Christmas Weekend

Merry (belated) Christmas, everyone! I hope you all had a good Christmas. Let me share with you how mine went.

On Friday (Christmas Eve), I left for Seoul to stay over at Michelle's place. We were gonna take the bus down to Namhae at 9am the next morning, and she lives closer to the bus terminal than I; hence why I went to spend the night at her place.

We met up with Jennifer and Tracy at the bus terminal about 15 minutes before the bus left. When it was time, we all boarded and were on our way. Endless conversation, 3 stops and 5 hours later, we arrive to Namhae bus terminal. About an hour later, we arrived to the house we were gonna stay in. It was really nice! So, we relaxed, unpacked a bit, then had a little worship. Afterwards, we were taken down to a grocery store to buy a few things we would need for that night and the next day. Got back and cooked up a storm for dinner--which was great, by the way. I hadn't eaten like that in a while.

I wondered if there was going to be anything special that day, since it was Christmas, after all. Christmas is a big thing in Germany; but alas, most of the people who live there are Korean (Christmas is just another day in Korea).

At least one of the neighbors let out fireworks.

The next morning, I had to go and get the tickets back to Seoul (before they're sold out). In the meantime, the other girls were preparing themselves and breakfast--and our honored guest joined us! Justin is a 17 yr. old Korean high school student who helped us in the bus over to the German Village the day before. His English is excellent and he is really sweet. We were a bit surprised to know that he was actually coming; but it was all good.

So yeah, got the tickets, had breakfast, and the water went out (frozen pipes) so we couldn't clean the dishes or anything. The owner let us go without washing them, but we still had to leave. Just to make things easier, we took all our stuff with us (so as to not have to come back: we were at the top of a steep hill) and walked about 5-10 minutes to the Sunrise Art Village. We looked around and the stuff was nice.

Some of us wanted to go to the beach, but we didn't know how (the kid had left) and we didn't want to miss the only bus back to town. So, we walked back to the bus stop. We waited and talked for over an hour. The bus came and we took us to the terminal. After arriving, we decided to go out for lunch in the town. Afterwards; eating, returning to the terminal, and boarding the bus, we were back on the road.

Thanks to the snow that fell all over Korea, instead of 5 hours, the trip took 5.5 hrs. We left at 17:00, so we arrived in Seoul at 22:30-ish. I didn't think it wise to go home to Cheonan at that time and spent that night at Michelle's again.

On Monday, Michelle went to school and I made my way back home. Yes, this was a long and tiring trip, with a few unpleasant aspects and a disappointment or 2, but we still enjoyed it. Not sure I would do it again, though.

Whoa. That was long.

Enough talk!

Pictures!

I couldn't get many pictures of the apartment, but this is the living room.

Nice, huh?

The main highlight of the house: the cute little dog.

It really wasn't creepy. The picture kinda is, though.

Dinner. I was too hungry to care about taking proper pictures.

The Christmas tree on our porch.




After dinner, we went out for a walk in the freezing cold (freezing because of the wind). The following pictures are from said walk.

Yeah, I had the camera on "night" setting--hence the really bright flash.





The next morning, Tracy and I wanted to get up early to see the sunrise. Fortunately, the sun came up around 7:30, so it was early enough. (Remember, I've been waking up at 5:30).

The bulk of the pictures taken were during this time.

Ambulance? They didn't seem to be in much of a hurry.

The view from the top of the hill.

An attempt on a 180-degree angle.

The sun.

I like my surroundings.

The house behind the tree is where we stayed.

Yeah, it was that cold.

Hmmmm.

The one on the right is where we stayed. It's called the "Hamburger Haus" ("Hamburger" = German for "of Hamburg [city]").

Here I go again.

The neighbor and the light.

Hamburger Haus.

From the front of Hamburger Haus.

A new day.

Facing the new day.

The porch, from the side of the house, looking towards the front.

Cute doggie again.

The view at noon.

Heading downhill with Justin.

Passing by the main entrance to the German Village.

The sign again.

The closest to the real thing I can get (at the moment).

At the front yard area of Sunset Art Village.

Some paintings inside.

An artist among paintings.

Nothing important, just that it caught my eye.

Hey, I try.

Here, a seat saved just for you.

The front (and fountain) of the Sunset Art Village.

The Gazeebo.


Ok, my pictures of Namhae end here. Kinda sad that I didn't take more. Weird.

These I took as I was walking to the train station from Michelle's place.

Yeap, it's winter.

Overhead curve.

Impressive statue. Would be more impressive in a forest.

That's the end of my Christmas weekend. Surely, this will be my last post of 2010. Hope you all have a good New Year and be sure to come back and check on me next year!

Long-overdue Excursion

On Sunday, Dec. 19, I decided to take a much overdue excursion around Cheonan. I did not expect to be gone for so long (10:00-17:00), but it was much needed/worth it.

1st stop: random Buddhist temple I happened to spy.

Said temple with statue.

The enlightened one.

a priest I caught.

colorful animation, or . . .

. . . animated antiquity?

Buddha and his altar.

I think this picture is amusing. I look like a Muslim in a Buddhist temple, when I'm actually a Christian. The clash of religions continue . . .

Close-up of the altar.

Little bird hut.

That's one way to store your things . . .

Buddha in Korea (about as big as the apartment buildings).

I thought it looked cool.



2nd stop: interesting (and open) stationary shop.

You would be amazed with the variety of stationary that exists in these shops. That or I haven't really visited stationary shops before (since before college).



3rd stop: ransom cake/confectionary shop beside Nazareth University.

Just look at these edible works of art!

This was nearby. Apparently, something was here.

The view of traditional houses/roofs beside Nazareth University's campus.

Walking down a street.

Good ol' city time.


4th stop: this was by far my most exciting find . . .

Can you say, "Happy place"?

After months of deprivement . . . a library!

Ok, so it only has 4-8 shelves of books in English, I don't care! If anything, there's more of a chance that I can read them all before I have to leave Cheonan!

The reality of such a goal is not clearly defined, but there is no shame in trying!

As always, I had fun with the architecture.

This one is from the lobby.

As I leave and look behind.

5th stop: the KTX station in Cheonan/Asan.

(The KTX is Korea's bullet train)

The end of 1 of the platforms, looking back.

Same platform, looking ahead.

Don't let the picture fool you, this is pretty long.

I saw this after I got back from the platform. Oh well, it's not like I got on a trian without a ticket. I'm not that crazy.

This reminds me of an airport terminal.

6th and final stop: the new Galleria.

They call it a "department store"; I call it a "mall".

You know, rivers/streams are necessary.

See why I call it a "mall"?

Ok, I'll give in and say a "department store" . . . on steroids.

Me and plants; what can I say?

Some of the architecture.

The ceiling. I was on the 5th floor when I took this picture.

Anyone care to try?

From the roof of the Galleria. Now this is where it gets exciting for me. No, the merchandise for sale was not that appealing to me. At all.

The artwork, on the other hand . . .

Another skyscraper that's being constructed right beside the Galleria.

The apartments and a new Lotte Mart that will open on Thursday, Dec. 23.
(Lotte Mart = Korea's Walmart/Interspar--along with E-Mart.)

Reminds me a bit of Escher, only everyone is on the same level.

Reflextion of a couple

The KTX station, where I was just at (beside and behind the tall building).

Self-shot.

Dual-single stairs.

Hmmm, pianos, anyone?

Whoa.

That.

Is.

One.

Huge.

Fish.

Sushi, anyone?

Imported memories of beloved Austria and Deutschland (among others).

. . . and, back outside.

So yes, this is the end of my Sunday excursion. Feeling exhausted? Like I said, I had to make up for lost time.

Well, now I must be off, as I am in the institute and my time for working is coming rather quickly upon me. Until the next adventure!