Big Day Out!

On Saturday, Leanne and I decided to have day out called ‘LAURAS AND LEANNES BIG DAY OUT!!!’ Oh Yeah! Well, I decided the name but whatever :P Anyways, we started out by going to the independence gate . The park there is really nice and there were some adjummas dancing in the park. Oh adjummas! They do seem to like a dance.

We then went to Seodaemun prison history museum. I didn’t know what to expect when I went there but the place was quite haunting. You can just feel the past there and it wasn’t a nice experience. Don’t get me wrong  I’m glad I went there but when you walk into a room with pictures of the 5,000 people who died there surrounding you, it’s just turns your blood cold. Some of the pictures are of people that were barely teenagers and you can see the pain in their eyes.

Before I start I apologise for any incorrect information on this entry I have only just learnt of the history between these two countries during the last two months. Ok, for people who aren’t familiar with Korean history, Japan took over Korea for around 50 years. They tried to wipe out the Korean language and culture and replace it with the Japanese language. People who rebelled and sometimes innocents were put into this prison and were tortured. This were men, women and by the looks of the some of the pictures also children. Over 5,000 people died here (or after from the result of torture/starvation) during the Japanese rule. Link - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Korea_under_Japanese_rule

During the war Japan took woman from China, Korea and other countries and forced them to service Japanese soldiers. These were called comfort woman and after the war when they weren’t needed anymore the Japanese killed most of them. Many who survived are still living so you can imagine how they feel. What’s worse is there has never been a proper apology to these women from Japan. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comfort_women

So you can imagine the feeling you get from this prison. I got a feeling of sadness and pain but also a feeling of rebellion and that the people sent here were brave and fought for what they believed in, their country.

After the prison we went to Bukchon hanok village. It has the largest collection of privately owned hanok houses in Seoul. Hanok houses are the tradition houses of Korea. On the way back to the station we popped in to a chicken art museum thinking it would be funny….. How wrong we were! I thought we would walk around having a laugh but after we paid for out entry the guy told use a tour guide was waiting for us upstairs. Yes, a chicken museum tour guide! And what’s worse we were the only two people in the whole museum so we couldn’t sneak out!!! I reckon we were in there for about 45minutes listening to information about chicken art. An example of our tour– “this chicken is from France”. So what? We can read!!!!

For dinner we had what I can only describe as the spiciest dish I have ever eaten. After one mouth full my nose and eyes were running. It wasn’t just me but other people looked like they were having a heart attack.

Incheon City

On Sunday I went to Incheon city (next to Seoul) with my friend Julia. It’s over 1 hour 30 minutes there so it was long day. The city is next to the airport and the ocean (you wouldn’t want to swim in it though trust me). When we got off the train we and no idea where we were and the local map didn’t help up so we went to an information booth. We were in the information booth for 2 minutes when I noticed a giant Chinese gate. We were standing outside this gate before looking at the map and didn’t even notice. We both felt very silly and ran out of the information booth. It could only happen to me…… China town isn’t very big and the food is so expensive (like really expensive for Korea). There isn’t much to say about the city apart from there wasn’t many couples but there were hundreds of babies/children (those couples yesterday were quick). And I ate what tasted like a giant fortune cookie! Awesome! :P

Spring is finally here and so are the hundreds of couples.

I heard before coming here that the weather changes overnight and it certainly is true. One day it was winter and the next, all the Korean girls forgot to put their skirts on! In Korean women don’t show any breast bone or shoulder (heaven forbid!) but they can go around with their pants on show.  Along with the lack of skirts come the hundreds of couples. I thought it was just me who noticed that Seoul seems to have move lovey dovey couples than anywhere else in the world (take that Paris) but my friends have noticed too and we want to punch them all. Seriously, I don’t know who is more annoying the adjummas or the couples. At least the adjummas don’t get in your way or make you want to puke up so 1-0 to the couples. You may think I’m being harsh but until you have experience the full blown cuteness of Korean young couples then you can’t comment! 

They wear matching couple outfits (yes, you heard right and I will get a picture one day….), they walk slow everywhere, they have to always touch each other, the guy has to protect his GF on the train (maybe I can understand this one as the adjummas are in full force on the trains), the GF has to act all childlike/cute (seriously you’re a 20+ year old woman), we have had a few grinders (you guys don’t need couple outfits), they are EVERYWHERE, even though you don’t want a BF/GF you are made to feel like a weirdo for not wanting one (case in question ‘Black day’ – will write more about black day underneath) and my final point I shall tell you with a picture not words……

At least he can claim that none of his girlfriends have left him....

It’s not just me who feels this way. Most people I’ve spoken to want to punch them or kick them.  It must be a spring thing or maybe it’s because there seem to be a holiday every month for couples… which leads me on to black day. First things first…..

 ‘Valentine’s day’ Feb 14^th – On this day girls gives guys chocolates they made to confess. Then there is ‘White day’ March 14^th – On this day guys give white foods to the girl they like (marshmallows etc.).Then there is the joyful ‘Black day’ April 14^th – Single girls must eat black food or they will forever be single. Pretty harsh…. I reckon a guy started this one. And just for the record I had the spectrum of colours in my food that day mwhahahaha.

So spring is here and out come the blossoms. We thought we would go to a festival as we are only here once and we though why not. Big mistake! The station was crazy. There were police directing people and the escalators were stopped. Mental! All for some pink flowers. The festival wasn’t even a festival. Just some food stalls and people walking under the trees. Wasn’t the best day I’ve had to far but the weather was good. Forgot to mention I had to queue up for 30 minutes for the toilet! What do people do in the loos I will never know!! Nearly peed myself and everything!! Anyways here’s some pictures of the cherry blossoms.

Money, money, money.

So last Thursday (7^th April) I finally got paid!!  I had a little dance at the ATM I was that excited ^-^ Of course things never go smoothly for me because in order to get paid I had to run and collect my alien registration card on the Wednesday (6^th April). This may sound simple but the journey is about an hour one way and I couldn’t go until after lunch (1pm). So I ran all the way to Insadong and back like a crazy woman with £ (or Won even) signs in my eyes! I needed to get paid by the Thursday as the school was closed on Friday.

So yeah, I got paid finally and had the day off on Friday so what do you think I did…… Shopping of course!! <3 And a small fortune I did spend. My reasoning for this is that I could only bring one suitcase, so I only have winter clothes….. I also got the most beautiful bag in the world <3

I haven’t done much else. I met with my mate last night and we had the biggest waffle I have ever seen.  She said she knows where there are bigger ones so that is our next meeting spot! I’ll keep you updated on the waffle situation.

O and the cherry blossoms have come out in Korea. I should be going to a cherry blossom festival at the weekend! Can’t wait! =^-^=

Byeeee

Tour of Seoul

Today I met with some of my friends to go on the Seoul tour bus around Northern Seoul. The price was 10,000 won and Leanne borrowed me the money as I nearly didn’t go! Thank-you! We got off the bus at Seoul National museum first. The place is massive!!! We went to the free admission part of the museum and there was still a lot to see.  We spent about an hour there before realising we couldn’t see everything and we needed to go to spend a whole day there. 

We jumped on to the next bus to Seoul tower. We had lunch a burger restaurant which took a nice chunk out of my remaining budget >-< but the burger was so tasty!! There was fog or something so the pictures didn’t come out as well as I hoped but we are going to go back at night later on.

Seoul tower

We then jumped off at Changdeokgung palace for a wander around. The palace is beautiful and listed in the World Heritage sites. The day was great but I was always thinking about money (or lack of money) and the fact I had to borrow money which I hate to do!!! Thanks Lea and Leanne for borrowing me money for entrance fees etc. I owe you both!! It kind of ruined the day though and I didn’t enjoy myself as much as I normally would have done. I need paying!!! 25,000 won left after getting milk and lunch today L. Tomorrow I’m going to have a talk with my school about my pay day…….

Changdeokgung palace

Dog Cafe

Woke up to a text from my school asking I bring a passport copy in Monday and a passport photo. 1) The immigration office still has my passport. 2) The school has already had 3 passport photos off me and it cost 8000won for a new set. If they think I’m paying that when I only have 40,000won left then they can get lost!! 

As you might have guessed I still haven’t been paid. Even though 3 different people have said they will sort it as soon as possible. I get my ARC card on Wednesday so I better get paid on Thursday or I will have problems as the school is closed Friday. It sucks! They said they were going to ask the principle if I can get paid without my ARC, as I told them I only had enough money for one week not two, but still nothing and it’s been a week and a half. Last week was fine but now I’m pissed off (sorry mum for the bad language but I am).  How would they like not to be told when they will get their first pay check?? I still haven’t got a TV or the internet so with no money I have nothing to do!! NOTHING!! And next weekend is a 3 day weekend! I better get paid by Thursday or I’m seriously going to….. well do nothing because there is nothing I can do! I’m going out tomorrow for a tour of Seoul so that will cost me 20,000won after lunch. I have around a tenner for a week…great! I think the lack of funds has been the source of my bad week… L

Anyways, I went to a dog café today with my friends Sae-Mi!! She treated me (Thank-you!!! =^-^= I will have to treat you when I finally get paid!). The dogs are so cute but so naughty! They didn’t want attention or anythingL. They were so busy playing with each other etc.  One of the little dogs wanted some love and wouldn’t leave me alone for ages but I don’t really like that breed of dog to be truthful. 

Myeongdong

Dog cafe sign

Most of the dogs were just play fighting for the whole time we were there. They are looked so loved and care for J. There was this Korean boy who was one of those kids you just don’t like. He chased the dogs and seemed to cry every 5 seconds (that kid could win an Oscar with his acting skills).  Anyways here are pictures of the dog café…