with my blog is a lot harder than I thought it would be. So, last time I wrote, I was talking about going down to Pohang for Chusok (the Korean Thanksgiving). That was a great trip! We went down there on a Tuesday morning and got back super early on Friday morning. We ended up not taking the day trip to Busan because the traffic was so crazy. Apparently, Chusok is bigger than Christmas over here, so just the fact that we were able to get tickets there and back was a pretty big deal. Anyway, when were trying to figure out what we were going to do, Scott told me about this mountain that has a pretty cool hike with a waterfall and a temple. I was really excited to do that, but then it rained all day on Wednesday and we had a little too much fun on Wednesday night and didn't wake up in time to get out there, hike, and make the last bus back to Scott's house. But all was not lost! Instead, we went for a nice stroll along the beach in Pohang and it was a gorgeous day out. I got lots of neat pictures that I put on facebook for those who are interested. I really enjoy the trips out there because its on the other side of the country and close to the ocean, so it always makes for nice scenery. The people out there aren't too bad either haha.
The following weekend (10/1-10/2) I was on a big hiking kick since I didn't get to go when I was in Pohang. So, I got out my Korea book that Baga got me and looked up some places with my friend Alex (girl) and Cathy. We found one place not too far from Seoul called Dobongsan Hike. That was absolutely beautiful! I went with Alex, Cathy, and our friend Phillip. The weather report said that it might rain, but I refused to miss another hike because of the weather haha. So we headed out anyway. I was so happy that we did, it was a great trip and I got more cool pictures. We stopped at a temple on the up and I saw these pretty candles that ended up turning into a nice story. There was a gift shop there and I saw the candles and I wanted to buy one, but I wasn't sure if they symbolized something. Phillip speaks Korean, so I asked him if he could kindly ask the woman working there about them. It turns out that the candles were "wish candles" and the way it works is that you must light them for the first time at the temple, and thats when you make the wish. If you want to take the candle with you, you can, but most people leave theirs there burning. At first, I really wanted to take mine with me, but then I decided that it looked too pretty there and so I left it. I also got a really cool little Buddhist bracelet that has a similar idea behind it. We got pretty far on the hike, but didn't make it to the spot that we were aiming for because with the rain it started to get dark earlier. We figured it was better to get back down safe and do it another day, than risk someone getting hurt. I will finish that hike though! On the way down we took a different route and passed some mounds, which we actually graves. It was kind of neat and erie at the same time. They reminded me a lot of Native American burial grounds. I asked my students about them and they told me that in Korea a mountain is the best place you can be buried and if a father is buried in a good place then good things are supposed to happen to his son. I thought that was pretty neat. I also have pictures of this on facebook.
After the long day trip, I thought I would be pretty tired, but NOPE! Phillip and I decided to go clubbing in Seoul when we got back and that was a lot of fun. I've never really been to actual night clubs before seeing as how there aren't any in Lawrence, Kansas haha. But it was definitely another cool experience. Phillip kept making fun of me because of how much everyone stares at me. You would think that I'd be used to this by now, but nope it never gets any less weird haha.
This past weekend Scott FINALLY made it out to my area. We went out for one of my co-worker's birthday and it was lots of fun. Our boss wanted us to get the "real night club" experience, which I guess is what they call a booking-club, so we went out in Suwon. The way it goes is that people get rooms to sit in and drink and do Karaoke then the staff can bring random girls/guys in for the girls/guys to talk to. I thought the whole idea was kind of weird since we went with a mixed gender group, and really they only bring girls in. But it was another experience haha. Scott and I ended up not staying too long because he had been up since way early and was tired. We went back to Dongtan and went to get some hayjeongook (hangover soup) which is pretty much my new favorite food. Not because of its name, but because it kind of reminds me of gumbo and is just absolutely delicious. After we ate, we took a nice night stroll through Central Park. I lucked out living so close to such a nice park and at night its super pretty. There's a waterfall that lights up with different colors and cool little creek that runs through the middle of it. The next day Scott and I went out to Seoul and Itaewon to meet up with some of his friends who had gone to a world musical festival the night before. I've never been to Itaewon before, but I had really been wanting to go because it's like a little America. I've never seen so many foreigners in one place since I've been in Korea! It was pretty cool. They also had lots of stuff for tourists that I'll probably go back for so I can send some home. Itaewon is also home to the one and only Taco Bell in Korea! Needless to say, we made a good and very filling stop there. After that we headed back we headed back to Dongtan and had a nice chill night and Koomas (the local foreigner bar) and then went home. Scott and his friend left early the next morning. Overall, it was a pretty good weekend.
Well that's all I have for now, we're all going out for girl Alex's going away party tonight and I must got get ready. Cheers!
