Halloween 2012

This year I dressed up as a zombie/ghost thing again! My sixth graders were more scared than the second grade!

Happy Halloween!

Scary!

Willow!

Mt. Yongmasan to Mt. Achasan.

The heavens have opened!

Me and Paul had been wanted to climb Mt Yongmasan for a while. On Saturday, we finally managed it! Yongmasan isn't a very big mountain compared to others. In fact, I saw dogs and children up there.

We first popped to see the waterfall. Sadly, it was turned off as we just missed it. I think one of the time slots is 2pm - 2.15pm.  To get to the hike you come out of exit 2 of Yongmasan station. Go right and turn left at the first corner. Go through the apartment complex and you will see a big set of stairs to a park. Going left will lead you to the waterfall. Going right and up with lead you to the hike. You can also get on the hike path from a small path near the waterfall. Go though the gym area and start the hike. there are loads of signs so you don't get last. they are in Korean but you can easily guess what they are for.



Mt. Yongmasan



So off we headed up the mountain. Most of the climb is climbing stairs rather than rocks. I hate stairs!! But at least they work your muscles. The weather was not great that day. It rained later that day, so during the day it was dark and cloudy.

I managed to get some good pictures though, as there was a platform that seemed to just be at the end of the mountain. With the lights coming through the sky, it looked like a staircase to heaven coming down. It was really beautiful and strange.

Adjumma and Adjusshi enjoying the views.

After making it to the top we had to find our way to Mt. Achasan. There is another staircase going down to your right. We just followed the signs for Achasan. Be careful as there are signs for everywhere! I took my tripod to take pictures of sunset, but it was gloomy, so we knew sunset would turn dark too quickly. It would then be too dangerous climbing down. Therefore, we skipped waiting for sunset.

I also found out Paul will probably leave next year :(. He is one of my closest friends over here so I will miss him so much ><. Oh well! We will just have to go on more trips before he leaves!!

My school is the curved building

At the top of Mt. Yongmasan



Hikers



Couple waiting for sunset



Mt. Yongmasan



Mt. Yongmasan



Mt. Yongmasan



Mt. Yongmasan.



Welcome Kitty!

I am looking after my friends cat until the end of January =^.^=. She is sooooo cute!! I have given her the nickname 'Mushroom' as her body is fat so you can barely see her legs haha! :p

Watching TV!

Enjoying the cat nip!

Isn't she cute!!! >< She loves her cuddles so she will be good company for me over the Christmas period! Yay! <3

Change of heart

I have changed my mind and decided to stay in Korea for another year. I think I just wanted to leave in August as I was having a tough time, but I am over it and a better person for it ^^. I know I can't work in Spain next year as the economy over there has hit a all time low. I would be stupid to give up the comfy life I have over here. Plus, I started to get homesick when I thought about leaving Korea.

I asked my school if I could use my holidays together to do a CELTA course in Thailand and they agreed. If I get a CELTA and two years experience after gaining this certificate, I can work in TEFL in the UK! New plan!! ^^

I will miss my friends in the UK but I will be back for my Summer vacation to see everyone!

Avenue of Stars, Hong Kong.

After Macau, me and Paul met with Lea to visit the avenue of stars. This is Hong Kong's version of the Hollywood walk of fame. It has the stars and the handprints of famous Hong Kong celebrities. I searched for Jackie Chan because he is awesome!!!! ><

It was busy there as it is a romantic spot for couples for walk along and it is popular with tourist.  It also has a great view of Hong Kong island.

Pictures!!!

Hong Kong Skyline

Bruce Lee

Macau

Macau

On our last day we popped over to Macau. The journey takes about an hour and is not expensive at all. About 30 British pounds both ways. We caught a the number 3 bus outside the station. It cost about 5 Macau dollars (I think) though you can pay with HK dollars. Though you have to pay with the exact change.

We missed our stop so we had to walk back as there are only taxis in the tourist areas. Every taxi that drives passed is occupied. We ended up finding some old European/Chinese style side streets which was cool.

Macau was occupied by the Portuguese and you can see the influence in buildings over here. Just like you can see the British influence in Hong Kong. I really felt like I was on holiday in Macau. I love Europe so I really liked Macau.


Busy!



One of the squares.



Busy St. Pauls



The side streets finally led us to the ruins of St. Pauls. It was so busy in that area and there was even a wedding photoshoot going on outside the ruins. The ruins themselves are magnificent. I really love old European style ruins and this building was breathtaking. We went downstairs to a small room full of Catholic artifacts and bones.



Senado Square



We then headed up to a fortress on top of a hill. From here you can see most of Macau. The views were beautiful except one really ugly building. After walking for a while we finally found Senado Square, where we were originally supposed to have got off the bus. The square was busy with shops but we couldn't find somewhere to eat ><. After searching we found a resturant on the second floor of a building. I ordered steak as it was so cheap compaired to Korea!!! When it came out I was shocked. It was two thick pieces of steak which melted in my mouth... Delicious!



My prayer



We then want to a wander not knowing where we were going but the historic centre is small enough to walk around. You can walk down a dirty side street then end up in a beautiful square. This happened to us a few times.

We eventually ended up at A-Ma temple. I have never smelt so much incense in my life. It was everywhere! Me and Paul wrote a prayer card and hung it. They were so pretty.

We were quite far from where we started by this point so we tried to get a taxi but it was useless. Seriously there are no taxis that are empty! We had to walk all the way back to the square to join a taxi queue.



St. Paul's ruins



I am so glad we went to Macau. If you are going by ferry, be prepared to check in early. There is quite a long line at immigration.

Take that ugly building!

Macau

Macau

Church in Macau

St Augustine's Church



One of the pretty squares we found



Prayers

Incense

Macau

Tian Tan Buddha (Giant Buddha), Lantau Island



Giant Buddha



On Monday morning, we decided to go to Macau. We had totally forgot about the public holiday so when we got there at 9.30am the boats had already sole out until 12.40. Since it was only going to be a day trip, it didn't seem worth it. Therefore we decided to go the next day and do what we had planned for Tuesday.

We headed up to Tian Tan Buddha on Lantau island. On the train we realised it was going to be busy but nothing prepared up for the 2-3 hour queue that lay ahead. I really don't know how long the queue was as I zoned out after a while. That was until this Chinese lady zipped until the tape in front of us. It looked like she was looking for her family so that was okay. But then her family walked along the barrier and tried to push in front of us with her. I was like hell no. So they went to the lady in charge and they must of told her that that lady had saved their place in the queue. THE LADY THAT PUSHED IT THE QUEUE!!!! I am still angry about this. There was also these two English cows that pushed in front of someone. It really makes me angry. The fact most people are polite and wait and then there is always someone who queue jumps.

Cable cars

By the time we got on the cable car we were tired. We decided to just see the Buddha then run back to the cable car before the queue got big on the way back.

In Lantau island there was hundreds of people (with hundreds still waiting the other end to come over). So we walked (quickly) up to the Buddha to take photos. The Buddha is beautiful and you can see all of Lantau island up there. There is no cost for the Buddha but you have to pay for the cable car and to go in the Buddhas head. We didn't go in the Buddha's head.

 

Giant Buddha

Lantau Island

Giant Buddha

Giant Buddha

There is quite a lot of stairs up to the Buddha which would my mums nightmare haha. These was two overweight Europeans in front of us and the guy sounded like he was going to have a heart attack.

There was no queue on the way back so we didn't have to wait. Thank goodness!

I will just warn you not to go on a bank holiday!!!! ><

That queue!