first day in Korea.

We're in KOREA!!!! WEEEEEeeeeeee!!!!

...that is all.

(Actually i'll say this: the guesthouse we are staying in has internet, we've had a
great day and now it's quite late, and Ellen (Ulala's friend)and her friends are delightful! Tomorrow we're off to do some more sightseeing and then heading out to Ellen's family's place in Daekwangri.)

Once again Happy New Year, Everyone! or in Korean: Saehaebong Mani Paduseyo!!
(thank you , Lonely Planet Phrasebook!)

Kankoku-GO!

Well, i was hoping to get some more blogging done before New Years but, alas, time slips away from me again. So much so that i`ve been multi-tasking all week. Not something i`m particularly good at, unfortunately.

Tomorrow morning Ulala and i are off bright and early (SIX IN THE FREAKING MORNING!!) to the airport where one of those big metal bird thingies will carry us up and over the sea to Korea, the Land of Morning Calm (who names these places?).

So until January 3rd we`ll be busy with much meeting of people, seeing of sights, writing of postcards, and eating of kimchi. mmmm....kimchi.

Have a wonderful and fun New Year, everybody!!

p.s. the title of the post means "Korean" in Japanese and is a bit of a pun. A multilingual pun. yummy.

Isn`t it ironic...dontcha think?

Here are some words of inspiration that i read recently in regards to the situation in Iraq. The quotation is taken from a letter addressing the Iraqi people: "I call on you not to hate because hate does not leave space for a person to be fair and it makes you blind and closes all doors of thinking," The letter goes on to say: "Remember that God has enabled you to become an example of love, forgiveness and brotherly coexistence." So who uttered these fine and elegant words calling for love, forgiveness and "brotherly existence"? well..... let me tell you: Saddam Hussein. Yup. Mister "I-get-off-on-gassing-dogs-and-civilians" himself. He`s due to be executed by hanging within the next 30 days.

Mull that over for a bit.

I`M BACK, BABY!!!!

Well, the Net is back in our tiny corner of the universe. WEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

so prepare for a surge of blogs over the next week or so as i try (most likely in vain) to catch up with photos and thoughts from a rather busy last two weeks beofre we head off to Korea for a few days to ring in the New Year. but not now cuz i`m tired and want to go to bed. mmmmm....bed.

Oh Web, Where Art Thou?

I`ve been cut off! well... our internet has been, at least. so i am writing this from the smelly, dark, cave-like internet cafe near my house. i quite like this cafe for everything EXCEPT the Internet. they have a tanning booth, a full menu, free drink bar, DVD library, low prices, free manga comics, and a shower. they even have a foot bath/massager thingy. but the actual internet booth area is dark and smokey and gross. weird.

SOOOOO, i have little to no access to the great and glorious Web for the next week or so (which is roughly when the Net should be back up and running again in our apartment. i will try and check my e-mail a few times between now and then but will likely not reply to anything until after Christmas. therefore: MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!!! may you all have wonderful holiday seasons, whatever your faith or creed. and remember when you go wishing for World Peace that Peace comes from communication, patience, understanding and tolerance.

"But, Ian," you may be asking. "WHY did they cut off your internet? Too much porn? Too much illegal downloading? You hacked through China`s censorship defences?" Nope. None of the above. SOMEone (not me) simply forgot to pay our internet bill... FOR 90 WHOLE DAYS. ...what was that about patience and understanding again?

Meh.

See you in a week. (i hope)