Monsoon & Museum

It's rainy.  I haven't been to a museum yet...and now I think it's the perfect season for it.

Enjoy some photos from the National Museum of Korea :)

I loved loved loved the paintings...





...and the crowns & ornaments...



...and the rusty old armour...



...and BUDDHA!

Only 41 days left in this beauty country. Where did the time go?

"you will learn..."

I was recently in contact with my old grade seven teacher and he had mentioned the following in an email...

"you will learn that it is sometimes difficult to measure success in the profession that you have chosen..."

 

As my first year of teaching & learning comes to a close, I couldn't agree with him more.  There were some very difficult times...but, this past week proved to be one of those moments where perhaps some measure of success could be noted.  I was lucky enough to receive countless letters and cards from my kiddies expressing their thoughts of our time together.  I couldn't have been more proud of them while reading their words.  In every letter I could see 'personal bests' from each student.  We sure learned a lot this year :)

A weekend in Jeju...

 I treated myself to a weekend getaway on Jeju Island.  Who went? Just me, myself, and I.  I didn't have a plan or really know where I was headed, but that is just the way I like to travel.

I started my Saturday at Yongdaum Rock and just chilled, watching some fishing.

 Then I stumbled upon the Port while hiking east of Jeju city.

Eventually, I found my way to Yongyeon Pond.

Then a lovely bus trip along the coast towards the west side of the island.

Which way to the beach? Made my way to Hyeopjae Beach.

 

Spent four hours at the beach, which included a two hour nap under an umbrella I rented for 5,000 won.  People watching and reading was how I spent the rest of the afternoon. Only on Korean beaches are children running around naked and adults swimming fully clothed.

Looking for the bus stop to take me back to Jeju City, I found the most beautiful campsite next to the beach and this fabulous little eco park.

 

 Meet Bertie, an ostrich I watched attack a Korean that got too close with a camera.

Cactus juice, anyone?

This man looked so peaceful.

 Found some lava caves...

This park is located on a site that was a supposed wasteland...

Peace?!  Hopefully someday...

The amazing peacocks puttin' on a show.

I've come to be a fan of the dragon :)

Leaving the park I could see the coast and snapped a nice shot of the ocean...and then saw this sign. Things you don't think about while strolling along paradise.

The sun was setting on my ride home, which made for the perfect drive along the coast.  I didn't get back to Jeju City until nine that evening and I hadn't had any dinner yet. Feeling too tired to sit in at a restaurant, I went to the Family Mart and grabbed some kimbap and ramen noodles.  Little did I know, my healthy state would change for the remainder of the trip.

During the night I awoke in a sweat and in severe pain.  It would seem I would have every single symptom one could have when suffering from FOOD POISONING!!  No need for details...but the rest of the evening was utter hell...especially since I was sharing a hostel room with four other girls.

Feeling my pain, a girl from Singapore gave me some medicine but on this advice, "I have something for you, but only if you are brave enough to take it. It is Chinese medicine and will help you...but don't be scared."

Desperate, I followed her directions and took the vile.  An hour later, my symptoms subsided, but things get a little strange.  I was feeling super high with the strangest body aches.  I decided I couldn't let this ruin my day any longer and I needed some tea.  Finally I left my room and joined others in the rec area.

A Korean man and I started chatting and he discovered I was from Ontario. He had lived in Vancouver for two years so we were discussing Canada. All of a sudden he broke out into the Canadian National Anthem and was singing to me.  And being as high as I was on Chinese medicine, I joined him.  People stared...and I laughed...and laughed.

Feeling pretty good, I then decide to go to Loveland. It was pretty far from where I was, so I caught a cab and was on my way.  

Breezing our way across town and listening to some crazy type of Korean music, I started thinking about my parents and got a little teary eyed.  Suddenly, I hear a familiar song on the radio, but not just any song. This is a song that my Dad loves by Kansas.  Perking up, I start belting out the lyrics.  The driver seeing that I like the song, turns it up full blast and gets right into the groove with me.  So here we are, groovin' to 'Dust In The Wind', me singing and him dancing and driving, when we finally reach Loveland. 

When I stepped out of the taxi, I thought Loveland was closed because there were no cars or buses in the parking lot.  I found out after that people were parking at another lot near Loveland, just not at Loveland. Hahaha.  Here are some pics I'm willing to post lol.

While travelling around the park, the Chinese meds wore off and my symptoms came back with a vengeance.  I hauled ass to the airport six hours before my flight in hopes of catching an earlier one.  The Chinese gods answered my prayer and I was in the air within the hour headed back to Seoul.  I even received a refund of 18,000 won because my flight was miraculously cheaper.  Unfortunately, the flight home was unbearable, but luckily I had an aisle seat and it took less than an hour to return to Seoul.

Although, the last 11 hours of my vacation were a little crazy, I had such a fabulous time...and it made for a pretty entertaining tale.  Enjoy :)

"Make s'mores, not war!"

"Make s'mores, not war!" ~ Lloyd Davis

In June, I went camping with some friends in Baekdam Valley, which is right outside Seoraksan National Park.  Planning is always a bit difficult because of the language barrier, but after a few hundred phone calls and the printing of just as many bus schedules, we were on our way.

The bus didn't exactly stick to the schedule and we found ourselves in Sokcho, one city past our destination.  Giving our driver my most useless and pitiful face, he backed up the bus and took the three of us back towards Baekdam Valley.  We thanked him with the a big bag of veggies, which he seemed to appreciate :)   

Side note: Sokcho is one of the gloomiest cities I have ever seen.  It's quite far up the mountain and while driving there you pass through a long tunnel. Before the tunnel, all was blue skies and sunny, but the Sokcho side of the tunnel saw darkness and gloom.

We were unsure where the camp was located, so the camp owner had a friend come and pick us up so we wouldn't get lost.  Korean hospitality at its finest.

Here was our home for the weekend ~Baekdam Valley.  Such a beautiful spot!

 

Bliss!!

A village was near, so we fetched some eats and headed back to have a BBQ. We rented a grill on site, but once all set up we couldn't seem to get a fire going.....

...because we didn't think to bring a blow torch.  Ha! He had our fire going in no time.


And dessert? S'mores!  Our neighbours seemed to enjoy them as well :)  They brought us over some kimchi and samgyeopsal earlier in the evening, so we decided to share our s'mores.  And of course, it didn't take long for our new friends to share their soju with us. Soju...soooo good once it hits your lips.  Then the night gets a little...fuzzy...

The next day we headed to Baekdamsa.  The short bus ride there was treacherous as our driver was CRAZY!  I had been warned by a friend that it was a little nuts, but in no way was I prepared to be travelling at high rates of speed along a tiny, winding mountainside road.  A few times I thought we were going to plummet into the valley to our deaths...but lived to tell.

Peace out, Baekdam!