North vs South, Say Yes to the Dress, "say Kimchi"

Apparently, I was tired. Last night I passed out with the lights on, fully dressed, didn't even brush teeth at 9pm. Woke up (confused) at 2am, covered my face with pillow and got back up at 5:45. It's currently 6:30 and that's pretty much how slow my computer is and pics are finally loaded.

So, it's early Sunday morning and I'm gonna share about the events of Saturday. It was a LONG day and we did lots!! I can't post all of the pics but I'm gonna finally post all the pics in a FB album and drop them in there. Haha, one of the reason I won't post all of them is because I honestly have no explanation for some of them. We made so many stops on our DMZ tour and got so much information (much of it in Korean) because the tour was on a joint bus and the tour guide only spoke Korea. I didn't have much idea what was going on or where we were most of the time, lol (but I supposed that's normal).

After a few hours of sleep, I made it to breakfast at 7:40am and ate my eggs and rosemary friend potatoes (so good!) and bacon. I decided to skip the Korean breakfast, as I have all mornings so far :)

Then we were off to the DMZ tour. It took an hour to get there.We passed rice patty fields #1(which there aren't too many of anymore) and the fence with the guard posts every 100 yards (#2). Then from what I understood, after the big green mountainy looking thing (#3), the river changed (#4)...and the flat land with no trees was North Korea (#5 and #6).

#1

#2

#3

#4

#5

#6

Then we arrived at the first stop for the DMZ tour.

 Then we made a few more stops. Then we went to this observation area where we could look out and see the division and 2 flags flying. We had to show our passports on way up and down.

 Then we went back down to the original tour spot and went in the third tunnel. Couldn't take pics there (although someone did have phone with them by accident and took a pic, I just don't have it yet. We had to wear hardhats bc it was so low in the tunnel. It was straight down and coming back up...whew...got some GOOD leg/butt workout.

 check out this bathroom sign!!

Next up was lunch, bibimbop...very good!!! And luckily, I was able to eat the whole thing with my spoon :) Finished with an ice cream cone and looked around a few memorials in the area.

Then we headed back to downtown Seoul and walked thru insa-dong and saw a parade and LOTS more cute stuff!!

The time had come to make Kimchi. Hmm....

I did try a piece, but we wrapped rest up to take home...in our suitcase...perfect time to ferment on plane!!!! ???? Umm...we'll see about that. It can be my mom's gift!! hahaha There was a kimchi museum that we saw briefly and then we tried on hanbok.

I do have group pics but I have to get everyone's permission to post, so I'll do those later. Very cool to see all the adoptees in hanbok and also the families.

hahahaha, this is my cabbage head!!

Headed back to hotel (this is when I finally figured out the air conditioning and thank goodness because the sun was finally out and it was a warm walk back, and I took a nap before dinner.

Got a phone call at 6pm (had meant to wake up earlier) and Jocelyn met me in the lobby. We took a taxi ride that I feel fortunate to still be alive (seriously, two u turns in the middle of 8 lane traffic?) and I was very proud of myself for eating the fish...but I did have to cover its head as I ate it. I think Jocelyn and I pretty much look the same as the last time we saw each other (25 years ago???) and we picked up our conversation like we hadn't missed a day!!

 We left restaurant and walked around for a bit...this is the first I saw the big tanks of live fish/sea creatures. EEKS!!!

It was a wonderful evening and I was so fortunate to be able to spend time with Jocelyn and talk about her experiences and talk to her about her experiences in Korea. The perceptions I had about Korea/Koreans (lol, based on myself? which kinda seems funny...well, at least the physical ones) are quickly breaking down and I'm so lucky to be on this trip!!!

Now it's Sunday, 7:23 am and I'm about to head down to breakfast and then go to church. Then guess what...I GET TO HOLD BABIES!!!!!