JeJu Island...in more detail...Day One

I meant to go to JeJu Island with a friend...but sometimes you simply cannot wait for people to come along. You have to just do it on your own. So I did, with more or less an idea of what I was going to do...

I met two Korean sisters on the ferry who were very nice and helpful. We communicated in a mixture of English and Korean. Their Korean was better than my Korean, but not by very much. I definitely was able to exercise my knowledge of the Korean language. I communicated, though various means, that I was an English teacher in Busan. The one girl was 21, her sister was younger, but I don't remember how old. She was very giggly and liked to put her hands up to her face, a very common thing among Korean females, it appears. They helped me find a place to charge my phone, which ended up being the kiosk. The man charged me 1,000 won for 40 minutes. It lasted long enough for me to have a conversation later that night with a friend in Seoul. I also, again quite randomly, met up with a group of foreigners, which consisted of Americans, one South African, and one Australian. Five girls and one guy, Korean, though they referred to him as "Mung?" Must find out what this means (note, I hope it doesn't mean what I found online...)

I crashed with the foreigners at their hostel, 12,000 won for the night. Not bad, considering other hostels wanted me to book a 2 person room for 40,000 a night. I chanced it and it worked out all right for me. When we arrived at the hostel, it wasn't quite ready, so we wandered around downtown for an hour. We stopped at a Paris Baguette, oh how convenient those can be!, found everywhere in Korea and having nothing to do with France except that bread is also baked there. I picked up a roll which turned out to be vaguely cheese and herb flavored and orange (I realized in better lighting that the outside of the roll was that same orange colored, I should have suspected it wasn't cinnamon earlier). I also got a small carton of strawberry milk and at the very last second, as I approached the counter, the woman was JUST taking out a tray of hot dogs wrapped in filo dough with what looked to be cheese on top and I just HAD to have one (as did my friend). My second hot dog in Korea. Then it was back to the hostel. We chilled, napped, and around 11? Got up and the first thing we did was try and find the Miniaturized Museum.

We had a generally good time taking pictures of all the miniature landmarks and famous buildings (the Statue of Liberty is much smaller than you might imagine, much smaller than the Eiffel Tower, for example). This girl, Nadia, who I found myself taking pictures with that afternoon, liked to stop at the gift shops. At one, I picked up a small volcanic Buddha statue. The old man behind the counter said something about smiles, and we both thought he meant, did i want a smiling one, and I thought, sure, that would be nice...and he went around, we assumed, to exchange it...but then he sat down on a stone bench and started chipping at it-- and we realized he was actually going to PUT a smile on the little man for me. I videotaped him at work with my pink camera. It really did look much friendlier for the effort, and I thanked him and purchased a heart shaped rock and a couple of cute figureines in addition.

Then, oh!, have to share this. We had passed a go-cart place earlier and the taxi driver wanted to take us there right away, but we said, no, we want to go to the museum first...so the first thing we did after that was the carts. I was actually a bit nervous, having forgotten the last time, if ever, I had done this, but I determined to drive anyway, rather than be a mere passenger. I tried to get the man to videotape, but think that failed. Anyway, I kicked butt. I think I was third to start my car and I definitely passed everyone in the group. I KNOW I lapped the guy at least once in the end, which I think rather pissed him off (in the American sense of the word.) He complained I didn't know how to use the breaks. I did, I just didn't see the point in them. I paid for it, though, marks all over my elbows, a long scratch from my seatbelt, and a decent-sized bruise on the back of my shoulder. Well worth it.

The last sightseeing point of the afternoon was a famous waterfall which fell directly into the ocean. Quite pretty, although too many people to be serene. I could sense it being very romantic at night....

By then, we were starving so we ate at a Japanese restaurant before recuperating at the hostel for the night's adventures.

That night, one of the girls said that we needed to explore another waterfall, which was supposed to be even more beautiful at night, all lit up and gorgeous. We found it.....eventually. I think we followed a sort of snaked around path which took us basically in the opposite direction...but we DID find it, and for 2,000 won, it was worth it. Nice path up to the waterfall, too, with a stepping stone path over water.

After that we took it easy at the hostel, chatting and watching (or half-watching, half-freaking out) I Am Legend. Only it had a crappy ending where Will Smith lives and he and the woman live happily ever after.

Summar of my Weekend in Jeju...a blur...

My Chuseok (Korean Thanksgiving)

Overnight in the ferry...picked a terminal at near random and got the right one, which was good as was running late..splurged on a room with a bed so got my own bunk bed with a pull around curtain...met these two Korean girls, my age, helped me find a place to charge my cell (kiosk, 1,000 Won)...they wanted to take pictures with me in the morning...I gave the one my cell number...met up with a group of Americans, South Africans, and Australians who I spent the weekend with....Miniature Musuem filled with all sorts of minituarized national monuments, friend's quote, "Americans take note, the Statue of Liberty is smaller than you think."...it was, too, compared to the Eiffel Tower, which STILL towered above us...kicked butt at go-carts (who says you NEED to use the breaks on those things?)....checked out a waterfall that fell directly into the ocean...and another one...which we managed to do a sort of winding snake circle towards, kind of in exactly the opposite direction, hard to explain...

I talked to the taxi driver about being an elementary school teacher...banged myself up pretty well at go-carts...interesting old guy carved a smile into my volcanic rock Buddha...I took video...spent money far too freely...took random pictures with various cartoon figures and buildings...slept in a bed both nights...realizing, of all things, am becoming addicted to the triangular musubi (?), rice wrapped in dried seaweed with some kind of filling, and melon ice cream pops, very creamy and delicious...I shall miss having those, cheap, convenient, when I return to...the States?...wherever...

I want to go to Seoul for a day.

six month mark

Tonight was my six month anniversary in Korea. I spent it, not even meaning to, with a French engineer on Gwangali beach. Drank various cocktails and finished off with White Russians. Sampled the Honey Bread (lots of sweet whipped cream over sweet white bread), chicken nachos, and chicken quesadillas. All quite tasty.

I can't believe it's been six months already.

Foreign Culture

I spent this evening walking in the downtown of Korea with a Frenchman and a Chinese woman who speaks Korean. I rather love this life.

In Which I Digress

I realize my last few blogs have been a series of half-finished thoughts, dashed off as I ran off, my rather needy cat very likely whining in the background, or at least mentally preparing herself to begin whining at the sound of my approaching footsteps.

This needs to change.

I hereby endeavor to be better at writing such experiences as Korea has offered me, or that I have, more often, taken forcefully. Korea is not the sort of place that gives you much. This is probably for the best-- I am much more proactive and capable than I used to be. Or, more accurately, more capable than I thought I was. I doubt I have changed much, only realized more. I should give a quiet thanks to the people I have met that have helped me through this.

Oh! I should mention, too, for the very first time in my life I have joined a gym and am going daily. I have, in the span of a week, become deeply addicted. I assume, by the time the euphoria wears off, that I will be disappointed to discover it has become an unfortunate habit and I shall not be able to stop.

I am also attempting to incorporate regular meditation and yoga into my daily schedule. I feel, between that and better diet, I will have taken care of "Self Improvement" in my list of Things To Do. My friend tells me this is what I need, I think he is right.

Next I think I need to Become More Aware. Of...life in general...of what is happening...here in Korea, in the world. I am less and less inclined to grad school, but I am more anxious to find a good seminar which teaches communication. Because I doubt there is much out there in schools that I can learn, that someone else doesn't know already and more fully than myself-- but! I think, if I search and find those people who really inspire, the people that are changing or will change the world, and bring their thoughts and ideas together...create a philosophy that makes the world a better place and more receptive to their ideas and creations...the thought is overwhelming but not impossible.

It is sort of my new mission in life. But if Ayn Rand could do it, then I think I can, too. One based on harmony and creation and progress as the ultimate good. Where making a useful product is the end goal, instead of, as too often seems the case, power.

I know what I want to do...I don't know how....

This post has definitely drifted. I apologize.

Long awaited posting...perhaps?

I'm sitting in my apartment, mid afternoon, lazy, cat curled up on the comforter on my bed. She was whining at me a second ago, but I lay down next to her and petted her head, so now she's calm. I haven't been writing much lately, I know but I haven't felt I had much to write about. Let's see, what have I done lately....

I found a pair of cheap shoes today! Not exactly what I wanted, but precisely what I was looking for, and since they were only a few bucks, I bought them anyway. Also a lovely Audrey Hepburneque white knit, oh what's that papery material, summer hat with an oversized brim. Party tonight, sailor theme. Wearing my red and white floral print summer dress and painted my nails a candy cherry enamel red that came out beautifully.

I've been exploring the spas in Korea. Went to one up by Ocheonjang, where the cable car runs up the mountain. Large pool in the middle, very spacious feeling as compared to others, high ceiling, airy. Outdoor pool (a MUST have in a Korean bathhouse). A little girl swam up to me and asked me questions, in Korean, and I responded in kind to the best of my ability. But then I asked her, again in Korean, if she spoke a little English-- and she responded by answering, "Manni (a lot)." We then talked for a few minutes in English, her English was perfect, and then she went off, presumably to go to her mother.

Shall write more later--sorry, off in a rush!

Magic

There must be something inately in human nature that draws us to the fantastical world, worlds and stories based not on what we see, but what we believe must be true, hence science fiction, religion, fantasy paperbacks, and of course...magicians. Halfway through the show, the emcee called up a little boy to the stage (adorable, he lied and said he was seven when he was nine, so that he could come to the front) and showed him a disappearing handkerchief trick, and of course when the boy opened his hand the napkin was still there, so the emcee told him to put it in his pocket then did an elaborate show in front of the boy while he hid it..but when he turned around and had the boy look at his hand, the little boy actually looked down at his hand, surprised that it was no longer there, so caught up in the magic of it....and, you say, well he was a child, but I don't believe we ever really lose that "childlike" naivity.

But, I am neglecting the show! The Busan International Magic Show. Being so close to Vegas for my formative years, I cannot stay away from the potential of a good magic show. And I was not disappointed. Magicians traveled from Korea, Japan, Germany, Great Britai, Italy, China, and the U.S. The first American had his show translated, but the second communicated entirely in English-- and the crowd went nuts over him, standing ovation and all. His name was Tony Chapman, American, and he did this whole bit around interacting with his "partner" Tony on a TV. Simple, at first, reaching his arm into the screen, but then, a little more complex, dropping a bag of chips into the screen, and then objects started to be thrown back-- and YES I realize this isn't real, but STILL. His timing was impeccable, his charisma charming, and there was plenty of good magic overall. Highly recommend.

Another, so cute, a Japanese kid, he just LOOKED young, whose act revolved around music, CDs to be precise, that he incorporated into his acts. He was advertised as "Gorgeous magician with CDs." Fantastic. He was quite pretty, too.

Another, I believe Japanese magician, charisma felt was lacking, but he did do something unique that I had not seen before. Took a blue balloon and blew it up...and then when it was full of air, "pulled" a blue colored dove as if there were a thin cover across the balloon, which then turned into a white balloon.

A Japanese woman, there are not enough female magicians, act, while simple, contained so much charm I fell in love with her. She had perfect stage presence, every movement clean, precise, carefully chosen as she drew you into a whirlwind, literal dance. Lots of red flowers and birds. Fresh.

I did not like the other American magician as much, but he did do this pretty cool trick where he took a white flower petal and shook it around in a red wine glass and it turned into a real egg-- he even broke it into the glass to show.

I also loved how the other female magician transformed her face, pretty, fresh faced, into a mysterious white and sparkle mask. I don't know how she did it. But of course I didn't.

Tonight I shall return and come back with new tales of the unknown world that is the world of magicians.