On the express train (KTX) to Busan
(Can you tell I woke him up for the picture?)
Visiting the Korean War Memorial. It was very well put together and jaw dropping at the US soldiers who served in comparison to other allied countries. We were very proud Americans looking at the Wall of Memoriam.
This is the Reflection Pool of the Unknown Soldier(s).
On Thanksgiving Day we found TGIFridays and felt it was fitting for our US holiday.
I was pumped to get to eat with a fork!
Jake next to the piranha tank in the Busan aquarium.
A picture of the beach! I think it's pretty even in the cool weather.
Jake was able to get better pictures with his fancy camera than my pocket digital.
We rode a double decker bus around which allowed us to hop on and off all day to see the sights we desired. As you can see, we weren't really fighting for a seat in the chilly outdoors.
Enough said.
Typically, Koreans just walk up to a vendor like this and begin eating. When they are finished, they 'tab out'. We ate here for our Thanksgiving dinner when we WOULD be eating in the US timezone.
Bags o' honeybees for sale anyone?
Happy Thanksgiving!
I found my nephews name!! I thought it was neat!
I was in front of Jake going up the stairs to the Busan Tower. I realized he wasn't keeping up at his usual speed. I turned around to find him wedged on both sides. My boy is a bit broader than the average male in these parts of the world.
...because you should play arcade games in every country you visit.
We'd love to go back when the weather is warmer.
Busan is a beautiful city.
When we were waiting for our bus, there were 4 elderly female friends waiting alongside us. I would guesstimate they were close to 75 years old and the tallest was still shorter than my 5'2 frame. You could tell they were on a very special adventure just to be in one another's company as they jibber jabbered to each other and giggled quite often. As we walked to our assigned bus, the women approached us with gloved hands full of some sort of dried food as though they had been planning our meeting for days. An almost rehearsed fashion. They spoke to one another urgently, nodded repeatedly as they surrounded us, bowing furiously and then stuffed handfuls of the food into both our mouths. Not only did they have seniority over us via the culture, their stubborn love for sharing the Korean snacks did not allow us to refuse their 'generosity.' Our mouths overflowing with what tasted like dried persimmons, the ladies followed us onto the bus, sat in the seats directly beside and behind us, where they continued to unload their backpacks. Still not having any idea what they were saying, the women provided snack after snack as we ventured down the bumpy road. When we would attempt to turn down their offering, they went from 'suggestive' to 'insistent'. In other words, they went from handing it to us politely to a battle of their aim being on target with our uvula. They told us 'stories' in their language, serenaded one another and joyously welcomed us into their company during the trip. Eventually, we parted ways and our pants were feeling rather tight after just 30 minutes together. Jake and I laughed heartily about their cheerfulness and graciousness to their foreign strangers. They had no quamms about sharing and no reservations about having enough for their needs later. They had no fear of guiding us to our destination. They displayed no apprehensions for their culture being exhibited. They gave. And then they gave some more. A beautiful testament to us on a holiday of which we give thanks.
Though we missed being home with our family and friends during the Thanksgiving holiday, we were thankful those who did surround us made way for the most magnificent feast we have yet encountered.
Happy Thanksgiving!
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