Galbi

In Korea there is a meal that I eat almost weekly. Galbi is big hunks of marinated meat that you cook yourself over a brazier. Jon and I found a little place that has seats outside. It's a really fantastic Saturday evening, and there is also a great frozen yoghurt place next door for dessert.

Korea

I read Simon Winchester's book "Korea". I thought it was very good. Much of the literature out there for Korea is fairly heady, and indigestable, but Winchester's book is not. Basically, Winchester is a journalist and writes as such, although he is also quite an intellectual as well. He undertakes a walk that bisects South Korea from south to north. Along the way he meets many interesting Koreans, Expats, and a whole host of irritating Americans. His humour is subtle and at times not so subtle as well. I recommend this book because it is unique, and not pretentious. The only real downside is that there is not much in the way of academic to be found in it, but then again there are many other books for that.

Sorta like back home

When living in a new country, particularly one as removed as Korea, a person starts to yen for their life back home. Luckily a little patience and an inquisitive nature often helps to assuage these feelings. In Canada there was nothing I enjoyed more than playing my playstation and drinking slush. Well did I luck out, I found a playstation-bang, and a place that sold slushes. In Korea there are these big buildings which are pasted with banners telling you what types of businesses are to be found within. This is well and good when you understand Korean, but we poor Waeguks are often left dazzled in the neon so to speak. Often we only get the privelege of frequenting the businesses that are on the ground floor, because we can peek our heads in and see that indeed the business is a Gimbapjjip, Osteology clinic or Baskin Robbin's. Lately I have taken to exploring the upper floors just as a matter of course. My first big reward has been the Playstation-bang. I guess its sort of a metaphor for my life, I don't really feel alive unless I am able to check out the occasional upper floor. Life for me is usually found in the secret places.

Korea vs. Switzerland

I seem to have become something of a soccer fan recently. Last night Jon Isaac, the Sage and myself, along with about 2 million of our closest friends went to Seoul city hall to watch a soccer game being broadcast from Germany. The match was at 4 in the morning so almost everyone was well imbibed by then. It was an utterly indescribable experience, the soccer mania here knows no bounds. I have never felt such a sense of comunal energy in my life. The long journey home at 8 a.m. was equally moving, the dejection was enormous (Switzerland won). I was fortunate in that I chose to wear a South Korean flag as a cape, or I might well have had my blonde, Swiss-resembling ass kicked.

Bundang chillen

This post will be about my little slice of heaven: Bundang. I sometimes cannot believe how lucky I got here in Korea. Having been here a while now, I have heard many horror stories from those less fortunate in situation than me. Many people find themselves trapped in a hellhole, in a sketchy area of town with a boss that only pays them recreationally. My company is fantastic, kids are even better. And then there is my beloved Bundang. It is basically a nice quiet suburby place, with plenty of nice parks and rivers. I have had it described to me as the place to be in Korea. There is a hiking trail a few minutes from my place. It has this fantastic little temple at the base of the mountain, good place to catch your breath on the way back down. Central park is also really cool. Jon and I are to be found there most Saturdays, playing guitar. The park has some strange secrets if explored. There is an outdoor gym, not a basketball court mind you, but a full fitness centre with weight machines and treadmills. Its on the top of this little mountian so your workout is half over by the time you even hike up to it. There are also chicken coups and rabbit hutches. The best part is the plaza square. Koreans enjoy all manner of divertissment there: rollerblading, badminton, picnics and plain old quality time as well. The nicest thing about Bundang is that you can walk anywhere, and the walking iself is pure caprice.

Seoul

Had another cool day in Seoul this weekend. Jon and I went to the Deoksugung palace, and also visited the Namdaemun and Hongdae. his city never ceases to amaze, it is truly one the global megalopoli of this planet. It is difficult to describe the vibrancy and speed with which Seoul exists. Yet, there is respite to be found in tucked away corners like the palace. Korea is not (yet) a major tourist destination so there are no hoards of people clambering all over everywhere, in fact I was the only person clambering on anything the whole time. As you can see from the photos pretty much had carte blanche to be as foolish as we wanted. That's Jon in the blue shirt taking the photo of the pond (actually the cute Japanese girls on the other side of it). The large steeple is part of the Myeongdong cathedral, many people do not realize the depth of Christianity here, there are estimates of about 40 percent of the population. The Namdaemun, or big south gate is Korea's national symbol, and there is a huge market across the street from it, not as cheap as many of China's but equally as sqallid. Talk to y'later.

Seoul

This is just some more stuff I did in Seoul in the last little while. There is actually a Canadian bar in Seoul, owned by a couple of Calgarians no less. Some of my buddies from work went to watch the Oiler playoff game. I also went to Yeouido, which is sort of the Manhatten of Korea. It is home to the National Assembly, Building 63 (tallest in Korea) as well as the largest church in the world, by both volume and congregation.

Itaewon Mosque

I had a really cool experience today. I went and saw the mosque in Itaewon. It is very nice and peaceful. Itaewon is one of Seoul's more infamous neighborhoods; many foreigners share it with some of Seoul's ladies of the night. It is quite interesting to see pious bearded Muslims sharing the streets with tattered natashas. The mosque is fairly new as far s mosques go, Islam came to Korea during the Korean War, compliments of the Turkish soldiers that came to help the South. I went in and sat down and no sooner had I taken off my backpack, some Bangladeshi and Malaysian guys came over to chat. Like anyone with a Muslim friend can tell you, they are very kindhearted and hospitable people. We shared stories about travelling in the Middle East, and they explained a few things about Islam Korean style. Many people do not realize what a widespread and ethnically diverse religion it is. I visited a mosque in China as well, also very distinct from those that are found in Arabian culture. Enjoy the pics.

Freakonomics

I read this fantastic book the other day: Freakonomics by Stephen Levitt. He offers some excellent perspectives on strange statistics. The most interesting thing about the book is the challenge to conventional wisdom that it poses. I have also long wondered why some people believe the things they do. Levitt describes how the Ku Klux Klan was ultimately rendered impotent. No amount of public education or political posturing worked, so a man infiltrated the organization and became a member. After learning all the (infantile) machinations and rituals of the Klan, he exposed them to children as Superman's enemy. Soon members of the venerated Klan saw their children wearing sheets and calling each other exhalted wizard. The kids knew all the nomenclature of the supposedly clandestine society right down to the secret handshake. Most of the grownups then took stock of how ludicrous the whole thing was and evidently grew up. Levitt applies his new approach from topics as diverse as sumo wrestling to being a good parent. A thrilling read, I would recommend it to anyone.

Been a while

Hi guys, I am very sorry that it has been so long since my last blog. I have been taking it easy these days, not doing to much touristy stuff, just mostly hanging out and enjoying all the wonderful new friendships that I have made recently. The weather has been really nice these days. I bought a piece of shit bike the other day and have been out riding quite a bit. Life has been pretty good lately. My friend Jon and I have taken to playing our guitars in Sunae plaza. It is an excellent way to meet Korean people. Tonight we just started playing and before we knew it there about 20 or so Koreans hanging out and listening. One older guy kept running to a store and buying us beer. He just listened for an hour or so, clapping along. On a lark, I jokingly asked if he played guitar and tried passing Greta over to him. Turns out he plays beautifully, and had the crowd spellbound with his Korean songs. I find many Koreans to be like him, absolute treasures once you take the time to scratch the surface. I always knew that music was a universal language, but actually seeing this old idiom in practice has been one of the greatest experiences in my life. Anyway I promise not to be such a stranger...more to come.