I DID SEOUL, BUT I'M NOT A SOLDER

I went up to Seoul on a solo mission to run a marathon on Dec 17th. I decided to crash Seoul a day early to check out some of the cool stuff in one of the biggest cities in the world. I really had no plan I was just goin with the flow. This is a short explanation of some of the crazy crap I saw on the busy day...

1- Fingering out the Seoul Subway system is in many ways like doing a Sudoku puzzle and I'm not going to lie to you... I have never did a Sudoku puzzle!

2- after cracking the Secret Seoul Subway System Code I booted it down to Insa-Dong, an area that is popular for its art galleries, tea houses, and some old traditional buildings and architecture. Soon as I peaked out of the subway exit, I was bombarded my a fusion of old and new buildings-

What really caught my eye was a giant Bell Tower with Korean Dudes equipped with traditional outfits and sick weaponry from back in the day! I managed to get there exactly at noon to witness the ringing of the bell ceremony. Basically It when t like this... A dude screams something in Korean, other Korean dudes bangs on drums for a little bit, all the Korean dudes march up the bell tower, they scream more, they use a striker to hit a bell bigger then my apartment, It's so frickin loud that your eyes go blurry, you can feel your brain shake around in your skull and your ears feel like they're growing bigger then your body!

3- After the Bell Tower I decided to check out the only head Buddhist temple that is located in the middle of a city, Jogyeasa Temple. It was blizzard to see such old and traditional architecture of the Buddhist temple overshadowed and engulfed by massive skyscrapers and modern office buildings.

4- After increasing the peace at Jogyeasa, I hulled down to Insa-Dong Gil (Dong means area or neighbourhood and gil mean street or road). This street is a long passenger street that has many narrow allies filled with little shops. First, I stumbled into a building that had a Andy Worhol Society Exhibit... It was kindda like dropping LSD... the off the wall, zany art engulfed this building that twisted and turned up like a building in a Dr. Suess Story. I snapped a few pictures of some of the crazy crap!

5- When I left the art gallery I found myself caught in a reenactment of the Traditional Korean Wedding Parade. People were jumping out of the way of the horses that lead the parade of drummers, dancers, percussionists, and the wedding party down the narrow, twisting street. I manage to follow the parade and catch the wedding ceremony that was even translated into English so I could understand it.

6- I had numerous pots of tea in a Korean Tea house, met Erin and ate 2 plates of pasta at a shody restaurant- then it happened.... It snowed and snowed and snowed.... big, heavy, almost fake looking snow flakes filled Seoul's night sky.... and coated Seoul in a wet heavy coating of Christmas White... My body was sore from a full day of sightseeing with my heavy backpack, I was full of pasta, and it looked like I would be doing tomorrow's full course marathon in the wet thick snow. I found a hotel by the marathon course, and crashed for the night... little did I know that the beautiful snow that had painted Seoul in White would lead to my demise in the marathon the next day...

7- I ALMOST DIDN'T FINISH THE MARATHON!!!

The Han Gang (gang means river) Marathon's course took place entirely along the river's edge in Han River Park. This river is the most famous river in Korea. It has played an important role in Korea's history as it is almost 1 Km wide and it runs right through Seoul. It is also the location of Korean's highest grossing Movie called Monster (its about a monster that lives in the Han river and kills a lot of people).

Anyway, the weather was probably around -8 C when the marathon started- there was also a cold wind that blew right through my thin running gear. When the marathon started I just let myself take in the majestic winter atmosphere, I noticed that my body was a little sore from the long day yesterday but I just ran through the discomfort. I was running at a good pace, and really enjoying the feeling of running through the slippery, wet snow... The course was great until I realized that it was one of those courses where you actually run the same course as the half marathoners then turn around and run the same course again... this is in many ways like a sick joke to marathoners who have ran 21 KM then have to turn around and see the same crap again... It's Kinda like a more painful version of the Bill Murary movie "Groundhog Day"!!! At the halfway point my time was at about 2 hours so I was on pace to finish the marathon at around 4 hours... which would have been my personal best then about at the 23KM point it happened...

My leg slipped on the ice and jerked my right knee out... It happened so fast and it didn't really hurt at the time so I regained my composure and continued to run... about 10 Km later the pain was almost unbearable... and was only getting worse... my jogging turned to limping, and then to a painful hobble... I though about quitting because of the pain and I was a little concerned about long term damage... but I just couldn't give up.... as my pace got slower and slower my body was unable to keep warm- the cold wind turned my warm salty sweat into a chilly coating that turned my hands and face purple...

Finally I limped across the finish line... at the time of 5:00...

In the past weeks I have did much to heal my body up and I'm ready to start training for my next full marathon at the end of January.

Don't Quit
Quitting is for Quitters

More From Seoul (It was a fun day of sightseeing)...

#1- Some people say Korea is a little backwards!!!

#2- Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow (these red fluorescent crosses are seen all over Korea)

#3- Lonely in Seoul

#4 and #5- I was caught in a Traditional Marriage Parade!!!

Pics From My Solo Mission to Seoul On the Weekend of Dec. 16-17

#1- A Crazy Building Downtown

#2-A Dragon at a head temple downtown Seoul. This dragon is struck by monks to pay respect to the creatures of the sea and to rid the temple of evil (note the skyscraper in the back ground).
#3- Seoul has a mix of the trendy and new with the traditional.

#4- A Traditional Soldier in Dress performing the traditional bell ringing ceremony on the biggest and loudest bell I've ever seen or heard!

#5- Me and Bell Ringing Korean Dude.

Late Merry Christmas and Early Happy New Years!!!

I was so damn busy the last few weeks that I didn't get to wish everyone seasons GRrreetings so here it goes...

Merry Christmas to ...

my mom- I definitely missed her Christmas Hugs and Cooking- especially the damn awesome ninnimo squares and deliciously scrupmtious apple tarts!

my dad- so I heard their were 4 batches of nuts'n'bolts this year!

brother- mainly for teasing my dad about burning or eating too much of the nuts'n'bolts!

My dogs (Ginger and Bief) for always being happy and trying to sneak some ordurves from the living room table when no ones looking.

My Beautiful Girlfriend Alissa- for just being so hot, cool, and awesome all the time!

(O.K. I already wished those people a Merry X-mas over the phone but the next people are brand new XMAS shout outs)

Alania, Karli, all the foreign teachers in China, and all the University Administration in Shenyang- Your generosity and warm Christmas Spirit made me feel like family over the Christmas Season!!! You Rock!!! (Yes, that right, I went to China for Christmas!!!)

Fuchs- For partying extra hard over the Christmas season- I'm sure this hasn't changed this year!

the Fuchs Family for putting up with Fuchs extra hard partying!

Goose- Quack-Quack- I have a message for you- Your girlfriend really misses and loves you!

the Harrison Family- I regret that I couldn't make it to your Christmas Party and say something completely stupid this year... maybe next year!

Lake- For always laughing and getin real wrecked over Christmas!

Jesa- For all the Christmas Hugs and good vibes you send. And for always helping put my ten sets of Christmas icicle lights on the ceiling of the apartment... I missed that this year... YOU ROCK!

Mark- For always drinking with me late into the night and for all the simple conversations we have when were there. Ohh yeah... and for always helping me move my crap into and out of my apartment.

Greame- For your zany humor, blunt conversations, and all the late Christmas Nights in the past. Hope your still keepin it real!

Cori- For your extreme kindness and of course your Christmas baking.

Zerr- For all the ridiculous things you do and say- and all the Christmas drunkenness! And all the wild parties you throw this time of year!! "Why you so crazy!!!"

To Stella- for all the "STELLA" things you say.

the costella family- for having us over for a fest everyyear- and of course the cookies.

To Tony- For the fun partying and for putting up with Zerr every day... that takes talent!

To Tera and Jill- For putting up with Tony everyday.

Tower for schooling me on the Fooseball table every Christmas while I'm half cut!

Chris and Jo- I really missed your Christmas partying and swank ass wine drinking!!! Ohh and doing all the fun couple stuff together, and the dirty conversations we always seem to get into at your apartment (why does that always seem to happen?)

Fanta- For actually leaving comments on my blog and for being so dang sweet all the time!

Rachelle- For sending me that Christmas Card Computer Internet thingy- It really really really made me smile when ever it popped up thank you for putting me in the spirit.

Joyce- I'm still talking about the Cali trip.... The Koreans love the stories from that trip!!!

Rene - For all the positive vibes -

Sarah - for being so funny and for putting up with your crazy Auntie

The Fesser Family- For raising such a beautiful daughter and putting up with her "I Miss Matt" everyday.

Stonge- ... (silence is where Jeff works his magic)

To all the Cvep Staff and all my old co-workers at the Ranch- I guess I missed out on the billion Christmas parties that are thrown there every year!

My Grandmother- Merry Irish Christmas Greetings.

To the rest of my family on both sides- I miss spending the holidays with your hospitality, cooking, and conversation.

To all my friends in Korea- I'll be ripin it up with you soon.

To All the Korean Teachers- (Stephanie, Jamie, Silver, Jerry) Thanks for all the smiles and Christmas Cheer at work all the time!

And to All the people that I have unknowingly left off this list... I'm sorry I forgot you... I assure you that I am still your friend and I still care about you ... I'm such a Dushe Bag... I can't believe I forgot you!!!!

Happy Birthday Stephanie!!!

How Korean Birthdays Go Down

It was my friend Stephanie's Birthday on Friday. She invited all of the teachers at the school out for lunch at the Sea House for all you can eat western style seafood buffet. I packed my stomach full of many different types of sea food. It was deliciously delicious! She followed the normal Korean protocol on Birthdays in Korea... It goes like this...

1- The birthday Girl (or boy) decides where they want to go and invites their friends the place of their choosing.

2- They only invite the people that they really want to come because in Korea it is tradition that the Birthday Girl picks up the bill!

3- It is customary to give money as a gift if you are invited or bring a cake. Since cakes are not easy to come by, as it is not that common to have an oven in your apartment, most cakes are bought at one of two popular chain stores that are located within 5 or ten minutes walking distance from anywhere in Korea- Dunkin Donuts or Paris Baguette. These cakes pretty much look like the cakes in Canada but usually they are much smaller. Although they look the same they sure don't taste the same. Everything western in Korean tastes a little off- cake is no exception. To me the cake taste like they loaded up on the butter and there is an overall lack of sugar in the icing... but none-the-less it tastes great (like many things in Korea the cake is an acquired taste).

4- In Korea they light the candles on the cake and sing "Happy Birthday" just like everywhere else in the world (I really wonder what nationality invented the song "Happy Birthday", I mean all languages sing "Happy Birthday"... Imagine the royalties if you wrote that baby- cha cha ching!!!). In Korea they have a special system for how many candles are on the cake. The tall candles represent 10 years and the small ones represent 1 year.

Because all of the teachers at the school love Stephanie and because we failed to decide who would buy the cake, Stephanie received 3 bathed cakes!!!

Drinkin Mockalee at a Mockalee Joint in Cheonan And then to Bubi Bubi (pronounced Booby-Booby) for Some Pool and Lazer Dance moves...

#1- Me and Erin terrorize Cheonan in our matching vans

#2- Ronnie shows off his Korean manners by respectfully accepting a drink of Mockalee (you ain't losein no documents any time soon with that technique)!!!

#3- Johnny Beating Ronnie in Pool

#4- Kyle pouring Mockalee from a Kettle (mockalee is a Korean undistilled rice wine that looks like milk)

#5- Erin face down in a bowl of mockalee... Gombae!!!

Another Weekend of Hard Fun in Cheonan- Ronnie's Korean Hometurf

#1- Erin and Kyle belt one out at the drunk ass noribang (singing room)

#2- Erin #2 and Johnny chillin

#3- Erin cool pimpin with a Cheonan Gangsa

#4- Ronnie- King of the Disco

#5- Erin at Ronnie's palace

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas In Korea!!!

People who know me know that I really enjoy the Christmas Season... After all, how many other people would put a Christmas tree with lights on top their car just to spread Christmas Cheer!!!

Unlike in Canada, Christmas doesn't begin the day after Halloween here. All the hustle and bustle that this festive time of year brings is completely non-existent in Korea. Also, it is almost a complete absolute certainty that Daegu will not get any snow before the 25th (it's too far South the Koreans say). My Korean Friend Stephanie put it best when she said, "It not an event in Korea".

Below I will share some moments where it felt a little bit more like Christmas in Korea....

Last weekend all the teachers at my school planed a weekend trip to Snowboard at Phoenix Park. I surly thought carving up the sweetest (artificial) powder in Korea would finally get me in the Christmas Spirit. Little did I know that we would encounter what could only be described as a Korean blizzard on our way north to the popular ski and snowboard park... and... of course I almost died ... again... this was actually my closest brush with death since I got to Korea...

After being on the road for about one hour the snow started to fall. Small flakes at first... I was ecstatic because the students that I teach told me that it doesn't really snow in Korea!!! Well they were definitely wrong... as time past the flakes got bigger and bigger and started to pile cover all the trees and coat the road in a white cover that was so typical of the winter roads in Canada. Then absolute mayhem ensued.... KOREANS DON'T KNOW HOW TO DRIVE ON ICE AND SNOW....

CARS, TRUCKS, AND SUVs were sliding, curling, and ping ponging between the cement walls that cover surround both sides of the Korean Interstate!!! It was kinda like we were trapped in a really game of pinball!! Probably the most rank accident that I've ever witnessed occurred as the SUV in front of us spun out, smashed into the cement wall and then slid to the other side of the 3 lane superhighway before smashing into the opposite wall and spinning out into the middle of the road again- facing oncoming traffic!!!

We had an in car snowball fight and things were really feelin like Christmas... finally!

After passing about 7 cars that were smashed in to the concrete- we made it to our destination... just as we parked the car and got out to snowball fight and celebrate that we were still alive the two cars smashed into each other in a head on crash and the cars came literally inches from smackin up our car!!!

The next day it seemed like every 10th car had its bumper hanging off... (check out the pic below).

Never the less I survived, managed to carve up some wicked powder as the storm really dumped the fresh stuff on the hill, and I was filled with new found Christmas enthusiasm!

More Fun Pics From Phoenix Park...

Explanations in no particular order...

1- View from the gondola

2- Random Korean Dude Duct tape'n a car together... (The Koreans are a very innovative people. I thought only Red Green could master such masterful duct tape'n skills!!!)

3- Sunset on the Korean Interstate while driving back to Daegu.

4- Jerry (the only other foreign English teacher at my school) and Stephanie (a Korean teacher at my school) ham it up in the condo!

Pics from Phoenix Park, Korea's most popular Ski and Snowboard Park!!!!

An explanation of the pictures is in order (the irony is that these explanations may not follow the actual order that these pictures are displayed on my blog)...

1- Morning Sunrise view from the Condo... walking distance from the rental shop and lift.

2- Me...

3- Young (Stephanie's boyfriend) and I at the top of the mountain.

4- Silver (one of the Korean teachers at my school) practicing her robot, skiing skills!!!