I don't really have much to say for the past 5 days, everything is now settled and classes are well underway which to me means fun time is over. But I did manage to sneak in a few sites. Alex and me went to Changgyeong and Chandeok palace which was a good break from studying and very interesting learning more about Korean history and culture. Oh I need to thank Seungho for helping me do some online shopping at a Korean site, I got 5 more shirts because of him and all for less than $100, $95 to be exact. 5 shirts for $95, I have my one Diesel shirt that cost over a $100 alone...
And before I forget, working at S-Cafe was great yesterday. It was nice meeting you guys yesterday: Baekkwang, Changseong, Remy, and Jae-won.
Places visited in Korea: Gwanghwamun, Banpo (Rainbow) bridge, Itaewon, Gangnam, Gapyeong, Namdaemun, Chyeongyecheon, Seoul City Hall, Jeju Island (Hallasan, IIchulbong, Jeju City, Seogwipo), N Seoul tower, Trick Eye museum Hongdae, Yongin Korea folk village, Changgyeong palace, Changdeok palace
Friday, September 30, 2011
Sunday, September 25, 2011
Day 29, 31, 31, 32
As you can see, the only new thing added during these past few days was the Korean folk village in the city of Yongin. I'll be honest I was somewhat angry at Seungho for taking us there, since for the time (1 hr 30 mins) and money ($15) I was expecting something but it was very boring. I walked away asking myself "what did I learn?". Of course I can't hold grudges for very long and it's not a good thing either so I would much rather forget and move on, I have a lot more other things to be concerned about than having wasted an afternoon...Oh that reminds me I need to get started on that UNESCO project for the Korean heritage class.
And I can't believe it's already been a month since I arrived, some days during the past month felt like it flew by while at other times it just dragged on and on. Well let's see what month 2 will bring.
Places visited in Korea: Gwanghwamun, Banpo (Rainbow) bridge, Itaewon, Gangnam, Gapyeong, Namdaemun, Chyeongyecheon, Seoul City Hall, Jeju Island (Hallasan, IIchulbong, Jeju City, Seogwipo), N Seoul tower, Trick Eye museum Hongdae, Yongin Korea folk village
And I can't believe it's already been a month since I arrived, some days during the past month felt like it flew by while at other times it just dragged on and on. Well let's see what month 2 will bring.
Places visited in Korea: Gwanghwamun, Banpo (Rainbow) bridge, Itaewon, Gangnam, Gapyeong, Namdaemun, Chyeongyecheon, Seoul City Hall, Jeju Island (Hallasan, IIchulbong, Jeju City, Seogwipo), N Seoul tower, Trick Eye museum Hongdae, Yongin Korea folk village
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Day 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28
Once again not alot to talk about, just getting into the routine of things: go to bed late, get up, eat, class, eat, work on things/be lazy, eat, go to sleep. Yeah that seems to describe my days. I guess the most interesting thing I did during these days was go to a trick eye museum in Hongdae. Besides that nothing too exciting except being bit by mosquitoes 12 times or so...
Places visited in Korea: Gwanghwamun, Banpo (Rainbow) bridge, Itaewon, Gangnam, Gapyeong, Namdaemun, Chyeongyecheon, Seoul City Hall, Jeju Island (Hallasan, IIchulbong, Jeju City, Seogwipo), N Seoul tower, Trick Eye museum Hongdae
Places visited in Korea: Gwanghwamun, Banpo (Rainbow) bridge, Itaewon, Gangnam, Gapyeong, Namdaemun, Chyeongyecheon, Seoul City Hall, Jeju Island (Hallasan, IIchulbong, Jeju City, Seogwipo), N Seoul tower, Trick Eye museum Hongdae
Friday, September 16, 2011
Thursday, September 15, 2011
Day 19, 20, 21, 22
Don't know where to begin since there isn't really much to talk about. The two days after Jeju were mainly used for rest and recuperation. Only yesterday did I start to do things again. I joined a club on campus and I'll be honest, it wasn't what I expected it to be. It's supposed to be an english speaking club, but I think many clubs are just about hanging out and socializing, as evidenced by the Soju bottles I saw in the club room. I'll give it a shot though. And as for today, I started my duties at what is called Global cafe S, where UOS students come in and chat with foreigners to improve their language abilities. So that was fun, I'm looking forward to meeting many students in there.
That's it for this post.
Oh yeah I should've mentioned this on my first post, but every car here is either a Hyundai or Kia. There are almost no foreign cars or companies here, which I find very surprising.
Places visited in Korea: Gwanghwamun, Banpo (Rainbow) bridge, Itaewon, Gangnam, Gapyeong, Namdaemun, Chyeongyecheon, Seoul City Hall, Jeju Island (Hallasan, IIchulbong, Jeju City, Seogwipo), N Seoul tower
That's it for this post.
Oh yeah I should've mentioned this on my first post, but every car here is either a Hyundai or Kia. There are almost no foreign cars or companies here, which I find very surprising.
Places visited in Korea: Gwanghwamun, Banpo (Rainbow) bridge, Itaewon, Gangnam, Gapyeong, Namdaemun, Chyeongyecheon, Seoul City Hall, Jeju Island (Hallasan, IIchulbong, Jeju City, Seogwipo), N Seoul tower
Sunday, September 11, 2011
Day 15, 16, 17, 18
It's been a couple of busy and tiring days. Jeju has come and gone, but the experience will remain. Our arrival in Jeju was something to remember. We didn't know where to go, so we rode a bus into the city, but rode back to the airport because we didn't know where to get off. In the end we took a taxi to a landmark hotel. From this landmark hotel we looked around for an hour or so for accommodations, and finally found one. All of us thought it was a good place to stay...more on this later.
The next day, we were off to Hallasan, South Korea's tallest mountain. Alex's Korea guide stated it would be an easy climb...yeah that was a lie. Hallasan was the toughest thing I have done since climbing Mt Fuji in Japan. It took 7 hours to climb and descend Hallsan, and I hurt my foot on the descent. But we did meet the other students from UOS that went to Jeju, a group of Chinese students. So that was fun meeting them while climbing Hallasan. Anyway, for what remained of the day, we went to a chicken and hof (beer) place to eat, everyone was sore but it was good.
I can't say alot for the next day besides my legs were sore and tired as hell. But still we left Jeju city for another world heritage site: IIchulbong, a dormant volcano on Jeju's east coast. By this time, the weather was cloudy and rainy and would remain like this for the rest of our trip. Also since the town that IIchulbong was in didn't have anything else to see, we moved onto the southern city of Seogwipo. In Seogwipo we saw a famous waterfall and tried Jeju's famous black pork. The black pork bbq dinner was disappointing. We were first handed another table's meat and then the staff weren't too friendly, and to top it all off it was very expensive: $60 for 3 pieces of meat and a small pork chop...Oh and Seogwipo was getting hit by a severe thunderstorm at this time. Massive amounts of rain and constant thunder for 8 hours or so, all through the night. A good and free "light" show. I don't know if that storm was actually the remnants of a tropical storm or typhoon that fizzled out, felt like it though.
As for yesterday, we headed back to Jeju city since our flight would leave Monday morning. We tried to visit the lava tubes/caves that were next to Jeju, but because of that storm that dumped all that rain, it flooded the caves and was closed...The rest of the day, just lounged around and didn't really do anything else.
Jeju was a good trip, it was very different from Seoul and the other major cities in Korea. I want to return there some day and hopefully the weather will cooperate this time. At the same time, I want to stay there longer have a Korean friend come along since I'm sure we would've had a better time if we could've understood some of the things that were said to us. But I bid farewell to Jeju its countless grandpa statues.
Oh before I do forget, about that first accommodation in Jeju we stayed at. The first thing on the TV set when I turned it on was a porn channel...that should've said something but I thought "ok that's a nice feature..." Well turns out we stayed in a love motel and to make things worse, I shared a room with Alex. No wonder the lady at reception thought we were gay when checking in...
Places visited in Korea: Gwanghwamun, Banpo bridge, Itaewon, Gangnam, Gapyeong, Namdaemun, Chyeongyecheon, Seoul City Hall, Jeju Island (Hallasan, IIchulbong, Jeju City, Seogwipo)
The next day, we were off to Hallasan, South Korea's tallest mountain. Alex's Korea guide stated it would be an easy climb...yeah that was a lie. Hallasan was the toughest thing I have done since climbing Mt Fuji in Japan. It took 7 hours to climb and descend Hallsan, and I hurt my foot on the descent. But we did meet the other students from UOS that went to Jeju, a group of Chinese students. So that was fun meeting them while climbing Hallasan. Anyway, for what remained of the day, we went to a chicken and hof (beer) place to eat, everyone was sore but it was good.
I can't say alot for the next day besides my legs were sore and tired as hell. But still we left Jeju city for another world heritage site: IIchulbong, a dormant volcano on Jeju's east coast. By this time, the weather was cloudy and rainy and would remain like this for the rest of our trip. Also since the town that IIchulbong was in didn't have anything else to see, we moved onto the southern city of Seogwipo. In Seogwipo we saw a famous waterfall and tried Jeju's famous black pork. The black pork bbq dinner was disappointing. We were first handed another table's meat and then the staff weren't too friendly, and to top it all off it was very expensive: $60 for 3 pieces of meat and a small pork chop...Oh and Seogwipo was getting hit by a severe thunderstorm at this time. Massive amounts of rain and constant thunder for 8 hours or so, all through the night. A good and free "light" show. I don't know if that storm was actually the remnants of a tropical storm or typhoon that fizzled out, felt like it though.
As for yesterday, we headed back to Jeju city since our flight would leave Monday morning. We tried to visit the lava tubes/caves that were next to Jeju, but because of that storm that dumped all that rain, it flooded the caves and was closed...The rest of the day, just lounged around and didn't really do anything else.
Jeju was a good trip, it was very different from Seoul and the other major cities in Korea. I want to return there some day and hopefully the weather will cooperate this time. At the same time, I want to stay there longer have a Korean friend come along since I'm sure we would've had a better time if we could've understood some of the things that were said to us. But I bid farewell to Jeju its countless grandpa statues.
Oh before I do forget, about that first accommodation in Jeju we stayed at. The first thing on the TV set when I turned it on was a porn channel...that should've said something but I thought "ok that's a nice feature..." Well turns out we stayed in a love motel and to make things worse, I shared a room with Alex. No wonder the lady at reception thought we were gay when checking in...
Places visited in Korea: Gwanghwamun, Banpo bridge, Itaewon, Gangnam, Gapyeong, Namdaemun, Chyeongyecheon, Seoul City Hall, Jeju Island (Hallasan, IIchulbong, Jeju City, Seogwipo)
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
Day 12, 13, 14
I guess I'll start off with, I can't believe it's already been 2 weeks since I arrived. Time really is flying fast. So I finally visited Namdaemun and Chyeongyecheon with Murat and Seungho, unfortunately Namdaemun was covered due to renovations...so much for seeing that...However seeing Chyeongyechon was very good and beautiful. I couldn't believe that there used to be a highway that ran where it is now...
Didn't do anything really for Day 13 when it was my day off and I just decided to study Korean and other things, at the same time there's a major holiday coming up in Korea called Chuseok where everyone returns to their hometowns to honur ancestors. It almost seems like Obon in Japan.
As for today, Day 14, I watched the University's own rendition of 'Chicago' which was excellent, considering it had Korean students speaking english for 2.5 hours. I can't speak Korean for 2.5 minutes...So job very well done to the Korean students who did 'Chicago'.
Of course classes are now in full swing, but as I mentioned a major Korean holiday is coming up so campus may as well be shut down until next Wednesday. But I won't be lounging around in Seoul though (hopefully) since tomorrow I head to Jeju Island. So there won't be any updates for a couple days.
Until then.
Places visited in Korea: Gwanghwamun, Banpo bridge, Itaewon, Gangnam, Gapyeong, Namdaemun, Chyeongyecheon, Seoul City Hall
Didn't do anything really for Day 13 when it was my day off and I just decided to study Korean and other things, at the same time there's a major holiday coming up in Korea called Chuseok where everyone returns to their hometowns to honur ancestors. It almost seems like Obon in Japan.
As for today, Day 14, I watched the University's own rendition of 'Chicago' which was excellent, considering it had Korean students speaking english for 2.5 hours. I can't speak Korean for 2.5 minutes...So job very well done to the Korean students who did 'Chicago'.
Of course classes are now in full swing, but as I mentioned a major Korean holiday is coming up so campus may as well be shut down until next Wednesday. But I won't be lounging around in Seoul though (hopefully) since tomorrow I head to Jeju Island. So there won't be any updates for a couple days.
Until then.
Places visited in Korea: Gwanghwamun, Banpo bridge, Itaewon, Gangnam, Gapyeong, Namdaemun, Chyeongyecheon, Seoul City Hall
Sunday, September 4, 2011
Day 9, 10, 11
The last 3 days have been crazy, so to say. The ice breaking trip is something I'll never forget, very loud and fun in a small place called Gapyeong. And since it was so loud, during the trip I actually tried to camp outside. Just brought a pillow and started to sleep on the lawn of the lodgings we were all staying at. Maybe it was a good thing that someone came and took me inside to sleep since it did get a little chilly outside...That helped a little since it was warm, but I had no futon like blanket to sleep on so I slept on the floor with a pillow...
The day after was a mix of tiredness and soreness, but overall it was really fun and I don't think I'll ever forget that experience. As for today, didn't do anything just sat around the dorm watching documentaries and had a very delicious pizza dinner. I swear I'll never look at pizza or fried chicken the same way ever again in Canada.
Time for week 3 to begin.
Places visited in Korea: Gwanghwamun, Banpo bridge, Itaewon, Gangnam, Gapyeong
The day after was a mix of tiredness and soreness, but overall it was really fun and I don't think I'll ever forget that experience. As for today, didn't do anything just sat around the dorm watching documentaries and had a very delicious pizza dinner. I swear I'll never look at pizza or fried chicken the same way ever again in Canada.
Time for week 3 to begin.
Places visited in Korea: Gwanghwamun, Banpo bridge, Itaewon, Gangnam, Gapyeong
Thursday, September 1, 2011
Day 7, 8
Not much to write about since I'm getting settled in here very quickly now. I guess the most interesting things I have done in these past two days were: eat at a sushi/sashimi place near Cheongyangni station, which to be honest was not that good and the owner seemed to have taken advantage of us being foreigners and charged us a lot. I felt sorry for Murat's roomate, who took us to that place, since he paid for it. Oh and I've realized that the university seems to be located in a very conservative part of Seoul. Since when we were all heading to the sushi restaurant, Murat was walking on the wrong side of the sidewalk and some old guy pushed him aside and yelled "right side!", if Murat's roomate hadn't informed me that this area was very conservative I would've passed that guy off as drunk and wanting to pick a fight. And speaking of drunk guys, the sushi restaurant had 3, each of them just yelling random things. Good entertainment for a not so good meal.
The other interesting thing in these last two days was go to Itaewon with Murat. Itaewon is literally a"foreign town" in Seoul. Within the first few metres from the station, I had already seen countless foreigners which is a stark contrast from the rest of Seoul. Murat also showed me a mosque in Itaewon as well. I'll be honest, it was very surprising especially since Korea is mostly Christian and Buddhist. All in all ended the day with a nice dinner at a Turkish restaurant. Though we could've chosen many other Middle Eastern restaurants in the area.
For Alex or Ryoko, if you read this: I tried a drink that was similar to the Dooh we had at the Iranian restaurant, except this one was not carbonated and no mint.
Ok well I guess I did write a lot. Won't be on here for a couple days due to an Ice breaking trip for all exchange students.
List of places visited: Gwanghwamun, Banpo bridge, Itaewon, Gangnam
The other interesting thing in these last two days was go to Itaewon with Murat. Itaewon is literally a"foreign town" in Seoul. Within the first few metres from the station, I had already seen countless foreigners which is a stark contrast from the rest of Seoul. Murat also showed me a mosque in Itaewon as well. I'll be honest, it was very surprising especially since Korea is mostly Christian and Buddhist. All in all ended the day with a nice dinner at a Turkish restaurant. Though we could've chosen many other Middle Eastern restaurants in the area.
For Alex or Ryoko, if you read this: I tried a drink that was similar to the Dooh we had at the Iranian restaurant, except this one was not carbonated and no mint.
Ok well I guess I did write a lot. Won't be on here for a couple days due to an Ice breaking trip for all exchange students.
List of places visited: Gwanghwamun, Banpo bridge, Itaewon, Gangnam
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