an overdue New Years!

Over New years weekend we headed to Busan on the KTX. The KTX is the bullet train and it was great - getting up to 300km/hr. This here happy Buddha is from Beomosa temple. He was happy to see us (who wouldn't be?!)

More statues at Beomosa.

New Years decorations downtown Busan.

Nothing makes you feel safer than knowing the BS Police are watching out for you.

Picturesque.

Wanna go swimming?! This poor guy jumped into the wrong tank. Pirahnas at the Busan aquarium.

Penguins!!

Do we look ackward? Well, this worker INSISTED on taking this picture - 3 times. Gotta love the starfish photo op...apparently.

Our favourite fish - don't ask what it is, but it looks cool eh?!

Jelly fish!!!

We waited for the shark feeding...but it seemed like the feeding was more for the hundreds of other fish in the tank and not so much the sharks. Either way - seeing people swim in the same tank as sharks was pretty intense.

Beaching it up December 31st. Nothing better.

The Jamiesons hitting the beach.

2007 year of the golden pig. You will see pigs EVERYWHERE. The girl in the pic...we're not sure who she is...but trying to get a picture sans a Korean doing a photo op was next to impossible.

Octopus - from the tank to your plate without much done in between (meaning...sometimes they leave the killing of the octopi to your teeth - seriously...they eat live octopus.) We didn't partake in the live eating as the stories of people dying while eating scare us (tenticle suction + our throat = X.)

A scenic shot.

Outside the UN war memorial in Busan.

New Years Eve!! What better way to ring in new years than with a few of our close friends - aka thousands of people!

The giant bell seen in this picture is rung 33 times at the stroke of midnight.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! I had confetti stuck in my hood for days. All the specks in the picture are balloons and confetti that were shot off or let go at midnight.

Inside the UN War Cemetery. This is a tribute to the Canadian soldiers who fought in the Korean war.

Pretty trees at the cemetery.

The KTX ride home - ahhh we're so Korean.

A great way to spend New Years - although we're not crying that next year will be slightly less packed. A fun trip and good way to finish off the family visit.

Christmas in Korea!

It wasn't a white Christmas here in Korea which made us kinda sad. But then we heard it wasn't a white Christmas at home either - so we decided it was okay.

Climbing sans jacket a few days before Christmas.

Mom and Brad enjoying the Korean mountain - very different from those back home. These have fancy workout stations throughout them - because apparently climbing a mountain isn't a workout.

The men - so Korean.

Sunset from Seoul Tower.

Clark Griswald - you have nothing on downtown Korea. Some might say downtown Korea actaully inspired that scene in the infamous movie, Christmas Vacation. We were one of just a couple* people looking at the lights on this fine Dec. 23rd eve.
*couple = thousands

Oohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh, Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.

Nothing like a sparkly red star to say Merry Christmas along with our massive tree! Massive is a relative term.

We could have got normal stockings but why? These tinsel inspired works of art clearly are superior to all other (it's no wonder they were worth 1000 - Won that is.) Yes Korea has dollar stores too. We also hear since we get presents first on this side of the world that we get all the good stuff from Santas sleigh.

Christmas morning festivities begin.

Soju-erific! Brads enthusiasm for the alcoholic beverage was not tainted with the 9:30am gift opening (and our earlier blog post stating our opinions of the beloved Korean beverage.)

Corey Hart wears his sunglasses at night - Colin O'Connor wears his in the morning. You tell me? Who's cooler?

Who's happier? Dad or Buddha?

Colin buys Anne hoodies so she will stop stealing his.

The picture speaks for itself.

Andy Warhol floating umbrella art in Insadong.

We've commented on the crowds in Korea before, but as you can see Christmas day was quite the exception. Oh wait - no no exception. Business as usual here in Korea.

Christmas dinner - although Anne and her Mom had to wait 45 minutes for some chicken at Costco - it was worth it! Christmas dinner with family and friends was great. We missed the big family gatherings at home but our apartment was full of Christmas spirit (see: tinsel stockings) and it was amazing a great way to spend Korean Christmas.

The crew under the pretty blue tinsel (you got it! more tinsel!)

But wait...Christmas isn't over! Loverly packages from those fine O'Connors made their way to Korea after only 8 weeks of travel. Gotta love the speed there! Nice to have Christmas part deux - especially because it landed on Christmas Ontario time.

Gotta love new gear!! Thanks O'Connors!! So appreciated!! We miss you guys! (Exclamation mark!!!)

Once again, we hope everyone had a safe and happy holiday season. We missed all our friends and family and can't wait to spend next holidays with everyone we care about!! Also - a big thanks to the Jamiesons for trekking over to the Far East to join us! We told you the apartment would be okay for all of us!