Bound for Bangkok

So I'm leaving tomorrow morning for Thailand. Departing from the University ~5:00am. The plan is to stay one night in Bangkok and meet up with a friend from high school (Andy Phillips) who just happens to be in Bangkok at the same time (weird).I'll be there until the 1st of July, at which point I'll fly back to Seoul and hang out in Korea til the 4th. Planned arrival into San Francisco Intl: 9:18am, July 4, 2008. ---Later, Joe

Japan Trip May 1 - 11th

So I went to Japan last week. I spent most of my time roaming the island of Kyushu, went as far North as Hiroshima and the Southernmost point was Yakushima Island. I'm just posting a link to the photos and a quick overview of the trip. I'll be back from time to time to elaborate.



May 1st

• Land in Fukuoka via ferry from Busan
• Meet a couple of girls who give me a ride to Shimonoseki

May 2nd

• Bullet Train to Hiroshima

May 3rd

• Hiroshima Peace park, site of the atomic blast
• Miyajima
• Head South to Kumamoto

May 4th

• Asosan National Park, largest active volcano in Japan
• Camp at Asosan

May 5th

• Meet chinese students who prepare amazing meal and let me stay in their apartment

May 6th

• South to Kagoshima
• Enjoy Kagoshima atmosphere, visit a reggae bar, listen to drummers in the park, watch the active volcano Sakurajima spew ash over the ocean
  

May 7th

• Ferry to Yakushima island
• Roaming the island, taking in the beaches and mind blowing scenery
• Best sushi I could ever imagine. Flying fish caught three hours earlier by the restaurant owner's son

May 8th

• Hiking Yakushima island, getting a load of the ancient Japanese Cedars

May 9th

• Hike to the tallest peak on the island, Miyanoura Dake, a hard rain's a-gonna fall
• Hard rain, hard rain, hard rain, swollen rivers, delayed ferries, almost didnt make it back in time.

May 10th

• Miraculously made it back to Kagoshima
• Night bus to Fukuoka

May 11th

• Fukuoka ferry to Busan
• One night in Busan,
  

May 12th

• Back to the University...

Busan Trip: April 3 - 6... Just in time for Cherry Blossoms

After several failed attempts at planning a trip to Busan, Scott Brady, Jonathan Sharp and I managed to make our way down to South Korea's large port city, known for its exceptional seafood and laid back atmosphere. The timing couldn't have been better, as the cherry blossoms had just come into bloom on the warmer south shore. Unfortunately we weren't able to find cheap enough tickets to take the KTX (Fast Train) but managed to get a good deal (~$40) for the round trip by the slower railway. We left on a Thursday night and returned Sunday night. All told we only spent about $150 each, our weekly stipend from Soonchunhyang University. I typically don't spend over $50 throughout the regular week so all the extra goes to travelling, new sights, tastes, smells, customs, experiences, friends. It's nice to be with some like minded travellers who are keen on spending their money wisely, and at times sacrificing comfort for adventure and memorable moments. South Korea is a relatively cheap place to sustain oneself as it is. You can get by rather comfortably for under $30/day while travelling. Then again, we wanted some unique experiences and one thing I had no problem spending a few extra bucks on was food. The average restaurant meal is about $5.00. The most we spent at one sitting was about $10. Accommodations at a jimjilbang are spa quality, for under $10/night. Just don't expect a private room. Everyone sleeps in a commons room on pads - if you are ruthless (or early) enough to get one before they're all taken. Typically though, that isn't an issue. The best feature of the jimjilbang is the spa area. Typically the facility is seperated into several floors, each dedicated to a unique purpose. Men and women's "sauna" are always separate and everyone is in the nude. The sauna room typically features at least 5 hot and cold pools of varying degrees, usually a couple mineral baths, wet and dry sauna, massage station, showers, and jet pools. Most Jimjilbang's have something uniquely their own. The Vesta Spa, which we stayed at in Busan, had a large hot pool out on a balcony overlooking Hae Undae beach and the city of Busan. I would have taken a photo but I'm fairly certain it would be socially unacceptable to take a camera into a room full of naked men. All in all it was an excellent experience, no doubt the best weekend I have had in Korea thus far. I'm sure I'll be heading to Busan several times more...

Here's the trip summary:

• Arrive in Busan by train ~11:00pm
• Wander downtown area for a couple hours
• Decide its warm enough to sleep outside the first night
• Walk entire length of downtown Busan
  
• Locate spot to sleep under Cherry trees
  
• Go to sleep 2:00 am
• Decide it's not warm enough to sleep outside
• Wake up with the sunrise and go for breakfast
• Eat at the bakery
• Nap at the bakery
• Catch Subway to Beomeosa temple
• Hike Beomeosa and Geumjeong fortress (1:00 - 6:00)
• Catch Subway to Hae Undae beach
• Eat Dinner (never going to "fish and grill" again, bad decision)
  
• Grab a beer and relax on the beach
  
• Catch taxi to Vesta Spa & Jimjilbang
• Wake up the next morning and head to Jinhae Cherry Blossom Festival with fellow SCH student, Laura
  
• Enjoy scenery of festival and battle the crowds
• Get standing room only bus for 1hr ride back to Busan
• Sleep at a different Jimjilbang
• Wake up 10:30 and meet Korean friend (english name is also Scott)
• Korean friend shows us around the fish market
• Eat San Nakji (Live Octopus) for breakfast
  
• Eat fried eel
• Hang out in the fish market
• Wander toward Songdo Beach
• Relax on the Beach
• Explore Russian town near train station
• Head back to Asan....
• The End

I'm sure you're all wondering about the Live Octopus... It was actually rather tasty, exciting, and no doubt a unique experience. As for the eel, it was also still squirming when it was thrown on the fryer on our table. Live Octopus was only $2.50/each. You just take your pick out of a tank at the market and they serve it up right then and there. Next time I'm gonna be sure to get some Sashimi. You also choose your fish live in the tank, but take it upstairs to a restaurant for consumption.
Whale meat is available at the fish market, and I spotted quite a bit of it at the Jinhae Cherry Blossom Festival. Not all that surprising, still questionable though considering laws and diminishing populations.

Be sure to check out my Flickr page for all of my photos. Check out the links on the right side of the page.

Live Octopus Video:

Opening Blog Statements... In South Korea

Alright, I'm not sure how likely it is that I will keep this thing updated regularly, but any big trips or events that happen will probably make it in here. For those of you who don't know, I'm in South Korea at the moment studying at Soonchunhyang University. It's a great program, pretty much a full ride for living expenses accommodations and education. Plus I get the chance to see a new country and meet great people.