Another excellent Monday

Michaela and I had a great day of coffee, shopping, hiking, dinner and a movie. It was so awesome to get back on Jangsan. I had been hiking that mountain 3 times a week before this dreadful rain. Much to my surprise the trails were washed out and it looked like it just finished raining. Apparently Busan has not seen this much rain in the past 20 years, so that explains everything. Here are a few picks from the day.
This is part of the path that was washed out.

A nice place to take a rest.

Highlights from Mudfest

Boryeong Mudfest

This is the beginning of one dirty day. We had a hard time finding the mud, so we were in the mud prison where they threw buckets of mud at the prisoners.

We had just found the colored mud.

Apparently the mud has qualities in it that are good for your skin. But with about 2000 people rolling around in it I think I am lucky i didn't get crabs! This year is has been extremely rainy so some school children, and some Mudfesters actually developed a skin rash. It was uncomfortable but the medi-tent had pills and cremes on hand.

Most Awesome Monday

Today was just a really super day! It was so much fun! I had the best haircut and color today. My blond hair had turned green on me, so I wanted to take care of that. We decided to go brown-red. I also got my bob style back. I just may never have long hair, unless of course it is fake. I was a bit overwhelmed because most of the time there were two people on my head at all times; blow drying and applying dye. They had these little ear caps (like a shower cap) they were handy. They put a dryer on my hair for a while, and it played lullabies. At first I didn't believe my plastic covered ears, but then I recognized 'London Bridges' and 'Twinkle Twinkle'. It was odd as I wouldn't want to fall asleep under that heat.

After the wonderful 2.5 hour hair experience, Clare and I went to Costco. It just opened last weekend. I can't believe that I am a card carrying member. I hate shopping there at home, and I think the same goes for the Korean Costco. But we found PICKLES, CHEESE AND CINNAMON BUNS. My oh my I never thought I would get that excited over a pickle!

On the way home we caught a cab. The driver could speak some English, so he started to show us pictures of his grandchildren and children. We started making comments 'like the baby is so cute' and then when a picture of his youngest son came around 'Oh, he is cute'. We all started laughing. By the time we got home, he was telling me that his son and I should have a "booking". His son is a trainer, so that is what I think he meant by booking, but he could have meant date for all I know. It was hilarious!

Such a wicked day!

Mandy's Book Club

I finished "Mouthing the Words" by Camilla Gibb. She is so amazing. I love her style. Her descriptions are so vivid, it sometimes is a little creepy. I thought is was an easy read, but the more I reflect on it the more I get out of what she was trying to say.

I also have finished Still Life with Rice by Helie Lee. It is a story about a Korean American woman who writes about the life of her Korean grandmother. It is a great historical piece as it follows the grandma from before she got married, her fleeing to China as the Japanese invaded, their return to Pyongyang, North Korea, and then ultimately their long and ardous journey across the 38th parallel in South Korea. It is such a compelling story. It gave me some insight into Korean culture and why some times they seem so hard, and why some have a genuine dislike for waegooks (foreigners). It was a really great book.

I have now started "Native Son" by Richard Wright. So far so good.

DokkBokki

This is some of my favorite food in Korea. It is rice cakes, hard boiled eggs, fish cakes and noodles in a spicy red sauce. Most Koreans feel it is a snack. It is so delicious but the nutritional value is probably pretty bad, since it is all sticky rice and noodles. I add onions and cabbage to mine, as I need to have some vegetables in the mix. YUMMY YUMMY.