Nothing says Merry Christmas like a hippo in an ugly jumper

This weekend was Christmas.  On Friday night I went to see the new Sherlock Holmes movie (really good).  Went to the cinema in 율하 which honestly seemed to be the only thing there.  Grabbed supper before the movie, a drunken old Korean guy tried talking to us, grabbed Elliot1's nose (he was saying that us white folk have good strong noses).  Apparently this was a first for Elliot1 and he didn't seem to pleased by it.


Saturday I had my last 한국어 lesson of the year.  Got a shiny certificate and everything at the pizza party/drum show/awards meeting.  See the video of the traditional drumming.  I've checked out the courses for next year - going to finish the current book myself and then start the intensive course in May - I won't miss so many lessons if they're on Tuesday and Friday mornings.  Especially as I'll only be in 대구 one weekend in January.  


After that I had lunch with Elliot2 - Buy the Book downtown did a proper turkey dinner which went well with spiced orange tea.   Yum yum yum.  Perfect Christmas eve lunch.  That evening we went to Jinny's apartment for supper/drinks, hung out with Jinny, Sophie, Julian, his bf, Mark, Harry and Charlie.  Jinny cooked this delicious spicy chicken stew and then followed not one but two cakes.  Went downtown after that, saw in midnight with a bunch of people at MF bar including Shelly.  Got back about 2am and was up before 8 to Skype the UK.


Christmas Day was spent at an orphanage near 버머사 in 부산.  It was quick and easy to get the bus from 동대구 to 노포 so will have to remember that for when my parents come out to visit.  When we got there Jessica and bought a pile of presents with donations from the Wolfhound Bar (해운대) so we had 20 min of frantic present wrapping.  There were about 40 kids and about 20 volunteers, some of them put on a play, the rest of us organized activities afterwards - our group played Christmas Bingo.  Then the kids got presents, second hand clothes and fun socks.  The youngest girl had so many presents she kept on dropping them.  So sweet.  Another girl kept on sneaking up and bonking people on the head with this toy hammer.  I don't know how they had left over presents at an orphanage on Christmas!  Maybe they'd go to another orphanage.  


Christmas lunch consisted of Shabushabu (vietnamese) in the PNU area.  Not very Christmassy but enjoyable.  Then we had a pint in a bar and helped (kinda) to build Jessica's Christmas skeleton.  I even simulated a stress fracture on his left collarbone (read:I broke it).  I'm really pleased with my presents this year - got pinkcatheart pj bottoms, an electric kettle (how did I live without it?!), a funny book from my parents as well as Rooibos and bathroom slippers (kinda essential for wetrooms in the winter).

I've got "winter vacation" this week (Friday off).  Looking forward to a nice 4 day week.  The other foreigner teacher at my 학원 is leaving Wednesday night so we'll have a meal and drinks in 동대구 to see him off.  Gonna head through to 울산 Thursday after work too - 3 day weekend!!  The plan is 부산 for Saturday (New Years).  

Ulsan / Busan Club / Cow intestine

 Went to 울산 Friday after work. Ate before I left and met Vincent and Mark there.  The city is about half the size of 대구 but without 4 army bases there seem to be a lot fewer foreighners.

Headed through to 부산 on Saturday. Watched the boys play rugby in the freezing cold for a few hours. Befriended two fun Americans there which ended with us forming a human centipede for warmth (apparently the sequel is out? ).

As we now had icicles on our testicles we headed through to 광안리 beach. Had a few hours defrosting in a nice 찜질방. It had a glass wall looking out onto the sea and the bridge where the fireworks were. Will maybe take the parents there in April. After that met up with all the rugby people again at a bar nearby. I still drool a little thinking about the batter on the fish and chips. 마싰었어! Beer and a little Baskin Robbins icecream followed. After that we went to a club in one of the uni areas. It was very western style for a Korean club. The Korean DJ was really good, but the English guy (James or something) in the middle was rubbish. Nobody was dancing.  It was much better when the Korean DJ came back, not only because they had large (2 foot) foam glowstick things.  Got a picture of Mark using it to prop up his Santa hat.

Sunday I was quite hungover, headed to Costco with Jessica and Mark.  Ate a delicious Calzone.  It reminded me never to eat them from Di Fiores in Galashiels.   Had cow intestine for supper that night, which was actually very good.  Once its really well done on both sides (read:slightly burnt) it is still chewy in the middle.  It's been compared to crackling.  I bought more socks and stuff to send back to the UK on Monday.  As Sherlock Holmes came out today I'm going to see that tomorrow, Friday is a bad sweater party, Saturday is my last Korean lesson (gonna sign up for more I think but a weekday morning this time) and Christmas eve dinner at a korean friends.  I'm volunteering at an orphanage on Christmas day so that should be fun.  Busy weekend again!

Santacon

So I've been really bad about updating the last couple weekends. Santacon was amazing. Took over a subway train (see videos). Was out in 홍대 both Sat and Sunday. Met somebody allergic to semen. Ate in 이태원 Sat at a South African place. Food took ages and was expensive. On the bright side I had boerewors and bought Milo! Vincent came out for a couple hours, at one point there were Santas on all 3 floors at this bar. Saw a live band for a bit in the square. Some photos are on the fb group wall. Its been FREEZING. My flat takes so long to warm up before and after work. I often see my breath in the mornings and evenings before the heating kicks in. Don't want to think how bad my heating bills going to be. I've broken out my big winter coat, gloves and hat. Weather report keeps threatening -6C but it's usually above freezing. Thank god for that electric blanket! Sunday I went to 넘댜문 market, bought a pile of socks to send back as Christmas presents to the UK.

How many 아주마's does it take to wallpaper?

One. One old lady is currently putting new wallpaper over the old mouldy stuff. A guy came round just after 8am to look, then I was told they'd do it whilst I was at work this evening. But this little old lady with a mullet turned up about 11, told me she was going to eat and disappeared. Just as I was planning "solo" before work she returned, walking straight into my flat and waving through the window. Good thing she wasn't 5 min later. I guess 8 min later would have been fine tho. I requested my bedroom be done in pink but that's looking unlikely.
This weekend the gays had a night out on Saturday. Turned one of the city centre clubs into a gaybar just by turning up en masse.

Sunday Mark and I saw a new iphone 4S. And decided to ask Siri some questions. Having read about the Siri/abortion clinic thing we tried that a handful of times. Assuming that nobody in the crowded store would hear. She refused my marriage proposal, would not comment on Steve Jobs, and her reaction to "who's your daddy?" was "You are. Now can we get back to work?"  She helpfully looked up the calorie content of 2 slices of pizza but was unable to do so for semen. Although I didn't specify a volume. One of Wolfram Alpha's shortcummings (sorry).
Anyway, our fun was cut short when a guy with his young daughter said to us "how is Siri responding to you? What did it say when you asked.." he paused "about Steve Jobs?" Oops. Guess he'd been listening the whole time.

Update: after a whole 2 mouldfree days its back :-(

Equal Marriage

So the Equal Marriage (Scotland) consultation is rounding up.  Show your support and put your name down.  If you're in any way undecided, heres a couple videos that will convince you:

Pillow Fort / 경주 / Thanksgiving

Another busy weekend, quiet night Friday in 각산.  Saturday morning I had 한국어 학원, afterwards headed out to a pension outside of 경주.  Dropped our stuff off, built a pillow fort, and then did some touristing (visited some tombs).  Sophie and Julian said it was fine to climb up them.  Got shouted at when we got to the top, presumably because there were signs saying not to.  But as I was up there anyway I took some photos and then climbed down.  So used my 위국 allowance on Sat to trespass.....


We grabbed some traditional gyeongju roll things which were delicious and headed to an old palace which overlooked a nice (manmade?) lake.  Sunday was really lovely so we hit a temple.  The picture with the coin is showing that its the same pagoda as is on the 50 Won.  After that headed to 울산 for Thanksgiving, which ended up being a little Christmassy which was nice.  Lots and lots of delicious food, even made mulled wine and played some games.


I've also booked skiing/snowboarding for the first weekend in Jan which should be super fun.  Gotta go pay for it today so money'll be tight until next Friday -thankfully payday is coming just as I'm going to Seoul for SantaCon.  Quiet weekend next week, will head through to Busan and maybe hit the Daegu Botanics after Korean school as I've heard that its nice now in the greenhouses.

Korean Countryside, not a tower block in sight!

This tower is on the 50W

Seoul

Hostel Garden

Headed up to Seoul after work Friday.  Got up in time to get the tube to Hongdae.  Dropped stuff and had a few pre-drinks before hitting clubs with some friendly people from the hostel.  Hostel itself was clean, warm, cheap and friendly.  Will stay there again for SantaCon in a few weeks.  
Hit a busy, western style club first.  I tried "저는 여자예요" to get in free, only to be told that ugly girls pay double ㅠㅠ.  After that hit a kinda indie-bar which played good music.  Grabbed some food, and fell into the hostel about 6:30.  I'm surprised I didn't have a killer hangover Sat.

Thats right ladies, I'm superman

Sat wandered around a ,홍대 market with terrible smoothies before heading out to 이태원.  Greek lunch and a wander round the foreigner district and then onto 동대문.  Big shiny buildings, and stages set up everywhere with people performing (as well as members of the public competing).  I showed off my strength by lifting a giant shoe.  Honestly I'm that strong.  Must be all the 김치.  Got lucky in a DVD방.  Lets just say that blacklights later on were none too kind.  And the gentlemen kinda responsible insisted on pointing this out..


Hit an Irish style pub back in Itaewon that could have been anywhere in the UK for all the white folk.  Was amused by a Korean guy who drank too much and passed out asleep - the two ladies he was with headed out without him lol.  We hit homohill, Mark knows the owner so got in a free round.  Then to an american filled club, Jimmy threw up and we headed back.  Sunday was nice and quiet, HUGE brunch again in Itaewon, tried and failed with my local guide Vincent to find an adult store.  Late lunch in Sinchon and headed back to Seoul station via the shiny new AREX.


Already looking forward to SantaCon on the 10th!  Gotta head dowtown at some point to get my outfit!

Cocktails and Sodomy

Well the blog title certainly got your attention.  You dirty so-and-so you.

Suseong Lake

Friday night was pretty normal, grabbed bbq ribs (accidently) with Elliot in 각산.  Afterwards hit downtown.  Grabbed a bottle of 소주 on the way to the subway and sat drinking that.  Saturday I had my Korean class downtown.  Felt a wee bit rough getting up at 10 for it. After that grabbed lunch with Mark, and headed to Suseong lake.  There's a small amusement park there (see photos).  Wonderful fun.  Wanted to rent one of the peddle boats with giant duck heads and sit and drink beer in the middle of the lake but alas by the time we wanted to go.
Went to an all you can eat place (Hotel Ariana) because it was Shelly's bday.   Its all you can drink and they have their own micro brewary.  I was just pleased to drink something other than Cass/Hite/Maxx.  I saw Levine play again downtown at Urban, such a good time.  Ended up being a rather late night/early morning again.
Sunday I had Shabushabu for the first time, really good and delicious, and an excellent way to get rid of the hangover.

Samhuin

Well its been quite the week and a half.  Last weekend was Halloween so we had a party at work for the kids.  This entailed 3 shopping trollies full of sweets.  

EMart Shopping

I'll take you to the candy shop

As it was Elliots birthday, we went back to 부산 for the 불꽃놀이 (fireflowerplay, or fireworks to you and I).  It was a lot busier, and drizzling, but still good fun.  Then back to 대구 for Halloween.  Due to lack of costume I got facepaint and vamp teeth.  Didn't realize the paint was actually paint.  It burnt a little as it dried, quite unpleasant.  Went to an amazing chocolate place the next day though. Then there was that horrible work week thing.  Those things in the middle of weekends.   Not sure why we put up with them.  (Actually, come Thursday which is payday I'll remember quite clearly why I do the 2-9:30.  Doesn't have the same ring to it as 9-5).

This Friday I cooked Thai red curry for Sophie, Julian and Mark.  Turned out surprisingly well considering I couldn't get all the ingredients I needed.  Herbs and spices are almost impossible to get, so I had to do a lot of substituting.  It tasted good though.  Saturday I went to Korean school and then Sophie had a 1st birthday party in 울산.  The kid picked out money so apparently he'll be rich, or a banker or suchlike.  

Ulsan Forest

We went to one of the Ulsan Scenic areas - a big pine forest near the beach.  Saw old men on little islands cut off from the sea fishing.  Also saw this rock which is meant to house the dragon soul of some old Korean King.  Would've taken a photo but 바터리 없다 (phone was dead).  Amateur planking ensued.   Had fish and chips for dinner, and a couple of drinks.  Went to this foreigner bar, which was empty so we had the run of the place.  Played some pool (lost really badly), turns out Julian knows which end of the stick to hold.  Then for Sophies friend the bar staff put on a big fire show, never seen anyone firebreathe with alcohol - they just grabbed bottles of spirits from the bar!

Students Drawing

Quiet day and night Sunday, watched a bit of V for Vendetta as it was Bonfire night.  Tried a new 막걸리 place.  Plan for today is to finish off the curry with Sophie for lunch, and then teach my 10 classes.

Before I forget, anyone I know with a smartphone go to this link and I'll give you my username.  Its essentially free texting and photos over the net.

Big Weekend

So, usual night out Friday. Drunken fun. Bumped into the guy who was wandering around in his boxers a few weeks back (see blurry nudity).


Saturday I headed to 부산. Elliot came as far as Dongdaegu but felt too sick to come. At 자갈치 market, Mark and I had eels for supper. They skin them, which seems cruel but I guess the nerves are severed. It was surprisingly tasty. Got free quail eggs too - we asked the ajuma how to eat them and she removed the shell and popped it right into Marks mouth!

After that we saw the opening night of the Busan Fireworks Festival.  Really really pretty. Video1 and Video2.  Really fun, saw Julian ad Sophie after. Never again shalm I give directions using an Angel- in- us cafe. There were at least 3. Using a building with a colour changing 'hat' worked.
Drinks followed, ended up in the Busan Thursday Party.

Giant flower just off the beach.

Sunday Elliot came across.  Some giant art exhibition was being taken down.  Delicious mango smoothie cured my hangover. Back to Jalgachi market for broiled fish. I ended up eating the eyeballs. Perhaps it'll improve my eyesight.

Went to Haeundae for a couple pints, darts and some snooker. Then it was back to Shinsegae 신세계. Its the worlds largest department store.
Mark and I went to a 4D screening of ReelFeel. 4D was amazing! Its kinda a cross between a motion simulator and a film. Including smells, breezes, flashes from cameras. When the robots where fighting you were thrown around, hit in the back by the chair, puffs of air and smells.
Spilt my beer during an unexpected jolt. Good times!

찜질방

Went to a public bathhouse on Sunday with my Korean friend Julian.  I expected the one near here to be kinda small and bad, but it was as good as the one in 안암 in Seoul.  Spent a while using the various hot rooms in the mixed bit, including the freezer room.  It was quite pleasant after the 65C room, until the sweat on the thin jjimjibang uniforms started to crystalize.. That was a sign to get out I think.

The actual bath bit was good, the idea is to scrub so hard that you remove a layer of skin in the process.  I was surprised how much muck and gunk came off my back after I'd decided I was perfectly clean.  Got the usual looks for being a foreigner.. mostly directed down south.  I also had the awkward moment of seeing one of my young students.  I think we both made the decision to not talk and just generally subtly avoid each other.  I guess Koreans take it as a given that they'll bump into their kids teachers, maybe the local priest, the guy from the cellphone shop, and anyone else from their neighbourhood at the local 찜질방.

My new gym regiment is kinda sticking.  I went yesterday alone for the first time.  Its easier making yourself go if someone else is too.  Will try and get in this weekend too, need to drink less so hangover doesn't stop me.  Anyway, I need to head in for a haircut, not sure where to go but will wander round till I find someplace I think.

Asian Song Festival

2011 Asian Song Festival


So went to the Asian Song Festival last night.  Amazing.


There were a pile of Korean acts, with a smattering from elsewhere in Asia.  
LeeSA played first, she got famous on youtube doing acoustic covers.  
Tiktok was enjoyable :-)
Lee Seung Gi sang too.  He's a little cutie - the women at my work love him.  There was so much screaming when he came on.
Bibi Chou was really good too.  Chinese woman with a great voice.  And one of the few singers who wasn't just doing bubblegum pop music.









So enjoyable until the sky opened and it began POURING it down.  I got a blanket which I'm going to keep as a souvenir.  By this time I'd had a bottle of 소주 so was feeling pretty merry despite the rain.  Went downtown after that.  I feel like I'm finally starting to find my way around this city, even whilst tipsy and at night (when every street is just a sea of neon).




Whilst waiting for the concert to begin I wandered around the World Cup Stadium area with Elliot and Jim.  Went to this free "Virtual Reality Sports Theme Park".  Virtual baseball, running, and a giant wall sized 앵그리버드 (Angry Birds) game.  So much fun.  I tried taking photos but my camera is dead.  I thought it was the batteries but bought new ones and its still dead.  I do have the one below however from that time I came third in the Daegu Games:
If you're wondering where Elliots legs are, he was wearing jeans and it was a bluescreen.





I'll leave you with a photo I took, and a link to the videos (which I'll put onto my youtube page).  People were given glowsticks, its difficult to see but the whole crowd was lit up with different colours.  Really cool.

Beerbelly and Penis

Yesterday I went and got gym shoes.  Being a boy, I went to my nearest supermarket and tried on the cheapest pair.  They fit, so done deal.  I've joined a gym right by work.  It's a little weird, they provide you with towels, shorts and a tshirt so I can leave my shoes there in a locker and just go whenever I feel like it.  Thats cool.  I suspect that rejoining the gym may have a little to do with my students.  They ask if I've got a 6 pack (sometimes accompanied by trying to lift up my shirt).  When I say I don't, 없다, they ask if I have an 8 pack. This then increases to a 10 or 12 pack. I usually tell them then that I've got a 0 pack.



I sent off a few socks today, a wee bit concerned that they're a bit, well, wee.  If anyones in the market for possibly too small socks and a letter let me know!


For today, I'm going to do my 한국어 (Korean) homework. Head to the bank (I want a separate account to save a little money) as well as get my watch strap replaced.  Because I never take it off, its falling apart.  Hopefully they can do something about the scratches on the glass aswell.


Lastly, I need to talk to one of my students.  Her homework diary this week was a mess of nonsensical ramblings.  Something about baking and/or decorating a cake.  And then something about "spending the bastards out".  I just about choked when I read 'bastard' in a primary school kids homework diary. 

My Penis

It does make a change from students asking about my 자지 (dick) which is something a few of my classes are currently doing.  I usually pretend I don't understand. Which is easy when they use the phrase "fireball", derived I think from hurt genitals to ask if I have a foreskin.  It' s not so easy to pretend ignorance when you're teaching shapes, and one of them draws an almost anatomically correct picture up on the board.  This was no childish willy you'll see graffitied everywhere.  I informed the boy that that was definitely not the triangle I'd asked him to draw and erased it. I really wish I'd taken a photo lol. Another boy also pulled the middle finger sign upside down and gestered at the fingernail. Usually they simply just point at my crotch.  Any suggestions?

Millionaire!

Today is payday, so for the next couple days I'm a multi millionaire!  On my todo list: gym shoes, haircut, and I'm going to be opening a savings account too so I can put a little money aside. Damn student loans.  

North Korean Adult Store

Although my entire student loan is about the same as you'd pay for a years tuition now.  I feel like an old man, "in my day..." well, a year ago.  I've got this stupid idea that if money is in a different account then I pretend it doesn't exist.  It kinda works.  

Washing machine gets replaced tomorrow - hopefully with a shiny new one with dozens of shiny buttons that I'll never use because I'll not know how it works.I'll leave you with a picture of Kim Jong Il and his new sex toy he bought with his dictatorpay, enjoy:

One small blog for man..

So I'm officially one of those people with a blog.  I bet it lasts a week and I give up..
I took a photo of the floor of this coffee shop downtown, which I'll be editing and using as the background.  I thought that the camera sound would be quiet if the headphones were in.  But no.  I bet the girl working there was like "stupid crazy foreigner".  Apparantly you can't turn it off so that women know if you're taking photos up their skirts on the subway.  Or kilt I guess.


My washing machine decided to set itself on fire instead of washing my clothes on Friday.  Its old, and probably not fixable so its getting replaced Monday.


This weekend was really good, I had supper and drinks with people at Nagrange near work on Friday.  I also had my first Korean lesson downtown at the YMCA.  I got put into the second level which I'm really glad about, I would've died if I'd had to sit there for 6 weeks whilst they taught us the alphabet and how to count.  But we skipped all of that and went straight to introductions.  Theres 6 students in the class, and its only 150 000 won for 3 months and the books.  One lesson down, 11 more to go.


Saturday night I headed downtown.  After getting a wee bit lost, I met up with Erica and Shaun (et all) at Thursday Party 1.  I stopped in next door at MF to see people for a bit too.  There was this really cute guy walking round with his trousers round his ankles.  Wish I'd gotten a better photo.


  Then it was off to see Livine (this band) at their rehersal studio, more drinks, Tequila at a 노래방.  Fun.


Today I wanted to go hiking, or maybe hit the jimjibang, but tequila at 4am put an end to that.  So I grabbed supper with Sophie downtown, and wandered around the shops.  I need to get gym shoes (I'm getting so fat on all of this 갈비).  Payday is Monday, and they didn't have my shoe size so I gave up.  I did find some great couples socks which I'll be sending back to Scotland.

After getting home I skyped Little Anna, twas nice to chat.  But I need to go now, need to tidy the apartment for when my washing machine gets fixed/replaced tomorrow.