New Taeyang Tourist Hotel Busan

... famous and largest Temples in S. Korea and devoted ourselves to learning and living the Monk traditional lifestyle. As soon as we got there they made us change into informal Monk clothing. After one of the head Monks for the Temple came in and gave us the rules and guidelines for staying at the Temple as well as welcoming us and thanking us for coming. The group (which was appx 30 people, half English and Korean) was divided into two sides: those who spoke English and those that spoke ...

... so I decided to go to her. We're hoping to visit a few places in Europe if we can find cheap last minute deals. We shall see....<br><br> June 3: Sports Day! I like this day... School gets shut down for a day, and the students all participate in class vs. class athletic competitions. This year was particularly fun because the classes dressed up as teams, in various colors or homemade uniforms. I ...

... th*t we *re getting the run *round bec*use we *re Americ*n. Which is very common, *nd something th*t we're just going to h*ve to get use to, P*t s*ys. We *ll st*rt picking off of the dish *nd it's delicious. We c*n't stop. We fill up. Me*nwhile, the soju never shows up, or their pizz*. Fifty minutes h*s p*ssed. So this reconfirms our suspicions of discrimin*tion. We h*ve to get up *nd tell them we *re re*dy to le*ve *nd then she throws the ...

... in whatever food and drinks you want. There are no closing times at most bars, so feel free to drink, sing, and dance the night away. Shopping: Shopping is everywhere in Korea. There are plenty of open-air markets where you can buy cheap clothing, accessories, and pretty much anything else you can think of!! Feel free to barter for prices at these places--though, I've never been very good at it. If you are larger than a U.S. womens size 14, you may ...

... lookers. I was only wearing a tank top and shorts...the other Westerners on the beach were in Bikinis, and were being photographed and stared at by every Korean there... Even though the day was so beautiful and warm, Korean's aversion to the sun, and their mass conformity to the "rules," due thousands of years as a communist state (my rationale for all mass-Korean behavior), kept them from enjoying the day to its fullest... Most were wearing ...

... at daily life in this very unusual axis-of-evil country. Back in Seoul I went back to the hostel and to bed relatively early. I slept in and then took a bus to Sokcho on the East Coast, from where I visited the Seoraksan National Park the next day. This a really beautiful national park, with high mountains and rocky peaks. I climbed one of those peaks, the Ulsan Bawi and had great views. On another hike I visited two waterfalls. The next day I took a bus down the coast and changed ...

... moment. Believe me, I've had some rough crossings in my time, but I've never been as glad to get off anything in my life. Still, I'm back on the Eurasian Land Mass for the first time in weeks, and theoretically I could walk home from here. Although I may have a bit of bother with the North Koreans. And the Chinese, and the Russians and the Channel Tunnel Border Guards probably. Maybe I won't bother then...... The taxi ride from the port to ...

... but then the teacher said it was gross... Moving right along... I think that those topics aren't as taboo here as they are in the U.S. Strange huh?? They all giggle and laugh at me, and of course a few comment on my eyes and hair. I feel kinda like a circus freak, but I'm being well taken care of.... Strange... <br><br><br><br>The bell system here sounds like a pokemon chime. No joke. Or from some crazy anime show. Or like a jack-in-the-box or ...

... the evening was the see-saw. Yeah, that's right, you heard me, see-saw. Apparently Koreans really like their see-saws, because it was quite the popular item. Once Mike and I were able to get a shot at it, we were also quickly hooked. In fact, our group had to pull us away from it, so we could enjoy some music together. Then, after the music was over, we went back for more. Even though the festival was over, and we were supposed to leave, we made friends ...

... in the post-alcohol snoring stakes!) and generosity, i think i can draw a veil over my time in korea. as you may have deduced from these two entries, it's unlikely that i'll be returning - although i would love to meet many of the people i have befriended whilst here, again. i have now returned to chiang rai, with a three day stopover in bangkok to get some fabulous, and very painful due to knots, massages from lucky (at noknok's). i also revisited my friends at sawasdee house ...