Budda’s Birthday, Geoje and Ring of Fire.

This weekend was an exciting one. It was Budda’s birthday here in Korea. All the schools here had the Friday off to celebrate.

The build up to Budda’s birthday here has been lovely. Lanterns have adorned the streets and lights have been hung in every space.

We all knew here that we wanted to go somewhere so we looked into a few places. A group of people I have recently met invited a few of the newer teachers along.

We set off on Friday morning after a little bit of a heavy night. (bad idea!)

The bus ride was great fun. Lots of chatting and introducing, even though it was a very small bus.

The bus took a lot longer than we expected but I think that traffic is an inevitable factor on days off here or even just weekends.

The place we stayed in Geoje was beautiful. It was a pension. You would be forgiven for not knowing what pension is. I had no idea. It is the Korean word for a house you stay in. I’m not sure obviously but I imagine it comes from British people travelling in Korea when they are older, setting up hotels and saying it will be their ‘pension’.

The apartment was lovely. It was spacious and none of us minded the sleeping arrangements. Floors are a lot more comfy in Korea, I’m just sure of it.

The next few days were filled with exploring, BBQ and drunk Jenga (a fantastic drinking game). Weirdly we also bumped into some friends camping on the beach. A great coincidence that led to some fun French rounders (can’t hit your legs or move your feet).

I met lots of lovely people and I love days off. Not that I don’t love school but exploring is fantastic.  

Holiday Plans

One of the exciting things about living in Daegu, Korea is the proximity to so many other exciting countries. At the moment weekends are spent exploring the country I now call home (as well as recovering from cocktails - in- a – bag) but summer is fast approaching and with it comes the chance to travel.

This summer I am getting 8 work days off.

Deciding where to spend them has been a hard decision as my ‘to do’ travel list is getting longer every day.

After looking at the seasonal weather for a lot of Asian places the choice was narrowed down to Malaysia or Thailand. Indonesia was considered for a while but I want to explore that country so much that I need more than 8 days to do it.

I started trying to research Malaysia but was thwarted. Flights were selling out fast with all the other EPIK teachers having the exact same idea. (note to reader: book your summer holidays WELL in advance!)

BUT I wasn’t too disappointed as the list still had other places for me to try.

Thailand was my next attempt.

Thailand is somewhere I have wanted to visit for a long time. People I know have been there and say nothing but lovely things. I was thinking of doing Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam this winter but Koi Samui was calling to me.

The factor that made my decision for me was an Elephant camping experience. It is a one night visit that includes a Jungle river trip, camping over night in a jungle (with gibbons on hand to wake you) and an up close and personal meeting with some of my favourite animals. I also read they are extremely well looked after which was a big concern for me. I didn’t want to fund an organization mistreating Elephants.

So now the holiday is all booked.

The plan is:

Daegu to Seoul (one night in lovely Seoul)

Seoul to Bangkok (Two nights in Bangkok and yes I am going to watch ‘The Hangover 2’ many times before I travel)

Bangkok to Surat Thani (a stunning tropical area)

Surat Thani to Koi Samui (which is just a stunning Thai island, literally like a dream)

Elephants and home.

I know its silly to be so excited but it feels weird to be doing the things I’ve dreamed about for a long time.

I was ill in hospital for many years and I wrote a list of places I dreamed of going when I was better. Thailand was firmly on that list along with spend time with Elephants so I am over the moon to be planning this.

Who knows, it may not go to plan but at the very least I will have some exciting stories and a lot of fun.

Now I just have to find a place in Korea that sells Bikinis (an impossible task !!)

3 month catch up

So I was determinded to make one of these but i've been struggling to get codecs to work on my laptop BUT here is a bad poorly filmed attempt at a 3 month video review.
The next one will be better quality I promise

http://youtu.be/E9NDONJF-hIVideo

Discovery of the week: Bread

Discovery of the week: Bread

Bread. I have always been breads biggest fan. It was been with me through the hard winter nights and the picnicking summer days. Its safe to say that bread and I have a long term, loving relationship.

Moving Korea changed all that. People here don’t eat bread. They just don’t seem to have realized its greatness.

Luckily for me they are starting to see its potential. This means that you can buy a very small loaf of bread in the bakeries here.

The bakeries themselves deserve a month of praises. They are truly dream-like places. I would stay here another year just for their carby goodness.

For my birthday I was given a fantastic loaf of my first Korean bread and also some butter to go with it. Unfortunately the butter was more of a vegetable margarine which is not something I’m a fan of but the bread was so good that I did not care. It was devoured before the birthday was done. 

I am now already planning how to get to the bakery for another loaf, after all its not a weekend without buttery toast. Now I just need the butter and toaster and I’m sorted.

Bread, we salute you!

Discovery of the week: Sunshine

Discovery of the week : Sunshine

As a pale/almost clear British person the recent addition of the sun to my life has been unexpected and wonderful.

I have always been a summer person. The outdoors, summer dresses and drinks in the sunshine have always made me happy, even if they were 2 days a year events in Britian.

Here in Daegu the city is known for its hot summers. Everyone warned me before I moved hear about how hot it would be and the relentless sunshine. I thought they were mad. OF COURSE I want to live there.

So far we have had 29’ days for a week and its moving close to 30’ this weekend. I couldn’t be happier. The city is built for summer. Buildings are placed ideally to capture a breeze and air cons are standard in every house. I fear winter more than summer if I’m honest.

Soon a outdoor summer pool will be opening where you can drink and be merry all the live long day and I cannot wait. Apart from not being able to buy bikinis here (as Koreans don’t show skin like that?!?) I am completely set and ready to go.I have my factor 50 sun screen already to hand.

I can easily get use to this style of living. Lets just hope I don’t become too accustomed or I’ll never go home to rainy Britain again. ^ㅁ^

Sports Day

After an eventful and lovely teacher’s day yesterday I turned up to school to see it covered in banners and gazeboes as today is Sports Day.

Sports day in my junior school was always one of my favorite days of the year. I loved wearing the home colors, running as fast as my little legs would carry me and cheering till I couldn’t speak.

In Korea its not much different. The 3rd years dress in fantastic costumes and they have as many silly events as we do (thankfully the ‘egg and spoon’ race hasn’t reached Korea)

We have just all come in from a busy morning and I have been warned that this afternoon I will be expected to compete in the ‘hula hoop, skipping race’. I only dread to think what they will have me doing!

These are the kinds of days I love here. Its relaxed and everyone is smiling. The kids are just kids and I love seeing them away from the classroom and in their own element. I got to see a group of them perform the Korean traditional drums and they were amazing. Just as good if not better as some of the groups I’ve seen in organized events while I’ve been here.  

I have taken so many photos! I am going to wade through and get them up here as soon as possible.

I love this school !