Mystery Road

Partied hard on the weekend, there was an 80's dance party at the Blue Agave, people dressed up in tights and silver shorts, wore leg warmers and Michael Jackson gloves.

Live music at La Vie before hand with Joey and Hugh, with guest singing by Min Young who has an amazing voice. They played a mix of Canadian songs and their own original ones, including one about tree planting and having to poop in the woods called: "shittin' in the woods." lol.

Sunday, Doug came over and we watched a documentary on Google Video called, "Taxi to the Dark Side" about the torture of Iraqies and Afgans by Americans. Un-believable. It won a lot of academy awards.

After that, Doug, Arielle, Bill and I all hoped on our bikes and headed for a place on the island I didn't even know existed, it's called: "Mystery Road."

On this road, things roll uphill! So cars put their cars in neutral and roll uphill, it's quite the tourist attraction. We then drove to a Buddist temple nearby, walked, looked around and took photos. It was a great day for driving and especially for being on Mystery road as thick fog rolled in, getting thicker and thicker as the day wore on, until I could barely see through my visor when driving down this narrow road, entrapped by dense forest on either side -- and we headed next for the graveyard. This one different than others I've seen because the graves were huge, stone houses above ground, with carvings of lions guarding the entrances.

Green Tea Noodles -- eaten for the first time -- followed, then a movie at my place called "Fat Boy" that Doug had downloaded and brought over.

Anne-Marie didn't come because she was waaay to hungover and only woke from her "nap" around 5pm. Kids. ;)

Juice Fasting

It's going great! We both finished the 3 day pre-fast no problem and are now in the midst of day 2 of the juice fast. Never felt better! Feel like jumping out of bed in the morning and exercising. I'm drinking 1 liter of vegetable and 1 one liter of fruit juice in the morning and soup broth in the evening.

Also, I discovered a new beauty secret! Very excited. Coffee as a facial exfoliant -- tried it yesterday in the shower and it worked liked a charm, my skin was so soft afterwards! And it stayed that way all day too. I'm impressed. But it makes sense, if you can scrub mud on your face, why not coffee??

Now, more than the bet with Bill, there is a pool going at work! Course, I started it. lol. Everyone picked who they thought would crack first and then on what day; the person closest wins the money. 8 people in, $40 pot so far, but we'll get more in this weekend, I suspect. Even my bosses are in on it!

Tonight will be a little difficult because I have to go to Alicia and Kiels housewarming party. But I think I will pass.

I'm teaching Saturday (tomorrow) morning, the reading class, which means I get Monday off. Going to do some tennis and hiking this weekend and Erin and I will hike on Monday as well.

Have a great weekend!

Since I last posted I've been pretty busy and social. Been going out to a lot of dinners and nights at the pubs. Met some of the newbies but no one of "special" interest -- oh, except this SUPER hot guy whose too cute to even ask his name, plus, he's one of "them" -- meaning he lives on the other side of the island.

Celebrated St. Patties nicely with Open Mike night at Led Zepplin. There were bands and comedy acts and poetry readings, I really enjoyed it. It was packed and afterwards we went to another pub, stayed out till 4am and then hit McDonalds on the usual tour.

Now, after all my draft drinking and cigarette smoking, I am fasting! Yes, on day number 2 of the Pre-Fast and feeling good. Have a bet going with a guy in my building: If I lose I owe him about 150 bucks! If he wins, he has to clean my apartment for TWO MONTHS! haha.

It's 21 days long. Man, hoping I make it!

The weather is getting down right sweeet! Warm and sunny, been riding my scooter with a skirt and sweater again. The "yellow dust" is in town, all the way from China, I think it brings a kind of exciting, eerie Stephen King quality to the island that I'm digging.

Classes started again last week and I am very busy again. Teaching an elementary, middle school and two adult classes. Sim labs don't start again until April (except 1 next week).

Sorry no pics this time, next time I'll try. cheers! xoxox

Left to Right: Ariel, Moi, Lisa and Nicole

Jeju Fire Festival

Last night I went to the Fire Festival, Jeju's biggest festival of the year, where they set an orum on fire!

People carried lighted torches to the mountain side -- felt like there would be a sacrifice --, firecrackers lit the sky, spotlights and then finally, they set fire to the stacks of wood and hay covered spheres.

I took a taxi there with Bill and Arial (the new teacher who just flew in yesterday and will be teaching at the Seongsan Center), and ran into a lot of other foreigners. Even the mayor introduced himself to us!

After the initial lighting of the fire, the crowds cleared out really fast, but most of the foreigners stayed a while, watching it burn and getting warm. The guards stopped guarding the hill and we moved as close as heat would allow, taking photos and watching it turn from white hot to smoldering orange. The wood they used smelled like cedar, little fragments popped off, filling the air.

Nicole and her boyfriend John were there, but they leave for the U.S. (permenantly) on Monday so Lisa was sad because they are best friends. They were hugging and saying their goodbye's by the fireglow.

Justin had his touque and a can of beer open -- never looked so Canadian. And Kiel pulled a bottle of soju from his jacket pocket, so it was a little like camping up North; only with a bigger bonfire.

Afterwards, we all -- and I mean ALL -- took the bus down to Seogweipo for Gecko's Dance Party. At first it was chill, ate supper (the lasagna was great!) and then it got fun: strobe lights and dancing and Bahamma Mama's, but no one got crazy, maybe because we all had full tummies or were tired from the long day at the Festival.

Alicia and Kiel, Woody 'n Laurie, and maybe a few others, stayed overnight at Pensions in Seogwipo but I took a taxi back with Bill and two other girls who were headed to Shin Jeju.

I must've been really tired because I slept until noon! I thought the clock was wrong, but nope. Must be all that fresh air and fire!