Dong Geomun Oreum (동거문오름)

I'm back to hiking up oreums.

I've been talking about wanting to write an oreum guidebook all summer, and now I'm finally getting out and getting some research, taking notes, getting photos, and the hardest of all for me, writing. This oreum is on most maps as Dong Geomun Oreum (동거문오름). Dong (동) is Korean for east, so don't get it confused with the UNESCO Geomun Oreum. This oreum has 5 peaks, and has one of the most impressive faces I've been to with a ridge dropping off to a 40 degree angle right below you!

Lemon Chicken at Jejustock '09

A couple of weeks ago, my old co-worker, Christian, noticing the lack of availabilty for live music in Jeju, decided to put together a music festival of his own. Jejustock '09 at Gimnyeong beach was created as a fundraiser for WAVES for Development, a charity in Peru where surfers help the local communities. Christian and Jorge, the organizers, have seen a couple of our live performances and asked me if we could play. Unfortunately, Troy left the island, so we couldn't put together a big band on short notice. Instead, I talked to Hugh, we got together a few nights, ate some lemon chicken and Sushi and worked on a nice opening act. I'm always surprised how much the crowd seems to enjoy our folky songs, but I'm happy for it and love to keep playing. Hugh's an incredible guitar player and fun to play with! (photo: Cat Lever)

Solar Eclipse Coming

There's a near-total solar eclipse coming to Jeju on July 22nd. The article says that the sun will be 93% covered in the Seogwipo area starting at 9:34 am on Wednesday.

http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2009/07/03/2009070300626.html

Sailboat

If you want, you can take yacht cruise down at Jungmun Beach. Jeju is extremely beautiful when it is clear, but this was taken a while ago during the yellow dust season. In the springtime, the winds the the sand from the deserts of northern China and bring them over Korea. They call it the 'Yellow Dust.' Yellow Dust causes a lot of health problems and brings a nasty haze, but as you can tell, it can even be beautiful on a hazy day.

Squirrel Cave (다람쥐굴)

This is Darren and Christine climbing at the new climbing area that the Ace Climbing Club developed over the spring. It's called "Squirrel Cave." If you're from Jeju, it's on the river in between the new Halla Library and the main Stadium area. The climbs there range in height from about 8 to 13 meters, including some of the easiest routes in the area at 5.7 and 5.8 and the hardest route in Jeju, a 5.13b/c called "Jump"

Truck

One of the most exciting things about driving around rural areas are the old tractors you see. If there's one word to describe them when they're on the road, it would have to be SLOW. It's always exciting when you see them, the other cars are trying their very best to get around them. Sometimes the dumptrucks barely flinch and give them room. Remember in Asia, the 'right of way' is easy to remember, it's 'right of the biggest!'

Challenge Quiz Champ 100회 특집 외국인편

About a month ago, I heard rumors that the local TV station, KCTV, wanted to do a quiz show for foreigners. I was a bit skeptical at first, but my friend Mika decided to do it, so I found the courage to go on too, if only to have a chance to meet new people and practice my Korean.

Although the edited show is just over an hour, the show taping actually took all afternoon.....and all evening. All of the questions are about Jeju and Jeju culture. In the first round, they actually also asked all the questions in Korean AND English, though they edited the English out on the final cut. I made it to the second round, and probably should've made it to the third round....I knew a couple more of those answers. Nevertheless, It turned out to be a great time, and I'm really glad I did it! It was a lot of fun, but I didn't get much air-time. Pretty much, they only show me making a stupid face because I misspelled an answer. Then, after I made it to the second round, I got a right answer (Oreums...duh) and a wrong answer (It's true that's where it is! I just wish I could've understood the question!). I think the last round was a bit unfair, and weighted heavily towards the native English speaker. Congrats Matt! I wish I made that round too! I think if Mika chose me for the taboo section, then she would've won!

You can watch it here! It's No. 106. 100회 특집 외국인편 7/1/09

If you're in Jeju, it'll be on Saturday 7/4 and Sunday 7/5 on KCTV, Channel 5

http://kctvjeju.com/contents/index2.asp?muid=214&pmuid=50

(the video works for me only if I watch it in Internet Explorer)

Jeju Furey Beach Volleyball Tournament

My camera has been on hiatus for a little bit, but the daily shot will soon return.

Last weekend was the Jeju Furey Beach Volleyball Tournament. The Furey stands for Nathan Furey, a foreigner, father of two children, my coworker, and my friend who got sick the day I arrived back in Jeju, then passed away a week later. Our mutual friend Dan Nabben has spent the last two months putting together this charity volleyball fundraiser. We had an impressive turnout of 16 teams (6 players each), two of which were a Korean swing dancing club! The tournament lasted two full days and the weather was brilliant. I didn't play, but instead helped organize and announce. Congrats to Dan for putting on such a great weekend!

Here's some articles about the tournament. Here's a News Article. The jist of this article is that "with so many foreigners at Iho beach, you'd think you were in Miami!" Second, here's a Video News story from the English News on the local Jeju TV Station, KCTV. (click on the 2009-06-15 broadcast and go to the 8-minute mark)

Our House

When you're speaking in Korean, you don't say "My House." No matter who's house it is, you call it "Our House." When I moved back to Jeju, I had many goals, plans, and dreams to do this year. My first one was to live in a house by the ocean and I'm really happy that it came true. My parents have been begging me for a picture of my house, so here it is...our house by the sea.

View from Nokkomae

Nokkomae Oreum

Aewol Sunset

Hyeopjae

Hyeopjae Sunset

New Problems at Bangsunmoon (방선문)

The route-setter (a 5.14 climber) from the contest
put up some new problems in the riverbed at Bangsunmoon,
so we had to check them out.

Open Mic

We did a fundraiser for Nathan, an open mic night.

Global Warming

Check out this article:
Look on the bright side of global warming

Jeju Olle

There's some new hiking trails around Jeju. Here's some info.....

http://www.jejuolle.org/intro.html

La Vie

Here's a nice article about the local restaurant/bar La Vie in Shin Jeju. This is where we played a couple of shows. Sam is from Homer, Alaska and Young Suk is from Jeju.

http://sianews.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=3661

Eels

Cherry Trees

The cherry trees in Jeju have finished blossoming and everything is becoming green again, so here's one to remember.

Frisbee on the Beach

Danielle learns to throw a frisbee

Intimate Concert

Noah played some music for us at the Blue Agave
He'd never played in front of people before, and he was amazing!

혁명 Revolution

Cherry Blossoms

This is the last leg of my drive to work

Butterfly

Jeju Cuisine

Here's a nice article about some traditional Jeju Cuisine.

http://joongangdaily.joins.com/article/view.asp?aid=2902773

The article is pretty well written, and I have to agree with the generalization that the traditional foods of Jeju are pretty simple and somewhat bland. Almost none of the specifically Jeju foods I can think of are even spicy at all. Here's a list of some of the foods I've tried and I have to admit that sometimes I really like the sushi/sashimi, and on Jeju, it's relatively cheap.

• 몸국 (moum gook???) This is a kind of a chopped seaweed soup with pork bones. Its pretty bland, and tastes earthy, but not bad.
• 빙떡 (bingddeok). These are crepes with radishes, you can imagine the taste. Well, I guess come to think about it, it kinda tastes like nothing. This is eaten on some special day I think. We made it on our traditional culture tour
• 흑돼지 (black pig) We had this last weekend. If you go to the normal restaurants, it looks like harmless, delicious bacon, but if you go to the special restaurants the Koreans love, you'll get the traditional Jeju black pig that lives on eating shit. Apparently people travel from all over Korea to eat this stuff, and if you go to the right place, you'll get it, hairs, fat, and all...sometimes lots of hairs.
• 전복죽 (Jeonbok Juk) You can't have a write-up on Jeju foods without the abalone soup. It's basically a thick rice based soup with abalone, with kind of a porriage texture.
  

Cherry Blossoms

Back to Musucheon (무수천)

I got back on the rocks this weekend! I didn't make it out bouldering on Saturday like I wanted to, but I got out with Darren, Christine, and the climbing gym members on Sunday. One of the folks at the gym, Ju Nam (이주남) was a little upset with me for not mentioning last fall that I was leaving until the last minute. He didn't get a chance to say good bye. He made it up by taking us climbing and then out to dinner. I'm really looking forward to training and climbing lots this year.

Darren showed me a new climb


I tried it


And fell


Darren and Christine just finished a worldwide climbing trip,
so they're rockstars now!

Rape Flowers

Japanese Black Pine

Dan Nabben took us for a ride to my favorite tree on Jeju, a 400 year old Japanese Black Pine in Susan-ri (수산리)

Jeju Life

It's awesome to be back in Jeju!

I've been back for a couple weeks now and things have been a bit hectic and busy. It's been really great to see all my friends. Scott and Lara had a nice barbecue and Troy brought a nice bottle of whiskey. Mark and Shannon put me up in their place for a few days while I searched for a new home. They even let me borrow their phone (crucial!) for the last two weeks. My co-worker Christine has been running me around everywhere, finding a house, getting immigration papers sorted out, and furnishing the house. The department secretary, Yuri, has been making phone calls and helping to find these essentials also. When you first move to a foreign country, even one you've been to already, you really feel vulnerable. It really makes you appreciate the value of your friends and helping out.

Road Trip!

I'm trying to get to Jeju as fast as possible. My contract started 3 days ago, so I ought to get there soon, right? Well, I had to send my passport to Chicago to get the visa, so instead of trusting FedEx to deliver quickly, I drove up myself to drop it off. They told me that they couldn't make an exception for my exceptional circumstances and my visa has to go through the normal 2-3 day processing time, so I had to drive BACK to pick it up! I am the proud new owner of an E-2 visa and ready to leave on Friday!

The Windy City


He's in the Band! Jeju Buskers!



Dad wanted some polish sausages



My Destination....
Yes, the Korean Embassy shares a building with Oprah

Limbo

Have you found anything yet Troy?

I'm in limbo.

Actually, I've been in limbo for over a month. I'm supposed to be in Jeju by now, but getting my visa has been delayed thanks to the wonderful world of government bureaucracy. In a way it is a blessing in disguise. Although I missed the storm of the year in Utah (30 inches in 24 hours), I'm able to hang out at home with my family, relax, practice guitar, and get my Korean back into shape. Occasionally I get to see old local friends, although many have moved on. Today I get to see an old friend from middle school, met the old fashioned way (not on facebook). My mom ran into his dad at the grocery store. Hah! Can't wait to see ya Kevin!

Coffee and Guitar

I'm pretty excited about getting back to Jeju. In particular for some coffee and guitar with Scott.

National Geographic Jeju Video

I was searching for a topo map of Jeju Island (anyone know how to get one?) and I found this video on the Haenyo. I think the tour guide "Sunni" was my tour guide when I did the Jeju Traditional Culture Tour way back when. Check it out.

http://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/player/kids/people-places-kids/korea-divers-kids.html

Back to Jeju

I'm going back to Jeju in March. I wasn't planning on going back, but I got an offer I couldn't refuse. I'm pretty excited. I'm gonna try experimenting with new things with the blog this year, so hopefully it will work out. I talked to quite a few of my friends that followed it consistently. I'm so stoked that people read it regularly and enjoy it. Thanks!

So just to update on the last 6 months, here's what happened. After I got back from Nepal, I chilled at home and spent the holidays with the family and friends in Indy.

Me and Grandma Kojetin at Thanksgiving

In January, I left to work on the Ski Patrol at Powder Mountain, Utah. It was a fantastic experience and a dream come true. I've worked at other ski areas before I came to Korea. I was a Ski Instructor at Loveland, Colorado and I worked the lifts at Alta, Utah. Working at Powder Mountain though was completely different and a super special place. I spent the month skiing with my dad, working and training with the patrol, learning about avalanches, and guiding powder cat-skiing tours.

Skiing in the Enchanted Forest, possibly the coolest place I've ever skied.



Skiing with Dad

Digging Snowpits in the Avalanche I Class.



Digging Snowpits on our own.



Skiing Powder



Relaxing



Dad Skiing more Powder.



We stayed in Condos at the base of the mountain.



Snow Ghosts



Occasionally, we were Cat Skiing Guides.



Dad loves his fat skis. Maybe I should send this picture to Black Diamond???



Everything is Beautiful on a Powder Day.



Sunny Powder Days are the best!!!



Life is Good :) (Faceshots are too!)