New Pets and New Adventures

The kids wanted so badly to get a pet, so I caved and got each of them a fish... of course they will also be "class pets" so that I can get one of my students to babysit them during vacations.  This is R-Man's fish, Redhead.

Pook's fish is named Tigress, but another teacher here said that the black spot makes the fish look like Hitler.  And he does have some dominance over the other fish.... they all may be organizing rebellions against oppression this weekend.

After another harrowing trip to HomePlus for the fish we decided to go for a walk in the drizzle.  There is a small monastery near here, but we couldn't figure out how to get up to it.  Instead we took this winding path that went beside these caves.

There were squash, peppers and mint leaves growing along the path.

A plywood bridge spanning the drainage ditch... not too sturdy.

Korean food is very spicy, so these peppers are grown on every spare inch of soil.

This is the monastery we were trying to get to.  One of the most amazing things about Korea is the dichotomy of the culture.  The past is revered...

... and right across the street the future is embraced.

Later that night we heard music playing and, of course, had to investigate. 

These people are signing up for a night hike of either 10, 30 or 50 kilometers (do the math, times .62).  Now it was already 6PM and these folks were going to walk somewhere between 6 and 30 miles, yet they were PSYCHED! 

These were some snacks you could buy to energize you on your walk. 

And some kind of energy water...

This is a whole team of walkers. 

In order to get ready for his 20 mile walk, the guy behind R-Man needed one more cigarette.

These ladies were dancing to the band.  It was 80's song night... Pat Benetar (Love is a Battlefield) and  Journey (Don't Stop Believing) were two crowd favorites.

All of these people were walking.

The kids, too.

These girls were NOT walking.  They were there for moral support, and to show offf 6 inch stilettos.  Well, being Korean, maybe they were doing the 10 K.

On Sunday we went to the Bullo Mounds which look totally different when it is not fall or winter.  It was really jungley.

This man is farming near the mounds.  Yup, more peppers.

These pots are for making Kimchi, a korean staple.  It is fermented cabbage and spices, and is an acquired taste.  http://www.health.com/health/article/0,,20410300,00.html

I'm guessing the path up to the Bullo-dong was closed, but we couldn't read the signs and so walked up next to the construction of brand new stairs... progress :)

While we were climbing up the hill there were soldiers from the Korean army practicing some maneuvers.  Well, you know me... I am getting pictures... so, at the end the head guy comes over and wants to take some pictures with our group, talking, not pretending to be prisoners of war, and I had to get pictures of that, too.  BUT, he then said that what they were doing is... shhhhhh.... a secret.... and not to put them on facebook.... so, drat, no pictures here.  But somewhere hidden in the foliage are about 50 soldiers.  I'll show you all this summer :)

Last stop of the day, downtown, where we finally found a hair salon...

And Gary got a frozen coffee sippy drink.