East Sea Part 7 – Snacks

Ok now I thought we were heading home, but we stopped for more snacks – and had a number of delicious things to eat – hotteok, potato-filled rice cakes and sweet potato fries…

East Sea Part 8 – The sushi centre

Mr Lee wanted to have dinner. Jin and I were stuffed from all the snacks throughout the day, but we ended up at a sushi centre. It looks like a warehouse, with over 30 entrances – each leading to a different ‘restaurant’.

I was intrigued by the fish and squid on what looked like a clothing line, but Mr Lee hurried me into the sushi centre to show me the live fish.

He chose what he wanted and literally within seconds, the fish’s life was over as the lady prepared it to be served.

Check this out (watch how the little guy is still moving after his head was chopped off)



So we talked and laughed over sushi and soju – which I didn’t eat. And of course, ended the meal with coffee …again!

This is the little guy you saw in the video:

East Sea Part 9 – Ice Cream & home time!

Ok so we really should have been on our way now. But Mr Lee wanted to show me where they catch the fish. Unfortunately it was way too dark to see anything, but we still took a walk along the rock pools. Afterwards, we were homeward bound. Mrs Kim and Jin passed out, but I stayed awake to be Mr Lee’s second pair of eyes on the road.

After about an hour of traveling, we stopped again…this time for ice-cream! We must have been crazy. It was freezing and we were so full from eating all day, yet – we still gobbled down ice-cream.

I don’t think I mentioned the fruit and rice cakes in the car…

I arrived home at 11pm. I was exhausted, but filled with so many fun-filled memories!

East Sea Part 10 – Food

Throughout the journey, I saw many different kinds of food (many of which I didn’t eat)… Example:

New Years resolution : Smile at ajuma's!

Many people warned me about "ajuma's" (married Korean women, especially the ones in their 40's and over), but I never took it to heart. I love old people and I always give them my seat on the bus or subway if there are no other available seats.

...but then, I started being elbowed by ajuma's, pushed aside as they hurry out of the subway or shooed aside as they want to climb onto the bus before me.

About two weeks ago, when I was at a transfer station, the inevitable happened. An ajuma cut in front of me, and there I went - flying over her trolley bag! That was it. Ajuma's had better unite, cause I decided I'm standing my ground. I thought, "Ajuama's, I will stand aside for you... but please, don't push me like that!"

And then today, on my way home from Seoul, about 3 stops before I got off, an ajuma got on to the subway wearing a shawl and a hat - and I noticed the rosary she had in her hand.

The subway was full, and no one seemed prepared to give up their seat for ajuma. She looked around, and there weren't even railings available for her to hold on to, and she was too short to reach the higher ones.

She caught my eye, and I smiled at her. She smiled back.

The subway took off and ajuma nearly lost her balance. So I extended my arm to her, so that she could hold on. I didn't expect her to, but she clutched my arm so firmly for two stops. Before I got off at my stop, I asked her if I could please take her photo, to which she agreed.

So - smile at ajuma's and maybe, you won't be elbowed away in the future!

Traditional Korean Dancing

I was asked to write a guest article for a Korean magazine. I had to take part in traditional Korean dancing, where I wore the traditional Korean dress (hanbok) and head gear (jokduri)
The dance is known as Buchaechum and is a fan dance performed during shaman rites.

It was pretty cool and I learnt how to flick two fans open with one quick motion. Took a bit of practice, but I soon got there! The class was comprised mostly of Japanese tourists, so I didn't have the pressure of having to look like I knew exactly what I was doing all the time! There were plenty of giggles all around as it was the first time any of us had tried it. I felt a bit clumsy in the dress and felt like I was going to trip every few steps, but I just tried to look cool. Overall, I had fun ^^*

First blog post of '08

The gang I brought 2008 in with

Hello! With this being my first blog post of the year, let me wish you another Happy New Year! I hope everyone had a fantastic New Year's Eve. Whatever you did, I hope it was memorable.

My new years eve was spent with a few friends in a bar. We talked about nothing in particular -till 11pm came about and a few games were introduced, bringing with it plenty of giggles! When the clock struck 12, we wished and greeted each other - including other random party goers around us.

One Korean guy at the next table asked me where I was from. When I replied, "South Africa", he looked surprised and said, "But you speak English?!", to which I said - "Yes, I do! ...and very well, too!" Anyways - just goes to show that the stereotype still exists that people from the African continent don't speak English. Imagine how I must confuse them ... being an Indian from South Africa who is an English teacher!