Over the weekend, Brent, Young and I met up with Mikey and the Shigee people. We had an awesome orphans thanksgiving. Emma made some amazing food and was one of the best hostesses! A ton of people showed up. Even her and Chuck's hapkido instructor was there. We had a blast. On Sunday we went ice skating at Mikey's training rink. I miss skating. I don't think I have been since they opened the new rink in GJ. Before that would have been at after-prom in 2005.
Today was the first day of classes of the new term. I have what seems to be some really great classes. The students seem to be really respectful and the preps for each class are pretty easy.
I promise more pictures to come. Brent and I were talking about heading to Gyeongju this weekend. Definite photo opportunities in Korea's traditional temple/capital city.
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Friday, November 26, 2010
Melodic Salvation
Oh thank God I have a guitar again. I'm starting to sort through my old lyrics in my journal and working some stuff out into progressions. Most of all starting to work stuff out in my head. It can get a bit crazy up there, everyone needs an outlet. Thats the reason kids turn to drugs. Since I don't want to admit that I might be a candidate for anxiety pills, I will sort it out through moderate amounts of scotch and lyrics (the traditional way). Not to mention regular exercise, and plenty of sleep. ;)
Monday, November 22, 2010
New Stuff
Well this last week has been interesting. The weekend was one of the wildest I have had for a long time. Teaching on Saturday was fun. I have been to the Loving Hut (the vegan restaurant) a bunch over the last week. Also, I have seen some new parts of Daegu (still trying to figure out where we were).
On Saturday Brent and I went down to meet Young and Mikey from work for dinner at a Canadian place that serves pretty good Mexican food and has a decent pale ale imported from Edmonton. When we got there we met up with a bunch of people from another Chungdahm branch on the other side of town. I had already met Chuck and Emma who are both pretty awesome. The rest were really cool especially the new people Travis and Carmen. Anywho, we ended up having a really fun night out. We went to some pretty fun places including a nice hookah place. Thats about the rest of the details I'm going to share from that night...
So, yesterday I went for a long walk downtown. It was really nice being able to start knowing my way around town. Tonight after work, Young and I went and got some dinner. We had another Korean style dish that was totally new to me. Then we found a bowling alley, where I schooled him American style (haha, sorry man you were actually getting good by the end!). Then I remembered that about a month ago I noticed a gym that had a sign advertising a climbing center. We went down to check it out. The place is awesome! It was super classy and has 7 floors. The climbing center looks amazing. The rest of the gym is super clean and stylish. It costs 80,000 won a month, which is really good compared to another crap place we checked out last week that was 90,000 won a month.
So thats the news for now. I will post more pictures when I have more excuses to take pictures.
On Saturday Brent and I went down to meet Young and Mikey from work for dinner at a Canadian place that serves pretty good Mexican food and has a decent pale ale imported from Edmonton. When we got there we met up with a bunch of people from another Chungdahm branch on the other side of town. I had already met Chuck and Emma who are both pretty awesome. The rest were really cool especially the new people Travis and Carmen. Anywho, we ended up having a really fun night out. We went to some pretty fun places including a nice hookah place. Thats about the rest of the details I'm going to share from that night...
So, yesterday I went for a long walk downtown. It was really nice being able to start knowing my way around town. Tonight after work, Young and I went and got some dinner. We had another Korean style dish that was totally new to me. Then we found a bowling alley, where I schooled him American style (haha, sorry man you were actually getting good by the end!). Then I remembered that about a month ago I noticed a gym that had a sign advertising a climbing center. We went down to check it out. The place is awesome! It was super classy and has 7 floors. The climbing center looks amazing. The rest of the gym is super clean and stylish. It costs 80,000 won a month, which is really good compared to another crap place we checked out last week that was 90,000 won a month.
So thats the news for now. I will post more pictures when I have more excuses to take pictures.
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Addendum to "In The Meantime..."
Forgot to mention that I found a great vegan cafe about 15 minutes away on the subway! Last night I got to try a traditional Korean dish that I haven't been able to try due to its beef content. It was so delicious. I can't wait to go back and pig out there again. I'm going to order about 4 dishes at a time until I try everything!
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
In The Meantime...
I'm waiting on a friend from Busan to post some pictures from our hike down there this weekend. In the meantime, I will catch you up:
It was my birthday last Thursday! Thank you everyone for the wonderful birthday wishes through facebook, e-mail or e-cards! Most of all, thank you Mom and Dad! From both of their care packages combined, I received a bunch of black beans, whole wheat tortillas, a bunch of scotch, two bottles of Tapatio Hot Sauce (already running low), two pairs of Levi's and some chili infused dark chocolate. Exactly what I asked for and more!
On Thursday night, I went out for a couple drinks with my friends Young and Brent. We went to the Australian owned bar called Sydney Bar. The owners Mark and Tina really take care of us. Really fun night.
On Saturday after class Brent and I took the bullet train to Busan. We met up with Chris from training and made our way downtown after some rooftop drinking. We had some Mexican food and then met up with Paul from Denver, who was one of the only two people I knew in Korea before this journey, and some of his friends. We played on the beach for a while and danced to some street music before making our way to a club being DJ'ed by two guys from New York. Obviously that wasn't my crowd, so Brent and I met Paul next door for some more typical volume levels and drink prices. Fun night.
The next day Chris, Brent and I met up with Chris's friends Ashlee, Ainsley and Courtney. We went to the Beomeosa Temple. A large and famous temple. It was a great day! Totally perfect weather. I fell in love with one of the smaller temples on the trail. Pictures coming soon!
It was my birthday last Thursday! Thank you everyone for the wonderful birthday wishes through facebook, e-mail or e-cards! Most of all, thank you Mom and Dad! From both of their care packages combined, I received a bunch of black beans, whole wheat tortillas, a bunch of scotch, two bottles of Tapatio Hot Sauce (already running low), two pairs of Levi's and some chili infused dark chocolate. Exactly what I asked for and more!
On Thursday night, I went out for a couple drinks with my friends Young and Brent. We went to the Australian owned bar called Sydney Bar. The owners Mark and Tina really take care of us. Really fun night.
On Saturday after class Brent and I took the bullet train to Busan. We met up with Chris from training and made our way downtown after some rooftop drinking. We had some Mexican food and then met up with Paul from Denver, who was one of the only two people I knew in Korea before this journey, and some of his friends. We played on the beach for a while and danced to some street music before making our way to a club being DJ'ed by two guys from New York. Obviously that wasn't my crowd, so Brent and I met Paul next door for some more typical volume levels and drink prices. Fun night.
The next day Chris, Brent and I met up with Chris's friends Ashlee, Ainsley and Courtney. We went to the Beomeosa Temple. A large and famous temple. It was a great day! Totally perfect weather. I fell in love with one of the smaller temples on the trail. Pictures coming soon!
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
팔공산 Palgongsan Provincial Park
Well on Sunday I wanted to get out and do some hiking. I went upstairs and asked the new guy, Brent from South Dakota if he wanted join. Two guys that have pretty much no idea about the area or the language following the directions of a Rough Guide that was written 3 years ago. The makings of an adventurous Sunday in the mountains.
We (somehow) stumbled upon the bus stop for the express bus up to the park. It was standing room only which proved to be a work out while attempting to keep my balance on vinyl seats through mountain roads. An hour later we reached the Danghwasa Temple at the base of the mountain. Strolled around the area, then got lost. We found another bus stop and tried to ask directions to two older women. We understood that they were trying to tell us to get a taxi. So we started looking for a cab, but then they started motioning us down the hill. They would not let us stay! They kept motioning us down the hill, so we went. Eventually we found a cab and asked to go to the Gatbawi trail head. His taxi meter said 5,400, but he quickly deleted it and asked for 10,000. Jerk. The hike was awesome. It was super crowded, but a beautiful destination.
Afterwards we waited in a line that was about 100 yards long to get on a series of buses. The same story as before it was standing room only, but the roads were choked with traffic. Try keeping your balance on mountain roads with traffic driven by a man whose sobriety was questionable. Two hours later we made it to a bus stop that had a subway station. We took the empty subway to the downtown stop and stopped at Gorilla Burger. I got an awesome balsamic portabello sandwich. We then went to a Canadian bar and had a pale ale imported from Edmonton. Well, maybe more than one. Good day!
Here are pictures:
We (somehow) stumbled upon the bus stop for the express bus up to the park. It was standing room only which proved to be a work out while attempting to keep my balance on vinyl seats through mountain roads. An hour later we reached the Danghwasa Temple at the base of the mountain. Strolled around the area, then got lost. We found another bus stop and tried to ask directions to two older women. We understood that they were trying to tell us to get a taxi. So we started looking for a cab, but then they started motioning us down the hill. They would not let us stay! They kept motioning us down the hill, so we went. Eventually we found a cab and asked to go to the Gatbawi trail head. His taxi meter said 5,400, but he quickly deleted it and asked for 10,000. Jerk. The hike was awesome. It was super crowded, but a beautiful destination.
Afterwards we waited in a line that was about 100 yards long to get on a series of buses. The same story as before it was standing room only, but the roads were choked with traffic. Try keeping your balance on mountain roads with traffic driven by a man whose sobriety was questionable. Two hours later we made it to a bus stop that had a subway station. We took the empty subway to the downtown stop and stopped at Gorilla Burger. I got an awesome balsamic portabello sandwich. We then went to a Canadian bar and had a pale ale imported from Edmonton. Well, maybe more than one. Good day!
Here are pictures:
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| Donghwasa Temple |
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| Fierce Mountain Tiger |
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| Walking around the Donghwasa Temple |
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| Gwanamsa Temple and drinking spring |
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| On the trail up to Gatbawi |
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| Gatbawi |
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| Pretty awesome atmosphere up there |
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| View from Gatbawi |
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| Me and Brent |
Monday, November 1, 2010
Hiking to the top of 청룡산 (Blue Dragon Mountain)
My friend Scott, a local to Daegu, and Alex, the owner of the school that I teach at, offered to take me hiking yesterday. We were supposed to go to Palgongsan, where they have a famous carving of Buddha into the rock, but next week is high school exams. He said because of that, it would be crowded with parents praying for their children. Instead, we went to the middle of the three large mountains that surround the part of Daegu that I live in. This mountain is called Cheongryeonsan, which translates to Blue Dragon Mountain. I expected a short day hike... it took 7 hours.
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| Scott (left) and Alex (right) |
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| Start of the long hike |
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| Colors got better and better in the higher elevations |
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| Thats my part of town on the right. |
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| Kimbap for lunch! |
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| Summit stone |
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| A beautiful end to a long day! |
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