Monday, March 22, 2010
Don't forget to brush your teeth!
This is the teeth brushing hallway at my friend Kelly's elementary school in Gumi, S. Korea! After lunch, all of the kids and teachers in korea grab their toothbrushes and head to the sinks! (At my school, they head to the bathroom sinks.) This was the first time I'd actually seen an entire hallway designed for teeth brushing! Not a bad idea though!
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Korean cross dressers!
I love taking walks in Korea, because you never know what you're going to see! Sunday, I took a walk with Aaron from Songdo Beach to Nampodong (about a 1.5 mile walk along the beach and harbor). Spring is definitely approaching! The skies were blue, the sun was out, and the cherry blossoms are starting to bloom all around! Goodbye Winter! :)
When we entered Jagalchi Fish Market, we spotted this very interesting cross-dressing couple who were singing karaokee and dancing in the middle of the market!
Now really... What in the world possesses a grown man to do something like this in public?!
I will say... he was very excited about having his picture taken and motioned for me to come over to dance with him... which, yes, I did! I couldn't pass up the opportunity! The first thing he did when I went over to him was grabbed my hands and placed them on his very padded bra! eeehhhh! hahaha
When we entered Jagalchi Fish Market, we spotted this very interesting cross-dressing couple who were singing karaokee and dancing in the middle of the market!
Now really... What in the world possesses a grown man to do something like this in public?!
I will say... he was very excited about having his picture taken and motioned for me to come over to dance with him... which, yes, I did! I couldn't pass up the opportunity! The first thing he did when I went over to him was grabbed my hands and placed them on his very padded bra! eeehhhh! hahaha
Yuck, yuck, yuck!
Yesterday, I went to Songdo beach to throw the football with Aaron and spotted a mom trying to feed her little boy a cupfull of these disgusting silk worm cocoons!
You can tell he's trying his best to please his mom by eating one...
You can tell he's trying his best to please his mom by eating one...
... but just the smell of it makes him want to gag!
Dear little guy,
I completely know how you feel! I tried to please my co-workers one time by eating one, and I felt like I was going to gag too! Some things are just not meant to be eaten! Good job trying though!
Love, your auntie Jill!
Sale Day!
Anytime a big electronics store has a sale, there are almost always 2 girls, dressed in matching outfits, promoting the store while singing and doing dances to the latest and greatest Korean pop songs on a makeshift stage set up on the sidewalk infront of the door!
These girls outfits are actually very tame compared to most! Usually their skirts are much shorter, their shoes are much taller, and the big puffy jackets are nowhere to be seen! I will say though, the girls are really entertaing to watch... They have the dances from the music videos down to a tee! Stella said they make really good money, to which I replied... Well, they better! That's one of the more embarrassing jobs I've ever seen!
These girls outfits are actually very tame compared to most! Usually their skirts are much shorter, their shoes are much taller, and the big puffy jackets are nowhere to be seen! I will say though, the girls are really entertaing to watch... They have the dances from the music videos down to a tee! Stella said they make really good money, to which I replied... Well, they better! That's one of the more embarrassing jobs I've ever seen!
Saturday, March 20, 2010
Bullfighting and wine tunnel!
Yesterday, I jumped on the train with Aaron to see a bullfight in Cheongdo!
This was my 7th train ride in Korea!
... and Aaron's 9th!
We had a 50 minute "layover" in Miryang, so we decided to check out the town! I loved this wall that was painted with traditional Korean people! I like to think even the olden day Koreans liked to give high fives!
We found this park near the river with a basketball court! Aaron showed me how he could touch the rim!
I didn't want to be athletically inadequate to Aaron, so I showed off my gymnastics abilities! Check out that perfect 90 degree angle!
After taking a 2nd train ride and then jumping on a local bus... we made it to the Cheongdo Bullfight! Here's a little Korean bullfighting history for you! *** Bullfighting in Korea is a 1000-year-old tradition, with its roots in the territorial fights that establish grazing rights between the bulls. The farmers were quick to see the benefits for themselves, should their bull emerge victorious, so they began training them to win! It is not all about strength and aggression though. These carefully trained bulls are awarded points, in much the same way as martial arts, for such recognized moves as pushing, head attack, neck attack and more. Nowadays bullfighting is a really popular sport in Korea. It has moved from rural farms to massive arenas with hundreds of thousands turning up to watch!!
Koreans LOVE mascots! These were police mascots! We couldn't pass up a picture opp!
Outside the arena, they had a stage with rotating acts... musicians, traditional dancers, singers, etc...
Like I said... Koreans LOVE their mascots!
The arena! And yes, it filled up with excited fans!!
Me and Aaron
I love how healthy Koreans are! This man was selling corn during the fight!
During the break times, performers would come out on the stage set up in the arena! This group of girls were so funny! The last time I saw anyone playing a keytar was in Robert Palmers "Adicted to Love" music video in the 80s!
Nothing like a traditional dance with baskets!
The bullfighting begins! (My super duper zoom lens was working double duty today!) These pictures were taken from our seats at the top of the arena!
The bulls obviously get really tired, as each fight lasts approximately 20-30 minutes! I think this little guy wanted some water!
I tried... but he won!
After the bullfighting, we stopped into a little restaurant for some dinner and then took a taxi to the famous Cheongdo wine tunnel... An old railway tunnel turned wine ripening and tasting place! The tunnel dates back to 1905!
The inside was nothing short of magical and romantic! We did some wine tasting, cookie eating, walking, picture taking, relaxing, and simply taking in the beauty set before us!
At the end of the tunnel, the entire opening was draped with these beautiful blue lights...
It was time to catch the train back to Busan, so I said my final goodbye to Cheongdo and headed back on the train after spending another fantastic Saturday exploring and experiencing Korea! :)
This was my 7th train ride in Korea!
... and Aaron's 9th!
We had a 50 minute "layover" in Miryang, so we decided to check out the town! I loved this wall that was painted with traditional Korean people! I like to think even the olden day Koreans liked to give high fives!
We found this park near the river with a basketball court! Aaron showed me how he could touch the rim!
I didn't want to be athletically inadequate to Aaron, so I showed off my gymnastics abilities! Check out that perfect 90 degree angle!
After taking a 2nd train ride and then jumping on a local bus... we made it to the Cheongdo Bullfight! Here's a little Korean bullfighting history for you! *** Bullfighting in Korea is a 1000-year-old tradition, with its roots in the territorial fights that establish grazing rights between the bulls. The farmers were quick to see the benefits for themselves, should their bull emerge victorious, so they began training them to win! It is not all about strength and aggression though. These carefully trained bulls are awarded points, in much the same way as martial arts, for such recognized moves as pushing, head attack, neck attack and more. Nowadays bullfighting is a really popular sport in Korea. It has moved from rural farms to massive arenas with hundreds of thousands turning up to watch!!
Koreans LOVE mascots! These were police mascots! We couldn't pass up a picture opp!
Outside the arena, they had a stage with rotating acts... musicians, traditional dancers, singers, etc...
Like I said... Koreans LOVE their mascots!
The arena! And yes, it filled up with excited fans!!
Me and Aaron
I love how healthy Koreans are! This man was selling corn during the fight!
During the break times, performers would come out on the stage set up in the arena! This group of girls were so funny! The last time I saw anyone playing a keytar was in Robert Palmers "Adicted to Love" music video in the 80s!
Nothing like a traditional dance with baskets!
The bullfighting begins! (My super duper zoom lens was working double duty today!) These pictures were taken from our seats at the top of the arena!
The bulls obviously get really tired, as each fight lasts approximately 20-30 minutes! I think this little guy wanted some water!
I tried... but he won!
After the bullfighting, we stopped into a little restaurant for some dinner and then took a taxi to the famous Cheongdo wine tunnel... An old railway tunnel turned wine ripening and tasting place! The tunnel dates back to 1905!
The inside was nothing short of magical and romantic! We did some wine tasting, cookie eating, walking, picture taking, relaxing, and simply taking in the beauty set before us!
At the end of the tunnel, the entire opening was draped with these beautiful blue lights...
It was time to catch the train back to Busan, so I said my final goodbye to Cheongdo and headed back on the train after spending another fantastic Saturday exploring and experiencing Korea! :)
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