A blast from the past - aicha aicha

I remember when I thought this video was the coolest thing ever :)

Yellow Smog

Those are mountains in the background.. yeah, behind the first one :)

A warning to all those who are new to Korea. Every spring brings yellow smog. Smog, you say? I can handle smog. Ah, but no. This is different.

I was getting ready to go to work a couple years ago in the spring when my husband called to warn me that it was a smog day. He told me to wear a good mask and only go outside to get to work.. no shopping, etc.
I had heard about this yellow cloud, but hadn't seen it for myself.

This cloud of smog travels over from China on the wind currents. As it travels, it picks up pollutants from cities and factories, dust from the desert, and grows it's own brand of bacteria along the way. People that carelessly breathe it in can develop respiratory problems. As I'm asthmatic, I thought the mask would be a good idea.

Fortunately, masks are considered a fashion item as well as a necessity in Korea. So if you don't want to look like you just escaped from a hospital, you can find a funny one to wear instead :)

An "aww" moment

Charlie is the cutest thing ever :)
Did you know that owning a dog lowers your blood pressure?

Jejudo - Honeymoon Central

If you have a weekend off and don't want to leave the country, then consider Jeju island as a place to visit.

Jejudo, "do" meaning "island", is a volcanic island located south of the mainland. It has a semi-tropical climate, so it's a lot warmer and more humid than the rest of Korea. At the centre of the island is Halla-san (mountain), a dormant volcano and also the highest peak in the entire country.

The Jeju people lived in relative isolation for many years, resulting in a unique culture and dialect. Even Koreans sometimes have a hard time understanding them! Women have traditionally been the heads of their families, passing on generations worth of knowledge to their daughters. The "sea women" of Jeju went diving in all seasons for the family's food and income, diving for abalone, shellfish, and various other sea life.

One thing you'll notice all over the island is the presence of "stone grandfathers". These carved men are dotted all over the island. Miniature grandfathers carved from volcanic rock can be purchased virtually anywhere for souveniers (I know.. I have several.. hehe) There are several theories as to the purpose of these statues, but no one knows their real origin. ooOOOoo.. I love a good mystery!

Jeju island is also famous for it's oranges. The jeju orange is a type of mandarin orange. They are very pricey, but make a nice gift for someone you wish to impress!

My husband and I went here for our honeymoon and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. We took a tour that let us experience many things such as horseback riding, ATV'ing, a submarine ride, visiting orange and ginseng farms, visiting a few Jeju island history museums, a botanical garden, and much more. It was a fairly inexpensive way to see the whole island in a few days.

I highly suggest it!

Love is in the air

We were hiking up the mountain near Beomeosa when we found this :)

Perfect photo opportunity? Or really just a chance to catch my breath? hehe.

Green Tea Farms

If you have nothing to do on a beautiful, sunny day.. then I suggest taking a day trip to a green tea farm.
We went to Beoseong and it was absolutely wonderful. The farms are immaculate, with well manicured lawns, and winding tree paths. You can hike to the top of one of the hills to get a glimpse of the view.
Also, I would stock up on the tea, because I don't think I've ever tasted better! It has a really nice nutty flavour and keeps fresh for a long time. They sell both the tea packets and the loose leaves.

Ahh.. wish I was there right now :)

Go fly a kite!

My husband said that all Korean kids grow up with a kite in their hands. They can construct them, and then fly them all in the same day. Smart little guys. I remember making them in elementary school, but I don't remember any of them actually flying..

The other day my friends and I went kite flying. We were going to build out own, but ended up buying some cheap ones from the dollarstore.

I felt like a kid again :)