Yeongpyeong Boarding Trip
Ever think back to what city was competing against Vancouver for the 2010 Olympics? Well I sure didn't until this year when I went snowboarding in Korea. The city/mountain is called Yeongpyeong (please don't mistake this for Pyeongyang which is a bit different Korean city). It's the best ski resort in Korea and it was our destination for the weekend getaway.
Sungku's friend found a great deal on a package trip. Transportation (3 hours each way), lift, rental, and a room all for 80,000 Korean Won (about $90 cdn). It was going to be my second time on a board this year and it was going to be fun.
'Course we were leaving on Saturday so we thought we would just chill Friday night. No dice. Ended up telling ourslves we were going to just get a few drinks and be back home relatively early to get some sleep. Instead, I'm getting a call my Sungku at 5:00 in the morning saying WTF is up we have to leave in 20 mins. So after pulling my buddy fromthe grips of a girly we jumped in the cab, made it home, packed in 3 mins and was back in another taxi by 5:45. Made it with about 3 minuets to spare even...and to think Sungku was worried. Needless to say I can't remember much of the bus ride 'ceot the first turn.
We got our rentals from a ski shop about 10 mins off the moutain. There were great and shuttled us right to the foot of the slopes. The slopes were soso to be positive. Mighty windy and was snowing a bit too.
Didn't ruin our day though and we made the most of it. Got worried about 2 hours in when after a solid bail I found the plastic on my right bindings broken. Good thing for cell phones and a Korea friend as we mae a call and had a new board and bindings delivered by the time I chugged my way to the bottom.
The room was freakishly hot and without a thermostat there were certain places on the floor that it was literally to hot to even touch. Was dry and I woke up a sore throat and tonsils (which I'm stll fighting today), but it was all well worth it. Hopefully gonna make it up once more before the season is over.
Colin
Sunday, February 11, 2007
A New Years Eve in SK
Bit slow with posting these days but I'm keeping myself more than busy with new classes, studying Korean and Hapkido and the obligatory nights out on the town. Let's go back a bit to the night of December 31st,2006. 'Twas a relatively warm night as we broke open the box of fireworks we had just purchased. Myself, a fireworks nut from Lower Mainland BC knew what kind of fun and trouble we could get into with lots of fireworks. There is a reason why roman candles are not being sold in some cities including Langley anymore. Well...we didn't just hav a couple either, can't do that, go big or go home they say. Well...we went big, and then even had some extra to lug back home!
Well there it is, a freakin big box of roman candles. How many you think in there?
That would be 400 30 ball roman candles. Yikes. What a night it was. The plan was actually to sell these things. A few friends here in Korea thougt I was off my rocker to spend my night on the street selling things on New Yeras Eve but hell, any old weekend you can go out to the bar or club, might as well have something different to remember.
So, me and my buddy JEff divied up the box, threw the 400 sparklers we also had as well as a couple bottels of gin into the bag and set off.
We setup shop right in the midle of everything. Me and Sungku had a little argumet as to where we should setup but as usual I gave up and just wanted to have fun. We stayed put right on the corner of the big intersection in Jongno (which was clsed to traffic for the night).
Sungku actually went out and tried to sell some while me and Jeff spent most of the time drinknig and shotting them off. A few of Sungku's friends also came and they sold the majority of them for us. They cost 140 bucks overall and we only got 32 bucks back, but whatever, it was the fun that counted...plus we still have a shitload at my place for another evening.
Check out buddy. He's got an army hat on and he thinks he's felt a second test. He's ready though.
The area itself...wow, unimaginable. They thought we were nuts back home with roman candles..well...there were at least 1000 people there selling them along with us and about 300,000 other people. When you looked ahead, you'd see a minimum of 100 roman candles going off at all times...for about 4 hours straight.
The countdown was fun as an increased barrage of lights flew into the sky and the place went nuts.
Afterwords, me and Jeff paraded around the streets giving out free roman candles to kids...though never once did an adult give us a second look or seem to think it not acceptable to be giving a firework 3 feet long to a 4 year old child of about the same height.
According to news articles at least a dozen people got hurt and were admitted to hospitals with minor burns. I just hope none of them were kids, as above you see a 6 year old girl that we gave a roman candle too. Daddy was nice enough to light it for her and lift her above his head to shoot the 30 fireballs as high as possible.
It was quite a spectacle overall and a very memorable New Years.
We sat down for the drinks and food afterwards with a few other of Sungku's friends (who also just happned to be selling fireworks and we didn't know about it..they actually made about 200$). Got well and done as supposed to on New Years and caleld it quits at about 5.
We just weren't quite done for the night though. Look at all these fireworks I have on my shoulders. Look at how I can't walk straight. Look at that Starbucks.... (do not watch with children)
Hahah, that is what I think of Starbucks. Some obscene yelling I could have cut out (thanks Jeff) but no regets on lighting up them American big businesses. All in all. A very successful New Years. Hope yours was good too!!
Colin
Bit slow with posting these days but I'm keeping myself more than busy with new classes, studying Korean and Hapkido and the obligatory nights out on the town. Let's go back a bit to the night of December 31st,2006. 'Twas a relatively warm night as we broke open the box of fireworks we had just purchased. Myself, a fireworks nut from Lower Mainland BC knew what kind of fun and trouble we could get into with lots of fireworks. There is a reason why roman candles are not being sold in some cities including Langley anymore. Well...we didn't just hav a couple either, can't do that, go big or go home they say. Well...we went big, and then even had some extra to lug back home!
Well there it is, a freakin big box of roman candles. How many you think in there? That would be 400 30 ball roman candles. Yikes. What a night it was. The plan was actually to sell these things. A few friends here in Korea thougt I was off my rocker to spend my night on the street selling things on New Yeras Eve but hell, any old weekend you can go out to the bar or club, might as well have something different to remember.So, me and my buddy JEff divied up the box, threw the 400 sparklers we also had as well as a couple bottels of gin into the bag and set off.
We setup shop right in the midle of everything. Me and Sungku had a little argumet as to where we should setup but as usual I gave up and just wanted to have fun. We stayed put right on the corner of the big intersection in Jongno (which was clsed to traffic for the night).
Sungku actually went out and tried to sell some while me and Jeff spent most of the time drinknig and shotting them off. A few of Sungku's friends also came and they sold the majority of them for us. They cost 140 bucks overall and we only got 32 bucks back, but whatever, it was the fun that counted...plus we still have a shitload at my place for another evening.
Check out buddy. He's got an army hat on and he thinks he's felt a second test. He's ready though.The area itself...wow, unimaginable. They thought we were nuts back home with roman candles..well...there were at least 1000 people there selling them along with us and about 300,000 other people. When you looked ahead, you'd see a minimum of 100 roman candles going off at all times...for about 4 hours straight.
The countdown was fun as an increased barrage of lights flew into the sky and the place went nuts.
Afterwords, me and Jeff paraded around the streets giving out free roman candles to kids...though never once did an adult give us a second look or seem to think it not acceptable to be giving a firework 3 feet long to a 4 year old child of about the same height.
According to news articles at least a dozen people got hurt and were admitted to hospitals with minor burns. I just hope none of them were kids, as above you see a 6 year old girl that we gave a roman candle too. Daddy was nice enough to light it for her and lift her above his head to shoot the 30 fireballs as high as possible.
It was quite a spectacle overall and a very memorable New Years.
We sat down for the drinks and food afterwards with a few other of Sungku's friends (who also just happned to be selling fireworks and we didn't know about it..they actually made about 200$). Got well and done as supposed to on New Years and caleld it quits at about 5.
We just weren't quite done for the night though. Look at all these fireworks I have on my shoulders. Look at how I can't walk straight. Look at that Starbucks.... (do not watch with children)
Hahah, that is what I think of Starbucks. Some obscene yelling I could have cut out (thanks Jeff) but no regets on lighting up them American big businesses. All in all. A very successful New Years. Hope yours was good too!!
Colin
Monday, January 08, 2007
A Chilly Yet Sunny Morning in the SK
Waking up early this morning while sleeping on my living room floor, I figured it wouldn't be my day since I had woken up every half hour or so during the night and now the GF's alarm was going to go off every 9 minutes for half an hour till she gets herself up.
After listening to the alarm and moving to my comfy bed I realized I wasn't really tired and if I went back to bed I would probably sleep for another 3 or 4 hours since I didn't have to work until 4 today.
'Course I didn't wanna sit on the ground where I had just slept all night which is what I have to do to talk on msn/write my blog/ or watch Lost. I decided, hey,might as well walk the lady to her subway stop and get some grocery shopping done while I'm at at.
At GS Mart I picked up some beef steak, chicken breast, a bottle of Rum, a brick of cheese and a box of laundry detergent. Sounds more like a Friday evening shopping before the weekend than a Monday morning at 9Am shopping, but that how I roll.
Korea, like China has long flat escalators that are magnetic so the heavy shopping cart will stick and you don't have to worry about pushing it uphill. 'Course the escalator from the 2nd level basement where the groceries where to the 1st floor was open,but not to the main floor. There was a guy in a business suit and a row of carts blocking the way. He points to my left and says 'elebator'..right, guess I have to take the elevator up..should have just taken it from downstairs like I did to come down. Took me a minute to get figure out the first elevator wasn't running yet so I hit the button for the 2nd elevator in line.
Put down my shopping bags and went to get a drink of water from the fountain. The janitor comes by, hits the down button on the elevator and when I get back the up button is off. Grrr. The elevator beside me opens, so I go in it with the guy standing there. I look at him..hold on, he's the guy who was blockin' the escalator. WTF! I say 'ouiro' (up in korean), he says no, down. Damnit. Out I go and hit the button again. Look to my right and now the escalator is up and running where the man was. Why didn't he just let me go up it eh fist time instead of taking the elevator I dunno, but finally after nearly 5 minutes I made it out and alive.
It is nice and sunny today but cold as cold as heaven (hell is hot not cold). Well, not too cold, but -7 is colder than I'm used to at home. So on the way home I throw my baby (Ipod) on random and hope the soundtrack to my day will be a good one. I find the music you listen to during specific periods and events in your life will always be related back to each other. For example Summer in China '05 would be John Lennon -Working Class Hero, Spring '05 Xavier Rudd - Green Spandex and UVIC '01 Mary J. Blige - some club song and The Verve Pipe -Freshman. This music you were listening to during these moving or memorable days/seasons become the soundtrack of you life.
Well, I hoped today's soundtrack would be one of these memorable ones. I was right. With nearly 10,000 songs on my Ipod including many I've never even listened to before, there is always a chance you can get a random audio book clip, some interludes or some random metal/rap/old rock'n'roll that isn't good but there for a listen to when in the mood.
Today got some Kings of Leon (thanks for the recommendation for them Gump, they're awesome), some Led Zep, a Nirvana and some Manu Chau (also highly recommended) to finish the walk home off. A ROK airforce transport jet flies overhead as I take the turn to my house and I realize, hey, it's good to be someplace different and enjoying everything the world has in store for me today, maybe I will get up early and not waste my day away in bed more often!
Colin
Waking up early this morning while sleeping on my living room floor, I figured it wouldn't be my day since I had woken up every half hour or so during the night and now the GF's alarm was going to go off every 9 minutes for half an hour till she gets herself up.
After listening to the alarm and moving to my comfy bed I realized I wasn't really tired and if I went back to bed I would probably sleep for another 3 or 4 hours since I didn't have to work until 4 today.
'Course I didn't wanna sit on the ground where I had just slept all night which is what I have to do to talk on msn/write my blog/ or watch Lost. I decided, hey,might as well walk the lady to her subway stop and get some grocery shopping done while I'm at at.
At GS Mart I picked up some beef steak, chicken breast, a bottle of Rum, a brick of cheese and a box of laundry detergent. Sounds more like a Friday evening shopping before the weekend than a Monday morning at 9Am shopping, but that how I roll.
Korea, like China has long flat escalators that are magnetic so the heavy shopping cart will stick and you don't have to worry about pushing it uphill. 'Course the escalator from the 2nd level basement where the groceries where to the 1st floor was open,but not to the main floor. There was a guy in a business suit and a row of carts blocking the way. He points to my left and says 'elebator'..right, guess I have to take the elevator up..should have just taken it from downstairs like I did to come down. Took me a minute to get figure out the first elevator wasn't running yet so I hit the button for the 2nd elevator in line.
Put down my shopping bags and went to get a drink of water from the fountain. The janitor comes by, hits the down button on the elevator and when I get back the up button is off. Grrr. The elevator beside me opens, so I go in it with the guy standing there. I look at him..hold on, he's the guy who was blockin' the escalator. WTF! I say 'ouiro' (up in korean), he says no, down. Damnit. Out I go and hit the button again. Look to my right and now the escalator is up and running where the man was. Why didn't he just let me go up it eh fist time instead of taking the elevator I dunno, but finally after nearly 5 minutes I made it out and alive.
It is nice and sunny today but cold as cold as heaven (hell is hot not cold). Well, not too cold, but -7 is colder than I'm used to at home. So on the way home I throw my baby (Ipod) on random and hope the soundtrack to my day will be a good one. I find the music you listen to during specific periods and events in your life will always be related back to each other. For example Summer in China '05 would be John Lennon -Working Class Hero, Spring '05 Xavier Rudd - Green Spandex and UVIC '01 Mary J. Blige - some club song and The Verve Pipe -Freshman. This music you were listening to during these moving or memorable days/seasons become the soundtrack of you life.
Well, I hoped today's soundtrack would be one of these memorable ones. I was right. With nearly 10,000 songs on my Ipod including many I've never even listened to before, there is always a chance you can get a random audio book clip, some interludes or some random metal/rap/old rock'n'roll that isn't good but there for a listen to when in the mood.
Today got some Kings of Leon (thanks for the recommendation for them Gump, they're awesome), some Led Zep, a Nirvana and some Manu Chau (also highly recommended) to finish the walk home off. A ROK airforce transport jet flies overhead as I take the turn to my house and I realize, hey, it's good to be someplace different and enjoying everything the world has in store for me today, maybe I will get up early and not waste my day away in bed more often!
Colin
Friday, December 29, 2006
A Warm yet Snowy Xmas.
Well, it wasn't quite a White Christmas but the morning of the 24th me, my gf and friend Ariel headed East to the city of Wonju. It was a pretty flat city and didn't seem to have much character compared to the city of Seoul or even Anyang and Yeosu (down south) where I visited. But not to worry, didn't go to Wonju for the city itself...we jumped on a bus within 30 minutes of arriving in the city up to the local ski mountain! Snowbaording on new years eve sounds good to me!
We didn't really plan the trip well though as we got there as the afternoon session was closing and waited 3 hours until the evening ski started. They shut the mountain down for 2 hours three during throughout the day I guess to make more snow and get the runs ready. So, after a good wait me and my buddy Ariel rented snowboards and got our lift tickets to go. You notice I said only me and Ariel, my gf spent the day in the spa as she doesn't like the cold and snow and his buddy who lives in Wonju had a hurt ankle from the week before.
The boarding itself was quite reasonanble. Not as big as YeongPyeong where i went last year and of course it doesn't even compare to the shadow od Whistler or even Cypress for that matter. But not to worry, I went for a little fun and relaxing not hard riding.
Didn't really have any Xmas nights plan, but you know the best nights are those that are on a whim. So on the subway home I decide we should go to the local market and get some food at home. We should also invite one of Sungku's friends over for dinner and have a nice Xmas dinner. 'Course at the market Sungku buys clams and oysters for an Xmas dinner so I start wondering if a home cooked dinner was a good plan. Oysters and clams on Xmas (and with kimchi of course too)...yuck.
Well, it wasn't quite a White Christmas but the morning of the 24th me, my gf and friend Ariel headed East to the city of Wonju. It was a pretty flat city and didn't seem to have much character compared to the city of Seoul or even Anyang and Yeosu (down south) where I visited. But not to worry, didn't go to Wonju for the city itself...we jumped on a bus within 30 minutes of arriving in the city up to the local ski mountain! Snowbaording on new years eve sounds good to me!
We didn't really plan the trip well though as we got there as the afternoon session was closing and waited 3 hours until the evening ski started. They shut the mountain down for 2 hours three during throughout the day I guess to make more snow and get the runs ready. So, after a good wait me and my buddy Ariel rented snowboards and got our lift tickets to go. You notice I said only me and Ariel, my gf spent the day in the spa as she doesn't like the cold and snow and his buddy who lives in Wonju had a hurt ankle from the week before.The boarding itself was quite reasonanble. Not as big as YeongPyeong where i went last year and of course it doesn't even compare to the shadow od Whistler or even Cypress for that matter. But not to worry, I went for a little fun and relaxing not hard riding.
The snow was decent and the lines weren't all that bad, maybe 15 minute wait at most. That night went out for some yummy chicken BBQ and soju to celebrate the arrival of Xmas day.
On Xmas day itself we woke up and had some bread and coffee at the local Dunkin' Donuts (the closest comparable thing to Tim Horton's but without the yummy French Vanilla Cap.). Got a bus which took about 3 hours to get back to Seoul as the traffic was heavy but made it back to get the end of a nice sunny day in Seoul.
Didn't really have any Xmas nights plan, but you know the best nights are those that are on a whim. So on the subway home I decide we should go to the local market and get some food at home. We should also invite one of Sungku's friends over for dinner and have a nice Xmas dinner. 'Course at the market Sungku buys clams and oysters for an Xmas dinner so I start wondering if a home cooked dinner was a good plan. Oysters and clams on Xmas (and with kimchi of course too)...yuck.
I dropped by the local butcher and picked myself up a nice duck. Yes..duck. If I can't have a roasted turkey, I'll have to settle for roast duck. 'Course the lack of an oven meant that I was going to be cooking it in a toaster oven which proved to be quite the experience.
The dinner itself was great. Sungku and her friend polished off a few bottles of wine and I stuck my to brews. Listened to some music and just chilled for the rest of the night and it was great.
So, I think my first Xmas away from the family was pretty successful and since I got to talk to everyone on the phone, I couldn't have asked more. Now the question is...what for New Years?
Hope everyones Xmas was good.
Colin
Friday, December 22, 2006
Konglish at It's Best
The Korean language itself has a huge number of words which are derived from not only English but also Chinese and Japanese. Children will understand if you tell them the computer monitor, mouse, keyboard and modem is broken as all of the words are the same in Korean.
I can live with most of the Konglish but when my gf starts asking me to bring my panties when she wants to do laundry, that's just pushing it too far. Men's and women's underwear in Korea are known as 'Girl panties' and 'Boys' Panties" so I can see the translation, but calling my boxers panties is just not OK with me.
I live in Rodeo Drive now! Well, Munjeong Rodeo street to be exact, it's a discount shopipng center from depeartment stores. Here in Korea shopig at a dept. store means your trendy (and I say rich). Everything there is well overpriced although most Koreans say it is the only place where you can be sure your buying the real brands. Anyways, below is a big outlet with about 12 different upscale fashion labels selling coats inside for 500$, sweaters for $150 and toques for 80$ a piece.
The Korean language itself has a huge number of words which are derived from not only English but also Chinese and Japanese. Children will understand if you tell them the computer monitor, mouse, keyboard and modem is broken as all of the words are the same in Korean.
I can live with most of the Konglish but when my gf starts asking me to bring my panties when she wants to do laundry, that's just pushing it too far. Men's and women's underwear in Korea are known as 'Girl panties' and 'Boys' Panties" so I can see the translation, but calling my boxers panties is just not OK with me.
I live in Rodeo Drive now! Well, Munjeong Rodeo street to be exact, it's a discount shopipng center from depeartment stores. Here in Korea shopig at a dept. store means your trendy (and I say rich). Everything there is well overpriced although most Koreans say it is the only place where you can be sure your buying the real brands. Anyways, below is a big outlet with about 12 different upscale fashion labels selling coats inside for 500$, sweaters for $150 and toques for 80$ a piece.
A new meaning of having to go to the Dump.
I've heard of yellow snow before...but brown?
My favourite DVD room in Gangbyeon. I dunno if the pun was intented or not, but it's quite humorous none the less. I love the DVD room in Korea, you go there and can choose from over 200 or so videos, Korean and English and you get your own private room with a 60 inch screen to watch. 'Course you should have a red light in your head at the thought of that...you see what happends sometimes in cinemas...now just imagine if there's no one else around what would happen.
Indeed it does, the DVD room is common for teenagers and younger coulples to frequent as a place to kiss and *cough* other things. Some might never even venture inside for fear of dirtyness but I know there are other places just as dirty that we don't worry about. I figure if I don't know about it, doesn't hurt me.
There are uncountable others, but I got a couple of food pics of these examples. It's enough to keep you amused while on a longley bus ride by yourself.
Xmas break!! Well, only Xmas day itself, but should be a good weekend!
Merry Christmas everyone!
Thursday, December 21, 2006
Everyday Randomness
So, life always seems to be interesting no matter how much of a routine you get into. Yesterday I was up at a University studying with my tutor and got a call from the GF. She asks me "Did you lock the door when you left?" Ummm, no why? "I'm locked in and I have to leave for work within 5 minutes or I'll be late!"
Actually I specifically remember thinking I won't lock it, nobody is going to break in, although she might be mad at me. I had locked it before when she was inside and never had any problems before. Anyways,
I could tell she was mighty distressed and I'm thinking, shit, I'm gonna have to jump in a taxi and she's still gonna be late. Me and my buddy who is teaching me had plans for lunch, so I brought him along for the ride back. I figured maybe the neighbor hadthe key and locked it or somethin, I dunno.
Got a call when I was about 5 mins away and she had got it open by what I understood as using a knife to jam it open. I was worried it would be costing me an arm and a leg to get it fixed, and when I got back I saw the door open and the bolt and lock swaying freely some side to side.
Damnit, what did she do to the door. After a quick inspection I realize she only took the screws out and it could be easily fixed again.
What was gonna be a relaxed afternoon and turned out to be a hectic little adventure. Just another day in sunny SK I suppose.
Colin
So, life always seems to be interesting no matter how much of a routine you get into. Yesterday I was up at a University studying with my tutor and got a call from the GF. She asks me "Did you lock the door when you left?" Ummm, no why? "I'm locked in and I have to leave for work within 5 minutes or I'll be late!"
Actually I specifically remember thinking I won't lock it, nobody is going to break in, although she might be mad at me. I had locked it before when she was inside and never had any problems before. Anyways,
I could tell she was mighty distressed and I'm thinking, shit, I'm gonna have to jump in a taxi and she's still gonna be late. Me and my buddy who is teaching me had plans for lunch, so I brought him along for the ride back. I figured maybe the neighbor hadthe key and locked it or somethin, I dunno.
Got a call when I was about 5 mins away and she had got it open by what I understood as using a knife to jam it open. I was worried it would be costing me an arm and a leg to get it fixed, and when I got back I saw the door open and the bolt and lock swaying freely some side to side.
Damnit, what did she do to the door. After a quick inspection I realize she only took the screws out and it could be easily fixed again.
What was gonna be a relaxed afternoon and turned out to be a hectic little adventure. Just another day in sunny SK I suppose.
Colin
Monday, December 11, 2006
I got all my pictures and videos that were on Sungku's camera (which are 99% of them) so I have all kinds of new pictures poseted on my MSN Live Space. I even got a YouTube account and got some videos up. Let's start with some from my Bday. Yes it was mid-September, but it was a memorable one...and not in the best way. The better part of the night was here watching Sungku eat some live octopus. Since I had eaten more than enough meat before hand I had no problem drinking and watching the spectacle.
The plate is crawling with the sticky suckers...
And now it isn't...
YUCK! I really prefer not having the choice of either chewing my food or it eating me!
The plate is crawling with the sticky suckers...
And now it isn't...
YUCK! I really prefer not having the choice of either chewing my food or it eating me!
Friday, December 08, 2006
Let's tak'em back a bit.
How far you taken' 'em?
Well we're goin...wayyyy...well, not that far just a few weekends ago.
I got pics from a wedding I went to (though not the professional ones) so I can post about it now.
So Friday night I take off right to Hapkido after school, finished my first test and got my Yellow Belt. Beware the Yellow Belt!!! From there right to Konkuk Uni. area where some friends where having 삼겹살 (pork BBQ) with the school. They were already well into the Soju by the time I got there and when me and a buddy Richie showed up the drinks just kept on flowing. From there we went to another HOF (what they call a pub in Korea) for much more beer and Soju.
I managed to piss one of the girls off well with some of the dirty Korean comments that I have learned. Koreans (most) don't use swears or dirty words and when you do, they aren't too pleased in the least...and this goes double for girls. In the cell phone she translates something and shoes it to me and a buddy...LOW QUALITY. Hahahaha, she was even less pleased when I couldn't stop laughing at the comment. Ahh well, all in good fun.
From there off to the 노래방 (karaoke room) where we blasted away at the usual tunes and heard a few different ones form the Korean girls there. After some Chinese style bowsa (big dumplings) and a taxi home it was after 4 when I got to bed.
Woke up to a phone call from Sungku who was on her way up on the subway. Your still sleeping..aiaiai!! Hurry up or I'm gonna be mad....man, your already mad girl. I'll be there when I can. Got there only 4 minutes late, but still a very uncomfortable rest of the subway up 'till she met her friends and got in a better mood.
The reason we were up so early 'tis to go to one of her friends' weddings. We were all meeting
and getting on a bus to go to the northern city of Youngja. Was a good 3 hour drive up, but the wedding was fun. Very quick...20 minutes of photos to begin, a 30 minute ceremony, and then a 40 minute lunch. Then back on the bus for a 4 hour ride home.
The ceremony was good ('cept I didn't understand much of what was said) and I wouldn't really say it was a recpeption lunch as you only really chatted with the people that were sitting with you.
How far you taken' 'em?
Well we're goin...wayyyy...well, not that far just a few weekends ago.
I got pics from a wedding I went to (though not the professional ones) so I can post about it now.
So Friday night I take off right to Hapkido after school, finished my first test and got my Yellow Belt. Beware the Yellow Belt!!! From there right to Konkuk Uni. area where some friends where having 삼겹살 (pork BBQ) with the school. They were already well into the Soju by the time I got there and when me and a buddy Richie showed up the drinks just kept on flowing. From there we went to another HOF (what they call a pub in Korea) for much more beer and Soju.
I managed to piss one of the girls off well with some of the dirty Korean comments that I have learned. Koreans (most) don't use swears or dirty words and when you do, they aren't too pleased in the least...and this goes double for girls. In the cell phone she translates something and shoes it to me and a buddy...LOW QUALITY. Hahahaha, she was even less pleased when I couldn't stop laughing at the comment. Ahh well, all in good fun.
From there off to the 노래방 (karaoke room) where we blasted away at the usual tunes and heard a few different ones form the Korean girls there. After some Chinese style bowsa (big dumplings) and a taxi home it was after 4 when I got to bed.
Woke up to a phone call from Sungku who was on her way up on the subway. Your still sleeping..aiaiai!! Hurry up or I'm gonna be mad....man, your already mad girl. I'll be there when I can. Got there only 4 minutes late, but still a very uncomfortable rest of the subway up 'till she met her friends and got in a better mood.
The reason we were up so early 'tis to go to one of her friends' weddings. We were all meeting
and getting on a bus to go to the northern city of Youngja. Was a good 3 hour drive up, but the wedding was fun. Very quick...20 minutes of photos to begin, a 30 minute ceremony, and then a 40 minute lunch. Then back on the bus for a 4 hour ride home.
The ceremony was good ('cept I didn't understand much of what was said) and I wouldn't really say it was a recpeption lunch as you only really chatted with the people that were sitting with you.
The ride home was long as me and Sungku had to sit on opposite sides of the bus. There were two Korean men sitting on either aisle and me and Sungku were looking trying to figure out where to sit...I figured they would move over and we could sit together, but no. The one Korean guy slides down, the guy I had to sit beside just moved his legs to let me through. I talked over him and across the aisle for a good part of the way home, you'd think it would be annoying, but he never moved. I was mighty pissed and thought he was being a dushbag 아젓시 (ajissi, older man).
I find many older men here will do nothing nice for younger people, especially if it means standing up and moving over one seat on the bus. Korea is very much for treating older people with respect, but I find older people could care less for lots of younger people and maybe not disrespect, but arn't very nice to younger people. Even if one person is 20 and one is 21 your whole personality and way of speech changes. I say f*&# that, I show everyone the same respect, older or younger, and if your older and an asshole, I'll treat you so accordingly.
Sorry, little vented rage. So me and Sungku were not gonna come home and planned on staying at the other city, but it was quite small and I didn't think we'd enjoy it much. So we came home and went out for dinner with some of her friends. A good choice it was. More BBQ pork, a grille fish house (which I dind't eat) and 2 pubs later and we were all well tossed.
I always really enjoy going out with Sungku's friends as it is a change in scene and of course they all like to drink. Had a good talk with a Korean history buff...learned a bit about the local history and made a plan to meet next Sunday and do some archery.
Sunday was alot of sleeping and a bit of shopping. Havin a party at my house next Saturday and need to fix up the house and get it ready! Just rain and warm weather here, I hear there's more than a foot of snow in Langley, I'm Jealous!! Aiaiaiaia, I want snow.
Colin
Friday, December 01, 2006
A Couple Drinks After Hapkido
Wake up, wake up, wake up, it's the first of the month! Well...here in Korea I don't get paid until the 10th of the month, so I won't be cashing any cheques just quite yet.
Finally made a plan to go out with some people form Hapkido for a few beers after the class (it ends at 1030). Me, Simon (from England), the instructor, another Korean student and Sungku went to the local German brewhause for some grub and yummy draft beer. The German beerhause's usually have the best beer around and this one was no different.
Got a plate of friend chicken, a plate of fire chicken and a plate of smoked big feet for food. Yes, you read right, smoked pig feet. It came with the meat stripped off it and of course the bone with the ankle and foot to gnaw on if you so desire. I had a couple of bites, it tasted pretty much like smoked ham, but after all the chicken I was already pretty full. Things were goin well and everyone in the place was having fun.
Then the night turned around.
Some guy that was drinking in the place was cutoff by the woman who ran the Hause and just lost it. He went to the kitchen area (which wasn't sectioned off from the tables really) and started yellin' at her and swearin. She stayed calm and dealt with it fairly well. He kept stepping forward like he was gonna hit her, but she stood her ground and just kept saying leave.
He almost made it to the door, but then turned back around, started yellin and screamin again. The Hapkido instructor gave the cops a call and just stayed calm. The guy obviously hears him and looks at his and says stay out of this, you don;t wanna get hurt (or somethin of the such) and continues berating the poor woman.
'Course the whole time I'm thinking... this guy has no idea there are a table of Hapkido people who arn't too happy with his antics. Anyways, he and his shy buddy take off and so we think all is ok. Back they come in 1 minute with a couple bottles of Soju to show the lady up. He never really drank any..sat down..got up..yelled more. Then chucked one of them (full) against he wall by the kitchen. The women came down and lost it on him, and both there were kaiseky's and ship'pal's tossed all over the place between them (SOB and fuck to translate them). I thought we should have tossed him out of the place by then, but the instructor wouldn't let us get up. There was another table across from us with two middle aged couples and a 4 year old girl. I felt the worse for the little girl..poor thing has to witness that. Anyways, her dad and another little skinny guy has to get up and keep this drunk fuck from hitting the women. Finally, as always, the cops show up after everything has happened (even though the copshop was right across the street) and they take the guy outside and calm him down.
Supposedly if you get rowdy and crazy like that there is no drunk tank here in Korea. A $60 fine and he's on his way.
The women who ran the Hause was really ashamed and brought us a couple rounds of free beers, but it was us who felt more sorry for her.
So, off to the taxi and on our way home from the crazyness. Actually we just got into more. The taxi was flying through red lights and stop signs Harbin style and as we pull up to a red light with cars in front a blue truck with two guys pull and and start swearin at this guy as he passed them without his signal (that is why there were mad, Sungku translated). The driver says and points to pull over. So..we bust a right, pull over and the truck pulls in front. Out jump these two scrawny little things, taxi driver jumps out, rips off his shirt to show a whole back tattoo of a dragon and grabs these little guys.
No full punches thrown..but he taxi has both of these guys by the collar and is just swinging them around everywhere. The one guy gets on the cell to call up the buddies. The taxi driver just keeps walking around and throwing these guys on the ground, they get up, he gets them by the collar again.
Me and Sungku watch for a bit thinking they will end it at that, but after two minutes this is still goin on, out we go and into another cab.
Holy my. Not our night. Sungku was right rattled but I enjoyed the drunken displays and crazy ness a bit. Kinda reminded me of Harbin! We left unscathed so it's just another tally in the old Asian randomness nights.
Havin' a party at my place this Saturday, so hopefully more positive stories next week!
Colin
Wake up, wake up, wake up, it's the first of the month! Well...here in Korea I don't get paid until the 10th of the month, so I won't be cashing any cheques just quite yet.
Finally made a plan to go out with some people form Hapkido for a few beers after the class (it ends at 1030). Me, Simon (from England), the instructor, another Korean student and Sungku went to the local German brewhause for some grub and yummy draft beer. The German beerhause's usually have the best beer around and this one was no different.
Got a plate of friend chicken, a plate of fire chicken and a plate of smoked big feet for food. Yes, you read right, smoked pig feet. It came with the meat stripped off it and of course the bone with the ankle and foot to gnaw on if you so desire. I had a couple of bites, it tasted pretty much like smoked ham, but after all the chicken I was already pretty full. Things were goin well and everyone in the place was having fun.
Then the night turned around.
Some guy that was drinking in the place was cutoff by the woman who ran the Hause and just lost it. He went to the kitchen area (which wasn't sectioned off from the tables really) and started yellin' at her and swearin. She stayed calm and dealt with it fairly well. He kept stepping forward like he was gonna hit her, but she stood her ground and just kept saying leave.
He almost made it to the door, but then turned back around, started yellin and screamin again. The Hapkido instructor gave the cops a call and just stayed calm. The guy obviously hears him and looks at his and says stay out of this, you don;t wanna get hurt (or somethin of the such) and continues berating the poor woman.
'Course the whole time I'm thinking... this guy has no idea there are a table of Hapkido people who arn't too happy with his antics. Anyways, he and his shy buddy take off and so we think all is ok. Back they come in 1 minute with a couple bottles of Soju to show the lady up. He never really drank any..sat down..got up..yelled more. Then chucked one of them (full) against he wall by the kitchen. The women came down and lost it on him, and both there were kaiseky's and ship'pal's tossed all over the place between them (SOB and fuck to translate them). I thought we should have tossed him out of the place by then, but the instructor wouldn't let us get up. There was another table across from us with two middle aged couples and a 4 year old girl. I felt the worse for the little girl..poor thing has to witness that. Anyways, her dad and another little skinny guy has to get up and keep this drunk fuck from hitting the women. Finally, as always, the cops show up after everything has happened (even though the copshop was right across the street) and they take the guy outside and calm him down.
Supposedly if you get rowdy and crazy like that there is no drunk tank here in Korea. A $60 fine and he's on his way.
The women who ran the Hause was really ashamed and brought us a couple rounds of free beers, but it was us who felt more sorry for her.
So, off to the taxi and on our way home from the crazyness. Actually we just got into more. The taxi was flying through red lights and stop signs Harbin style and as we pull up to a red light with cars in front a blue truck with two guys pull and and start swearin at this guy as he passed them without his signal (that is why there were mad, Sungku translated). The driver says and points to pull over. So..we bust a right, pull over and the truck pulls in front. Out jump these two scrawny little things, taxi driver jumps out, rips off his shirt to show a whole back tattoo of a dragon and grabs these little guys.
No full punches thrown..but he taxi has both of these guys by the collar and is just swinging them around everywhere. The one guy gets on the cell to call up the buddies. The taxi driver just keeps walking around and throwing these guys on the ground, they get up, he gets them by the collar again.
Me and Sungku watch for a bit thinking they will end it at that, but after two minutes this is still goin on, out we go and into another cab.
Holy my. Not our night. Sungku was right rattled but I enjoyed the drunken displays and crazy ness a bit. Kinda reminded me of Harbin! We left unscathed so it's just another tally in the old Asian randomness nights.
Havin' a party at my place this Saturday, so hopefully more positive stories next week!
Colin
Tuesday, November 28, 2006
Korean Religion
So what comes to your mind when you first think of Korean Religion? Well, probably Buddhism, Taoism or Confucianism right?
A 2003 survey by the South Korean government showed that only about 50% of Koreans adhere to any particular religion, while the rest are either Atheist, or as I’d like to call myself, spiritual.
Well I’m quite the opposite of a religion buff but I thought Confucianism was more of a way of thinking than a religion. Anyways, stats showed that only about 3% of the population are Confucians although I believe the respect for elders and some other Korean values are related to this old way of thinking. My last rant about having to show uber respect to older men comes from this way of thinking.
Buddhism used to compose a high percentage of Koreans but today is practiced by only about 1/4 of the Korean population. There are numerous famous Buddhist temples and mountains in Korea that provide great hiking and sightseeing on the weekend.
The most surprising thing to me though, is the number of Christians here in Korea. Christian missionaries first started coming here in the late 18th century and converted a large number of Koreans, and then again in the 70’s and 80’s a large number of people converted. The later I am guessing can be attributed to the US led force against North Korea in the 50’s and the continued presence of American Army bases here. Christians statistically comprise only about 25% of the population, but wherever you go in Korea, and especially Seoul, you see churches absolutely everywhere.
The majority of my students both now and in the past are Christian. I think every one of my 12 co-teachers is Christian and on Sundays…. oh on Sundays.
You think the odd Jehovah Witness is a little annoying back home in Canada. Well…you ain’t seen anything then. I would say about 70% of the people who approach me in the street are coming to talk to me about Christianity and to ask “Have you found Jesus?” On Sunday you can find streets lined with people who are signing hymns from the bible and if you go to downtown Seoul you get the really hardcore who are walking around with big banners and picket signs damning anyone who doesn’t believe in the Lord and Savior.
I am all for doing something that makes you happy and gives you purpose in life, but the minute someone tries to push those ideas and beliefs on me or someone else than that is the time I lose respect for them and their religion. Only once has a girl who approached me on the street responded when I told her I’m not religious with a ‘”No problem, you can think as you which.” I was very astonished as all the others have continued pushing and trying to attest their thinking.
I am usually nice and respectful to those who approach me like that but there are times when I can lose my temper. Last March while me and Sungku were sitting in a park, a man and what seemed like his son came up and said hello to us. I said hello back very kindly knowing what they were going to talk to us about. They show us a little brochure and I respond with a, no thanks, not interested. He pushes it forward again, and I repeat the answer in Korean. They start talking Korean to Sungku who is actually quite anti-religious and she gets angry and gives them a few harsh words to go away. They stay for another solid minute just talking and ignoring our request and it’s about this time I start getting pissed off and when Sungku decides she’s had enough, stands up and really starts giving it to them in Korean. Got the attention of the whole park, but finally made them leave.
I sometimes wear a chain with the Buddhist symbol around my neck and I’ve gotten trouble from a Dutch friend back home about it and a foreigner here, as it looks similar to the Nazi symbol. Fair enough error back home, maybe not for the guy here. But one of my students the other week sees it and asks me, “Are you a Nazi teacher?” I look at him funny and ask him “You are Christian, aren’t you?” Of course he didn’t understand and maybe it’s for the better but definitely the next week I saw him wearing a cross around his neck, pulled out and displayed for my viewing pleasure.
The worst thing about most religion is the zero tolerance most take on having and studying other religions. I think it is good to read a variety of religious books to understand certain peoples ways of thinking and to take a little from each to come up with your own philosophy on life. Like this kid in my class though, he knew what the symbol was and was just poking fun at it and comparing it to one of the most known and despised symbols in the world.
This lack of acceptance has provoked a few outbursts from me in this country. Although most religious people I meet both here and back home are kind, generous, caring and keep their convictions to themselves, those who persist and ignore my free thought will always be the reason why I have a negative view on religion as a whole.
I hope I haven’t offended any readers with this post. But if so… I don’t apologize… I didn’t force you to read my thoughts and views and you are more than welcome to carry on believing what you will as long as you’re not hurting anyone with them.
Peace, love , cheese, and Freedom of Thought,
Colin
So what comes to your mind when you first think of Korean Religion? Well, probably Buddhism, Taoism or Confucianism right?
A 2003 survey by the South Korean government showed that only about 50% of Koreans adhere to any particular religion, while the rest are either Atheist, or as I’d like to call myself, spiritual.
Well I’m quite the opposite of a religion buff but I thought Confucianism was more of a way of thinking than a religion. Anyways, stats showed that only about 3% of the population are Confucians although I believe the respect for elders and some other Korean values are related to this old way of thinking. My last rant about having to show uber respect to older men comes from this way of thinking.
Buddhism used to compose a high percentage of Koreans but today is practiced by only about 1/4 of the Korean population. There are numerous famous Buddhist temples and mountains in Korea that provide great hiking and sightseeing on the weekend.
The most surprising thing to me though, is the number of Christians here in Korea. Christian missionaries first started coming here in the late 18th century and converted a large number of Koreans, and then again in the 70’s and 80’s a large number of people converted. The later I am guessing can be attributed to the US led force against North Korea in the 50’s and the continued presence of American Army bases here. Christians statistically comprise only about 25% of the population, but wherever you go in Korea, and especially Seoul, you see churches absolutely everywhere.
The majority of my students both now and in the past are Christian. I think every one of my 12 co-teachers is Christian and on Sundays…. oh on Sundays.
You think the odd Jehovah Witness is a little annoying back home in Canada. Well…you ain’t seen anything then. I would say about 70% of the people who approach me in the street are coming to talk to me about Christianity and to ask “Have you found Jesus?” On Sunday you can find streets lined with people who are signing hymns from the bible and if you go to downtown Seoul you get the really hardcore who are walking around with big banners and picket signs damning anyone who doesn’t believe in the Lord and Savior.
I am all for doing something that makes you happy and gives you purpose in life, but the minute someone tries to push those ideas and beliefs on me or someone else than that is the time I lose respect for them and their religion. Only once has a girl who approached me on the street responded when I told her I’m not religious with a ‘”No problem, you can think as you which.” I was very astonished as all the others have continued pushing and trying to attest their thinking.
I am usually nice and respectful to those who approach me like that but there are times when I can lose my temper. Last March while me and Sungku were sitting in a park, a man and what seemed like his son came up and said hello to us. I said hello back very kindly knowing what they were going to talk to us about. They show us a little brochure and I respond with a, no thanks, not interested. He pushes it forward again, and I repeat the answer in Korean. They start talking Korean to Sungku who is actually quite anti-religious and she gets angry and gives them a few harsh words to go away. They stay for another solid minute just talking and ignoring our request and it’s about this time I start getting pissed off and when Sungku decides she’s had enough, stands up and really starts giving it to them in Korean. Got the attention of the whole park, but finally made them leave.
I sometimes wear a chain with the Buddhist symbol around my neck and I’ve gotten trouble from a Dutch friend back home about it and a foreigner here, as it looks similar to the Nazi symbol. Fair enough error back home, maybe not for the guy here. But one of my students the other week sees it and asks me, “Are you a Nazi teacher?” I look at him funny and ask him “You are Christian, aren’t you?” Of course he didn’t understand and maybe it’s for the better but definitely the next week I saw him wearing a cross around his neck, pulled out and displayed for my viewing pleasure.
The worst thing about most religion is the zero tolerance most take on having and studying other religions. I think it is good to read a variety of religious books to understand certain peoples ways of thinking and to take a little from each to come up with your own philosophy on life. Like this kid in my class though, he knew what the symbol was and was just poking fun at it and comparing it to one of the most known and despised symbols in the world.
This lack of acceptance has provoked a few outbursts from me in this country. Although most religious people I meet both here and back home are kind, generous, caring and keep their convictions to themselves, those who persist and ignore my free thought will always be the reason why I have a negative view on religion as a whole.
I hope I haven’t offended any readers with this post. But if so… I don’t apologize… I didn’t force you to read my thoughts and views and you are more than welcome to carry on believing what you will as long as you’re not hurting anyone with them.
Peace, love , cheese, and Freedom of Thought,
Colin
Tuesday, November 21, 2006
Got warm again here in Seoul this week and I haven't had to put anything more than a sweater on for the last few days. Enjoying it.
Getting psyched for my first Hapkido test this week where I can get my yellow belt instead of my newbie white belt if I pass. Beware the yellow belt!!! Aya!
Last Friday I finally moved into my new place. It was reasonably clean for Korean standards after moving out, but not up to par with a new house residence you would move into back home. So first day of cleaning is just a basic sweep of the floors and a first level wash with towel and water. Second day onto the cabinets and porch, and third day...well that's yet to happen although the cabinets and floors as well as an overall dusting is much needed.
The last tenants took absolutely everything from the house so I needed to get a new bed, gas range, washing machine, TV, closet, and everything else you might need. The school was reasonably good about it and most of it is all installed and running. The bathroom is still bare and needs shelving and stuff (as well as a good cleaning) but I have another week or so before I'm going to have anybody over. Speaking of people over!!!
House Warming Party! Gonna be two Saturdays from now and as always with my pa rites it will be a quite random mix of people and events with nothing really planned and just kinda following the flow of the night.
Back to last weekend, lets look back not ahead. I moved right off a Rodeo Street which is geuss is supposed to be a take on Rodeo Drive as it has a whole pile of cheap discount name brand stores. I'm sure my cousin Katie will love it when she comes and visits. As for me, I enjoy the sights that come along with a shoping center, but not the shopping itself. Went shopping with my girlfriend on Saturday for a solid 3 and a bit hours, she managed to drop over 7 bills on clothing and I had a few bags on my arms to walk back with. It's hard work going shoping with people even though you don't do much shoping yourself. A good nap was had afterwards.
So, out to Iteawon tonight for some grub (gonna try to get Egyptian food) and gonna stay over at my buddies place. Got a private lesson tomorrow afternoon near my school so I can start earning some drinking money and sending more of my salary back home to pay them student loans (interest is a bitch!).
Great link to a translated menu at 김밥나라 (KimBub Nara), good for newbies or the soon to be!
Having a hard time finding my camera cord and my GF has most of our pics on her cam. I'll get some goodies up sooner or later. Till next Time. Hap Ki!
Colin
Getting psyched for my first Hapkido test this week where I can get my yellow belt instead of my newbie white belt if I pass. Beware the yellow belt!!! Aya!
Last Friday I finally moved into my new place. It was reasonably clean for Korean standards after moving out, but not up to par with a new house residence you would move into back home. So first day of cleaning is just a basic sweep of the floors and a first level wash with towel and water. Second day onto the cabinets and porch, and third day...well that's yet to happen although the cabinets and floors as well as an overall dusting is much needed.
The last tenants took absolutely everything from the house so I needed to get a new bed, gas range, washing machine, TV, closet, and everything else you might need. The school was reasonably good about it and most of it is all installed and running. The bathroom is still bare and needs shelving and stuff (as well as a good cleaning) but I have another week or so before I'm going to have anybody over. Speaking of people over!!!
House Warming Party! Gonna be two Saturdays from now and as always with my pa rites it will be a quite random mix of people and events with nothing really planned and just kinda following the flow of the night.
Back to last weekend, lets look back not ahead. I moved right off a Rodeo Street which is geuss is supposed to be a take on Rodeo Drive as it has a whole pile of cheap discount name brand stores. I'm sure my cousin Katie will love it when she comes and visits. As for me, I enjoy the sights that come along with a shoping center, but not the shopping itself. Went shopping with my girlfriend on Saturday for a solid 3 and a bit hours, she managed to drop over 7 bills on clothing and I had a few bags on my arms to walk back with. It's hard work going shoping with people even though you don't do much shoping yourself. A good nap was had afterwards.
So, out to Iteawon tonight for some grub (gonna try to get Egyptian food) and gonna stay over at my buddies place. Got a private lesson tomorrow afternoon near my school so I can start earning some drinking money and sending more of my salary back home to pay them student loans (interest is a bitch!).
Great link to a translated menu at 김밥나라 (KimBub Nara), good for newbies or the soon to be!
Having a hard time finding my camera cord and my GF has most of our pics on her cam. I'll get some goodies up sooner or later. Till next Time. Hap Ki!
Colin
Wednesday, November 15, 2006
Well...wasn't quite the weekend I expected, but was a goody anyways. Friday had a dinner with my Korean tutor and a few other friends. Some good 감자탕 (Meat and Potato Stew) and a few bottles of Soju. My friend Mike who brought his guitar decided to break it out and play a little bit oafter we urged him on. A few stums and some chill music later he got the attention of the two ajissis (25 year olds + men) a few tables over. In broken English the guy says " You play a song for us!" Mikes a bit uncertain at first but the green courage kicks in and over he goes to play them a song. A reggea/rock song, one he wrote himself and the guys were enthralled. The guy offered him a shot and even made him do it the 'love shot' way. Mike said, hanna, dul, set (korean, 1,2, 3) and the guy was not happy. Have to do it again but this time in English. After the shots were concluded the guy said he has to now play us a traditional Korean song. He does a few notes...stops. Few notes again, stops. And once more for good luck./ Thought he was just messin' with us but then he began and kept it up. THought it was a nice peaceful Korean song until he started singing. He must havae thought it a kareoke room as he started just bellowing all kinds of stuff in Korean and got the attention of the whole restaurant. Another table called over the waitress and got her to tell him to shut up.. a bit disrespectful I thought, but maybe for a good cause, I couldn't handle much more of his singing.
They left about the same time as us, and as they were walking by, he shakes my hand and says, you are a good man, but running (as he points to my stomach). Excuse me? Running he says again and demonstrates the big belly motion with his hand. I'm livid with this. Sure I'm not thin by any means but u don't go around saying taht to people. He had a few chins so I have him a good ging and said, 'How many chins do you have?". He says, but I'm old. It quited down but I was still not pleased with his comment since I've been working out and getting in better shape over the last month.
Anyhow, Monday morning I was teaching some businessmen who work at Samsung and they said I looked like I was in great shape. I said, well not great, but not horrible shape either, but thanks for the compliment. I’m just doing a three week fill-in job there, they have good English and are quite interesting. Three of them work in the military defense division and design rockets and missiles. The others work in the computer engineering division…a slight change from my 10 year old kids. Very enjoyable.
Back to Friday night, afterwards we head to a little back near Konkuk Uni. (like most countries the best bar scene is around the Universities) where there’s a little bar that has cheap ber and shots and a good environment. From there to the 노래방 (karaoke room) where we sung a little of everything from Nirvana and RATM to Bob Dylan and Oasis. Great fun to go singing after a few drinks. Much more relaxed since you get your own room and unlike China, you sing at the screen with your friends behind you…you never feel like your up on stage and could care less if your singing bad. Friday as a good success.
Saturday got a call in the morning while still in bed. Come hiking! Ummm, maybe let me talk to the girl and see what I can manage. After a little convincing I got us up outta bed and out the door on a hike. Expected a little hill but got a good hour and a bit hike up at mountain. Great view and got rid of the hangover nicely.
Was waiting for a call on Saturday from a friend who lives outta Seoul,. We’ve made plans to go out but he’s missed calling me before, so when I got offered to go for home-cooked Spaghetti, I jumped on the idea. Korean cooked but it was still mighty cheesy and tasty. It was an elder sister of a friends and there were about 6 of us there and a little 1 year old baby. The baby was very scared at first, but was playing with me by the end of the night. Sungku was very surprised that I was fooling around and playing with a baby since all she hears is about my bad students at school and thinks I don’t like kids. The women’s house we were at was a hard drinker. We brought 3 pitchers (about 5000ml) thinking it would be enough. We proceeded to polish off another case of tally’s and when were all feelin fine. A bit too fine for some as the women almost toppled over my friend Richie with her baby in arms. I was a bit surprised and repulsed at carrying a kid around being uber drunk and I could tell Richie was a little shocked himself. When I told Sungku the next day she thought I was just being very conservative, maybe I just havn’t been around many younger parents, but my gut tells me something’s amiss.
Anywho, hit up the 2nd 노래방 in as many nights and went singing away with another 3 pitchers of beer. Planned to go out to hit up the bars at about 230 but the mom was hammered and wanted to come out with us. We therefore had to go in and get her food and let her calm down and stay in the house, she was a wreck and was in no condition to go out any farther. ‘Course after sitting down for a bit it was lights out for me too and soon enough I was in the taxi heading home.
Sunday was chilled, Poker was cancelled which was disappointing but it’ll get doing in time. Saw my new apt. this week! Looked pretty nice. 2 bedrooms, decent size, small bathroom but very manageable. I was supposed to move on Tuesday and had everything packed and cleaned before I went to class on Monday. As I get to school the manager informs me I might have to stay in the house a few days without a bed of fridge…or anything else you might find in an apt. (it was completely bare). Ummmm, hellz no. I’ll just be staying where I am now and you can let me know when you have bought new stuff for me. ‘Course if I would have looked myself I could have found good furniture online the week before, but she has managed to get some 2nd hand and I hope its relatively good condition. It’s a hagwon (small academy) and they love to save money any way they can. Hope they found some good stuff and I’m all settled in by next Monday (finally). I’m sure I’ll have new stories before the week is out on that. I’m spent. Hope your doin well. I’ll post new pics here soon. Happy bday Jerry!
Colin
They left about the same time as us, and as they were walking by, he shakes my hand and says, you are a good man, but running (as he points to my stomach). Excuse me? Running he says again and demonstrates the big belly motion with his hand. I'm livid with this. Sure I'm not thin by any means but u don't go around saying taht to people. He had a few chins so I have him a good ging and said, 'How many chins do you have?". He says, but I'm old. It quited down but I was still not pleased with his comment since I've been working out and getting in better shape over the last month.
Anyhow, Monday morning I was teaching some businessmen who work at Samsung and they said I looked like I was in great shape. I said, well not great, but not horrible shape either, but thanks for the compliment. I’m just doing a three week fill-in job there, they have good English and are quite interesting. Three of them work in the military defense division and design rockets and missiles. The others work in the computer engineering division…a slight change from my 10 year old kids. Very enjoyable.
Back to Friday night, afterwards we head to a little back near Konkuk Uni. (like most countries the best bar scene is around the Universities) where there’s a little bar that has cheap ber and shots and a good environment. From there to the 노래방 (karaoke room) where we sung a little of everything from Nirvana and RATM to Bob Dylan and Oasis. Great fun to go singing after a few drinks. Much more relaxed since you get your own room and unlike China, you sing at the screen with your friends behind you…you never feel like your up on stage and could care less if your singing bad. Friday as a good success.
Saturday got a call in the morning while still in bed. Come hiking! Ummm, maybe let me talk to the girl and see what I can manage. After a little convincing I got us up outta bed and out the door on a hike. Expected a little hill but got a good hour and a bit hike up at mountain. Great view and got rid of the hangover nicely.
Was waiting for a call on Saturday from a friend who lives outta Seoul,. We’ve made plans to go out but he’s missed calling me before, so when I got offered to go for home-cooked Spaghetti, I jumped on the idea. Korean cooked but it was still mighty cheesy and tasty. It was an elder sister of a friends and there were about 6 of us there and a little 1 year old baby. The baby was very scared at first, but was playing with me by the end of the night. Sungku was very surprised that I was fooling around and playing with a baby since all she hears is about my bad students at school and thinks I don’t like kids. The women’s house we were at was a hard drinker. We brought 3 pitchers (about 5000ml) thinking it would be enough. We proceeded to polish off another case of tally’s and when were all feelin fine. A bit too fine for some as the women almost toppled over my friend Richie with her baby in arms. I was a bit surprised and repulsed at carrying a kid around being uber drunk and I could tell Richie was a little shocked himself. When I told Sungku the next day she thought I was just being very conservative, maybe I just havn’t been around many younger parents, but my gut tells me something’s amiss.
Anywho, hit up the 2nd 노래방 in as many nights and went singing away with another 3 pitchers of beer. Planned to go out to hit up the bars at about 230 but the mom was hammered and wanted to come out with us. We therefore had to go in and get her food and let her calm down and stay in the house, she was a wreck and was in no condition to go out any farther. ‘Course after sitting down for a bit it was lights out for me too and soon enough I was in the taxi heading home.
Sunday was chilled, Poker was cancelled which was disappointing but it’ll get doing in time. Saw my new apt. this week! Looked pretty nice. 2 bedrooms, decent size, small bathroom but very manageable. I was supposed to move on Tuesday and had everything packed and cleaned before I went to class on Monday. As I get to school the manager informs me I might have to stay in the house a few days without a bed of fridge…or anything else you might find in an apt. (it was completely bare). Ummmm, hellz no. I’ll just be staying where I am now and you can let me know when you have bought new stuff for me. ‘Course if I would have looked myself I could have found good furniture online the week before, but she has managed to get some 2nd hand and I hope its relatively good condition. It’s a hagwon (small academy) and they love to save money any way they can. Hope they found some good stuff and I’m all settled in by next Monday (finally). I’m sure I’ll have new stories before the week is out on that. I’m spent. Hope your doin well. I’ll post new pics here soon. Happy bday Jerry!
Colin
Friday, November 10, 2006
Mooooonnnnnnnnneeeeeeeeeyyyyyyyyyy!!! Today is payday and since I have a total of 4$ plus a little change to my name, that is a good thing. Been takin’ ‘er slow this past week since I’ve been pretty broke and ready to have a good weekend. Dinner tonight with some friends, probably out to the bars tomorrow night and gonna try and take some money from some guy sin a poker tourney this weekend. Actually quite resemblers a weekend from back home. ‘Course the green relaxant back home has been changed to a different kind of green relaxant here, Soju!
Tuesday, November 07, 2006
Aiiiyaaaa!!! Headin' to Hapkido tonight. It's great exercise and fun to learn. Based on using other peoples energy for your own self defense. So far I've learned how to break some wrist holds (good for when my friend Derek tries to wrastle me, I'm gettin free now!!), some basic throws and some differnt kinds of kicks. The 1st 30 mins is purely stretching and cardio so I'm satrting to get a bit more flexible and back into reasonable shape. Hope to keep it going all year while I'm here, so see where my energies lay in a few months.
It's gotten freakin cold here. Literally two weeks ago I was in shorts and a T-shirt and it felt like June in Vancouver, now I am in my heavist coat and am still a bit cold, like January in Vancouver. Eeeeks, there is a total lack of the spring and fall season here in Korea. Hot or cold, better used used to both of them. Classes are OK, sthe same old, good ones and bad ones. Going to move into my new house in 6 days finally! It's going to be good to actuyally settle down and know this is where I'm going to be living for the rest of my 10 months in the contract. I'm sure it will be a big relief. I'm off! Hap-Ki!
It's gotten freakin cold here. Literally two weeks ago I was in shorts and a T-shirt and it felt like June in Vancouver, now I am in my heavist coat and am still a bit cold, like January in Vancouver. Eeeeks, there is a total lack of the spring and fall season here in Korea. Hot or cold, better used used to both of them. Classes are OK, sthe same old, good ones and bad ones. Going to move into my new house in 6 days finally! It's going to be good to actuyally settle down and know this is where I'm going to be living for the rest of my 10 months in the contract. I'm sure it will be a big relief. I'm off! Hap-Ki!
Monday, November 06, 2006
First real post!!!! So as always when I am at school, I'm chatting with my mom and others on MSN and never get the time I want to type. I'm pretty broke these days as I came here flat broke and have only gotten 2/3's of a months pay since the pay monthly salary on the 10th of the following month (aka this Friday the 10th should be a fun one). Went to a Hyundai dept. store with SAungku who was going to get her pants tightened. The normal ajumma dry cleaners said it was too complicated for them, so we went right to the clothing line in the dept. store where she bought them. To one place on the 5th floor, tried on, pinned the mark, then up to the 8th floor, tried on, pinned and 45 minutes later we were able to get 2 pants hemmed. Back again tomorrow up and down the whole store just to get them. I didn't think we got pants hemmed right at the store itself in Willowbrook, but I'm a boy, maybe I don't know whats what. It was interesting though as I could watch all the men carrying their womens purses wandering aimlessly in the ails. Moms and their 12 year old daughters who come right out of a fashion magazing and a song playing in the back which all i could here wa the word Jealousy repeated over and over.
Good dinner and card games that night. Took 'er easy on Sunday, back to it today.
Well, I sure didn't get what I wanted out and it's alrady time for class. I guess I'll have to keep at it to improve. I'm out.
Colin
Good dinner and card games that night. Took 'er easy on Sunday, back to it today.
Well, I sure didn't get what I wanted out and it's alrady time for class. I guess I'll have to keep at it to improve. I'm out.
Colin
Friday, November 03, 2006
Monday, October 30, 2006
Monday, October 09, 2006
The Life and Times of Redderick Milla Volume 3 (2)
Monday Oct. 9th, 2006
Now where did I leave off? Let’s see on the train heading down to Beijing. Woke up to a sunny day and the Beijing skyline coming up quick. I had an interesting conversation the night before with a Korean couple that were studying in China. I was trying to figure out where to go once we got to the station and Sungku was sleeping so with and interesting combo of Chinese and Korean I managed to talk a bit with them and they got the guy across from us (who they were shocked was some big Chinese film director) to help me figure it out. Just a quick subway 5 stops then a short taxi, perfect.
Leaving the station I got the expected nagging of old ladies wanting to sell me their tour maps, hotels, taxis, etc. and even a college aged guy who wanted to get a picture with me. Being in Beijing, a land of many foreigners I wasn’t expecting the whole, hello how are you? Where are you from? How old are you? Do you know Yao Ming? Can I get a picture with you routine but I suppose he just got off the train from somewhere else like me. So, on the subway we go looking for our stop. Very much like the Korean subway but not as massive in magnitude…the Beijing subway is just a circle around the first ring road with another line running horizontal through the other from East to West. Beijing was developed like a circle with the downtown in the middle and new growth expanding outwards. There are three main roads that divide the sectors of the city, 1st ring, 2nd ring and 3rd ring road and you can easily find our hotel by saying it is just passed the 2nd ring road south of Chang An Ave. Anyways, so after walking for 20 mins and a food stop we continue to walk towards where we believe our hotel should be. Eventually gave up and called a taxi and showed him the hotel name that Youjia (Scotts gf) gave us back in Harbin. The guy didn’t recognize it but CB’d some guys who ‘thought they knew where it was’. In we get and we’re off…if you’ve even been in a taxi with me (most people in Canada haven’t as we always drive) you’d know that I despise taxi drivers and am always worried about being cheated or taken the long way around. So the whole ride I’m watchin’ the meter go up and up and taking us nowhere close to where I thought we should go. Luckily the CB friends were right and we got to the hotel in 35 rmb (more than the 10 rmb I am used to in Harbin, but less than the 50 or 100 I have heard about in Beijing). Hotel was reasonable, not super clean, but well located and after Harbin and my brothers house a little dirt is the least of my worries.
Headed right downtown that night and took some photos (most of which didn’t turn out) around the main hall and Tiannamen. We got there just as the hall closed but got a nice sunset over the Forbidden Palace and the square. As we’re walking by some other huge building I don’t know the name of this bicycle guy with a pull seat (similar to a rickshaw) came by and asked to go on a tour with him. I said, no thanks, boo yaow, no thanks and another boo yaow (no want) but he just kept peddling beside and asking. Alright I ask him, “How much buddy?” He says 3 money…I’m like ok, san kwai (3 rmb in Chinese) he says yes, yes. I double check and say ‘wo gay ni san kwai?’ (I give you three rmb) and he agrees. We jump in and at the first light just 30 feet up he jumps off and another guy jumps on the bike...the other guy shows his legs are stronger than his so he is better. Thought it a little odd, but hey that’s nothing compared to other things I’ve seen in China. So he takes us around the area for about 10 minutes and back through some old houses and stops back behind them before we get back to civilized areas. Pulls out his plastic card and points to guided tour…300 kwai! WTF! Ummm, ‘ni panyo shwa san kwai’ (your friend said 3 rmb). He just keeps pointing and pointing at his card and I’m thinking, really, what was I thinking getting into this buggy right downtown on our first day. So I tell him I’ll give him 20 rmb and leave it at that. Course by then there’s another 2 Chinese guys around us listening as any time there’s an argument or fight people will get surrounded by passerby’s who have nothing better to do than listen to other peoples troubles. After about 10 minutes I just drop 30 kwai on his buggy seat and Sungku and me walk away. Together we only had 50 kwai that night and we still needed to have cash in case we got lost and needed a taxi home. Managed to find the hotel on foot and grabbed a handful of beers to celebrate our first night in the Red Capital. All’s well that ends well…well meaning with beer in hand in China.
The other events and sights of Beijing are in random order as I took no journal and there’s been a lot of blur since the trip. So, we went back another day to Tiannamen and the Forbidden City to check it out in daylight. Tiannamen was ok, nothing too spectacular, more just the history that made it special. The Forbidden City on the other hand is an enormous monstrosity of a palace in the middle of Beijing. It took a solid 3 or 4 hours to walk around, and that was at my fast pace and not taking many rests. The main building was being remodeled for the ’08 Olympics so instead of seeing the big awe-inspiring centerpiece of the palace we saw a great green blanket (construction sheet that is used all over China and Korea to protect from falling debris) with a painted picture of the main hall on it. Grrr, disappointing, but nothing to lose sleep over. The back of the palace had a great little garden with really old trees and was a very peaceful atmosphere even with the tourists running around; it was my favourite part of the palace. I enjoyed looking at the stories of the concubines and was amused at the chart that said ‘The path to Royalty,’ or something of the like, which showed how women went from nothing to being concubines of officials and then to royalty and then if lucky enough to the emperors. Just amused at how well sleeping around can do for you status in life. Wonder where they’d get today? On another note, you get a cool electronic tour guide that has the palace map and shows where you have been and where you haven’t. When you get close to a building or location a GPS (or of the like) will activate the audio file and tell you about what you are seeing. They were great as they had one in English and in Korean so we both knew what was going on as we wandered around the old buildings.
The Tiannamen gate was nice as we got to go up to the front of the palace and oversee the entire square just across Chang An Ave. Took some pictures of some traditional Chinese garb and just chilled out in the shade for a good part of the day. We checked out the Drum Tower later on, which is east of the Palace and found it gave a really good view of the last major area of Hutongs (architecturally traditional Chinese homes) and the hustle bustle of rickshaws fighting for the next tours just in front of them. Right across the square was the Bell Tower, it was looked the same as the Drum Tower but instead of the big drums there was one big bell at the top. We watched a drum performance, which was OK, but nothing to amazing. The best part was the Tower was the old drums from the turn of the last millennium and the odd little time keeping devices and old machines that the Chinese invented long ago.
Just south east of the Drum Tower is Beihei Park. I know it had all kinds of history but I’m not gonna go into it on my email. I’d research it if you’re planning a trip to Beijing though as it adds a lot more feeling to the walk around it. It was really nice and had lots of pubs and cafes through the first half of it directed towards the tourists while having old officials homes and temples through the lower end. There was a calm feeling walking through there and it seemed hard to believe we were in the middle of Beijing where only a few blocks away the hustle bustle of commies and tourists were a plenty. At the south side of the park there was a little square where a few old men where having a little Beijing opera jam session (If I can call it that) with some traditional Chinese instruments and men screaming notes and distorting their face to the sound of the instruments. Stayed there for a solid hour or two (although it was hard to keep my beer flow going as there was few side markets around to get it) but it was one of the most enjoyable parts of the trip for me.
We went to Xidan market as there was supposedly lots of stuff to look at and buy there but we where very disappointed with the indoor supermarket like setup and abundance of foreign goods (although Sungku found herself some good coffee there...good being instant Maxwell!). Did prove interesting as I was walking buy some lady cleaning some dudes shoes, came near to check out what was going on, and out of nowhere, boom, another lady bounces over and before I know it she’s rubbing down my right foot and cleaning my shoe. I was wearing these white Filas I’d had for almost a year so they were pretty much black already. I was very surprised at how well it worked as I thought they would never come clean. I bought a couple boxes and had her clean the rest of the shoes (cant go around with just one side cleaned now can I?) Course the fronts of the shoes didn’t clean so well as Dereks fire the year before pretty much burnt all the leather off them, but all in all I think it was a good purchase (I have some brand new white Etnies that are already blackened by the Seoul streets to test it out again on). I went to Xidan first because I had just finished reading about the Xidan Democracy Wall as it was the place where the first posters (dazibao) against the Communist regime and where the first verbal and written disagreements with the Cultural Revolution could be found. Course I looked for the actual wall but never found it as I don’t think the gov’t would want to keep that site on the tourist maps. Found what could have been the wall, but just gave up on it eventually. All in all Xidan wasn’t what I expected. Day ended well with more Chinese BBQ and lots of more beer. All ends well that day with chuar (BBQ) and beer.
If your like me at all, you’ve either stopped reading already or are getting antsy to get to your next e-mail, so I’ll cut it off here. Hope everyone is well. I just finished a week Thanksgiving holiday and am relaxed and feeling great.
Early evening one day we decided to try and find Silk Alley, as it is one of the more famous destinations and I know Sungku could do with some more shopping. Wasn’t too hard to find, but was nothing as I expected. Maybe in the past it was actually an alley, but today it is just a big building many thousands of stalls like you would find in Harbin or Seoul. We bought a little bit but the good memories were more from the bargaining and having fun with the younger aged store clerks. Sungku and I were having contests to see who could get the biggest discount from the original price. A normal go would be them asking like 300 rmb for it and us eventually paying like 30. Got a bed cover down from 2500 to 650 but still didn’t buy it as we would have had to ship it back to Korea and didn’t want to deal with that. Sungku was by far a better bargainer than me, dunno if it’s a women thing, a shopping thing (is that the same thing? Heheh), or that my face can be easily read by sellers. After dropping a few hundred rmb we figured we had better call it a night…back to the hotel, got some more beer, prepared the 2nd half of our tour and called it a night.
If you are like me, you have either stopped reading by now, started skipping sentences/paragraphs or are at least antsy to get onto your next e-mail. I’ll leave it at that and send more in a couple days. I’m doing well here in Korea, just came off a week vacation for their Thanksgiving and feel well rested. Hope everyone is well,
Peace, love and cheese,
Colin
Monday Oct. 9th, 2006
Now where did I leave off? Let’s see on the train heading down to Beijing. Woke up to a sunny day and the Beijing skyline coming up quick. I had an interesting conversation the night before with a Korean couple that were studying in China. I was trying to figure out where to go once we got to the station and Sungku was sleeping so with and interesting combo of Chinese and Korean I managed to talk a bit with them and they got the guy across from us (who they were shocked was some big Chinese film director) to help me figure it out. Just a quick subway 5 stops then a short taxi, perfect.
Leaving the station I got the expected nagging of old ladies wanting to sell me their tour maps, hotels, taxis, etc. and even a college aged guy who wanted to get a picture with me. Being in Beijing, a land of many foreigners I wasn’t expecting the whole, hello how are you? Where are you from? How old are you? Do you know Yao Ming? Can I get a picture with you routine but I suppose he just got off the train from somewhere else like me. So, on the subway we go looking for our stop. Very much like the Korean subway but not as massive in magnitude…the Beijing subway is just a circle around the first ring road with another line running horizontal through the other from East to West. Beijing was developed like a circle with the downtown in the middle and new growth expanding outwards. There are three main roads that divide the sectors of the city, 1st ring, 2nd ring and 3rd ring road and you can easily find our hotel by saying it is just passed the 2nd ring road south of Chang An Ave. Anyways, so after walking for 20 mins and a food stop we continue to walk towards where we believe our hotel should be. Eventually gave up and called a taxi and showed him the hotel name that Youjia (Scotts gf) gave us back in Harbin. The guy didn’t recognize it but CB’d some guys who ‘thought they knew where it was’. In we get and we’re off…if you’ve even been in a taxi with me (most people in Canada haven’t as we always drive) you’d know that I despise taxi drivers and am always worried about being cheated or taken the long way around. So the whole ride I’m watchin’ the meter go up and up and taking us nowhere close to where I thought we should go. Luckily the CB friends were right and we got to the hotel in 35 rmb (more than the 10 rmb I am used to in Harbin, but less than the 50 or 100 I have heard about in Beijing). Hotel was reasonable, not super clean, but well located and after Harbin and my brothers house a little dirt is the least of my worries.
Headed right downtown that night and took some photos (most of which didn’t turn out) around the main hall and Tiannamen. We got there just as the hall closed but got a nice sunset over the Forbidden Palace and the square. As we’re walking by some other huge building I don’t know the name of this bicycle guy with a pull seat (similar to a rickshaw) came by and asked to go on a tour with him. I said, no thanks, boo yaow, no thanks and another boo yaow (no want) but he just kept peddling beside and asking. Alright I ask him, “How much buddy?” He says 3 money…I’m like ok, san kwai (3 rmb in Chinese) he says yes, yes. I double check and say ‘wo gay ni san kwai?’ (I give you three rmb) and he agrees. We jump in and at the first light just 30 feet up he jumps off and another guy jumps on the bike...the other guy shows his legs are stronger than his so he is better. Thought it a little odd, but hey that’s nothing compared to other things I’ve seen in China. So he takes us around the area for about 10 minutes and back through some old houses and stops back behind them before we get back to civilized areas. Pulls out his plastic card and points to guided tour…300 kwai! WTF! Ummm, ‘ni panyo shwa san kwai’ (your friend said 3 rmb). He just keeps pointing and pointing at his card and I’m thinking, really, what was I thinking getting into this buggy right downtown on our first day. So I tell him I’ll give him 20 rmb and leave it at that. Course by then there’s another 2 Chinese guys around us listening as any time there’s an argument or fight people will get surrounded by passerby’s who have nothing better to do than listen to other peoples troubles. After about 10 minutes I just drop 30 kwai on his buggy seat and Sungku and me walk away. Together we only had 50 kwai that night and we still needed to have cash in case we got lost and needed a taxi home. Managed to find the hotel on foot and grabbed a handful of beers to celebrate our first night in the Red Capital. All’s well that ends well…well meaning with beer in hand in China.
The other events and sights of Beijing are in random order as I took no journal and there’s been a lot of blur since the trip. So, we went back another day to Tiannamen and the Forbidden City to check it out in daylight. Tiannamen was ok, nothing too spectacular, more just the history that made it special. The Forbidden City on the other hand is an enormous monstrosity of a palace in the middle of Beijing. It took a solid 3 or 4 hours to walk around, and that was at my fast pace and not taking many rests. The main building was being remodeled for the ’08 Olympics so instead of seeing the big awe-inspiring centerpiece of the palace we saw a great green blanket (construction sheet that is used all over China and Korea to protect from falling debris) with a painted picture of the main hall on it. Grrr, disappointing, but nothing to lose sleep over. The back of the palace had a great little garden with really old trees and was a very peaceful atmosphere even with the tourists running around; it was my favourite part of the palace. I enjoyed looking at the stories of the concubines and was amused at the chart that said ‘The path to Royalty,’ or something of the like, which showed how women went from nothing to being concubines of officials and then to royalty and then if lucky enough to the emperors. Just amused at how well sleeping around can do for you status in life. Wonder where they’d get today? On another note, you get a cool electronic tour guide that has the palace map and shows where you have been and where you haven’t. When you get close to a building or location a GPS (or of the like) will activate the audio file and tell you about what you are seeing. They were great as they had one in English and in Korean so we both knew what was going on as we wandered around the old buildings.
The Tiannamen gate was nice as we got to go up to the front of the palace and oversee the entire square just across Chang An Ave. Took some pictures of some traditional Chinese garb and just chilled out in the shade for a good part of the day. We checked out the Drum Tower later on, which is east of the Palace and found it gave a really good view of the last major area of Hutongs (architecturally traditional Chinese homes) and the hustle bustle of rickshaws fighting for the next tours just in front of them. Right across the square was the Bell Tower, it was looked the same as the Drum Tower but instead of the big drums there was one big bell at the top. We watched a drum performance, which was OK, but nothing to amazing. The best part was the Tower was the old drums from the turn of the last millennium and the odd little time keeping devices and old machines that the Chinese invented long ago.
Just south east of the Drum Tower is Beihei Park. I know it had all kinds of history but I’m not gonna go into it on my email. I’d research it if you’re planning a trip to Beijing though as it adds a lot more feeling to the walk around it. It was really nice and had lots of pubs and cafes through the first half of it directed towards the tourists while having old officials homes and temples through the lower end. There was a calm feeling walking through there and it seemed hard to believe we were in the middle of Beijing where only a few blocks away the hustle bustle of commies and tourists were a plenty. At the south side of the park there was a little square where a few old men where having a little Beijing opera jam session (If I can call it that) with some traditional Chinese instruments and men screaming notes and distorting their face to the sound of the instruments. Stayed there for a solid hour or two (although it was hard to keep my beer flow going as there was few side markets around to get it) but it was one of the most enjoyable parts of the trip for me.
We went to Xidan market as there was supposedly lots of stuff to look at and buy there but we where very disappointed with the indoor supermarket like setup and abundance of foreign goods (although Sungku found herself some good coffee there...good being instant Maxwell!). Did prove interesting as I was walking buy some lady cleaning some dudes shoes, came near to check out what was going on, and out of nowhere, boom, another lady bounces over and before I know it she’s rubbing down my right foot and cleaning my shoe. I was wearing these white Filas I’d had for almost a year so they were pretty much black already. I was very surprised at how well it worked as I thought they would never come clean. I bought a couple boxes and had her clean the rest of the shoes (cant go around with just one side cleaned now can I?) Course the fronts of the shoes didn’t clean so well as Dereks fire the year before pretty much burnt all the leather off them, but all in all I think it was a good purchase (I have some brand new white Etnies that are already blackened by the Seoul streets to test it out again on). I went to Xidan first because I had just finished reading about the Xidan Democracy Wall as it was the place where the first posters (dazibao) against the Communist regime and where the first verbal and written disagreements with the Cultural Revolution could be found. Course I looked for the actual wall but never found it as I don’t think the gov’t would want to keep that site on the tourist maps. Found what could have been the wall, but just gave up on it eventually. All in all Xidan wasn’t what I expected. Day ended well with more Chinese BBQ and lots of more beer. All ends well that day with chuar (BBQ) and beer.
If your like me at all, you’ve either stopped reading already or are getting antsy to get to your next e-mail, so I’ll cut it off here. Hope everyone is well. I just finished a week Thanksgiving holiday and am relaxed and feeling great.
Early evening one day we decided to try and find Silk Alley, as it is one of the more famous destinations and I know Sungku could do with some more shopping. Wasn’t too hard to find, but was nothing as I expected. Maybe in the past it was actually an alley, but today it is just a big building many thousands of stalls like you would find in Harbin or Seoul. We bought a little bit but the good memories were more from the bargaining and having fun with the younger aged store clerks. Sungku and I were having contests to see who could get the biggest discount from the original price. A normal go would be them asking like 300 rmb for it and us eventually paying like 30. Got a bed cover down from 2500 to 650 but still didn’t buy it as we would have had to ship it back to Korea and didn’t want to deal with that. Sungku was by far a better bargainer than me, dunno if it’s a women thing, a shopping thing (is that the same thing? Heheh), or that my face can be easily read by sellers. After dropping a few hundred rmb we figured we had better call it a night…back to the hotel, got some more beer, prepared the 2nd half of our tour and called it a night.
If you are like me, you have either stopped reading by now, started skipping sentences/paragraphs or are at least antsy to get onto your next e-mail. I’ll leave it at that and send more in a couple days. I’m doing well here in Korea, just came off a week vacation for their Thanksgiving and feel well rested. Hope everyone is well,
Peace, love and cheese,
Colin
Tuesday, September 26, 2006
The Life and Times of Redderick Milla Volume 3 (1)
Monday, September 26th, 2006
To say I’m a little behind in my updates and there are a few stories I have to tell…well that would be quite an understatement. I’ve been here, there and back again this summer and had a hell of a time all the while.
Where to start, where to start? I think I ended off last time working 10-7 at a private academy just south of Seoul. As my time on my visa was running out I had to choose to do a visa run to Japan and stay fro another 9 months or do the weaguk (foreigner) dash. The other teachers at the academy were awesome and it was relaxed environment where I could teach what I wanted, but the director there was a deceiving, lying and trashy *#&$#&*. After a talk with the manger who confirmed I couldn’t trust her if I told her I was leaving in a month I decided who needs morality, I’ve taken shit for the last three jobs in Korea and it’s my turn to be the ass. So, the mid May I get paid and I call her telling her I won’t be at work on Monday, she freaks out of course, starts crying and sobbing and all the rest (of course I’ve seen the act twice already with other teachers there), tell me if I say she’ll give me more money, less time and all the rest. Worst mistake of my last few months (and maybe my life), I thought hey, maybe I won’t take all my money out of my account just yet. Try it three days latter, nope, no dice, talk to a manager, its been put on hold by her in the other city, supposedly she had already paid me in cash and that was a mistake. So now me and my girlfriend (Sungku) have to go talk to her at the bank, she proceeds with the whole drama again, starts yelling at my gf (which made her break down in tears hours later as she said she’s never been talked to like that in her life) and pretty much blackmailed me with saying she would call the police. I knew she wouldn’t but wasn’t sure if I would be allowed back in the country if I did. Been told I was ok cause I dint have a working visa with her, but I wasn’t going to chance on being on a blacklist for 5 years…plus I knew since there were other illegal teachers there the school would pretty much get shut down and the 1 teacher who was really committed and gave 110% at work would get f*&^$# with only a month left in his contract and I couldn’t do that to him.
Finally being me and not able to get angry and not wanting to fight, said screw it all, gave her most of the money and left with just enough money to pay my girlfriend back for the ticket she bought for me to Harbin, China. I had power over the whole matter but for sure looked at it in the wrong way…a learning experience to say the least.
So now me and Sungku are on a plane to Harbin, China. She wanted to go to the Philipinees for a week, but I wouldn’t have been able to since I had to apply and pick up my Chinese visa, plus if I went there I would want it to be longer than 3 or 4 days. I convinced her of China. Got picked up by my bro and gump (a good friend from back home) greeted with beers and led to a taxi hat will take us home. Greeted at home by a fire-eyed ryan and sat hanging out while the rest of the Langley crew and other friends showed up. Pretty surreal to see how my bro and 4 of my good friends from Langley have developed their own life and I just kind of sat back and listened and imagined them all while they told their stories. Course out of the 15 people there more than 10 were smokers and of the room was pretty much boxed with all of them…hard the first night, but got used to tit eventually. In harbin for two days, girlfriend hated it as first as we were all crazy drinkers and lived the mai shi (whatever) lifestyle and that’s not what you want when your on vacation (sometimes). Luckily I wasn’t completely broke since my amazing Aunt Patty had given me some cash to do something I would not normally do for my graduation…I definitely wouldn’t have been able to go to Beijing without that cash, and still shoulnd’t have, but really I can’t have been in China twice and not been to the capital, great wall, forbidden city, etc.
So with bags and beer in hand (90% of my photos in china have beer in hand) me, Sungku, Scott and his girlfriend You-Jia go to the train station for our 11 hour train ride. The train was reasonable and since I had the lower bunk and Sungku the middle (they are 3 high on the train) me and Sungku were able to chill down on the bottom, read, talk, listen to tunes and plan the trip. Managed to even both pass out together in a hard bed (you can pay more for a soft bed, but we only booked two days before so no dice) and woke up with Beijing city in the distance and coming up fast.
China travels, more Korea, Langley, Vancouver, and the beautiful Sunshine Coast coming soon!
Peace, love and cheese,
Colin
Thursday, June 08, 2006
Thu, 8 Jun 2006
Hey, just got back to Harbin this morning. had a great trip....Beijing was awesome, didn’t make it to the summer palace as Sungku sleeps as much as me and i couldn't get her up at 8 when we wanted to go, and i said meh and went back to bed myself. But great wall, Tiinamen 3 times, silk street, drum tower, many other places too. Tianjin was a bit harder, hard to find a place, did finally after some help from a Chinese student who spoke some English, fairly pricy though. Im goanna write a big email with all the stories, would here more then.
As per Sungku/Nana, I managed to tell Nana on MSN about 2 or 3 weeks ago, she was pissed as she pretty much waited for a year for me and then 2 weeks before i came back I told her I got another gf..meh, i reminded her i told her not to wait for me, but i guess when i got to Korea in jan, i was a bit bastardly about saying ill see her son an miss her, yada yada. I know what will happen though, im heading back to Korea in 2 or 3 months to be with sungku still, nothin will happen between me and nana this summer and both girls know that too. i dont think nana would even want to as I’ve told her pretty much everything. Anyways, traveling showed alot about each other too me and Sungku and we had a few fights, but all is well and were as happy as ever. Headin out to the restaurant across from Nan Ma Lu E bi Woo Shi Hao tonight as it had a big room and a good place to have a good style Chinese dinner. Then who knows...i'd imagine some beer garden,but who knows.
Ill be sendin a big email of the stories in a couple a days. Hope all is well,, (note - i am still sending them now!!, what happned to me)
Colin
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