Taejongdae Tourist Hotel Busan

... is you are suppose to eat everything that you take. We were taught that once we finished eating everything we had to clean our bowls out using yellow radish so we could use the bowls again. Very neat methodology to eating/cleaning your dish-ware.

TORTURE TIME. Following supper we went to the evening worship. This is were we sang listened and watched the Monks praise Buddha. We did not have to say anything, however, we did have to do the bows. After the worship finished all the ...

... too, not just art students. This year, I went with the 3rd Graders (the oldest), to the local botanical gardens--that happen to be right down the street from my place. They were really beautiful. Still very Korea, but really pretty. I think I may be spoiled growing up at the San Diego Zoo and Wild Animal Park....or just SoCal in general. I think my bar for zoos, aquariums, and botanical gardens is ...

... k more of the l*ngu*ge) tell the drivers wh*t district to drop us off in *nd we t*ke flight. Dying for something Americ*n, we decide on TGI Frid*y's over Ben****n's, Chili's or the h*ndful of other Americ*n joints. They *ctu*lly m*de * good m*rg*rit*. The boneless Buff*lo wings were *ctu*lly very simil*r to the st*tes. H*rd to tell the difference. But P*t's h*m *nd chicken s*ndwich t*sted like fish. And Kolin's ques*dill*'s t*sted like tom*toes ...

... used to using, deodorant, beef, and most definitely tampons. ALL of these things are available in Korea though--you just have to look for them, and you have to be flexible . They are usually found in the larger chain stores similar to a Wal-mart or Target. I recommend, however, that you save any of your vegetable and fruit shopping for one of the many vendors on the street. The food is fresh and cheap. I recommend that you wash everything, and remember ...

... of each other. To use the restroom at the nearest establishment, we had to tromp over other people's mats and blankets following a current of pushing and shoving Koreans. No one seemed to mind if we stepped on their blanket, as long as we didn't have our shoes on. Koreans also apparently CANNOT just sit on the sand. Everything from mats, to blankets, to newspapers were used to sit on, but heaven forbid actually sitting on the sand!!

Then the ...

... temples and other historic buildings and sights. Alas, the second time on this trip (the first time was in Myanmar) I was hit by very urgent symptoms of temple-sickness. It was bound to happen, but yes, I overdosed on temples! I visited two must-see temples, and was unimpressed: the Bulguksa Temple was very crowded with tourists and just like so many other temples in South Korea and after that I visited Seokguram Grotto, where a beautifully carved Buddha was seated in a manmade cave ...

... the ferry it feels less organised, slightly more chaotic. Suddenly I'm eating street food rather than sitting down in restaurants (50p or £1 will buy you a hot meal from a stall), but the food is completely different to Chinese, Japanese or Thai. It's delicious and I'm surprised it isn't more popular in the West. For the first two days I was never entirely sure what was on my plate, only that it was very tasty and very spicy - occasionally ...

... to say I didn't use that one. Can you imagine ME using that in a 3' x 3' stall???!! No way. Oh, and ALL the teachers bring their own toothbrush, and leave it here at school. After lunch, you go to the bathroom, and brush your teeth. It's weird for me, but then again, I'll be eating Korean food every day... Guess I'll need another toothbrush....easier said than done.



The teacher's lounge is a large room with cubicles separated by ...

... didn't matter), I enjoyed a nice relaxing ride home. After this adventure I would start a new streak of working too often that would only be broken with the next vacation, Hawaii, which is the next entry. Come back and read! Annyeonghi Gyeseyo That is the formal goodbye in Korean. As always, I would love to hear from you all. Either drop an e-mail or a line in the blog. Talk to you soon. Tonight I am leaving for Thailand. Send me good luck and happy traveling thoughts.

... 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 ...