My time in Korea is finally coming to an end. I’ve got about 1 month left before I hop on a plane and head to Europe.
Next week is 1 of my 2 vacation weeks. The plan is to head down to Busan for the week. Busan is an awesome beach town at the south of Korea. Laying on the beach with an ice chest of beer and a good book sounds amazing. Looking forward to it big time.
Things have been quiet otherwise. I’ve started packing my apartment into a few boxes, that will be sent home through the Korean Post. Last I heard there was an option that is super cheap but takes about a month and a half to get to the US. So if I send them out in August they should be waiting for me back in Los Angeles when I get home in October.
At work we have been preparing for the summer song festival. Each class has to memorize a song and dance, that will be performed in front of the parents. My class will be performing Take the Last Train to Clarksville by The Monkees.
Listening to N.E.R.D She Wants to Move.
Tags: N.E.R.D
I was a bit bummed when I noticed I would be making my way up to Barcelona this summer, thus not having a chance to catch a FC Barcelona game. Their team is one of the best in the world, and includes a collection of some of the best players in the world also. Along with their recent signing David Villa, Barcelona also includes Víctor Valdés, Carles Puyol, Zlatan Ibrahimović, Andrés Iniesta and a little player named Lionel Messi.
I got a random email yesterday afternoon about the Korean League All Stars securing a match against FC Barcelona at the beginning of August. Tickets were a bit on the pricey side, but I picked up a pair. Unlike Manchester United who will be touring the United States, FC Barcelona will be bringing along most of their big guns.
It’s been awhile since I’ve seen a decent live soccer game. Hopefully this one will live up to its promise.
Tickets are still on sale if you are in the Seoul area. You can get them from the Interpark website (That is the English link). Registering for the site was super easy. You can pay for tickets with your Korean card or a card from home. Interpark has the exclusive ticket rights for the event, so you have to book them through the link. There won’t be tickets for sale at the stadium.
Listening to Explosions in the Sky Home.
Tags: Explosions in the Sky·FC Barcelona·Soccer
July 6th, 2010 · Korea
It was here and then it was gone…. Now it’s back. Taco Bell officially reopens in Korea. Cheap and ouchie on the tummy, Taco Bell will test the waters again this week with a grand opening in the foreigner heavy area of Seoul called Itaewon. The prices look to be dirt cheap and the menu almost the same as home.
Here’s the menu for Taco Bell Korea.
Tags: Korea·taco bell
My time in Korea is quickly coming to a close (woo hoo!!!). I have a little less than 2 months left before my contract is officially over. That amounts to 57 days actually in Korea, with only 34 of those being teaching days. I leave Korea bound for Europe for some decent traveling and picture taking. Along the trip I’ll stop in Moscow, Prague, London, Istanbul, Rome, Madrid, Amsterdam, Salzburg, Athens and Munich. I’ve been putting together a Google map of the trip and it is looking cooler and cooler as I fill it up. All of the flights are booked and paid for, while most of the hotels are as well. If you have any suggestions of what to do or what to see while in the above cities it would be awesome if you left a comment about it. I’ve got some things on my list of have to’s but would love to hear other ideas.
After Europe I’ll be stopping in New York (still need to find a hotel), Minneapolis and Austin. I’ll spend about 4 days in New York, 4 days in Minneapolis, and 4 days in Austin.
I’m really excited to check out Austin again. It is probably the only city in Texas worth spending more than 5 minutes in. I’ll be there for the Austin City Limits music festival from October 7th to the 11th. I’m looking forward to seeing The Stokes, Local Natives, Henry Clay People, Silversun Pickups, Broken Bells, Gogol Bordello, The National, Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, Matt and Kim, and just about a gazillion other bands. I’ll be meeting up with my brother in Austin for 3 days of awesomeness.
The clock is ticking and I’m ready for the alarm to finally ring…..
Listening to Castledoor The Birds and the Fleas.
Tags: ACL·Castledoor·Europe·Music
Although I haven’t done as much traveling since being in Korea for a year, I have come across a few travel sites that are English friendly and have some decent prices.
The one I’ve used the most doesn’t have a website. Her name is Lily and she works through VaKang Travel. Her email is lily-kim@hotmail.com. Just tell her where and when you want to go and she will get back to you in a day or two. She will book you flights within Korea and international flights leaving Korea or coming in.
Xanadu Travel do a lot of package stuff, especially to China. They are based in Seoul, so if you want to walk in you can, or you book things via email also.
SoHo Travel will book you stuff all around the world, as long as it’s departing from Korea. They have information on visas and things like that also.
Dave’s ESL also has some useful travel agent stuff, as long as you can sift through all of the bickering and fun stuff like that!
Also don’t forget to check Kayak and Cheapoair for flights. They usually have decent prices also.
Listening to Bloc Party Always New Depths.
Tags: Bloc Party·Korea·Travel
In Hollywood fashion the USMNT pulls an injury time victory, out of a hat, to secure their ticket to the round of 16 in the 2010 World Cup. Next up is Ghana on June 26th. This is the first time in USMNT history that the US has won their individual group. It’s also the first time that the US has gone undefeated in their group stage.
Photo by: Getty Images
Personally I don’t think I’ve ever been so nervous while watching a sporting event. At times it felt as if there was a force field around the goal. Every shot that went towards the Algerian goal hit a post, magically was called back by the ref, or was saved by the keeper.
Can’t wait for the round of 16 to start. That’s when this tournament really gets interesting!
Listening to Tokyo Police Club Breakneck Speed.
Tags: Soccer·tokyo police club·USMNT·World Cup
Pictures by Stuart Wainstock
Tags: DMZ·Pictures
