Background Back in comprehensive school, I became friends with a Korean student who lived in my hometown for 5 years called Ellen. Unfortunately after we parted ways to go to University, we lost contact.But through the power of the internet, Ellen came across me again, so I decided to fly over to Japan's neighbour, Korea, to catch up during my August Vacation. Ellen is currently working on her graphic design Masters.
Language Barrier When I first arrived at the airport, I soon found out that my mobile phone didn't work in Korea, despite the fact my friend's had in the past and many of the passengers' phones did. Perhaps a 'roaming' contract. Anyway, I quickly felt uneasy, and proceeded to McDonalds and managed to communicate in English with many gestures that I wanted change for my Won note to use a payphone to contact Ellen to meet up. I knew absolutely zero Korean.. I really empathised at that time with how it felt to be Cara and Laura visiting Japan.. I was totally helpless and although I had downloaded some Korean mp3s and memorised the Korean script, I just panicked when I was in a shop and couldn't even utter 'thank you' (kamsahamnida)!!!
A Divided Country One Wedn 11th August, I got up early to take a tour to Panmunjom and the border. The border is only 50km north of Seoul.
Dorasan Station is a full-functioning modern station waiting for the unification of the North and South. Until then, it's a tourist spot and nothing short of a ghost town.
Peongyang to the left.
South Korean men are required to fulfil 2.5 years of military service. The officers here were mucking around, and laughing and joking a lot as they didn't choose to be there!
(Click to enlarge) Can you see the world's tallest flagpole in the North Korean village?
The DMZ: The Demilitarized Zone is a 4km wide stretch along the border where no weapons are permitted. Here I entered the underground 3rd tunnel, a failed invasion plot by the North Koreans
Next to an Amusement Park close to the border, this altar could be found. On Thanksgiving and New Year's Day, South Koreans pray here for the safety of their separated family members trapped in the North
Taking a photo from an observatory
Freedom Bridge, across which ~13,000 POWs were released back to South Korea in the 50s
A bullet-ridden train literally stopped in its tracks in the 50s
After a long talk about safety and signing a UN contract agreeing to the danger ahead, we visited Panmunjom. We couldn't speak, nor make any hand gestures. We were put into lines and our movements were controlled. A North Korean soldier was standing between these two buildings when we first arrived, but he hid from sight before we were permitted to take a couple of photos.
In this room, where UN talks are held, I could step into North Korea! This is a South Korean soldier holding the Tae Kwon Do agressive stance. The atmosphere was tense, and again we had to keep quiet.
Heart and Seoul
Some graffiti I came across. Video gaming is extremely popular in Korea.
Sightseeing- Deoksu Palace
The President's Home
Seoul: Both traditional and modern
Verdict:Technology: Definitely more developed than Tokyo or London. iPhone touchscreens in the station allowed you to check the news, weather and Google maps. Fast internet, and mobile phone signal on the underground. Samsung and LG have overtaken Sony and Panasonic's sales. Weather: Very hot on Wedn, but a typhoon brought a lot of rain and (relieving) cold winds People: Speak a little English, the women were pretty (plasic surgery is popular in Seoul). Value for Money: Very cheap!! Food: Spicy and tasty! I loved the grilled pork, and authentic kimchi and bulgogi!
I had a great and memorable time, and I'm glad I could catch up with Ellen after all these years! She (and I) had changed sooo much!!
Monday 23 August 2010
I'm EXHAUSTED and very, very sore!! But I just wanted to let you all know I conquered Mt Fuji and successfully made it to the top!! Photos and video to follow hopefully sometime this week :)
Sorry for the lack of Korea photos, I'm still waiting for my friend to email me the first set which I backed up on her computer.
But here's a little taster..
This is me standing in North Korea- yes you read that right- next to a South Korean soldier
in an aggressive 'ready' Taekwondo stance.
So tomorrow 22nd August at 5am GMT I start my ascent of Mt Fuji! I'll be climbing for about 24 hours, so please think of me and send me some energy and luck!!
It'll probably be the toughest physical challenge I ever do!!
5 reasons I'm putting myself through the pain and agony of the climb:
Bragging rights. Simple.
To see the millions of stars visible at a height of 3.5km
To walk above the clouds
To watch a beautiful sunrise and get a good photo
To stand on the crater of one of the world's most famous volcano!!
Packing before hitting 'The Fuuj'
Hello Kitty hat, Welsh flag and crazy calorie bars not to be forgotten!!
It's been a long time coming (there's no excuse for my procrastination, just a load of Karaoke visits that have been consuming my time).
So here are the long-awaited best photos of the duration my friends stayed...
Sunday June 27th
We gave a culture class for the local Girl Scouts group including myself giving an amazing Japanese (if I do say so myself) speech, making Welsh love spoons, and Earl Gray tea and homemade scones.
Monday June 28th
We headed to Asakusa (the one with the giant red lantern) and I played Ms Tour Guide for the day ^^ We drew our fortune and made a wish at the Shrine. Asakusa was followed by a trip to an observation deck overseeing the city, and some chopsticks practice at a Japanese-style bar.
Tuesday June 29th
In Ikebukuro, my favourite hang-out spot, we made some feline friends in the Cat Cafe, where one can get up close and personal with ten cats, before having a snack at the Maid Cafe. This Maid Cafe was much more 'pop musicy' compared with the last one I visited a few months ago, and we were treated to a slightly bored-looking Maid doing some cute dance rountine..
Friday July 2nd
We headed to a World Heritage site- Nikko, North-West of Tokyo. It is home to a fantastic five-storied Pagoda, a Golden Temple and the origins of the "See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil", which turned out to be a very small carving of the Three Wise Monkeys (reenacted by us truly). Followed by the heaviest downpour I've experienced (ruddy rainy season..)
Saturday July 3rd
We had dinner with some teachers and coworkers at a Chinese restaurant, where Lara and Cara unwittingly ate pig's ears followed by their first Karaoke!
Sunday July 4th
Disneyland!!!! I can't begin to describe how hot it was. My highlights were meeting Robin Hood, beating the unbeatable Jen at the Space Blasters shooting game, and laughing at the ridiculous amount of Japanese people queuing for hours for the new Michael Jackson ride in the heat.
Monday July 5th
We headed to Shibuya and ate Shabu Shabu- this is a cook-it-yourself style meal (popular in Japan, as it's fun to cook your own food at a restaurant apparently) where you dip the meat in boiling water. Pretty healthy ^^
This was followed by Puri-Kura (derived from the English "Print Club") where ridiculously fast passport-styled photos are taken, followed by much more slow-paced editing of the photo adding cute graffiti and bows. Many Japanese women long for Western-styled eyes (there is an increasing trend of eyelid surgery, yes you read that right), and the machines' software creepily edits facial features and whitens the skin (not that I need any help).
Wednesday July 7th
Day 1: Kyoto is a city far West of Tokyo, and is far more traditional in comparison. We got hugely lucky and saw two Geisha in a rickshaw within a couple of hours! We took a train to Arashiyama where we visited a Japanese Zen Garden, the Bamboo Trail, and Monkey Mountain (quite a muddy climb!).
At the Japanese Inn (a ryokan) dressing up in yukatas (summer kimono)
Thursday July 8th
Day 2 in Kyoto: We checked out Gion, Geisha Town, had some green tea, got bitten loads by mosquitos in Fushimi Inari and finally I tried on and bought a Yukata (summer kimono)!!
The place where they filmed scenes from 'Memoirs of a Geisha'
A maze of thousands upon thousands of Torii Gates at Fushimi Inari
What's next?
On Saturday 7th I'm attending the Hikarigaoka Summer Festival, on Sunday 8th I'm climbing a small mountain, Mt Takao, to prepare for Fuji, I'm off to Korea (excitement!!) on Aug 10th, where I'll be visiting the North Korean border..to be followed by the conquering of Mt Fuji August 22nd-23rd..
Sunday June 27th
Tuesday June 29th
Friday July 2nd
Saturday July 3rd
Monday July 5th
