Bugok: Hawaii

Having fun in Horrorland! Note: Squirrel, bear (?), horse (?), tank. 

one of the three ice slides!!!

This weekend was an absurd whirlwind, I'll try to compress the events into a palatable format.... though so many insane events warrant a novel. Anyway!

Friday night, I met some friends at the bar for a night of rummy. By some crazy (drunken) series of events which included an accordion and a lot of soju, I agreed to play keyboards in an already-established band of four other foreigners called The Gay Sexies. (?!?!) I'm not sure where this will lead, or even what kind of music they (we?) play, but I agreed to practice with them at their studio later on this week. Hopefully I can please them enough to get through the 4-5 shows they have planned for March... haha.

Saturday morning, Eve, Elliot, Juheon and I made the two hour trek to a town called Bugok to visit "Bugok: Hawaii," quite possibly the craziest/best place in all of Korea. When we arrived in the early afternoon, the town was mostly deserted. The resort, at first glance, looked like something pulled out of 1970s Vegas and dropped (completely out of place) in the mountains of Korea- an empty, grand, old, rickety hotel. The atmosphere was initially creepy, but walking past the hotel, the grounds opened up to a beautiful landscaped park and a complex of specialized buildings.

The main draw to Bugok: Hawaii is, of course, the natural sulfuric hot springs, promising bubbling hot luxurious outdoor pools. (In some spots, the water is hot enough to softly boil an egg- which, they do, and serve in an attached restaurant.) We first explored the grounds a little, then went into "the pool building" which housed an enormous set of pools, pirate ship and slide. We went down a hallway and into a different room- the hot springs entrance. Inside, there were three shallow bubbling pools (using the hot springs water): one containing lemon water, one with wine water, and a massage pool. Through a set of doors (to the outside) was the main attraction: a huge, natural pool that can only be described as a mermaid's lagoon. It was amazing- and so hot! It was really strange to be outside in 30 degree weather, swimming and having to get out of the water to cool off. We really enjoyed that, and I will DEFINITELY go back in the spring time!!!

After we finished with the hot springs, we explored the rest of the park, which included a sledding hill (real snow!!), a surprisingly difficult military style obstacle course, a botanical gardens, an amazing ice sculpture festival, a rabbit petting zoo, and, best of all, a SUPER creepy dilapidated amusement park, complete with rusting rides. A couple of the rides were functioning, including a roller coaster that people have to propel themselves using bicycles (it doesn't go upside down, or very fast, haha). We got the biggest laugh out of walking through there, though none of us felt very comfortable walking through. 

completing the military obstacle course!

the view inside hawaii

eve, elliot and juheon feeling happy and refreshed right after the hot springs

We left Hawaii in the late afternoon, and headed to the equally creepy/time-warp/desolate bus station to head to Masan (about 40 minutes away) to meet Tony and Jenna for dinner at a place aptly named "Mexico." Yum! We spent the evening smoking hookah and partying at the local bar popular with foreigners, followed by norebang (karaoke) and topped off with a late night McDonald's run. Tony and Jenna have a fantastic apartment, and since they had plenty of room for four house guests (absolutely unheard of here... I barely have enough room for ONE extra person), we stayed there. We woke up and had ibuprofen for breakfast :)

enjoying the hookah at jazz.
note: my shirt was a recent gem discovered at the dungeon, it says
"sensitive chris and luscious christy. luck come with smile
the wealth of god start to stop the keeping. gargoyle." ?!?

elliot, jenna, tony, juheon eve and me loving our mexican meal :)

It was 100% a fantastic time, but far too short. Last night when we got back, I was rendered completely useless, and decided an early night of sleep would do me some good. SO many things are happening this week, and I have much more to say... so stay tuned. More soon!

<3M

All Good Things...

Well, my five weeks of getting paid to do nothing has finally come to an end. Today is the last day where it will be acceptable for me to spend hours on end playing Words With Friends and reading backlogged Jezebel articles. I have to say, it was a lot easier for me to waste six hours every day than I ever thought it would be! In a way, becoming sedentary at work has been good for me, motivating me to go out and be more active AFTER work. I've started a yoga class, I found the public pool, and have had dinner with girlfriends every week since the inception of my deskwarming. 2012!

In incredible deals news, things I bought for a total of about $85:
1. Prescription Sunglasses!
2. An awesome waterproof digital camera
3. A delicious Japanese dinner for two!
Some things are absurdly inexpensive in Korea, ie- electronics, optical care, public transportation and dining out. Other things are absurdly expensive, ie- fresh produce, new clothes, and beauty products. I quickly learned to enjoy the cheap stuff while I can!

This weekend I will go to Bugok, a town about an hour and a half north of Jinju, to enjoy the natural hot springs. I am so excited for this! Currently, Bugok is also running a winter ice sculpture festival which we will hopefully be able to see from our perches in the water. It has been so cold and windy here, sitting in a natural hot tub outside with my friends just sounds too perfect. Afterwards, we're gonna go get "authentic Mexican food" at a place not far from Bugok aptly named "Mexico." We'll see how authentic it is, haha.

Things are beyond good. In just under two weeks, Ian will be here and our Korean adventure will begin. And then.... Thailand!!!!
More pictures soon!!!
<3M