'as tha' seen ar' Kimbap? - My Parents come to Korea!



In August 2012, I departed from the UK to spend 4 days in Abu Dhabi before starting my new life in South Korea. I'm a long way from home and 1/3 of a day in front of my family in the UK, which can make communication difficult sometimes and conversations limited to received messages while we've been sleeping. Facebook, Whatsapp, Skype and Facetime are great tools which help us keep in touch, but none of them, none, come close to the real thing. May 16th was a day I'd been looking forward to for many months. It was the day that Dad and Joy landed in South Korea!!

The 16th was a Friday, so I had to work whilst my parents landed in Incheon at 9:25am. I'd given them directions to a Hotel I'd booked in Itaewon (GV Residence) and they'd made it safely, managed to get some food at Vatos Mexican then slept until I arrived. Seeing them again was so exciting... well, it was for me anyway... when I got to their door they were fast asleep -_-  Once they'd got over the lack of sleep on the plane, we shared some sandwiches and a pork pie (OMG!).

That weekend we'd arranged to stay in Seoul. I showed them around Itaewon and we had some beers in a couple of places. On the Saturday morning, I'd booked us on a tour of the DMZ through TourDMZ who were brilliant. We had a wonderful day visiting the De-Militarized Zone, the border between North and South Korea. We learned a lot about the developments of the Korean war and about the current situation. We experienced Panmunjom. I think Joy really liked the discipline of the ROK guards, standing in an intimidating Taekwondo battle-ready stance facing the North Korean side. She also enjoyed a picture or two whilst standing IN North Korea (albeit about 4 metres) with a South Korean guard.

Me in front of Panmunjom

Imjingak

I stopped to get my hands on some North Korean currency (I collect it) and Joy bought some North Korean wine and a ornate set of chopsticks and spoons.  We then went to Imjingak for about 20 minutes and took some photos. Without going into too much detail, it's something you can't really experience anywhere else in the world and the DMZ is well worth a visit. We stopped off for a bulgogi, Dad and Joy's first Korean food experience, before visiting the Gyeongbok Palace. Gyeongbok Palace is a stunning monument and tourist attraction, and my parents were very impressed. That night we came back to the hotel, where they met Winnie for the first time, though all 3 of them said they felt like they already knew each other through their previous chats on Skype. Then we went for Brazilian Steak and some drinks at Jazz Story, the best kept secret in Seoul. Well worth the trip and cover fee.

1 - Jazz Story with Winnie
2. Joy in North Korea 3. Dad and I in Imjingak

1 - Bulgogi Meal.
2- Heading back to Deagu

The next morning, we ate brunch and made our way to Daegu. Again, Dad and Joy were very impressed with the modern, ultra-fast and comfortable KTX train, that got up to 301Km/h. The next week I was busy working my 8:30-4:30, then zooming downtown to meet my parents and show them around. They stayed at the EOS Hotel in the centre of downtown Daegu, in a really food location. A Korean friend had helped me to book and it was worth every won. We took them to eat dakgalbi, bibimbap, kimbap  while showing them around. We really enjoyed hanging out at the long life bar and Joy was tempted to 'bring out the Barnsley' in her and put one of the glasses in her bag!!

Long beers in the Long Life bar <3

On Wednesday we went to the pub quiz at the Traveler's Bar (and came second ... from bottom) and Thursday was spent showing my parents around my school and allowing them to watch two of my classes. Dad and Joy were loved by the kids and really enjoyed my lessons. Joy commented numerous times how different my school is from the one she works in back in the UK. There are many stark differences between the schools, but the most obvious ones are the school grounds and the students themselves. My students were amazing. They were friendly, welcoming and polite and it was humbling to see how they welcomed my parents with open arms out of both curiosity and respect for me. My school is also surrounded by mountains, has a river running through it and is noticeably immaculately clean. My Co-Teachers were amazing too, especially Hyun-jin who showed them around the grounds.

My Parents and I on school grounds, on the bridge over the river.

Joy, Hyun-jin and Dad

Some of my fan club

My students were so welcoming

Mobbed!!

Some of my 2nd grade boys

That evening, I showed Dad and Joy my apartment, then we went for some food in my area and invited Lawrence and my Korean friend Sean along. We had shabu-shabu (boiled meat and veg), then some beers, as usual.

Shabu-Shabu with Lawrence



Beers with Sean

The day after was Friday, where I had three classes and then left school to meet the parents and Winnie at the Airport in Daegu. We'd decided to spend the middle-weekend of their visit on Jeju Island, a beautiful Korean island off the south coast which has been listed as one of the 'New 7 Natural Wonders'. Unfortunately due it it's popularity, the return flights for Sunday afternoon were full, so we had to return at 11:55, meaning we got less than 2 days. However, we were determined to make the most of it. The flight was decent and we even bumped into our friend Bo-Mi at the airport ^^

I was a little annoyed with myself. The best way to get around Jeju is by hiring a car. However, I'd applied for my International Licence too late so it'd not arrived in time for the trip. 

Joy, Dad, Bo-mi, Winnie and Me

 The accommodation we'd booked was in Seogwipo, on the south of the island (the Airport's in Jeju City, in the north), so we caught a shuttle bus which took around 1 hour and dropped us 2 mins from our hotel. After settling in, we went for a walk in the dark to find food. We'd heard about the 'famous' Jeju black pork (everything's famous in Korea) and decided to give it a try. It certainly was very tasty, but the texture of the skin was a bit tough. Nonetheless, the soju and beer went down a treat. We retired before midnight in order to get some sleep in order to make the most of our only full-day on the island.

Dad getting stuck in

Black Pork BBQ

After an early morning shower and a mediocre breakfast, we caught a taxi to our first stop, Seongsan Ilchulbong (sunrise peak), a volcanic crater and UNESCO Heritage Site. The journey was about 45 mins and cost 35,000 (about £18) but took us right to the crater. We set off on our journey up the steps, stopping for photos (and to catch our breath) along the way. The sun was beating down on us, even at 10am in the morning, making the climb more difficult, but the pictures more stunning. When we reached the peak, the scenery was amazing, however the pictures of the grassed crater, in the middle of the peak, just make it look like a field (where's my helicopter when I need it?).

Before the climb

View from close to the top



Me and Dad, with the crater behind us.

Going down!

People have told us that one of the most beautiful places in Jeju, was actually a smaller island off Jeju, called U-do (oooo-doe). After waiting what seemed 3 hours for 2 hot dogs to be made (was about 10 mins), we caught a cab to the ferry port and a 20 minute ferry to U-do. The island was very small and picturesque. We were interested in hiring some mini scooters or ATVs to get around the island, but they were surprisingly asking for an international driver's licence, DAMN!!! Nevertheless, we bought tickets for the bus tour that stopped at 4 scenic spots (on a hop-on, hop off basis) which allowed us to view a cave, eat peanut ice-cream ('famous') and stop off at a beach. The beach was really nice and a welcome chance to get our feet in the water. The weather was really hot and we'd all started to get some colour (that colour being red!). We caught the bus back to the ferry port on U-do and returned to Jeju. It was a short 3-hour stay on U-do, but it was very quaint and very enjoyable.

How did the sign know she'd do that?!

Peanut Ice-cream



Dipping our feet

Back in a taxi, as Cheonjeyeon (chon-jay-yon) Falls was next on the agenda. Cheonjeyeon is a three tier waterfall in a deep valley. You can visit all 3 waterfalls and take pictures off a very high and curved bridge over the valley. Joy was very brave to walk across it, as she's not good with heights and it was terrifying. We decided to visit the third waterfall first, which in hindsight was a bit of a blunder. The steps down there were aplenty and it was tiring in the heat. The waterfall at the end was beautiful but we couldn't get near it. By the time we'd got back to the top of the stairs to visit the 2nd or 1st waterfall, we were all tired. Dad decided to rest while Joy, Winnie and I plodded on. The walk to the first waterfall was nowhere near as tiring or steep, and the reward was much more gratifying. The waterfall was wonderfully stunning, made great pictures and was so close that you could walk in it. I felt bad that Dad was missing out, but glad that we'd made the effort to come and see it.

Bridge over the valley

Joy, Dad and Winnie on the bridge

Steps to 3rd Waterfall



Finally reached the 3rd waterfall

1st Waterfall

1st Waterfall



1st Waterfall

As the day began to draw to a close, there was still time for one more act of randomness to remind us we're in Korea. As we were leaving the falls and looking for a taxi, a car pulled up in front of us and a weird Korean-Santa/Jimmy Savile came out of the car and told us to pose for a photo. Luckily, we managed to get a picture of him too!!

The lovely picture he took...





The picture of him!

We took a taxi back, changed, then went out for food. We decided to have marinated pork BBQ and some beers (of course). It was very tasty and plentiful. Then we went to a small bar where Joy, Winnie and I enjoyed some beers whilst Dad decided he was going for straight Soju.

Dad and his beloved soju

Winnie and I woke early the next morning to go to Jeongbang Waterfall, the only waterfall in Asia to fall directly into the sea. We were the first ones there and had the place to ourselves, for about 10 minutes and then it was swamped with annoying Chinese tourists. We left and met Dad and Joy at the hotel, then took a shuttle to the airport to fly home. It'd been a quick, whistle-stop tour of Jeju, but it'd been great. The bad weather on the Sunday made us feel less-disappointed about the early flight back.

Winnie in a garden before the falls

Me in front of the falls

Winnie

The next week was full of fun for my parents, meeting my friends, exploring markets, eating more great food. On the Monday, 21 friends of ours went for a buffet meal with my parents (and one of my co-teachers :/ ) and then for some beers. Because of the large crowd we all didn't get to talk but it was great to introduce my parents to them all. 

Dad, Jung-hee and Joy

Dan, Jo and Hargy

 

Mina, Sam and Roger



+ Niall

My Co-Teachers asked me this week if they could treat me and my family to a meal, so on Wednesday we were taken to a restaurant near our school and fed a wonderful traditional Korean meal, with good conversation and plenty of laughs to go with it. I love my school!!

Mr Son, Hyun-jin, Eun-mi, Mrs Kim, Mr Lee, Joy, Dad and Me.

Wednesday Night = Pub Quiz, and with the help of Sam we did considerably better than last week. On Thursday night we ate a wonderful seafood BBQ, then on Friday Winnie had invited them over to her school. The plan was that they would watch 1-2 of Winnie's lessons, then answer a few questions. It turns out that they were mobbed for photos and autographs by the kids and it was madness. When they eventually did get a Q+A session with my parents, the kids were asking questions like "do you like Winnie?", "Would you approve of Winnie marrying your son" and almost fell off their chairs when my parents answered "yes" to both. Haha.

Seafood BBQ

Fred, Joy and some of Winnie's kids

Joy and Freed signing autographs

Fred gets mobbed by more fame-seekers!

That evening we had a wonderful BBQ meal with Winnie's Co-Teachers; Eileen, Grace and Na-Young. The conversation was good and I think the 3 Koreans learned some valuable listening skills (re: accent). Eileen then drove them to Suseong Lake, where we walked around, chatted and played some funfair games.

Their last weekend was spent walking around the area while we practiced Gaelic Football, then we met up later in the Hotel. Dad and Joy paid for Winnie and I to stay in their hotel for their last 2 nights, so we could spend more time together. The hotel room was great and at 6pm we got a taxi to the Ariana Hotel for an all-you-can-eat-and-drink buffet in celebration of our Gaelic Football Team. The food was great, beer was better and the banter and conversation were wonderful. We all headed downtown for some cocktails in a plastic bag and I think we all got home at 4am. Joy and Dad were very popular in the group, which made for a really fun night.

Winnie and Joy outside Gogo's

Winnie, Joanna, Emmet and Joy

Dad and I with free sparklers

As soon as my back's turned, Josh makes his move!

On their final day, we woke up late and headed to Buy The Book for some good, home-made greasy food. I wasn't feeling wonderful, and by the time my gorgeous burger arrived, I could only manage about 3 bites. Winnie and I went back home to collect some things that I wanted my Dad to take home for me, and buy the tickets for the airport bus for Monday morning. Sunday 1st June was their 19th Wedding Anniversary, so I invited Nina and Paudi to come and join us for a meal and Winnie got them a cake from Baskin Robbins. It was a lovely, fitting end to an eventful and wonderful visit.



Dad and Joy - 19 Years together.

On Monday morning, all 4 of us went to the bus terminal in Dongdaegu to say our goodbyes. They caught the 7:00am bus to the airport. Thankfully, the busses are super comfy and they arrived in plenty of time.

See you in December!!

Final Goodbye before they get the bus to the airport.

Bye, Winnie!