Tuesday, June 22, 2010

CULTURE SHOCK

1. Koreans sometimes drink an energy drink made from human placenta. I have met one Korean who self-injects this concoction twice aweek for energy.
2. I know one Korean lady who, although living in this dynamic capital city, had a 9pm cufew until she turned twenty (which was just a few years ago.)
3. I've met one person who has been a teacher in Korea and described her experiences using corporal punishment on students. And this lady is a very nice lady.
4. During the economic crisis of 1997 many men in Korea lost their jobs. Some were to embarrassed to tell their families, so instead, put on their suits every day and "went to work". Actually they had nowhere to go, so went hiking in some of the many mountains in and around Seoul (in their business suits.) Apparanty this still goes on somewhat today and can be seen if you hike during weekdays.

Tuesday, June 15, 2010

NORTH ANTRIM COAST

I took my Korean girlfriend to the North Antrim coast when she visited in May. Only two hours drive from my home, I've been there several times. But amazingly, I'd never taken the breathtaking coastal road there. We had wonderful weather and it was a great reminder of just how fantastically beautiful Ireland is.


Giant's Causeway; cool shaped rocks jutting out into the sea.

Beautiful blue water covering all of Ireland; spectacular on a sunny day.
My mysterious girlfriend checking out the view from the beach.
Me surrounded by the green, fertile farms in Antrim.







The quaint town of Cushendall; a lovely place to recharge the batteries.
The Burn Bed and Breakfast; own by my mom's cousin Nuala, I highly recommend it.
The view from our window at The Burn; doesn't get much better than this.

HIKING AT HOME

Every time I go home, I like to climb the Slieve Donard, our town's highest mountain. This trip home was no different and we had the best weather ever for the hike giving beautiful, clear views from the top.
In the photos below; little brother Ronan and his Polish girlfriend Beata and there's also some tired, weak Korean girl being carried up the hardest part of the hike ;-)