High1 Ski Resort

So, I decided to try snowboarding. I have only been skiing twice in my life and have heard it's easier, but I HELLO, it's still pretty hard. I mean I couldn't even get off the lift... ever (well the one time I tried with my brother in New Mexico). I had also never successfully made it down the mountain. My first run down the bunny hill ended up with me in a heap at the bottom: skis off, laying on my back thinking wow, that sucked. What did I learn: Don't go straight down the mountain.

Next order of business was learning how to slow down and stop!

Picture to the right is my siblings in New Mexico - our first time skiing, EVER!


My next go at skiing was in Korea (here's that post) where I got some lessons.. they taught me how to put on my skis and 'how to fall correctly'. Well I got the falling part figured out and I'm pretty sure if I'm going down I'm not going to think, 'hmm, let me see I think these guys taught me I was supposed to fall this way, no wait or was it this way?' I ditched the class (they were mad I left, I don't understand you Korea) and headed to the bunny hill. I made it down without falling (pointless class). When the instructors made it to the top with the rest of the group, they were quite impressed with my skills!

So, ok. I can sort of do skiing.. so that's what I was going to do until my friends had other plans for me!

After some persuasion from my friends about how much better, cool, awesome-er, more fantastic and legit snowboarding is I decided to try it out. I mean just trying on the clothes and shoes made me feel 10 times cooler, so I was excited, but still was thinking - I'm pretty sure this is going to end quite badly, but hey what the heck - YOLO, right?!


The night before skiing we did some gambling. I won 14 dollars. Whoop whoop! Snowboarding was treating me well so far :) The next day we got up, ate some food and headed to the mountain around noon. I was thinking, great I'll spend the whole day on the bunny hill... well my friends had another idea. (again). Trust. Trust. Trust. We were going straight to the top of the mountain. WHAT???! NOOOOO........ I CAN'TTTTT

To the top? But how do I get down? What if I can't do this?? I've never done this, you know that right? You guys can't leave me up there!!!

I so didn't want to go all the way up, but thought well whatever. I guess I'll die. This is it. I'll die up on the top of this mountain in Korea. Or maybe I can get a ride down on a snow mobile. Or maybe walk? How long will that take I wonder.... hmmm - These were all the things running through my head on the ride to the top.

But I went. allllll... the. way. to. the. top. of. the. MASSIVE. MOUNTAIN! It took us about 45 minutes to make it to the top on 3 different lifts - yeah, we were high.

I get off the lift, sit down to get my board on and think, oh man, this WILL be bad. Luckily the hill wasn't too bad and I was assured and reassured (about 10 times) that there was an easy path all the way down that we were all taking, but still it's a long long way down..

But I got my board on, Kayc (my friend Alina's boyfriend) grabbed my hands, said stand up and he immediately led me down the hill. He was backwards and I was going down forwards. I almost fell a few times and we started headed down the wrong slope, so we kind of had to crawl back... but we got it.

After that I got up and just kept trying and trying. It was slow going at first and I would get a bit scared and fall back on to my butt. I had to train my feet how to move and figure out the correct way to move to get me to go the direction I wanted to. It maybe took 30 minutes to an hour before I was moving rather well down the mountain!

My friends were quite impressed... they said most people can't even stand up on the first day! Well I was doing more than that. I was standing up, then falling and then standing again! Oh and I also moved a bit (in the correct direction) and didn't run people over (that's mostly what I was scared of - hurting someone).


I immediately fell in love with snowboarding, I really did feel soooo much cooler. I felt super legit and kind of thug (which of course I love). I mean I was sore after the first time down the mountain, my legs killed - especially my knees. But I was having fun, so it was all good.




I even got a video of me feeling so so so cool. Wait for it...

Then we went down a smaller section (about half the mountain), grabbed lunch, took a few hours of a break and then went down a smaller section again. I lost most of what I had learned and I was so exhausted that it was much harder for me to control my board.

THEN... I decided going down the entire mountain one last time was a good idea. It wasn't. That's all. Not. a. good. idea. Nope. I realized that about half way up when it was too late to turn around. I was going down the entire mountain, in the dark, after a full day of 'working out'. AND we get to the top and it's a blizzard. I could hardly see (even though I had goggles). Great: night. snow. exhaustion. at the top of the mountain. needing to get down. not a good combo.

My friends all went ahead, so I was alone.

How'd I make it, because you know I did (and alive to post about it!) Well, you see, if you take your snowboard off your feet and sit on it, it becomes a sled. Yes, you better believe I did this down a good part of the mountain, using my feet to steer myself. Well, all was well until some dude told me to stop and it wasn't allowed, he said it in English, so there was no 'Sorry I don't understand' excuse.

I made it, alive and was so proud of myself for a somewhat successful day of not dying! That night I slept and slept and slept, well after eating a ton of food of course.

Exhausted. But worth it. If you haven't tried it (and your relatively young and or fit or are in a YOLO state of mind) then do IT! Also, you'll fall a lot, so don't be scared. I think I face planted like 3 or 4 times (at least) and fell on my butt way too many times to even begin to count.

Snowboarding - check that one off the ole bucket list.

Give credit where credit is due!
Photo credit - Kayc
Video credit - Peter
Thanks guys :)

Jeju TaLK Farewell Winter 2013 - Sunrise peak, Jeju Aquarium, Ice Museum

Let's start this post out on a high note (sarcastic) - So.... I lost my job. Yup, that happened. We got an email saying - Happy Chuseok (Korea Thanksgiving) followed by a nice little -- sorry, we will no longer have the TaLK program in Chungbuk province, which meant we had to find another job or leave the country.

So, I left.

But.

Before you think this sounds so horrible let me say.
1. I was probably going to leave Korea anyway (or knew I should), so it just solidified it.
2. We got a really nice trip out of the deal!!

Ok, the real, actual HIGH NOTE!

We got to go on an all expense paid trip to Jeju Island with all the other TaLKers who were leaving the program. 400 some of us that all flew down to the 'Hawaii of Korea' for a 3 day 2 night vacation in paradise! Not too shabby, eh?

James (this chap, above) spent the night at my place, since we were flying out of Cheongju. We got up and headed towards the airport and after some bus time issues we ended up finding Kim and going with her by bus to the airport. It all worked out and we made it to Jeju.




















We got chartered around by buses (like 6 buses) and hustled to eat and then on to some tours. Then we headed down to our resort, which was super nice!

Just Alina and I shared this massive room! We even got BEDS -- our own BEDS! Oh my gosh.. BEDS, not mats. Oh the luxury!

We had a farewell ceremony, which was actually quite sad really. I really started realizing my time in Korea was for sure coming to an end, reality was hitting me, and it was coming fast!

We had some awesome 삼계탕 (sam gye tang) - a whole chicken, stuffed with spices and cooked for a long time and made into soup! It's one of my favorites and I only discovered it at the end of my time in Korea. Sad.

We got the whole evening to chill, so of course Alina and I wandered around the property and I took a few photos, of course.

The next morning we took a hike up Seongsan Ilchulbong - Sunrise Peak. Thankfully they didn't make us do it AT sunrise! It wasn't a bad hike.. just a little windy and a little chilly, but it was much warmer once we starting climbing. 

You know it's going to be a good time when you're hiking with a crazy Brit! 

And of course the random photo with the random Korea hiking men who demanded we take a photo with them. No idea what was happening.. but the funny thing is that this wasn't even that weird to us! 

We made it to the top!

Us posing with the little Jeju man. He's a statue that is EVERYWHERE!

We had a bit of time after the hike to wonder around.. we headed down to the ocean front where we met up with some friends, took some photos and watched some korean ladies fix up and sell their catch from the day.

This is just one of those photos that will be treasured FOREVER. Lactaction Room? - good try at the translation Korea, good try.

And just another one of those signs (found in the stall) that I find hilarious and ridiculous and awesome all at the same time! 

The next day we got on the buses and headed to the aquarium. We watched these ladies dive down 15-20 feet (without oxygen tanks). It's impressive. Women actually do this in real life. 'They are called Haenyeo, Korean female divers or lady divers. They hold their breath for two or three minutes collecting clams, abalone, or seaweed.' Information taken from here - read the post to learn more!

We also watched a dolphin and walrus show. The walrus spit water out onto a volunteer, who was really not happy about it. But we all thought it was pretty funny!

We went to a place and rode some rail cars around - a disguised workout! We had to pedal the whole time and of course we decided we had to pedal super fast so we could pass the other team next to us. But it was all good fun, AND did I mention a workout!

The Ice Museum. Basically a big walk in freezer with all kinds of ice sculptures. It was freezing (of course) but was fun to wonder around. It was even complete with a SLIDE! A real working slide, that we all went down! Such kids at heart.

Next was the trick-eye-museum. A collection of ridiculous murals/paintings and just weirdness that when you take pictures of looks funny/weird/cool. I would highly recommend doing this with some fun friends. It's good to have them jump in some of the photos with you and have a good laugh!

And then this. So awesome.

At the end - us from Cheongju, got to go see one more thing because our flight was a bit later than everyone else's. It was nice of them not to make us sit at the airport for 4 extra hours! They took us to the dragon head rock - a rock that they believe looks like a dragon. Ok, fine it kind of does. Of course it's super touristy.

Instead of just staring at the rock the whole time we climbed them, watch some of the diver ladies (we assume) cut up and sell their finds. 

And we also made a little video. Because why not? Video by: James, Alina and I. As well as some extras. 

Check it out here on Youtube!!

Thanks TaLK-ers for all the memories! :)