Learning to Love the Heck out of Korea #7- Day-tripping

The First World Slow Walking Festival, Wando

April 18th

Here's a picture of the screen where the artist is creating his calligraphy banner.

The past month or so has been full of day-trips. The first was a trip to Wando where we (a big group of foreigners) got bused there for what I thought was a flower festival. In the end I found out it was the "FIrst World SLow Walking Festival", which is exactly how it sounds. It was a festival to celebrate slowing down your hectic life and...well, taking a slow walk. We had the chance to enjoy the opening ceremonies which was really cool. 

There were African dancers and a guy who painted calligraphy on a huge canvas. We laid on the beach and soaked up the sun rather than stroll along the beach with the hordes of Koreans, but it was still nice. Afterwards, we went to Haenam to an observation tower that's on the southern-most point of South Korea. From there, you can look out over the islands and even see Jeju-do on a clear day. We were treated to a great fish dinner and headed home.

Here I am at the top of the observation tower with the sunset and islands in the background.

The trip was sponsored by the Wando government so it didn't cost us a thing! They shipped in foreigners from all over South Korea, I guess to make the televised event look even more exciting (?). Apparently our round eyes give credibility. Who knew?

Parting of the Seas Festival, Jindo

April 26th

The following weekend my friend Barbie and I headed out to Jindo for the Parting of the Seas Festival (aka The Moses Miracle). It was cool to see the seas part but there were WAY too many Koreans in such a small place. The phenomenon is described as a mystery, but it has something to do with two tides parting at the same time or something like that. See the pictures of the parted sea here. Barbie and I didn't walk very far along the sea floor, but many Koreans did. They wear thigh-high rubber boots like this:

  

All in all it was a nice day.

Day at the Beach, Waydal-Do

May 5th

Today was a national holiday, so many teachers headed out to a nearby island to enjoy the sun and surf. It was an awesome and relaxing afternoon. We had a potluck lunch. BBQing on the beach is my new favourite summer acitivity! The downside to the day was the two stray dogs who hung around us and peed EVERYWHERE. Can't wait to head back once Sam arrives (May 29th).

That's all for now. What do you think of my new and improved blogging skills???

How to Make a Beautiful Life

Love yourself.
Make peace with who you are and where you are at this moment in time.
Listen to your heart.
If you can't hear what it's saying in this noisy world, make time for yourself.
Enjoy your own company.
Let your mind wander among the stars.
Try.
Take chances.
Make mistakes.
Life can be messy and confusing at times, but it's also full of surprises.
The next rock in your path might be a stepping-stone.
Be happy.
When you don't have what you want, want what you have.
Make do.
That's a well-kept secret of contentment.
There aren't any shortcuts to tomorrow.
You have to make your own way.
To know where you're going is only part of it.
You need to know where you've been, too.
And if you ever get lost, don't worry.
The people who love you will find you.
Count on it.
Life isn't days and years.
It's what you do with the time and with all the goodness and grace that's inside you.
Make a beautiful life... the kind of life you deserve.

This is the message from the birthday card my family sent me and I love it.