Huzzah For The Lap Top!

I finally got my laptop up and running with an Internet connection that’s so sexy-fast you won’t believe it!

Now I can show you some of my photos taken so far~

 <- This was my traditional-style bed in the condo on Ganghwado. When I first arrived in Korea I kept moaning to myself about all the material being quilted when the weather is so hot. However, having slept on one of these babies, I submit to Koreans’ superior knowledge in the world of bedlinen!

 <- This is was the view out my bedroom window on Ganghwado. It gives you some idea of the scenery, but it’s nothing compared to seeing it in person. You can also see the ma-hoo-sive swimming pool!

 <- Before we left the condo, we threw sweets at the kids. As one does. There was a vicious scramble to get as many as possible. Nobody was hurt, but it was a close thing! The boy in the front was the baby son of “Japsay” (Korean slang for police officer). Behind him, in the green vest and white shorts, is Geonmo.

 <- Before we left Ganghwado, we went to an old Joseon-era palace complex on the site. The rain was torrential, but it didn’t spoil the fun! This is Mrs. Sung coming through the entrance gate. We also saw the magistrate’s office, a book-museum (this king loved his literature), living quarters, an old giant bell and more gates.

 <-This is Japsay’s son posing for a photo at the palace. The umbrella (“osan”) was bigger than him!

 <- This is the funfair we went to on Wolmido last Monday. Apparantly Koreans think safety harnesses etc are the stuff of fairytales. Nedless to say I didn’t try this. If you look closely you can actually see the people sliding down!

 <-Sohee and Geonmo at the AMAZING Japanese restaurant we went to for her birthday on Tuesday. Oh my God, the food here deserves a post of its own so I wont talk about it now. This was the moment when Geonmo gave her his present, a few pens he had picked out specially for her. VERY VERY CUTICLE!

 <- Incheon at night. In the context of other Asian cities, it’s a small place. I’d never seen anything like it though, I was totally stunned.

 <- Sohee and Mr. Kang cut her birthday cake. It was full of creamy goodness. And because Koreans don’t really differentiate between what food constitutes breakfast/lunch/dinner, we ate it for breakfast the next morning too! ^^

 <- Geomo after I just whooped his ass in Monopoly (“Blue Marble Game”). You can see the bitter, bitter resentment behind the smile!

 <- Finally, me operating an old-fashioned fire engine thingy at the Incheon Metropolitan Museum on Wednesday. I may have found my true calling!

That’s it for now. Coming soon – kumdo/taekwondo, more food, generosity, the nice things about Korea, the bad things about Korea (maybe)!

Take care (and give me some news from home!)

Siobhán xxx