Spring & Summer Happenings 2013

This spring and summer, Tim and I were fortunate to enjoy a few fun activities around Korea! I thought I'd share some photos from our adventures.

Gwangju

In May right before I took a trip to China, Tim had some training in another part of S. Korea - Gwangju. Myself and some of the other wives (and children) took a trip down to see a new city and spend some time with our hubbies. Gwangju has not only an active city scene but there is a nearby mountain along with some beautiful views and hiking! We had a lot of fun even though it was a "work" trip for Tim.

Some S. Korean architecture before we proceed to the hike

The strip of shops - mostly for matching hiking gear - near the mountain

Babbling brook

All the hikers in S. Korea keep their shoes very clean!

All the way to the top? Or just a leisure hike? Leisure hike it is!

Our trip was over Buddha's birthday (or something) so everyone got to make paper lotus flowers

It seems like whenever around the RoK we see couples in matching outfits! Here was an example

Lanterns for the holiday

The trails were surprisingly rugged.

We must have looked thirsty because a kindly Korean man gave us an ice cold Gatorade. Koreans are so nice :)

Only about halfway up the mountain and I was tired

We made it!

A perfect day for the beautiful views!

Cairn! I couldn't quite reach to add to it

No idea what this sign says

The paths were pretty steep so to save our quads on our way down, we walked backwards!

An...interesting Korean lunch. Pretty sure there was octopus in the salad, soup, you name it.

Affogatos! Much tastier (and "safer") than lunch ;)

The street view near the hotel I stayed in while in Gwangju

DMZ (De-Militarized Zone)

After leaving Gwangju, I flew to Beijing and completed the Great Wall Half Marathon. Tim completed his training in Gwangju and made it back home in Songtan before I arrived. We had some time before I was to make my trip back to Indiana for the summer so we took a day trip up to the DMZ and Panmunjeon. What an experience! 

DMZ sign near the wall with all the ribbons

The wall of ribbons and prayers left by South Koreans hopeful for a united Korea

A train that had been pulverized in the skirmishes during the active part of the Korean War

The ribbon wall again

Another section of wall with flags, ribbons, and notes

The wall up close; a sobering reminder of the separation even between family members between the North and South

View of the bridge that goes into North Korean territory for the Kaesong factory. It was closed when we visited.

Inside the Donsan train station. The sign says, "When the Trans-Korea Railway (TKR), the Trans-Siberia Railway (TSR), and the Trans-China Railway (TCR) are connected in the future, Donsan station promises to emerge as the starting point of the transcontinental railroad." The South Koreans are so hopeful of unification that they already have a train station and tracks ready to go into North Korea. 

By the tracks at Donsan station. One arrow points to Seoul (Right) and one to Pyongyang (left).

Tim standing on the tracks and facing North Korea

It breaks your heart seeing the two peoples so separated.
This sign read, "Not the last station from the South,
But the first station toward the North."

View of the road separating the North and South boundary (Panmunjeom)

At Panmunjeom

Inside one of the buildings where we stood next to the guard. He literally stands like a statue for 2 hours a time.
We were technically standing in North Korea in this photo!

It was a bit hazy the day we visited the DMZ, but we did see the monstrous North Korean flag standing in N. Korea.

Viewing platform. We couldn't take photos beyond the yellow line that is visible in the lower right-hand corner of the photo

The building next to the viewing platform. It says "End of Separation, Beginning of Unification".

The "Bridge of No Return" - cross this bridge and you will be in North Korea...for good.

View of North Korea

Statue outside of the Third Tunnel, the tunnel we toured but no photos allowed.

Everland

Not too long before I went to the States for six weeks over June and July, we met up with some friends from Sheppard who are now stationed in Japan. They came to visit our friends Brad and Andrea so we tagged along to the local amusement park in S. Korea: Everland. What a fun place! Not quite as large as Disneyland/world but just as cute.

Everland entrance!

The workers wore these cute outfits as we entered the park

In the park! Let the fun begin :)

No, the tree wasn't real, but don't you wish it was?

Look at these cute little fennec foxes! All huddled together and sleeping.

I think I'll stick with my normal ears :)

The birds came right to Tim!

None of the birdies liked me too much

But! Hold a little birdseed and voila!

Blue-faced golden snub-nosed monkeys inside Everland park -
the park was like a zoo and amusement park all in one.

Even a mock safari where we saw this lion climb the side of that zebra-print vehicle

From our bus we stopped and watched this bear stand on his haunches and get crackers tossed into his mouth!

View inside the park

Such a fun park!

Quite a large insect we spotted while waiting in line for a ride.

The group on the largest ride at Everland

Tim is really getting the hang of the S. Korean double-peace hands ;)

Buttered Roast Squid....mmm!
Forget cotton candy and popcorn as amusement park fast food - try some buttered roast squid instead!
The guys weren't so keen on it.

We had the guys stand by the "Top Jet" ride sign...look at those studs (haha)!

On another ride

Swinging ship

Indiana

We had a blast this spring, but summer came quickly and I was off to Indiana at the beginning of June to see what I could learn about my parents' business during their busy season: strawberries! I spent six weeks in Indy and I loved it. It was great to be "back home in Indiana" with family and friends. I was even able to go to my cousin Matt's wedding to his lovely bride, Audrey. My dad's side of the family was all in town for a while so I got to see my cousins, aunts and uncles which was wonderful. After a long but successful strawberry season, we took an overnight trip to French Lick to go ziplining. Lots of fun and we got to see a part of Indiana I've never seen before! I was back at the farm for black raspberry season again for the first time in years and it was GLORIOUS! If you don't know, black raspberries are my all-time favorite fruit and I just love picking them - despite the brambles. This year was probably the best year I've ever seen for the delicious fruit and I picked until my arms were scratched and my fingertips were stained purple, but it was definitely worth it! However, mid-July quickly crept up on me and before I knew it, I was on a plane on my way back to S. Korea - and back to Tim, of course!

The family (sadly, missing Tim) at Matt & Audrey's wedding

Ziplining in French Lick

Boryeong Mud Festival

After returning to Songtan and a husband in need of some home-cooked meals (haha), I spent about a week re-acclimating myself to the time change, as usual. Soon after returning, Tim and I, along with some friends also living at Osan, drove to Boryeong for the annual Boryeong Mud Festival. The festival is held on the beach in Boryeong and is open to all ages. We weren't sure what to expect but it was a bunch of slides, pools, and activities which all included getting drenched in stinky mud. Don't worry, it was supposed to be full of nutrients that are good for the skin - yeah right! Anyway, after spending a day getting thoroughly soaked in mud, meeting Simon Yin filming an episode of Hidden Cities: Extreme, then rinsing off in the ocean for a swim, we made our way back to

The guys - and children - engineer an entire pool system before we hit the mud

Next to our picnic, a Korean lady was literally stuck in the sand, so she couldn't stop us from taking a photo with her!

The Korean family next to us brought their cat to the beach...on a leash. The cat may have been a little over-stimulated and scared but he took right to Tim :)

Some of the festivities at the Mud Festival

With Simon Yin!

The group after getting completely covered in mud

We smelled marvelous!

Tim in line to get his feet clean of sand before going home

Korean Baseball Game
We had the opportunity to go to a Korean baseball game so we went ahead with some other friends. The field was close to the where the 1988 Olympics were held so before the game we walked around a bit. Then off to the game we went. Let me tell you, Koreans take their baseball seriously! I would say their baseball fans are a bit like our football fans. They have organized cheers for each team AND each player from each team has at least one cheer specific to them, and everyone knows the cheer. Pretty incredible and the crowd went wild (in an organized fashion, of course) the whole game. The two teams were the Doosan Bears and the SK Wyverns. So much fun despite the almost 3 hours it took us to get home afterwards.

In front of the 1988 Olympic mascot, Hodori the Tiger

View of the baseball field in the daylight

Photobomb by Beth! In the stands

The field at night

Roki

Always need a photo update of Roki! His behavioral problems are improving, haha! ;)

Cutest when he's sleeping :)

Busan

The A-10 squadron (Draggins) here at Osan AB takes a trip to the nicest beach on the Korean peninsula which happens to be in Busan. The city lies in the southern part of Korea and it takes a few hours to get there. The Fiends were invited to accompany the Draggins so a few of us went. The beach was great, the company even better, and the city had lots to offer! Tim and I went for a three-day weekend over Labor Day. While in Busan, we went to the United Nations Memorial Cemetery. The cemetery has graves of the soldiers/airmen/sailors from the various UN countries who served and died in the active years of the Korean War. It was a beautiful memorial and we spent the day walking through the exhibits and graves. 

At the Haeundae Beach in Busan near our hotel

Other side of the beach

The guys played volleyball and the Korean spectators even did the wave for them!

At the entrance of the UN Memorial

The Memorial grounds were quiet, secluded and beautiful despite being in the middle of the city

Overlooking some of the graves

Beautiful landscaping at the Memorial

UN flags lined up together

Names of fallen men from the USA etched in the walls
since US citizens - if identified - were brought back to American soil.

View of the US memorial within the UN Memorial

Blue skies over a sobering reminder of the cost of Korea's separation

To the right is the train station in Busan - a huge buidling!

Taking the fast train back home!

Happy for a lovely 3-day weekend :)

That just about does it for me today! Hopefully within the next 24 hours I will post some details and photos from our trip to the Maldives! I really do need to break up my posts a little bit instead of posting once every six months or so! Sorry about that. Nonetheless, thanks for checking in :)

Much love,
Nicki