Fan Death....Dom dom dom

Every culture has its own set of myths and Korea is no different!

One of the most commonly believed myths in Korea is fan death!

It is the only country in the world where the belief in fan death is prevalent, but what is fan death exactly?

Well, it is thought that if a fan is left running overnight in a closed room, the inhabitants will die...but why?

Aparently, there are several ways someone can die of fan death, these include:

• A fan left running overnight will create a vortex which will create a vacuum in the room and deprive the sleeping person of the oxygen they need to survive


• The fan literally halves oxygen particles by chopping them up, therefore rendering the oxygen useless which will result in suffocation.


• This is perpetuated by the fact that high levels of carbon dioxide are left in the air (because the oxygen has been all used up ) which will further aid your death through asphyxiation.


• The fan can cause hyperthermia.


• The fan actually sucks air away from the sleeping beauty meaning that they will be unable to breath.

Although all of these beliefs are unfounded and have no scientific bearing, they are, like most myths, staunchly believed in. This has meant that fan companies in South Korea have had to add timers onto all of their fans so that fans switch off for certain periods of time during the night so as to prevent any chances of fan death.

Due to the sweltering hot weather at the moment (between 29 -34 degrees) Oliver and I needed to buy a fan for the bedroom. And luckily we have yet to suffer any fan trauma. Phew!

Post by Claudia

Korean music is somewhat odd....but oh so awesome

OK, here goes.

I'm pretty sure we haven't done an entry on any sort of Korean music or any other pop culture realted topics. So, what I will do is introduce you to the wonders of a (amongst others) Korean girl band, called Girls Generation (Son Ye Shi Dea).

They are one of the first Korean bands I was introduced to, by my friend, and fellow Safa, Rob. He felt it necessary to show me what kind of goodness Korean pop culture has in store for us. The first video is the one that Rob showed me the first time, and it's still one of my favourites. I know I probably shouldn't admit to that, but hey I am living in Korea, I might as well embrace the culture.



As is blatantly obvious, the girls are all super cute. But that's a given, even in western pop culture. But what smacks me in the face is not so much the cute girls, as it is the 'cutesie-ness' of the music video. And it's not just this one, it's most of the videos that follow that same sort of vibe. It might be a little more obvious to us, living in Korea, as it's not just the music videos, it's on TV and also, a lot, in the advertising. Funny thing is, it's not just the girls doing it, there is a lot of cutesie-ness, featuring guys in TV commercials. If you ask me, they don't do it half as well as the girls, but then I have a little bias towards the chicks!

Here is another one. This time, pay close attention to the wink-headtilt-smile. It's a often employed tactic to show you how cute they really are...



Rob also did me the favour of introducing me to this guy, MC Mong, who is a Korean MC, and he proves to me that Koreans are able of making really cool, 'regular' music. The song I'm posting is a gut wrencher, but it's a really awesome song. Listen to it, read the subtitles, cry a little, it's OK.



This might have been brief, and not very in depth, but there is only so much of this awesome, small, Asian country's music I can show you. The rest is up to you to go out and find. And yes, I am busy trying to work something out to get Girls Generation to come out to SA to do a tour. It's proving somewhat difficult getting hold of them though. We'll see!

Post by Oliver

Eyes on you!

One thing we have been unable to get used to in Korea is is being stared at. Sure, I have had some stares back home, but as soon as that person realised they have been caught staring they stop looking!! That is not the case in Korea!

Nope, you will catch someone staring...almost to the point that you are staring back at them...but they are unwavering and stare with an impressive amount of dedication.

At first we realised that we must look pretty odd, our features are very different and Korea is a very homogeneous society so being different is reason enough to stare!

Children do it all the time...just yesterday we went to the grocery store and a little girl (who could not have been older than 2) stared at us and followed our every move...so much so that I was left impressed by her concentration capabilities!

But it is not just children that stare! EVERYONE stares, in a way that is so blatant it is difficult to ignore. Here are a couple of our staring moments so far:

• We were leaving our apartment building when a man inside his apartment noticed us walk by, after we had gone past his window he proceeded to stick his head out of the window and follow us for a good 5 minutes before we were out of sight. Yes we turned back and looked at him a couple of times, but this did not deter him, we were far too fascinating!


• Oliver and I were in the back of a taxi at a traffic light when a fellow motorist noticed us. He drove up next to the taxi so that he was in line with us. He sat for a couple of minutes (traffic lights take forever here) just staring at us! He then plucked up enough courage to ask where we are from and give us his card!


• On more that one occassion Oliver has scared women and young girls...not intentionally...it's just that his height appears to honestly frighten them. How do we know this...well, first they gasp and flinch, then they giggle, and then they stare, and stare, and stare just a little bit more.

These are just some of the many moments we have been stared at. The only place where we attracted very few gazes was in Seoul, but I guess you can expect a certain amount of multiculturalism in any big city!!!

The only thing that seems to break the unwavering gaze of people staring at us is if we greet them! Just a light bow of the head! However, sometimes not even this works.

So if ever you have wanted people to stop, stare ( and I mean really stare) and take notice of you when you walk into a shop, go grocery shopping or walk down the street...Korea is the place for you! You don't even need to get dressed up, you are special as you are.

Just remember, the people mean no harm and it should not be read as a sign of rudeness...rather they are curious! You are different and they are curious!!! Embrace it....

Post by Claudia

Where we watch(ed) the Korea games

So, we've already done an entry on watching soccer games in a sports bar in Wonju and also about going to city hall in Seoul and watching a game amongst tens of thousands of other people(here).

Now I want to show you where we watched some of the other Korea games here in Wonju. There is a sports arena, that belongs to the military's marching band, called Wonju Tattoo, and it has a huge arena, a baseball field, a soccer pitch, a running track and several other amenities. The arena is often used for big events such a public holiday celebrations (when they are called for) and also World Cup soccer game screenings.

What they do, is build a relatively small stage area, bring in a huge crane, and let the crane hold up a very large screen. The screen is rested on and secured to the stage, and that's it. Now you're ready to project your soccer game onto the screen. The awesome thing is that this whole process only takes them about an hour to set up and an hour to break down.

The crowd will usually sit/stand on what is the running track and the basketball courts. There is enough space for at least about 5000 people, although it seems there arent that many die hard soccer fans in Wonju. If it does rain, as it so unfortunately did during our loss to Uruguay, people tend to huddle into the stands of the adjacent arena. The only problem is that from this angle you're watching a reverse projection of the game, which isn't really an issue, as it beats standing in the rain!

Pity our World Cup campaign is over. Koreans really are one of the most hardcore soccer fan nations (when it comes to the national squad), and it was really an amazing experience to be a part of all the festivities and cheering and chanting; and Korea has no shortage of chants which everyone from the youngest to the oldest sing along to!

Good Bye Korea, it has been awesome!

Post by Oliver

The Wonderful Won

The currency in Korea is won and it has taken some getting used to. This is because everything sounds expensive as a result of most items costing thousands of won.

Won denominations are as follows: coins 10, 50, 100, 500, and notes 1 000, 5 000, 10 000 and the big 50 000. Hmmm but what does it mean?

Well 1 000 won is about 1USD which is about R8 in South Africa. Now that is all good and well but telling how cheap and how expensive a country is is all based on what you get for your money.

In some regards Korea is very very cheap and in others not so much. For example:

• An average taxi ride will cost you anywhere between 2 200 - 3 000 won (super cheap!)
• A Shabu Shabu dinner (a four course meal which will leave you stuffed) for four excluding drinks will cost roughly 35 000 won (very cheap)
• It is about 6 000 won for 150g of beef (flippen expensive...)
• In a restaurant a draught beer will cost 3 000 won (average)
• A cheap free standing fan...because you need one in these stinking hot summers... is roughly 35 000 won (resonable)
• When it comes to take away joints, pizza in particular, prices can fluctuate dramatically from one place to another. In one pizza place a decent sized good tasting pizza will cost 5 000 won but in another it will cost 15 000 won.
• Vegetables are also dirt cheap in Korea, they form the basis of most meals and you can only buy in bulk. For three massive cabbages you will pay 2 000 won.
• Depending on where you buy it, a bottle of Soju is anywhere between 1 000 and 2 000 won (cheapest hangover ever)
• A decent room at a pension or motel will cost between 35 000 - 50 000 won for the room (not too bad)
• A city to city bus ride (about two hours) will cost you about 10 000 won (cheap cheap cheap) and might I add that these buses are also incredibly comfortable!

So in general it is cheap to drink, eat and get around (what more do you need!) but if you are planning on staying for a while then electronic items are likely to be more expensive than you would expect from an Asian country. Oh, and you can pretty much forget about eating beef (unless it is a treat) because it is just too pricey.

If a beef craving does attack...then I would suggest finding a korean buffet (yummmy) where there will be some decent beef available (not quite a South African medium rare rump steak but good nonetheless).

Hopefully this insert has given you some insight into the expenses you would encounter if ever you decided to visit Korea.

Post by Claudia

Drinking at your local convenience store

Drinking at your local convenience store is not something I am used to doing.

Convenience stores are a good place to get cereal, milk and other items that you forgot when you went on your weekly shop. Well, in Korea convinence stores are often also great places to meet up with mates.

So you buy a beer from inside, grab a plastic chair, sit at a plastic table and drink out of a paper cup. For many this wouln't sound like a great spot to spend a Friday night, but it is!

It is super hot in Korea at the moment and the open air is glorious. The beer is cheap and many people seems to gather outside these convinence stores so there is an atmosphere quite unlike anything I have encountered before. It is relaxed and energetic at the same time!

Lately what has made some convinence stores even more appealing is that that they have been airing the soccer world cup on big screen TVs. It is for this reason that the local Family Mart has become our favourite.



Because convenience stores are open 24hours we never have to miss a soccer game! What's more is if the soccer game was inspiring you and your friends can play some ball yourselves.

And if the game wasn't inspiring...well..you can drink!!!

So if you are stranded and in Korea and not sure where there is a god place to hang out! Go to your local convenience store...you may be pleasantly suprised!

Post by Claudia

The Asian Glow

Last weekend, our new friend Grace (left) was kind enough to illustrate what the asian glow is.

Never heard the term before? Well, aparently when Koreans drink they go red....really red! I thought everyone did! But that is not the case.

In essence Koreans will go red a lot faster after having an alcoholic beverage because they are alergic, their bodies simply cannot digest alcohol as fast as your average westerner because they are missing an enzyme of sorts!


Boy, I am happy I have that enzyme. As is I go red when I drink...I think without this precious enzyme I might look something like a red panda.

Grace may have been a bad example as she isn't as red as she thought but this entry made for a good excuse to put a pic up of her.

Just remember the next time you see a Korean that is glowing...chances are they are drunk or well on the way! That's probably why this guy is so excited!



Post by Claudia

Drama Drama Drama

Many of you may not know this but Korea has a thriving drama industry! They make many movies and produce several of their own drama series!

Although Oliver and I have been unable to watch the programs, due to obvious language barriers, from what we have heard the dramas are often exciting and compelling!

Not too long ago my director and his family took Oliver and I out for a day excursion. We went to Guinsa temple (one of the biggest temples in South Korea), the Chungpung Cultural Assets Housing, and a drama set. We visited the drama set of Jumong which has a beautiful location in the mountains. The place was swarming with visitors and it was easy to understand why.

Oliver got a great photo of two locals trying their best to be like the fighting heroes in the drama.

The place was so beautiful that you are almost fooled into believing that it is a place of majesty or spirtuality not merely a drama set! The sets are huge and it takes a good hour to walk around and enjoy the sights!

You can also go for a walk through some caves, which are very cramped but fun nonetheless and view one or two art exhibitions! All in all it is a good place to go for a day trip!

Here is an image of what the movie set looked like from the outside!

And here is a shot of one of the inner courtyards

To view more images of the movie set and other great sights in South Korea please visit the places of interest gallery.

Post by Claudia

Shoe Shopping

Ok, so for those of you who have been following us and/or have read previous posts, you might remember that we started exercising at the Wonju Tattoo sports grounds. We started playing Basketball and Badminton, and now we have started running as well! For anyone who knows us, this might seem a bit out of place, but its true.

Unfortunately for me, both the pairs of shoes that I brought with have the cushioning of a kimchi pot, and the need arose for me to get proper sports or running shoes. Also, with the first paycheck having just been cashed I figured why not, let me buy some shoes...

Not as easily done as it is said. In SA I could just pop down to the local Sportsman's Warehouse or Totalsports and buy a UK size 12 shoe. Let me just say, Koreans are a lot smaller than I am...

We made the mission to one of the bigger shopping outlets in Wonju, where there is along row of shoe store after shoe store after shoe store, everything from Nike to Adidas to New Balance to some local brands. We walked into the first store, picked a shoe and asked for it in my size...no.

Next store: Walk in, pick a shoe, ask for it in my size...no.

Next store: Walk in, pick a shoe, ask for it in my size...no. Ok. Ask for another shoe in my size...no.

Next store: Walk in, pick a shoe, ask for it in my size...no. Ok. Ask for another shoe in my size...no. Ok. Ask for ANY shoe in my size...no.

This is what it looked like for about an hour, until we found one shoe in the Adidas store that was half a size too small for me. Oh well, it's the best I was gonna get.

So I parted with my 79 000 Won and got my new pair of 1/2 size too small Adidas running shoes.

Sorted.

And because these shoes are so awesome, being the only pair in my size in the world (well, all the stores we went to, at least) I figured I would show you the awesomeness by showing you this picture of my shoe floating up in the clouds. It really did float...

Post by Oliver

A kicker of a weekend

This week, as I'm sure you can imagine, Oliver and I were both incredibly homesick. With the kick off of the Soccer World Cup we really wished we could be back in SA watching our country shine!!


Instead...we made every effort to ensure that we got into the soccer fever. I made a couple of attempts on facebook to find other South African teachers who would hopefully be watching the opening ceremony but nothing came of that. So Oliver and I decided to go off to a local sports bar.

Alas, we were the only two souls in the entire place!!! Bummer!! So dressed to the nines in our South African gear we headed across Wonju to the sports grounds...but again..no soccer fever!!! URG! Then we went to a bar which we had heard was popular with foreigners but it was closed. By now we were both getting upset and weren't too sure where to go.


It was in this moment of despair that we stumbled upon a group of foreigners (more commonly refered to as waygooks) chilling outside a GS Mart (similar to a Seven Eleven). A crowd had gathered on the pavement to watch the opening ceremony on GS Mart's big screen TV. So naturally we aquianted ourselves with the waygooks and the night got better and better from there.


We were the only South Africans in the crowd but we stood proud and sang our national anthem on a pavement in Wonju....it was a great moment!


Then we all headed to a local sports bar....suprise suprise...it was the one we were at earlier on in the evening....and there were more waygooks....the atmosphere was definately picking up!


Oh...I almost forgot..Tshabalala you are amazing...you made history...you got the first goal of our world cup!! And it was a beauty!!! Boys...you played so so well!!



Oliver watches the game with sheer determination....

Oh and did I mention we got drunk...very very drunk! Check out the clip below where we try our best to sing the World Cup's official song.

On Saturday it was out of our gold and into red. Despite our monumental hangovers we made our way to Seoul to watch South Korea against Greece. What a cracker! We were surrounded by thousands of people at City Hall in Seoul... the vibe was electric!

It was raining but that didn't dampen the spirits of the locals!!!!

Korean chant

Another korean chant

lead up to the winning moment!

And you know what the best part is...there are three more weeks of soccer madness ahead of us!!!

Post by Claudia

Communicating in Korea

You have probably been wondering how our communication prospects are comming along! Well, our vocabulary is growing little by little! Oliver is proving to be very good at remembering various things, so I leave him to do most of the talking.

Here are some of the basic phrases we use:

• Hello (An-nyung-ha-se-yo)


• Thank you (gahm-sa-ham-ni-da)


• Goodbye (An-nyung-hi ge-se-yo/ga-se-yo)


• Where is the bathroom (Hwa-jang-shil)


• How much? (Ul-ma-em-knee-ka)


• Yes (ne/ye)


• No (A-ni-yo)


• Please (cho-se-yo)


• delicious (massh-e-ta)

Those are just some of the basics and so far they have served us well! However, a couple of weeks ago Oliver and I decided enough was enough! We were tired of walking down the street and not understanding any of the signs, or going into restaurants and not being able to read what to order. So what did we do? We learnt hangul!

Hangul is the Korean writing system and it works off of sounds. The vowels include the following sounds:

• a/ya
  
• e/ye
  
• eo/yeo


• oo/yoo


• o/yo


• u/yu

The consonants include:

• b/p


• m/n


• g/k


• d/t


• h


• j/ch


• ng

You might think that now that we can read what we see, we understand what we see! Well, no. not most of the time anyway! This is oviously because Koreans have different names for things, for instance "bbang" is "bread" and "mul" is "water". So we may be able to read it but if we don't understand the word it won't make much sense.

However, there is a fair amount of Konglish, english words written in Hangul on sign posts. For example, the sign below says Suh-tah-buk-seh Kho-pee (Starbucks Coffee). Pretty cool right!!

And this one says Oh-lea-O (Oreo) cereal...Mmmmm

We still have a long way to go before we will be able to communicate effectively but we are getting there!

Post by Claudia

VIVA 2010

VIVA 2010!!!!

This past weekend we got a chance to celebrate the fact that South Africa will be hosting the 2010 Soccer World Cup! At the South African braai in Seoul everyone was kitted out with South African memorabilia...everything from South African flags to vuvuzelas and face paint.

There were South Africans everywhere and most of us were barefoot, you have no idea how good that felt! And yes, there was meat...lots of meat!!!Mmmmmm

It felt like home!

On our way to the braai we saw things that made us realise that the rest of the world is also excited about the upcomming world cup!!! The excitement....yeah...on Saturday we got a glimpse of what I imagine South Africa must be like at the moment! Crazy soccer fever!

First up...Zakumi!

Then we saw on of the Hyundai balls....covered with signatures

And then we wrote down our wishes and dreams for the World Cup

We love you South Africa and we wish you the best of luck for the massive festival heading your way. For all of you back home...I hope you enjoy every minute of it!!!

This is South Africa's turn to shine....although we can't be there is person, we are there in spirit!

GOOD LUCK...we will be watching!!!! MAKE US PROUD!!! Whooohooooo

Post by Claudia

Rub a dub dub....

Normally talking about bathrooms is not the most pleasant of discussions but it can make for a laugh. Interestingly, it can also show you a whole bunch about a different culture as well.

When we were in Seoul we managed to get rooms at a pension (motel) for a decent price. We got a room for myself and Oli and one for Chrissie and Rob. The rooms were pretty much identical. We both had massive televisions, a small table, a double bed, a hairdryer, an air conditioner, a water machine, and a bathroom.

Our bathrooms, however, did have one unique difference. Mine and Oliver's bath was small, really small, but it was big enough for me to bath with my legs just a little above the taps. Chrissie and Rob's bath on the other hand was more like a basin in the floor. Chrissie thought the best way to demonstrate the size of the bath would be to give us a demonstration.

Oliver could not refuse the opportunity to test it for himself...

Rub a dub dub.......

Oh and our soap totally smelt like Sugus...Mmmmm (soap I might consider eating after saying a swear word or two)

While on the topic of bathrooms I thought I would discuss a few more of Korea's bathroom quirks.

I don't have the strongest bladder around so I tend to utilize public bathrooms quite regularly. However, I always feel a little apprehensive when I need to use a public loo. There are several reasons for this.

1. You never know if you are going to get a western style loo or a squat loo (a whole in the floor).
2. You never know if there will be toilet paper.
3. They don't seem to flush their loo paper here. So often you come across bathrooms with dustbins full of used toilet paper.
   

But it's not all doom and gloom, something which is quite cool about their bathrooms is that some female toilets come kitted with etiquette bells. These are bells which play music or the sound of water so that the other bathroom users don't have to hear you pee. Phew, one less thing to worry about!

So there is a glimpse of the toilet culture in Korea! And if ever you find yourself in Korea needing desperately to use the loo don't forget these words, 'Hwa-jang-shil' because as apprehensive as you may be about using the loo, when you need to go you need to go!

Post by Claudia

The Bang Life

Bang Bang Bang....says so much about Korean culture. Bang in korean means 'room' and there is a 'room' for pretty much anything. On our weekend to Seoul we had our first Noraebang experience.

Most people, whether they will admit it or not, have a burning desire to sing. However, karaoke bars filled with smoke and strangers can be understandably daunting. So a Noreabang is the answer, in fact, it is revolutionary. It is a small room just big enough for you and your friends to rock out until your throats are so sore you have to retire.

What's more, it is cheap, accessible, and sells alcohol (so if you still have some reservations when entering the small room, a beer or two should be able to help). The room is kitted out with a mirror ball, a large screen TV, and a selection of songs ranging from Nirvana to Metallica and finally to good old Celine.

Apparently they come a lot more lavish than the one we were in... I look forward to my future Noreabang experiences.

There were four of us rocking out in the Noreabang in Seoul. Check out our rock faces below:


Me, Rock on!

Rob, screaming....which is totally his style!heehe

Chrissie, by far the best singer of us all. She could keep the tune which is more than I can say for the rest of us!

Oliver, the diva! I didn't expect him to take to Noreabang in the way he did!He was really feeling the vibe!

Just to give you an idea of how awesome it was and how bad we were...look at my mini clips! Be sure to watch the last one (Oliver thought the paparazzi were after him).

The only other type of bang we have had the pleasure of experiencing so far is a PC bang, a room filled with unbelievably comfy chairs, massive PC screens and games that will keep you entertained for, well, for ever I guess!

There are many other types of bangs, including: DVD Bangs, Jjimjilbangs, Bideobangs, and Board Game Bangs. When we experience these, we will be sure to let you know how it goes!!!!!

Post by: Claudia

Real men!

We got phones! How exciting! A blue one and a pink one! And yes, the pink one is Oliver's. As you all know I can't handle pink, but Oliver thought that if he is to be recognised as a half decent man in Korea, he should get a pink phone. Let me explain his logic.




Well, you see, in Korea real men like pink. They wear it and they accessorize it. Many of Oliver's male students (who are between the ages of 6 and 13) have pink phones, so he thought he would join the crowd with a baby pink phone. We are still waiting to see if he will be laughed at or marvelled at.

On the topic of real men. Masculinity in South Korea is very different to masculinity in South Africa. Men here look more feminine and stylish, they are the epitome of meterosexual. Let's go through some of the do's and don'ts of men.

Do's:

• Do feel free to carry your girlfriend's handbag (or your own) even sling it over your shoulder if that feels comfortable.
• Do stop, stare and preen yourself in anything reflective. This includes mirrors, shop windows, your phone or a telephone booth.
• Do wear couple outfits or shoes. That is shoes, T-shirts, or everything from head-to-toe so that you match your girlfriend.
• Do sing. A real man can sing in Korea.

Don'ts:

• Do not drink flavoured Soju, that is reserved strictly for women.

This understanding of masculinity is different to what we are used to back home. But don't be fooled, most men in Korea are trained in a martial arts of sorts...if you mock their bag, or couple outfit it may be you who leaves the room with your tail between the legs.

Hope this provides a glimpse of a cultural trait which is so different to the western ideas of masculnity....

As we learn more about Korean people and their cultural practices (both modern and traditional) we will keep you in the loop

Post by Claudia

Our Seoul experience!

As I mentioned in my previous entry, our weeks have become pretty standardised but as for our weekends ... who knows!!!

Well this past weekend we headed off to Seoul for the Lotus Lantern Light Festival which is held every year a week before Buddha's birthday. What an experience!

Seoul is massive, but I mean MASSIVE. There are high rise buildings everywhere and it has a vibrancy about it that I expect you would find in any big city.

We decided to use the subway to get to where we were going. Looking like real tourists I had my Lonely Planet Book at hand and we were trying to figure out how the subway system worked. After a while of looking a little confused a man approached us and offered to help. What a nice guy. But then he whipped out a book about how to be saved or something .... we soon realised that every foreigner was being targeted. Heehe!

Eventually we figured out where we where heading. Once there we realised just how big this festival really was. People were everywhere. We walked around for the next hour or so trying to find accommodation. After being turned away a couple of times we landed with our bread in the butter. We got a clean room with a double bed and bathroom for close to nothing!!! whooop whooop.

After such an eventful morning we were hungry ... super hungry. After Chrissie and Rob joined us we went for some grub! YUM! The pic below is what was left once we were done. You have to love all the side dishes





We then headed off to Changdeokgung Palace which was amazing!


I set up my gorilla pod in an attempt to get a photo of all of us jumping in front of the palace but it went off too soon and instead we all just ended up looking constipated.

While walking we stumbled across this!!! Hell yeah!!! This kind of stuff really makes me miss home! Bring on the world cup! Whoop whoop!

We tried our hand at some arts and crafts. These flowers are Lotus flowers, hence, the Lotus Lantern Festival.

Oliver has all the amazing pics of the event!!! I just have the cute pics of us ... so here are some of them!

Oli has like a gazillion phots to work through ... once he is done I am sure he will post photos which will blow your mind.

I tried my hand at filming .. heehe. I used my little camera to film so that I could give you just a small taste of what the atmosphere was like when the main lantern parade started. It was really festive. Enjoy!

Post by Claudia

Our daily happenings!

It seems like a long time ago when we were jet setting across the world. I can't believe that we have only been in South Korea for three weeks. It feels like much longer. Anyhow, we have started to develop a routine and it is panning out quite well.

This is what our Mondays to Fridays look like:

Wake up between 7-8 am. After having breakfast and doing the usual amount of faffing we head down to the open sports centre and play some basketball (I am super stiff everywhere from playing yesterday). We want to start badminton as well so that we can get some variety. I guess this is why it is called Healthy Wonju.

We get back to the apartment at about 10:30 looking sweaty and red in the face...and dare I say desperately in need of a shower! We both then do some class prep and surf the internet (it's so fast here...what a pleasure!).

Most days of the week I tend to fade at about 11:30...so I grab a quick nap (what a loser!!!). Once awake Oli and I share some lunch before we head off to school at 13:45.

Then the madness begins....kids and craziness. Loads of fun and sore feet!!!

We get home just after 20:00.....phew....and then head out for some local cuisine!!!

It is soooo nice to be able to walk around at night and not be afraid. We have taken to doing evening strolls and generally only get back home after 23:00.

We then catch some telly..and then off to bed we go!!!

So we manage to do a lot on any given day!!!! High Five!!!

As for the weekends....who knows where we will be!!!

Post by Claudia

Some more fun from Nami...

Nami Island is stunning. It really is absolutely beautiful. Its only downside is the huge amount of tourists that walk around (including us). I really would love to be able to go there and do some shooting at a more ideal time of day (better light, less people). Nevertheless, stunning place!




Just another shot of the trees. It's quite difficult to get any photos without people in them.

Our friends jumping for peace, or joy, or happiness, or just jumping for whatever!

The dinner we had the night after we got back from the island. Believe us when we say there is nothing like Korean food. It is mindblowingly good!

The lunch we had the next day, Dakgalbi, chicken. Wow, wow, wow. As you can see, most Korean meal times are proper feasts. What you see in this picture isn't even all the food we had!

And the last one, of us drinking with the 'locals' on Nami Island!

What an absolutely amazing trip. If anyone ever comes to Korea, trust me, visit Nami. It's incredibly beautiful and over the top kitsch, with its heart shaped flower beds and kissing areas, but man is it fun. And do it as a couple if possible.

Nami was the setting for the 'first big kiss' in a Korean soapy called Winter Sonata, so naturally it will be a little cheesy, but cheesy can also be a hell of a lot of fun!

Post By Oliver