Blue Skies over Pyongyang

Many of you know by now that I have been extremely sick for the past week. It's been one nasty something or other, and I'm not even sure what it is! I'm on the tailend of it now...I hope, but I'm slowly starting back on actually eating. Being anorexic-like for a week certainly takes it out of you. The Barkers were going to be heading to Seoul, and I was bad. I missed two days of work, and barely made it through the other two that I did go to. Friday was supposed to be the day of departure, but I was not in a good spot, I made them leave without me with the hopes I'd be able to meet them in Seoul. I went to see my thrid doctor in one week Friday, and it was my worst day by far with cramping and dizziness. But this is the miracle drug doctor. I got an injection in my butt and some fantastic drugs that actually made me feel somewhat human. The next day (Saturday), I decided I was ready to make it to Seoul. I didn't want to miss out on it, and it would have been the last time I see them Barkers for 7months. Plus, Sunday is Mother's Day (Happy Mother's Day Mom!), and it will be nice to see one of the mothers.

I missed one day in Seoul, but I caught up with the Barkers after they had visited Changdeokgung Palace (which Luc and I saw in February). We went to the War Museum, which is more boy stuff than for me. There was a lot of stuff which didn't seem to fit in, like things from the Neolithic, etc, and also, the Dead Sea Scrolls are there, but it was waaay to much moola to see that, besides, we ended up walking around the museum for 3 hours, past the closing time. We then headed to Itaewon to get some Greek Food. It's the only Greek restaurant we know of in Korea, and its Luc's favourite food, so there was no question. Mom and dad, that should be fair warning, we're taking you there too. We had to head back afterward though becuase it was going to be an early morning. We were heading on the DMZ tour which was to pick us up at 7:20, but for the first time in Korean history, a driver was there 15 mintues early!!!

We did a bunch of bus transferring, and whatnot, checked out Freedom Bridge, and saw some trees that had yellow ribbons on it (for families in the North). Then we went to the 3rd infiltration tunnel, which was a climb down, many Chinese tourists walking iwth their thumb up their butt real slow, and then a crazy walk uphill back to the hop. Especially after having eaten so little for a week, I was feeling a little lightheaded after it, and definately winded. Then we went to an observatory, where you can see North Korea in the distance. Freedom Village and Propaganda Village were visible. Propaganda Village is in North Korea, and has the tallest flagpole in the world, but nobody lives there, it's for show. Freedom Village in South Korea actaully has farmers who apparently make famous ginseng. There were a lot of rules a regulations regarding photography, and such, but personally, the DMZ tour was overpriced, you didn't get to stay and really look at anything. But this is becuase the tour bus has a time limit. There's too many tourists. On the way back into town, you stop at a random amethyst place, where they get you to buy buy BUY! of course, I did, I had to get a present for a certain person, so there was the prime place. They only took American or Korean Cash, or foreign credit cards, it was a little weird they wouldn't take a korean credit card.

We then headed up Seoul Tower. It was SO busy, and you had to pay to go up, so we just looked around the area. We were noticing locks everywhere with writing on them. It was quite interesting. We were wishing we knew about this beforehand, so we could do it, and low and behold there was a lady selling some locks. So Lucas and I put our names on a lock, and put it on the fence next to thousands and thousands of others. I put it where there was moselty brass locks becuase ours was metallic blue. Luc and I both have a ket on our keychain. I'm sure they cut them down after a month or two, but that's okay, I have pictures to remember it.

It was time to head back to the hotel for an hour's rest before going out to see the lantern festival. Unfortunately, we were lead astray as to when the parade was (last week, not this), but we went to Jogyesa Temple where there were thousands of lit lanterns hanging. Tomorrow is Buddha's Birthday, and you could tell they were getting ready for a monstrous celebration. The lanterns were phenomenal. We walked further down the road to a river channel promenade that had lanterns hanging above that, and stayed for a while, drinking it in, before we had to say goodbye. Diana and Mike have one more day in Seoul before they head to China for a week. The definately had an experience and half and I hope my parents get to be able to do some of the same things as them. Mom and Dad beware, you're going to be trained on metal chopsticks. Get used to them for Korea.