Tourists

I got a little carried away with pictures here, but I couldn't help myself, so I hope you enjoy seeing what we saw. We decided to take a little road trip down to Geyongju, which is about 5-ish hours south-east of Seoul. We checked into the Kolon hotel - it's an unfortunate name, I know.

What, I can only assume, was once a very grand hotel, is now somewhat lacking.....okay, I'm trying to be nice, but honestly it was really bad (disgusting carpet, smelly room, mattresses as hard as concrete, etc.). Live and learn, right? It didn't in any way ruin our trip though, and we did get a good laugh at the Korean-to-English translation on their brochure. Here's part of it.

Guest Rooms and Suites - Dainty and cozey air and space causes you to feel just like being at your own home full of soft and relaxed feel.
Restaurants and Bar - You are certain to experience another happy edibles at Kolon hotel's restaurants. Colorful menues and internal touches is a sure plus to your pleasure of travel. Finest and best service does double taste and appetite of your food.
Hot Springs and other Facilities - You may experience need and advantage of spa while in fancy of beautiful garden. You are certain to have a double gains of skin-beauty and health and travel pleasure.

Love it. Good times. The city of Gyeongju was the capital city during the Silla Dynasty over a thousand years ago. In some ways it is similar to Seoul, and I believe it is the third largest city in South Korea. But in some ways it is VERY different from Seoul. You really feel like you step back into time there. In certain parts of the city, most of the buildings (including restaurants, shops, and homes) have the old Korean tile roofs, to help preserve the cultural feel of the place (it's required by building codes for these areas).

The first place we visited was the Bulguksa temple, a buddhist temple. You walk through the gate.

and see the four guardians, two on each side.

Apparently my sould is pure, because I made it through alive. Then you enter the temple grounds, which are so beautiful. The cherry blossoms were just starting to come out.

The temple itself is on a foundation of stone that is over 2000 years old. The buildings were all burned down at one point, and rebuilt about 450 years ago.

This temple is a big tourist spot, but it is also an opperating temple for buddhists and monks. There were people coming to pray and worship while we were there. Sometimes they will make wishes or say prayers and then stick coins into the stones of the foundations.

Or they will stack rocks on top of each other.

The details of the temple were amazing, and I can't imagine how long it took.

We especially enjoyed learning about all the symbolism in Buddhism (you'll have to look it up for yourselves - I don't have all day).

The picture below (not taken by me) is of an ariel view of one of the courtyards.

There are several of these courtyards scattered throughout the temple grounds. In the middle of each courtyard is a building with a shrine and statue of buddha - this is where you go to worship and pray. We weren't allowed to take any pictures of the insides of the shrines, out of respect, but out in the courtyards we could.

There was a bell there that they ring each morning, and this was another one at the grotto (I'll explain that in a second), and Joe and the kids got to ring it. They didn't do it very loud, and the Korean ladies called Joe and wimp and said he needed to do it again. He did it again very loudly, and it scared the crap out of me.

The Seokguram Grotto is a temple near Bulguksa, but higher up in the mountains. Here was the view from the top.

The next three pictures are not mine. This is a picture right outside the grotto.

Behind the building, you can see that there is a rounded hill. This is actually the main part of the grotto itself. It was made my piling stones in a dome-like structure, and then covered by dirt to make it look like a cave. When the Silla dynasty was overthrown, the Buddhist monks covered up the whole thing to hide it and keep it from being destroyed, and it was eventually forgotten. It was discovered by accident in the early 1900's and restored. Inside is a very large white Buddha.

This is more like the view that we saw of it, from behind glass.

Again, we were not able to take pictures of the Buddha, but I just got these off the internet from some travel sights that said I could use them on my blog as long as I didn't claim them as my own. I don't know why they got to take pictures and I didn't. Anyway, directly underneath the Buddha here is a spring that flows down to this fountain.

We had ourselves a drink. I needed it. There were a lot of stairs on our tour, and I'm still feeling it in my thighs two days later.

Next up was the Gyongju Folk Craft Village, where you can watch traditional Silla artisans at work, and then buy it if you like it. We saw a furniture shop.

And we saw a bronze factory and watched them make silverware.

We also walked past many, many pottery shops.

See the huge kiln on the right-hand side? It keeps on going up and up the hill. We got a behind-the-scenes look at one shop. Here is the machine that spits out the clay

Into these big tubes.

Here's the work station and drying area.

And here's a guy making a pot.

And here was another guys making cute little animals.

But mostly we were busy paying attention to our cute kids who were making their own creations....

This was a VERY long process, but Joe and I were patient because the kids were having so much fun. We were left to ourselves for most of the time, with no instructor, so we'll see how they turn out. We'll find out in a couple of weeks when they are delivered to us. Then there was this guy (below) at a different shop, who whipped out this magnificent pot in about ONE MINUTE flat!

He makes most of the pottery at this shop, with a black clay from this area. It is fabulously beautiful....and expensive.

The walk-ways all around this shop were paved with tiles made of the same black clay.

Our last stop was Daereungwon Tomb Park, which contains 30 of the largest and most ancient tombs.

See the things that look like hills? Those are the tombs. One hill per person. Buddhists here are still buried the same way. You see these little hill tombs ALL over the mountains in Korea, like this.

This is part of the symbolism I was talking about. You are born from your mother's stomach, and when you die you return to mother earth - the hill represents her stomach. People are buried in the mountains because they represent the bosom of mother earth. Back to the park, this was the only tomb that was open to the public.

There were some relics inside (again, no cameras), like crowns and stuff. Very interesting. Only 30 years ago, this park was full of residential homes, right around all the tombs. But then they actually excavated some, and decided to turn it into a historical sight.

This was a wonderful, and very long, long, long day - Yes, we did all of this in ONE day! We were so tired by the end, but happy. We might have to go back some day.

Wow, that was really long. Are you still awake? Was it a long day for you too?

If it doesn't kill you.....

This kid -

He's my baby. He's my world now, since all his other siblings are in school. We have a great time together. But how can something so cute be so destructive? This is what he did to our floor the other day.

Is it permanent black marker? Yes, it is. He also drew all over the back of our new recliner. It was tooooo quiet. That's always the first sign, right? You have two choices when you find them drawing with permanent black marker on your wood floor - grab the camera or kill them. I think I made the right choice. All I can say is, bless the person who invented the magic eraser. Seriously, they should win....something. My baby is very busy all day long. He likes to help his dad work out.

I think he's very helpful. Don't you think he looks helpful?

I can't figure out why he's still got a beer belly.

This is what happens EVERY time I give him popcorn.

But how can I say no when he asks so cutely. His cuteness = more housework. Here he has gotten a hold of my camera.

I don't know what kind of message he was sending with this artistic expression, but anything is better then permanent black marker.

That's my bedroom. I don't know what the heck this is.

This is the best present that we never bought him. Mom's understand.

Whether it's a printer box or a refrigerator box, it's still means hours of fun. See this face?

Is it even possible to resist? OF COURSE I'm going to give him a second helping of dinner....even though half of his first helping is on the floor.

Sometimes it's hard to be the mother of a two year old. Some times it's hard to be a two year old.

BUT I'LL TAKE IT!

Have a Taste

I'm dabbling in Korean ways. Last time we lived here I didn't. I felt most comfortable on the American base. I rarely ate Korean food. I tried not to interact with Koreans, because I felt uncomfortable with my inability to communicate with them. And yet, I didn't try AT ALL to learn the language. And you can get away with that here, if you are so inclined. This time around, things are different. Joe is teaching me to read Hangul (the written Korean language), as well as how to say my numbers and simple phrases. We love our neighborhood, which is off base, and we frequent the shops around here. We interact with the people more. And, as I've mentioned before, we've been much more adventurous in our eating. We've come to really enjoy some of the Korean foods......so much so, that I thought it would be fun to learn how to make some of our favorite things. Tonight I made a Korean dinner for us (this was my second time).Yes, I had to buy some Korean bowls, stone pots, chopsticks and such, so as to create the right milieu (dictionary?) for our dinner. I didn't make all of the dishes on the table, like the side dishes (which are candied dried squid, seaweed, pickled mushrooms, and mandu). But I did make some Kimchi Chigae or Kimchi stew (which has kimchi, garlic, green onions, tofu, zucinni, water and beef bouillon and hot chili paste).

And I also made Bibimbop (which has rice on the bottom, julliened carrots and zucinni sauted in sesame or olive oil with salt and ginger, bean sprouts, mushrooms, beef (marinated in soy sauce, sesame oil, garlic, green onions, ginger, sugar and pepper), with a fried egg on top and hot chili paste).

I'm happy to say that my family enjoyed it.

Especially the mandu, which I didn't make:), but who can blame them.

All the kids tried to use their chopsticks.

My oldest is really the only one who likes the kimchi chigae, because it's pretty spicy. Koreans love their chili paste.

I'd like to learn to make Kimbap, which should be pretty easy, and Dak Bokum (at least I think that's what it's called). It will be nice when we move back to the States to have the option of making some of these things whenever I feel like it instead of trying to find a Korean restaurant that I may, or may not like. And if you ever eat over at my house, and you want me to make you some Korean food, I'd be more than happy to introduce you to this unique culinary experience. Don't be scared:)

Ivy League

Sooooo, this post is a long time coming. Madelyn started preschool at the beginning of the year. She is really enjoying it. We were going to have her go to a preschool on base, and we had been on a waiting list since we got here in September. The first week of January we got a call that said she could start the next Monday. BUT, the very next day we found out about a Korean preschool that was taking new people, and it was intriguing. It is an International Korean school, which really means that it is an English speaking school that helps Korean children learn English. They were doing a special in January for native-English speaking children. We went and toured the school and we were really impressed, so we signed up. Because of the special, we got a major discount on the tuition. This school seems to be kind of prestigious - at least, I can't imagine why else Korean parents would pay how much the regular tuition is. I won't tell you how much it is, but let's just say that when you hear the amount, your eyes bulge out, your mouth falls open, your brain goes numb, and you think, "What the?!" So I joke around that Madelyn is going to an Ivy League preschool. Who knew?:) Anyway, she's got the cutest little uniform she wears.
As well as a gym outfit every other day.

She gets to ride a bus to school, that picks her up at base every day.

She always wants to sit by the same boy, who she adores. At first I think she ONLY wanted to be friends with him, and for him to only be friends with her. But now her teacher says, "She is proud of every new friend she makes, while staying loyal to her old friends." That makes me laugh.

It will be fun when she goes to Kindergarten next year, and can go to the same school as her older brother and sister.

Nine

Cora turned nine. I'm not really sure how it happened, but it happened all the same. We had a butterfly themed birthday party for her and some friends last weekend. Looking back on it, I realized that it was a very good representation of who Cora is.

Cora makes friends easily because she is outgoing. In the 6 months that we've been here, she has made many, many friends (I only let her invite a few). Here they are starting off the party with a pizza dinner.
After dinner they all disappeared. Normally I run the show at the parties, but this year Cora took over. I bought a few things that she had requested (various butterfly crafts), and she just took charge of the party and directed the events the whole time. Easiest party I've ever done. Cora likes to be in charge. She likes to be the center of attention too:) I've heard more than once from her classmates that she is the class clown. She also loves it when I "put her in charge of the kids", like if I take a shower or something. She can't wait to babysit when she's older.

Present time. Cora requested Littlest Pet Shop from her friends, and she got several.

She was very excited about this art kit (below). She loves art, making crafts, creating whatever her mind comes up with. I kid you not, the girl runs a general store out of her bedroom, and sells things that she makes (along with candy and temporary tattoos) to JT and Madelyn for quarters that they earn from doing chores.

That's another thing about Cora, she's very ambitious and hard working. She decided that she wanted to save up for a DSi. Joe and I told her that if she earned half the money, we would pay for the other half. She has been doing a lot of extra chores, as well as getting money from siblings:). We decided to go ahead and get it for her birthday - and yes, we took the money that she had earned. She loves it.

Here is a picture of Cora opening one of her presents. She wanted everyone to help.

Even though Cora likes to be the center of attention, she always wants everyone else to be involved too. She is the kindest, most caring person I've ever known. She always thinks about others and their feelings. She is always the first person to notice if someone at school is feeling bad or is left out, and she will reach out to them. I love her for that.

Cora is VERY independent. She wants to do things herself, without my help, I think because it makes her feel older and more mature. She wanted to picked out everything for the party, she made the invitations herself, and she wanted to decorate the cake. She did let me make the cake, but only because we ran out of time the day before, and I made it while she was in school.

And here she is licking off her "9" candle. It proves she's nine.

And that is a small look into my Cora. Oh Cora, Cora, Cora. I can't say enough how I love you. Thanks for the nine wonderful and crazy years - it just keeps getting better and better.

Dear Valentine's Day

I acknowledge that I stole this idea (and changed it for my own purposes) from my friend Katie, who stole it from her friend Mary, who stole it from rockstar diaries, and who knows if it was stolen before that. Stealing = Creativity at its best:)

Dear Valentine's Day, I don't know if you're really that special or not, but we still celebrate you every year because it's one more day to say "I love you!"

Dear house, I didn't want to clean you on Valentine's day, and that's why I cleaned you really good yesterday. I'm just wondering why you don't look like I cleaned you yesterday.

Dear Friends, thanks for watching our kids so that we could have a date tonight.

Dear Charlotte Theatre, I really wanted to see Phantom of the Opera with my Valentine tonight. I think it was rude that you changed the time of your performance without telling me.

Dear Lotte World, thanks for being right next to the Charlotte Theatre, so that we could come celebrate Valentine's day with you instead.

Dear Lotte World (again), thanks for copying our favorite ride at Disneyland (Indiana Jones). You did a pretty good job.
Dear Signs, thanks for making your Korean-to-English translations so funny (see last one). I know you're not Trying to make us laugh, but still...

Dear Chinese Food, you are really good in America, but you are rockin' it in a whole new way in Korea. Congratulations!

Dear Cute New Shoes, you tricked me into believing that you were comfortable enough for me to walk around in for a few hours at Lotte World. Thanks for my two new blisters.

Dear Karma, you put on an interesting show tonight. Was there a plot? I couldn't tell, but good job anyway.

Dear Kids, thanks for freaking out when we picked you up from the babysitter. We'll try to be better parents so that you like us more than your friends.

Dear Craving for Carbs, can't you let me enjoy my Valentine's day in peace?

Dear Internet, thanks for bringing us our favorite shows from America (The Soup, Community, The Office, and Lost), to be watched at our leisure. It was a good way to wind down our Valentine's day.

Dear Joe, thanks for the Pepero. That was seriously the sweetest thing ever.

Dear Joe (again), I always tell everybody that you are obsessed with me, but really I'm just projecting. I am totally, completely, entirely and thoroughly obsessed with you. Really.

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!

It's the Same, but Different

Where have I been? I don't know. Why do you ask?

Anywhere you go you'll find street food, right? Even in San Angelo, for heavens sake - there was a hotdog vendor next to the court house:) Hot dogs would be a typical street food in America. Korea has it's own version of street foods. Here are a couple of street vendors.

Sometimes they are on the back of a truck, or even a motorcycle. Sometimes they are on a handcart. Sometimes it's even less fancy then that. They are all over Korea. They tempt me everywhere I go....well, sometimes they tempt me. Some times they scare me:)

One interesting snack/street food here is waffles. Yeah, they aren't just a breakfast food. Now, you can get your regular looking waffle, and munch away, or you can get something a little funner, like this.

Waffle mix is poured into a variety of different molds, and sometimes fillings are added. My kids love getting a bag of these corn-shaped waffles, that have a creamy, lemony filling in them.

One of my personal favorites is Mandu.

Fry these babies up, and you're in heaven.

Also, these tasty BBQ chicken kabobs.

Juiciest chicken ever. We've heard tell that they reuse the sticks you throw away, if you don't break them in half. I don't know if that's actually true.

Then there's things that I haven't tried, and maybe won't. Joe has tried these - Deokbokki.

Deok is actually rice cake - but not what Americans would think of as rice cake, like the ones brought to us by Quaker. No, Deok is rice that has been pounded into a paste, and then formed into tube-like rolls. Deokbokki is when they take those rice cakes and put them in a hot chili sauce. Joe has tried them, and wasn't too impressed. We do like deok in other dishes though, in case you were wondering.

I saved these for last.

These are Beondegi, or silkworm pupae. Yep. People love these things like popcorn or something. I can't get past the way they look. I'm sorry if you are disappointed at my lack of courage.

Now, if you are out and about, enjoying Korean street food, and you need to go to the bathroom....well, here you go.

Oh, that's not a urinal. This is a bathroom for girls, yes it is:) You squat.....in case you didn't figure that out. P.S. bring your own toilet paper, and then throw it in the garbage instead of flushing it.