MINOR MISTAKE:
I walk to the boarding area & try to figure out what all the numbers on my ticket mean. Eventually I realize which one is the car number and seat number. I get on and notice someone is sitting in my seat, so I find a different one. Then a couple walks up to me and looks at my strangely so I move again. Finally I settle in & enjoy the ride. When the train finally stops I assume we have reached my destination, so I get off the train. I walk inside the station and do not see my friends. I run outside and notice the sign says "Daegu Station" not DonDaegu. SHIT! It was 12:20pm by this time and I was supposed to meet my friends between 12 and 12:30pm. I had ten minutes to make it to the next station. I run to the ticket machine to catch a train but the next one wasn't until 1pm. My next instinct was to take a cab. I mean, it couldn't be that far! I run down the stairs outside and hop into the first cab in line. I was told you take the first one in line because that's how the taxi system works. Well, turns out I chose a "deluxe taxi" and there wasn't anything deluxe about it except that after my 5-7 minute ride to the station, it cost me 8,000 WON instead of the normal 3-4,000 WON. Bastards! lol. LESSON LEARNED!
DAEGU:
I arrive at the correct station and search for my friends. Turns out they split up to search for me, how sweet! :) I met up with Jan-Louis, Drew, T.J. (who was part of my class 6 "clique" lol), and Alex. I tell them my mistake, they laugh, and we make a plan for our day. First stop was food. Drew and Jan had been there since early morning so they showed us the place they had eaten. Me, T.J. and Alex decide to go there. It was easy to order because they have a "plastic" version of what the plate will look like displayed in a case. I ordered chicken and rice, not bad for "plastic" food, lol. And it was super cheap, less than 3 bucks.
We trade stories about our apartments and schools then wander around the city for a bit. Alex mentions that Ali had told him about a place where we could take a cable cart across a mountain and go hiking. Since I wore decent walking shoes I voted to do this. We agree, the 5 of us pile into a taxi (me in Drew's lap), and head towards the mountains. When we get to Apsan Park, we search for the information center, get a map, & head to the carts. I could already tell the view was going to be amazing before we got in the cable carts.
I was correct...it was beautiful! You could see the whole city of Daegu. My pictures don't do much justice for it, but in person it was amazing to look at. After snapping some pictures we begin the hike up the mountain. We are in regular clothes while the Korean professional hikers are fully geared up with a walking stick and all. The weather was still cold, but once we started walking it warmed up pretty fast. Here are a few pictures from the trip:
BACK TO GUMI:
Back at the train station Alex and I decide to get the next available ticket home. Turned out we had to wait an hour, but it could have been worse. So, we ended up grabbing a couple donuts and coffee from Dunkin' Donuts & sit down to relax in the station. It's funny I never went to Dunkin' Donuts in America and now in Korea I go here often. Their donuts don't seem as horrible for you for some reason, lol. Not justifying that they are good for you at all though! But after a day of hiking I figured it wouldn't make a big difference.
We part ways when we board the train. Of course Alex jokes and tells me to make sure I get off at the correct station. Atleast I know what the Gumi one looks like! :) On the ride home I had a younger Korean boy over my shoulder watching me play "Angry Birds" on my I-touch. As we got closer to Gumi I decided to go to Lotte Mart to do a bit of shopping since I hadn't had the chance to go there by myself yet.
I take a taxi to Lotte Mart and spend almost 2 hours browsing. What's sad is that was only on the first level! I didn't even get to the other three levels! I was lucky to find some meat for spaghetti, pepper, other groceries, and even some teaching supplies. They gave me a bag of supplies at school, but I wanted a few extra things.
I venture home by taxi, unload my purchases, and decide to cook dinner! Since I finally had all of the ingredients for mashed potatoes I decided to make them along with some canned corn and beef patties I had gotten earlier in the week. Needless to say it tasted amazing! I was in heaven, lol.
BAR LIFE:
After relaxing I decide to venture out for the night. I wanted to go back to Corona because I knew that the girls I had met the day before would be there and some other people. I waited awhile to see if Alex wanted to go with, but he never got online, so I went by myself. It's about 11:45pm when I get there and I walk into an almost empty bar. I was slightly confused but was later informed that since Corona stays open until 6am more people don't get here until after the other bars have closed. Good to know! I sit down with a beer and am immediately motioned over to another table by some people.
Turns out it was the owner of the bar who was hanging out with some "regulars." We do introductions and I meet many more EPIK teachers who have been living in Korea for awhile. He then introduces me to another group and I end up hanging out with them for the rest of the night. Adalet, from South Africa and Tom, from London, were the main two I talked to. We have a few beers, play a few games of darts, and before I know it it is nearly 4am! I laughed when I found out the bar was open until 6am and wondered who in their right mind would stay out that late. Turns out I do! lol :) Adalet stays for another drink, while Tom heads to his 4:30am train ride and I catch a taxi back to my house (pure laziness, but who cares, it was late!).
So, all in all, Saturday was a very entertaining eventful day/night for me!
XOXO,
Amanda
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