Hongdae Adventures and pre-Malaysia excitement

It has been a while since I last wrote so I thought that I would post some updates on the past weeked. But first I have I need to get something out of my system - the growing excitement in my tummy for my trip to Malaysia in two more sleeps - EEEEK!!! I am so excited!!!

I will be leaving for Malaysia early Saturday morning (will take the airport bus around 5am) with my friend, Kay, who is not only one of the most awesome people that I know in Korea, but also a co-worker. Our first three nights will be spent in Melia Hotel in Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur which is a 4 star hotel and right in the middle of the Golden Triangle where it seems everything exciting happens. We will spend the following three days on gorgeous Pangkor island at the Pangkor Sandy Beach Resort where we will be soaking up the tropical hot weather - and not even think about snowy cold Korea for one minute!

Since I work at a Hagwon and only get two 5-day breaks a year, I'm sure it's not hard for you to understand why I am SO EXCITED to have a break and rest my very sore and hoarse voice!

Back to the past:

Last weekend I went for a lovely brunch with some friends in Jukjeon's cafe street ( I promise I will upload a picture soon of cafe street). I can't remember exactly the name of the place we went to, but it was called brunch something or other (I do have the memory of a goldfish). It was such a treat to have a proper english breakfast! Saturday night we headed to Santorini in Itaewon, an awesome Greek restaurant, for my dear Brittish friend's birthday. I would definitely recommend the souvlaki - divine! We continued the party in Hongdae at some music bar and then in Zen bar till around 5am. Since my hair appointment was in Hongdae that day (Sunday morning at this point), I decided to stay over at the Happy Day Spa which is straight out exit 9 on the way to Hapjeong station. For those of you who don't know, these spa's ,known as jimjibangs in Korea, are naked bath houses. There are separate bath houses for men and women. Happy Day has recently renovated and they are really clean and stacked with all the necessary goodies if you haven't planned to stay over. You get two fresh towels, clean pajamas, and you can buy samples of facewash, shampoo & conditioner, face masks, body lotion, and toothbrushes. The toothpaste hangs on a rope inside the bath house. You lock your shoes in the first set of lockers when you come in. Then you move to the bigger room with the bigger lockers for your clothes and bag. Here you get undressed - completely buck naked - and lock all your things away. You then walk naked and proud into the bath house and dip into a hot tub. There are a few tubs ranging in different degrees and there is a cold pool and sauna too. You are supposed to rotate between the tubs and pool for optimum circulation. There is a button on the wall you can press by the hot tub for a nice jacuzzi experience. Remember to smile apologetically when the force of the water gushing through bottom surprises the ajumas beside you (ajuma is the Korean term for old married woman, likewise, adjusi is the term used for the older married men). After the tubs you head to the row of showers, or alternatively you can sit yourself upon a plastic stool and wash yourself with the hand-held shower if you prefer. Don't be alarmed at how open everyone is or when an ajuma decides to bend in front of you and pick something up. It may all sound quite alarming - but really it all feels totally natural when you are actually there. And although it does take a few trips to get used to the whole idea, in the end you do kind of feel somewhat reminiscent of those childhood sleepovers where you and your girlfriends sat for hours playing with toys in a big hot tub until your fingers and toes got all wrinkly and old-looking... no?

Anyway, afterwards you can use the hairdryer if you like and then put on your pj's and head up one floor to the sleeping area shared with men and women. You have to scavenge around for a matress and a rock hard brick type of pillow. If you are lucky you might get a blanket. But it's pretty warm up there. The really hard part is trying to drift off into some sort of sleep through all the whispers and snoring and random cellphone's ringing!

It IS worth the experience - trust me... or not ;)

Oh by the way - before I forget, what with my goldfish memory and all - on Sunday I went to Hair & Joy, and once again walked out very satisfied with the service and results. Be sure to book with Jonny for best results. He worked in London for a while and has good experience with foreign hair. Everyone I have sent there has also been happy and there are always a number of foreign faces there. Directions are on their site and very easy to get to!

Au Revoir - until my return!
XOXO

Cafes, Friends, and Galbi

Here are some photos taken at Lazy Ca. Cafe which I promised. It's one of my favorite cafes in Guesong-dong ^__^ (p.s. don't miind the amateurish nature of the photo editting!!!)

 The crafts in the cafe are all made by the owner and the woodwork made by the owner's husband. The workshop is at the back of the cafe.



View from inside - winter evening in Guseon-dong.

It has been quite a lazy weekend. Saturday I took a long walk along the almost dried up river to Ori, approx. 2 stations from where I live on the bundang line, to buy some rooibos tea at Home Plus. Last time I only managed to find the Lipton brand, but this time I found a Tesco brand which is much closer to the tea I buy at home. This is my absolute favorite tea in the world and happens to be a South African product!!! It's so nice to be able to buy something homely.

Afterwards I headed off to Lazy Ca. Cafe with my laptop and typed a long overdue letter to my grandmother. I headed off to dinner in Gangnam with two girlfriends for marinated chicken galbi - delish! We saw an ice rink on the way and found it funny how they promote beer on a children's ice rink. I suppose there are things better left unquestioned here in Korea ^__^

Today I woke up rather late so I  missed going to a fish market with a friend. BUT, I did manage have an intense cleaning session in my apartment! Now it's time to do some planning for my trip to Maylaysia in TWO WEEKS!!!!!! I can't wait!

Lev
XOXO

Its Peppero Time!

Exciting news!!! I have extended my contract for another year in Korea so hopefully I will be blogging away for the next year with a little more passion and flair.

I thought I would quickly put in a little post before a long overdue skype session with one of my dearest friends from home.  Also I have some extra time this week as Grace Teacher (this is how we address eachother at work and it has become a rather annoying habit!!!) is too busy to join language exchange classes this week.

 So while I am waiting for my beloved friend to come online I will tell you a little bit about Peppero. Peppero is a very delicious Korean snack which I am currently snacking on at this particular moment (mmmm). It is so delicious that it even has a special day on the calendar. Peppero day is similar to Valentine's day on the 11th November, resembling four peppero sticks for the day, i.e. 11/11. It became popular after the manufacturing company, Lotte, saw increased sales on this day and started promoting it since then. Now Korean children are encouraged to give a box of peppero to someone special on peppero day. I think my mom would be in heaven as its similar to one of her favorite snacks in South Africa! I was in heaven simply because any holiday on  a national calender promoting one to eat chocolate... enough said!

Time to run and chat!

Lev
xxx

Weekend Adventures

Okay so here is a little update on my weekend:
I have been in a language exchange for the past few 3 weeks where three of my foreign co-workers and I get together twice a week with one of our Korean teachers and two of her Korean friends (the group started out with just four people). I have been wanting to learn how to read Korean (known as Hanguel), but have just been super lazy. So Friday evening after work I head off to Lazy Ca. cafe (I think it's meant to be Lazy Cats, will try upload a pic soon) with my Korean books. Two hours later, a piece of tiramisu, cafe latte and Chineese tea, I had memorized the Korena alphabet (Grace Teacher had patiently taught me the correct pronunciations) and found myself reading Korean. Impressed?

Saturday morning I headed off on to Seoul for a little hike which started at Dongnimmun (line 3) with one of my best friends in Korea who also happens to be a teacher at my school, and some of her friends. Anyway, it wasn't really much of a hike, more of a stroll really, but the fresh winter air felt good. Afterwards we headed to a little restaurant/cafe where I had a delicious spicy chicken curry and vanilla latte. Once our tummies were full, Kay, her friend Leo and I went to a rather small, old fashioned jimjilbang at Express Bus Terminal to get clean and fresh. Around 7 we met up with some friends at Hakdong station for a night flea market at Platoon. I bought this really cool zebra two finger ring - see picture below. We walked around for a bit with beer in hand, but it was much to busy so instead we went for galbi dinner (Korean barbeque). Then Kay and I went off to one of my new favorite places in Gangnam called Rainbow. Its a hippy hookah lounge where you sit on the floor on little cushions with a little blanket while a DJ pumps his electro music (not totally suited to the vibe of the place). We smoked some hookah and made some new Korean friends who shared our Blue Mist Cocktail bucket. Then we headed off to an electro club for a bit and then home. 


Zebra two-finger ring from Platoon and my funky new nailpolish from Aritaum

Today I have been feeling a bit sick (I swear its from hookah, it always makes me feel nauseous) so I stayed in bed and had my dear Canadian co-worker bring my a Paris Baguette sandwich and latte for lunch.

Now I am going to watch Breaking Dawn Part 1 which has just finished downloading (I see your rolling eyes!).

Lev
xoxo

It's been a while...

So it has been quite some time since I last posted and I do sincerely apologise for my lack of effort in this blog. Not long after I started blogging (and it was supposed to be a continuous thing to start off with) I started feeling like my emotions were on a continuos rollercoaster ride. I could not make up my mind whether I loved Korea or hated it and so had to try my best to just merely be appeased with life here. Some days I felt incredibily down and on occasion when I saw an aeroplane I would find myself wishing that I could be on that plane going home. And then, some days, I felt as if I were on an incredible high and would be greatly excited and intrigued by everything new. Many times, no matter whether it was a low or high period in my life, I would find myself lookiing at this exact screen except my fingtertips were numb and I could not find a way to express the complicated maze of feelings wrapped around my internal organs. I didn't want to project any negativity on any readers of this blog and I was afraid to share any positive moments in the fear that they might be shortlived and that months would go by before I could share anything again. And when it started to become a pinnacle of immense frustration I gave up altogher.

But now, everything has changed. For a while now I have not only managed to make peace with living in Korea, but I have fallen in love with the country; its culture and its people. The time is close where I will be discussing an extension of my contract for another year. Evidently, much has changed and now I am finally ready to share my life in Korea with my dear loved ones. But, please do be patient with me during any silent times that may or may not come.
I think I would like to start a new leaf, write off the old year and embrace the new year by sharing my new home with you, starting.... now!

National Palace in Gyeongbokgung, Seoul

Korean Folk Village

Here is the website to the Korean Folk Village in Yongin: http://www.koreanfolk.co.kr/folk/english/about/about_intro.html

It is definitely a must see, with plenty to do and will definitely take a whole day. There are plenty of food stalls and souvenir shops and definitely check out the Traditional Wedding, acrobatics on tightrope performance and the Equestrian feats.