Happenings

The weekends are really turning into my favorite time of the week, but then again- who doesn't love the end of the work week? It's not that I don't like my job, because I do, very much so actually, the weekends are just... more fun. It's been a few weeks so let me begin with my rafting-bungee jumping adventure. Yeah, bungee jumping. Yeah, me. I did it. I don't know how I forced myself off that platform, but I did.

I was highly anticipating this day trip, first time going further out of my realm here in Kr. It was a group event we booked in advanced with promises of transportation, rafting, lunch, some day drinking, and an optional bungee jump if you so choose. Boarding the bus out of Seoul at 7am with very little sleep the night before the prospect of jumping intrigued me, and I so wanted to do it, but deep down I did not think this would be a possible achievement.  I concluded I would make the decision the last possible moment I had to make it.

After rafting down the beautiful Hantan river, eating a Korean style buffet lunch and downing a few beers to get my nerves up we once again board the bus and are on our way to the bungee site. I get off the bus with the other jumpers and pay the fee, still not 100% sure about this. I watch about 20 people go before me, they all survive. With each jump my stomach drops a bit and my sweat glands are in full action. After waiting for what seemed forever its finally my turn. My ankles are strapped in serious Velcro contraptions and hooked to the bungee with climbing carabiners. I step to the edge and look down. Mistake. oh. my. fucking. god. I can't do it. I really can't. I make up my mind and turn around after my 3-2-1 countdown fail and start asking the nice Korean guy to take these things off my ankles. I don't really recall what happened then, but somewhere in between deciding I can't do it and asking the man to release me, I turn and jump. I did it. It was awesome, fast, and disorienting. After swinging and bouncing and spinning around upside down on the cord I am finally lowered into a small little raft paddled out by a small little Korean man who unhooks my ankles and rows me to shore. Heart pounding. And pounding. It was exhilarating, and I would do it again. 

Video still courtesy of Helen. Full video available Here

He Just Like the Shape

I survived my first all nighter out in the city of Seoul. Pretty awesome. We went to a university town so there were many, many bars, places to go, and people everywhere. I haven't seen the sunrise in a setting like that since the Sound Factory circa 2000. Really. Nothing closes. Thought New York didn't sleep... these people don't know the meaning of last call. My legs are still feeling it.

Anyway, at the first place we venture into, which we now know as HoBarIII (because apparently there are 10 of them all numbered and seemingly in competition with each other) we meet the New Zealand Glee Club or, traveling youth choir. Fun. We watch them gay it up for a bit and continue on to the next place.

At our second location we stumble upon this guy right here, dressed like Bob. His friend quickly informs us via text on his phone that "he dont smoke he just like the shape"! Shape of what?! The Marijuana leaf?! Amazing.

After leaving the second place we proceeded to the fried food stand where I proceeded to shove deep fried mandu (dumplings) into my mouth while they were still frying. Burning the roof of mi boca so badly, three days later it's still bleeding and sore. Typical. We sit in the concrete park for a while watching university students and the like run around, sit in New Paltz style guitar/singing circles, swing on the swings, pass out sitting up..etc. Now and then a man pedaling rice wine on a cart goes by and I notice a makeshift bar set up in the corner selling beer and mixed drinks. 

Finally we head over to Zen Bar- complete with gangster Buddah paintings all over the wall, Snoop videos playing on a large screen and hip hop blaring. Fitting, very... "Zen". This third location is located below street level, so upon emerging in order to make the first train of the morning back in time I am surprised to find it is broad daylight. Oh hello sun. While riding in our assigned train seats back to Pyeongtaek I fall asleep against my will- thank GOD I wake up in time. On the short subway ride back to our town I am fixated on trying to figure out if the people around me are starting their day or ending their night.

We make it home, fall asleep by 8 and wake up in search of fourth of July fireworks. Our best bet is the US Airbase nearby. We flake out and say we're not going to go, still shot from the night before. But when we start to hear the booming in the distance we quickly change our minds, jump into a cab and find a rooftop bar near the base and caught some 4th of July fireworks in the drizzle. Happy Day of Birth America- from Jade in Korea. xo.