Blogs from Gangwon-do, South Korea, Asia - page 4

Happy Hangeul Day! Hangeul is the Korean alphabet and it was invented by King Sejong in 1443, during the reign of the Joseon Dynasty. Hangeul Day used to be a public holiday, but it was dropped in 1991. Why you would want to get rid of a public holiday I have no idea? Anyway this year it was reinstated. An extra day off? Yes please! Anyway enough of the history lesson and back to a lovely day off. We were going hiking and to the beach over on the east coast. We left from Suwon not long after midnight and the bus was full. In fact there wasn't enough seats for everyone and there was at least one person sitting on the floor in the aisle. I tried to nap on the bus, but sleep eluded ... read more

Today I am going to Seoraksan National Park to hike and experience the wildlife. It has some ancient temples as well. The temples should be able to show me how religion and ancestors influence the culture in Korea. It costs two dollars to get in. While I'm there I will also take the cable up to the top of Gwongeumseong which will cost nine dollars. img=http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3yGj6Qn14rU/T0zLTsl_e1I/AAAAAAAABNU/5qjnkRro9bM/s320/Seoraksan+National+Park.jpeg... read more

Sat 19th: Up at the crack of dawn, oh the joys! Hopped on the bus to Seoul, had a lovely hot bagel for breakfast and then onto the bus to Yongpyeong. The journey was a few hours and a bit boring. We had a couple of rest stops. We stopped at the rental shop to get our boots, skis, snowboards, and clothing. That was carnage, so many people trying to get sorted, asnd that was just our group, didn't help with the Koreans trying to push in. Finally sorted we got back on the bus and drove a bit further to the resort. At the resort we all got sorted with our lift passes and headed off to the slopes. We had to walk for about 5 minutes and that left me knackered. Walking in ski ... read more

5th Jan: Up at 6. Showered, layered up, and had brekky. Skidded down the road to get a taxi. One came pretty quick. Taxi driver was chatty, sad face, I can't be arsed to make conversation in broken English first thing in the morning. Got to Suwon station by about half seven. Went and got a coffee at Maccy Ds in the station and then headed out to the subway exit, where the bus would be picking us up. Chain smoked, while waiting. The bus turned up about ten to eight. We all got on. Bloody hell, it was freezing on the bus. We waited for a bit and then drove into Seoul to pick up the people there, at the Express Bus Terminal and Yongsan. My God I was bursting for the toilet. Tried to ... read more

Chuseok holidays had arrived and myself and a friend had organised to go away hiking in the north of the country. Chuseok is basically Korean thanksgiving, most people travel home to be with their families and pay their respects to their ancestors. People prepare food as offerings and then go tidy their ancestors graves. My co-teacher Shasha told me that she would be very busy cleaning, cooking and visiting all her families houses - she doesn't consider it much of a holiday! It is customary to give and receive gifts at this time, so in the days leading up to Chuseok I was given an presentation box from my principal containing three bottles of olive oil and six cans of tuna; two pairs of sports socks from the vice-principal; a box of white lotus tea from ... read more