BBQ by the Han

My brother is far left.

Last weekend, I went to a camp site near world cup stadium with friends for a South African BBQ. You could rent tables, chairs, a BBQ and a tent thing. Then you paid for meat and cider. There was a bunch of us, so the price was only 16,000 for the whole day. We all had water fights and played card games. It was great!!!

It was lucky we made the most of last weekend. Monsoon season is about to start soon! It is already sticky and humid today.......

One month until the end of the term and summer camp starts. My theme this year is Alice in wonderland.

My last piece of news was that my brother was in the trooping of the colours last Saturday. We are all so proud of him.

I am becoming lazy....

Olympic park, Seoul

These days there is not much to write on here. I have been no where new due to saving money. The places I have visited or been to recently, I have wrote about before. Plus, I am not travelling at all this year due to saving money. It's just as well though, because my school holidays are split. Summer camp is smack bang in the middle of my holidays. I get 4 days off then it is camp then another week. I don't mind though. I would be bored at home by myself for two weeks.

I am trying to keep myself busy, whilst saving. Picnics etc. I am also trying to practice taking photos, but I have become too busy with the gym etc. I went to Olympic park a few weeks ago with Clara on Labour day. We were so lucky as the weather was great. We went for brunch, then we visited the museum. After we went for a walk. I have missed Clara since she left last year. The park was full of people with their children on their day off. But the park is so big it is easy to get lost and find parts that are peaceful.



                            

Olympic park, Seoul

 

Olympic park, Seoul

Olympic park, Seoul

Olympic park, Seoul

It was also Sue's birthday last month. She celebrates her lunar birthday. We decided to suprise her with a cake but when we came out of the subway she was there and saw the cake. She had arrived 20 minutes early!!!! She still enjoyed it though and it all worked out well. The first resturant wouldn't let us eat her birthday cake there but luckly the next restaurant said it was ok.

Birthday time!

Happy birthday Sue!

I have also seen 'The Great Gatsby' two times already! It's such a good movie! Watch it!!

JW Meriott hotel

The JW Meriott hotel in Seoul is doing an offer. 28,000won for unlimited cocktails between 6pm - 9pm. Me and my friend went last week and the cocktails are sooooooooo delicious. They are made with fresh juice! I drank so many to get my money's worth ;). The offer is on at the weekend. ^^ Yum!

JW Meriott Hotel, Seoul

Cherry blossoms!

Cherry blossoms.

Spring has finally arrived and the cherry blossoms came out two weeks ago in Seoul. Me and my friend went for a walk along a river. The whole path was lined with cherry blossoms. It was really windy, therefore I only got a few pictures that I was pleased with.

Hopefully, everything will turned green soon. I am fed up of dead trees and dead flowers.

I am not travelling this year. I need to save money. But, I hope to site-see around Seoul and start practicing photography soon. I would of loved to go back to Thailand. But, I hope to persuade someone to go with me, if I go again. I think trips are better with company. Though, I enjoy travelling by myself. It's just a lot more expensive to travel by yourself.

Pictures!!

Cherry blossoms

Cherry blossoms

Cherry blossoms

Cherry blossoms

Cherry blossoms

Cherry blossoms

Upo Marsh and Daegaya festival - Adventure Korea trip

Upo marsh

Last weekend, I went on a small trip to the south. I booked via Adventure Korea. I really like this company and would recommend them.

We left Saturday morning. There was only around 20 of us. We were mainly girls, with only three guys including the bus driver and tour guide. I think the group being so small was a good thing. Everyone talked to each other and there was a great atmosphere within the group.

Riding our bikes

The bus journey to Upo marsh took around 6 hours. I started to get a cold and got travel sick ><. I was glad to be on solid ground by the time we got there. We had rented bikes for a few hours, so we all split off and biked around the marsh. It was beautiful, but sadly spring had not arrived at the marsh yet, so there were only one or two flowers. The weather was good though and it was nice just to be out of Seoul.

After the marsh, we took the coach to Gaesil village. Here we stayed in a traditional building. Though the futons we got given were not futons at all, but thin blankets. We thought it would be ok......... but......... (to be continued).

Upo marsh

We had a walk around the village and played on the swings etc. We had two dinners that night. the first dinner was a traditional Korean meal. Fish, rice, kimchi, etc. It was all so fresh and delicious! Our second dinner was a BBQ. Though, it was like a full blown war to get to the meat. By the time the meat area was free, I had given up.

We all then sat around a camp fire which had fuel poured all over it a few times! Our bus driver was crazy but so funny! ><

Farm in Korea

I didn't sleep at all that night for a few reasons. Firstly, the thin futons. Every time I moved there was pressure on sore muscles from biking. Secondly, the snoring. There was two snorers. When one stopped another started. That's the reason I hate doing tours because you know there will always be one snorer. They should make you tell them if you snore and put all snorers in a room together. Thirdly, my runny nose. Lastly, they turned the floor heating on when it was 20'c that day!!!!

Because of lack of sleep my cold turned into a full blown head cold. I was off Monday from work! ><

Upo marsh

Cute dog!

Gaesil

Gaesil

 

Camp fire time!

Wish!

 On Sunday we went to the Daegaya experience festival. It is one of the best festivals I have been to in Korea. There was a lot to do. I would love for my students to go there. there is so much for kids to do and make. I made a pot. Well, I didn't really make it. The guy helping me did most of the work but it was worth trying. We also got to try traditional instruments and have a funeral. I didn't do this as I would of fallen asleep in the coffin, but it looked pretty cool. A young girl who was put in a coffin with her dad came out crying after. I was told people used it for deep reflection.

Trying out traditional instruments

We were at the festival for a few hours and we then moved on to strawberry picking. We could eat and pick because they were organic. They were so delicious and juicy.

Coming back to Seoul took half the time as travelling down. I was straight into my bed as soon as I got home!



Being taken to the coffin



Pottery\

Strawberry picking

strawberries

Happy Easter!

Happy birthday Clara!

No-one really celebrates Easter over here, but I ate lots of cakes on Friday to compensate ;). In fact, I ate so much sugar that I had a sugar crash at 9pm and nearly fell asleep in a cafe. There was another reason for eating so much cake. It was Clara's (late) birthday!!! ^^ We tried this Earl grey tea cake which was divine. And I never use the word divine normally, but that is the only word to describe it.

I'm still waiting for a parcel from my mum to arrive... hopefully today! She sent me a 'creme egg' Easter egg. I will post a picture when it comes! Yum yum!!!!!! I hope it comes today. I need something to make my week better. My neighbour is still a bitch. She has her TV on loud between 9.30pm to around 3am. Most likely to cover her loud sex noises. On top on that, a new family has moved in upstairs and I am sure they have kids. It's like a bunch of elephants upstairs. Urghhh. I am buying a detached house when I settle down.

Basically, I'm fed up at the moment, but still have an appetite.

Back to business

My last day in Thailand was great! I ate, slept and had a massage. I managed to sleep though most of my journey. Thank goodness for lavender tea and massages. After landing in Korea, I was homesick for Thailand. I had people push me out of the way and queue jump at the airport. I'm better now, but for the first week back I really regretted re-signing my contact. I was a little bit depressed and was tempted to fly back home. I'm okay now! I've gotten over my homesickness and am back to having a great time in Korea.

I've also joined a gym! This is a big deal for me. I have never done a days worth of exercise in my life. But,I want to tone up. I don't want to lose weight!!! >< I've started going twice a week and it's slowly killing me haha.

I got fifth and sixth grade again, which I was angry about. All teachers change grade each year but me. It's okay now, as I realised I can adapt what I learnt on my course for my students. My students seem really well behaved so far......

I also asked my new-co teacher to write a note to my neighbour telling her to turn her bloody TV down (in a nice way). So my neighbour has finally turned her TV down and I can go to sleep without feeling stressed. I have nearly got through my first month in Korea. Only 11 more months to go until I'm home! Though lately I have been thinking about how much I will miss Korea when I leave. But, I am determined this my last year!!!!!!!

Oh! I almost forgot. I went to get my new visa on Tuesday. I had to wait in a queue for six hours!! Six hours!!!! Six blooming hours! Luckily, I had cakes to get me though.......