Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Blog delays

Sorry for the recent delay of any postings.  The applications on the iPhone and iPad have crashed and I'm not in front of the computer as much.  Hopefully it will be fixed soon.

Below is a web link I found at work.  It is all in Korean but has much better satellite views of Korea.  When you get there type in "songdo-dong" in the upper blue search box.  The island off the west coast has two bridges off of it and an airport.  Follow the bridge on the lower right labeled the 110.  Follow it to the main land and just south of where the bridge connects, and east of the lagoon looking thing is a blue school icon.  Don't zoom to close or it goes away, but the font is still blue.  (looks like a hat)  That is Chadwick.

For a satellite view go to top right of map.  Just above the map in a gray bar there are three Korean buttons. The one that looks like
스캉ㅣ뷰 , in the middle is the one you want. When the page first comes up a pop-up may join.  Close it and you will be at the map.

http://local.daum.net/map/index.jsp?t__nil_bestservice=map


Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Last day of lunar break

Slept in today and woke up to a dusting of snow. It was a bit cold outside as we headed for a special treat in Mater.


Our special treat was we heard rumor of an American breakfast place near the Incheon bus terminal. Arrived about 10:20 and the doors were all closed. But at 10:30, yes late for breakfast, the gates opened and we arrived at


Order is in for French toast, chocolate chip pancakes, and a bacon and cheese omelet. Let's see what arrives.








Mmmmm. Good breakfast.
Finn enjoyed his blueberry pancakes.



Location:Gwangyo-dong,Incheon,South Korea

Monday, January 23, 2012

Traffic to Seoul

Seven of us packed in one car today to head for the festivals in Seoul. Traffic sucked and it was stop and go. Gotta hand it to this guy taking advantage of the traffic. Snacks for sale. What a great idea.
I'm pretty sure he would have been just a target for me and the dog boys.



After a 4 hour drive we arrived at the COEX center. First item on the list was Mexican food. It's impossible to find anywhere around Incheon, but not in Seoul.


Oh, and they had margaritas.


Then the girls went shopping and the boys, and Jessica, went to the Aquarium. It was our second visit and Grant was a great tour guide.


After that we headed home, which took a whopping 48 minutes.
Truly a fun adventure.

Location:Iljik-dong,Gwangmyeong-si,South Korea

Saturday, January 21, 2012

Joyballo

Grant and Finn having story time before bed. "Ned and the Joyballo", one of my bed time favorites with Grant.



Location:Songdo-dong,Incheon,South Korea

Friday, January 20, 2012

Lunar New Year

This weekend the Koreans are celebrating lunar new year, the year of the black dragon.
At school they have been participating in some cultural actives. Here is Kelly and her team mate Joy in traditional Hanbok dress.




Whoa baby!!!

Kelly and her kids.


Then the class made a Korean rice cake treat called ddeok. Not sure how you pronounce it but boy is that a big hammer.

YouTube Video


Imagine rice cooked into a pasty dough then pounded until it was chewy. Then roll it in a brown rice based powder and there you have it. It wasn't bad, but nothing I would go hunting for when in need of a treat.

Location:Songdo

Grant on stage

Grant's class has been working on a poetry unit for a few weeks. Part of the unit was tied to the drama department. Today they had the opportunity to recite their poems on stage.

YouTube Video


Sunday, January 15, 2012

Bath time

Mater had his first official car wash as a member of the Hevland clan today. We are scared to look and see if anything important came off.


We are hoping for nice and shinny rust spots.

Location:Seonhak-dong,Incheon,South Korea

Tuesday, January 10, 2012

Sick

Nothing fun for the blog today and I'm sorry I have dropped off since we got back to Korea. I got sick Friday after we got back and have been miserable ever since. I did go to the doctor and acupuncturist today. My entire doctor visit including an injection and prescription was 25,300 won, about $22 and the acupuncturist was 10,000 won, about $9. That is all without having insurance pay anything. Gotta love the health care here. Not only the low price and short waiting times, but I'm starting to feel a bit better already.

Location:Songdo-dong,Incheon,South Korea

Thursday, January 5, 2012

Flight home

10:29 AM Got up and out of Paradise Garden Resort after a throw down argument with the check out staff. No recommendations from me to stay there. Can we say "False advertising". Made it on the motor bike to the ferry, to another motor bike and at the airport with 25 minutes until boarding. Well all not so easy. Original departure time of 9:55. It's 10:31 and the plane from Manila that we are taking back to Manila still hasn't arrived. Can we say rain? 11:13 Getting on the plane. Goodbye Boracay





12:48 we are on the ground in Manila. No rain here. Three hour layover and then off for Incheon with the rest of the crew from Chadwick. 9:26PM On the ground and safe back in Incheon. Lots of photos to come soon.

Wednesday, January 4, 2012

Last day of vacation

Started out last day in the Philippines with a sea kayak ride. We rented two and five of us toured the beach side or Boracay. The Sharps headed out around noon, we will meet up with them tomorrow afternoon on the flight to Incheon from Manilla. We then spent some more time at the pool and then off to pick a few last minute items. Grant's dragon from Singapore had long since worn off and he wanted a new one. They use different stuff here for temporary tattoos but he gave it a whirl.


Before


During


After. Then off to get a custom made key chain for his backpack.


Look at those sun burned cheeks. Lastly we had dinner on the beach at Calypso, the same place we had our first dinner here with all our friends. What a beautiful sunset and a great closing to a fun vacation.


We leave tomorrow, Thursday morning and arrive back in Incheon tomorrow night.

Location:Boracay

Monday, January 2, 2012

The New year

A bit more of the festivities from New Years eve.





The next morning we were all up and moving by 8:00. It was Michael Sharp's birthday and we had a boat trip planned to Poukah Beach. We split in two groups and boarded the Sharc and the Lych. It was a great sail and the beach was fabulous.




These are the boats at rest after our arrival.





Now the ride back was a bit more interesting. Getting the boat back in the water was a fun challenge and let's just say I wish I'd had some Rescue tape half way back. It's amazing what kind of hole you can plug with life jackets and a big bum.
All that aside it was a great boat ride. No challenge, no fun.
Then it was drinks on the beach for sunset.



Mark's feet and beer. Not very good beer, but cold.












Funny glasses were the birthday theme.



Kelly and Michael on a mad getaway on a pedal tricycle. Nice umbrella.