Monday, August 16, 2010
Ssang Am Club Pictures
"The glory of friendship is not the outstretched hand, nor the kindly smile, nor the joy of campanionship; it's is the spiritual inspiration that comes to one when he discovers that someone else believes in him and is willing to trust him with his friendship." ~Ralph Waldo Emerson
Monday, August 2, 2010
Karlos and Michaelangelo come to VISIT!
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This past July, Michael and Karl made the giant leap and flew all the way over from the states to South Korea to visit and experience a few precious weeks of the "land of the morning calm." Although I still had to work during the week, we made the most of the weekends and the bros were able to go off on their own adventures, leaving their trails of giggling Korean girls, empty soju bottles, and western flavor. :0)
Mike came first on Sunday, July 11th. Believing that he would to be tired after his long flight over here, I didn't make any attempt to include myself at a volley ball tournament our Ssangam team was attending that day. A few minutes after greeting Mike at the Gwangju bus terminal, he inquired about the tournament and told me he had energy and wanted to go! Wow! He was such a trooper in the hot mess of a teams shouting and hitting balls everywhere in the Chonam University gym.
We arrived at the university right as our team was arranging lunch. Mike had his first Korean meal on the floor of the gym with all of my loud teammates, including our men's team. He even was given a shot of soju, the cheap rice liquior that takes a stomach of steel to handle, with his squid and kimchi side dishes. It was awesome having him there for our game and for him to get to know such amazing, Korean people. Our women's team played so well, which was possibly influenced partly by his presence! :-)
Starting Monday, Mike and I hiked up Mudeungsan for a few hours before I had to go to work. It was such a beautiful day with all the shades of green and full running streams. I couldn't believe there was that much water, so unlike other previous hikes up. Poor Mike had to give up his goal of hiking to the peak (about a 4-6 hour hike to the top) so that I could get to work on time. Otherwise the hike was perfect.
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Observing Gwangju city between the mountains with the world cup stadium in sight.
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A small Buddhist temple entry way at the bottom of Mudeungsan.
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This past July, Michael and Karl made the giant leap and flew all the way over from the states to South Korea to visit and experience a few precious weeks of the "land of the morning calm." Although I still had to work during the week, we made the most of the weekends and the bros were able to go off on their own adventures, leaving their trails of giggling Korean girls, empty soju bottles, and western flavor. :0)
Mike came first on Sunday, July 11th. Believing that he would to be tired after his long flight over here, I didn't make any attempt to include myself at a volley ball tournament our Ssangam team was attending that day. A few minutes after greeting Mike at the Gwangju bus terminal, he inquired about the tournament and told me he had energy and wanted to go! Wow! He was such a trooper in the hot mess of a teams shouting and hitting balls everywhere in the Chonam University gym.
We arrived at the university right as our team was arranging lunch. Mike had his first Korean meal on the floor of the gym with all of my loud teammates, including our men's team. He even was given a shot of soju, the cheap rice liquior that takes a stomach of steel to handle, with his squid and kimchi side dishes. It was awesome having him there for our game and for him to get to know such amazing, Korean people. Our women's team played so well, which was possibly influenced partly by his presence! :-)
Starting Monday, Mike and I hiked up Mudeungsan for a few hours before I had to go to work. It was such a beautiful day with all the shades of green and full running streams. I couldn't believe there was that much water, so unlike other previous hikes up. Poor Mike had to give up his goal of hiking to the peak (about a 4-6 hour hike to the top) so that I could get to work on time. Otherwise the hike was perfect.
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Observing Gwangju city between the mountains with the world cup stadium in sight.
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A small Buddhist temple entry way at the bottom of Mudeungsan.
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Flowing water from all the rain.
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Flowing water from all the rain.
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Adjimas (formal way of saying "grandma") were enjoying the cool stream. Several were sitting in a circle having lunch under a tree, just laughing away. The scene reminded me of a red hat club, only Korean style!
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Adjimas (formal way of saying "grandma") were enjoying the cool stream. Several were sitting in a circle having lunch under a tree, just laughing away. The scene reminded me of a red hat club, only Korean style!
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One evening, Mike and I took a few drinks to a Suwan (Swan) Park located near a huge department store called Lotte Mart. It was fun enjoying the summer night and stellar bright park lights!
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One evening, Mike and I took a few drinks to a Suwan (Swan) Park located near a huge department store called Lotte Mart. It was fun enjoying the summer night and stellar bright park lights!
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Awesome pictures of "gumby" Mike!
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One area that was a bit less crowded on the first floor. Everyone is given the same shirts and shorts to sleep in along with towels for the showering rooms.
Sunday, was our fun day for exploring Seoul.
Trying to blend in..... did it work?!
Our first stop in Seoul was to Gyeongbokgung, Seoul's famous "Palace of Shining Happiness."
Entrance Gate into the Gyeongbokgung.
Inside one of the rooms of the temple, possibly a school room?
Picturesque Montain that I fell in love with.
The Mud Festival
The annual mud festival, in the coastal town of Boryeong, is an exciting event where people can get together enjoy various activities including a concert, while playing in mud that's rich in minerals and used in manufactured cosmetics. So not only is it your inner kid's dream come true, but it's good for your skin, too!! The people, festivities, and beautiful beach scenery made for a great experience that I'll never forget sharing with my brothers!
What hole did he crawl out of?! :-)
Erin and Karl, the mud course victors!
The finish!!!
Michael and I shared a squid dish with rice, while the others enjoyed ssamgeupsal, grilled pork with lettuce wrapes and other side dishes.
The concert that night was a blast with a few Korean artists, plus a fun DJ who played popular western music.
"MUD"
After the concert, we finished the night at a Norabang, singing room (Karaoke).
"It's my liifffe, it's now or never!!! I ain't gonna to live forreevverrr!"
Home Again!
After Karl left on Monday July 26th, Mike had a few more days to spend with his big sister, which worked out perfectly because the end of July was my summer vacation time.
Bong Suk's homeroom senior class.
After we visited Bong Suk's school, we climbed the beautiful Wolchulsan so Mike could see the suspension bridge. It was "milkshake" humid!
Admiring all the rice fields below.
Mike and Min Seok.
Mike spent the afternoon with my students and I at school on a movie day. They all really enjoyed him.
On the weekend, Mike came with the volley ball team and I to a beach volleyball tournament located on one of the southwestern islands called, Geogumdo. We could only stay with the team for the first day, because Mike was leaving the next, but it was a perfect day of volleyball, swimming, relay races, and picnics. We won our volleyball match the first day, and then the team won and lost the second day, taking home second place and a cash prize!!
Mike and I on the ferry coming back to Gwangju the day before he had to leave back to the US.
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Karl joined us on Saturday, July 17th. Mike and I met him at the Incheon Airport up near Seoul where we spent the night at, what I originally imagined and the website made me believe, a quiet and relaxing jjimjilbang.
Seoul from the Train Station.
Jjimjilbangs, as I have described in previous blogs, are spas that have gender segregated baths and hot tubs, as well as, coed rooms with spas. The ones I have gone to are quite amazing and very relaxing! That turned out not to be the case at all as it was the first weekend of school vacation throughout Korea! The tranquil night turned comical as Mike, Karl, and I tried to find some peace on the first floor where both men and women could be together (second floor was men only, third floor was women only, fourth floor was a movie theator showing Avatar) while a kazillion kids banged drums (literally), played games, and laughed with each other all night long.
We gave it up around 2am and moved to the gender segregated areas. These were quite full, but I managed to find a mat, pillow, and some sleeping place. Loud snoring from several women added to the already "one day soon I will laugh about this" night, but exhaustion helped me eventually fall into a deep sleep until morning.
One area that was a bit less crowded on the first floor. Everyone is given the same shirts and shorts to sleep in along with towels for the showering rooms.
Sunday, was our fun day for exploring Seoul.
Trying to blend in..... did it work?!
Our first stop in Seoul was to Gyeongbokgung, Seoul's famous "Palace of Shining Happiness."
Emperor Taejo lived there until 1592 when it was burned down during war with Japan. It was reconstructed and destroyed a few more times, until 1867 when it was rebuilt.
Entrance Gate into the Gyeongbokgung.
The background shows a perfect image of the clash in Korea between the old and the new.
Year of the DRAGON!
Year of the TIGER! Karl's "year of the CHICKEN" picture was lost!
Palace pond.
The wood architecture is really pretty on traditional style buildings. This building doesn't have any of the bright colors and designs painted on it, but nevertheless, it's still so beautiful and intraquet.
Inside one of the rooms of the temple, possibly a school room?
Karl and Mike reenacting a combat scene..... boys.
Picturesque Montain that I fell in love with.
Soldiers!!! ... going back into time.
Sunday night, we headed to "home sweet home" Gwangju. It's a breath of fresh air going back down to Korea's less busy, rice bowl where people are more laid back and friendly. I really appreciate Gwangju's size and cleaner environment, in comparison to the bustling and busy Seoul. It's a breath of fresh air and a place I feel I've come to know well and enjoy.
Ethnic bar, downtown.
Bong Suk, Erin, Karl, me, Mike (Jenni and AnneMari not in pic) relaxing on comfortable pillows drinking tasty beverages while admiring the glow of hundreds of candles. It's such a neat place.
The Mud Festival
The annual mud festival, in the coastal town of Boryeong, is an exciting event where people can get together enjoy various activities including a concert, while playing in mud that's rich in minerals and used in manufactured cosmetics. So not only is it your inner kid's dream come true, but it's good for your skin, too!! The people, festivities, and beautiful beach scenery made for a great experience that I'll never forget sharing with my brothers!
What hole did he crawl out of?! :-)
Erin and Karl, the mud course victors!
The finish!!!
Michael and I shared a squid dish with rice, while the others enjoyed ssamgeupsal, grilled pork with lettuce wrapes and other side dishes.
The concert that night was a blast with a few Korean artists, plus a fun DJ who played popular western music.
"MUD"
After the concert, we finished the night at a Norabang, singing room (Karaoke).
"It's my liifffe, it's now or never!!! I ain't gonna to live forreevverrr!"
Our tiny room, Korean style, where eleven of us slept like sardines!
Home Again!
After Karl left on Monday July 26th, Mike had a few more days to spend with his big sister, which worked out perfectly because the end of July was my summer vacation time.
On one day trip, Mike, Min Seok, and I traveled down to YangAm, where my good friend, Bong Suk (Min Seouk's mom) works at a girl's residential high school. We met all her classes and answered many questions including, "Michael, do you have a girlfriend?" Mike handled all the attention of being a celebrity for the day quite well.
Bong Suk's homeroom senior class.
After we visited Bong Suk's school, we climbed the beautiful Wolchulsan so Mike could see the suspension bridge. It was "milkshake" humid!
Admiring all the rice fields below.
Mike and Min Seok.
Mike spent the afternoon with my students and I at school on a movie day. They all really enjoyed him.
On the weekend, Mike came with the volley ball team and I to a beach volleyball tournament located on one of the southwestern islands called, Geogumdo. We could only stay with the team for the first day, because Mike was leaving the next, but it was a perfect day of volleyball, swimming, relay races, and picnics. We won our volleyball match the first day, and then the team won and lost the second day, taking home second place and a cash prize!!
Mike and I on the ferry coming back to Gwangju the day before he had to leave back to the US.
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