WHAT HAVE WE BEEN UP IN THE LAST 2 WEEKS??????

We went for a day trip to Pusan ( a coastal city, Korea's 2nd largest city, see previous blog entries) on April 14th....

Our mission...

to travel to the downtown shopping district and find a pair of running shoes that will fit my feet, and look good on Alissa.... have fun.... then take the bullet train home before 10:00PM...

Could we do it?!?!?!!??!??!!

The importance of our mission...

After many, many intense shoe shop to shoe shop shopping in Daegu, I was still unable to find any shoes to fit my feet (ohh ... except one pair of Nike black basketball, can you picture me running a marathon wearing those mothers!!!).

Alissa and I do about 2 hours of walking everyday day + same shoes = shoes worn right out !!!

Almost all of the shoes I brought from Canada already need replacing!

As a matter of a fact and as a fact of a matter, I have worn right through the soles of 2 pairs of my shoes from all the ZERO GHG emitting walking I've been doing here!!! Case in point and point in case Alissa has worn through the soles of one pair already and she's only been here a few months!!!!

FYI and IYF -Uncomfortable shoes are some of the most useless things in Korea. Comfort always trumps style in walkity, walkity Chilgok.

What Happened???

We accidentally ran into some Korean folk dancers and performers, went up a big tower that overlooks the beautiful city, and ran into some weird ass Korean dude with Orange hair (see above photos) .....

ohh yeah... and we both found a comfy pair of runners.... Mission accomplished! YEsssssss!!!

We Vistited the Biggest, Bestest, and Mostest Popularist Buddhist Temple in Korea.... Bulgoksa (just outside Jyongju) AND The Mystic Seokguram Grotto

Bulgoksa was constructed during the Silla Dynasty in 528 A.D. It was commissioned by a King that had recently converted to Buddhism. The name Bulgoksa means "Temple of the Buddha Land". Bulgoksa (and Seokguram Grotto) are both UNESCO certified world heritage protected properties. The temple was build to symbolically and creatively represent the historical Buddha's sermon of the Lotus Sutra. Bulgoksa was overwhelming it was so big... it was so busy that it felt more like being downtown than being at a temple. On the other hand, Seokguram felt like we had left the hustle and bustle of this world...

From top to bottom:

1- This is a picture of Alissa and I in front of "Blue Cloud Bridge" and "White Cloud Bridge" leading up to "Purple Mist Gate". The staircases are symbolic of the bridge leading up to the mountain where the Lotus Sutra was first delivered. The gate has Taoist origins, once people go through the gate they enter a land of immortals.

2- This is Dapotap. It is the only pagoda that looks like this in the entire world. It is seen as an artistic and creative masterpiece. It represents an abstract pagoda described in the Lotus Sutra that appears to a Bodhisattva as he praises and gives witness to the truth of Buddha's sermon. It is also seen on the Korean 10 Won coins (equivalent to our penny).

3- Opposite Dapotop is Seokgatap which is a beautiful example of a 3 tiered pagoda. It represents the historical Buddha. The reason why 3 tiers are used is because the number three represents completeness and holiness. The odd numbers represents yang, above, high, respected, fortunate, and other positive attributes.

4&5- These are pictures of the temple building that was built around Seokguram Grotto. Seokguram is a cave on the top of a mountain that is completely 3 dimensionally carved out. In it is a Buddha image that is in prestige condition, surrounding it are the lesser Buddhas. It is said to be the best stone Buddha image in the world for it's old age, condition, and size.

Alissa and I weaved up the foggy, narrow mountain road on a shuttle bus that hogged the twisty asphalt, when the bus stopped we still had a 15 minute hike to the Grotto. As we approached Seokguram Grotto the mist from the clouds engulfed the building that surrounded the ancient cave. As we approached we could hear the faint chanting of a Buddhist monk that was cutting through the stillness. As we creeped closer to the small cave, the chanting got louder and louder. When we finally squeezed in, there was a pack of about 10 old Korean ladies prostrating to the elegantly carved Buddha housed inside. Everyone was silent as one middle aged monk dressed in a grey robe with a bright red sash spotted with large silver circles on it repeatedly hit a wood block with a stick and chanted blessings to the Buddha. The rhythmic sound of the wooden block reverberating in the small cave and the hypnotic sound of the monotone chanting completely overwhelmed Alissa and I.

More Zany pictures from Kyongju (our weekend trip from 3 weeks ago)!

Top to Bottom:

1- Alissa and I got drunk at a very traditional restaurant. The place had small individual wooden shacks with wood caved lattice doors papered with rice paper until summer. We had fresh mountain vegetables and rice with lots of side dishes and dong-dong ju (A.K.A. Mockalee). This is a picture of us about a block from the restaurant.

2- Alissa decides to ride a bull outside the restaurant.

3- A new statue of Confucius in a park, framed by the beautiful aromatic pink blossoms of a cherry tree. Confucianism was the state supported religion during the Chosan Dynasty in Korea (1392-1896) at that time many great thinkers and innovators emerged from Korea. Buddhism was also was suppressed at this time, no monks or nuns could enter the capital city of Seoul.

The wonderful pink blossoms of the cherry tree coated the whole city of Kyongju... It was really magical on the foggy day, it looked like it was snowing pink. The smell was also indescribable.

4- Alissa beside the performance hall.

5- Crazy peddle swan boats crowd the beautiful lake resort!

Large Penis Sculptures.... A Part of Korea's Wonderful Heritage!!!

Apparently, if one touches these 'wood' carvings they will receive many children...

I hope not too many!!!

Easter Sunday: Marathoning and American Chinese Food

We woke up early Sunday morning because we had to meet my marathon team at the prison. When we got there we packed in to the prison bus (the bus they use to transport the prisoners). The bus took us to a small town nestled in the mountains about one hour away,
called Hapcheon.

The marathon was the usual gong show- fireworks, cheerleaders, group stretches, truly, a fair like atmosphere.

The course was probably the most beautiful I've ever ran with cherry trees blossoming on both sides of the newly paved highway that snaked between the mountains, around a dam, and beside a picturesque lake.

After the race the marathon the team had a few drinks in our team tent, went out for beef soup, and drove around in the mountains and took in the beautiful view behind the barred windows of the prison bus.

When Alissa and I got home we went out for an Easter feast at Leo Cheo's, a American Chinese Restaurant. There are a lot of Korean Chinese Food Restaurants around but this is the only American Chinese Restaurant in Daegu. Strangely enough, the Korean Chinese food doesn't have ANY of the same Chinese dishes that we know and love in Canada, and when I was in China the food was both different from the Chinese food that I had eaten in Korean and Canada! This is the low down on the food "Chinese Food"

Korean Chinese Food is always fresh, filling, and pretty healthy. The 3 most popular dishes at these restaurants are 1- Tan so uke - a battered and fried pork with vegetables and sweet and sour sauce; 2- Black noddles- they are noodles covered in a mysteriously delicious black sauce; 3- Jam pon- A spicy seafood soup with noodles, small shell fish, crabs, clams, and little tiny whole octopus.

Chinese Chinese Food is very oily and greasy but consequently very delicious!

Leo Cheo's American Chinese Food is like the food you get at a Chinese restaurant in Canada but done up gourmet style.

MMMMmmmmm.... Easter Feaster!!!!

When I got home and took my shirt off I found a nasty sunburn. I still can't get my head around getting a sunburn on Easter!

Happy Late Easter to Everyone Back Home from the both of us.

A Condensed Retelling of the Most Bizarre Easter Weekend I've Ever Had!!!

On Saturday we went to our friend, Silver's place. She lives in a house next to a Church in a mountain village just outside Daegu.

She made us a big Korean meal- raw fish, squid legs, fried pork, rice, pumpkin pancake, and for dessert we ate Birthday cake (it was her birthday on Thursday).

She took us to a old fortress that used to protect the town; we climbed on its walls.

Then Silver took us to a tea house call "100 year-old-tea house" where we drank tea in the beautifully lit tea house on top of a large hill as the sun set over the mountains.

Later that night when we got home, we tried to go to an English movie, but they misunderstood and gave us tickets to a French movie... we watched it anyways... I understood the simple story...

I think my French is getting better?!?

The Oldest Astronomical Observatory in East Asia & Royal Tombs!!!

After Anapji pond we strolled down to the Oldest Astronomical Observatory in East Asia, Cheomseongdea. It kinda looks like the rook piece of a Chess game, but was made with much thought and care back in the day! The 12 stones at it's base symbolize the 12 months of the year, and there are 30 layers from top to bottom representing the 30 days in a month, and in all there are 366 stone blocks used, this corresponded to the amount of days in a "shill year"... Amazing.... Apparently it still frames some constellations but you can't climb up there anymore!

After that we checked out tomb park. In it was many larger grass covered tombs that strangely resemble the hill in French Park behind Mark Matwiy's house?!?

If you look closely you can see them in the background of 2 of the pictures above. They're everywhere in this small city, sometimes they even have them smack dab in the middle of downtown, flanked by modern shops and tall office buildings.

Alissa and I got to see inside one of the Ancient Tombs in Tomb Park... Everything from the creamated remains, to the large golden crowns made of 90 % gold were on display just as the excavators found them... cool stuff!

We Visited the Wascana Lake of Korea... Anapji Pond!!!

This large man made pond was constructed in 674 AD. It was once connected to the royal palace of the Silla Dynasty and had exotic plants and animals that spotted the scenic landscape. One couldn't help but feel like royalty when walking around the fish crowded pond!!!

ALissA Gets Arrested in The National Museum!!!

This time of year, Korea is absolutely, and most splendidly beautiful! Spring is here and ones senses continually being barraged by things wonderfully beautiful is an everyday occurrence. Of particular beauty are the trees in full bloom, the Magnolia, and Cherry Blossom are two of the most wonderful for the eyes and the nose.

We were about to leave the National Museum in Kyongju, when we were drawn to one particular Magnolia tree full with white blossoms. We snapped some pictures of it, Alissa thought it was so beautiful that she needed a souvenir. She reached for flower covered branch and plucked a unsuspecting blossom right off!

I told Alissa that I didn't think one was permitted to pick flowers in the National Museum grounds... It turns out I was totally right about that. The police that were on guard at the museum soon approached us and started to yell at us in Korean. Of course we weren't just going to sit there and take it so we yelled back... THIS WAS NOT A GOOD MOVE... They cuffed Alissa and took her to a small room somewhere... and then... april fools... that's right this was all just made up... I hope everyone back home has a fun filled day!

29 Hours In the Ancient capital of Korea- Kyongju.... Part One: The National Museum

The weekend started off bad... I set the alarm for 7:00 Saturday morning, I wanted to get an early start to what would become a epic and magical weekend getaway...

The alarm didn't go off, when we woke up close to 11:00 it was pouring rain, we trudged out anyways. Thankfully, when we got outside, the rain stopped... YES! We bought the intercity bus tickets ($4.00 each) then we found out that we dropped the ball again, we had to wait 2 hours for the next bus... I was wondering if we were ever going to get to the much hyped, ancient city of Kyongju (see above photo of Alissa entertaining me at the dingy depot)!!!

When we finally got to the city of around 225 000 people, we darted to the National Museum of Korea, the biggest and best in the country. Some of the popular items: the Bell of King Seongdeok, cast in the year 771 it is still in perfect condition (see above pic of me rockin out to the sound of the gong... ring the gong, get it on), the ancient Buddhist relics (above pic of Alissa in awe of the "Baby Buddha" statue), and 3 crowns of the ancient monarchy (90% gold they were, no pic). Me and Alissa also tripped out in the psychedelia of the virtual exhibit (see above)... we spent our first 2 hours in the museum... what a great time so far!