More days in my own little world

I thought id just share some random images of some daily activities...

Out and about!

My working weeks have gradually been getting busier, so decided not to go out for a few weekends and just relax and explore my neighbourhood a little more.

Another korean friend, Yejin came back form the UK, so i ended up meeting up with her and Isis which was really nice.... i took them both for dinner at this chicken restaurant that i seem to have become addicted to (just incase you were wondering why i have so many pics of the same place in a number of different posts!).

They went home after dinner, so i went to hang out with the three musketeers aka Seung Ji & Co. We sat drinking cappuccino's and discussing the wonderful world of fashion, which all three girls are academically knowledgeable of & they decide to take me to my first Norebang (singing room), not something i thought id enjoy, but it was kinda funny!

I spent the following Sunday with my Korean parents, which is always relaxing as i usually spend most of it playing with their grandson. Later that day, I had dinner in Myeongdong (it was my first time in this area) with Yejin & Seung Ji after a little shopping....it was busy to say the least! Oh yeah, we went for ice-cream after & this stupid American/Korean guy was being such a dick! I gave him my order in korean...he turns around and asks 'Dude! Why are you speaking korean, you're english?!' in the most gay american accent EVER! so i was just like 'Why are you speaking english, you're korean?!' Fucker!

North Korea, Insadong & Gyeongbokgung Palace

So on Friday I met up with my room mate from orientation (Loren) and as we didn't have school, decided to go on a tour to the DMZ/North Korea....there were 5 of us all together and the jouney there was quite tense, mainly due to the fact that the tour guide gave us the protocal in such a way, it made me nervous!

Most places were off limits for taking pictures, but I got a few pics of North Korea from the observation deck.

The 3rd Tunnel (ok so those that don't know the 3rd tunnel was the biggest and most advanced of the 4 made.....capable of transporting 30,000 north korean troops with weapons to seoul within an hour-for a suprise attack!), it was a very educational tour, and once down in the tunnel itself, discovered the disadvantages to being tall in a country full of tiny people! The JSA has an office. that has a line across the room that literally divides north and south korea (like the Niagra Canada/USA or Greenwich line)...the line goes through the room, across the table and up the window and if that wasn't tense, you are surrounded by heavily armed north korean and south korean guards facing each other meters apart with the most fierce looks you will ever see!!!

Dorsan station was built by the south korean government in preparation for the unification of the 2 koreas...these guys are pretty certain it WILL happen. The train line goes from south to north but its bizarre being in an brand new unused station, with everything in full operation. I got myself a stamp to say that i'd been to North Korea, but was forbidden to put it in my passport, as many countries would not allow you in after seeing that you have visited a communist state such as North Korea. Freedom bridge is made out of wood and many koreans visited to pay respect.

I had made some new friends on the return journey with an american couple living in Busan, I decided to spend the afternoon with them to see some nice sights in Seoul. First stop, Insadong Market. The second stop was Gyeongbokgung Palace. This place is pretty immense - can you tell that it was founded in 1395!

It cost 3K to go inside and unfortunately my camera died halfway around, so look out for part 2 in the coming months....maybe i'll do a Winter edition, haha!

The weather was great and the were many traditional koreans in preperation for Chuseok.

Meeting up with friends...

So on Thursday (1st Oct) i was wanting to go out and learn how to use my camera better.... hopefully you will notice my pictures getting better as time goes by. I had to go and meet my friends form university in the UK Seunji and Isis for dinner as they have recently come back to Seoul so it was a little crazy how now im in their country. Dinner was really good just catching up and ended up at a really cool café which im sure i'll visit again. But I had to go home by 10pm as the Friday I was heading to NORTH KOREA!!!!

After I got back home I had dinner and headed down to the bank to withdraw some cash for my adventure the next day. As i was leaving the bank, I bumped into 2 girls who work at my local cafe, they are university students (as are most of the people in my area-apparently its where they all come to live for the year whilst studying for their law/accountancy exams). Anyway, we decided to grab some beers and head into the park to chill-the park is next to an elementary school, but it was full of 20-somethings, escaping their studies.