Gwangan Bridge Marathon

My friend and I ran the 10 kilometer race two weeks ago. She was registered and I was not, but I still wanted to try my hand at running again. I have been scared to try again. So an unofficial race was just what I needed. I also decided to ditch the mp3 player and really just take in the scenery and support my friend. It was great to have a friend to chase and be chased by. We really helped each other. As she dashed for the finish line I had to keep up. We went all out in the last few meters. (I almost brought up my breakfast but thankfully I didn't)

Here is the picture of the bridge. Such an amazing experience.


My friend and I after the race. She is so amazing!!

Denmark introduces fat tax

I think this is a good idea. A little extreme some may say, but in these times necessary.
Denmark introduces Fat tax

Denmark has imposed a "fat tax" on foods such as butter and oil as a way to curb unhealthy eating habits.

The Nordic country introduced the tax, of 16 kroner (£1.84) per kilogram (2.2lbs) of saturated fat in a product.

Ole Linnet Juul, food director at Denmark's Confederation of Industries, said the tax will increase the price of a burger by around £0.09 and raise the price of a small package of butter by around £0.25.

The tax was approved by large majority in a parliament in March as a move to help increase the average life expectancy of Danes.

Denmark, like some other European countries, already has higher fees on sugar, chocolates and soft drinks, but Linnet Juul said he believes the Nordic country is the first in the world to tax fatty foods.

In September, Hungary introduced a new tax popularly known as the "Hamburger Law", but that only involves higher taxes on soft drinks, pastries, salty snacks and food flavourings.

The outgoing conservative Danish government planned the fat tax as part of a goal to increase the average life expectancy of Danes, currently below the OECD average at 79 years, by three years over the next 10 years.

"Higher fees on sugar, fat and tobacco is an important step on the way toward a higher average life expectancy in Denmark," health minister Jakob Axel Nielsen said when he introduced the idea in 2009, because "saturated fats can cause cardiovascular disease and cancer."

Linnet Juul said the tax mechanism is very complex, involving tax rates on the percentage of fat used in making a product rather than the percentage that is in the end-product. As such, only the arrangements of how companies should handle the tax payments could cost Danish businesses about £18 million in the first year, he said.

Linnet Juul's organisation is pressuring politicians to simplify the tax, but said he is unsure what will happen when the new, centre-left government takes office.

Prairie Sky

I have been missing the sky and the space since my return....

Lotte Giants Baseball game.

Over the Thanksgiving type holiday (September 12-13) we were able to go to a baseball game. It was really fun. We were up in the cheap seat with all of the best fans, fried chicken and beer we could buy. Our South African and English friends had never been to a game before so it was fun to watch it together. We stressed the importance of drinking beer during the game to be ensure maximum enjoyment. At the Giants games around the 6th inning everyone is given an orange garbage bag. It is to be filled with your garbage and then taken to a pile. It is a very effective way of cleaning up the stadium. However, before the garbage is put in, the bag is put on your head. The following pictures will show you.

Enjoy!

Michaela is coming!!

Michaela is coming to Busan! She has arrived in Korea for a month. Today she will come to visit and stay with Mark and I. I'm so excited. I really have missed her. It's going to be a great weekend with her. We will visit our old hangouts and eat some of her favorite foods. I love this girl ^^