As soon as I stepped foot in Tokyo in 2008, I knew I had caught the travelling bug. I decided I didn't just want to travel I wanted to experience the world! The different cultures, the people, the sites and most importantly (to me) the food!

Recently I have started to develop an interest in photography and hope to improve my skills while doing what I love most.

Welcome to my journey........

Wednesday 30 May 2012

Chuncheon


Myeong-dong Chuncheon

On Saturday, me and Paul decided to go to Chuncheon. Originally we were going to the East coast for the weekend but we decided to wait until Sarah could go. It was lucky we did wait as Sunday was gloomy weather. But on Saturday, the sun was shining so we went on our day trip. The journey took about an hour from Sangbong station. You can take the normal subway, bus or KTX. I think if I went again I would take KTX. It was so busy as the train is every 40 minutes.

When we finally arrived we got a taxi to the city center. You don't need to get a taxi. We only got one as we did not know what directiion to go in. If you want to go to the city center just head straight from the station. It is a ten minute walk. We first went to Myeong-dong Chuncheon. It is a cute shopping street but I think it is only special because the drama 'Winter Sonata' was filmed here. I think it would look much better in winter. In summer it just looks strange to have Christmas trees up.


Dakgalbi street

We then headed to Gakgalbi street. Dakgalbi is chicken, vegtables, rice cake etc. in a spicy paste. You cook it on a hot plate in front of you. Aprons are a must as it splatters everywhere!  It is delicious! I heard it is Korean university students food as you get a lot of food for your money. There are 5 of these streets around Chuncheon but this one is in the city and I think most famous. It is just behind Myeong-dong. The street was nice. Paul said it looked like Diagon alley in Harry Potter. After talking to some American girls and snapping some pictures, we ended off to chose a resturant. All the resturants served the same so we had to choose one that looked the best. We eventually chose one that looked busy and had famous peoples signatures on the wall (so it must be good!).

In Diagon alley ... I mean Gakgalbi alley.
We were lucky we went when we did as 2 minutes later there was a 20 person queue. At least this proves we chose a good resturant. If people are queuing for this resturant, when there are 10 resturants serving the same food around it, then it must be good. We just managed to finish every last peiece. It was so good. If you go to Chuncheon then go to this resturant!! ><

After eating spicy food we went to have ice creams and have a wander. We went to the lake near the subway. It was so beautiful but there was no-where to sit down.

We headed home and we knew we would have to give our seats up at one points as the older people always head towards the foreigners as they know we always give up our seats. Most (not all) pretend not to notice the older people and play on their phone or pretend to sleep. I don't blame them as most adjummas don't need a seat. On the way back one adjummas pretended to need a seat. She sat on the floor. I say pretend for a reason..... Well, I gave up my seat but when we got to the subway, she ran off the train and down the stairs. She was faster than me. The old people here are sneaky. I am not taking about the grandfathers and grandmothers but the 50-70 age range. They also are quite mean. I saw a really really old grandfather on the way there who could not stand as he was about 85 but not one adjummas in the special seats gave up their seat. It was disgusting to watch. I will get off this topic as it makes me too angry!!

I would go back to Chuncheon again but I would book the KTX ^^


Yay! Gakgalbi!

Before cooking.

Cooking!

Ready!

We somehow managed to eat it all!

Our resturant and the queue!

It felt a bit like a Greek island here. Hot and old buildings. Beautiful!

Lake


Baseball game - Lotte vs Doosan

Lotte vs Doosan

My co-teacher wanted me to experience a Korean baseball game so she booked us some tickets to a game with her favourite team, Lotte. We went straight after school with my co teacher wearing her Lotte uniform haha ^^. Outside the stadium was packed. there were couples wearing the same uniform, work groups meeting in full uniforms, babies in their favorite teams uniform etc. It was a really good atmosphere. I got a giant Lotte hand which said stop on the side. We met Oksu's friends and got some beer and chicken.


Outside the stadium

Inside the stadium was massive. Rows of fans in white (Doosan) and orange (Lotte). We were quite high up so we got a good view of the pitch. We missed about 30 minutes of the game as Oksu's friend didn't not finish work until late. But, I quickly got into the game (even though I don't understand the rules still!). The atmosphere of the Lotte fans is fantastic. They sang and cheered for three hours straight. If anything they got louder throughout the game! It was great!! There was a MC guy who got the crowd going throughout the game and some dancers/cheerleaders.

During the second half we all got given orange bags which people tied to their heads. I was told this was only done by Lotte fans. These bags were also used to clean up after! Ace! ^^

We also ate our chicken and beer during the game (proper Korean style). Everywhere outside was chicken and beer stands.
The game finished around 9.45-10pm. OMG! The train was crowded. We had to wait for the second train but even then it was super busy (like London and Tokyo in rush hour). I am now an avid Lotte fan! Team Lotte!!! ^^


Baseball game

Doosan

Night

Lotte fans

Doosan team

Lotte MC guy

Lotte dancers

Plastic bag hats

Baseball game

Lotte fans


Stop! Hand.

Classroom Display - Rules

My rule display. I asked students to pose for pictures. This is because students are more likely to take notice of it, if other students are in the pictures. I think it turned out quite well ^^


Rules board

Be nice to each other

Listen

Seoul Lantern Parade - May 2012

Lantern parade May 2012
Two weeks ago, Paul and I went to the lantern parade in Seoul. It wasn't actually as busy as I thought it was going to be. We got a spot standing behind some seats so we got a clear view. The best spot was at Jongak station as it was where the celebrations were taking place afterwards. We did not go to this as we got bored an hour or two into the parade because it was all very similar after a while. Plus some of the older generation kept pushing Paul further and further back. If they wanted a good seat they should of come earlier like everyone else. One tried to push me but I push right back! They are not cute old ladies here and I will tell you why in a later blog about my trip to Chuncheon. Actually, when we left I could see some people pushing for the space.
Lantern parade May 2012
Anyways, the parade itself is good but nothing great. They had some people in normal clothes which was pretty boring. My favorite bit was these children in tradtional clothes dancing. Soooo cute!!! I am glad I have managed to go once though during my time here. I missed it last year as I was at a temple stay.

Here are the pictures!! ^^



Lantern parade May 2012

Lantern parade May 2012

Lantern parade May 2012

Lantern parade May 2012

Lantern parade May 2012

Lantern parade May 2012

Lantern parade May 2012

Lantern parade May 2012

Lantern parade May 2012

Lantern parade May 2012

Lantern parade May 2012

Lantern parade May 2012

Lantern parade May 2012

Lantern parade May 2012

Lantern parade May 2012

Lantern parade May 2012

Lantern parade May 2012

Wednesday 23 May 2012

WINK - Part 5 - Green tea making experience.

Bohyang Tea fields
After Boseong we boarded the bus. We drove about 15 minuted to a different green tea plantation. It wasn't as breath taking as Boseong but it was nice. This is where the most expensive green tea in the world is grown. They infuse gold into the leaves somehow. He did tell us, but I was too tired to listen.

We were greeted by the cutest dog ever! William told us the dog had been on TV with his owners a few times. The dog was also on the sign at the entrance!

We had to form teams of 5-6. I was a team leader mwhahahaha!! My Chinese zodiac sign is a tiger so I was living up to the name ;). We had to pick tea leaves first. They told us to pick the first three leaves only and the smaller the better. A lot of people got annoyed at the winners of this task had rubbish big leaves so it looked like they picked a lot haha. Yes, I am bitter about this but have you spent half a hour trying to find the tiniest leaves? You end up going cross eyed!! ><


Picking leaves!

After picking leaves we went to the tea house where we drank some other expensive tea. Not the gold stuff but some other expensive tea. We learnt how to drink it correctly. The teas were delicious ^^. I drank a few cups. I am British, so I do love my tea haha.

 

We then moved to the cooking room. We had to wear two sets of gloves as the cooker was over 200'c. The cooker was like a giant wok with no handle. It was so hot, two people could only turn the tea leaves for 2 minutes before changing. Our sweat was pouring. After a VERY VERY long time, we put the leaves on a mat to cool down. We then had to roll the juice out of them for 20minutes. By this point we were all hurting and sweating. It felt like hours. The woman told us she would normally cook then roll then cook, the same leaves around 4 -12 times depending on the weather and the leaves. That must take all day!! No wonder it is so expensive!! We all had a new appreciation for tea leaves after this.

Our leaves!




They then had to decided the main winners of the day. She smelt my teams leaves and another team....... She asked another man and he said the other leaves smelt burnt so we won!!! Yes!!!!! Winners :p We got some green team power as a prize, so I can make green tea rice at home haha :D






Green tea fields.
 
Expensive tea

How to drink tea

Cooker

Tea leaves before

Rolling

Winners!!! ^^