So on Mikey's first day we joined some of my friends at a baseball game! Teams are owned by companies and don't really have a region they belong to so when you buy your ticket you have to tell them which side you're rooting for and the split the stadium in half. We didn't know much about the two teams playing but our Korean friend loves the LG Twins so we went with them ... they ended up losing something like 9 to 1... but the game was still interesting
At Korean baseball games crowd participation is just as important as the players on the field. Not only is everyone armed with thunderstick noisemakers but there are cheerleaders to lead the crowd in chanting particular cheers. Most of the game I was unaware of what was happening on the field becuase I was too busy trying to keep up with the intense crowd.
Another day, Mike and I went to the National Museum of Korea. It was nice but my work schedule kept our trip short.
Here are the crowds of fieldtripping children we were celebrities to. I lost track of how many of them scurried over to practice their english with the obvious foreigners.
Remember when I mentioned how much Koreans LOOOOOVE coffee? Well, one day Mike and I stumbled upon this 4-story Coffee Bean! 4- STORIES!!! They weren't tiny levels either. I've never been a big fan of coffee but I'm slowly slipping over to the darkside...
One day we went to Hwaseong Fortress. This is a fortress built a couple hundreds of years ago that is still surrounding a city. It's quite the hike and there are many nice views of Suwon
At the end of April it was Buddha's Birthday! The old boy turned 2553 that day so we decided to check out the party being thrown in Insadong. There were so many lanterns!
There was a shrine with the 3 giant golden Buddha's that was quite lovely. The floors were covered with people on cushions praying
In the evening there was a Lantern parade. Hundreds of people held different colored lanterns and helped lead large lit up floats like these elephants down the street. The night was pretty cold so Mike and I hid away on the second floor of a Dunkin Donuts for the show.
Fire-Breathing Dragons!
Two of the floats were these electric peacocks... the had a special skill that most peacocks don't have...
One night after work I met Mike in Seoul and we went to Namsam tower. It was really pretty at night and we took a cable car up and over the mountains to get there.
There were these strange flying metal figures strung up all over, though...
One of the many views from the top!
At the top of the windows were lists like this that showed you what cities were in the direction. It was here that I saw that L.A. is 9,596 km away... and it hit me how homesick I was getting...
Along the outside of the top of the tower were fences and small metal structures covered in locks. Turns out this is another way for Korean couple to prove how much they love each other. Couples come up here together and place a lock they've decorated or attached a note to.
These signs were all over to remind the couples to keep their lock keys. The tower staff has a realistic approach to these trendy shows of affection. I wonder how many people have traveled up the tower with a lock cutter...
Back at the bottom of the cable car
On my day off we went to Lotte World!!! It's pretty much the Korean equivalent to Disneyland. It only seemed fitting that we eat at Lotteria, Lotte's version of McDonalds. Here is Mike's cheese and broccoli-topped burger.
This way to Adventure!
...Disneyland? If you look closely in the center is a couple dressed in matching outfits.
Lotteworld is separated into an outside section and an indoor section. The rides were pretty good but limited. We didn't hop into one of these flamingo boats but it was nice to look at.
An indoor view
Mike breaking free from his cage!
I've been working out (obviously) since coming to Korea. Steel bars cannot hold me!!
There was a ride called something like Pharaoh's Revenge that was EXACTLY like the Indiana Jones ride at Disneyland...but less fun.
Nighttime view of Lotteworld including the ice skating rink. We were in one of those "Hot Air Balloons"
One day, Mike, Kay, Ethen and I rented bikes and rode along the Han river. It was a nice day =]
Check out my amazing photography/biking skills, yo!
Palace Time! There were a couple that Mike wanted to visit but weather prevented a lot of planned daytrips. However, one day we went to Geongbokdong palace in northern Seoul.
The cutest visitor at the palace! I had to be a creeper and take a pic! She was just too adorable
Here is Geunjeongjeon Hall, the throne room for the palace where the king would have audiences with councilmen.
The palace grounds were huge and there were so many little buildings and paths that it kind of felt like a maze. Eventually we ended up in the beautiful pond. Hyangwonjeong Pavilion was built on a tiny island and was so pretty I had to take plenty of photos. The name translates to Pavilion of Far-Reaching Fragrance... whatever that means.
These totem pole-ish posts are Jangseung. They were placed around villages to scare away demons. I like their faces
This large building is the National Folk Museum of Korea. We didn't go in but the towering pavilion was pretty impressive.
Here's a cool marketplace in Insadong. It was twisty and artsy. Definitely a young person hangout. Had some tasty (but expensive!) Bi Bim Bap on the top floor.
After the palace and looking around Insadong we went to the Cheonggyecheon to look at laterns that had been set up on the river. This is that man-made river that goes through Seoul I had mentioned before.
A very nice walk
Ooooooo! Lanterns!
On Mike's last evening we went to Namdaemun market to look around and eat some delicious Sannakji. So here's what happened: Mike and I are walking through the markey, notice some street vendors with live octopus in an aquarium. I order one, the woman grabs one, stretches it out like she's stretching a rubber band, lays it on a cutting board, *CHOP CHOP CHOP*, slides it on a plate, drizzles sesame oil and dried seaweed on top and hands it over. Yum. While it's still squirming on your plate you gobble it down. The legs and suction cups still like to grab so chewing thoroughly is a must.
To wrap up this blog I've included some videos of Mike's experience with Sannakji. I'll try to be better about keeping you all updated with my experiences here in Korea
