School Excursion: Mountain Climb... of DOOOOOOM!

Did I tell you that on friday I was on a hike? My school's teachers called it a Mountain Climb! So I was envisioning ropes and stairs and rocks and foot-holds. Damn if I was wrong about the whole thing. (before I left for the excursion; Mike said "too many kids - it will be easy"; which shows he's learnt nothing in 4/5 weeks, its always possible because things are done differently in Taebaek to, well, anywhere!) I was with the 3rd grade boys (about 16/17 years old, the oldest boys in school); this meant I was on the HARDEST hike.

We started on a path (a good start), and I could see it would be uphill for a while - so I was tough and kept going up. Then we had a break - at the bottom of the mountain (only I didn't know it yet)! All the way up, if the boys aren't posing for my photo's then they are trying to give me chocolates - "I'm thinking what, are you trying to turn me into a beach ball??"

After break the boys showed me a little snake and they were impressed when I wasn't scared. It was barely bigger than an earthworm (We did see a small earthworm further up the mountain and it was my co-teacher who freaked)! So we kept on hiking, and soon afterwards we are walking on a dirt track. It's a bit rocky but I did wear my Trusty Hiking Boots - yes they are that good - so all is ok. By this point, I have my own bodyguard, Dong Mi, and he's trying to teach me Korean. Which helps take my mind off the climb but leaves me very little breath to use! Our guide takes a wrong turn, fortunately for me, I'm at the back of the group; so I have very little ground to back-track. Another 30 minutes (I guess) and we reach a large flat high grassy area, we have a short break before our assault on the peak.

The path is so narrow, it's single file only and we all have to cover up due to the scratching and stinging plants ahead. We plod on and on, and the boys are starting to complain they want lunch. Which is fair enough as the time is almost 1pm. When we are almost at the summit, the boys from the front have to push back past us - so the last few meters are very crowded and busy. At last! We reach the top and I take a photo, then I am rushed back down the mountain to the last break area where we are to have lunch.

I arrive with my co-teacher and we all unpack the food we have brought and that our students have brought for us. It's pretty good being a teacher in Korea! We eat vegetable sushi rolls, something that looks suspiciously like chicken feet Korean style and pickles. After the last teacher joins us, they break out the Soju! AND BEERS!!! I find it funny how everyone is just howing into the food and the booze, then they break out coffee and desert! Until I had lived here, I really didn't understand how much Korean's love their food!

As we are preparing to re-commence the hike, I ask the guide (with my hands) if the hike will be steeply up or steeply down? She tells me up for a bit, then along a bit, then steeply down a bit. I'm not re-assured and I am tired already. At least I've saved the four chocolates I have been given and I use them for motivation to keep me going: later on I say to myself, many times over, 'I can have a chocolate in the bus'.

We set off, in the middle of the group and as she said it was up a bit. Every time I thought there can not be anymore uphill parts, there were more. For every uphill we hiked there was a downhill to match and at some point it started to rain - lightly but constantly. With the rain and already being tired, I wasn't really enjoying this hike anymore. My bodyguard gave up his attempts to teach me Korean and decided to finish the hike with his friends - who all have longer legs than I do! I realised that the kind-of flat part was our flat bit; even though it inbetween more mountains. I would say the view was lovely but we couldn't see very far on account of the rain. I was going slowly but ok.

After more trudging, we reached the downhill proper. Of course by this stage I was mumbling like a loon, something about chocolates, while trying to catch the students who were sliding out of control past me (I saved three!) and trying to keep myself vertical. Due to the rain, the ground because steadily more slippery and this was exacerbated by the students all wearing sneakers - so their downward options included running, slipping, sliding, screaming and yelling. In any particular order. By the time I reached the bottom of the mountain, my legs were shaking, my knees were screaming pain at me, my ankles sore (but saved from any injury by the Boots) and my toes were crying. I was proud of myself for reaching the bottom and not crying out loud on the way down - even when I fell over four or five times. I was just so exhausted.

So when I couldn't see the bus but could see a proper road I was almost happy. When we (my co-teacher - read personal translater/minder - and I) finally caught up with everyone else, we received a round of applause and one of the teachers took a photo of us walking to the bus! I was tempted to say "Paparazzi NO!". But felt no one was going to expect me to look picture perfect after a mountain climb in the rain. A couple of the teachers came up to me to say "you did good" - at least that's what I thought they meant.

I was never so happy to see the inside of a big old bus in my life!! I did eat that chocolate bar, however I waited until I got home - so the Korean mars bar and I could be... alone.

I'm a Blonde Freak HERE!!!

Ok, so I've moved into my little teeny tiny town called Taebaek. It is a totally charming place to live - very quiet, mountains in every direction, a clean river runs through town and it even has a bowling alley. I'm starting to get used to our small flat - which has an electronic lock on the front door. Mike raised the question of what if the battery goes flat - I'm guessing that why we were given lots of mobile numbers on a laminated page.

I'm in an all Boys middle school and am teaching 1st, 2nd and 3rd
years. My 3rd year students I have twice a week. Which means more work for me!

Today I tried an interview & name card exercise - apart from the fact no-one
interviewed anyone else - they ALL did their own name cards!!!! I think that's
my bad direction. One of the boys (whg is very outgoing) wrote his name and his phone number and "Call me please". He was supposed to be drawing/writing about things he likes eg. sports or colours. I had to laugh. I didn't think they'd
grasp a Rove style; What the..???

I have spent the rest of the day fielding "you're beautiful" and trying to wrestle the students back to practising speaking English with me. After all, I'm basically just here to talk with them. The weirdest one was one student asking for me to pull out a hair for him.

Apart from that, I haven't had any autograph requests but am hoping
that my overall oddness here will increase the size of my conversation
classes.

The teachers here are all keen to throw any english words at me -
which is sweet. I'm a little intimidated by the Teacher class I will
have on Thursday's.

Yesterday was my second wedding anniversary and we went out to dinner to mark the occasion. We had BBQ Beef Taebaek style - which translates as extremely expensive! It was delicious though!!!

Must run, everyone now wants my photo!
Susie

I'm gonna be a hillbilly!

Today we had a meeting to find out where we are going to live for the next 12 months.

AND I'm going to a small city (50,000 Pop.) called Taebaek.

I'm really excited as we now know where we'll be headed to because we move in on Friday! This week.
I have been told that we should have a larger than normal apartment - on account of there being two of us. So the news is really positive.

I met my Supervisor (who's name I'm not sure how to spell) and she was really nice and helpful. Also I met Alex - who is a liason guy. He was telling us as much as he could about our city, what to expect (as in some people will not have air conditioning - I hope that's not us!!) and that while we'll be in a rural area; we should not expect cows wandering down the street.

_______

Since Monday the 21st of August, I have been in Cheongju, South Korea. I have met lots of people from Australia, Britan, Canada, Ireland, Korean (!!) and the United States. Everyone has been really friendly and the time had been very enjoyable. Even the cultural musical component! Must say I'm not a fan of Korean Orchestral music but it's fair to say that I'm not a fan of the Australian Orchestra either. Just not my cup of tea.

Last weekend we explored Seoul in our own group - which meant no CURFEW!! We travelled with Katarina, Hugh, Jae & Gabe. We visited Seoul Tower - which showed us how amazingly LARGE Seoul is!, we went shopping in a couple of areas including Itawon. It was fun checking Seoul out! We stayed in a Love Motel and had to laugh at all the UV lighting. Otherwise is was comfortable & cheap! When we checked in, we were given a toothbrush pack that included a couple of amusing toiletries!!!

I'll update more shortly :)
love
Susie

Terrific Tigers in Thailand!!

We finally saw Tigers! Great big powerful roaring Tigers! And we patted them!!!!!!
It was just brilliant!

Thailand Holiday

Aug 8, 2006 - 24 Photos

ok starting from where I left you last...

Chiangmai
Tuesday
We checkout an IT mall here and decide it doesn't have much to offer. So we do the next best (?) thing - go sunglasses shopping. ARG!! Mike knows kindof what he likes, but then checks over each pair with his optomically trained eye. I get a cute little pair of red sunglasses customised with darker lens' and Mike goes a pair of mean looking grey sunglasses. Exhausted by pursuits of a shopping nature, we head off for some site seeing.
Wat Doi Suthep
It's a steep uphill winding climb and its starting to rain but our taxi driver just keeps overtaking anyone and everything else on the road. We dodge the (seemingly) neccessary hawkers of tat at the entry and ascend via the cable car. Once we see the staircase the cable car becomes a mystery as to why it was built - it doesn't go very far!
We have to take our shoes off immediately - which is probably a good thing because the rain is extremely heavy! We walk up to the top level and Mike takes a million photos of the golden stupa. We get to see a really well kept Wat where there has been careful restoration of all the paintings, buildings and buddhas. We make a small donation in one of the Buddha houses (?) and the monk ties some string around my wrist and says "for good luck". Mike sneaks a photo of him for me. After a little coffee, we find the view of Chiangmai. Its lovely. We can see and hear more rain to come, so we leave.
That night I come down with a terrible case of gastro - probably caused by the spicy salad I'd had that afternoon.
Wednesday
felt sick, stayed in bed until 4pm.
We went off to see a movie at the local cinema and saw Miami Vice. Couldn't recommend it as overall I didn't like it. It doesn't say much for a movie when the audience only laughs twice during the whole movie and one of the time is someone being shot in the head!
Thursday
still feeling sick but wanting to see Tigers more than wallow in bed! So we fly to Bangkok and catch a taxi to Kanchanaburi.
We get there ok and that night Mike comes down with gastro!! ARG!!
Friday
We have booked in to go to the Tiger Temple this afternoon and I'm hoping Mike can make it. We take it easy all morning - do nothing at all and wait for our 3.30 bus.
Mike manages to hold it together and we are on a truck taxi with an Intrepid tour group off to the Tiger Temple. I'm so excited at this point I'm grinning all the
way in the bus!
We walk up through these massive gates and follow the sounds of the occasional roars!
There are so many tourists here that we have to queue to go pat the Tigers and we find out later that the volume of people through is why they now chain down the Tigers. They didn't use to. It is an amazing experience patting the Tigers. I am guided from Tiger to Tiger. Mike is the last person allowed in for the day and we have heaps of photos to show for it!!! They show us all the other animals they keep by feeding them pumpkins and surrounding us with Ox, Cows, Pigs, Pony's, Chickens and Peacocks.
We bus back to Bangkok and find our way to Wendy House (Which is really good!).

Saturday The Queen's Birthday
I get to see all the photos and write this post while Mike has an extra sleep. Fingers crossed he'll be feeling better soon.

Enjoy the photos - some taken by Mike, some by our guides (Tiger Temple) and some by me.

kisses
Susie

Thailand Holiday

Aug 8, 2006 - 24 Photos

Thailand Holiday: Bangkok & Chiangmai

Sydney >> Bangkok

We left Sydney on Wednesday evening with Emirates (brilliant service, seats, entertainment & food!)
arrived into warm Bangkok morning at 2am and saw the least amount of traffic I have seen in this crazy city.
Thursday morning was kicked off with a sky high breakfast :) on the 76th floor of the Baiyoke Sky Tower. The highlight - fresh cooked roti! YUM!!
lots of wandering around Bangkok and Mike taking lots of photos of mangy, diseased, half-blind, starving cats (??? He's clearly CAT MAD)

Friday we headed out to the ancient capital Ayathaya and hired bicycles to get around - Mike's idea! He's cleary more mad than i thought!
It was a nice day - I even overtook a tuktuk full of school children!
The crazy thing was to get out there we took the train - no choice 2nd class only 245 B each, to get back no choice 3rd class only 20 B each.
I think I did well volunteering to pay for the leg home! hehe

Saturday, we scored a reasonable deal of flight-accomodation-trek to get out to Chiang Mai, by walking into the airport! It was really easy and so far has proven a good choice. Chiang Mai is lovely but very dry in its heat! Good thing the guesthouse has a pool :)


Chiangmai

Sunday, The elephants were great - a bit bumpy though. The ox cart was bumpy too.. the bamboo raft wasn't though :) I had the first go at "poling" (?) and everyone else seemed happy to leave me to it. Our adventuring was followed by a passable buffet, which was followed by offers to go see Monkey & Snake shows. hmm we passed.
Instead we went onto the thrilling Orchid & Butterfly farm. IT WAS THRILLING!!!
so much so Mike & I both passed out on the bus ride back to Chiangmai.

Seeing as it was still Sunday, we went out to the Sunday market. And oh what a market. Very little in the way of tat! I bought earings, a black cotton top, a pink bag and matching head-band. I am soooo cool now!! lol
We wandered around until we needed dinner. Mike had chosen a small venue that was enclosed in a small garden. It was pretty romantic & was going really well (helpful waiter who assisted us in ordering from the yummerific menu) when the power cut out. So we had a candle light dinner :) It was lovely.

Monday, we did a cookery course, they had a good number of people there but we were the only people on course 2. So we had a private lesson!!! We can now make a mean yellow chicken curry, papaya salad, red curry stirfry and basil & pepper stir fry! We have 3 containers full of food in our fridge - so dinner will be very cheap tonight! Great value less than $30 aus each for the whole day including transport!

I'm now looking over a spanky imac at a little shop called Le Chocolat - no prizes for what I'll be doing after my coffee is finished!

kisses
Squeezy

Ping Update

I haven't pinged for over a week now :P

Moving House Sux!

Well I've just endured the most horrendous week! Moving out of my 2 bedroom house, in which I have lived for four and a half years. If you could imagine two people who have a tendancy to be messy, an inbuilt loathing of throwing anything away and a general distaste for cleaning - then you could have an idea of the magnitude of the job that we attempted to complete in 7 days.


To properly explain, I'll start with the weather. Sydney is in a drought. So the week we moved out, it rained. Not a solid soaking useful rain. Not even a helpful rain over the catchment areas. It rained in a stupid on again, off again, bloody pooring down fashion. We realised that the weather would not be on our side, so we organised two blokes and a truck. By this point we were half way through the week and the only thing moved by this point was the scuba gear. feeling positive at this point..

So the two blokes turn up, late but with a really big Ute (it deserves capitals for the size of the tray alone!). Then they ask us twice what needs to go on the Ute (once for each bloke), over an hour later the load on the Ute is looking precarious. A total of 9 Mac +es, 5 Ikea bookcases, 3 shelving units, 1 mattress, 1 fridge, 1 filing cabinet, a cubic meter of books plus many boxes have all gone on. And I'm really wondering, just how much will fall off in transit. I'm also wondering how much I really care - not much as the day is getting on and we haven't left yet. The blokes are securing the load with multiple ropes and a careful selection of knots - at this point Mike & I bolt!

And down comes the rain spectacularly! So much for a non-moldy mattress! oh well, at least we have a nice lunch cooked for us (cheesy pasta! yum!) and we can play with the cat (The Vomitron - he vomits a lot). we're entertained. we're fed and we're warm. But importantly after a 40 minute drive, we've been waiting almost another 40 minutes for our two blokes in the Ute. I make some phone calls, leave some messages and they turn up. It took them 70 minutes to drive the distance because they opted to turn right on Parramatta road (head East) instead of left (head West). hmmm, whoever said women can't navigate hadn't met these two prime orienteerers!

Right so we've moved the bulky items, been rained on and on and returned to the scene of the crime. And I really can't say I can see much of a difference. Because we are moving overseas, we are much more viscious in throwing out/recycling our posessions rather than moving them - as what good will they be in 12-18 months time? So after borrowing 2 council bins, we have filled 2 and 1/2 bins and our recycle bin is chockas! We decide to hire a ute (much smaller with a cage) and drive off to the local tip. This turns into its own challenge as my little inner-west Sydney suburb does not have a tip of any kind - they refer you to inquire of other suburbs! The Cheek!!
Chullora council comes to our aid - they have a tip and its open all weekend! Yeah! So we do the nasty (including 3 monitors) we dispose of over 300kgs of rubbish. Which in itself is shocking! The weekend has passed in a blur of packing things into boxes and moving said boxes. I'm now officially sick of boxes and now using plastic bags as an alternative! I'm recycling :)

I did have the good sense to organise a cleaner - there is just no way I was going to pack up a house and then clean it until it sparkled! The cleaners turn up - two smiling ladies - and after promising them an empty house to clean, I have two curtains to change over and I've piled everything left in the living room. So they set to work and I waited for Mike to turn up.. and eventually he arrived, then left pursuing coffee! ARG! He did have the good grace to bring me a coffee, but when he started gardening over finished the removal of remaining items from the Lounge - I could bear no more and started ordering him around. I didn't want to be bossy but we did need to complete the inside before considering the outside!!!

Anyhow after all the boxing, moving of boxes, bags, rugs, bookshelves and books. Its all done.
We've had the final inspection and the landlord was pleased. I was relieved!

So I went and had an hour massage. I swear I'll never have that much crap again!

Online Shopping Bliss

I have found a little patch of shopping Nirvana - online!

As preparation for moving overseas, I've been looking into what indepsensible

items I can buy online and have delivered. And good skin care is top of the list. My reading into South Korea indicates that pollution can be a problem - I'm hoping it won't be but planning that it will! So all this has led me to find a great little online store called Absolutely Gorgeous. You gotta love a stylin' chick like this one!

They have a great range of Australian products - I couldn't leave home (let alone the country) without my Shizen lipgloss. Shizen is the most amazing stuff - nice gloss, nice smell and it prevents cold sores. Its just soooo yummy!




I'm not just raving in a lunatic style fashion because of the balm or because they have many cool lip balms/glosses, and really cute eye shadow colours (see>>).
But because I've exchanged emails with the Absolutely Gorgeous Lady - and she's fast answering my questions (ie. do you have that in pink??) and she's been really nice when I did place an order ... eventually! Lastly she's just fabulous because everything I ordered arrived really quickly and was exactly as good or better than I was expecting!


Now I'm just waiting to see what my new skin care is like.. But unlike on eBay - where you have to wait and hope; I'm looking forward to my next package with no trepidation!

All the images in this post have been used without the authority or knowledge of the sites they came from. Seeing as I'm saying nice things - I'm hoping its ok.

sigh..

I'm feeling a bit sad and a bit tired today.

Yesterday, I had a lovely lunch out at North Sydney's Prasit Restaurant. Which does lovely thai food. There were prawns in coconut and scallops on the shell. Then we had a devine deep fried whole barramundi in tamarind sauce YUM! It was very very relaxing. The lunch was a mini goodbye from one of my boss' who will be away when i finish work next week. It was really sweet that they took the time to talk with me and treat me to such a lovely lunch out.

Seeing as that all went so well, I ended up over at a good friends place for dinner. I'm a god parent to their twin daughters - and it was great to spend some time fussing over the little toddlers. They are just so cute now! Both kids walk around and talk a little - mainly following their older sister - she's 5 and they're almost 2. It was also great to spend some time having grown up conversations - that was until Mirryn discovered I can be easily tickled. I don't think its a good thing that i can be seriously chased by a 5 year old who has found my weakness!

So now I'm back at work today - only 5 more days to go!!! Given that I can't count Saturday - as it will hopefully be terribly dull and non-eventful.

I'm tired because last night felt late and well with World Cup winding up now - its a lethargic kind of day. I think I'll go sigh..

Ubuntu yourself!

Ubuntu seems to be a really easy way to install a good linux os.

However it seems to have made the non-geeky amoung us, suddenly believe that they are now card carrying geeks. And yes, I am talking about someone inparticular - lets call him Redfern Princess.

I'm sorry to be harsh but installing Ubuntu does not make you any more computer saavy than you were before. It also does not bequeath you with technical know-how; RP word isn't hard!

Come back to me when you actually know something about your install or your computer or where it all fits in, in the scheme of things. Or if that's too hard - get yourself a podcast that isn't some techno dance dude pumping doof-doof-dooof down the internet. Or put in some effort and watch an all nighter of orignal Star Trek followed up by some Walker Texas Ranger. I think that should mess with your mind appropiately.

In the mean time stop with the Bloody UBUNTU!!!!!!

Work & Pinging!!!!

ARG!! I feel like Dilbert - only perhaps I really mean the pointy haired woman. What is it with co-workers who tease you? Hmm?

And Pinging. Pinging is not a word! Two of the girls (D&G) here keep accusing me of Pinging. WTF?
Apparantly to Ping is to change the content of the conversation with no apparent logical link.
An example;
This morning while talking to my boss about his upcoming ski trip, we were discussing ski attire. Gloves, ski pants, goggles, stocks, poles etc.
I mentioned how quite a few shops have sales on in Sydney (York St) even though we are at the beginning of our winter. I happened to find a gorgeous pair of pink ski pants on the weekend and I told my boss so. I'm quite excited about these pants as they will co-ordinate with my ski jacket better than my current ski pants (boo hoo black). No more than a moment passes before D&G start agreeing that I have Pinged! GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!!

Beautiful Sydney

IMGP0946
Originally uploaded by Squeezysk.

Ah, Beautiful Sydney. I'll be leaving it behind soon. It makes me want to go do all the touristy things you forget about. Like Taronga Zoo and going to the AFL.
Speaking of the AFL, I went to the Sydney Swans game on Saturday night. And it poured with rain the whole time! Well until I gave up and went home (in the final quarter). Sadly the Swans lost by two points after a gallant comback of fifteen points down!!
It was a brilliant weekend for sport -even with my favourite team losing :(
I saw Australia v England in the Rugby Union, and really enjoyed the smashing victory posted by the Wallabies!!! It would have helped England if they hadn't given away so very many penalties - however they still would have lost the game. Yeah Wallabies!
To finish this fine weekend of sport - was the first game of the World Cup for Australia and we won!! WoooT So proud of our socceroos! Not sure about the mascot though...
Tired now after reliving that weekend.
kisses
Squeezy

Somthing Pink!

This beautiful hibiscus flower was blooming on a terribly hot day, next to the Mekong River in Luang Prabang. It was so lovely I had to take a photo!

A couple of images from Laos

Luang Prabang: Part of a Wat

The morning procession for alms by the Monks of Luang Prabang.

Luang Prabang: Wat Mai Suwannaphumaham (not sure that I have the correct temple name).

Vientiane: The Patuxai

Vientiane: Pha That Luang - the icon of Vientiane

Vientiane: Mike walking out to board the far to early flight to Pakse.

Last year, I went on holiday to Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos!
It was a brilliant trip - just not long enough.
In Laos, we started in Luang Prabang then travelled to Vientienne and on to Pakse.



We braved ordering this dish in Luang Prabang in a restaurant that hung over the river. It's a beef and chilli stir fry.
I thought we'd have no trouble with those huge chilli's...
They're hot, oh so Hot! Just like the whole trip really.

Squeezy

I'm going to South Korea!

Whooo Hoooo!
Fantastic News for me!!!
I'm moving to South Korea to teach English!
I've quit my job and am looking forward to exploring South Korea - ski field by ski field!
This is how I plan to be for the next 12 months.

This is all so exciting while being a bit sad. I've been in my current job for seven years and I am quite attached to the familar people, work and place.
So now for something completely different!

Intro

Hi,

I'm Squeezy and I'm starting this blog so that I can chart my travelling adventures!

Currently top of the travel to list is

India
South Korea
Japan
Antartica
Peru
Mongolia

I'm 29 years old, married to a wonderful man and living in Sydney, Australia.

Most recently viewed movies are The DaVinci Code and X3. I enjoyed both movies for different reasons.
Most recently viewed TV shows are America's Next Top Model (Cycle 6) and Top Gear.

Anyhoos, will post again soon, as I'm trying to get this all set up. So that I can further discuss fashion, food, movies, travelling and the colour Pink (my favourite).

kisses
Squeezy