Chuseok 2013

I realise that I don't really speak about Korea anymore. Weird hey, that in my updates about korea i don't really talk about korea that much. I just rabble on about myself. I doubt this is highly problematic... but then again whats the point of the blog if not to tell you about Korea. I might as well be back home.

Talking about being back home... the homesickness is getting worse. Violent bursts of emotion that make me feel lonely and sad. Weird cravings for gatsby I never ever had when I was back home. The strange urge to speak Afrikaans even though my Afrikaans is terrible. Watching scenes from Sarafina on YouTube late at night, what was Whoopi Goldberg doing in South Africa? I miss Andrew Street and Metrorail and bergies who shout compliments at me that I can understand, even if it's just comentary on my wobble. I miss knowing the route the bus took to get me somewhere. I even miss being broke, and not having to worry about money cause I had none.


But enough of that. This past weekend I went to the east coast with Maryam and two other girls. We went and explored and danced and I had a fantastic time. we had a five day weekend because it was Chuseok. Chuseok is the major Korean Harvest Festival, which means they have entered harvest time, but since they have peach festivals when they harvest peaches and strawberry festivals when they harvest strawberries I suspect Chuseok just mean "It's rice harvesting time!". Rice is South Koreas Major crop and you will be amazed at the things they can make with rice. Cake and sugar and wall paper and all sorts of things. Whatever Chuseok is, I got a five day weekend and I am not complaining. Last year I went to Seoul this year Gyeongju was our detination.  

Th four guys you see here are guarding Bulguksa Temple which is one of the largest active temples in Korea. It is beautiful. Even with my little point and shoot I captured some maginificent shots. The statues are right at the entrance to the temple and it is said that they are there to focus your mind on what yu should be thinking about when you enter the temple, as well as look feice and scare off people who are looking to do bad stuff... I cant imagine what bad stuff you'd want to do in this temple. It so pretty, vandalise maybe...I wouldn't.

 This one is my favourite. He is feeding an eyeball to a little dragon. I think it's both feirce and adorable. It seems like he is teasing the dragon, like the dragon is a beloved pet as opposed to the fiece fiery beasts we know dragons to be. Oh Korea! How wonderful your cultural sites are.

There is also a massive, impressive, out door Bhudda statue at this temple which we neglected to look at. We only saw the little indoor ones. Next time!




These are some of the prettier pics I took that day in Gyeongju.

Take that Randall!

Maryam!

Maryam and Fatima

Some dead pesron. This is a tomb.

This looked better in real life... So much better. 

Monday was spent the day in the medium sized, coastal city of Pohang. My lovely sister Petra was hosting us all weekend and we loved her city. I should have spent more time in the e-mart buying proper cheese. Next time! We went to one of Pohangs awesome sites called Homigot square, where there are these two massive hand statues. One is sticking out of the earth and one sticking out of the water.
Homigot was worth the ridiculous amount of time it took to get there :-) We made a friend and had a picnic. I sometimes wish when I' off in these places that I could take you with me and show you stuff. I really need more visitors! Come visit me!

Land hand

Chingus!

Sea hand

I'm counting down the months till I come home. See you guys in MAY 2013!

Vasti