2 Week Synopsis

Dude.

I got a motorcycle.

A friend in town finished his contract and was willing to sell me his bike.

In the long run, I should be able to save a ton of cash by having a bike.  No more cab rides or bus fares to work.  Plus I can sell it when I leave.  Until then, I ride.

However, if I keep using the bike like I have this past week, I'll blow any savings on gas.  Almost every day after work, I've been taking the long way home through the country.  Cruising through tiny farming villages and past fields of onions and cabbage really gives you a different perspective on this country.

Here's a picture of the bike at the entrance to some temple grounds on my way back from work.  There were lanterns hung everywhere in preparation for Buddha's birthday last Saturday.

Jindo

Two weekends ago, a dozen of us crammed like a can of fancy salted mixed nuts into two rental cars and made the hour and change drive to Jindo, an island south of Mokpo.  When we got there, the nuts turned out to be snakes made of springs and we exploded all over the parking lot.

We had come for what is known as "The Parting of the Sea Festival", or alternatively, "The Moses Miracle", but more commonly "That Moses thing".

Legend has it, ancient inhabitants of Jindo kept getting mauled by tigers until one day they decided, "Screw this tiger shit, let's live on an island!".  It was only later that they realized they'd left Grandma behind with the tigers.  Grandma prayed to the Dragon God, and suddenly a 2.5 Km. path appeared in the sea, and Grandma was able to walk to the island.  Or at least part way to the island.  Apparently she couldn't walk fast enough and collapsed from exhaustion.  Her family met her from the other end of the path, and there was one glorious moment when they were reunited before Grandma bit the dust and I can only assume was swept away by the rising tide.

To remember that happy moment, every year when the Sun and Moon are in proper Neap Tide positions, the water parts again and there's a big festival.

We all bought big rubber boots and joined the swarms of people as they strolled their way towards the island.

Unfortunately, the tide doesn't last very long, and we were ushered back to the shore before we could be swept away like Grandma.

Waydaldo

Tuesday was a national holiday called Children's Day, a natural addition to Mother's and Father's days I suppose.  

To celebrate Children's day, we got as far away from them as possible.  A group of us took advantage of the time off and the weather and made a trip to nearby Waydal Island (Waydaldo).  For a measly 8,000 won ($5) we got round trip ferry tickets to this secluded island 40 minutes away.  

All in all, about 20 people made it out.  Everybody brought some food; there were burgers and dogs, potato salad, pasta salad and about a million other things.  I brought bread and cheese that I made, and there was an old lady on the island who sold brews.  

Tans and good times were had.