Monday, March 23, 2009

West Grey (Home Town) Mayor visits Seoul!

So Mr. West Grey Mayor, comes to Korea and I get to tag along with some Seoul tours! We started out at Seoul Station. The "center of town"







Then off to Gyeongbokgung, a palace from 1395. I've been here before, but it's always nice to visit and take other people and watch their reactions to the beautiful architecture! We were with another gentleman, Fransisco, who lives in Mississauga, but is Korean. He showed us around.


I think this one should end up in a West Grey County newsletter somewhere, don't you think?

But then, Fransisco had to go back to get ready for a meeting, so I took the West Grey gentlemen on a Rexy Guided tour! We went to Insadong Market to begin. But, before we begin. You must know that no Korean visit is complete without either soju (tasteless alcohol) or macalee (rice wine). So we had some macalee from a street vendor for 1000 won (aka $1). Notice, my Auntie Eunice and Uncle Jim in the picture too? Where's Waldo styles. She works at the municipal office with Kevin, the mayor. So we brought her along for jokes!
PS All of the Koreans do the "peace" symbol. It means Victory ... over Japan ... When in Rome!!

We got some Korean honey treats. I was here in Insadong the day prior, and the guys who make these things always know pretty good english and are so out going and funny. He told me "Oh I saw you yesterday, you come back to see me, now I love you!" And big smiles, I laughed. Kevin said he would start booking reception halls back home for me! haha.

Near Insadong, outside of a park there were about 100 men playing this Chinese checkers game. It was so neat to see. They were all so intent on the game!



I'm not sure how to play, but I think you need to get 4 in a row or something.



Then we finished our day with Korean BBQ of course! Since I was the youngest, I had to be in charge of keeping everyone's glasses full! We drank "so-mec" soju and mec-ju (beer). It was fun! I got to practise my Korean, and the guys giggled whenever I used my words. Korean love when you try their language...even if it doesn't sound quite right!

I learned that when you cheers, the elder person puts their glass higher! (PS Notice Auntie Eunice and Uncle Jim joined us too?) :)


"Gun-Bae!" Cheers in Korean...it means "Empty Glass

2 comments:

  1. Love Insadong!
    Looks like you had a nice time! Very cool the mayor came :)

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  2. They're so into that game (go?) that they have a tv station about it haha.
    I miss Insadong too! There's that courtyard halfway down that has a spiral levels with little art shops. 2 years ago the place was filled with Andy Warhol stuff.

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