Great Weekend

This weekend Has been a great weekend!

Friday

Friday night we went to the " Jung ang" area of Ansan. (at least I think it is apart of Ansan). It only took 10 minutes by taxi.
This place made being in Korea real for me! There were neon lights everywhere, tallish concrete builidings, shops with tacky things (aimation characters), shops with nice things, and a heap of restaurants. (Note the word heap---- Camille (my teacher friend--- may be changing me to a "kiwi?") I bought a plain bunny hug from North Face. Yes they have North Face and I was so Excited! Hiking is big in Korea, as they have gorgeous hills, with lots of nice vegetation. The night pretty much ended here... we walked back... took some funny snaps... and talked with Camille. It seems that Camille, Bridgette, Roberta, and I have now known eachother forever!

Korea/Korea ---Jung ang
*when deciding where we should eat... we ran into loads of window displaying plastic food--- as a visual for what they will serve
*couples here in Korea where matching outfits-- I mean matching right down to their socks and tennis shoes (I once saw a couple in two yellow teddy bear shirts)
*when we (foreigners) are out of school hours children come up to us all the time to say "Hello" or "Nice to meet you?"
*There are "go go" type dancers on the side walks playing loud music trying to entice you to go to their club
* We saw a BBQ (Korean Restaurant) place that was four floors tall!!

Saturday

Saturday we were up decently early and met infront of our usual GS 25 to ride the subway to Suwon. Once we reached Suwon, we went to find a taxi. We tried to just pull one over "Western" style.. but that doesn't happen here. Instead, we had to keep walking until we found the line of people and the line of taxi's waiting to take everyone by turn.

So we got dropped off at the Hwasong Fortress in Suwon. It is a fortress, built by a king to honour is father (and I think to possibly hold his tomb -- King Jangheonseja). The fortress is surrounded by a beautiful Wall (5.52 km). The taxi, dropped us off at a perfect place--- far from the actual main fortress but at an enterance to the wall. We were able to start climbing (walking on the wall) straight away. The stairs of the wall reminded me of "Inca Flats" (Machu Picchu style) which means they were not flat at all but climbed up and varied in size. The wall was a great walk though... with great views of Suwon and tons of picture opportunities along the way. For example, there were various defensive facilities such as; four gates, a secret gate, a flood gate, a watch tower, an empty watchtower, empty signal fire towers, fortress tower, commander's pavilion.

The main fortress itself (not the wall) was started in 1794 and finished in 1796. Virtually, nothing remains of the fortress from that era though (pity) it was restored 1975-1979 and proclaimed a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site. The "newness" (yes I teach english) of this place took away from a little of the magic... so I prefer the wall. What was cool about this area was that we all got our names painted in Korean Caligraphy and we were able to dress up like Korean 16th century Korean Soliders!

After we thought we had spent enough time... we left and started to walk back. I waved at a taxi... so he waited for us. We then got in (I had to sit in the front)... my friends seem to think it is entertaining when the taxi drivers trys to talk to me or vice versa. Anyway so there I was communicating (if you want to call it that) with the taxi driver... he is pointing to my rings... and then his... and then he is laughing ... I am pretty sure he is laughing at Camille's Kiwi Accent... so I say "New Zealand"... then I think he asks if we are all from there (he is speaking Korean and pointing... for all I know he could be telling me to get the booger out of my nose!) anyway.... so I say No No... New Zealand, US, and BOOOM --- What's the Boom?... the cabbie... was staring at me and CRASHED into the car infront of us!!! HA HA HA So he gets out... it was a minor bumper hit.. we were going slow .. and maybe gets the other guys number??? and then he drives us another block... laughs at ME and then proceeds to playfully shove me in the head!!! HONESTLY! Was the accident really my fault??? he wasn't watching the road! Yeah So my friends can't breathe laughing ... especially that he sucker punched me... and I get one more great story to add to the list!

Finally, the night consisted of vegetarian buffet (SOOO GOOD) and meeting about 7 new foreigners in front of GS 25!!!

Love you All
Beautiful Pictures will be coming soon!
Meira