Scoraig

Scoraig?

 

I guess, I better show a map layout on where Scoraig is located in the Highlands of Scotland.

It is an interesting place of visit if you have enough time to spare to relax and not afraid of water otherwise there is a 5 miles walk into the village. It is only reachable by few methods of transport, bike, boat and foot. Maybe helicopter, but for sure the whole village will know somebody has arrived.

We had hired a car and drove towards the opposite village where we could park the car, and our host has picked us up with his boat to "ferry" us across the water. It was very calm, and not as I had anticipated to be rough, maybe due to the great weather we had in these days.

There is a small museum to get to know a bit more about Scoraig before asking the resident questions which may the answer is provided in the 24/7 museum with self switch on radio system.

We had been lucky on our visit to get to know some of the local resident through a "house party" and the next day through a community coffee shop to raise money for the local school. Yes! They still have a primary school - and want to raise more families here to re-open the old secondary school which now has been closed down and transformed into a community centre for local events such as parties.

If you are interested in how water and electricity reaches the house, it is a great place to come and learn or if you have experience you can play with the resources as no regulations are in the isolation - no forms to fill out just go ahead.

It is definitely worth to come there just for the weekend or a week if your journey is further away.

Why to study in Poland?

During mine time here in Poland - I had been always asked on why I choose to study in Poland. I guess the chances been high on why did you choose to study in France, Spain, Greece and not in any other 25 or 30 ERASMUS countries.

I guess as you only can choose one country and one city and one university in it (if multiple choices available). So did I just go with my finger on the map and pointed blank into Poland? No. It was a bit of thinking behind it on what I shall get out from it - as you notice before I spend a good time in South Korea. I really wanted to get to know a bit better our (Eastern) European neighbours. After all the impression is positive - did you actually knew that during the financial crisis Poland had still a growth rate to the real GDP and that youth unemployment is relative low to other EU member states.  Did you knew that MNE's enterprises have part of there head office in Poland or operating service industry of there company within in Poland such as the accountants for Phillip Morris. Did you knew that Poland was not a country for 150 years, but still kept most of their culture?

I guess some parts of it I could knew before coming, but I did not done any research at all on the nation I would spend my exchange semester. As in regards to South Korea - I knew fairly on what is going to happen to me Karaoke Bars every day and shopping 24 hours.

I guess we mainly know Poland for its work force which is willing to work hard and recently also aware that they are the hosts of Euro 2012. 

It was also a final reason on choosing Poland due to the Euro 2012 - to experience from the host nation itself  the atmosphere - I did not knew that Krakow is not a host city and that they would even host the English football team. I just arrived here and found everything out what will happen in the end of the semester of June. 

The first reason to choose the country and city - is due to the high standard of the university in Poland. The university is described one of the best business schools in Poland with leading graduates and professors from the nation.  What I did not knew that Krakow alone has 23~25 insitution including one of the oldest Jagiellonian. You notice my information of Poland and Krakow was really low - I guess in a kind of sense is good (and bad) as you do not have high expectation on what will occur to you in this nation. I guess those of you whom now read it will be a bit more aware of the situation in Krakow.

In the end I guess it was a wise choice to come here and learn the answers of above. 

Last Day in Daegu

The time is now getting to the end. One more sleep and I will sit on the bus to Seoul. Today I also need to move into my new room or old room on which I stay before when coming to Daegu. I have moved all my belongings from top floor to the other top floor. I was lucky to meet few of my friends who quickly helped me to move my stuff and I could give them some left overs such as all the cloth hangers. Otherwise they may end up in the bin or so.

I had a few appointments with friends, to say good bye and wish them luck for the their future. I hope I will be able to meet them again somewhere on this planet. As they also needed to move there belongings and moved back home and it was only me left on campus I decided to go into the town to say good bye. In some strange reason also thought of visiting the cinema and later two other friends joined me who come extra back to Daegu to help me tomorrow to bring me to the bus terminal in the morning. These friends I don't need to say good bye as I am confident I will manage to see them in Europe. As they will join two university, one which is where I am from, Northumbria and the other is Pecs (Hungary) closer to Krakow which would be my next stop after Seoul.

On the way back to the campus we walked into our other friend, who is just on the way to Taiwan. So we decided to go for a coffee at late at night, which was not easy to find one open. Its a bit strange for Korea, but I guess due now all students are gone and only a few are left. There was one still open which served cold coffee only. Why not at night time and close to end of December to have a cold coffee in the first coffee shop we went together in the beginning and to find our drawings in the archives of the store. 

Goodbye Exchange KNU

Today was the day on when the final was and to say good bye to fellow exchange students and those Korean buddies who will leave back home for the vacation. The time had gone really fast in Korea. It just seems like yesterday when I wrote the first entry into the blog and now its already time to go.

I hope I will be able to stay in touch with most of my friends and able to meet a few of them in Europe and where ever it will take me in the world. 

I had been given today with another student from France our personal notice to the students off our stay in Korea. I have recall on the old man from the subway on the way to IAAF stadium on whom himself been an exchange student in Germany. I recall his words of language barrier which shall never had been a problem for myself, in which I was false and shown language barriers and learned what it meant to have a language barrier. I had define language barrier in my own words and that it is ok not know any Korean and English to get around S Korea. I been telling the story of the mountain trip to Palgongsang and revering backwards on it what I have improved from this journey. 

There was also presentation on the students who won a bit of cash to travel around Korea on there special route - it was nice to hear on where they had been going and on what they had done. 

Later in the night we had been given certificates of attendance and got ready to go to a bar in town for a few drinks of those who did not yet needed to catch a flight back home. 

Birthday

Its Friday and its my birthday. I am really happy to celebrate mine birthday in S Korea. It adds some value on being here, as in the next years I will always experience UK or German style birthday. I believe also as older I will get the less fun the birthday parties would be - rather then just having coffee and cake. 

I greeted my friends at the North Gate for lunch and we had some good time together. I try to avoid to walk by fountains and lakes, as my birthday is just not in a good month to be thrown in one of them. Even I had mention I wanted to have the full experience on my birthday. 

Some of my friends still had classes or needed to study, so we stay not all to long in the restaurant. With other friends who did not need to go yet, I had some talks with them while walking along the campus and other I meet between there classes. Later on myself I needed to go to they Youth centre for volunteer work. It would be the last one today. I already could notice that the time has gone by past very quickly since arriving to Korea. 

We had a small farewell party in the Youth centre and been presented our certificates and provided a calender and video to memorize the good times. "We will never forget you" - had been the slogan of the children. It was a really great experience to volunteer abroad. 

In the evening we token a walk back to campus and meet up with my friends and more who had been invited by there friends for a small birthday party in one of the bars at the North Gate. It had been great that many of my friends come along to the party - even they had been busy with preparation for next week final exams. 

Tuesday

I guess if you had been a loyal reader to my blog - I can stop here. You can comment below and give suggestion what has happen today.

Rather in the evening I had met up with friends for a cup of coffee/tea and afterwards we just headed back to the campus. I bought some manderins of the vendor who stands by the university under a negotiated price. Its good that he stands on the other side of the street, as he is aware I must cross and he must sell. So I got it for a good value and shared with my friends who decided to do some late night studies in one of the buildings which is left open through the back door. 

Cinema Trip

Its Wednesday - I had been in touch with some of the people on Facebook on whom I meet in the Happy Camp. They want to meet up to watch a cinema movie and have some dinner. I did not knew which movie we will gonna see - but I had now did not been for a few month in the cinema since the other time I had given a review on the movie Reel Steel. 

I had meet up with them at the CGV cinema by Lotte Young Placa but we gone first for dinner, as we still awaited some more friends and decided to go to the cinema CGV in Hyundai Department store. Today was a good day to go to the cinema as KB-Star account holder been given 1 Free Ticket (Buy One - Get one Free). So we could share the cost, as I am not with KB-Star.

The movie we went to see was a Korean movie, but it was really good movie. Even I did not understand everything, only "Hello", "what is this", "ok" and "really". I hope one day it will be available with English subtitle somewhere to find or totally translated into English to be shown in Tyneside Cinema back in Newcastle. I surely shall recommend them the movie to put on their list, it was a very good plot.

If you can find it in store or online store - I highly recommend to watch it. 

Relax in KNU

Today is back to Monday, only one class in the morning - Strategic Management.

After the class I meet up with two of my friends and we gone to eat some lunch at the North Gate. We decided to try something new and it was big rice cakes. They had a variety of choice - we could not make our mind up which to choose so we bought a set of six different rice cake.

After the class we headed back to university as now the final weeks approach and final exams due to start and team work needs to be handed in. It is a very busy starting soon for some of the students. Especially as my friends are now preparing to be them self an exchange in the other universities.

Later in the day I attended the Toastmaster meeting in the KNU - another great way to socialize at the KNU campus during the evening on a Monday. It is always great fun to come to Toastmaster.  

Happy Camping

(25th - 27th November)

Today was the day to go to Happy Camp! I was feeling better again - as some remember I been last week to Haeinsa temple (My friend actually has some good picture from it if you like to see it). 

I received various text message during the day to make sure to wear warm clothes - and I replied back if there would be a lake for swimming. 

We had met up with Keimyung University in the South East of Daegu before going on the charted buses to the south. I do not know until today where I was and therefore you can not find a pin point on the map. (Also in reminder please select second page - you must now scroll down or download the KML file if you have Google Earth).

When we arrived after around one hour journey we had some small food and introduce ourselves. As it was already 10pm we gone all to bed and would meet tomorrow each other again.

It was a very cold night indeed in the mountains and when we woken up and had a walk after breakfast we could see that the small pond actually had some ice. It was a bit cold to walk outside, so good that it token place indoor the event where we had various activities going on. In the afternoon after lunch we actually have gone outside and as the hall has no window I was very surprise to see that it was warm. We did not needed our jacket anymore. The temperature feeling was like late spring. 

In the outdoor we had played some funny games, such as running like Spider Man or X-Man, throwing chopsticks to one end and the other.

After playing the games - most people gone back to the houses to take a rest. My friend and me decided to go for a walk around this small village to experience the real Korean culture. 

Along later this evening we had an International night as most from us come from different country we would perform a show or a dance from our country. As I had been the only international of KNU to the event we perform a Korean dance style.

It was a very good ending of the Saturday where we also had the activity to paint a t-shirt for ourselves on what we have learnt in the camp.

In the next day we had been wrapping up on what we had learned through out this weekend and for lunch we had BBQ. Yes BBQ end of November. It was an amazing cultural experience, as I had BBQ in Taiwan before. I been aware that Asians are health concious but combine health concious with Korean culture it is not a good combination. I never seen in my life before so many times a BBQ going on fire. I told them not do it fast - enjoy it take it easy it will get warm soon.

After all it was a very good weekend. 

Haeinsa Temple

It is Sunday and I did not wanted to spend my time in the dorm. I asked some of my friends to come along with me to visit a temple outside Daegu "Haeinsa Temple".

We left early in the morning from North Gate it was very cold - but I thought it will get warmer during the day. Let see further along if it actually warm up - first we needed to take a bus to the bus terminal this time is from South Terminal. I had read the Daegu Tourism blog  where they advertise a few location to visit outside of Daegu. Only on this way I heard of this temple.

We then token one of the local hourly buses to the temple. It was feeling like a long journey as we been going along the country road. We had plan to arrive and to have some lunch with the monks. When we arrived it was more colder then Daegu. There was ice on some location by the temple, but the view was nice. Few of my friends decided to return back to Daegu, my other friends stayed with me and we had a more detail look around the temple. 

We had a look on the watch and seen it is already lunch time - we shall find out where it takes place. We found a monk who guided us to the cafeteria. We had then some nice lunch but as expected with the monks but by ourselves. I did not knew that Haeinsa Temple is a popular temple to visit. Maybe if I go to smaller the chance is higher to eat with monks. 

After the meal we decided to hike up the nearby mountain - it become a little bit warmer and so we made the way to the top. As higher we gone the more ice we could see. The ladies told us not to go higher, but I looked up the mountain and said we are nearly there lets keep going. Even now there was ice everywhere to be there for two minutes was well worth it. 

We had then make our way back down - but in return I catch a cold it was not a clever idea to hike up a mountain further. I learn over and over again not to challenge the nature - as it is more powerful then myself.

We then had some Korean street food before going back to Daegu as we need to warm up ourself. 

Birthday Party

The Thursday morning was filled with studies but in the evening we had celebrated the birthday of one our Korean friends.

He did not wanted to celebrate so I token the initiative for him to create a small birthday party for him. Some of his friends come along and we had some food and drinks to celebrate his date of birth. He was very surprised that so many people come along to his birthday.

I was glad that he enjoyed his day - even though it was starting to rain by the end of his birthday.

On memories of his birthday I created a small video for it - it is not in best quality but it shall be doing good.

Mexican Restaurant?

I just arrived still into Daegu at 5am in the morning from my trip which you have read before this one. If not go and have a look - so far it is the most read article on my blog. Not sure why, is that because I mention North instant South. 

Anyway I got a bit of sleep before the classes today - but I wishes they would finish as soon as possible. I decided not to go to IVF today instant joined with my friends for a Mexican restaurant experience or Greek? We did not been sure exactly what it has been - but the dishes certainty did not been looking like Mexican food more a mixture of Korean-Mexican. 

I went with my German friend and Korean friends to the restaurant and we had a great time on discussion and I could tell them a little bit of my journey. 

We had very good discussion until we had been asked to leave as the restaurant was about to close. Interesting that actually a restaurant is pleasing people to leave, this is may due that people do not purchases drinks in restaurants so equal no great profit for them if we stay longer. 

From South to North

(12th November until 14th November)

I had arrived in Pohang early this morning by leaving Daegu early in the morning. It is one of my three destination for the weekend; Pohang, Uljin and Geojin. After we have arrived we decided to go to see the famous hand stature at Homigot. I did not plan on how to reach it as I had pressumed the tourism office would be open. Luckly a lady help us to get us onto the right or wrong bus. When we arrived we ended up in a fishing village and asked some people for the hand stature. The lady who we asked also wanted to go and see it but did not knew where it was in this area. So we had taken a walk around the coast line and could not find it - we then got out the navigation system and seen why we can not find it. We are in the wrong place. We either could wait for an hour for the next bus or take a taxi. As it had been three of us we had taken the taxi to Homigot and finaly reached our point.

We did not spend as much time as thought as we will and token a bus to the fishing village and return to the bus station. By now the tourism office was open where I could ask the way to the temple. We had gone for lunch with our new friend also from Daegu for some strange reason before head down to the temple.

The way to the temple was quiet long but we had a joyful conversation with American English teachers who gone on the hike there. So at least the journey did not feel to long. We had around 3 hours time at the side, so first we gone to see the temple and then made our way to the mountains with anticapation to find the waterfalls. Indeed we found them but time was running low so we only seen 1 out 12 waterfalls in this mountain. I guess to see all of them you must spend a minimum whole half day. 

In the evening I said good bye to my friend and I continued my way further to the North Uljin. I had arrived earlier then expected and meet my new friend at the station where I stayed for the night. We had a good conversation before we gone to bed.

In the next day I woken up early to take the 6:30am Bus to the temple. I believed it would more then just a temple. Actually I only spend around 1 1/2 hours there. I was one of the three first visitors. I joined up with two middle age man from Seoul to the temple. It was a nice scenario for taking pictures and the lake has kind of shape of the Budha. The mens given me a lift back into Uljin, or I would have waited ages for the bus. There are not many busses into Uljin or around Uljin. It is a very small town.

When I arrived back I purchased my tickets to Sokcho as there is actually no direct ticket into Geojin. Find out further along how it went along.

I then started to take a walk through Uljin from around nine clock until twelve clock to meet up with my friend again. I went to one of the hikes she recommended me, it was very lovely and a nice view onto the town and country side.

In the lunch time we gone outside Uljin to a port village near by. There we gone to see a white light house and the shore where a popular Korean TV show had been broadcasted. The shore looked very nice highly recommend to visit if you are in Uljin.

We then had gone to two local temples and in the last one the monk has invited us for some tea. It was really nice to experience Korean Tea culture - as it was my first time here. Especially by a monk and inside a temple.  Unfortunally my time was running out as I had to catch the 445pm service to Sokcho and try to find a bus into Geojin. As from Uljin a direct bus is only at 12pm - which was to early for myself.

I had arrived good in time to Sokcho where I manage to get a connection - with a local bus to Geojin. It was pretty simple to arrive as long you follow my friend instruction. I may also could have done it without a GPS map system.

Him self he just arrived from Seoul and so we had some Irish sandwhich and went over to his neighbour for some chatting which ended up in watching a movie on the TV. It went already to midnight and she haid a friend over from France so I think its better to go to sleep.

In the next day, Monday, I woken up and had breakfast with my friend and he gone to school for work. Where myself make myself ready to first look around Geojin on the bike and then take a local bus to North Korea. Those of you who are loyal readers will already see where the mistake is. Yes you right - I was already on the way to N Korea border. So I decided to contiune as it is not far anway. It has taken me around one hour on the bike incl pictures taking off the shore. When I arrived I try to purchases a ticket to goinside the DMZ but you need a car, which I did not had. Luckly there was 3 eldery people and I asked them if I could join them as a taxi would be pretty expensive around 40 Dollars and just for one hour visit. As my friend told me more then one hour I really do not need.

They had been friendly and token me on board. We spend two hours inside to look on how well our solider are working and I had mange to get a glance on a North Korean citizen. The mountains and shore looks very good - I wish one day the border will re-open to have a more closer look and may take the bike the full lenght from Geojin.

I cycle back to Geojin and stop at the first president hous - not much to report as I can not understand Korean. The only thing he had a simple house.

After I had arrived back to my friend house - I decided to walk around as his bike is not light and pretty hard to cycle up mountains and not flexible for inside town usage. Incase need to climb stairs. I went out the house and seen that a bus from the local station just left to Daegu, so I went to the station to purchase a ticket to Daegu. This ment I could join him for a dog meal with his friend. Then I had a look on the beach which was empty despite the good the weather we have in November. I had a look around the fish market and went for some local food. I then looked on my map and make my way to a temple. It was pretty hard to find, but I did not given up and found the temple. I had a small look around, is something special for myself to go not to famous places as non famous places less people equal more locals.

I return back to his house as we would set off for dinner for some dog soup - but unfortunally something gone wrong with the order. So no dog today. Instant something else special from the local corner restaurant which does not look like restaurant. We all had baby chicken (medium size) filled with rice in a potattoe soup. It was very delicious and filling.

The time has flies of my long weekend already 9pm so I catched the bus from the station back to Daegu. It was a great experience along the Asia Highway 6 or Korean Road Nr. 7. Korean people are very friendly and would take you with them in the car as I had two occasion or come and join you to tourist attraction as it happen in Pohang. Thanks also to my two friends where I could stay for a night each to save some cost of taxi and motels or jimilbangs. So I had also the chance learn more of your towns rathe just having a tunnle view.

Youth Centre

Today is Friday and it means that in evening we had the volunteer work in the Youth Centre. We had created today picture frame by using traditional paper.  It was a great experience to experience on using traditional paper with the children to create a picture frame.

This picture on the left is what I had made - and the words actually have no meanings which I have cut of from a paper and stick onto them. The green paper is the traditional Korean paper.

After the volunteer work one of our volunteer friends had invited us to come along with him to the bar for a drink. Somehow every time before every journey I go out - and hope that I will wake early not to miss my friend and the bus. It shall hopefully be a great journey tomorrow and I already feel a bit scared on the way up to the north.

Study Time

This is very surprising  for most of you who followed the Blog for a while now - that also a Wednesday states study time. It is just because now most team works has started for some of the module due that the final exam period is slowly approaching and for Strategic Management we had a few case study.

This time I spend to work on a few cases studies for the university and meet up also later in the evening with my friends to get a balanced into my life.

Bible Study

Today I had met my friends after my studies in the university. We decided to go there house instant of the seminar rooms in the university.

It was my first experience to go inside into a real Korean house with one floor level and the sealing very low. It was a great experience, the house owner has preprepared a meal for us.  It was very nice meal afterwards we had some bible study.

Later in the afternoon I went into the downtown to do a bit of shopping. I did not had to much time as today was also Toastmaster Meeting in the KNU.

Dongshin Church

It is Sunday - and I did not had any plan. I had been informed that in KNU Church is an English service. So I wanted to check it out for 2pm. I just did not been aware that first Sunday of the month they meet earlier and I must them on the way out, but the pastor invited me to another church, Dongshin Curch. Is around 15mins by car away from the university.

It was very nice of him to take me there. It was a great experience to see on how the service gets done in Korea by American and Australian speakers.

At least I did not spend my Sunday in the room, and gone to explore new things. Meet some other oversea people rather then all the time students in the recent weeks. When I come back to university I drove the bike around the campus before heading back to the dorm.

In the evening I had meet my friends for a cup of coffee.

Rest

After the long climb yesterday and the night before. I decided to take a little rest. Later in the evening I did meet up again with my friends for a cup of coffee.

There was nothing special occur on this last Sunday - as the plan was to go to Jinju but due to having appointments of my friends we had postponed it.

Halloween Night

It is Halloween weekend.

Today at the Buk-gu Youthcenter we had a halloween party most of us been dressed up and put some colour on our face. It was good fun to celebrate something in Korea what they do not celebrate.

We had drawn some pumpkin faces and ate chicken with the children.

After we had finish our work we gone to the bar with some friends.

In the morning before that my German friend and myself have met up with a Korean student who will be going soon to Germany for further studies. He had a few question on German life and of course on how to get the tickets for the Hamburg HSV Games.

Chicken Time

Its Thursday - the time of day where I take five classes.

After the Korean class today usually my friend and myself go for Hansot but today we went to a chicken restaurant near the North Gate with our Korean class friends.

We had some good conversation about Netherland, China, Malaysia, Germany and a bit of the UK.

It is good to relax with the class team and have some fun, as most of the time we usually do not meet up all together just see each other in the canteen, the stairs or in the class.