Closure

I have had a request from a few folk for a finishing blog so here it is.

I landed at Heathrow last Tuesday and since arriving home have been manically depressed at how quickly and easily I fell back into the dull world of washing up, making dinner and other such recently unpractised chores. It shocks me that only last week I was on the other side of the Earth tootling around Korean shops and eating yellow radish. Planning for university next week has given me little time to reflect on what I have done and seen. Woe is me.

So aside from a few souvenirs dotted around the place and the torn remnents of baggage stickers in the bin, it has all gone.


Until next year anyway...

A peachy sunrise in Bali.

The Last Supper (and a few other happy Korea memories)

Kamsamida Ryan.

Jeju

I am now here. For those of you that can't be bothered with links, "here" is the lovely island of Jeju, south of the Korean peninsula.

I decided to get out of the city for a few days and see a little bit more of South Korea so booked myself on an eco-tour of the island. Jeju is very lovely, very windy and popular amongst South Koreans as a honeymoon destination (the newly-weds walk around with matching t-shirts - sickening). I am staying in a swanky hotel (see previous blog) and thoroughly enjoying fresh towels each morning and peering in awe at the wonders inside my mini-bar! (not been brave enough to try anything yet as am seriously running out of money).

My tour group consists of our Russian tour guide, Victor, a nice Austrian girl called Elizabeth and two slightly annoying but tolerable Americans. Yesterday, was quite a wet and grey day (autumn is creeping in) but today was lovely. We've been to see a beautiful waterfall, a bonsai tree garden, a tea plantation and some volcanic crators - all covered in vegetation now as the volcano that once created this island has not errupted in 2.5 millions years. Oh also, a five story temple - quite unusual I am told. Full of golden Buddhas.

Other exciting events...a spider crawled up my leg and bit me so yesterday I had two fang holes in my leg. WOO! Now the area is looking suspiciously like (yet another) mossy bite. However, I am sticking to my spider bite story as it is more hard-core. Today, I drank cactus fruit juice. It was purple and quite nice. I wonder if the Jeju peopl have a mild obsession with purple food stuffs as we were served purple rice with our lunch yesterday too.

Jeju is a peaceful place. No fighting took place here during the Korean war and it makes me feel serene (helpful in taking my mind of the mess that Mark says he is creating in our house!).

Some pictures for you on the photos 1 link to the right in no particular order.

Three reasons why hotels are better than hostels

Presence of windows:

Clean and shiney bathrooms:

Pretty orchids instead of miserable looking Christmas trees:

City life

Since Thursday, I have been staying in the Traveller's A hostel. It is not the Ritz. My room reminds me a little of the prison cells I saw at Saedaemun prison the other day; built by the Japanese to detain, torture and murder rebellious Koreans during the last Japanese occupation. The only difference here is the presence of fully-decorated Christmas trees dotted around the place (possibly to lull guests into a false sense of homely security before Japanese warriors leap out of hidden cupboards in the night with sharp sticks).

Over the past few days I have been to visit the Seoul Museum of Art (small but interesting), a night market at Dongdaemun Stadium (bustling and exciting) and the top of the Bukhansan National Park mountain range (fresh air and great views). I have seen a half dead cockroach outside my room, a baby lizard which sat happily on my hand, a menacing and most probably deadly spider (I chose not to pick him up!), a few Quercus hybrids, and a chipmunk (yay!). Bird life in the city doesn't get much more exciting that pigeons and sparrows. However, tomorrow I am leaving the city to spend a few days on the island of Jeju which should hopefully prove more forthcoming. I am absolutely determined to use my binoculars somewhere!

For those who are interested, I have not eaten any dog yet and nor do I intend to. Contrary to popular belief it is very hard to come by (as is chicken rather bizarrely) and thought of as a rather gruesome to most. We wondered if perhaps it was only eaten in rural areas on special occasions, traditions and what not. There are plenty of vets, pet shops and images of dogs as loving family pets around so up to now my impression is that it is the Vietnamese that are more open about their dog-eating habits than the Koreans. The moral of the story is don't believe all your stereotypes.

Can't get my photos on the site at this hostel but Ryan has some good photos on his website that you can see here.

Fun at the park

Today Ryan and I went to Seoul Forest. There were not that many trees there but we had a great time zipping around on a tandem bike that we had hired and playing in the fountains amongst other people with a mental age of 6.

Compare mine and Ryan's differing fountain experience below. Much hilarity!

I've only got a little Seoul...

...(name that tune!).

I am now in the capital of South Korea, Seoul. Being the well education blogger readers that you are, I'm sure you all knew the capital of South Korea and there was no need for me to tell you that. hmmmmm?

Anyway, it's certainly nice being back in a sticky and humid climate again. My toes have just about thawed out from that chilly New Zealand winter time.

South Korea is the wealthiest Asian country I have visited to date. The Seouleans (just made that up!) are fashion conscious and well kitted out with the latest mobile phone/music playing technology. The city is about the size of London and has a well organised tube and public transport network which I have already been using extensively since arriving two days ago.

English speakers and English translations of shop names, road signs are a rare site here. Instead, Korean characters are used everywhere. Of course, I have no idea of where to begin with these so walking round the city can feel a bit bewildering and isolating. Westerners and tourists in general are hard to come by here too which is always nice. Surprisingly, Koreans don't give a blond European girl strolling round the city by herself a second glance (also nice!).

Ryan lives in a district in the north of the city called Suyu. Unfortunately, he has to teach most days so I am left to my own tourist devices. I must admit I do miss having Mark to chat to and exchange silly thoughts with whilst plodding around. Can't be helped though I suppose.



The Palace of Shining Happiness.


A palace guard that is neither shiney nor happy (what a rip-off!).


My first Korean dinner. On floor. Chopsticks compulsary.