I turned 23 (in Korea I turned 24) on Saturday, September 13th. It was the first time my bday was on a weekend since I was in high school. But I got to share it with none of my family, which really sucks.
I was lucky enough to spend time with my family before leaving for Korea and we celebrated my bday in August. That hasn't happened before!!
I spent my bday with some friends from work: Erik and Kristen namely. Erik and Kristen were both brainstorming for awhile as to what was the best way to spend a bday in Korea. I was very surprised at how much thought they put into it. Especially considering I just met them not even 3 weeks ago.
Regardless, Erik heard of an island on the western side of South Korea called Deokjeokdo. We decided that would be an awesome way to spend a bday, Choseuk (Korean thanksgiving) and a long weekend (3 days). So on Saturday morning we met up at the GS 25 (7-11 type place) in our neighborhood at 7:15am. We had to take a taxi to the subway station. We were going to take a bus, but it took forever to arrive and we got impatient and had to make it to the ferry by 10.
We got to the subway and jumped on. We had to get off at some point and make a transfer. We got lost, as usual. Considering the fact that all of the signs are in Korean and we all speak english quite fluently. Which is probably why we were chosen to teach english to Korean kids.
We were eventually helped by a Korean man who said he spent 6 months in Canada. He knew amazing english for only spending 6 months there. He helped us a lot. We eventually got on the right subway to our final spot: Incheon.
Once we got there, we had to take a bus or a taxi to the ferry terminal. But at this point we were literally running out of time. So we just hopped into a taxi after struggling to think of the word for ferry terminal in Korean. We managed to get to the ferry terminal.
Once inside, it was a madhouse. People EVERYWHERE. No lines, just pushing. Fights erupted. Angry Koreans yelling at cops. In America if you yelled at a cop that way, you'd be taken "downtown". But not in Korea. The cops either ignore you or walk away or yell back.
We ended up missing our 10 o'clock ferry, so we had to catch the ferry at 11:45am. Which was ok, it gave me time to call my parents.
I used Erik's cell phone and my calling card. I made him promise about 100 times before leaving our apartments that he wouldn't forget his phone and that I could use it. He tried to convince me that he had forgotten it. I wasn't having any of that.
I called my mom and dad. Talked to them for a bit. I always enjoy hearing their voices.
Then we had to run to get on our ferry. They handed us a box of little plastic baggies and a thing of little mini towels. We had no idea why, but we figured they would possibly come in handy, if not... we could take them home and use them there.
We got on the ferry and sat on top in the open part. We immediately met some really awesome people. John, Alisa and Erin were all travelling together. Alisa had been in Korea for a few years, Erin had been there for a year and the same with John. All were way more experienced than myself. They were surprised that I had only been in Korea for a couple weeks, they said that they can usually spot a "newbie" from miles away because they have a shocked look on their face.
I have done too much traveling and random trips in my day to be that blatantly frightened. I was feeling fine. :)
We hung out on deck and watched the seagulls try to pick food out of peoples hands as we rode on the 1.5 hours trip to Deokjeokdo.
Once we got there, we had to find a place to stay. Reservations are for suckers!! We took a bus to the area where we wanted to be on the island. Then we walked to this place where Alisa had stayed before. It was called Beach Love Motel. Pretty interesting place. Looked like a hostel of some sort. But it was cheap. Kristen and I shared a room for 20 bucks a night. 10 bucks each. You can't beat that.
Our room:
The common area:
The bathroom doors were ridiculously tiny.... like.... Alice in Wonderland
After we put our stuff in our rooms, we ran as quickly as we could to the beach.... it was GORGEOUS. There were tons of foreigners there. Most of them from either the states, Canada or the UK. It was so nice to hear english on a regular basis and NOT just at work, for a change. We had a great time just hanging out on the beach and playing around. We played volleyball and I got incredibly sunburned. Later when the surf went out (which... by the way it goes out about 1/4 of a mile. It goes out SO far. Ridiculous.....) At this time we stood on the formerly submerged land and played "American, American... CANADIAN!!!" (in the style of Duck Duck Goose).... It was moderately amusing and soon the rules got confused and we decided that certain members of the circle were too drunk to understand even a simple childrens game.
Erik feelin' happy
We eventually went to eat my bday dinner. I am unsure of the Korean name for what we ate, especially how to spell it... but it was delicious. It was some sort of bacon and veggies and we grilled it ourselves. I enjoyed it way too much. Erik and John were in charge of cooking it and many grease burns were sustained by all at the table.
here's our food:
Following dinner, people went for naps and eventually we ended up back at the beach for a bonfire. There were two bonfires with drastically different people at each. The one that I spent the most time at was the chill bonfire. People were hanging out, talking, some drinking, others not. A few guys brought out their guitars and were attempting to entertain the crowd with campy songs. I was entertained.
Then I went over to the other fire and people were jumping over the fire, being loud and annoying and then one fellow jumped INTO the fire. We were all horrified. And by "we were all", I mean me and Kristen. Most of the other people in question were too drunk to notice or care. Finally we went with Erik back to the convienience store area where he was getting more beer. I'm not a drinker, so I just abstained from any and all idiot alcoholic beverages. They taste gross and make you jump through fires. No thanks. I'll stick to the caffeine and sugar addiction I am already sustaining.
On our way to the store, the guy who jumped through the fire comes up to Kristen and I and decides to profess his love for us. He puts one arm around each of us and basically uses us to keep from taking a face plant into the sand. We walked along being entertained by the drunken slurring of our new friend. Erik then stubs his toe on something in the sand and exclaims loudly about the toe situation.... Our friend, named Dave, says "Oh man... is it your main toe?? Cause if it's your main toe, we have to go back...." We all laughed very hard and for weeks after the fact. What in the hell is a main toe?? And it isn't like the toe fell OFF Erik's foot!! If it did... we would definitely go back. Weirdo.
Erik and John feelin happy on the playground
Finally I got bored of people... and went to bed. I'm a loser, I went to bed early on my bday. (if 1am could be considered early). I like to read and I was really into my book.... 1984. Not to make excuses for myself or anything.
The next day we got up and went to breakfast. We had beibenbop. Which.... in my humble opinion.... was not that good. I finally met beach dog, who is the cutest thing ever and makes me miss my dog Comet WAY too much. We decided to go hiking up to this pagoda at the top of the mountain on the island. I, unfortunately, only packed flip flops for this trip. I did not anticipate a lot of hiking. I made it about halfway up the mountain and was tired of almost falling constantly so I hung out, took pictures, then walked back by myself... trying not to think of all the bugs in the near vacinity of me. I hate bugs.... a lot.
View from the top:
I then went to the beach and walked along collecting seashells. Later on, I did some reading, took a nap, basically relaxed. It was a great place to relax and a perfect weekend. The weather was awesome and the island was beautiful.
That night we went back to the beach and about half the rowdy people of the previous night had either gone home or were too hungover still to come back out. The bonfire was much more enjoyable. We talked, we laughed, there was decent music.... I had a lot more fun the second night.
The second night was when Kristen decided to get completely trashed and lose her dignity. It was an epic moment and would provide us with hilarious jokes for weeks to come. The reasons for her losing her dignity will remain in my mind, for she is my friend... and I do not want to embarass her. :) (I'm such a great friend!!!!)
Kristen toward the middle of her evening
The following morning we went back home to Anyang via ferry, taxi and subway. It took a LONG time to get home, as always, but it was fun. I had a great bday weekend. A SUCCESS!!!
On the ferry, this guy named Stephen from Britain says "you are just a doodlepad aren't you??" because of my tattoos. That made Erik die laughing. har har.
