more Korea
I still seem to be waking up early, which gives me good opportunity to post things while I remember them and before Derek wakes up. We're in Busan staying in a friend's dorm. It's the softest bed we've stayed in yet, but that's not saying much. Busan is a huge port city on the southern coast of Korea. We arrived here yesterday around 1:30, and have taken so many pictures since then. I picked up my first pair of impractical lady shoes, which everyone here with XX chromosomes wear at all times, even hiking. They are lovely blue denim platforms with an ankle strap. I can't wait to totter gracefully around Blacksburg in them. There's a much more clearly defined university quadrant here than in Daejon, with suitable bars, convenience stores, and fashion stores with engrish poems on their signs. For example:
"It all the land was applie-pie,
And all the sea weve ink,
And all the trees weve bread n cheese,
What then shenld we drink?"
Another popular sign is [Business Type] Story. The fashion district was just a stop on the way to the Jagalchi Fish Market, which is the largest in Korea. I took beautiful pictures of pretty little dogfish sharks (which I wanted to rescue) and less pretty little tan, tube-y things (which I think I ate later) that looked like the Swedish stress ball Fry gave Leela in The Sting.
The thing here in the fish markets is most stands have a little cooking area and a platform with sitting tables next to it, so you point to the thing you want to eat and say "barbecue" or "sashimi" and then you sit back and they bring it to you either cooked or not. You get so many additional courses, too. We picked a 50$ dinner for three and left completely stuffed with one last giant shrimp on the plate (Jake called it Last Man Standing) and many uneaten whelks left behind. I also had my first tomatoes since coming to Korea on one of the appetizer trays. God I've missed tomatoes. And any fruit, actually. Anyhow, I got to use the cuisine setting on my camera, which is always a big thrill. Pics on Facebook soon.
Wednesday in Daejon was lovely. We spent the morning goggling over the eclipse, which gave me lots of positive, indescribable feelings. Wonder is the best approximation. I actually was feeling ill because my body has developed a strong aversion to cabbage, so we didn't do all the hiking we'd planned. We did spend a great day just hanging out, the same way we would have spent a weekend day together in Blacksburg: reading, switch locations, reading more, napping, and always in physical contact. My boyfriend is the most cuddles. We did get the dog and ourselves some great exercise. We started out by keeping him at a steady jog, but not so much that he'd overheat, and then he was so tired from that we were able to walk all over campus without him pulling us like the sled I'm sure he dreams of. I love malamutes.
OK, today it is pouring. Last night I put some clothes on Jake's balcony to air out, so first thing I have to do today is laundry. Then I'm thinking aquarium, museum of modern art, present shopping? Hopefully we'll snag some fried food too, I'm in withdrawal.
"It all the land was applie-pie,
And all the sea weve ink,
And all the trees weve bread n cheese,
What then shenld we drink?"
Another popular sign is [Business Type] Story. The fashion district was just a stop on the way to the Jagalchi Fish Market, which is the largest in Korea. I took beautiful pictures of pretty little dogfish sharks (which I wanted to rescue) and less pretty little tan, tube-y things (which I think I ate later) that looked like the Swedish stress ball Fry gave Leela in The Sting.
The thing here in the fish markets is most stands have a little cooking area and a platform with sitting tables next to it, so you point to the thing you want to eat and say "barbecue" or "sashimi" and then you sit back and they bring it to you either cooked or not. You get so many additional courses, too. We picked a 50$ dinner for three and left completely stuffed with one last giant shrimp on the plate (Jake called it Last Man Standing) and many uneaten whelks left behind. I also had my first tomatoes since coming to Korea on one of the appetizer trays. God I've missed tomatoes. And any fruit, actually. Anyhow, I got to use the cuisine setting on my camera, which is always a big thrill. Pics on Facebook soon.
Wednesday in Daejon was lovely. We spent the morning goggling over the eclipse, which gave me lots of positive, indescribable feelings. Wonder is the best approximation. I actually was feeling ill because my body has developed a strong aversion to cabbage, so we didn't do all the hiking we'd planned. We did spend a great day just hanging out, the same way we would have spent a weekend day together in Blacksburg: reading, switch locations, reading more, napping, and always in physical contact. My boyfriend is the most cuddles. We did get the dog and ourselves some great exercise. We started out by keeping him at a steady jog, but not so much that he'd overheat, and then he was so tired from that we were able to walk all over campus without him pulling us like the sled I'm sure he dreams of. I love malamutes.
OK, today it is pouring. Last night I put some clothes on Jake's balcony to air out, so first thing I have to do today is laundry. Then I'm thinking aquarium, museum of modern art, present shopping? Hopefully we'll snag some fried food too, I'm in withdrawal.