Thursday, September 27, 2007

Seoul Grand Park - Seoul Land






On Monday, Krista and I went to Seoul Grand Park to visit Seoul Land with John and Christie. As Chuseok was going on, it was 50% off for foreigners at the park! We each paid 14,000W or $14, and there were few people and no huge lines! It was the best day so far in Korea!

The Seoul Land was opened in May 1988 right before the 1988 Seoul Olympic Games as one of the representative Theme Parks in Korea. Under the 5 different themes, Seoulland created 5 theme places in the name of World Plaza, Samchulli Land, Tomorrow Land, Fantasy Land and Adventure Land. Each place has its own characteristics for the theme and provides a lot of different amuesment facilities, performances, exhibitions and events including flower festivals of tulips, cherry blossoms and mums in different seasons. It is basically the Disney Land of Korea!


Click here to see their interactive site



The enterance gates to Seoul Land
















Map of Seoul Land


Here is a list of the various rides in Tomorrow Land and Fatansy Land. (you should be able to click on any photo to enlarge it)


Main walkway past the main gates


We're not sure what this says, probably Seoul Land or some sort of welcome.



This was taken looking in to a well, recognize it? It's from the movie The Ring, scary!


People in Korea have very busy days, children sometimes have lessons untill midnight, so people sleep where ever they can. Seoul Land must have tired this guy out, good thing the people on either side of him don't seem to mind, oh wait....

Christie and Krista...3,2,1...














..........blast off!















this girl didn't fare so well on the ride....



















Jon and Krista
































Seoul Land dressed up for Halloween!

Jon went on Sky X with John and Christie, which cost 25,000W. On Sky X they strap you into a harness and then they pull you up into the sky, about 18 stories, then, with a pull of the rip cord you free-fall for an experience similar to skydiving and hang-gliding and swing between the towers at almost 60 mph!






We had a wonderful time at Seoul Land but it all started out with a little ride called Black Hole 2000. This was the first big roller coaster Jon ever went on, and he wasn't aware that you went upside down till we were going up the first hill.

Here is a clip for you to enjoy and feel like you were at Seoul Land!



Wednesday, September 26, 2007

Yes, We Really Do Live on a Mountain!




























After leaving the Sanbon Market,we decided to venture around and see what was around, little did we know that our venture would lead us up a giant hill! Doesn't every adventure start with, where do you think this trail goes? Our adventure led us up 300 some stairs!





Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth.








Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same.















And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.














I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I-
-I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference
The Road Less Traveled-Robert Frost







I'm not sure that Mr Frost's road was up a mountain.........
But the view at the top was amazing!

Tuesday, September 25, 2007

Chuseok / Chusok Holiday in Korea

We have been on holiday from September 22 - September 26 for the Chuseok holiday here in Korea. It is basically like Thanksgiving at home, on the 15th day of the 8th month of the lunar Korean calendar.

Nowadays, on Chuseok there is a mass exodus of Koreans returning to their hometowns, since hometowns are not only where one was born and raised, but where the spirits of one's ancestors are enshrined. One of the major foods prepared and eaten during the Chuseok holiday is Songpyeon, a crescent-shaped rice cake filled with beans and raisons.

On special occasions and holidays, Koreans wear a Hanbok. It is the traditional Korean dress. Characterized by vibrant colors and simple lines without pockets.

The kids at the school look so cute in them!















Here they are making Songpyeon, and it tasted good too!










































There were a lot of games played throughout the day as well






















































































Wandering Around Sanbon Market

Last Sunday Krista and I decided to venture out in to a different direction from our apartment to see what we could find. We had not taken the subway or any buses yet so we walked the entire way (we were out walking for about 6hrs or so). During our adventure we came across this church with a nice stained glass window.








We walked a few blocks around the corner and came across a really cool local grocery store that sells a lot of fruit and the biggest green onions we have ever seen, no wonder why they put onions in everything here. We’ll have to stop there again another time. Continuing down quite a few more streets we stumbled across the Sanbon Market! What an awesome find!
There were TONS of shops and tables that sold red meat, seafood, clothes, toys, snacks, bakery items and a lot more. Below are a few pictures of some of the food.

Fish!



Squid!!



A bunch more seafood




Different kinds of Kimchi and other vegetables

Various noodles and other vegetables


Mmmmmm.. chicken with their heads still attached!


Lots of different kinds of Kimchi!






Here is a picture of Jon eating a snack - hotdog wrapped in some sort of dough, yum!


After we made our rounds, we stopped off at a little shop where a gentleman was selling sweets. He let us each try one and we decided buy a small bag. We asked him how much - he gestered 3000W $3. He put a bunch of everything in the bag, weighed it - came to 3600W and gave it to us still for 3000W. He did this while giving us each a sample of everything else he was selling, he just kept on feeding us! :) Meanwhile.. two Korean girls at the shop beside were giggling at us!

















Here is a short video clip of all the people in one area of the market.