New Year's Limerick

So the New Year is pretty much here!
I'll be welcoming it in with great cheer...
At a street party in Seoul
Not being crushed is my goal
As is avoiding being drenched by spilt beer!!!


새해 복 많이 보내새요

HAPPY CHRISTMAS FROM SEOUL!!!

This is my last Christmas in Seoul. I am, admittedly, going to be spending it a bit differently from how I imagined I would a bit earlier in the year. I am no longer married. Nevertheless, I am happy to be single, and thrilled to be spending the holiday season with great friends - rather than a fat twat!!

HAPPY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!

The BEST countryside sign EVER!

Apparently, death by stoning is perfectly acceptable in Teesdale, England. I've made a mental note of this fact, and I will be refraining from making any detours in that area in the future lol.

What's cooking, Good Looking??

The well-loved Korean kimchi jjigae

Ok, so I currently live with a pretty big Korean family: the parents, the son (10), the aunt and the great-aunt (both on the mother's side). Things can get pretty interesting I tell you - especially in the mornings when we're all getting ready to leave the house - talk about STRESSUH. However, I think the most interesting thing about it all is the food Halmony (the great-aunt) cooks me.

Halmony doesn't like cooking for me because it's extra work, and frankly, she says she can't be bothered. The old lady can be a bit cranky, and lately she's been cooking me kimchi jjigae (pickled cabbage stew) and bap (rice) every- well everyday this week, as it happens.

Last night, while walking home, I was desperately willing there to be something other than the good old jjigae waiting for me as I walked through the door. I don't mind the stuff at all; at one point it was my favourite Korean dish, but I am slightly worried that all this pickled food may give me gastric cancer, or... too much gas at least.

As I sat down at the table to eat dinner, I was disappointed to see the dreaded dish yet again, but my disappointment quickly faded as my attention was drawn to something on a plate nearby. Some new food, I thought...At last, some variety!! My excitement quickly turned to bewilderment, as I tried to figure out what this new side dish was.

EUREKA! After a few moments of prodding the food with my chop-sticks, I realised that the dish was none other than a sorry-looking, limp, and BATTERED (as in fish and chips) lettuce leaf! Oh my, how versatile the iceberg lettuce really is. Over the years, I have witnessed the crisp and juicy leaves being used for more than just my mum's prawn cocktail. When thinking of the vegetable that is close to the hearts of many Western housewives, one fond memory often springs to mind.

In my teens I had a good friend, Liz whose parents are from Hong Kong. Liz had a big thing for Ramen noodles, and so did I, so whenever I visited her house, which was a few streets from my family home, she would pull a few packs of noodles out of the cupboard. She would then pull out two bowls for each of us, and a head of lettuce. What ensued always left me dumbfounded. She would line the bowl with lettuce leaves (like a lettuce bowl I guess) and then pour the noodles and some water into the bowl. This left the lettuce soggy and pretty disgusting.

When I saw the limp and frail-looking leaves peering at me from the table last night, I had a flashback of Liz's soggy-lettuce-bowls. Needless to say, I wasn't overly excited to taste the new dish. I was, however, surprised to find that I loved the old lady's fried lettuce...and it's a good job coz I had the same meal again tonight:(

Winter is finally here...

Here's to my last winter in Korea. Here's to leaving the sub-zero temperatures and the bitter Siberian winds I never will acclimatise to. Here's to having to brace just one more season of long, hostile winter chill. Finally, here's to being born British. As I sit at my desk, watching the snow fall, I thank God that I am not one of the millions of North Koreans who will perish this winter without the luxuries I all too often take for granted. I pray that one day soon they will be free, and can't help but think: There but for the grace of God, go I.

Team Jacob...I run with wolves. Woof!

Last night I went to see New Moon with my two cute American/Korean friends in MyeongDong, Seoul. I was really excited because I LOVED the first Twilight movie and wanted to see more of Ed Cullen. I expect there will be the rolling of eyes by some reading this post. OK, sure it's a teen flick. And yep, it's a painfully cheesy vampire love story also. But the guys in it are seriously HOT - young as they may be.

When I saw the first Twi movie with my brother and a friend last year, I became a big fan of it - much to the dismay of the guys - who thought it was utter tosh. More to the point, I had become a HUGE fan of the actors in the movie.

I was partciularly mesmerised by the chiseled jawline, and hallowed cheeks of Robert Pattinson who plays the main vampire, Edward. He had the whole Edwardian Dandy look going on, and I was somewhat besotted. It goes without saying that I expected this year's movie to reignite the burning flame within. I was after all, TEAM EDWARD all the way!

My word, how vacillating I can be. I don't know how it happened, but it seems that little Jacob Black: Edward's rival, had grown into quite the man over the past few months. And my, what a bod. To be frank, I feel plain wrong admiring the beauty of 17-year old Taylor Lautner ...but man, that kid is ripped. He must have been at the steroids, surely?

Sadly, Ed's body left much to be desired. Sure he plays a vampire, and vampires are meant to be gaunt, pasty creatures of the undead. But c'mon Robert, you could have toned up a little for the movie, no? I mean, it mustn't feel too great being sidelined by a teenager who first graced the big screen donning the most outrageously ridiculous wig EVER. Have to say: I'm so thrilled the wig and Jacob parted ways.

So for now, it would seem that I have defected to the other side, that is: TEAM JACOB. Mr Black may be a little kid, but it would appear that there is one hell of a beast waiting to be unleashed. Grrrr...

*This post is dedicated to Dee - she REALLY loved the movie*

Yeongjong Island

On Saturday my friend R and I took a trip out to see our friend B on the island of Yeongjong near Incheon airport. Because there are many swallows on the island, it was also know as Jayeondo ''Swallow'' Island in the past. We had worried that the weather would be cold and possibly wet. Fortunately, it was a gorgeous day. A tad chilly, but it is winter, right?

Yeongjong Island is certainly no tropical getaway. I would be even pushed to say it has the appeal of any of the islands surrounding GB (with the exception of The Principality of Sealand). It does have its hidden gems though, and B's spectacular island tour was a lot of fun!!

Here are some photos (courtesy of R). Enjoy!

This photo was taken at Youngguksa Temple on the island. The zelkova tree is apparently 1,400 years old, and is supprted by scaffolding. I love zelkova trees; there are a lot of them in Korea. Random fact: the zelcova serrata tree is native to East Asia and is used a lot in bonsai.

If you look closely you can see a little Buddha in the hallow of the tree. When we arrived at the temple, a lady was praying in front of the shrine. I always like visiting Buddhist temples; they are so calming.

This is a popular Standing Buddha 'blessing' pose: pose of dispelling fear. OK, I'm a bit geeky when it comes to these things. I have been to Buddha's birthplace in Nepal, and I learnt that each pose represents a teaching or blessing. Specifically, the mudra (hand positions) represent a teaching, or wisdom of Buddha; each mudra corresponds to an important moment in Buddha's life. This hand gesture is the abhaya mudra.

This is a nice picture of inside one of the temples. The lotus lanterns with the prayers written on the dangling papers are hanging from the ceiling...you can just about see them.

Another nice picture of inside the temple.

Above: R and I at Ulwangli Beach. I have got to stop doing the peace sign on photos...

Left: B the Sherpa

Right: Some rocks...