Kyungpook University neighborhood

Spring is finally in the air here in Daegu, and we are all shaking off our cabin fever and venturing out into new, formerly unexplored neighborhoods.  This weekend another teacher and I decided that we finally wanted to visit this area that, so far, we have only viewed longingly from a taxi or bus.  So we coerced Gary into dropping us off on his way back to the bowling alley- here, across the street from Kyungpook University.

As you can recall from your own experiences, I am sure, the area around universities tend to be packed with bars, coffee shops, bars, eateries, bars, and shops.  Well, this area had plenty of bars, and a few of the rest.  Don't you want to go here, with the cute Adidas slipper?  I sure do :)

It was Saturday, so the vendors were out selling items.  Here you can see snacks made from various rices.  We were almost tricked into purchasing some, but only by sheer will power and a lot of negative behavior conditioning were we able to resist.

Cooking items.  The item in the top right corner is a bag of corn syrup. 



Doesn't it remind you of getting a sample each Christmas at the Mall of NH from Hickory Farms (and of course pretending that you had never tried it before)?  If the bag wasn't squishy I would have bought it thinking I was getting the Signature Beef Summer Sausage!

This, of course, does NOT remind me of the Mall of NH... Love the smiling pig out front.  He's like, come on in, this is totally fine with me...

Yeah, not the best name for a pizza place, is it?

As we were walking I was making my usual comments about the electric poles (yes I am obsessed, the first step is admitting you have a problem).  And as usual I was saying that it looks like you could just climb up there an hook up a wire without anyone knowing.

Add caption... no caption necessary...

Well, as we were walking we came by the local police station and I had to take a picture of the sign on the door that says, "May I help you?" when what do we see but...

...this guy!  Who I am pretty sure does not work for NHPS or FPL, or whoever does Korea's electricity... notice the complete lack of any work vehicle, safety equipment, cones, co-workers, spotters, vest, anything at all, to indicate that he is an employee out doing some kind of electric work...

Which, of course, leads me to believe (as I have all along) that he just moved in up the street and just came out here and decided to hook up his own power, and probably phone and Internet... and he feels comfortable enough doing it right outside of the police station!  We actually wandered around a bit more and I was keeping my eyes open for some U-Haul boxes to see where this guy lived!

Isn't Korea something?!?

After seeing that guy, there was not much that could compare in the way of pictures, but I do like the deep love. 

And while this is not such a great or funny sign, at least they are honest... if you bring in this picture of Jen Aniston and think you are going to walk out looking like that, well, we need a little magic!  HA!

More hilarity from bad translations

You know how I love little stores and the great things they sell, as well as the hilarious motivational phrases that are on many of the stationary products.  Well, at Daiso there was plenty to go around.  This helpful info is on a package of file folders.

Here's an example from a butterfly an example
that it can lie happy on a hard rock
An example that it can lie on this unsweetened
stone friendlessly and all alone now let my bed
I do not care.

Helpful bowling information.

Loving U
The most exciting thing is not doing it.
If you fall in love with someone and never do it.
it's much more exciting.

(not sure I want this on my notebook...)

Spam singles.  How can this NOT be funny???

"I'm so gorgeous!" 

Said the disgusting green roach.

English Vocabulary
I is not trying
to follow him.
?  ?

Love looks not with the eyes,
but with the mind.
and etherefore is wing's
cupid painted blind

(FYI, etherefore is not in the dictionary)

I am a pig doctor
I can cure all
your problems
with this bandage

Isn't this so cute??? socks for your chairs.  I am taking orders, so let me know!

I will also take orders for this one... who needs a rouleau de frotter? 

While this doesn't have any funny translations or weird applications, check out the incline on this handicap ramp!  I was too scared to even WALK down it! 

Fire on the mountain

When we returned home from bowling there was smoke coming from the mountainside so we decided to go and check it out.

Instead of fire trucks, we have helicopters that scoop water from the lake at the top of the hill and fly it to the site, where they drop it onto the flames and surrounding area. 

Here the helicopter is dropping down to the lake.

That orange thing hanging down is a basket type thing that scoops the water up.

Here you can see the scoopie thing being lowered into the water.

Watching the action.  Pooks has a snow leopard hat, R-man has a penguin.

One of the three helicopters reporting for duty.

Oh my gosh!  Nemo's swimming out to sea! 

Well, that was our excitement for the day!  That, and the hats.

Back to real life... and bowling

We are back to our every day routine, and so not much exciting is going on.  Today we went bowling and to the dollar store.  I know, I can't believe this is all I have to write about either!  So here is this huge bowling pin, but the bowling alley is not here, it is up the street on the right hand side.  I'm not sure why they put the pin so far away. 

Here we go...

In Korea there is only big ball bowling, which is very different from candlepin.  Also, the finger holes are TINY, good for the kids, not so much for me.

It is a typical set-up, with pictures of famous Korean bowlers on the wall.

The shoes are way cooler than at home.

Pooks and her fake smile.  She's thinking... sure this is fun...

R-man really did have a good time.

I think he was still laughing from when the ball flew out of my hand and just about dropped straight on my toe.  Luckily I was the one taking pictures, and not in any :)

Here- all the bowlers at the end of some great games. 

and

Australia Part 6/ NZ3

Today we are in Tauranga and we are taking a tour.  First stop on the tour is a kiwi grove.  The kiwi grow on short trees that overhang, almost like vines.

see... now you know.

Next stop is a Maori area.  The Maori are New Zealand indigenous people, and they did not have it any easier here than the native Americans had it in the US.  There were wars and intolerance, but today the Maori culture is respected, so much so that the native Maori language is taught in schools and on all signs in NZ.  

As we enter the area, a warrior comes up and makes an offering to us.  If our leader picks it up, we are there in peace.

The Maori do this beautiful thing when they meet- they touch hands, foreheads and noses, which signifies a sharing of breath and knowledge.

You would not believe that this Maori lady has a sister that lived in Laconia, NH for 10 years.  She and her family have visited many times, and she was telling me how much she loves that area and how she spent some summers at the lake.  Small world.  Even weirder,  the sister now lives in Florida.

They younger people of the family performed traditional dances.

and of course asked for audience participation.

The boys got to do the haka, which looks something like this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c-lrE2JcO44

They were scary!

We loved Tauranga, and were sad to be leaving this place.

Rebound.  Next stop Bay of Islands, where the weather is finally warm enough for us to hit the beach.

The kids spent all day digging and playing in the tide pools.

As we were waiting for the ferry back to the boat there was time for some rock skipping.

Time to get off the boat in Auckland, NZ, where we had a few days to recuperate before heading back to school.

Goodbye Celebrity Century... we'll miss you!

Hello Villa Maria Winery!

If you know us you know there is always time for a factory tour.

These tanks are cold storage for wine, and if you drank one bottle per day it would take you 510 years to empty one tank.  Who's up for a challenge????

This is the bottle works, which was quiet today.  

By this point we are all wiped out and ready to head home.  Luckily we were leaving the next morning.  All in all Australia, New Zealand and Tasmania are amazing places to visit.  Because they all speak English (sort of, Gary still has no idea what was said during an hour long conversation he had with a taxi driver) it is a lot easier to get around, order food, grocery shop and get a hair cut (which I did on the last day at a place called The Shearing Shack!).  It is easier to have discussions about the Republican nominations while you are sitting by the pool.  All of those things are easier, but it takes some of the adventure out of the trip... we never once said, "What do you think that is?" as we took a bite of our dinner. 

It is always good to end with smiles like these.  We hope you enjoyed our trip. 

Where should we go next???