LG Twins Game

Another trip to Seoul and yet again, Seoul delivered on an exciting weekend. On Friday, we went to an LG Twins game and we recorded videos, not of the game, but of the fans...because they are hilarious. The experience is a combination of experiences from different sporting cultures. The U.S. provides the game of baseball and the fans cheer more along the lines of European football fans.

 Equally hilarious, cheerleaders are like K-pop stars without the singing:

A couple of short videos of some of the fans' chants:

The most ridiculous thing we experienced at the game was a fan competition held field level that was shown on the jumbtron. A face wipe company sponsored a fan inspired game of 'wipe the grease off of your face'. Whichever fan had the most facial nastiness on the wipe would win the competition. I really wish that we took a video of this because this was easily the most hilarious of fan competitions that I have seen at a sporting event. It is difficult to imagine that an in-game fan contest like this one would exist in the western world. 

Jindo Sea Parting Festival

This past weekend we went to the Jindo Sea parting festival. Jindo is the third largest island in south west Korea. We were able to experience our first Korean festival which was a very interesting experience! In many ways it was similar to festivals back home. There was an abundance of food, craft type items, performances and much much more. My favorite were the Jindo dogs. There was an area with Jindo dogs and Jindo puppies! So cute!  Jindo has it's own dog and it seemed like every house we passed there was a Jindo dog in the yard.However, the highlight of the festival was not the dogs it was the sea parting. Every year around this time the sea parts and you are able to walk through it to a nearby island. It is a pretty amazing site to see!  Here is a website that tells a little more about it and why it happens. 

Here are some pictures of the festival!

Legend of the Miracle Sea

The sea before it parted

Grandmother Ppong 

People were very serious about collecting seaweed when the tide started lowering 

People gathering for the sea parting

Different cultures represented 

Cultural Performances 

Jindo Dog Performace

Jindo Puppies! I wanted to take one home so badly! 

We had some delicious coconut milk! mmm tropical!

The boys really wanted to try whale meat... 

doesn't that look appetizing? 

open wide! =] 

Whale meat, Korean pancakes and kimchi 

Trying the mink whale meat! 

We had a great time at the festival! Spring and summer in Korea are filled with many festivals so we are really excited to see what the next one has in store! 

I think this boy had more fun than anyone else at the festival!
(Yes that is soju in his hand) 

South Korean Island Hopping

This past weekend we traveled to our second and third islands in South Korea. Geoje Island is the country's second largest island and we also went to the small, private island of Oedo. Our first stop was to the historic Park of Geojedo Prisoner of War Camp. The historical significance of the exact spot where Chinese and North Korean soldiers were held as prisoners of war was brought to light as we learned about the uprisings of the prisoners and a lot of information about the history of the Korean War. The other item of significance that comes to the forefront of one's observations when visiting this spot is a glimpse into what it must be like to have experienced the division of the Koreas during the early 1950's.

 Major Role Players During the Korean War and Entrance

'625' Memorial (war began on June 25th, 1950)

 A Small portion of the Diorama of Pow Camp

Fountain Square with flags of 16 nations involved in the conflict

We stayed at a hostel on Geoje Island and the views of the pebble beach and surrounding area were breathtaking...

 The hostel we stayed at is across the bay on the right side of these pictures

View from hostel

Finally, we traveled to Oedo island. This island contains an amazing botanical garden nearly as large as the island itself. Plants from all over world cover the landscape and it is truly a 'paradise' of Korea. We took a ferry from Geoje to Oedo.

 Ferry Ride

 View of sea from opposite of port-side of the island

Ferry Ride with Koreans feeding the seagulls (who knows why they do this)

 Many plants are all uniquely trimmed

 One of eight houses on the island

 Courtyard

Great view of much of the botanical garden

3000 species of plants from all over the world are planted

 Tree shaped like a bird head

On the way home we stopped at some point on Geoje Island. Just a couple of pictures.

 Boat on a pebble beach

Cherry blossoms bloom for about a week this time of year in South Korea and Japan.

These can be seen in almost every corner of South Korea