Hi all.....
I'm feeling a bit under the weather. My careful health routine has been interfered with and so my immune system is under attack. But just like a Star Trek adventure, I am fighting the 'Kling-On's' (and no, I have not yet seen the new Star Trek movie, even though it's on circuit here - but to all my fellow Trekkie pals, I promise, I shall see it as soon as I have a mo!)
Whoever said exercise was good for you, should be ..... ya well.
I had waaaay too much exercise last week. Between the mountain hike, socialising, amusement park rides and sightseeing this past weekend and lack of sleep and failing to take my vitamins, I feel somewhat fluey.
I think my last mail to you guys was about the staff social (mountain hike and karaoke). Well, the very next day, I went to Daegu for the weekend. A Canadian pal, Tim, had travelled down to Daegu to do touristy stuff. Which was great, since I hadn't yet had a chance to go to the tourist attractions in this area. Booked into a hotel, quite nice, decent room...but with nasty aircon (which I'm sure has contributed to my allergies flaring up again). And it was terribly HOT to boot, so no sleep for me. On Saturday, we travelled by bus for 1h30 to the Haeinsa Buddhist Temple which is located in the Gayasan National Park. It reminded me so much of home - just so breathtakingly beautiful. The temple houses a UNESCO monument - the Tripitaka Koreana. A few million handmade wooden blocks, which were specially made as an offering to Buddha many many years ago. I took as many pics as I could but we were not allowed to take photos of the Tripitaka Koreana. But it is etched into my memory. I even managed to get a long-distanced shot of a big gold statue of Buddha in the temple where people were worshipping.
Needless to say, the journey through the temple grounds represents one's journey to enlightenment. You climb and climb, up and up through each gate till you reach the top, which is supposed to symbolise attaining enlightenment. The enlightenment I attained was such: I was all cultured out and desperately needed a Hollywood movie and McDonalds!
So back down the mountain (fortunately, the scenery was magnificent!). Slept on the bus back to Daegu. Then straight to Burger King, and then to see Wolverine.
Navigating around the cinema was another adventure. The Korean numbering of floors is wacky. Movie house 10 and 11 are on 7th floor which is on 5th floor which is actually the 13th floor....Can you see what I'm saying?
The following day, I am confident enough to say, I finally conquered Daegu....in terms of orientating myself with the map, bus and subway system. I have been disorientated for the past 6weeks. I realise that there is perhaps, a downfall to living in Cape Town - you always know where you are, thanks to the mountain angle. I experienced a similar kind of disorientation in Jhb. Although there are mountains all around here, everything kind of morphs into the surrounds. The city looks the same for miles around. One street looks the same as any other. Trying to identify reliable landmarks has been challenging, to say the least.
But I am now confident that I can find my way round. After that first incident of getting lost by taking the wrong bus, I resorted to using taxis, which were quicker, no stops and inexpensive. But after this weekend, I discovered that 2 foreigners travelling together was too irresistable to some taxi drivers, hence longer routes and higher fares. Now, it's subway or die!
On Sunday, after brunch at the esteemed MacDonalds, we headed to Woobang Tower (the same place I went to for high school, and yes, the same place I was going to the following day with my middle school!) Anyway, Tim REALLY wanted to go, so I didn't give him a chance to go into the Amusement Park area; tower ONLY. This was actually kinda cool. The tower is 202m high, towering over Daegu city. Some nice pics. Then cable car ride down the hill. It was boiling hot, I was hot, tired, irritable and Tim couldn't stop taking pics. He still wanted to go for dinner at an indian restaurant. I managed to get out of it, telling him I was really tired and still had a long way to travel home. So I left him with an hour to kill before his speed train was due to leave.
Monday was...yup! back to the same old place. Fortunately, this time was far more enjoyable than the high school outing. I went on rides, risking my life for the sake of getting my students to speak English! What extremes! My colleagues and I had tons of fun on the rides. I screamed my lungs out, even on the kindergarten rides! LOL! And then...the cherry on the cake. The VIKING (same as Congo Queen at Ratanga). I hate it hate it hate it. But the students were begging, begging, begging. I actually went along. Kept my head down the entire time. One of my 1st grade students (SA Gr 7) sitting next to me, put her arms around me, as though I was a baby and kept on comforting me. The role reversal was not lost on me. I was the child, she was the adult. Too precious! What a lovely moment that will stay with me forever. When I thanked her afterwards, she was so gallant about the whole thing. (Poenantjies!)
Anyway, I think that's enough for now....More developments to follow, for sure.
Much love...
Andrea
No comments:
Post a Comment