The Korean celebration of Buddha's birthday, Labor Day and Children's Day all fell on the same weekend this year. Yay for us--that meant a 6 day weekend! Unfortunately, the country is still being asked to practice social distancing, there are no international flights out of the country (maybe it's better to say there is no foreign country that we feel safe visiting now), and Daisy is on crutches which seriously limits what we can do. But we made the best of it regardless and had a great Staycation!
We kicked off the weekend with me and the boys going zip lining on the longest zip line in South Korea at Gumo Mountain in Hadong County. Fun, right?! We left Abe home to study and Daisy home to hang out with Susie. Art and Samson bought their tickets first, and then I was going to buy ours. The lady was like, only one. I was all confused and was Google Translating that both boys were old enough and I wanted to buy 3 tickets. Finally we came to an understanding that there was only room for one person on this zip tour. Eli and I took one for the team and sent Zekers without us.
The harnesses are like little seats you just sit in.
It was a gorgeous day and Linda had planned on sitting out anyway. So the three of us waited outside on the swing and enjoyed the view and some lemonade.
We took advantage of the photo ops first, though.
My little angel.
For some odd reason I thought it was time for the perfect cheer. At least that looks like what I'm getting ready for.
It looked like the boys had a super fun time. DanFam5 will be back again when we can all participate.
Check out that view!
Brahemian, the dogs and I took a quick hike up to the lookout rock when we got back. Sometimes these girls teach me good life lessons, such as the adventure begins on the way to your destination.
We went up Bongdusan Mountain again. It looks like this could be Boguksa Temple at the bottom of the trail according to the map, but I'm not totally sure about that.
I wish my real kids loved hiking as much as my fur kids.
We call this the rock hike because we climb this and look over all the surrounding areas. It looks pretty small from down here.
However, you can tell from this angle that Abe looks pretty little next to the rock.
The doggies have to sit the last bit out because they can't climb that ladder on the left.
Here is the view to the north. It overlooks our 'hood.
The view to the south.
^^^^^
The next day was for Railbiking!
I visited the Hadong Railbike with the Tuesday International Ladies group back in the fall. I had planned on bringing the family this spring when Vivi was visiting. That didn't happen, but it was the perfect activity for my mamed Daisy. By the way, she is giving the Korean 'heart' sign with her fingers; there is something behind her that makes it look like she is giving me the finger, but she is not. Maybe in a few years, but not today.
In the fall I figured this decoration was out for Halloween. Apparently this guy is a staple.
This is what you get when you ask your kid to stand by a statue they feel is embarrassing.
That's Daisy and Daddy standing back there next to a statue of a train conductor.
The beauty of posing with masks is that I don't have to fuss if they are smiling or not.
Train time!
Even boarding a train is difficult with 'crunches' (that's what Daisy's doctors call them at the hospital).
Thankfully you get to enjoy a leisurely train ride
up the hill to get to the railbikes.
Abe was showing off his muscles by breaking the bench. SMH...I can't take him anywhere.
You are still able to sit on it, though, so there's that.
The rail bikes are four-seater buggies.
You can see Linda, Samson, Daisy and Susie in the car behind behind us.
And we're off!
This tunnel is full of greatness, starting from the opening. You can hear tigers growling at you as you enter.
The lights all over Korea are bright and shiny and colorful and full of neon. It's like a mini Vegas when you go out at night, regardless of what city you're in. This tunnel is no exception.
We made it to the other side!
There is a photo booth along the way,
and they give you a "service" (free) photo when you come to the end.
This picture wasn't forced at all.
The day was topped off with a suprise left on our door for May Day! (Daisy may or may not helped make the basket with her friend, but ssshhhh, no one is supposed to know who sent it.)
^^^^^
The rest of the week gets less exciting from here. The highlight of the next day was a trip to downtown Sacheon to Baskin Robbins while I ran next door and got a passport-type picture for my international driver's license. I had taken off my mask for the picture and the lady didn't have one on, either. She came up right to my face and put my hair behind my ears and tilted my head and breathed all over me. The whole time I was thinking, "Rona!" in my head.
^^^^^
The next day was even lamer. The excitement for the day was home church. It was a rainy day so we spent a lot of time on screens.
We did take a break for a bit and play a game.
Daisy had Susie stay over one night. They got out the tent and made it super cute and cosy with fairy lights.
^^^^^
I have been looking at everyone's cute porch pics from the US. I decided to do one, too, as a joke because we have no porch. Ours is a foyer foto.
This is our silly one. Abe has his airplane picture with math all over it because he's been going to work this whole time. I almost left him out of our foyer foto since he hasn't been stuck at home all day like us, but decided he should be in there, too. Zeke and Eli have their game faces on, Daisy is watching youtube, and I am either walking dogs or cooking.
^^^^^
The rain passed and the next day the Ts and us decided to try the boat tour around Sacheon Bay. Unfortunately it is not going because, Rona. But that did not hold us down! We ran through the turtle ship since we were right there. A couple previous posts tell the story of Admiral Yi Sun-Shin and how his turtle boats were able to defeat the Japanese.
These replicas are my size. I am guessing that is about accurate to their actual size. People in the boomer generation here are short, but younger generations are average American height. So I'm still short.
An outfit fit for an admiral.
Look at that baby cannon.
There is a sick/injured bay below.
My boys were patiently waiting for me.
Koreans love the idea of love and they have hearts everywhere. I think it's precious.
Next we headed over to Baekchonsa Temple, or better known to locals as the Reclining Buddha.
I don't know a lot about Buddhism nor the temples. This particular one was full of thousands and thousands of plastic statues of varying sizes that are purchased as memorials for loved ones. The largest were about 48 inches, while the smallest were about 6 inches. Three or four buildings are full of these tiny statues, although there are still a few spaces left to purchase. Two of the buildings were several stories tall. I don't know what happens when the buildings are all full. In Thailand they told me that ashes of loved ones are stored in the temples, but these did not look like they contained ashes.
Each floor had several small rooms and hallways full of statues.
The rooms and hallways have numbers to help you locate your loved one.
This is the huge statue in the middle of this floor.
You can see the name on the bottom of each statue.
The view from a side door.
This is another floor.
Overlooking the 4th floor balcony to the 3rd floor with Abe and Art below.
This big guy looks out from the top of the tallest buiding.
I need to come with a native Korean and learn more about it. I would love to know what these interesting guys represent.
I have noticed that all the Buddhist temples in both Korea and Thailand are all painted these same basic colors.
Once again, the story behind this picture must be a good one, for sure.
The grounds are maintained beautifully.
I think this is to wash your hands. Maybe it's like holy water?
And the Piece de Resistance: the reclining buddha. From what I learned in Thailand, once one has been reincarnated enough times and some other stuff I don't fully understand, he becomes a reclining buddha, which means he has reached nirvana will no longer be reincarnated. Or something like that. I think??
We also saw the clicking cows. I don't know the story behind them, but they did make some sort of unique 'clicking' sound.
You cannot tell from the front, but this building was also several stories high, nearly filled to the brim with memorials.
The outside balcony had these cool rotating pot-type things. Once again, there must be a good story behind it.
I have not noticed frogs in other temples, but I saw several of them in all the buildings today.
So many memorials! I would like to know how old these are and how many there are.
I am assuming the cemetery outside is for monks, but you know that 'assume' makes an
ass of
u and
me (I added that because Daisy hates it when I say that).
The day was wrapped up with korean bbq from our favorite restaurant, Arirang.
^^^^^
The final day of vacay was Cinco de Mayo. We treated ourselves to the best Mexican food around. We had to drive to Changwon to get it, which is about an hour and a half away. But first we strolled around Yongji Park.
Eli's super power is avoiding all the pictures that I
want him in and being front and center for the ones that I do
not want him in.
There are a lot of parks in Korea, and you will often find these little feet 'massagers.' They actually hurt, but Zekers walked across all of them barefooted. Matter of fact, the sign asked us to take our shoes off. This particular park is made in the shape of a foot.
Yongji Park is full of abstract art.
If you look closely you can see Zeke and Eli reflected in the ball.
Eli forgets that Daddy doesn't like to be touched as much as Mommy.
I told them to sit there like those hippos.
I love that ornery little smile.
Eli drove us around the pond on this fun little boat.
Sometimes things are lost in translation, but it's the thought that counts.
Cute little baby turtles and ducks.
Finally, the thing we drove to Changwon for...Mexican!
Apparently there is always a wait to get in.
The quesadillas were not quite what the kids and I were hoping for, but the chips and salsa were great, and the company even better!
Have a nice Daisy!
[May 5]
