Well since I returned from my cross Korea backpacking adventure, it's been a full paced time. Between way too many hours of class time, it's been a rush to see and experience Korea and it's many incredible sites. Since the break I've been to Haeinsa - a Unesco World Heritage temple that while it's one of the 10 great temples of the Hwaom set, it is best known world wide as the repository of the Tripitaka Koreana. That is 81,340 carved wood blocks, on which are the complete Buddhist scriptures, as well as many illustrations remarkably like those in Nepal. This set of blocks are from the set completed in the year 1232. I was actually able to get a print of one of the blocks of scripture on traditional Korean paper. Yep, it is definitely a keeper! I plan on going back and picking up another print as soon as I can before the oppressing heat gets any worse.
I have also since break managed to make it to Gyeong Ju. Home of many sites including the Cheomseongdae Observatory. It is the oldest observatory in Asia. It is also home of the Royal Tombs of Daereungwon, and the Royal Tomb of King Hyogong. Interestingly, they use burial mounds rather than placing the deceased into the ground as in many western cultures. In the "Dynasty" era when a king died, all of his servants and the servants families were buried with him (including the servants children).
The transportation system here in Korea is a 4 way system, that I have to admit mostly works well. There are a number of airports that you can fly from one end of Korea to the other or to China, Japan, Hong Kong or other international sites. The fare to fly from Inchon in Korea to Beijing China is about $500 USD at the time I checked. Then there are 2 different type of rail service. One being a slower/cheaper train service and the other the KTX. The KTX is a super fast rail service that seems to travel an average of 298 KM per hour. this is about 185 MPH. You get there quick and the price is about double the cost of the slow train. The last option other than a taxi is the bus system. There are an amazing amount of bus services that can get you just about anywhere in Korea you want to be. Some of the buses are really quite nice. They have express bus service between many major cities.
Just a warning note on the local bus service in most cities. They move the minute you step inside. Forget about getting to a seat first. Just be prepared for the jolt of rapid acceleration. Also unlike in America where there are seating limits that have to be observed, in Korea if there is one, it is totally ignored. When I traveled to GyeongJu the first time we loaded into a bus that already was way over limit and the driver kept picking up people. In the end people were not only crowded into every seat, but into every inch of aisle and some even stood in between the two people sitting in the seats. I'm not sure but the way we were packed in I may have fathered numerous children and haven't a clue. It was seriously that crowded. We finally just got off the bus and walked to get out of the mass of bodies and heat. Now I travel by rail when ever possible.
I'll be posting some pics from the sites soon.
Until later - Have fun and stay safe!
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
New Address !
In case anyone would like to write my address here at Deagu University is:
James Kronmiller
Room 2111
International House 2
Daegu University
Jillyang, Gyeongsan, Gyeongbuk
712-714 South Korea
I have to admit I love the new room. It has a kitchenette, full size fridge, it's own washer and a separate bedroom and study room. All this and a living room/dining room area. Best yet is has 3 air condition units in it. Yeah it's nice.
Have a great day!
James Kronmiller
Room 2111
International House 2
Daegu University
Jillyang, Gyeongsan, Gyeongbuk
712-714 South Korea
I have to admit I love the new room. It has a kitchenette, full size fridge, it's own washer and a separate bedroom and study room. All this and a living room/dining room area. Best yet is has 3 air condition units in it. Yeah it's nice.
Have a great day!
Sunday, May 22, 2011
Busan Field Trip
Daegu University has a rather unique program called the "Buddy Program." They pair up a Korean student of theirs with a foreign student. The idea being they can each help one another with their respective languages they are learning as well as help with the culture shock that happens. I was fortunate enough to be paired up with "Min Jin Jung or MJ as she likes to be called. She is a "Family Services" major here at Daegu.
The buddy program went to Busan (Pusan) on Saturday the 14th of May for a day of fun and exploration. I left straight from the field trip on my backpacking adventure rather than returning on the bus to Daegu with the rest of the students.
While in Busan we visited the Busan Museum of Modern Art, as well as the APEX House, the beach, and the Bexco Exhibition facility. The Apex house is where the world leaders met in 2005 for the signing of the Busan Declaration, which was in support of the building and enhancements of the area as a world necessity. The Bexco exhibition hall had a major 3D/4D equipment show going on as well as a cultural tea show and a high school makeup/hair styling competition going on.
Just a note to those considering visiting this area. Even when a local offers you a tree limb to munch on while he is doing the same, it's best to resist the urge. I am speaking from experience as you may guess. A local fellow came by and very happily offered me part of the tree piece he was munching on. Being somewhat at a disadvantage in the Korean language I asked my Korean buddy if it was safe and was assure it "probably was." So I tried it and other than tasting as nasty as you might guess did give me a slight burning sensation on the tongue. The fellow smiled and shook hands and wandered off while I turned and got rid of the chewed "yuck". Later as we were leaving the beach park we noticed a sign that had a picture of the very tree piece I had munched on. Jokingly I asked my Korean buddy if that sign said "Poison" or some such thing and I was headed to the "great beyond". She looked at me in horror and said "it says eat and you will die" I laughed and asked her again what it really said only to be told rather remorsefully that it did indeed say they had been sprayed with a toxic herbicide and was poisonous. Thankfully the sign was from 2010 and after a sever weather and loads of rain it was a moot point.
So the moral of that story is never eat a tree you are offered no matter how tasty it may look. And NEVER accept a "probably" from your interrupter!
Needless to say after that I was ready to hit the road or so I thought. I spent the night in the local Jimjilbang or public bath house that had 24 hour sleeping facilities. It was quite the experience! Sitting around in the "men's" area with about 25 guys watching a Korean music show and a few dramas with about 2/3 of them naked or exercising. The women have their own bath area and then there is a communal sleeping area that had to be as hot as the beach. There were 4 rooms to take a sauna in and one room that had ice hanging from the walls and ceiling. It was a long hot night but thankfully they had a small cafe in it that had very cold beer. I hated to see it close for the night! It was the beginning of a great trip!
The buddy program went to Busan (Pusan) on Saturday the 14th of May for a day of fun and exploration. I left straight from the field trip on my backpacking adventure rather than returning on the bus to Daegu with the rest of the students.
While in Busan we visited the Busan Museum of Modern Art, as well as the APEX House, the beach, and the Bexco Exhibition facility. The Apex house is where the world leaders met in 2005 for the signing of the Busan Declaration, which was in support of the building and enhancements of the area as a world necessity. The Bexco exhibition hall had a major 3D/4D equipment show going on as well as a cultural tea show and a high school makeup/hair styling competition going on.
Just a note to those considering visiting this area. Even when a local offers you a tree limb to munch on while he is doing the same, it's best to resist the urge. I am speaking from experience as you may guess. A local fellow came by and very happily offered me part of the tree piece he was munching on. Being somewhat at a disadvantage in the Korean language I asked my Korean buddy if it was safe and was assure it "probably was." So I tried it and other than tasting as nasty as you might guess did give me a slight burning sensation on the tongue. The fellow smiled and shook hands and wandered off while I turned and got rid of the chewed "yuck". Later as we were leaving the beach park we noticed a sign that had a picture of the very tree piece I had munched on. Jokingly I asked my Korean buddy if that sign said "Poison" or some such thing and I was headed to the "great beyond". She looked at me in horror and said "it says eat and you will die" I laughed and asked her again what it really said only to be told rather remorsefully that it did indeed say they had been sprayed with a toxic herbicide and was poisonous. Thankfully the sign was from 2010 and after a sever weather and loads of rain it was a moot point.
So the moral of that story is never eat a tree you are offered no matter how tasty it may look. And NEVER accept a "probably" from your interrupter!
Needless to say after that I was ready to hit the road or so I thought. I spent the night in the local Jimjilbang or public bath house that had 24 hour sleeping facilities. It was quite the experience! Sitting around in the "men's" area with about 25 guys watching a Korean music show and a few dramas with about 2/3 of them naked or exercising. The women have their own bath area and then there is a communal sleeping area that had to be as hot as the beach. There were 4 rooms to take a sauna in and one room that had ice hanging from the walls and ceiling. It was a long hot night but thankfully they had a small cafe in it that had very cold beer. I hated to see it close for the night! It was the beginning of a great trip!
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| These dogs were all over the museum! |
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| Art piece in the public park - Bell made of old speakers |
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| Pregnant nude woman sculpture in the park. |
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| Apex House |
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| Conference room in the Apex House - US seat |
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| I have no idea why - They just want you to do this in every picture |
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| "It says what?!?" |
Time To Catch Up - Gyeong Ju
Gyeong Ju is a world cultural heritage city that is rich in thousand-year-long history and tradition.
This is one of the cities that I believe is a "must see". From incredible temples and an ancient stone astronomical observatory, to modern towering buildings, this city has something for everyone.
The Bulguksa Temple is both inspiring as well as breath-taking. Begun by the Prime Minister Kim Dae-seong in 751, the 10th year of the King Gyeongdeck's regin. This temple was restored in 1973 to it's former splendor.
Representing the mastery of Buddhist art of the "Silla" era, the pagodas and temple compound symbolize the "pure Land of Perfect Bliss."
From our campus it is a short train ride to the city and then the local bus system can take you just about anywhere you would want to go. During the peak of the Cherry Blossoms the buses were over crowded and you got to know your bus "neighbor" rather well as everyone is packed in to the point no one can move and you have to crawl over people to exit. Still it's worth the trip. Even enough to go back a second time which I will shortly.
This area is also home of some of the best tasting Korean dishes yo will find.Very friendly people also make this a must see city.
This is one of the cities that I believe is a "must see". From incredible temples and an ancient stone astronomical observatory, to modern towering buildings, this city has something for everyone.
The Bulguksa Temple is both inspiring as well as breath-taking. Begun by the Prime Minister Kim Dae-seong in 751, the 10th year of the King Gyeongdeck's regin. This temple was restored in 1973 to it's former splendor.
Representing the mastery of Buddhist art of the "Silla" era, the pagodas and temple compound symbolize the "pure Land of Perfect Bliss."
From our campus it is a short train ride to the city and then the local bus system can take you just about anywhere you would want to go. During the peak of the Cherry Blossoms the buses were over crowded and you got to know your bus "neighbor" rather well as everyone is packed in to the point no one can move and you have to crawl over people to exit. Still it's worth the trip. Even enough to go back a second time which I will shortly.
This area is also home of some of the best tasting Korean dishes yo will find.Very friendly people also make this a must see city.
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| Only $2.00 a cup full! |
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| Silk worm larvae - not too tasty surprisingly! |
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| Talk about a bad hair day! |
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| Clarion Eagle gets around! |
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| Always room for one more! |
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