Happy Birthday Buddha…

Since today is Buddha’s 2568th (?) Birthday, and about 1/4 of the Korean population is Buddhist, today is a holiday.

A few moments ago, I was enjoying this holiday with a cup of coffee and a good book on my balcony – when my quiet morning was shattered by the most horrific racket I’ve ever heard. It was louder and more prolonged even than any rucus I’ve caused since I was 5.

Moving aside my bamboo curtains, I peered down to discover the source of the commotion. It turns out bricks are being delivered to the back of our building, and they are being delivered in the following manner:

An entire load of bricks is stacked on the back of a bongbong truck (A Korean style pick-up truck). The solitary brick delivery man is standing in the bed of the truck pushing all the bricks row-by-row off the stack. All the bricks clink-a-chink together, until they go tumbling and rumbling over the metal ridge of the truck and onto the pavement below. So it’s an entire prolonged symphony of “Clink-clink-chink – bricks, bang-clang-bang – metal, crash-bang-clatter – pavement.” Oh well, at least he decided to wait until 11 o’clock, and didn’t start conducting such noise at 5am.

Speaking of 5 am, that’s when the crazy rooster has gotten warmed up. Most roosters, as we all know, go “Cock-a-doodle-doo” in their own special rooster way. Not the nutcase that lives in the village beside my building. This lazy rooster wakes up early early early every every every morning, and cries out “Cock-a…..” “Cock-a….” So there I lay in bed, every nerve on edge, waiting in vain for the “Doodle-Doo”. It never comes. Never in my wildest dreams did I ever think that my life would one day be lacking in sufficient “Doodle-Doo”‘s, but lo and behold, that day has come.

No More Monkeys…

As a person approaches the age of 30, (give or take a couple of years), they should receive a reminder in the mail. This reminder should state “Monkey Bars were not made for people of your age.” Yes, today I forgot that I’m no longer 10 years old. We were hiking an exercise trail in Seoul (some of you may remember Participaction Parks – it’s a similar concept). When lo & behold, we saw some Monkey Bars, all my mature restraint and decorum left me, and I decided to play. Now I’m sore and bruised. ouch.

I’ve changed my mind…

After considering the list of 100 places I posted last time, I’ve changed my mind. I’ve decided to save myself hours of jetlag and tons of money by making my own list. Of places I’ve already been, and would like to see again, and would strongly encourage others to visit if they have the chance. And so… in no particular order:

1 – The Great Wall of China. (China) Sure it’s just old bricks, but by golly there are alot of them.

2 – Harbin Ice Festival. (China) It’s cold, and dark, and cold some more, but it’s a stunning combination of breathtaking beauty and bizarre tackiness.

3 – Hershey Chocolate Factory. (Canada) ‘nough said.

4 – Blue Lagoon (Iceland). Gorgeous, blue warm water 12 months a year. It’s a huge natural spa surrounded by black volcanic rock. Very cool.

5 – Daechun Beach Mud Festival (Korea). Lots and lots of soft silky mud to play in. Everyone is covered from head to foot in smooth mud.

6 – Bay of Fundy (Canada). Same muddy reasons as above, but also some gorgeous hiking trails.

7 – Museum of London. (England) Hours and Hours of museum fun. It traces the history of London from pre-Roman days to the present. It’s fabulous.

8 – JeunJu Paper Museum. (Korea) Yes, it sounds like an absolute nightmare of a way to spend an afternoon. But there are many hidden amusements within. I’ve never laughed so hard, or for so long in a museum before.

9 – Q’Appelle Valley. (Canada)They look like mountains that got shaved. The top is all flat, like the Prairies should be…then poof, you’re driving in a valley.

10 – Inside my Tent. (Anywhere). It could be pitched in my back yard, and it would still feel like an adventure.

Okay – so there are 10 of my favourite places. I also have a list of 4 places I would like to go. Dorking (England), Ko PiPi (Thailand), Ouagadougou (Burkina Faso) and Disco Island (Greenland). Why? For the pure and simple reason that the names amuse me.