Seoul - 27/11/05

Troy and I went to Seoul on Sunday - we did the usual trip to the electronic markets, visited the gourmet delights of Itaewon, and caught the extra fast KTX train. The day consisted of buying some excellent Christmas presents. Troy bought a top-notch MP3 player, and I bought myself a wiz-bang digital camera.
However, the highlight of the day was visiting Gyeongbokgung, one of Korea's old palaces.
Below are some pictures taken at the Palace...
enjoy! -a

We celebrated Thanksgiving at work yesterday - its not a holiday in Australia, but you know you things have changed when a "party" involves sitting around with 5 year olds, sipping on grape juice and ends at 2:30PM. At least there were plenty of spills to clean up, some things never change.

- T

Greetings Earthlings, this weekend just gone marked the 6 month point of our contract and our half way mark in Korea. The time seems to have passed by so quickly, yet it feels like we have been here for an eternity at the same time. I've already forgotten what its like to walk down the street and understand what people are saying around me, and what its like to be in a country where a parking space is not defined as a place that a car can be physically crammed into (including, but not limited to, corners, intersections, and footpaths). From what I've been told once you reach the halfway point, its all downhill.

This week has also seen the inevitable cold change in the weather that this Aussie has been dreading. Yes, winter is on its way folks. So basically what that means to you, the faithful donger, you will see a lot more posts on this page from myself as it will be to cold to leave my flat when I'm not working, unfortunately there's a strong possibility that these posts will comprise of nothing more than yours truly whinging about the cold. Enjoy.

- T

THE DONG - A VIRTUAL TOUR
PART 2

Please enjoy some more photos from the place we are currently calling home. Above is a photo of the intersection between our place and work. In it you can see the Toast guy's cart, a kimbap place, baskin and robbins, Sunbimal apartments and the mountains in the background - this photo allows you to get a feel for the dong, so to speak. Oh and you can't see it but the yellow upright sign to the left of "flower" says "JESUS 2000"

Jin Jin Pig - Fine purveyors of Donkkas - Korea's pork cutlet dish (see our entry on Korean food) Don't be fooled by the roll of toilet paper immediately inside the floor, they cook a spicy but very tasty pig.

Pizza Etang - Our prefered pizza vendor - Home of the corn-free pizza.

Mr. Park's Samgyeopsal restaurant - Once again see our entry on Korean food. There are literally hundresds of places like this one in the dong, serving Pork or Beef grilled on the table with mountains of side dishes, and the ones we have tried have all been fantastic. Due to the friendliness of the owner Mr Park and the wide variety of side dishes offered Mr Park's is a favourite among the Swaton foriegn teachers.

Our school building from the back the top row of windows are windows into some of our classrooms.

The local ice-cream jobber - upstairs is the local Pizza 2001 which is owned the parents of one of Alwyn's students.

Two of the local singing rooms - Noraebangs are everywhere - these two are right around the corner from our place

Korea's answer the McDonalds, Lotteria. Like McDonalds they are on every corner, this is our local one. They offer familiar treats like cheeseburger and french fries, but if you want something with more of a local flavour watch out for the Bulgogi burger, Kimchi burger and the Hot squid burger. They also serve Milo - aussie aussie aussie!

The building across the road from our school. Its the tallest building in the dong but is particular special because the restaurant on the top floor of this building is the Opera House Restaurant (thats what the Korean writing on the top of the building says), complete with pictures of Sydney Harbour inside - Oi Oi Oi!

One of the local Waygooks (white people) - Dan is from New Zealand and is over here with his fiancee, Greer; but more importantly this photo captures the blank stare that we often attract from the locals.

That's all for now. Hope you had fun looking at the wonderful photos of my dong.

- T

Alwyn and I made out with a swag of Pepero sticks yesterday - an excellent day for any chocolate lover or stockholder in Lotte. Judging by the amount of Pepero that was flying around our school yesterday, a LOT of chocolate/biscuit sticks were sold throughout Korea yesterday. It was quite interesting to experience such a frivolous commercial holiday on one of the most solemn days on the Australian/Western calander, Rememberence Day. In a way, that speaks volumes on the whole Korea experience.

Yesterday was also an open day for prospective parents who may be placing their little ones into next years Kindergarten classes. It was a pretty cruisy day - the kids were shipped off to a near-by amusement centre and all the foreign teachers had to do has stand near the elevator and greet the parents as they arrived, being a token is fun you should all try it sometime.


-T

Happy Pepero Day

Today is a special day in Korea.

In homes, schools, and workplaces across the country, countless people are giving their loved ones a delicious baked treat. Why? To show them that they love them.

But what is Pepero Day? According to Wikipedia, Pepero Day is a holiday in South Korea similar to Valentine's Day or Sweetest Day in the West. It is named after the Korean snack food Pepero, and is celebrated on November 11, since the date "11/11" looks like four sticks of Pepero.

To read more about Pepero Day click here

Pepero is basically a thin pastry stick that either has chocolate on it or in it. Troy was lucky enough to recieve some Pepero from one of his students!!! They are actually quite delicious!

So, now you know all about Pepero Day, you have no excuses...go out there and join the commercial bandwagon, and go by some Pepero - and show someone how much you love them!

HAPPY PEPERO DAY!!!

Melbourne Cup

The Melbourne Cup - the race that stops the nation....and apparently NZ too (so thats techincally two nations) was on Tuesday.

Every year millions of once-a-year gamblers make their way to the local TAB to bet on this fantastic race. Troy and I usually take part in Melbourne Cup festivities, however seeing as we are in a different country, we had to make our own fun!

We placed our bets (via Troy's mum) the night before. Troy and I aren't big gamblers - we spent roughly about $35 AUD, and we spent the day anxiously awaiting the big race.

Luckily, the race was during our lunch time, so we had settled ourselves at a computer, ready to listen to the big race.

The race - from what we could hear, as we were surrounded by SCREAMING children - sounded very exciting! Makybe seemed to spring to the front with perfect timing.

Unfortuntely for us.....we didn't back the winners.

I would like to congratulate Makybe on a brilliant win. She truely is one of the greatest horses ever. In the past two Melbourne cups, I backed Makybe to win. However, this year I underestimated her. I'm glad she won. I hope she enjoys her retirement....apparently she is going to be used as a breeding mare......SO I'm sure she will have fun!

-a