Friday, August 5, 2011
ONE WEEK LEFT!
Officially one week from today we will be packing our things and leaving the city that we've called home for the past year. We've had a great time exploring Korea and other areas of Southeast Asia while we've been here! Although we will surely miss Korea and all of its wonderful quirks and strange food we are ready to set foot on home soil and see what's in store for us next!
This past month or so we've been trying to explore areas in Busan that we had no seen over the year.
For my birthday Svein decided to take me on a trip to Jeju Island - the home of volcanic gods, sex related parks and beautiful beaches.
We started our trip with an epic journey up Hallasan - Mt. Halla - which marked the highest peak we've reached thus far - 1950m!
Unfortunately the views were cloud covered and we were unable to view the crater lake :(
The way down provided a more than satisfactory alternative view...
After hiking Hallasan for nearly 7 hours our bodies needed some well deserved R&R. So, like many Koreans do, we headed to the beach for the day.
We started get a good hunger on so, when in Korea, do as the Koreans do. Beach chicken it is!
We've been lucky in having the first week of August off of school! So, we thought why not check out Songjeong for a nice relaxing and quiet day of beach-ee! Of course it'll be quiet and calm! It's the middle of the day on a Tuesday and everyone's at work, right? Wrong!
Songjeong was packed, to say the least, but we still managed to find a spot on the sand.
The next day we checked out Chungmyeolsa Shrine, which was erected in honour of those individuals who fought against the Japanese in the Japanese Invasion from 1592-1598. The buildings were beautiful as were the surrounding gardens.
This past month or so we've been trying to explore areas in Busan that we had no seen over the year.
For my birthday Svein decided to take me on a trip to Jeju Island - the home of volcanic gods, sex related parks and beautiful beaches.
We started our trip with an epic journey up Hallasan - Mt. Halla - which marked the highest peak we've reached thus far - 1950m!
Unfortunately the views were cloud covered and we were unable to view the crater lake :(
The way down provided a more than satisfactory alternative view...
While on Jeju we also checked out Love land - I think the pictures give a pretty good explanation for what this place was all about.
After hiking Hallasan for nearly 7 hours our bodies needed some well deserved R&R. So, like many Koreans do, we headed to the beach for the day.
We started get a good hunger on so, when in Korea, do as the Koreans do. Beach chicken it is!
Overall, we had a pretty time on Jeju-do (do=island), despite the extreme temperatures that left us hot, sticky and drained everyday! Now, when a Korean person asks us, "Have you been to jeju-do? You must visit Jeju-do! So beautiful!", we can proudly say, "Yes, yes we have!"
After Jeju we didn't embark on any out of Busan travel ling, however, we did check out a few sites within the city.
First off, we did quite a few hikes/runs in our local mountain across from our place! We have been to this very spot many many times, however, we thought it was worth mentioning as we may very much miss this place the most.
After Jeju we didn't embark on any out of Busan travel ling, however, we did check out a few sites within the city.
First off, we did quite a few hikes/runs in our local mountain across from our place! We have been to this very spot many many times, however, we thought it was worth mentioning as we may very much miss this place the most.
We've been lucky in having the first week of August off of school! So, we thought why not check out Songjeong for a nice relaxing and quiet day of beach-ee! Of course it'll be quiet and calm! It's the middle of the day on a Tuesday and everyone's at work, right? Wrong!
Songjeong was packed, to say the least, but we still managed to find a spot on the sand.
The next day we checked out Chungmyeolsa Shrine, which was erected in honour of those individuals who fought against the Japanese in the Japanese Invasion from 1592-1598. The buildings were beautiful as were the surrounding gardens.
Monday, May 23, 2011
Good race! Now here's your kimchi and tofu!
This past weekend Svein and I did our first Korean road race in Dadaepo, which is on the outskirts of Busan. We met up with some other running friends the night before and checked out the area.
Dadaepo has a really cool fountain - probably the biggest and best fountain, choreographed with music and lights, in the world. Or at least that's what they want you to think.
Luckily our friend Jill found us a love motel after hours of searching. If you don't know what a love motel is, it's basically a place for Korean lovers and the "occasional" older male and his lady companion...err... prostitute, to go and make love time. Anyways, a typical love motel will include the following things:
1) A large car park on the ground level with a concealing barricade of hanging ropes.. This is very convenient as the older gentleman can quickly swoop his "lady companion" into the closest love making room without being seen.
2) Darkly light hallways equipped with the random condom dispenser.
3) A circular bed that looks like it's seen it's fair share of visitors.
4) An endless supply of shampoo, creams, hair brush, toothpaste and personal lubricant.
5) There is no paper trail - everything is paid for in cash and there is no request for ID or name.
6) 9 times out of 10 you will find prostitute business cards - with topless pictures - on the steps of the building. Just in case you forgot your own prostitute.
Now, mind you, not every love motel is like this. Our was, but we've heard that there are quite a few swanky motels out there with computers, flat screen TVs and even rectangular beds.
So, onto the race.....
The morning of the race was pretty gloomy. We entered the 5km race and were given a 'beautiful' sky blue hiking style polo shirt, our race number and a very official looking booklet with all the runners names and race information. The race site was right on the beach and quite a few people registered - ~2,500 people! Before the start of the race there was quite a bit of talking, in Korean, so we can't really say what as said. There was one point in the middle of the 5km starting announcements where the game show host-like announcer quickly walked towards me (Sarah) and said, 'oh, foreigner, very beautiful! What's your name?!" haha I was surprised as I was definitely not paying attention to what was going on! "Sarah McBean" was my response and he mumbled something in Korean, walked away and everyone else laughed.
The race was alright, however, it did get kind of windy on the way back. Svein decided to run with the 10km pack, even though he was registered in the 5km. The 5km race didn't have official chip timing, so, we thought it was just going to be a fun run. Svein was looking for more competition in the 10km. This later came to haunt him as you will soon find out. Svein ended up burning out at 2.5km as he struggled to maintain pace with one of the elite Korean women. So, he dropped out of the 10km race that he wasn't officially registered in to begin with. "Why not join up with the 5km race and run with Sarah", Svein thought! I was pretty happy to have him pace me as I felt as though this race, like most, wasn't going to be a good one. So, as we passed the finish line I was given a 3rd place finish lanyard. All of the volunteers kept clapping as we got water and I didn't really understand what the big deal was. I soon found out that I was going to have to stand up on a podium with the 1st and 2nd place finishers for the 5km. Oh yay. haha
We waited around for the rest of the races to finish up - the 10km and the half marathon - and all received bags with Pomegranate Korean vinegar drink (yum! :S), bananas, red bean buns and juice boxes. This was more than welcomed as the traditional post-race fuel in Korea is.....wait for it...... kimchi and tofu. That's right, kimchi and tofu! I don't know what kind of carbohydrate replenishment is in kimchi, or tofu, but it doesn't seem like the best thing to eat after a race! Regardless, everyone dives right into the plates of kimchi and tofu - some may even have a glass of magulli (korean rice liquor). Only in Korea!
Eventually the awards ceremony started and I was called to the stadium, "Mcbean SERA!" was announced. Up on the stage I was given a heavy blue suede box with a big glass trophy inside and an envelope with 100,000 won (approximately $90)! This was a huge surprise and definitely a good one! Svein, oh poor svein, was not very happy with the fact that he thought there was no prize money for the 5km race. Oops, I guess there was! His motivation to run and increase his fitness is greater than it has ever been since we've arrived in Korea haha!
So, overall, the race was a great experience! We're both looking forward to the next one which will be in June - the Gimhae mountain race! This one will be 10km of uphill and downhill running! Wish us luck!
**A few photos courtesy of Jill - I hope you don't mind! :)
Dadaepo has a really cool fountain - probably the biggest and best fountain, choreographed with music and lights, in the world. Or at least that's what they want you to think.
Luckily our friend Jill found us a love motel after hours of searching. If you don't know what a love motel is, it's basically a place for Korean lovers and the "occasional" older male and his lady companion...err... prostitute, to go and make love time. Anyways, a typical love motel will include the following things:
1) A large car park on the ground level with a concealing barricade of hanging ropes.. This is very convenient as the older gentleman can quickly swoop his "lady companion" into the closest love making room without being seen.
2) Darkly light hallways equipped with the random condom dispenser.
3) A circular bed that looks like it's seen it's fair share of visitors.
4) An endless supply of shampoo, creams, hair brush, toothpaste and personal lubricant.
5) There is no paper trail - everything is paid for in cash and there is no request for ID or name.
6) 9 times out of 10 you will find prostitute business cards - with topless pictures - on the steps of the building. Just in case you forgot your own prostitute.
Now, mind you, not every love motel is like this. Our was, but we've heard that there are quite a few swanky motels out there with computers, flat screen TVs and even rectangular beds.
So, onto the race.....
The morning of the race was pretty gloomy. We entered the 5km race and were given a 'beautiful' sky blue hiking style polo shirt, our race number and a very official looking booklet with all the runners names and race information. The race site was right on the beach and quite a few people registered - ~2,500 people! Before the start of the race there was quite a bit of talking, in Korean, so we can't really say what as said. There was one point in the middle of the 5km starting announcements where the game show host-like announcer quickly walked towards me (Sarah) and said, 'oh, foreigner, very beautiful! What's your name?!" haha I was surprised as I was definitely not paying attention to what was going on! "Sarah McBean" was my response and he mumbled something in Korean, walked away and everyone else laughed.
The race was alright, however, it did get kind of windy on the way back. Svein decided to run with the 10km pack, even though he was registered in the 5km. The 5km race didn't have official chip timing, so, we thought it was just going to be a fun run. Svein was looking for more competition in the 10km. This later came to haunt him as you will soon find out. Svein ended up burning out at 2.5km as he struggled to maintain pace with one of the elite Korean women. So, he dropped out of the 10km race that he wasn't officially registered in to begin with. "Why not join up with the 5km race and run with Sarah", Svein thought! I was pretty happy to have him pace me as I felt as though this race, like most, wasn't going to be a good one. So, as we passed the finish line I was given a 3rd place finish lanyard. All of the volunteers kept clapping as we got water and I didn't really understand what the big deal was. I soon found out that I was going to have to stand up on a podium with the 1st and 2nd place finishers for the 5km. Oh yay. haha
We waited around for the rest of the races to finish up - the 10km and the half marathon - and all received bags with Pomegranate Korean vinegar drink (yum! :S), bananas, red bean buns and juice boxes. This was more than welcomed as the traditional post-race fuel in Korea is.....wait for it...... kimchi and tofu. That's right, kimchi and tofu! I don't know what kind of carbohydrate replenishment is in kimchi, or tofu, but it doesn't seem like the best thing to eat after a race! Regardless, everyone dives right into the plates of kimchi and tofu - some may even have a glass of magulli (korean rice liquor). Only in Korea!
Eventually the awards ceremony started and I was called to the stadium, "Mcbean SERA!" was announced. Up on the stage I was given a heavy blue suede box with a big glass trophy inside and an envelope with 100,000 won (approximately $90)! This was a huge surprise and definitely a good one! Svein, oh poor svein, was not very happy with the fact that he thought there was no prize money for the 5km race. Oops, I guess there was! His motivation to run and increase his fitness is greater than it has ever been since we've arrived in Korea haha!
So, overall, the race was a great experience! We're both looking forward to the next one which will be in June - the Gimhae mountain race! This one will be 10km of uphill and downhill running! Wish us luck!
**A few photos courtesy of Jill - I hope you don't mind! :)
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
a few tidbits
Well we've been in Korea for quiet awhile now and I feel it's about time I uncover some of the ever-surprising and questionable beliefs and practices of Koreans.
1. Fan Death- Koreans believe that by keeping a fan on in a room without opening any windows will ultimately cause death. Seriously. Apparently, a fan sucks all of the oxygen out of the room causing, well, death. Another belief is that the fan will chop up the oxygen molecules. In order to sleep with a fan on you must have a window open at all times. They take this superstition to the extremes during the winter time. You can ask any foreign English teacher and they will tell you about the ridiculous window opening in the winter time. Imagine a nice, warm and cozy classroom. Just as your bones have started to thaw your co teacher whips open the windows causing a blistery breeze of winter air to spread throughout the classroom. It's more horrible than it sounds. This is very common place within schools as they believe that keeping the heater on without the windows open will result in health problems. This may be true but geez, they're definitely running up a hefty electricity bill at the same time!
2. Umbrellas - Koreans love umbrellas. I believe that each individual probably has at least four different umbrellas. There's a good chance they could match their umbrella to their daily attire. Honestly, umbrella's are very important here. You will not see a single Korean without an umbrella in its fully functional form on a grey, rainy day. Now, its a given that umbrellas do come in handy during steady rainfalls. Here, however, the smallest amount of rain warrants the use of an umbrella! During the random winter snowfalls, Koreans also whipped out their umbrellas! The reason - most Koreans believe that repeated exposure to rainfall will cause their hair to fall out. Hmm.. not too sure about that one, however, the traces of radioactivity are going up!
3. The Gear - Now this one has really created quite a few laughs between Svein and I. Koreans love, and I mean truly love, their flashy, brand name hiking and biking gear. On a normal weekend hike, we will head to the mountains in running shorts and a tee, accompanied by a standard backpack and trail runners. Koreans, however, will be completely decked out in the latest and most techy gear on the market. Marmot, Nepa, Columbia, The North Face, The Red Face, The Black Face (literally), there are countless brands geared towards hiking here in Korea. Your average Korean hiker will most likely head out hiking with the following gear: technical pants and jacket, rugged hiking boots fit for a hike in the Himalayas, a set of hiking poles, a sophisticated pack with multiple accessories attached, visor (a MUST), face mask (another MUST), cellphone with music blaring and gloves. This is on a hot summer day. Koreans also love their biking gear! While heading out for a run on the sunken subway path (paved) we will see numerous bikers that look to be heading for a mountain bike race. They are all wearing coordinated spandex outfits, face masks, cleats, backpacks, and gloves. The funniest part is that they're all riding $1000+ MTB bikes! The money they put into their gear is absurd! I do commend their dedication to physical activity though!
4. Coffee - Coffee culture is huge here in Korea. You will find countless quaint coffee shops lining the streets of Busan offering only the best cappuccinos, lattes and espressos. If that doesn't quite compare to a nice cup of strongly brewed coffee, well then, you're out of luck. It's verrry hard to find a standard cup of coffee anywhere in Busan. You can purchase coffee beans from costco or Lotte mart, but for some reason coffee shops here don't include brewed coffee in their menu. So once you've become used to drinking your \5,000 cappuccino your co teacher may offer you a Korean style coffee. What's this you may ask? Well, it's more or less instant coffee combined with powdered creamer and sugar in a handy transportable packet. Koreans drink this coffee numerous times a day. When prepared, however, they only add about 1/4 cup of water to the packet. This creates a very sugary and strong drink! It definitely can't be good for you! We have gotten kind of used to it though... maybe we're slowly turning korea?
5. Blood Type - When approached by a Korean you may be asked,"What is your blood type?" as opposed to "What is your sign?" Koreans believe that a persons blood type depicts their true nature.
Blood Type A: Secretive, conservative, stubborn, patient, punctual and uptight. Apparently they don't hold their alcohol well either.
Blood Type B: Optimistic, creative, animal-loving, self-centered and forgetful. Type B's are very independent and the men are not considered "good husbands" as they have the makings of a "bay boy".
Blood Type AB: Introverted, cool, collected, rational, critical and indecisive.
Blood Type O: Athletic, ambitious, self-confident, insensitive, vain and arrogant. Viewed as natural leader and natural athletes, type O's are confident they will succeed.
In Korea there are countless songs and movies that depict relationship between individuals with different blood types. The first time I encountered this question was during the question and answer period of one of my grade 3 classes. One shy Korean girl with huge pigtails stood up and said something in Korea. My co teacher translated the question to, "what is your blood type?" I was completely thrown off and with a laugh I said "O". The classroom broke out in cheers. You could imagine my confusion at the time, haha.
6. Cosmetic Surgery - This is a big one. Korean women are always looking in mirrors, tending to their makeup or hair. There are mirrors everywhere if you keep your eye out for them - the subway, public buildings, schools, restaurants...When riding the subway you will notice that almost every Korean is either on their cell phone or looking in a mirror. Their constant concern for their physical appearance has created a huge cosmetic surgery industry here in Korea. Some of the common procedures undertaken are - breast augmentation, liposuction, double eyelid surgery (to create a more Caucasian looking eye - it's very common to see high school girls with eye patches, post surgery), nosejobs, and the most shocking, calf reduction. As the majority of Korean females wear sky-high heels, they ultimately have very sculpted calves. Back home, this wouldn't be frowned upon at all! Here in Korea, however, a sleek and slim look is desired and any muscle definition is generally undesirable.
7. Spitting and urinating- This is all too common in the streets of Korea. On a nice peaceful day you will most likely hear a loud, "wghooop!, pptou!" as an elderly Korean man horkes up a giant spitball destined for the sidewalk. It's quite disgusting at times. I wonder if this goes hand in hand with not blowing their noses? Apparently this is rude but spitting isn't? Urinating in public is also fairly common with the elderly male population. Especially in the sunken subway pathway that runs the length of the city.
8. Meal Time - Koreans do not drink anything with their meal, unless it's soju. During lunchtime at my school I'm the only person with a bottle of water. I also never see any of the teachers drinking water; only the strong, concentrated Korean coffee and a bit of tea. Eating together and sharing food is alsopart of the daily life in Korea. Everyone's spoon into one large soup is not uncommon. Slurping the soup from the spoon with a very loud "sshhhlp!" is also not a surprise. Every meal is served with Kimchi as it is the national dish. Fermented and smelly it is actually very tasty! Korean men also eat really fast! They almost inhale the food! As my principal is finishing up his meal I'm only a quarter of the way through mine! Meals will also last hours when out with a big group. I've had school dinners where we've been at the restaurant for over three hours! It's actually really nice to sit and relax with everyone after a big meal.
Throughout the last 8 months it has been fun learning about the different cultural and daily practices in Korea. Although some may seem a little too different it has still been great experiencing a different culture and adapting to their norms. Some visitors to Korea may be put-off by some of the behaviours noted, but for us, observing and partaking in these behaviours is a great way to truly enjoy and appreciate a culture.
1. Fan Death- Koreans believe that by keeping a fan on in a room without opening any windows will ultimately cause death. Seriously. Apparently, a fan sucks all of the oxygen out of the room causing, well, death. Another belief is that the fan will chop up the oxygen molecules. In order to sleep with a fan on you must have a window open at all times. They take this superstition to the extremes during the winter time. You can ask any foreign English teacher and they will tell you about the ridiculous window opening in the winter time. Imagine a nice, warm and cozy classroom. Just as your bones have started to thaw your co teacher whips open the windows causing a blistery breeze of winter air to spread throughout the classroom. It's more horrible than it sounds. This is very common place within schools as they believe that keeping the heater on without the windows open will result in health problems. This may be true but geez, they're definitely running up a hefty electricity bill at the same time!
2. Umbrellas - Koreans love umbrellas. I believe that each individual probably has at least four different umbrellas. There's a good chance they could match their umbrella to their daily attire. Honestly, umbrella's are very important here. You will not see a single Korean without an umbrella in its fully functional form on a grey, rainy day. Now, its a given that umbrellas do come in handy during steady rainfalls. Here, however, the smallest amount of rain warrants the use of an umbrella! During the random winter snowfalls, Koreans also whipped out their umbrellas! The reason - most Koreans believe that repeated exposure to rainfall will cause their hair to fall out. Hmm.. not too sure about that one, however, the traces of radioactivity are going up!
3. The Gear - Now this one has really created quite a few laughs between Svein and I. Koreans love, and I mean truly love, their flashy, brand name hiking and biking gear. On a normal weekend hike, we will head to the mountains in running shorts and a tee, accompanied by a standard backpack and trail runners. Koreans, however, will be completely decked out in the latest and most techy gear on the market. Marmot, Nepa, Columbia, The North Face, The Red Face, The Black Face (literally), there are countless brands geared towards hiking here in Korea. Your average Korean hiker will most likely head out hiking with the following gear: technical pants and jacket, rugged hiking boots fit for a hike in the Himalayas, a set of hiking poles, a sophisticated pack with multiple accessories attached, visor (a MUST), face mask (another MUST), cellphone with music blaring and gloves. This is on a hot summer day. Koreans also love their biking gear! While heading out for a run on the sunken subway path (paved) we will see numerous bikers that look to be heading for a mountain bike race. They are all wearing coordinated spandex outfits, face masks, cleats, backpacks, and gloves. The funniest part is that they're all riding $1000+ MTB bikes! The money they put into their gear is absurd! I do commend their dedication to physical activity though!
4. Coffee - Coffee culture is huge here in Korea. You will find countless quaint coffee shops lining the streets of Busan offering only the best cappuccinos, lattes and espressos. If that doesn't quite compare to a nice cup of strongly brewed coffee, well then, you're out of luck. It's verrry hard to find a standard cup of coffee anywhere in Busan. You can purchase coffee beans from costco or Lotte mart, but for some reason coffee shops here don't include brewed coffee in their menu. So once you've become used to drinking your \5,000 cappuccino your co teacher may offer you a Korean style coffee. What's this you may ask? Well, it's more or less instant coffee combined with powdered creamer and sugar in a handy transportable packet. Koreans drink this coffee numerous times a day. When prepared, however, they only add about 1/4 cup of water to the packet. This creates a very sugary and strong drink! It definitely can't be good for you! We have gotten kind of used to it though... maybe we're slowly turning korea?
5. Blood Type - When approached by a Korean you may be asked,"What is your blood type?" as opposed to "What is your sign?" Koreans believe that a persons blood type depicts their true nature.
Blood Type A: Secretive, conservative, stubborn, patient, punctual and uptight. Apparently they don't hold their alcohol well either.
Blood Type B: Optimistic, creative, animal-loving, self-centered and forgetful. Type B's are very independent and the men are not considered "good husbands" as they have the makings of a "bay boy".
Blood Type AB: Introverted, cool, collected, rational, critical and indecisive.
Blood Type O: Athletic, ambitious, self-confident, insensitive, vain and arrogant. Viewed as natural leader and natural athletes, type O's are confident they will succeed.
In Korea there are countless songs and movies that depict relationship between individuals with different blood types. The first time I encountered this question was during the question and answer period of one of my grade 3 classes. One shy Korean girl with huge pigtails stood up and said something in Korea. My co teacher translated the question to, "what is your blood type?" I was completely thrown off and with a laugh I said "O". The classroom broke out in cheers. You could imagine my confusion at the time, haha.
6. Cosmetic Surgery - This is a big one. Korean women are always looking in mirrors, tending to their makeup or hair. There are mirrors everywhere if you keep your eye out for them - the subway, public buildings, schools, restaurants...When riding the subway you will notice that almost every Korean is either on their cell phone or looking in a mirror. Their constant concern for their physical appearance has created a huge cosmetic surgery industry here in Korea. Some of the common procedures undertaken are - breast augmentation, liposuction, double eyelid surgery (to create a more Caucasian looking eye - it's very common to see high school girls with eye patches, post surgery), nosejobs, and the most shocking, calf reduction. As the majority of Korean females wear sky-high heels, they ultimately have very sculpted calves. Back home, this wouldn't be frowned upon at all! Here in Korea, however, a sleek and slim look is desired and any muscle definition is generally undesirable.
7. Spitting and urinating- This is all too common in the streets of Korea. On a nice peaceful day you will most likely hear a loud, "wghooop!, pptou!" as an elderly Korean man horkes up a giant spitball destined for the sidewalk. It's quite disgusting at times. I wonder if this goes hand in hand with not blowing their noses? Apparently this is rude but spitting isn't? Urinating in public is also fairly common with the elderly male population. Especially in the sunken subway pathway that runs the length of the city.
8. Meal Time - Koreans do not drink anything with their meal, unless it's soju. During lunchtime at my school I'm the only person with a bottle of water. I also never see any of the teachers drinking water; only the strong, concentrated Korean coffee and a bit of tea. Eating together and sharing food is alsopart of the daily life in Korea. Everyone's spoon into one large soup is not uncommon. Slurping the soup from the spoon with a very loud "sshhhlp!" is also not a surprise. Every meal is served with Kimchi as it is the national dish. Fermented and smelly it is actually very tasty! Korean men also eat really fast! They almost inhale the food! As my principal is finishing up his meal I'm only a quarter of the way through mine! Meals will also last hours when out with a big group. I've had school dinners where we've been at the restaurant for over three hours! It's actually really nice to sit and relax with everyone after a big meal.
Throughout the last 8 months it has been fun learning about the different cultural and daily practices in Korea. Although some may seem a little too different it has still been great experiencing a different culture and adapting to their norms. Some visitors to Korea may be put-off by some of the behaviours noted, but for us, observing and partaking in these behaviours is a great way to truly enjoy and appreciate a culture.
Thursday, March 3, 2011
Travel Recaps
Wow, so apparently we aren't very good at keeping with this blog thing. It is definitely much harder than it looks!
So, after many days spent in Bangkok and Cambodia, we headed down to the South of Thailand - Krabi first and then Koh Lanta. Both areas were incredible! Krabi graced us with its beautiful limestone cliffs and beaches while Koh Lanta allowed us to relax in its carefree, backpacker vibe. We spent many days on the beach checking out the local snorkeling and exploring the waters. We also ventured around to many different local sites in Krabi - namely, the deepest pool in Asia (250m and BRIGHT blue!), natural hot springs in the middle of the jungle and a hidden lagoon accessed only by a very steep rock climb down.
Once in Koh Lanta, we decided to take a one day boat trip to Koh Rok and explore the snorkeling. It as incredible! Giant colourful reefs surrounded by hundreds of species of tropical fish. It was the best snorkeling we had experienced thus far!
By the end of our trip we were very pleased with what we had seen of both Cambodia and Thailand. Our trip was both relaxing and adventurous and we'd definitely recommend anyone to take on a similar venture!
After teaching for a couple of weeks back in Busan, we headed back out for an 11 day trip to Bali, Indonesia! At the start of our trip we had a 24 hr layover in Hong Kong so we decided to check out the city! The area we had stayed was pretty shaddy - Chunking Mansion. We had read reviews of this building, however, like most reviews are, we had assumed the opinions were exaggerated. Well, this time, they weren't. There were persistant hagglers everywhere and the building itself looked to be falling apart. We also saw many members of Svein's family** and the hostel itself was NOT worth 45 bucks a night.
Aside from this though, it was still great to see the city. Hong Kong was the busiest city we've ever explored. There was shopping galore, restaurants with strange offerings and crowds and crowds of people. We had wished we had more time to explore the area and head out into the many hills and mountains surrounding they city. No matter how exciting a big city may be, we would both rather be out in nature exploring around.
The next day we headed down to Bali! The humidity and heat on this island hit us pretty hard when we got off the plane. It was really unlike anything we had experienced before. The heat made it kind of hard to muster up the energy to hike around and explore on foot for long periods of time. Those times we did, however, took us to some pretty beautiful places!
We were able to take in the views of many beautiful rice fields, active volcanic mountains (Gunung Batur and Gunung Agung),and black sandy beaches. This island definitely didn't lack in scenery. It was also very interesting to watch the locals partake in their daily spiritual activities. The Balinese have a strong and rich culture; more so than anything else we've observed so far. Every business and household within this Hindu community present offerings to their gods morning, afternoon and night. These offerings, usually in the form of colourful flower petals, cooked rice, incense, and sometimes other food items are presented to the gods and placed in different areas throughout the household (at the street, on the various shrines facing their holy mountain (gunung agung), on water pipes, at the cash register, etc). It as very interesting to watch as their daily life still involved these ancient practices. Every community also housed a temple, or pura, where ceremonies and offerings would take place. There were multiple occasions where we had witnessed Balinese women carrying offerings on their heads to the temples. It was really remarkable to see how important spirituality was for every individual on the island.
After exploring the mountains and countryside, we decided to head to Pradangbai. This area is located on the southeastern coast of Bali and offers a very low-key, relaxed atmosphere. The small area was home to few tourists and allowed us to relax for a few days on the beach. There was a spot close by (Blue Lagoon) that provided us with really great snorkeling! This was even better than Thailand! The only downside to it was the garbage. There was quite a bit of plastic debris floating around in the water and on the beach. It was quite disgusting, actually. We later moved down to Kuta where we also experienced quite a bit of pollution. It was sad to see that the heavy influx in tourism had resulted in such a mass accumulation of garbage. On a more positive side though, despite the tourism, the Balinese people have been able to retain their cultural identity. On a final note, we also decided to try out surfing while in Kuta. It was to say the least, very difficult! Possibly because the water had been very rough due to storms, or that we are just not fit enough! Either way, we had decided to give it another go in the summer when we might head down to Borneo!
Now that we're back in Busan we are happy to be home, despite the cold weather! Luckily, spring is just around the corner! This will also bring the arrival of Sarah's parents! We are very excited to welcome them to Busan and experience the city with them!
**for those of you who didn't get that one, that would be rats. We saw mannny rats haha
So, after many days spent in Bangkok and Cambodia, we headed down to the South of Thailand - Krabi first and then Koh Lanta. Both areas were incredible! Krabi graced us with its beautiful limestone cliffs and beaches while Koh Lanta allowed us to relax in its carefree, backpacker vibe. We spent many days on the beach checking out the local snorkeling and exploring the waters. We also ventured around to many different local sites in Krabi - namely, the deepest pool in Asia (250m and BRIGHT blue!), natural hot springs in the middle of the jungle and a hidden lagoon accessed only by a very steep rock climb down.
Once in Koh Lanta, we decided to take a one day boat trip to Koh Rok and explore the snorkeling. It as incredible! Giant colourful reefs surrounded by hundreds of species of tropical fish. It was the best snorkeling we had experienced thus far!
By the end of our trip we were very pleased with what we had seen of both Cambodia and Thailand. Our trip was both relaxing and adventurous and we'd definitely recommend anyone to take on a similar venture!
After teaching for a couple of weeks back in Busan, we headed back out for an 11 day trip to Bali, Indonesia! At the start of our trip we had a 24 hr layover in Hong Kong so we decided to check out the city! The area we had stayed was pretty shaddy - Chunking Mansion. We had read reviews of this building, however, like most reviews are, we had assumed the opinions were exaggerated. Well, this time, they weren't. There were persistant hagglers everywhere and the building itself looked to be falling apart. We also saw many members of Svein's family** and the hostel itself was NOT worth 45 bucks a night.
Aside from this though, it was still great to see the city. Hong Kong was the busiest city we've ever explored. There was shopping galore, restaurants with strange offerings and crowds and crowds of people. We had wished we had more time to explore the area and head out into the many hills and mountains surrounding they city. No matter how exciting a big city may be, we would both rather be out in nature exploring around.
The next day we headed down to Bali! The humidity and heat on this island hit us pretty hard when we got off the plane. It was really unlike anything we had experienced before. The heat made it kind of hard to muster up the energy to hike around and explore on foot for long periods of time. Those times we did, however, took us to some pretty beautiful places!
We were able to take in the views of many beautiful rice fields, active volcanic mountains (Gunung Batur and Gunung Agung),and black sandy beaches. This island definitely didn't lack in scenery. It was also very interesting to watch the locals partake in their daily spiritual activities. The Balinese have a strong and rich culture; more so than anything else we've observed so far. Every business and household within this Hindu community present offerings to their gods morning, afternoon and night. These offerings, usually in the form of colourful flower petals, cooked rice, incense, and sometimes other food items are presented to the gods and placed in different areas throughout the household (at the street, on the various shrines facing their holy mountain (gunung agung), on water pipes, at the cash register, etc). It as very interesting to watch as their daily life still involved these ancient practices. Every community also housed a temple, or pura, where ceremonies and offerings would take place. There were multiple occasions where we had witnessed Balinese women carrying offerings on their heads to the temples. It was really remarkable to see how important spirituality was for every individual on the island.
After exploring the mountains and countryside, we decided to head to Pradangbai. This area is located on the southeastern coast of Bali and offers a very low-key, relaxed atmosphere. The small area was home to few tourists and allowed us to relax for a few days on the beach. There was a spot close by (Blue Lagoon) that provided us with really great snorkeling! This was even better than Thailand! The only downside to it was the garbage. There was quite a bit of plastic debris floating around in the water and on the beach. It was quite disgusting, actually. We later moved down to Kuta where we also experienced quite a bit of pollution. It was sad to see that the heavy influx in tourism had resulted in such a mass accumulation of garbage. On a more positive side though, despite the tourism, the Balinese people have been able to retain their cultural identity. On a final note, we also decided to try out surfing while in Kuta. It was to say the least, very difficult! Possibly because the water had been very rough due to storms, or that we are just not fit enough! Either way, we had decided to give it another go in the summer when we might head down to Borneo!
Now that we're back in Busan we are happy to be home, despite the cold weather! Luckily, spring is just around the corner! This will also bring the arrival of Sarah's parents! We are very excited to welcome them to Busan and experience the city with them!
**for those of you who didn't get that one, that would be rats. We saw mannny rats haha
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Siem Reap, Cambodia
We left Bangkok and headed for the Cambodian border. We were aware of all the visa scams, etc., that were common when trying to cross. Upon arrival at the Thai border town, we hopped on a free shuttle which we thought would take us to the border; it didn’t. We ended up at some unauthorized building, and before we could realize, we were filling out visa forms and other paper work-it was a scam. After 5 min, we dropped our pens and left with two other chaps and headed on foot towards the “real” border. At the Thai border, immigration was forcing everyone to pay 100 baht ($3) on top of the $20 it costs to get a Cambodian visa. I had read about this scam online, so I refused to pay the sum, and the authorities did not resist. We walked about 500m to the Cambodian border, and the scenery quickly changed. Cambodia is extremely poor, with 35% of people living on less then 35 cents a day. We passed Cambodian immigration and hopped on a free shuttle headed towards the government bus station-not a scam, finally. Sarah and I were able to split a cab to Siem Reap with two nice guys from China and Turkey.
After a long days travel, we arrived at our guesthouse, an amazing place, with tropical gardens and a great restaurant. We sat down and had traditional Cambodian fish amok. Still to this day it is one of the tastiest things I have ever eaten (fish with spices and vegetables wrapped in a palm leaf). The meal cost us $1.50 each, wow. We headed to bed exhausted, but excited for tomorrow’s exploration.
The next day we rented free bikes from our guesthouse and set out towards the Angkor Temples. These bikes were horrible. Probably 30 years old, with a shitty basket in front. You know the ones I’m talking about... At some of the temples, landmine victims with no legs and arms were playing musical instruments and asking for donations. It was quite a powerful scene, and Sarah got quite emotional. Overall the temples were pretty amazing, although the major ones were very crowded.
That night, we walked around Siem Reap, a great town with a healthy mix of foreigners and Cambodians. Did I mention that pints were 50 cents-unreal! We sat down at an outdoor restaurant, and had a nice meal for $1 each. We were quickly approached by a Cambodian girl trying to sell us bracelets. Sarah told her we already bought many of the same, but she persisted like all Cambodians do. She sat down and started talking to us and we asked her some questions. The girl was 12 years old, and had really good English. We asked her if she went to English school. She said yes, and told us she needed to sell bracelets to pay for school, and that it costs her mom $14 dollars per month. She seemed sincere, and Sarah and I felt really bad. We asked her if she was hungry, she said yes. We decided to order her a plate of fried rice that she split with her friend, she seemed greatful, I think? Not sure if that was a good thing or bad thing, we thought after. I mean, it’s not like we gave her money, she was hungry so we bought her a $1 fried rice, no big deal. It had been a long and tiring day and we were ready to hit the sack and prepare for biking the temples again tomorrow.
Sunday, February 6, 2011
Bangkok Continued
Our second and third day in Bangkok was filled with Wat exploration and major sun exposure! We left our guesthouse early to explore the various different Wats (temples) throughout the major tourist section of Bangkok. On our way, we met a very friendly woman who arranged a TukTuk for us! Apparently today was a special government promotion day where a TukTuk would take you to all of the different tourist sites for only 20 Baht each! We couldn't pass up such a steal!
Riding in a TukTuk is definitely an experience! Zooming past Taxis, motobikes and other vehicles at 60+ km/hr doesn't seem too out of the ordinary. However, once you factor in the fact that you are not belted in and each turn feels as though the vehicle is going to topple over, well, you have a different story! It was definitely a great way to see the city - all of the hustle and bustle of the food markets, the crazy congested traffic with chocking exhaust fumes, the street peddlers selling everything from fresh fruit to underwear.
During our excursion we saw quite a few different sites:
Wat Arun - Temple of Dawn -
Wat Pho - Temple of Reclining Buddha -
Wat Mahathat
Wat Parinayok - Lucky Buddha -
Wat Phra Yai - Big Buddha -
All of the temples were gorgeous with very detailed design! We hoped to visit the Grand Palace, however, we did not wear the appropriate clothing that day (covered shoulders and knees). Hopefully we will visit on our way back to Bangkok at the end of our trip!
Riding in a TukTuk is definitely an experience! Zooming past Taxis, motobikes and other vehicles at 60+ km/hr doesn't seem too out of the ordinary. However, once you factor in the fact that you are not belted in and each turn feels as though the vehicle is going to topple over, well, you have a different story! It was definitely a great way to see the city - all of the hustle and bustle of the food markets, the crazy congested traffic with chocking exhaust fumes, the street peddlers selling everything from fresh fruit to underwear.
During our excursion we saw quite a few different sites:
Wat Arun - Temple of Dawn -
Wat Pho - Temple of Reclining Buddha -
Wat Mahathat
Wat Parinayok - Lucky Buddha -
Wat Phra Yai - Big Buddha -
All of the temples were gorgeous with very detailed design! We hoped to visit the Grand Palace, however, we did not wear the appropriate clothing that day (covered shoulders and knees). Hopefully we will visit on our way back to Bangkok at the end of our trip!
Sunday, January 16, 2011
Bangkok
Yesterday marked the first day in our 24 day journey throughout Thailand and Cambodia!
We arrived in Bangkok very late (2:30am to be exact) due to a flight delay. The hostel we stayed in for the night was very clean and well kept and all of the staff were very friendly! We were very happy to have made it this far and to have a clean and safe place to sleep.
The next day we headed out via taxi to the airport to connect to downtown Bangkok via the skytrain. The train was pretty conveinient as Bangkok traffic can be sometimes congested. This train, however, was NOTHING compared to the train Svein and I took while waitin at the airport in Shanghai! During our 8 hour layover we met a Chinese man and woman who were so eager to show us around the city. We were very hestitant considering we had just met this man in this country that is very foreign to us. He eventually purchased tickets for us to ride the Shanghai Transrapid into the city! It was the most generous offer Svein and I had ever received! Especially considering that these tickets were about 120 RNB each which is about 20 bucks each! So, Svein and I decided to board the train and head into Shanghai! Why not?! Luckily we were allowed to leave the airport during our layover, which was opposite to what we believed. We thought we would have needed a VISA. This train was like no other train we had taken in our lives! It was a high speed bullet train that reached..... 430km/h!!! That's' nothing compared to the 300km/h KTX in korea! It was to say the least, thrilling! Once we reached the city we were disappointed to see that we weren't actually in the city centre - we were in fact quite far from it. And with only thing long sleeved T's on we thought it wouldn't be worth going deeper into the city. Next time Shanghai! Next time!
Now, back to Bangkok!
I am currently sitting in our guesthouse, the Sivarian, which has been amazing! The beds are the most comfortable Svein and I have seen since leaving Canada. It has been so nice to get a solid nights sleep. After reaching the guesthouse on our first day we decided to grab a bite to eat at a small local restaurant. It kind of looked like a diner. We ordered the obvious. Pad Thai and Changs (beer). Mm Mmm Mmmmm it was delicious! (Machisayo!) AND it only cost us about 3 dollars each. Very good! But not the best! We had seen Pad Thais being sold on the street later that day for about a buck a pop!
After our meal we boarded the number 3 bus to Chutachat Market which is only open on the weekends. It was HUGE and filled with so many different vendors selling clothing, china, plants, food, bags, ... you name it, it was there! The sun was beaming down on us the whole time which was also welcomed! We found some incredible steals at this market! $3-5 dollar T's, Tanks and Lacoste Polos, amazing smoothies, Chai teas and coconut icecream for under a buck and a nice hand made bag for about 5 dollars!
After a long day at the market we headed out for dinner near Khao san road (the local foreigner hangout). As Svein and I had a beer and ate some amazing food (Massaman curry and Green curry fried rice) we were in awe at our surroundings. I think we were in shock, actually. There were so many interesting travelers, bright lights everywhere, funky music, Thai peddlers on the streets... it seemed like we were in some kind of movie. I don't think the idea of us being in Bangkok had really set in until this point.
Later we traveled around Khao san Road, which was somewhat of a disappointment. It was just so dirty and chaotic. There wasn't anything traditionally Thai about it either. Svein and I had read up on this however, so we were somewhat prepared. We did find some cheap dresses, which was nice for me!
Once we finally got back to our hostel, which was so peaceful and quiet, we crashed HARD into our beds! It might have only been 10:30 too.. haha are we getting old?
Tomorrow we look forward to a day filled with temples, a night bazaar and more amazing Thai food!
Till then and love to you all!
S & S
We arrived in Bangkok very late (2:30am to be exact) due to a flight delay. The hostel we stayed in for the night was very clean and well kept and all of the staff were very friendly! We were very happy to have made it this far and to have a clean and safe place to sleep.
The next day we headed out via taxi to the airport to connect to downtown Bangkok via the skytrain. The train was pretty conveinient as Bangkok traffic can be sometimes congested. This train, however, was NOTHING compared to the train Svein and I took while waitin at the airport in Shanghai! During our 8 hour layover we met a Chinese man and woman who were so eager to show us around the city. We were very hestitant considering we had just met this man in this country that is very foreign to us. He eventually purchased tickets for us to ride the Shanghai Transrapid into the city! It was the most generous offer Svein and I had ever received! Especially considering that these tickets were about 120 RNB each which is about 20 bucks each! So, Svein and I decided to board the train and head into Shanghai! Why not?! Luckily we were allowed to leave the airport during our layover, which was opposite to what we believed. We thought we would have needed a VISA. This train was like no other train we had taken in our lives! It was a high speed bullet train that reached..... 430km/h!!! That's' nothing compared to the 300km/h KTX in korea! It was to say the least, thrilling! Once we reached the city we were disappointed to see that we weren't actually in the city centre - we were in fact quite far from it. And with only thing long sleeved T's on we thought it wouldn't be worth going deeper into the city. Next time Shanghai! Next time!
Now, back to Bangkok!
I am currently sitting in our guesthouse, the Sivarian, which has been amazing! The beds are the most comfortable Svein and I have seen since leaving Canada. It has been so nice to get a solid nights sleep. After reaching the guesthouse on our first day we decided to grab a bite to eat at a small local restaurant. It kind of looked like a diner. We ordered the obvious. Pad Thai and Changs (beer). Mm Mmm Mmmmm it was delicious! (Machisayo!) AND it only cost us about 3 dollars each. Very good! But not the best! We had seen Pad Thais being sold on the street later that day for about a buck a pop!
After our meal we boarded the number 3 bus to Chutachat Market which is only open on the weekends. It was HUGE and filled with so many different vendors selling clothing, china, plants, food, bags, ... you name it, it was there! The sun was beaming down on us the whole time which was also welcomed! We found some incredible steals at this market! $3-5 dollar T's, Tanks and Lacoste Polos, amazing smoothies, Chai teas and coconut icecream for under a buck and a nice hand made bag for about 5 dollars!
After a long day at the market we headed out for dinner near Khao san road (the local foreigner hangout). As Svein and I had a beer and ate some amazing food (Massaman curry and Green curry fried rice) we were in awe at our surroundings. I think we were in shock, actually. There were so many interesting travelers, bright lights everywhere, funky music, Thai peddlers on the streets... it seemed like we were in some kind of movie. I don't think the idea of us being in Bangkok had really set in until this point.
Later we traveled around Khao san Road, which was somewhat of a disappointment. It was just so dirty and chaotic. There wasn't anything traditionally Thai about it either. Svein and I had read up on this however, so we were somewhat prepared. We did find some cheap dresses, which was nice for me!
Once we finally got back to our hostel, which was so peaceful and quiet, we crashed HARD into our beds! It might have only been 10:30 too.. haha are we getting old?
Tomorrow we look forward to a day filled with temples, a night bazaar and more amazing Thai food!
Till then and love to you all!
S & S
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
A Korean Wedding Experience
A week or so ago, Svein and I headed up to Yeoncheong to attend my coteacher's (Ms. Jung's) wedding. After quite the transportation mix up, two buses and 2.5 hours later, we arrived in Yeoncheong (which is really only 1 hour away). As we just barely made the start of the wedding we were surprised to see so many people wandering about outside the wedding hall. For those of you who don't know, when people get married in Korea they register with a wedding hall. These wedding halls generally provide the bride and groom with appropriate wedding attire, along with makeup, hair and what have you. The hall also provides all of the flower arrangements and decorations, along with a buffet meal following the ceremony.
As we approached the second floor wedding hall it was very confusing as it did not seem as though a wedding was actually taking place. There were people moving around everywhere and talking very loudly! As we made our way through the busy crowd we found ourselves standing at the end of the isle of the wedding hall. Directly infront we could see the bride and groom being spoken to by... my principal?? This was weird and very unexpected!
Following whatever they were saying (it was obviously in korean) there were a series of strange events such as trumpet playing, a tribute song for the new husband and wife, as well as the firing of giant confetti cannons. The strangest part, however, was when the groom started performing a series of calisthenics. Push ups, squats, you name it. He was definitely showing his male strength and agility. But why? We still don't really know.... During the whole ceremony the entire audience continued to talk or text on their phones and speak loudly to one another. It seemed so rude and inappropriate, however, no one was phased by it. As one may say, "it's the korean way".
Towards the end of the ceremony the bride and groom proceeded to walk towards the very spot where Svein and I were standing. As they approached us, confetti and bubbles floated above their heads and the multiple assistants fussed with the brides dress and hair. This was in preparation for the series of photographs that were taken at the end of the isle. Despite the loud and rude attendants, the tacky confetti and bubbles circling their heads and the constant flash from the photographer, the newly married couple looked very happy and excited for their future together.
After the ceremony had finished, Svein and I were rushed downstairs by the other teachers at my school. First we were given two tickets and two envelopes. The tickets were for our buffet lunch and the envelope contained a note in korean, as well as 10,000 korean won (~$10). We still don't really know what the money was for haha. But thank you anyways!? Then we were hurried to a long table in a very large dining hall. We were told to get in line and fill up our plates with what looked like a very appetizing buffet! The bride and groom were nowhere to be seen so we thought it must not be impolite to serve ourselves before the couple of the hour. The food ended up being mediocre, however, the pumpkin soup and pomegranate drink were quite good!
Overall, attending a korean wedding was definitely a great cultural experience! It was very interesting to learn about the various wedding customs as well! Here are a few facts we found pretty noteworthy!
- The bride and groom rent all of their wedding attire. This is a MAJOR money saver!
- The hall is actually very reasonably priced considering they provide the food, location, dress, decorations....etc. etc.
- Get this! The groom buys a house for his wife! Pretty cool!
- The bride, however, furnishes the house.
- The brides family provides her with 3 sets of jewelry
- The parents of both the groom and the bride provide linens, towels, kitchen ware, etc. for the couple
- The kit and kaboodle only lasts about 40 minutes! Then, they're off for a half hour family gathering and then onto their honeymoon! Short and sweet!
- You can wear practically anything to a korean wedding! Jeans and sneakers included.
As we approached the second floor wedding hall it was very confusing as it did not seem as though a wedding was actually taking place. There were people moving around everywhere and talking very loudly! As we made our way through the busy crowd we found ourselves standing at the end of the isle of the wedding hall. Directly infront we could see the bride and groom being spoken to by... my principal?? This was weird and very unexpected!
Towards the end of the ceremony the bride and groom proceeded to walk towards the very spot where Svein and I were standing. As they approached us, confetti and bubbles floated above their heads and the multiple assistants fussed with the brides dress and hair. This was in preparation for the series of photographs that were taken at the end of the isle. Despite the loud and rude attendants, the tacky confetti and bubbles circling their heads and the constant flash from the photographer, the newly married couple looked very happy and excited for their future together.
After the ceremony had finished, Svein and I were rushed downstairs by the other teachers at my school. First we were given two tickets and two envelopes. The tickets were for our buffet lunch and the envelope contained a note in korean, as well as 10,000 korean won (~$10). We still don't really know what the money was for haha. But thank you anyways!? Then we were hurried to a long table in a very large dining hall. We were told to get in line and fill up our plates with what looked like a very appetizing buffet! The bride and groom were nowhere to be seen so we thought it must not be impolite to serve ourselves before the couple of the hour. The food ended up being mediocre, however, the pumpkin soup and pomegranate drink were quite good!
Overall, attending a korean wedding was definitely a great cultural experience! It was very interesting to learn about the various wedding customs as well! Here are a few facts we found pretty noteworthy!
- The bride and groom rent all of their wedding attire. This is a MAJOR money saver!
- The hall is actually very reasonably priced considering they provide the food, location, dress, decorations....etc. etc.
- Get this! The groom buys a house for his wife! Pretty cool!
- The bride, however, furnishes the house.
- The brides family provides her with 3 sets of jewelry
- The parents of both the groom and the bride provide linens, towels, kitchen ware, etc. for the couple
- The kit and kaboodle only lasts about 40 minutes! Then, they're off for a half hour family gathering and then onto their honeymoon! Short and sweet!
- You can wear practically anything to a korean wedding! Jeans and sneakers included.
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