There is no possible way to sum up the experience of this weekend other then that I am truly living life to the full. So many places, so many amazing people, so many photos and so many different feelings that even though I am dead tired I can’t switch off. As many of you know I plan to write a book, a mix of a memoir, travel experiences and realizations about the cultures I have integrated with. I use facebook and this blog as a place to record snippets so that when life has slowed down I can look back and begin the real story. So here is a snippet of the weekend that was had.

Saturday – Met up with one of my favorite couples in Korea. Alex (my pineapple forever from, dare I saw it, freaking America) and Claire (my lovely Scottish lass), a brilliant, well traveled couple that I am able to have a banter with and speak my mind. We enjoyed Italian that was cooked before our eyes and served with a complimentary glass of wine. Brilliant way to start a weekend I must say and as we paid we were able to gorge on real Haribo gummy bears nom nom nom.

Claire and I then traveled up north to join Chelsea who is involved in The  Women’s Global Solidarity Action Network.  This was a charity event screening of the documentary Red Maria and it was a powerful and moving film.

 

Extract from the event page on facebook

In Korea, Japan and The Philippines, there are many women with diverse jobs and her stories. Among them, this film focuses on women who are called housewives, sex workers, dispatched workers, migrant workers, comfort women, homeless and so on. The camera tracks them as they go about their everyday lives. These women have never met one another, and their lives look quite different from one another. However, their lives are connected across national borders by the one thing they have in common. That’s their bodies and labor. How can such different forms of labor be linked to the women’s bodies in such a similar way? As we search for answers to this question, we are forced to confront another question: ‘the meaning of labor’ as an ideology that is reproduced in society. https://www.facebook.com/events/370272919729052/

Saturday Night – At 6pm the partying started as I choose to partake in SantaCon, an event where hundreds of Santas drink, sing, party hard and walk around Seoul basically shocking the pants off the locals. Tons of fun was had and I’m sure these photos will explain it all!

Sunday – Another early start and another missed lay in but I tell you it was worth it! An almost to good to describe experience in Yangpyeong about an hour east of Seoul with the K food Crew. Hannah, Sungjin, Noe and myself went on a pilgrimage, as Hannah put it,  to try traditional Korean cuisine with a modern twist. Sandang Restaurant set right on a mountain side was a once in a life time experience that bought serenity and calmness to our minds and stomachs! Check it out here http://www.sandang.co.kr/

Here are a few pics, all the relevant info will be in the video that was made today and is currently being edited by the one and only talented Noe. I will post as soon as it is ready.

After a rather sleepy journey back we decided we didn’t want the day to be over just yet so we headed to Apgujeong to seek out Super Dogs that was recently featured on an episode of semipermanent. We were looking forward to the famous hotdogs with real bacon, chili and cheese but blow us down it was closed 😦

We hadn’t walked all that way in the numbing cold for nothing so we found this swanky burger place and ate to our hearts content.

Also came across this gem 🙂

No idea what are why? Oh Korea

If you would like any info on any of the content featured, please leave a comment and I’ll be happy to tell more!

Night xx

 

Art and Culture in Seoul

Inspired by the latest episode of Semipermanent I looked a little further into both Platoon and the the Art Writer Andy St. Louis. Both have great websites that list events of shows and exhibitions in the area.

Check them out here

Platoon http://www.kunsthalle.com/

https://i0.wp.com/www.kunsthalle.com/assets/images/About/3_about.jpg

Photo from http://www.kunsthalle.com/assets/images/About/3_about.jpg

Andy’s blog

http://www.seoulartfiend.com

Looking forward to checking out some of this amazing art during the winter months!

Service at PRAHA

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What a crazy night that was had at Praha Restaurant in Gangnam last night. There are not many places where you can get 5 salads, 5 soups, 5 pieces of garlic bread, 1 salmon meal, 2 pastas, a pizza, 2 pitchers of beer, a hot chocolate and 5 frozen yogurts for only 55 000!
I think it was something about being a kiwi as the manager was apparently in love with New Zealand and the service (which means free stuff) just kept coming!!!!

Mei Home at the farm

The whole school on planting day.

When told we were going on a farm trip I thought we were going to visit animals. This alas was n0t the case instead we planted cabbage seeds and radishes. At the time it seemed a pointless activity as there was no pre learning or explanation as to what was happening. (on the way in the van I was asking the kids what animals they were looking forward to seeing! # teaching in Korea #never being told anything).

Anyway it all made sense when I was told just last week that we were going back to the farm to harvest our crops which we would then make into kimchi.#If only I had known this from the beginning.

So one sunny July morning we set out to the farm…

First we dug up some sweet potatoes.

Then we planted some cabbage seeds.

On one cold, foggy autumn  morning in November we went back to pick our cabbages and they were huge!

Love my boys, I told them to make a silly face. Bad teacher Sam always trying to make the kids have fun!!!!!

Oh there is a long story behind the dirty boots drama!

Will let you know when we make our kimchi nom nom nom xx

Gentle lady cupcake and pleasure

After a beautiful dinner of Samgyeopsal with the K food crew in Sinsa-dong, Garosu-gil we headed for dessert and found this cute little gem. A beautiful cupcake and coffee shop. Not much else to say but ummmm delish. Check out the photos. If you would like directions just comment below and I will post! xx

A little bit pricey for Korea but this is a high end area and it was well worth it!

We went quite late so the cabinets were not full but still an amazing selection

Lemon, red velvet and devils mud cake

A great group of people from Taiwan, Japan, America, Korea and NZ. Georgina where are you from hehe?

Cute mugs for delish hot choccy

Flea markets in Seoul

Can’t believe that I didn’t know about this earlier! There are a whole heap of markets in Seoul with cheap and unique wares on offer.

picture from http://tong.visitkorea.or.kr/cms/resource_etc/28/260128_image2_1.jpg?&name=image2&index=1

Hongdae Free Market
Daehangno Philippine Market
Seocho Flea Market
Yongsan Flea Market
Gwanghwamun Flea Market

This is the best site that I have found with directions and more info.

http://asiaenglish.visitkorea.or.kr/ena/SI/SI_EN_3_6.jsp?cid=309567