“A beginning is only the start of a journey to another beginning.” Anon: December 2013

As the final days of 2013 are upon us, there is much to reflect upon this life journey to date. Returning to school later this week, the real countdown begins upon completing my year at EtonHouse Korea. At the same time, I am in the process of organising my visa as I have accepted a new teaching role at MEA International School in Ningbo, China. I have mixed emotions as I come to the finale of my time in Korea, however as an expat I guess this is the life of a traveling teacher.

These holidays I have had my best friends visit me in Korea, hence the MIA with blog postings. Exciting times lie ahead, as per the summer holidays in July 2014 when I get to finally travel home to visit friends and family in NZ and Australia. Just touching base and brushing off the holiday season with the latest. Looking forward to making 2013 a year I will always remember as the beginning of it all. A toast to 2014 and the adventures it has awaiting, let that journey begin!

School christmas performance day

Haesinding Park

It was rather exciting having some family around and being able to do some venturing around Korea. Obviously there was a lot of food consumption, Korean bbq's, shopping, sight seeing and simply just enjoying each others company. Lobs & Tyrone visited school and the children were very taken by them, so curious about the way they looked and why they were so tall and big!

Lobs last few days in Korea, we set out and explored a tad more. Haesindang Park was rather interesting and humorous to see so many visual monuments of penis in a variation of artistic ways. There were a lot of chuckles, yet also curiosity to the meaning behind this famous penis park in Korea. Apparently there is Jeju Loveland which is a bit more x rated than Haesindang Park. The parks make for wicked photographs (haha) and a lot of puzzled people back home, wondering if this place is for real!

Everland Amusement park is Korea's largest theme park, I believe Universal Studios is currently under construction in Korea as well. I am not a huge them park enthusiast and it is because I cannot bare crazy rides that turn you upside down and give you a will to think you are going to die, instead of a thrill of a ride! The T Rex Roller coaster looked unbelievably terrible and obviously I was sitting that one out! It is good to take a day out and just enjoy the atmosphere of the Everland world once in a while, to an extent I should say.

The trick eye and Ice Museum was a lot of fun. There were a lot of great tricks that were very witty and clever. I guess you had to get the photography right as well to make it sharp. I always enjoy interactive Museums that gets you involved and part of all the great action.
The Ice Museum was obviously very cold and obviously a snapshot of life on ice, squashing into an igloo had to be my highlight, although not entirely a 'real' one, but that didn't matter!

Trick Eye Museum

Ice Museum

The Seoul Lantern Festival was absolutely stunning, I thought the lanterns in Auckland were amazing but they are nothing compared to what I saw along the river of Seoul. These lanterns were lit up in 3d on the water. The array of colours shined so brightly and made for a beautiful night walk admiring such artistic beauty.