A supposedly fun thing I'll never do again

This post recollects events that occurred on Oct. 17th 2009.
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Well seeing as this blog is one part journal, one part travel diary, and one part confessional booth, I don't think that this post is out of line here.

Well, this weekend I was dragged out of the house by some of my comrades. It was high time. I spent most of the week trying to adjuxt to this new place, fluctuating between the different initial stages of culture shock. So when I got the invitation to go out, I jumped at the chance.

We started out at that phase of the evening when you're waiting for several people to be ready. That is to say that several people are already 'ready', so there's a bunch of you just sitting around trying to kill time. We did so in true Korean fashion, with soju. For those of you who don't know what this stuff is, it's kinda like Saki. Though not entirely. It's not as 'quality' as Saki, or as refined. It also has this 'crack-like' quality to it. People who drink it are almost sure to drink too much, then do shit that they claim isn't in their character... be warned!

After quaffing some entirely excessive quantities of soju, the others were ready. So we all started out. "Where to?' you ask? Well to a Hof (a kind of Korean pub), to drink more soju, of course!

We actually ended up at our intended destination about an hour later. It is a lovely beach-front strip called Gwangali. It has an enourmous view of this awesome bridge that stretches out over a bay. The bridge is lighted, and they appear to change color. This evening there were fireworks (but we got there too late to see them). I don't know if this is a normal occurance, or if it was a special occasion. I will keep you posted. The spot we were going to was called 'Thursday Party'. There is a string of them on the various beaches in Busan, and they always attract a Western crowd. So, when we got there, I promptly decided to wash the soju taste out of my mouth, with massive amounts of Jack Danials (mixed with Coke of Course.

Gwangali bridge (link to Flikr album: here

 

I don't remember all that much of the evening (shocker!). I remember talking with some people. I also remember yelling at my friend Shombey. I also clearly recall coing a 'face-plant' in the bar (on my way back in from the veranda)! The cab ride home was kinda fuzzy, and somewhere along the way I had to vomit.

The morning after:

• Facial Bruising
• The inability to use my left-arm (some sort of shoulder thing)
• Cuts inside my mouth
• I didn't have my glasses
• I had a jacket that was not mine

The 'Clean-up':


Well I went back to the bar that night, they had found my glasses. I returned the jacket, and left a contact-number if someone does the same for me. Still no idea about the injuries (except maybe the face-plant).  The hang-over sucked.  It also included the beginning stages of coming down with something (though that subsided).  The face still kinda hurts, but it's not visible anymore.  Slowly but surely, I am getting the use of my left arm back.


The Moral:


Not drinking like that ever again. in Korea or elsewhere... too old, too wise, and too damn pretty to be hitting the floor with my face.!

I will definitely take some pictures of Gwangali beach and post them.  It's a great time.  Lots of bars, cafes, and eating establishments on the beach.

'till next time...

-H

Beomeosa Temple

This post recollects events that occurred on Oct. 16th 2009.
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Well, I was just lounging round the pad, when it struck me!  I've just got to do something today.... something really cool.  So, I broke out my rusty, trusty, tried-and-true Lonely Planet guide (Korea), and looked through the Busan section.

I happened apon a very interesting little tid-bit.  The Beomeosa Buddhist temple.  The kicker is, it's about 10 minutes away from me.  So, I hoped on a subway and then took the bus up the mountain to the temple.  It was very beautiful. Despite its location ( which is technically in the city), it is situated on one of the 'mountians' that surround Busan. I had a really good time.  It was truly a sight to behold.  It also had a great view of the landscape of Busan. Well, I think the photos speak for themselves... so click on the album above.  I hope you enjoy the sights as much as I did.

PS.  After visiting the temple, I stopped in a little place right across the street from the bus station. It's specialty is something called Panjeon.  It's a kind of 'green onion pancake.  It came highly recommended from the guys at Lonely Planet.  It was delicious!  Except for the fact that it had octopus in it (those f you who know me, know that I DON'T EAT cephalapods)!  Neither the book, nor the restaraunt warned me of this.  After I picked all the little pink tentacles out, it was quite good!

Cheers, H

Kicked out on the street: Haeundae Beach

This post recollects events that occured on Oct. 15th 2009.
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Well, today boredom kicked me out on the street.  Waiting for the start of my job, and living in a temporary apartment has started to get me a little antsy.  This being said, I packed my stuff in my ruksack (A backpack (also called rucksack, knapsack, packsack, pack, book-bag or Bergen), and headed off to Haeundae beach. Haeundae is the main tourist attraction of Busan.  It is the coastal beach area of the city.  People from all over Korea, as well as the rest of asia (esp. Japan), come here in the summer season.  It is home to a lot of touristy things, global chains, and shops/attractions that cater to a Western population.  Feeling a little bit 'out of touch' with everything in Dongnae,  I decided that I needed to get a little bit of the 'Western' vibe into my life.

I jumped on the subway (which I had recently 'mastered' earlier in the week), and headed to Haeundae.  When I arrived at the beach, the first thing I did was find a place to eat (I had, at this point, not had any breakfast, and was feeling downright grumpy).  I saw a place called Breezeburns that looked sufficiently Western. To my surprise, it offered western-style burgers, as well as a daily brunch option.  I opted for brunch.  It was actually pretty good, not too expensive (just over 7$ US), and had a great little raised patio on the sidewalk.  I sat there, enjoyed my breakfast and did the 'people watching thing).

After Breakfast I hoped across the street to a Starbucks, because apparently I wasn't appropriately caffeinated,  I sipped an Americano while working on my Hangul.  The Korean script is amazing for a bunch of reasons, and I won't bore you with my high-geekery in singing its praises.  Needless to say, I am a big fan of it, and am working on learning it.  So, that's what I did at Starbucks.

Once my Americano was 'drunk-dry', I decided to pull an intervention on myself, and not order another one.  On the verge of the 'coffee-shakes', I thrust myself outside, and headed across the street to the beach.

Right now is a very cool time to be on Haeundae.  Its the home of the Pusan International Film Festival (PIFF for short), and there's a lot going  on the Beach.  There are tents, activities, and other 'goings-on' there.  I strolled through the 'pavilion' that had been set up, and admired the wares and waves of intriqued people hustling and bustling to-and-fro.  There was a really great kind of 'sand-sculpture' that had been created on the beach near the PIFF pavilion.  I thought it really amazing.  I stood on the sandy shores, admired the view, took some pictures, and then rambled on home the way I came.  A good day, I must say.  I'm pretty psyched to be moving out to Haeundae sometime next week (oh yeah, I forgot, that's where I'm going to be permanently located....).

So until next time....

H

The first week

This post, describes events that occured on the 12th of Oct. 2009
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Well, its Monday in Korea, and after a fast-paced weekend of getting my 'feet wet', its time to start figuring stuff out.

I'm still getting settled in.  I went out to get some of the necessary supplies and tools need for a balanced and stable life in another country.  There is a large 'mega-mart' about 20 minutes walk from my flat.  Rumour has it that there is a Karrefour somewhere in Busan.  That would be ideal.  I think that the number one thing that aides the 'transition' is 'stuff you reognize.  So, sometime this week I will be out to find it.  Plus the fact that I know it will have the stuff that one really needs in order to feel a little bit more at home in a foriegn land.

Today, I took my frist trip on the subway!!! It was actually quite easy.  Public transpotation, how I have missed you!!!  I took the subway from the place that I was staying to Busan Station.  It's at the 'port'.  I had to go there to get an international calling card. That too was no pronlem.  The part of the city where I am staying temporarily isn't that used to foreigners, so I couldn't really find a card.  But, Today accomplished my mission, and got to call home!!!!  Big wieght off of my shoulders actually.  I worry about mom when I don't hear from her.  But, apparently all is well back at the ranch.  So if your ever in Busan, you can get an international phone card at Busan station (on the red line).  Also if your using it at a payphone, you still have to initially put in money at the pay phone before using the card.  Hey, Just saying.

Korea: Arrival and first days

Korea- arrival and the first days

This post recollects events that occurred on the 9th through eleventh of Oct. 2009
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Korea:

Well, I finally left.  Jumped on a plane on Thurs. and took off toward Asia.  The flight itself was not that bad.  I don't know if Im just getting way to used to this international travel thing, but the 14 hour flight was nothing compared to the twelve brutal hours it took me to get to the middle east.  Korean iIr wasn't bad at all, and I believe that the seats were a little more roomy and accommodating than other international carriers, which I have traveled.

I got to Busan about 9 Pm. the following day.  Met by Mr. Kim (who doesn't speak much English at all), and subsequently taken to a temporary flat.  I met some fellow teachers, and was taken out to do the things that people do in Korea.  The last few days have been a blur of jet-lag and running around.


Brief review of notable events over the past three days
Went out for dinner in Busan
Was draged out drinking (which seems to be a national past-time)
Visited a local Memorial/Park
Broke my Kareoke 'Cherry'

Things of Note:
You can buy alcohol anywhere and everywhere!
Everyone seems to be in a great big hurry
Kareoke-rooms are a lot of fun
Koreans are just as bad at driving as Arabs
Everyone here is completely drunk all of the time
Every second shop is an eating establishment or a bar
Korea is completely wired for internet and Wifi!!!!!

The Fall...

 This Post recollects events that happened in late Sept. 2009
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Well Autumn is now upon us.  There is a serious chill to the air, and one can feel the ebb of the yearly cycle toward its nadir in Dec-Jan.  Well, as the leaves prepare to turn brown, my journey toward the orient picks up! Everything is said and down, except for the crying.

Finally got my Visa!  I must admit, it was a long-and-drawn-out procedure, but any one point didn't take very long at all.  There was a definite dearth of really good and solid information on what to do and how to do it.  That is something that I will remedy on my professional blog.  I mean, the whole thing is quite easy.  It just has many steps.  The part I was most impressed with was how quickly the criminal rexord check takes, and also how fast the E-2 visa and visa interview goes.  Literally , 24 hours each.  Now, when I look at that copared to some of the really scary stories I have read on the web (from other States), I am very grateful.

I must also say that I probably won't have to deal with some of the 'occupational hazards', with regards to co-workers that I did in the Middle East. They go through a lot of trouble to verify credentials, check your criminal record, and they insist on interviewing you in person.  I was actually impressed.  To think of all the characters that had falsified diplomas, were on the run from various legal organizations and so forth in the ME.  I am quite certain that this will separate 'the chaff from the wheat as they say'.

There were some really cool parts of the process of getting my visa.  One was walking up Park Ave. and seeing the absolutely coolest group of statues and fountains ever!  Yes, it's true... 'Hello Kitty'!!! They were awesome... I am including a 'slide show' right here.

53rd and Park Ave, Hello Kitty fountains

The other is I saw 'Flavor Flav' on the LIRR, coming back from the city.  I think that means he still lives in Freeport!  Keeping it real!  It was actually great to see him swagger through a packed train.  As he walked through, someone was like 'Hey Flave!' He turned around, all cool like, without even missing a beat 'hey brotha, what up?' and pounded the dude (rapped knuckles together), and then kept on going through the train.  It was actually quite dope.

Well, I have some serious packing to do. It looks like I'm leaving on the eighth for Busan. So for all you who don't know where that is... here's an embedded map to help you geographic fortitude:


View Larger Map

Look how close it is to Japan.  You can bet your ass that there will be plenty of trips to Japan (and China, and Hong Kong, and the Phillipines).  Well, until next time!

-H