tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29730217388578712922024-02-20T05:30:10.757-08:00The land of the long white cloudOur travels away from home.piefinderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02214007473436131756noreply@blogger.comBlogger32125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2973021738857871292.post-26079358339893026812010-12-18T04:45:00.000-08:002010-12-18T04:45:43.605-08:00Big travel plans!<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">On January 25th Garry and I are heading off for 32 days of beach, culture, sun and good food in South East Asia. It's a very bright light at the end of 18 months and 2 freezing winters in Korea. Here's a bit of what we're getting up to...</span></div><div style="text-align: right;"></div><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/TQysAGj0oiI/AAAAAAAAAfA/ltlJDc4CKXM/s1600/big+travel+map.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="271" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/TQysAGj0oiI/AAAAAAAAAfA/ltlJDc4CKXM/s400/big+travel+map.bmp" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/TQyrI7ctLaI/AAAAAAAAAe8/udtSqUw7VOM/s1600/bali+map+travel.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="209" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/TQyrI7ctLaI/AAAAAAAAAe8/udtSqUw7VOM/s320/bali+map+travel.bmp" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/TQyrBU9aAcI/AAAAAAAAAe4/xjNA64nAW1A/s1600/vietnam+map+travel.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/TQyrBU9aAcI/AAAAAAAAAe4/xjNA64nAW1A/s320/vietnam+map+travel.bmp" width="304" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span>piefinderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02214007473436131756noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2973021738857871292.post-44902735420387068272010-12-17T23:55:00.000-08:002010-12-18T03:24:38.734-08:00Suicide in Korean students: A somber trend.<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Suicide is a taboo topic in any country and culture, and especially that of conservative Korea. After living here for fifteen months and hearing numerous reports on suicide in students I decided to ask a few difficult questions of my own. After reading a collection of media reports on the issue I felt that the difficult questions, such as why suicide has such a following and how to change the statistics, were bypassed in favour of a more conforming read.</span><br />
<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Firstly, let me give you the few statistics I could find, and some background information:</span></div><div><ul><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Korea has one of the highest suicide rates among OECD countries.</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Suicide is no. 4 in causes of death in Korea. This translates to an average of 33 people a day committing suicide.</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Statistically, 26.1 out of every 100,000 Korean people committed suicide in 2008, this is the second out of 106 countries.</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Korean statistics do not list information regarding the age of people who committed suicide, therefore it is impossible to tell how where students fit into the statistics.</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Korea is home to a number of highly successful manufacturing companies that are the foundation of Korea's trading, employment and economic success. To most of us, they're household names- Hyundai, Samsung, LG, Daewoo. Many students strive to work for one of these companies as they are a sign of success and prestige. My recently graduated co-teacher was hired by a no-name semi conductor manufacturer with a great salary and health care plan. His father was furious when he told him as he hadn't landed a job with the big 3 (LG, Samsung, Hyundai) and failed to congratulate him on graduating or even getting a job!</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The Korean education system does not recognise learning disorders as valid conditions. When I spoke with a co-worker about this she said that children with ADHD were passed off as having "too much energy" and made to run laps of the playground, and those with dyslexia were put in extra classes to "study harder". </span></li>
</ul><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">From a young age Korean children are put under immense pressure to achieve highly at school. I teach in an elementary (primary) school and have students aged 10 who are already in tears over exam results and stressed as to how they will tell their parents. I found it extremely hard to understand because despite being taught the absolute importance of education and knowing that I should achieve to my highest ability, I have never worried about how my parents would react. As a 10 year old i'd say I was much more worried about whether I could have a friend over after school, or what was in my lunchbox. My 4th grade girls had their end of term tests last week and came to class with their computerised results sheets to show me their 100's in English. One student didn't come to class that day, and when I asked why they told me that she'd only scored a 93 in English and was scared that i'd be angry!</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">It is normal for middle and high school students to get 4 hours or less sleep a night. They even have a saying for it: </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i style="line-height: 22px;">"We have an old rule of four versus five. You can enter the college you want if you sleep only four hours a day, but you won't if you sleep five or more. You get used to it." </i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;">The pressure to succeed is high and the students certainly feel it- their success is linked to their parents success and equally so their failure. SAT's and other university entrance exams are held in November and have caused such a spike in suicide rates that the time of year is referred to as 'suicide season'. In response to criticism over grade pressure and its link to suicide, a prominent Korean newspaper responded that the students have "one right- to study". Following the suicides of 5 students from Seoul schools in 2005 students took matters into their own hands and held protests over the pressure to achieve and the tragedy it caused. The students also challenged the way that society treated suicide and how it failed to acknowledge what had happened- school was normal, there were no memorial services, no guidance counselors and no speeches from the schools administrators. Newspapers again responded that if "students had time to protest, they should use that time to study".</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;">A colleague discussed another trigger in teen suicide- 'grade suicide'. Students in a class would pick one student, often the top student, exclude and bully them into submission. The term for this is 'wang ta' or 'king bully'. When we searched for more information on the act of suicide among the students (using a Korean blog similar to facebook) we found hundreds of messages from young adults about their test scores and study habbits.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;">"I do not want to live in shame, so scared to tell my parents about my score".</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;">"I can't sleep well because if I sleep my life will be finished".</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;">Messages similar to these were also followed by questions about using poison to commit suicide and how high to jump from. My co-teacher shared his own experience with me about a young man in the year above him. The student was 10 minutes from finishing his SAT's, had studied hard and had a high academic score from throughout the year. Minutes before the end of his test he realised that he had marked each box for the question above and therefore would fail his SAT. He left the exam stressed and ashamed and told his mum. She told him not to worry, that she was still proud of him and that he could take a year off and sit the SAT's again next year. Despite the support and reassurances from his family he was still so ashamed and concerned with societal judgement that later that day he took his own life.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;">It saddens me to think about how my students will fare in this competitive environment, and whether they will achieve the scores to please their parents. I have a dyslexic student who receives no extra help or allowances and I wonder how he will compete. Most of all I hope that the students who see how the pressure destroys their friends and experience the loss will continue to challenge the tradition and social expectations. Perhaps most importantly is for parents to change their perceptions of success to allow for qualities other than academic achievement and for this to reflect upon their children.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div></div>piefinderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02214007473436131756noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2973021738857871292.post-2368126604276702102010-12-05T19:51:00.000-08:002010-12-05T19:51:23.970-08:00Goodbye Izzy.<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The world lost a wonderful person, and we lost a beautiful friend, on Friday to cancer.</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Izzy had the brightest smile that really did light up a room! There aren't enough words to describe what an amazing, positive and caring person she was. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Goodbye Izzy, you will be sorely missed!</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">A fitting song from NZ's own, Fly My Pretties.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fXyv915a5V4">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fXyv915a5V4</a></span></div><div><br />
</div><div><br />
</div>piefinderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02214007473436131756noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2973021738857871292.post-83740107165249799372010-11-25T18:13:00.000-08:002010-11-25T18:13:46.757-08:00Sleeping in Seoul.<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Seoul is a haven of back alleys and hard-to-find side streets where the love motels gather. After a year of motel hunting I thought i'd share a few decent places to save someone else some time!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Gangnam:</span></b><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Come out of Exit 1 on the Gangnam subway and on your right is a huge glass building. Just past it is a little alleyway with a garden area near the street. Down this alley are 4-5 clean and safe love motels. Our regular is the first on your right- go through the arches (it looks a little dark but the rooms are fine!). Costs 30,000 on weekdays and 35-40 weekends (bargain with cash not card!).</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Namdaemun</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">: (the Shisengae/Myeongdong side).</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">If you're planning on shopping in Korea, Myeongdong is one of the best places to go, especially as a foreigner!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">To find a place to stay in the area for under 100,000 you need to head past the Westin Chosun towards Namdaemun Markets. To get to the Westin Chosun- cross under from where Zara and Krispy Kreme are towards Lotte Young and Shisengae Malls. Walk up the road between the two malls towards the Chosun (it is a large orange brick hotel). From the Westin you will see a block diagonally left across the road- there are more than 20 motels (often Korean ondol style) and great restaurants in here! </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Jimjilbang- Come out of exit 6/9 at Myeongdong and on the same side of the road is "Hurst" Sauna. From the middle of Myeongdong head for Prince Hotel but stay on the same side of the road as Myeongdong shopping.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Seoul Station:</span></b><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Head out the back entrance of Seoul station- not the one where the subway is, and cross over the road.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">There's a great jimjilbang here " Shilloam Sauna". It's up a steep driveway and the sleeping cost is 8,000. It's a little hard to give exact directions but anyone on the street on in a mart should be able to direct you!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Hongdae:</span></b><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Motels in Hongdae are few and far between- I've walked for 30 minutes to find one in the past! If you're going out in Hongdae I recommend staying in one of the hostels/guesthouses right by the subway exit. You can book them on <i>hostelworld.com</i> or <i>hostlebookers.com</i>.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Sinchon:</span></b><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Sinchon is also a pretty close place to stay if you're out in Hongdae, and has a nightlife of it's own. There are at least 10 motels and a small jimjilbang in the middle of town. The main road is 'Yonsei- Ro" after the uni- on one side is the Hyundai Dept., on the other, behind a few shops and bars, you will find the motels (walk up the steps to find more!). *If you're out in Sinchon, check out a bar there called Mike's Cabin. On the way to Yonsei Uni is a huge brick Church, Mike's Cabin is down the little road opposite this- walk for at least 400m and it'll be on your left.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Avoid love motels in:</span></b><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Itaewon- </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The love motels here are generally over priced for what they are (and compared to others) and grotty. They also tend to be super noisy with people coming home from town. Taxi's are cheap in Korea so you can stay 5 mins drive away (Chungmuro and Eujiro are close, have nice motels and are walking distance to Insadong for the next day) and get a much better deal.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Love motels can be found by their sign: It looks a bit like a steaming cup of coffee...</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img src="http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcS3Si6mSCmGHcbxJfqQDK1QLh7LkgPQ5CpH27tcQ6SarRfWHJaK" /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Or by the<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> word 'motel' in Korean- 모텔</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 24px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">And just to help you find these places...a <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Seoul subway map</span>:</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 24px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 24px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img src="http://ilovekoreangirls.files.wordpress.com/2009/08/seoul-metro-map.gif" /></span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 24px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></span></span>piefinderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02214007473436131756noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2973021738857871292.post-14887252375730458182010-11-24T09:48:00.000-08:002010-11-24T09:48:38.603-08:00News on the Yeonpyeong attack.<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">While many foreigners living in South Korea religiously read news pieces and stress about getting home, my Korean co-workers seem strangely relaxed. As I trawl through all the news I can find and ask my co-teacher nervously about Korean news updates, I explain to him that these things don't happen in safe little New Zealand!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Here are a few informative articles...</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The story behind the attack and explaining the NLL.</span><br />
<a href="http://thelede.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/11/23/a-line-in-the-sea-divides-the-two-koreas/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">http://thelede.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/11/23/a-line-in-the-sea-divides-the-two-koreas/</span></a><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The New Zealand perspective.</span><br />
<a href="http://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/article.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=10689906"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">http://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/article.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=10689906</span></a><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The North Korean Radio Statement.</span><br />
<a href="http://thelede.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/11/24/north-korean-radio-explains-clash/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">http://thelede.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/11/24/north-korean-radio-explains-clash/</span></a><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The Damage.</span><br />
<a href="http://thelede.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/11/24/north-korean-radio-explains-clash/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">http://thelede.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/11/24/north-korean-radio-explains-clash/</span></a>piefinderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02214007473436131756noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2973021738857871292.post-17464054989113878542010-11-02T21:45:00.000-07:002010-11-02T21:45:56.107-07:00The Oxfam Trailwalker 2011.<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Gaz and I have decided to jump straight back into things when we return to New Zealand in February 2011.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">We are forming a team to participate in the Oxfam Trailwalker on April 9-10th 2011 in Taupo. The Trailwalker is a 100km team event where you walk/run/hobble your way around the lake to raise funds for disaster relief, education, improving hygiene in villages, health services, housing, farming...and the list goes on. Team's are required to pay a $600 entry fee and chose the amount they will commit to raising- the minimum is $2000! For this, we will be asking for help with fundraising, support, donations, ideas, and any equipment that we will require for that 30 hour march!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">We are currently looking for our other 2 team members and hope to have all the team details confirmed in the next week! Time for some serious training in the Korean winter!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">For more information check out the Oxfam homepage- <a href="http://www.oxfam.org.nz/oxfam_trailwalker/">http://www.oxfam.org.nz/oxfam_trailwalker/</a></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">-Mia & Gaz</span><br />
<br />
<img height="240" src="http://www.new-zealand-travel.org/images/north-island/lake-taupo-lrg.jpg" width="320" />piefinderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02214007473436131756noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2973021738857871292.post-29548916976685533152010-10-18T22:52:00.000-07:002010-10-18T22:52:43.778-07:00Travel Bug.<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">We've got the travel bug and have spent a few months too long in Korea!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">With 3 months to go before we head off for a month's adventure in Bali, Vietnam and Malaysia, before returning to NZ, our classroom time and kimchi sessions are a bit of a drag!</span></div><div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Motivation is at a bit of a low and with 3 assignments and many classes to come i've put a few pictures of our upcoming dream holiday!</span></div><div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Tash arrives tomorrow and we have a few days off work to show her around Busan, Daegu and Seoul before she heads to the UK! Looking very forward to seeing a familiar face!!!</span></div><div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">For now...the holiday motivation pictures!</span></div></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/TL0yA7wx-GI/AAAAAAAAAdI/QgrupNPOpwE/s1600/satay1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/TL0yA7wx-GI/AAAAAAAAAdI/QgrupNPOpwE/s320/satay1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/TL0yBSB_DgI/AAAAAAAAAdM/HnAJU0QQwQg/s1600/kl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/TL0yBSB_DgI/AAAAAAAAAdM/HnAJU0QQwQg/s1600/kl.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/TL0xA3GceaI/AAAAAAAAAcg/yZj2MUfOnNM/s1600/tanah+lot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/TL0xA3GceaI/AAAAAAAAAcg/yZj2MUfOnNM/s1600/tanah+lot.jpg" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/TL0xCjib3tI/AAAAAAAAAcs/1DW3Y4RFWxc/s1600/hoi+an.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/TL0xCjib3tI/AAAAAAAAAcs/1DW3Y4RFWxc/s320/hoi+an.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/TL0xD3QRv-I/AAAAAAAAAc0/NecDdQ7xnow/s1600/pho.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/TL0xD3QRv-I/AAAAAAAAAc0/NecDdQ7xnow/s320/pho.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/TL0xBbCVZXI/AAAAAAAAAck/5Le2YYugjO8/s1600/amed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/TL0xBbCVZXI/AAAAAAAAAck/5Le2YYugjO8/s320/amed.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span>piefinderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02214007473436131756noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2973021738857871292.post-37983858626761638522010-06-08T04:52:00.000-07:002010-06-08T04:52:55.373-07:00Our Korean Wedding! 사랑합니다.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/TA4t1FM5ruI/AAAAAAAAAaU/zvwyXr69HaI/s1600/Temple+Stay+016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/TA4t1FM5ruI/AAAAAAAAAaU/zvwyXr69HaI/s320/Temple+Stay+016.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">We went on a temple stay in Gimcheon at Jikjisa Temple last weekend! While we were there we were given a traditional Korean Royal Wedding Ceremony! The organisers wanted our group of teachers to experience what weddings were like, the ceremony, traditions and customs- Gaz and I were chosen because we're actually engaged! It was an awesome experience that is pretty hard to come by. We were dressed in costume- Hanboks, or in Korean </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><a class="new" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=%EC%A0%80%EA%B3%A0%EB%A6%AC&action=edit&redlink=1" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #cc2200; text-decoration: underline;" title="저고리 (page does not exist)"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">저고리</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> (the jacket), </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">치마 (the skirt) and interesting looking headpieces!</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I was carried in a decorated wooden box that weighed 80kg by 4 guys in the scorching heat to a band of ajumas (older women) on drums! Garry lead the way, with his master servant carrying a sea bird representative of having only one true love in your life and being as one. When we reached the ceremony area we had a bowing mat on either side of the table, and were supported by our master servants (needed to keep the masses of material from tripping me up!). The bride had to bow twice each time, the groom only once. </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">We then were poured soju in a wooden cup, and poured this 3 times on the ground for luck before drinking it! Then it was time to eat the foul tasting acorn jelly with giant sized chopsticks (not ideal for cutting...or gripping!). I absolutely hate the taste and slimy texture of it but was told if I want sons I had to eat it! At the end of the ceremony those in the crowd who knew we were actually a couple, and not just two unfortunate individuals participating in a show, wanted a kiss to seal the deal...slighly out of tradition, but the Ajumas loved it!</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/TA4tw_UqtiI/AAAAAAAAAaM/iUU7pKBOTeo/s1600/Temple+Stay+012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/TA4tw_UqtiI/AAAAAAAAAaM/iUU7pKBOTeo/s320/Temple+Stay+012.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">Sarang Heyo Gally-San!</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/TA4t4qx7UAI/AAAAAAAAAac/k-ucyOY1FcQ/s1600/Temple+Stay+023.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/TA4t4qx7UAI/AAAAAAAAAac/k-ucyOY1FcQ/s320/Temple+Stay+023.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/TA4t87W-UKI/AAAAAAAAAak/uz0KO_ZMh-s/s1600/Temple+Stay+025.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/TA4t87W-UKI/AAAAAAAAAak/uz0KO_ZMh-s/s320/Temple+Stay+025.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/TA4uEILXA7I/AAAAAAAAAas/qTEXaV1rdkM/s1600/Temple+Stay+041.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/TA4uEILXA7I/AAAAAAAAAas/qTEXaV1rdkM/s320/Temple+Stay+041.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/TA4uM6LdSuI/AAAAAAAAAa0/rJ2dR3qXoTc/s1600/Temple+Stay+046.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/TA4uM6LdSuI/AAAAAAAAAa0/rJ2dR3qXoTc/s320/Temple+Stay+046.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/TA4u5qBRobI/AAAAAAAAAbA/IzjmuuCfqsc/s1600/Temple+Stay+066.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/TA4u5qBRobI/AAAAAAAAAbA/IzjmuuCfqsc/s320/Temple+Stay+066.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/TA4u9ddEAvI/AAAAAAAAAbI/X4vjrbYwt5I/s1600/Temple+Stay+071.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/TA4u9ddEAvI/AAAAAAAAAbI/X4vjrbYwt5I/s320/Temple+Stay+071.jpg" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br />
</span></span>piefinderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02214007473436131756noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2973021738857871292.post-13215253203493003892010-05-17T02:12:00.000-07:002010-05-17T02:12:07.327-07:00In the classroom!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The kids here go crazy for games...or rather the mere mention of the word!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Today we played 'fruitbowl' to learn and memorise the parts of the face...so, instead of being apples, oranges etc they were eyes, ear, nose, mouth, hair and head!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">These are my second and third grade classes, with a snap of my co-teacher looking decidedly bored for a Monday!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S_EGRQyFybI/AAAAAAAAAYg/WB0zjEW7S0Q/s1600/2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S_EGRQyFybI/AAAAAAAAAYg/WB0zjEW7S0Q/s320/2.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S_EGUFG5pHI/AAAAAAAAAYo/iPkSe-WbO2I/s1600/2a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S_EGUFG5pHI/AAAAAAAAAYo/iPkSe-WbO2I/s320/2a.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S_EGZCdLvcI/AAAAAAAAAYw/IR72PHhmeq0/s1600/2b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S_EGZCdLvcI/AAAAAAAAAYw/IR72PHhmeq0/s320/2b.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S_EGaiOhwiI/AAAAAAAAAY4/kRWa91E3CTI/s1600/2c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S_EGaiOhwiI/AAAAAAAAAY4/kRWa91E3CTI/s320/2c.jpg" /></a> <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S_EGiuz_9RI/AAAAAAAAAZI/VNnIyyikD8M/s1600/2e.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S_EGiuz_9RI/AAAAAAAAAZI/VNnIyyikD8M/s320/2e.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S_EGfuRrpSI/AAAAAAAAAZA/Drzixkb61Fc/s1600/2d.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S_EGfuRrpSI/AAAAAAAAAZA/Drzixkb61Fc/s320/2d.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S_EGpCmK_VI/AAAAAAAAAZQ/UPt_R8ea9AA/s1600/2f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S_EGpCmK_VI/AAAAAAAAAZQ/UPt_R8ea9AA/s320/2f.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S_EGvb_z-3I/AAAAAAAAAZY/Yrbl4-M3qho/s1600/2g.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S_EGvb_z-3I/AAAAAAAAAZY/Yrbl4-M3qho/s320/2g.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S_EG0Cu3CYI/AAAAAAAAAZg/6iLPSj5WurM/s1600/3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S_EG0Cu3CYI/AAAAAAAAAZg/6iLPSj5WurM/s320/3.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S_EG1xfuijI/AAAAAAAAAZo/hf8INQUYj5Q/s1600/3a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S_EG1xfuijI/AAAAAAAAAZo/hf8INQUYj5Q/s320/3a.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S_EG1xfuijI/AAAAAAAAAZo/hf8INQUYj5Q/s1600/3a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a> <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S_EG7KYNiHI/AAAAAAAAAZw/Qh-biErpPkA/s1600/3b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S_EG7KYNiHI/AAAAAAAAAZw/Qh-biErpPkA/s320/3b.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S_EG-HltFrI/AAAAAAAAAZ4/cNmP3cUjCqo/s1600/3c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S_EG-HltFrI/AAAAAAAAAZ4/cNmP3cUjCqo/s320/3c.jpg" /></a> <a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S_EHAlXFMOI/AAAAAAAAAaA/QqFQ0bfJNP0/s1600/3d.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S_EHAlXFMOI/AAAAAAAAAaA/QqFQ0bfJNP0/s320/3d.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>piefinderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02214007473436131756noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2973021738857871292.post-33133330947289565592010-05-03T21:07:00.000-07:002010-05-03T21:07:40.292-07:00Children's Day!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">South Korea indulges its little people with an entire day to celebrate their being.</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">More importantly, those of us who pretend to work are entitled to a day off! </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Kids are allowed to take a break from their ridiculous study schedules and enjoy being a child for a day...parents spoil them with presents and lollies and take them to amusement parks and to play outside. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Up until the mid 1970's, the holiday was called 'Boys Day', and the name change came with it's recognition as a proper holiday...and therefore worthy of a day off. It is hardly matched by parents day, a holiday without a day off!</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The holiday is on May 5th, and this year happens to be a scorching 30 degrees...a huge change from last Wednesdays 15 degrees!</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S9-cVgeq9qI/AAAAAAAAAYE/K5MWAhh3dNA/s1600/Rugby+163.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S9-cVgeq9qI/AAAAAAAAAYE/K5MWAhh3dNA/s320/Rugby+163.jpg" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">While I welcome the holiday with open arms, I am grateful I don't have to share my day off with any little gremlins...other than Gaz and the dogs!</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S9-cdDzN83I/AAAAAAAAAYU/XKFuMxdqiX0/s1600/Rugby+181.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S9-cdDzN83I/AAAAAAAAAYU/XKFuMxdqiX0/s320/Rugby+181.jpg" /></a></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div>piefinderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02214007473436131756noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2973021738857871292.post-30331784595673246092010-04-16T04:08:00.000-07:002010-04-22T20:21:13.183-07:00Chopsticks for Lunchie.School lunches in the Daegyo Caf are a daily challenge...<br />
Sometimes its amazing for $1.50 a day, and at other times I wonder what goes through their heads when writing the menu! Squid soup, squid fritters AND octopus salad- ugh!<br />
The days when they give us the stalk of a vegetable, rather than the vegie itself reminds me of O'Rorke...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S8hEuxWOfhI/AAAAAAAAAXQ/vr-CAN2XOGc/s1600/schl+lunch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S8hEuxWOfhI/AAAAAAAAAXQ/vr-CAN2XOGc/s400/schl+lunch.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Day One: There is always a soup and rice.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">On this occasion we had Kimchi Jjigae (kimchi soup), Black beans, cherry tomatoes, and tangsu yuk (similar to sweet and sour pork!) 6.5/10</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S9EQRDEVf4I/AAAAAAAAAXo/543s6tiDM04/s1600/2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S9EQRDEVf4I/AAAAAAAAAXo/543s6tiDM04/s320/2.JPG" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Day Two: Rice, Chicken & Radish soup, Hot pepper paste, some sort of edible tree, grated potato & bacon & Fish with all the bones in it. 5/10 due to eating obstacles.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S9EQrCcRy8I/AAAAAAAAAXw/EwneoqiCMMU/s1600/3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S9EQrCcRy8I/AAAAAAAAAXw/EwneoqiCMMU/s320/3.JPG" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Day Three: Rice with fish eggs, Beef Soup, Kimchi & Fish cakes, Fish with tartare sauce, cucumber & chives. 7/10</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S9ERU9g_6PI/AAAAAAAAAX4/cze5ETq6hIM/s1600/lunch.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S9ERU9g_6PI/AAAAAAAAAX4/cze5ETq6hIM/s320/lunch.JPG" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Day Four: Rice, Bean sprout soup, Samgupsal, spicy lettuce salad, doenjjang paste (soy bean paste) and lettuce to wrap the meat in! 9.5/10</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>piefinderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02214007473436131756noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2973021738857871292.post-45494855109534227682010-03-31T00:50:00.000-07:002010-04-16T07:44:04.490-07:00My dog speaks Korean.<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Here are a few useful terms...</span></span></span></span><br />
<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Hangul Mal Mothayeo - I can't speak Korean.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Hangul Mal choggum- I only speak a little Korean.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">Morugessoyo- I don't know.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">Mian Hamnida- I'm Sorry.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Iriwa- come here.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">Kah Chu-leh- Will you please go away.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Cheori Ga- Go away/ get out of my face.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Chae Shik Ju ija- Vegetarian.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Iirim moyeoh?- what's your name?</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Wea? - Why?</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">Ottoh Gae- How?</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Nugu?- Who?</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Onje?- When?</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Muat?- What</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Muat Ibniga?- What is this/that?</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S8h3mwMJ49I/AAAAAAAAAXc/rP-IMC4i31c/s1600/Photo_100412-003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S8h3mwMJ49I/AAAAAAAAAXc/rP-IMC4i31c/s400/Photo_100412-003.jpg" width="298" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">(Thanks Isabel!)</span></span></div><div><br />
</div>piefinderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02214007473436131756noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2973021738857871292.post-71049469581556085032010-03-23T19:56:00.000-07:002010-03-23T19:56:41.090-07:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I have a room full of teenagers sporting names straight out of picket fence suburbia. Instead, 90% of them don glasses, most carry electro dictionaries, and all quote Kimchi (fermented cabbage in chili) as their favourite food. (Bella, Tiny, Lewis, Brad, Rosa, Lisa...and Beckham.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">In the next town over, at Waegwan Joongan Elementary (Garry's school) are two 2nd graders- Gentleman and Blue Shark.</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">It is the day before payday, I have my least favourite class, and have just been informed that all the parents are invited to tour the school today...just like an impromptu open class. Joy!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S6l-tNsrm8I/AAAAAAAAAXE/jl1Lk8xfFK0/s1600-h/8416_310852555650_552095650_9278922_2618067_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S6l-tNsrm8I/AAAAAAAAAXE/jl1Lk8xfFK0/s400/8416_310852555650_552095650_9278922_2618067_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>piefinderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02214007473436131756noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2973021738857871292.post-53351978035616911072010-03-22T00:01:00.000-07:002010-03-22T00:02:10.575-07:00Home is where the heart is?<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">(For Nana)</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Welcome to our (temporary) home. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S6cS3nUiwkI/AAAAAAAAAWI/KUd0Ej62_mI/s1600-h/Copy+of+our+house+002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S6cS3nUiwkI/AAAAAAAAAWI/KUd0Ej62_mI/s320/Copy+of+our+house+002.jpg" width="0" /></span></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S6cTAPj_N4I/AAAAAAAAAWQ/ml5v017U_Ac/s1600-h/Copy+of+our+house+003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S6cTAPj_N4I/AAAAAAAAAWQ/ml5v017U_Ac/s320/Copy+of+our+house+003.jpg" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The Lounge.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S6cS3nUiwkI/AAAAAAAAAWI/KUd0Ej62_mI/s1600-h/Copy+of+our+house+002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S6cS3nUiwkI/AAAAAAAAAWI/KUd0Ej62_mI/s320/Copy+of+our+house+002.jpg" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The lounge pt 2. (Koreans love feature wallpaper).</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S6cTHxU2WoI/AAAAAAAAAWY/GX8XMhD_cLI/s1600-h/Copy+of+our+house+007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S6cTHxU2WoI/AAAAAAAAAWY/GX8XMhD_cLI/s320/Copy+of+our+house+007.jpg" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The Kitchen. Sans oven, and therefore any ability to make pies.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S6cTOlSpyTI/AAAAAAAAAWg/suoF1_z9dm0/s1600-h/our+house+010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S6cTOlSpyTI/AAAAAAAAAWg/suoF1_z9dm0/s320/our+house+010.jpg" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Bedroom number 1.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S6cTYv8FLPI/AAAAAAAAAWo/TauE7Jh2-UI/s1600-h/Copy+of+our+house+001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S6cTYv8FLPI/AAAAAAAAAWo/TauE7Jh2-UI/s320/Copy+of+our+house+001.jpg" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Bedroom number 2. The junk room.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S6cTlBFuXII/AAAAAAAAAWw/HtpyETJed5E/s1600-h/our+house+008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S6cTlBFuXII/AAAAAAAAAWw/HtpyETJed5E/s400/our+house+008.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">A drawing that hangs on our wall. Let me describe it for you...I am on the left, rushing to give Garry a present.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">That's Gaz standing in the center, you can identify him by his extraordinarily hairy arms. The person on the right is rather confused by all this, she is also the artist.</span><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S6cUlqfwKlI/AAAAAAAAAW4/YdlusWOXuJ0/s1600-h/Copy+of+our+house+004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S6cUlqfwKlI/AAAAAAAAAW4/YdlusWOXuJ0/s400/Copy+of+our+house+004.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">This is Nunu. She's having a bad day, and living up to her nickname- Chewie.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S6cS3nUiwkI/AAAAAAAAAWI/KUd0Ej62_mI/s1600-h/Copy+of+our+house+002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S6cS3nUiwkI/AAAAAAAAAWI/KUd0Ej62_mI/s320/Copy+of+our+house+002.jpg" width="0" /></span></a></div>piefinderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02214007473436131756noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2973021738857871292.post-27552362241965292102010-03-21T03:59:00.000-07:002010-03-21T03:59:10.117-07:00A winter wonderland...in Spring!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">March 1st marks the first day of spring in SK (South Korea). Warmer weather, Sunny skies, a reason to ditch the scarf, hat and gloves, and yellow dust. On the 3rd day of spring it snowed. More snow than we were given throughout the entire, bitter winter. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S6X3_O9H9mI/AAAAAAAAAVA/d-xQu6RUH4U/s1600-h/Snow+in+Spring+004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S6X3_O9H9mI/AAAAAAAAAVA/d-xQu6RUH4U/s400/Snow+in+Spring+004.jpg" width="300" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Woken up at 2am by an easily excitable Garry.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S6X4J6AEX7I/AAAAAAAAAVI/GwfPmMc8hUs/s1600-h/Snow+in+Spring+013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S6X4J6AEX7I/AAAAAAAAAVI/GwfPmMc8hUs/s400/Snow+in+Spring+013.jpg" width="300" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Bailing down the road to the bus stop!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S6X4bEq1JKI/AAAAAAAAAVQ/C2-gDLE_pNg/s1600-h/Snow+in+Spring+020.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S6X4bEq1JKI/AAAAAAAAAVQ/C2-gDLE_pNg/s400/Snow+in+Spring+020.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The park on my walk to school.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S6X4txK1lxI/AAAAAAAAAVY/E-bhVgturK8/s1600-h/Snow+in+Spring+028.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S6X4txK1lxI/AAAAAAAAAVY/E-bhVgturK8/s400/Snow+in+Spring+028.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">From Daegyo Elementary across the field.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S6X5EI9DwQI/AAAAAAAAAVg/-eLLYs7cB7U/s1600-h/Snow+in+Spring+031.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S6X5EI9DwQI/AAAAAAAAAVg/-eLLYs7cB7U/s400/Snow+in+Spring+031.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> Looking down to Oobang village from school.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">*Yellow Dust is a major side-effect of the spring season in SK. The term is used to explain what starts as dust and dirt clouds from the Gobi Desert in Northern China and Mongolia. The dust clouds are made a lot worse from the high level of pollution in China (caused mainly by rapid deforestation). Because of the reasonably close proximity of SK to China, the dust effect is worst here- it triggers allergies and worsens asthmatic conditions. For your average person it means swallowing lung fulls of over polluted air, cleaning the dust out of your house/car and wearing a mask similar to the Swine mask on a daily basis! We've been told it clears up in the end of April, but like winter, we will see!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img src="http://english.triptokorea.com/english/UserFiles/Image/Community/Now%20Korea/yellow%20dust.jpg" /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">An example of yellow dust 'high season'- low visibility and yellow skies!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>piefinderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02214007473436131756noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2973021738857871292.post-8179226951544922442010-03-06T03:55:00.000-08:002010-03-06T03:55:38.891-08:00Where's your head at?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">To Seoul in seach of some decent music...cue- Basement Jaxx @ Club Eden in Gangnam!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Gaz and I caught up with Isabel for some serious shopping before she flew back to NZ, farewelled Josh in true O'Rorke style before he flew back to NZ and tested the generosity of Korean casinos!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S5JBMTBJooI/AAAAAAAAAUo/4fFWa-Xm998/s1600-h/Basement+Jaxx+008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S5JBMTBJooI/AAAAAAAAAUo/4fFWa-Xm998/s400/Basement+Jaxx+008.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Mia, Gaz and Isabel- shopping in Myeongdong</span>!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S5JAh15SyfI/AAAAAAAAAUI/Kdz1nI_W60E/s1600-h/Basement+Jaxx+036.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S5JAh15SyfI/AAAAAAAAAUI/Kdz1nI_W60E/s400/Basement+Jaxx+036.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Seeing Josh after 2 years!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S5JBDxvP-0I/AAAAAAAAAUg/IFTqNM-sC0o/s1600-h/Basement+Jaxx+104.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S5JBDxvP-0I/AAAAAAAAAUg/IFTqNM-sC0o/s400/Basement+Jaxx+104.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">In true Korean style...</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S5JAY_PvXCI/AAAAAAAAAUA/rHCnfFquik8/s1600-h/Basement+Jaxx+027.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S5JAY_PvXCI/AAAAAAAAAUA/rHCnfFquik8/s400/Basement+Jaxx+027.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Nicole & I in the Eden bathrooms...where the sculptors were not so generous.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S5JAY_PvXCI/AAAAAAAAAUA/rHCnfFquik8/s1600-h/Basement+Jaxx+027.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S5JA660O5EI/AAAAAAAAAUY/LfuiWD9fhck/s1600-h/Basement+Jaxx+103.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S5JA660O5EI/AAAAAAAAAUY/LfuiWD9fhck/s400/Basement+Jaxx+103.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Gaz and I at the gig.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S5JBXmkqcFI/AAAAAAAAAUw/1Y8ln7Atq4E/s1600-h/Basement+Jaxx+084.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S5JBXmkqcFI/AAAAAAAAAUw/1Y8ln7Atq4E/s400/Basement+Jaxx+084.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>piefinderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02214007473436131756noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2973021738857871292.post-82574059331447402722010-02-20T21:03:00.000-08:002010-02-20T21:03:34.227-08:00Through Garry's eye...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S4C80dthDzI/AAAAAAAAASI/zo5TMUsnF0Y/s1600-h/SD+card+025.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S4C80dthDzI/AAAAAAAAASI/zo5TMUsnF0Y/s320/SD+card+025.jpg" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S4C8wYqOHDI/AAAAAAAAASA/q8-OeSOqyoM/s1600-h/SD+card+022.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S4C8wYqOHDI/AAAAAAAAASA/q8-OeSOqyoM/s320/SD+card+022.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">(L)The mummified monk on Koh Samui, Thailand.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">(R)From the viewpoint on Koh Samui island tour!</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S4C8k-e1vWI/AAAAAAAAARA/ptIdn9_E6LI/s1600-h/SD+card+001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S4C8k-e1vWI/AAAAAAAAARA/ptIdn9_E6LI/s320/SD+card+001.jpg" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S4C8pLvOZtI/AAAAAAAAARg/HWaQkZ-Tihw/s1600-h/SD+card+011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S4C8pLvOZtI/AAAAAAAAARg/HWaQkZ-Tihw/s320/SD+card+011.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">(L) Cakes at Baskin Robbins, Daegu.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">(R) Mia playing 'Yut', at Seollal Festival, Seokjeok.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S4C8lSV8FaI/AAAAAAAAARI/SEcu3AoP2Bk/s1600-h/SD+card+002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S4C8lSV8FaI/AAAAAAAAARI/SEcu3AoP2Bk/s320/SD+card+002.jpg" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S4C8s5IahKI/AAAAAAAAARw/qkYPnADRLQM/s1600-h/SD+card+015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S4C8s5IahKI/AAAAAAAAARw/qkYPnADRLQM/s320/SD+card+015.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">(L) The first pie that met high standards, Koh Samui, Thailand.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">(R)Family Mart, all the way in Thailand!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S4C8mU7jpcI/AAAAAAAAARQ/q1PzwXGBSik/s1600-h/SD+card+005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S4C8mU7jpcI/AAAAAAAAARQ/q1PzwXGBSik/s320/SD+card+005.jpg" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S4C8nWSxYjI/AAAAAAAAARY/-MEipWcta3M/s1600-h/SD+card+006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S4C8nWSxYjI/AAAAAAAAARY/-MEipWcta3M/s320/SD+card+006.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">(L) Tashy waiting impatiently for her dinner!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">(R)Petrol, Thai style.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S4C8rKjZyNI/AAAAAAAAARo/dMgNUz44TSw/s1600-h/SD+card+014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S4C8rKjZyNI/AAAAAAAAARo/dMgNUz44TSw/s320/SD+card+014.jpg" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S4C8vDuJnxI/AAAAAAAAAR4/-UcemBAj24Q/s1600-h/SD+card+016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S4C8vDuJnxI/AAAAAAAAAR4/-UcemBAj24Q/s320/SD+card+016.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">(L) At the bus stop heading back to Bangkok.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">(R) On Koh Samui, Thailand.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S4C9bB8iANI/AAAAAAAAASo/wvELnqeT8EY/s1600-h/SD+card+010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S4C9bB8iANI/AAAAAAAAASo/wvELnqeT8EY/s320/SD+card+010.jpg" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S4C82pX5VhI/AAAAAAAAASQ/Kz6G84G_yoM/s1600-h/SD+card+026.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S4C82pX5VhI/AAAAAAAAASQ/Kz6G84G_yoM/s320/SD+card+026.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">(L) The fast-food of Thailand.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">(R) Waterfall on Koh Samui.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>piefinderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02214007473436131756noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2973021738857871292.post-27315694263171157792010-02-20T20:30:00.000-08:002010-02-20T20:32:56.978-08:00Celebrating 설날 (Seollal)- The Lunar New Year!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">Our peaceful Saturday morning was interrupted by a cellphone call, on the other end of the line, the slurred voice of my co-teacher Jinhee. </span></span><br />
<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">"Garry come and play Korean games today!"</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">Garry, after a long moment of silence "uhhhh...what kind of games?"</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">"<i>(avoiding the question, as per)</i> Garry, come to the post office by 11 (<i>it was 10.30)</i> and play Korean games".</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">Always curious about what Korean families do when they aren't working or studying, we arrived just in time! </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">After walking through an archway of pink balloons (wedding material, but seem to pop up at any celebration here!) we had just a few seconds to greet the teachers from my school, and their children. Men between the ages of 18 and 65 were apparently excused from this community celebration...Or perhaps they just had more important things to attend to (namely, Golf). Mrs Lee, Mrs Rhee, Mrs Park and Jinhee were all there, and all giving advice on how to play this game we had caught a glimpse of.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S4C11LLDl2I/AAAAAAAAAQs/3MWD-I4igOs/s1600-h/Solal+festival,+SeokJeok+003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S4C11LLDl2I/AAAAAAAAAQs/3MWD-I4igOs/s400/Solal+festival,+SeokJeok+003.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">The Seollal Festival setup!</span></b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">Leaving the topic for a moment, a few weekends ago coming home from Daegu Station, we were approached by an old Korean man. Unluckily, Matt (a British friend of ours) was wearing his Lakers cap (purchased in an attempt to humor the American gangstas here). The man approached us as we were finding seats to wait for our train, and starting rambling in Korean. Thinking he wanted our seats, or to get past, we moved out of the way. This did nothing to deter him, so we sat down and tried to ignore him. Impossible as he then started kicking Matt in the leg. Garry and Matt tried to ask him what the problem before Matt left to continue his phone conversation. The man followed Matt all around the station before he eventually returned, old man in tow, now yelling. The hat had long been removed and hidden away!</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">After a good 10 minutes of abuse we couldn't comprehend a young Korean man and a train station representative attempted to settle the man...The gist of the abuse was that he was, a) drunk (at 3 in the afternoon), b) did not enjoy the presence of foreigners at all in his country, and c) most likely a pathetic and angry old man.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;">While we have had drunks demand money etc before, this was by far the most aggressive and embarrassing show of racism for the three of us, and the Korean people sitting around us.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">It left me thinking about the causes of racism, the mass prejudice and the reputation given to a huge majority of foreigners here as a result of a few... </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;">It upset me and made me rethink what we were doing here, dislike and distrust of foreigners is not at all uncommon in Korea. After the multi-culturalism of New Zealand society, the homogeneity here comes as a shock.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">I was reassured by the warm welcome we were given at the Seollal festival! A number of community elders rushed over to shake our hands and give a few words of encouragement (regarding our work at the schools). </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S4C1othAWoI/AAAAAAAAAQk/PVJKcipB-ws/s1600-h/Solal+festival,+SeokJeok+005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S4C1othAWoI/AAAAAAAAAQk/PVJKcipB-ws/s400/Solal+festival,+SeokJeok+005.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">Jun Young showing Gaz how it's done.</span></b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S4C1L8jkz6I/AAAAAAAAAQU/etwoiMiIUqE/s1600-h/Solal+festival,+SeokJeok+002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S4C1L8jkz6I/AAAAAAAAAQU/etwoiMiIUqE/s400/Solal+festival,+SeokJeok+002.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">Me, playing with a 7 year old :)</span></b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">We were given game cards (to keep score on) and sent of for round one of the knock-out tournament, of a game we still had no idea how to play! The game involved 2 players, taking turns to throw 4 sticks (two sided) onto a large circle. The way the sticks landed determined how many points you got, the combination decided whether you got another (each player had 4 stones that he/she had to move around a board to the middle before winning) stone on the board, knocked the other players off and so on...I won one, and then battled against an old man for a second stamp! He narrowly beat me and, smiling for the first time in our intense game, said "you die".</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">Garry faced off with one of my students (and his very eager and vocal mum) and was convincingly beaten!</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S4C1aZjkXoI/AAAAAAAAAQc/MENc9_-c9V0/s1600-h/Solal+festival,+SeokJeok+009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S4C1aZjkXoI/AAAAAAAAAQc/MENc9_-c9V0/s400/Solal+festival,+SeokJeok+009.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">Jinhee, Chae Eun and Chae Yean, with thei new mop.</span></b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">While the game is purely luck and 50-50 chances, the ajumas (older women) took it so seriously! Only they were allowed to touch their stones, they shook and arranged the sticks, as if directing them...and when the raffle (best part of the day) numbers were drawn they crowded around the front of the crowd, squealing with joy at the prize of a sack of rice... The prizes were amazing- bikes, rice, blankets, weed sprayers, a fridge, a kimchi fridge...We went home empty handed, despite desperately wanting bikes! Jinhee won a 'magic mop' and Mrs Rhee scored 2 bags of rice! The community and family atmosphere soothed any prior judgments and gave me a feeling of belonging.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S4C2HZuBE-I/AAAAAAAAAQ0/_onQqL1jeso/s1600-h/Solal+festival,+SeokJeok+006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S4C2HZuBE-I/AAAAAAAAAQ0/_onQqL1jeso/s640/Solal+festival,+SeokJeok+006.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">Chae Eun, demonstrating why she's my favourite!</span></b></div></div></div></div>piefinderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02214007473436131756noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2973021738857871292.post-2526927652527412582010-02-15T01:06:00.000-08:002010-02-15T01:13:47.960-08:00Daegyo Elementary<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S3kPG7eVE1I/AAAAAAAAAPM/sBsAP0GiBUE/s1600-h/school+and+housewarming+010.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S3kPG7eVE1I/AAAAAAAAAPM/sBsAP0GiBUE/s320/school+and+housewarming+010.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438394636745118546" /></a><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Dressing up with Garry's wardrobe!<br /><div><br /></div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S3kPGla5w7I/AAAAAAAAAPE/p9P79MhqDe0/s1600-h/korea+4+043.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S3kPGla5w7I/AAAAAAAAAPE/p9P79MhqDe0/s320/korea+4+043.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438394630825165746" /></a><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Hey Seong and Kyung Jin learning about directions the hardway!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S3kPGBbX3LI/AAAAAAAAAO8/R7JjjlPYaiM/s1600-h/korea+4+027.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S3kPGBbX3LI/AAAAAAAAAO8/R7JjjlPYaiM/s320/korea+4+027.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438394621163461810" /></a><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>My classroom at Daegyo Elementary<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S3kPFpcUgDI/AAAAAAAAAO0/PVD99ic5liA/s1600-h/korea+4+026.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S3kPFpcUgDI/AAAAAAAAAO0/PVD99ic5liA/s320/korea+4+026.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438394614724984882" /></a><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Lee Seok and Ji Young witht their town map!</div>piefinderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02214007473436131756noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2973021738857871292.post-90846589701833787962010-02-15T00:51:00.000-08:002010-02-15T01:05:38.307-08:00Mia Teacher.Classroom life is crazy!<div>I will most likely never ever want children after this year!</div><div>But there are some very cute and hilarious times at school!</div><div><br /></div><div>* On learning about what we want to be when we grow up...</div><div><br /></div><div>Me: "Hun Seo, what do you want to be when you grow up"</div><div><br /></div><div>Hun Seo: "Sem, I want to be a soldier!"</div><div><br /></div><div>Me: "You're six, get a grip!"</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>*On teaching the older children manners!</div><div><br /></div><div>To ask for something in Korean, as in "i'd like the scissors please", they use "Juseyo"- this translates into "give me"...and as a result i have at least 30 children telling me to give them this and that! After a few days of this and much annoyance at how rude it sounds to me, I attempted to correct them!</div><div><br /></div><div>Do yoon: "teacher give me paper"</div><div><br /></div><div>Me: "not give me, rude! Say can i have..."</div><div><br /></div><div>Do yoon: "okay, teacher can i have you?"</div><div><br /></div><div>co-teacher: (in hysterics) Mia Mia tell Garry!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>_________________________________________________________________</div><div><br /></div><div>There are ups and downs to teaching, as with any job!</div><div>When a 5 year old masters the alphabet and phonics after only a week of class, when one of your students graduates- and you are painfully aware of the hammering their below average English is going to take in Middle School, and when students who already spend far too long studying manage to turn out amazing homework...</div><div>every little achievement for them makes it a much more valuable experience for you!</div>piefinderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02214007473436131756noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2973021738857871292.post-64613492976065667372010-02-04T04:04:00.001-08:002010-02-04T04:37:38.728-08:00Thailand!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S2q-GeW-mxI/AAAAAAAAAOM/cc249DELDyE/s1600-h/Thailand+Take+2+264.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S2q-GeW-mxI/AAAAAAAAAOM/cc249DELDyE/s320/Thailand+Take+2+264.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434364918813858578" /></a><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Gaz and I at the Fullmoon party on Ko Phangan.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S2q-F8w9iOI/AAAAAAAAAOE/Kg4FIbEOuc0/s1600-h/Thailand+Take+2+208.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S2q-F8w9iOI/AAAAAAAAAOE/Kg4FIbEOuc0/s320/Thailand+Take+2+208.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434364909796034786" /></a><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>A Haad Salad sunset.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S2q-FLDnx0I/AAAAAAAAAN8/jNAk2GL6F8k/s1600-h/Thailand+Take+2+189.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S2q-FLDnx0I/AAAAAAAAAN8/jNAk2GL6F8k/s320/Thailand+Take+2+189.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434364896452527938" /></a><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>At a monkey-coconut show on Ko Samui :(<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S2q-Ek-3oiI/AAAAAAAAAN0/Run6j7-lnm8/s1600-h/Thailand+Take+2+283.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S2q-Ek-3oiI/AAAAAAAAAN0/Run6j7-lnm8/s320/Thailand+Take+2+283.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434364886232048162" /></a><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Crazy kids at the fullmoon.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S2q-EOU622I/AAAAAAAAANs/A3AaIe2ARtA/s1600-h/Thailand+Take+2+309.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S2q-EOU622I/AAAAAAAAANs/A3AaIe2ARtA/s320/Thailand+Take+2+309.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434364880150518626" /></a><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Haad Salad by day.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S2q87LtxjSI/AAAAAAAAANk/RRsRCW0FU9w/s1600-h/Thailand+Take+2+098.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S2q87LtxjSI/AAAAAAAAANk/RRsRCW0FU9w/s320/Thailand+Take+2+098.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434363625319009570" /></a><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Gaz ringing the bells at Wat Saket for luck.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S2q86rIKglI/AAAAAAAAANc/WTzcIpTsD9E/s1600-h/Thailand+Take+2+131.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S2q86rIKglI/AAAAAAAAANc/WTzcIpTsD9E/s320/Thailand+Take+2+131.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434363616571327058" /></a><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Tash and Sam's shooting star.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S2q86CP8GhI/AAAAAAAAANU/0pMetor-ibk/s1600-h/Thailand+Take+2+195.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S2q86CP8GhI/AAAAAAAAANU/0pMetor-ibk/s320/Thailand+Take+2+195.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434363605598083602" /></a><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>At Reggae Bar (the place where dreams come true) before the party.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S2q85kDAINI/AAAAAAAAANM/bqjlG9tYHiY/s1600-h/Thailand+Take+2+140.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S2q85kDAINI/AAAAAAAAANM/bqjlG9tYHiY/s320/Thailand+Take+2+140.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434363597490757842" /></a><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Gaz's first (decent) pie in 6 months.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S2q85E234EI/AAAAAAAAANE/_3dQ494l_V0/s1600-h/Thailand+Take+2+167.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S2q85E234EI/AAAAAAAAANE/_3dQ494l_V0/s320/Thailand+Take+2+167.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434363589118386242" /></a><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>On the island tour of Samui, overlooking Bo Phut.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S2q5nIcU4uI/AAAAAAAAAM8/_pXZb5EenYA/s1600-h/Thailand+Take+2+105.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S2q5nIcU4uI/AAAAAAAAAM8/_pXZb5EenYA/s320/Thailand+Take+2+105.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434359982308254434" /></a><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>At Wat Saket (up a few hundred stairs) overlooking Bangkok.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S2q5mT8eNYI/AAAAAAAAAM0/zNZD_iewvnU/s1600-h/Thailand+Take+2+084.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S2q5mT8eNYI/AAAAAAAAAM0/zNZD_iewvnU/s320/Thailand+Take+2+084.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434359968216003970" /></a><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>A fine example of Thai architecture at the Grand Palace.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S2q5l3FvLyI/AAAAAAAAAMs/6g5SQ1FYEi4/s1600-h/Thailand+Take+2+078.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S2q5l3FvLyI/AAAAAAAAAMs/6g5SQ1FYEi4/s320/Thailand+Take+2+078.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434359960470236962" /></a><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Inside the Grand Palace complex.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S2q5lRQ0VwI/AAAAAAAAAMk/bQwxmgYaGrE/s1600-h/Thailand+Take+2+065.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S2q5lRQ0VwI/AAAAAAAAAMk/bQwxmgYaGrE/s320/Thailand+Take+2+065.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434359950316164866" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S2q5kqQ6F7I/AAAAAAAAAMc/UyBRcjNT5Ow/s1600-h/Thailand+Take+2+126.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S2q5kqQ6F7I/AAAAAAAAAMc/UyBRcjNT5Ow/s320/Thailand+Take+2+126.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434359939847559090" /></a><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>The impressive Rama Road Bridge, the view from our lodgings.piefinderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02214007473436131756noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2973021738857871292.post-41007564525346304532010-02-04T03:40:00.000-08:002010-02-04T04:03:29.953-08:00Bargains, Buckets and Beaches!<div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Thailand</span></b></div><div><b>Jan 22nd- Feb 2nd 2010</b></div><div><b>Bangkok, Ko Samui, Ko Phangan.</b></div><div><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Gaz and I have just returned to Korea from 2 weeks in Thailand. </span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">We spent 4 days in Bangkok visiting temples, shopping and testing the nightlife, 2 days on Ko Samui, and 5 on Ko Phangan for some sun and the well-known fullmoon party!</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">While in Bangkok we stayed right on the banks of the Chao Praya River, and in view of the rather stunning Rama Rd Bridge. While terming the accomodation a hotel leaves much to the imagination, the location left little to be desired...especially with the discovery of one talented Pad Thai chef and a large collection of puppies to amuse myself with!</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Day trips around the city took us to Chatuchak (also known as the Weekend Markets), these are the largest in Thailand and one of the largest in the world covering a not so shabby 27 acres! That is, 27 acres of shoppers heaven! Despite many males aversions to shopping, Gaz was easily persuaded and came out with more purchases than me!</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">We headed to Patpong with Sam and Tash later that night to take a look at whether the infamous Ping Pong shows were more than just talk...definately more than a rumor! The question I would like answered is how on earth were such unique talents discovered???</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Before leaving Bangkok we also visited our share of Wats, where the token "seen one, seen them all" is challenged. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Tripping down to the islands in the Gulf of Thailand (the opposite coast to Phuket) required a 12 hour and rather hellish bus ride, waiting at a bus stop at 5am, another bus ride and a ferry...one completed, you are delivered safely to the island of Ko Samui! Beautiful, but very touristy and built up. We spent a night here, found Gaz's first decent pie- at $10, and took an island tour to see what they could offer, aside from the cuisine and beautiful beaches! Monkey shows, and rocks in the shape of a penis hardly made the cut...</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">After a night on Samui it was on to Phangan, an hours boat ride away to settle in to some serious beaching, eating and energy reservation for fullmoon night! We stayed on the north of the island, away from the hustle and bustle of Haad Rin (home of fullmoon party, Magic Mountain and many a bucket stall) at a cove called Haad Salad. Deservedly known as one of the islands more serene beaches and the scene of impressive sunsets!</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Fullmoon night was something words cannot describe, and i won't attempt...I will say this-</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">I have never seen so many people committed to partying!</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Bars and stages all down the beach had music blaring..nothing like the sound of trance, pop and DnB mingling. Stalls everywhere advertised various types of buckets (*see photo!). People offered to paint you, for a mere 500 baht ($20). Partiers of the male kind failed to make it to the bathroom, and choose the sea to urinate in. Pissing in unison takes on a new form. See for your self, We will be going back!</span></div><div><br /></div>piefinderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02214007473436131756noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2973021738857871292.post-48163223403106271212010-01-18T23:20:00.000-08:002010-01-19T00:07:12.879-08:00Angkor Wat...a Cambodian Kingdom.<a style="font-weight: bold;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S1Vk4LBmj1I/AAAAAAAAALk/q0QP-s01wE0/s1600-h/Cambodia+Bangkok+and+Blair+142.jpg">The basic facts...<br />Angkor Wat was built in the early 12th century as a Hindu temple. Angkor Wat itself is an offering to the Hindu god Vishnu. Many of the temples were later changed to respect the Buddhist religion, but traces of both are still prominent in the structure and temple carvings.<br /><br />While Angkor Wat often regarded as the mother temple, the total number of Angkor temples in the area numbers over a thousand! While we were there, we managed only 20 or so! Many of the temples were partially of fully destroyed during the reign of Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge and are undergoing reconstruction today. Some have simply been damaged over the years, but are left in a state of unsteady beauty.<br /><br />All I can say is...the photo's give so little.</a><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S1Vk3n5AxDI/AAAAAAAAALc/12ZgOgiI48I/s1600-h/Cambodia+Bangkok+and+Blair+040.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S1Vk3n5AxDI/AAAAAAAAALc/12ZgOgiI48I/s400/Cambodia+Bangkok+and+Blair+040.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428355832628692018" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Ta Prohm, where Tomb Raider was filmed!<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S1Vk3GT2pvI/AAAAAAAAALU/27Wt7MCPhyk/s1600-h/Cambodia+Bangkok+and+Blair+447.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S1Vk3GT2pvI/AAAAAAAAALU/27Wt7MCPhyk/s400/Cambodia+Bangkok+and+Blair+447.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428355823614469874" border="0" /></a><br />Angkor Wat from the back.<br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S1Vk217iZUI/AAAAAAAAALM/zb4ugRaD8aA/s1600-h/Cambodia+Bangkok+and+Blair+182.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S1Vk217iZUI/AAAAAAAAALM/zb4ugRaD8aA/s400/Cambodia+Bangkok+and+Blair+182.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428355819217511746" border="0" /></a><br />Elephants to cart fat, lazy tourists up the hill to a temple. We were too poor to ride.<br /></div><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S1Vk2CIAdUI/AAAAAAAAALE/upuqcLD2rB0/s1600-h/Cambodia+Bangkok+and+Blair+180.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S1Vk2CIAdUI/AAAAAAAAALE/upuqcLD2rB0/s400/Cambodia+Bangkok+and+Blair+180.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428355805311169858" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S1Vj5vTFg6I/AAAAAAAAAK8/KpJXtxFsbls/s1600-h/Cambodia+Bangkok+and+Blair+430.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S1Vj5vTFg6I/AAAAAAAAAK8/KpJXtxFsbls/s400/Cambodia+Bangkok+and+Blair+430.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428354769465213858" border="0" /></a><br />The centre of Angkor Wat.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S1Vj5FH1mQI/AAAAAAAAAK0/IeRs5nL5RfM/s1600-h/Cambodia+Bangkok+and+Blair+082.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S1Vj5FH1mQI/AAAAAAAAAK0/IeRs5nL5RfM/s400/Cambodia+Bangkok+and+Blair+082.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428354758143744258" border="0" /></a><br />Bayon- the temple of 216 faces. Also the final state temple to be built, and primarily dedicated to Buddhism!<br /></div><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S1Vj4hiaoTI/AAAAAAAAAKs/lMBatgEJtMc/s1600-h/Cambodia+Bangkok+and+Blair+134.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S1Vj4hiaoTI/AAAAAAAAAKs/lMBatgEJtMc/s400/Cambodia+Bangkok+and+Blair+134.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428354748591546674" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S1Vj4EOjB7I/AAAAAAAAAKk/oSiKzDQ-TJU/s1600-h/Cambodia+Bangkok+and+Blair+074.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S1Vj4EOjB7I/AAAAAAAAAKk/oSiKzDQ-TJU/s400/Cambodia+Bangkok+and+Blair+074.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428354740723582898" border="0" /></a><br />Ta Prohm and Gaz.<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S1Vj3iKeUkI/AAAAAAAAAKc/RIOd145hqFk/s1600-h/Cambodia+Bangkok+and+Blair+175.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S1Vj3iKeUkI/AAAAAAAAAKc/RIOd145hqFk/s400/Cambodia+Bangkok+and+Blair+175.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428354731579691586" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S1Vin4DOmNI/AAAAAAAAAKU/7DT8zRJdHYg/s1600-h/Cambodia+Bangkok+and+Blair+136.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S1Vin4DOmNI/AAAAAAAAAKU/7DT8zRJdHYg/s400/Cambodia+Bangkok+and+Blair+136.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428353363065346258" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S1VinZ54ytI/AAAAAAAAAKM/0-Xf832pXIA/s1600-h/Cambodia+Bangkok+and+Blair+122.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S1VinZ54ytI/AAAAAAAAAKM/0-Xf832pXIA/s400/Cambodia+Bangkok+and+Blair+122.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428353354973104850" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S1Vim1I0Z4I/AAAAAAAAAKE/AAbdV_olb_c/s1600-h/Cambodia+Bangkok+and+Blair+108.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S1Vim1I0Z4I/AAAAAAAAAKE/AAbdV_olb_c/s400/Cambodia+Bangkok+and+Blair+108.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428353345103619970" border="0" /></a>Us at Bayon.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S1VimT-1mrI/AAAAAAAAAJ8/E8mwieDU_RI/s1600-h/Cambodia+Bangkok+and+Blair+035.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S1VimT-1mrI/AAAAAAAAAJ8/E8mwieDU_RI/s400/Cambodia+Bangkok+and+Blair+035.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428353336203385522" border="0" /></a><br />Banteay Kdei- the temple of carvings.<br /></div><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S1Viljs1coI/AAAAAAAAAJ0/YdoQS0HnCgg/s1600-h/Cambodia+Bangkok+and+Blair+025.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S1Viljs1coI/AAAAAAAAAJ0/YdoQS0HnCgg/s400/Cambodia+Bangkok+and+Blair+025.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428353323242975874" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Gaz ruining a Kodak moment by eating...At Sras Srang temple on the water!<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S1VhiKmCunI/AAAAAAAAAJs/7STWB7OFSHw/s1600-h/Cambodia+Bangkok+and+Blair+442.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S1VhiKmCunI/AAAAAAAAAJs/7STWB7OFSHw/s400/Cambodia+Bangkok+and+Blair+442.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428352165452364402" border="0" /></a><br />Pondering what to have for lunch while looking over Angkor Wat.<br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S1VhhoeKPoI/AAAAAAAAAJk/A14VHwMqCQw/s1600-h/Cambodia+Bangkok+and+Blair+021.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S1VhhoeKPoI/AAAAAAAAAJk/A14VHwMqCQw/s400/Cambodia+Bangkok+and+Blair+021.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428352156292497026" border="0" /></a><br />Sras Srang.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S1Vhgzx72WI/AAAAAAAAAJc/0fwT7wUC0ro/s1600-h/Cambodia+Bangkok+and+Blair+436.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S1Vhgzx72WI/AAAAAAAAAJc/0fwT7wUC0ro/s400/Cambodia+Bangkok+and+Blair+436.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428352142148360546" border="0" /></a><br />Angkor Wat.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S1VhgUQQF7I/AAAAAAAAAJU/RDzAbJ8J4rA/s1600-h/Cambodia+Bangkok+and+Blair+014.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S1VhgUQQF7I/AAAAAAAAAJU/RDzAbJ8J4rA/s400/Cambodia+Bangkok+and+Blair+014.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428352133685581746" border="0" /></a><br />The moat protecting Angkor Wat<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S1Vhf83GlWI/AAAAAAAAAJM/oRji3vgS26M/s1600-h/Cambodia+Bangkok+and+Blair+001.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S1Vhf83GlWI/AAAAAAAAAJM/oRji3vgS26M/s400/Cambodia+Bangkok+and+Blair+001.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428352127406085474" border="0" /></a><br />Angkor Wat.<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S1VglljXsPI/AAAAAAAAAJE/EmIhUz8pGrs/s1600-h/Cambodia+Bangkok+and+Blair+007.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S1VglljXsPI/AAAAAAAAAJE/EmIhUz8pGrs/s400/Cambodia+Bangkok+and+Blair+007.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428351124716892402" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S1VglNa_N4I/AAAAAAAAAI8/MhQXME8jwgk/s1600-h/Cambodia+Bangkok+and+Blair+006.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S1VglNa_N4I/AAAAAAAAAI8/MhQXME8jwgk/s400/Cambodia+Bangkok+and+Blair+006.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428351118239283074" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S1VgksUup-I/AAAAAAAAAI0/w1400LlsF0M/s1600-h/Cambodia+Bangkok+and+Blair+011.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S1VgksUup-I/AAAAAAAAAI0/w1400LlsF0M/s400/Cambodia+Bangkok+and+Blair+011.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428351109354661858" border="0" /></a><br />The sunrise series. We got up at 4am to take these!<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S1VgkA94o1I/AAAAAAAAAIs/C-h0DWfXSTg/s1600-h/Cambodia+Bangkok+and+Blair+415.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S1VgkA94o1I/AAAAAAAAAIs/C-h0DWfXSTg/s400/Cambodia+Bangkok+and+Blair+415.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428351097716122450" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S1VgjvAx31I/AAAAAAAAAIk/a-EPmVD0TDg/s1600-h/Cambodia+Bangkok+and+Blair+412.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S1VgjvAx31I/AAAAAAAAAIk/a-EPmVD0TDg/s400/Cambodia+Bangkok+and+Blair+412.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428351092896423762" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S1Vk4LBmj1I/AAAAAAAAALk/q0QP-s01wE0/s1600-h/Cambodia+Bangkok+and+Blair+142.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S1Vk4LBmj1I/AAAAAAAAALk/q0QP-s01wE0/s400/Cambodia+Bangkok+and+Blair+142.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428355842059964242" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Bayon in the burning sun!<br /></div>piefinderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02214007473436131756noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2973021738857871292.post-59231435390222353932010-01-18T23:04:00.001-08:002010-01-18T23:18:56.758-08:00Sihanoukville<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="text-decoration: underline; font-weight: bold;"></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="text-decoration: underline; font-weight: bold;"></span></span><blockquote><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="text-decoration: underline; font-weight: bold;"><blockquote>Welcome to Sihanoukville. Home to Cambodia's beach bums, beggars and backpackers!</blockquote></span></span></blockquote><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S1VaOTjC_pI/AAAAAAAAAH0/5U3Iaa7V6Ng/s1600-h/Cambodia+Bangkok+and+Blair+324.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S1VaOTjC_pI/AAAAAAAAAH0/5U3Iaa7V6Ng/s400/Cambodia+Bangkok+and+Blair+324.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428344127676939922" border="0" /></a><br />A new friend at Occheuteal Beach.<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S1VaN51NNJI/AAAAAAAAAHs/RaNnllYk3xE/s1600-h/Cambodia+Bangkok+and+Blair+303.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S1VaN51NNJI/AAAAAAAAAHs/RaNnllYk3xE/s400/Cambodia+Bangkok+and+Blair+303.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428344120773784722" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S1VaNVcCAoI/AAAAAAAAAHk/ILED58sYycE/s1600-h/Cambodia+Bangkok+and+Blair+311.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S1VaNVcCAoI/AAAAAAAAAHk/ILED58sYycE/s400/Cambodia+Bangkok+and+Blair+311.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428344111004516994" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Otress Beach- paradise in a nutshell.<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S1VaMtZy73I/AAAAAAAAAHc/Cr9MwVJr3nY/s1600-h/Cambodia+Bangkok+and+Blair+308.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S1VaMtZy73I/AAAAAAAAAHc/Cr9MwVJr3nY/s400/Cambodia+Bangkok+and+Blair+308.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428344100257722226" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Walking around the rocks to Sokha Beach- a privatised beach for the wealthy and stupid.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S1VbtZANYlI/AAAAAAAAAIc/eNZbDkZIz84/s1600-h/Cambodia+Bangkok+and+Blair+338.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S1VbtZANYlI/AAAAAAAAAIc/eNZbDkZIz84/s400/Cambodia+Bangkok+and+Blair+338.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428345761229005394" border="0" /></a><br />Bliss.</div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S1Vbs_RTe0I/AAAAAAAAAIU/fu6nzjMOWXI/s1600-h/Cambodia+Bangkok+and+Blair+342.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S1Vbs_RTe0I/AAAAAAAAAIU/fu6nzjMOWXI/s400/Cambodia+Bangkok+and+Blair+342.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428345754321386306" border="0" /></a><br />Kids no older than 3-4 earn a pittance by picking up bottles and cans to sell to the recycling centre. They broke my heart a day at a time.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S1VbsWULgEI/AAAAAAAAAIM/IV67mGnhnY4/s1600-h/Cambodia+Bangkok+and+Blair+332.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S1VbsWULgEI/AAAAAAAAAIM/IV67mGnhnY4/s400/Cambodia+Bangkok+and+Blair+332.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428345743327592514" border="0" /></a><br />Fishing and charter boats off Otress Beach.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S1VbsEo-ETI/AAAAAAAAAIE/cVhhAvPcBiQ/s1600-h/Cambodia+Bangkok+and+Blair+327.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S1VbsEo-ETI/AAAAAAAAAIE/cVhhAvPcBiQ/s400/Cambodia+Bangkok+and+Blair+327.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428345738582954290" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Sunset over Serendipity Beach on the last night in Sihanoukville.<br /></div>piefinderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02214007473436131756noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2973021738857871292.post-54719318894612942622010-01-18T22:31:00.000-08:002010-01-18T23:02:21.724-08:00Cambodia travels...<span style="font-weight: bold;">Dear Blog,<br />I apologise for the neglect, and for the poor grammar. My knowledge and use of the English language will possibly never be the same. Good one Korea.<br />Two amazing, warm and welcoming weeks in Cambodia did little to improve this...but at least i avoided comming home with braids and a 'same same but different' t-shirt. Whew personal feat!<br /><br />We started the trip in icy, antarctic Seoul with a night of attempted chaos when Blair stopped in for a meager 18 hours...Thanks to Korean Air for both hampering and helping with this. Cheers for the hold up and for cutting into our drinking time, and for the free airport shuttle to the 5 star hotel you unknowingly provided! Big Ups.<br /><br />After a quick stop in Taiwan to exchange the nationality of passengers, we headed to Thailand for a night of Pad Thai and shopping on Khao San...and a few buddhas and enforced by the tuk-tuk drivers! And then on to Cambodia for 12 days of sun, shopping, sights and no kimchi!<br /><br /><br />Here goes...<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S1VWSH8e8vI/AAAAAAAAAGc/6GAumVMM3uQ/s1600-h/Copy+%282%29+of+Cambodia+Bangkok+and+Blair+398.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S1VWSH8e8vI/AAAAAAAAAGc/6GAumVMM3uQ/s320/Copy+%282%29+of+Cambodia+Bangkok+and+Blair+398.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428339795235369714" border="0" /></a><br />Winter in Korea<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S1VWSi1-enI/AAAAAAAAAGk/keBRWOu2UK8/s1600-h/Copy+%282%29+of+Cambodia+Bangkok+and+Blair+400.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S1VWSi1-enI/AAAAAAAAAGk/keBRWOu2UK8/s320/Copy+%282%29+of+Cambodia+Bangkok+and+Blair+400.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428339802455833202" border="0" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Starting the night at 11pm<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S1VWS8bIRmI/AAAAAAAAAGs/xW6E3yKmstg/s1600-h/Copy+%282%29+of+Cambodia+Bangkok+and+Blair+402.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S1VWS8bIRmI/AAAAAAAAAGs/xW6E3yKmstg/s320/Copy+%282%29+of+Cambodia+Bangkok+and+Blair+402.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428339809322550882" border="0" /></a><br />Blair's introduction to Noraebang!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S1VXnV1m9yI/AAAAAAAAAHU/LmbxKVHNwJM/s1600-h/Copy+%282%29+of+Cambodia+Bangkok+and+Blair+427.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S1VXnV1m9yI/AAAAAAAAAHU/LmbxKVHNwJM/s320/Copy+%282%29+of+Cambodia+Bangkok+and+Blair+427.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428341259253511970" border="0" /></a>One of the thousands in Bangkok- The Sleeping Buddha.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S1VXnEDFOoI/AAAAAAAAAHM/Q0tt_ircHPs/s1600-h/Copy+%282%29+of+Cambodia+Bangkok+and+Blair+421.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S1VXnEDFOoI/AAAAAAAAAHM/Q0tt_ircHPs/s320/Copy+%282%29+of+Cambodia+Bangkok+and+Blair+421.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428341254478183042" border="0" /></a>At a temple in central Bangkok<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S1VXmiB_ETI/AAAAAAAAAHE/Gwia4hSVr_Q/s1600-h/Copy+of+Cambodia+Bangkok+and+Blair+419.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S1VXmiB_ETI/AAAAAAAAAHE/Gwia4hSVr_Q/s320/Copy+of+Cambodia+Bangkok+and+Blair+419.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428341245346779442" border="0" /></a>Freeing birds for money to earn a fulfilling and lucky life. The birds are trained to fly straight back into their captors cage- soul destroying.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S1VXmIdSC8I/AAAAAAAAAG8/ooS8LdPo8vE/s1600-h/Copy+of+Cambodia+Bangkok+and+Blair+425.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S1VXmIdSC8I/AAAAAAAAAG8/ooS8LdPo8vE/s320/Copy+of+Cambodia+Bangkok+and+Blair+425.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428341238481947586" border="0" /></a>Gaz and one ornate temple door!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S1VXljM0Q6I/AAAAAAAAAG0/WAHADymp_6s/s1600-h/Copy+%282%29+of+Cambodia+Bangkok+and+Blair+417.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fUBt52s527s/S1VXljM0Q6I/AAAAAAAAAG0/WAHADymp_6s/s320/Copy+%282%29+of+Cambodia+Bangkok+and+Blair+417.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428341228480775074" border="0" /></a>Gaz and I at a temple in Bangkok.<br /><br /><br /></div>piefinderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02214007473436131756noreply@blogger.com0