John’s Diary – Part 9 Visitors
Jodie’s Korean Adventure
Hi, this is Jodie. I am writing about my visit to South Korea. Of course I am using my Dad’s words, my Mum’s computer and both my parents’ photos – in fact my contribution was just to be there, which I feel was quite adequate.
Arriving at some unearthly hour in the morning (even the sparrows were asleep) I was initially taken by the fact that it really was summertime in Korea – both Mum and Dad showed signs of being in the sun and, by comparison, I was obviously from a winter climate AND it was hot, even prior to dawn. I wasn’t at my best, I must admit, having about 3 hours sleep in the last 36, but Mum was happy to see me (Dad too) as you can see. After a bus trip to “the apartment” and a very welcome shower and a nap we were off so I could sample Korean food. It wasn’t bad but Mum and Dad were not very good at reading a menu or at ordering. (Dad says eating out is the single hardest thing in day to day life as all restaurants are in some way different. If there are no pictures of food from which to make selections, or if the pictures do not accurately reflect what is actually available, then you may not get what you think yo have ordered, but you will get something.)
As you would expect, I took over the living room and used the laptop for messaging, watching DVDs and other online movies, etc. The cable TV wasn’t much to get exited about but the internet was a bonus.
Of course we had walks around Mum and Dad’s local area, including the sports facilities and I was obliged to test the local “bubbly”.
As my second day was the final day for the school semester, I went to check out Mum’s school and one of her classes. I didn’t know I had to co-teach her English speaking class until were we in the classroom with twenty 16 year old science nerds. I think I managed pretty well although I ‘m not sure if they really learned anything. At the end of the 50 minute lesson, my Mum (good old Mum) committed me to responding to each student’s posted comments and questions on their blogs (and, being the very responsible daughter that I am, before leaving Korea I really did write to them all individually).
Before leaving the school I relaxed in the gymnasium with one of the big massage chairs and then braved it into the Principal’s office where I took over his desk and chair. In order to show his gratitude he gave me a small present and then arranged to take us out to dinner. He drove us north to the DMZ (De Militarised Zone near the border with North Korea) where we saw lots of razor wire and the Freedom Bridge over which 12,500 prisoners were exchanged. Then he took us to a big and expensive restaurant where we ate more delicious Korean food (it was late so I was very hungry). He said that this photo of Jodie and a teacher (who was there as an interpreter) from his school was really of Miss Australia and Miss Korea – I think he was half right anyway; what do you think?
The days began to go quickly with a visit to Mum’s friend’s home (apartment) where I was given a present, trips around the Uijeongbu city area, shopping, a look at an ice hockey match, shopping, site-seeing via the Seoul city bus tour, games with Mum in a traditional Korean village, ice skating (if I hadn’t been there I don’t know how Mum would have managed) and, of course, shopping. I got very tired at one stage and asked my Dad to carry me (like when I was little) but it didn’t seem to work the way it used to.
Mum and Dad have this strange determination to use buses and trains or even to walk. My own view was that a taxi would be quicker and dryer (it rained a lot while I was there) – so it was just as well that the public transport system is good (amazingly so).
Dad had a half-day at home (listening to the footy I think) and Mum and I were shown how to shop (as if I could learn anything on that topic) by a 15 year old boy and his mother who teaches at the same school as Mum. This was in Insadong. It was very nice and they were very pleasant (they bought me lunch and some traditional snacks) – but I could have shown them a few things about shopping.
Naturally my Dad continued to do the house duties (washing etc) including ordering the big bottles of water and checking the mail for nasty bills. (I know about them as I have to do that at home and I have to pay my parents debts at home too. The duties of a daughter are endless!!!)
Often we ate healthy food but there were other times, too. I found a monstrous bottle of soju (sort of a Korean vodka but only 20% alcohol) which costs only about Aus$12 and contains at least 10 major headaches but I didn’t buy it – my alcohol intake was quite subdued in Korea (except for one late night, after my Mum had gone to sleep, with my Dad at a Hof – a place that sells beer, soju, snacks and not much else – where we stayed until it closed which was well into the am hours; as Mum and her trusty camera weren’t there we have no photos of that, though).
Jodie! Jodie! Jodie!
My Mum was nice to me – she took me to Lotte World. It’s a theme park, a bit like I imagine Disneyland to be. There were queues but in most cases it was worth the wait for the range of rides and other entertainments. There was an all inclusive charge, at the entrance, of about Aus$30 each. Over about 6 hours we had lots of exciting (Mum says some were “frightening”) rides including a vertical drop and a rollercoaster, a visit to Magicland and a 3D virtual experience.
When it came to the “boat ride” I sat at the front and had a great view, but, when the boat dropped quickly into a deep pool and the person at the front (Jodie! Jodie! Jodie!) was drenched with water, I was glad it was summertime. When my Mum shared a smoothie with me I noticed that she looked a little wet too – perhaps not only the front person was affected by the splash.
The balloon ride was great and you could see almost all of the theme park from there. With my bunny ears, I didn’t feel even the slightest bit embarrassed on the train trip home – but it was really crowded even at midnight.
I rather liked Cheonggyecheon – a waterway in central Seoul. We went there a couple of times. On one occasion, when my Mum had crossed the stream, I think she must have taken one of the stepping stones with her as I had a bit of trouble getting across, but all was well, eventually.
While there I had my caricature drawn but I didn’t really like the end result all that much, so it became a gift to Mum and Dad.
So we moved on to Myeong-dong, which is supposed to be the centre of Korean fashion, for a look, a snack and, you guessed it, some shopping.
Another of my parents’ bus trips took us to Seoul Tower which looks spectacular, but the weather wasn’t conducive to good viewing from the top (although we thought the view from the ladies loo was alright) and there were disgusting queues to get down again, so we got home well after midnight. It’s hard being a tourist.
Below is a photo of “Jodie’s” room, another photo of Jodie shopping, one of Jodie’s favourite “local” restaurant and with one with Mum near her doorway on the second floor of her apartment villa. I loved the bakeries in Korea and tested many of the delights they offered.
On my final morning (again, at some disgustingly early hour ,when the sun hadn’t even thought of starting a new day) I had to do a Vegemite commercial for Mum – serves me right for taking some with me. Then, we were off down the street, a brief wait for the bus to take us to the airport, a long queue to get a boarding pass ….and then we lost Mum for ages…but she turned up with Maccas for breakfast which was a good enough reason.
And then my adventure in Korea ended as it began, with a hug (and a tear?) from Mum.
Shaun and Teena
Shaun and Teena came to visit ……..and all too soon they were gone again.
They arrived late on Sunday afternoon, very tired, then had an hour and a half bus trip and soon were testing the local food (with only a moderate level of approval).
Next day meant a look around Uijeongbu city and walking Gail home after work via the ice stadium, the cycling velodrome and the tennis courts.
Tuesday involved shopping and a tour of Seoul central – to sights such as the Deoksugung Palace, the (huge) museum, Seoul Tower and then more bus and train rides.
Shaun spent about 3 hours at Gail’s school. He was an honoured guest in Gail’s specialist classrooms, in the science laboratories and in the cafeteria. He also met (and was given a present from) the Principal. More shopping in central Seoul rounded out Wednesday.
A slow (relaxing) start to Thursday and then off to the COEX mall – flashy and big.
Unaided on Friday, our guests went to another palace (nicely dressed aren’t they) then caught up with us for a cruise on the river Han and a visit to Lotte World.
Saturday was time to pack up, make Gail happy (or as happy as possible), organise the baggage, trip by bus back to the airport, check-in (the Internet check-in queue was tiny, unlike the normal economy queues) and a last hug
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