July 19, 2009: From the Muddy Banks of Boryeong

Over the summer, Erin and I went to the Boryeong Mud Festival with Sun Jung, her neice and nephew, Hyun June. I didn't get many pictures of the actual muddiness because I didn't want to ruin my camera, but here's what happened and what I did catch:

I woke up at 5:15 a.m. this Sunday morning to get ready to leave for Boryeong. Waking up that early sucks, but once I got ready and left my apartment, I began to enjoy the dawn. The walk to Yeokgok station was pleasant; there weren't many people up yet. I like cities, but sometimes I hate crowds...unless I'm drunk.

Anywho, I met up with Erin, Sun Jung and co. at City Hall in time to catch our bus to the South East coast of S.Korea. Sun Jung made baked sweet potatos for all of us and we ate them on the bus for breakfast. She also gave Erin and I straw hats--which we never wore.

First stop, a miner museum of some sort in the outskirts of Boryeong in the mountains. At first I thought it was pretty boring. It was just about the land the was mined a long time ago and anyhow, everything was written in Korean. But then, we get in an elevator to go to another floor, and the lights go out and then the numbers on the elevator start go (down?) to floor, like 400 or something, and there's a stobe light effect and it was awesome because we were in there with some random Koreans who looked freaked out at first...but it was obviously a gimick, I wasn't scared at all, nope. Yeah. So we emerge into a "mine shaft" and there were dummies mimicking mining and whatnot. Now for some pictures...

We hopped back on the bus and headed to the beach! The weather was nice, and by nice I mean it wasn't humid and it didn't rain. First, we were famished, so we had a nice, traditional Korean lunch with Sun Jung and the kids.

Then, Erin and I split and let them do their thing while we walked around and to check out what this mud fest was all about. Apparently, the mud from Boryeong is famous for it's skin beautifying properties and the city has spas and world renowned mud products. (We got some free mud soap for being foreingers.) The mud fest started as a way to advertise their mud and once all these foreigners starting teaching English over here, it took off and is now a huge event. There were mud games, mud slides, mud painting booths and a stage for entertainment. Oh, and beer ;)

Erin and I layed out on the beach, wadded up to our waists in the Yellow Sea, painted some mud on our bodies and talked to a few foreigners. And then had more beer. All in all, a good day, worth the 3 hour bus ride. Next time, we'll go for the weekend!

Snow!

I woke up early-ish saturday morning to "volunteer" in Songnae. My room felt rather chilly and it had been raining all night, so I decided to pile the layers onto my body and wear my rain boots just in case it was wet outside. I walk down the stairs and out of my apartment building, and saw some stuff floating in the air, which I first thought was trash or some kind of flower pollen. Then I realized it was snow! I had to take off my mittens and feel it to make sure it was real. It looked like little clumps of fluffy, shaved ice. It changed my morning mood to a pleasant one, even sans coffee, and I became distracted from the harsh cold weather and delighted to be walking in the big snow flurries. I know it sounds cheesey, but it was exciting to me--being from Florida and all.

Yes, it was magical and beautiful the whole way to the neighborhood I was due to teach at...that is until I got off the bus and had to walk to their apartment in it. The wind picked up and the snow began pelting me in the face and I was completely covered from head to foot in it by the time I got to my tutoree's apartment. It stopped snowing during my class, but I got to admire it from their balcony window for a little while longer at least. I didn't get any pictures of it, but next time, I'll try to be more prepared.