It's Been a While

So I really need to update this.  Between the big training exercise on the peninsula, a week, a long weekend in Seoul, and then more training, I've kind of neglected to update this...

Took another trip up to Seoul with some mates from the platoon, to get out, see some sights. First stop after checking in at the guest house was food.  Tucked in the middle of the Hong Dae district of Seoul is Castle Praha.  They have their own beer and serve a Czech oriented menu, which was delicious!

Castle Praha, truly a sight to see in the middle of the city!

The next morning, we took the metro to grab some brunch, then headed over to the Korean War Memorial Museum.  Not only does it focus on the Korean War, but also the entire history of Korea, covering all the dynasties and wars between them. It's overwhelming before you even get in, with dozens of aircraft, rockets, artillery, tanks, and other vehicles lining the property.

Inside they had artifacts from the dynasties, as well as scale replicas of warships and old weapon systems.

Bits for horses

Turtle Ship.  Those spikes and armor plating on top make it quite impenetrable!

The outside is also gorgeous and well maintained, including two halls with names of Soldiers that gave their lives defending their country carved into giant marble tablets

Marble tablets

View from the stairs at the entrace

Main entrance, with flags of countries that provided support during the conflict.  Seoul tower in the background on the right (still on my to-do list!)

This truly is a must see in Seoul, and especially important to me, as it brings true light why we are still in Korea. After a long day here (about 4 hours to get through!) we headed to find some more food and beer back in Hong Dae.

And what's a trip to Seoul without seeing the ponies!  Perfect day for it, and got to teach them how to bet since most had never done it before. Always fun!

Just a few more updates: my shoulder is still wrecked, probably leading to the inflamed bicep tendon, that is more than likely torn by now.  More updates on that when I see the doc again.  Slowly, we are counting down the days til I get back home.  I'm sure JP is super excited that I'll be rousing her out of bed earlier than she likes to be!

Jillian

What would I do without my wonderful wife?  She never ceases to surprise me with odds and ends in care packages!  Though it's not as much fun as a real deployment (since I can find everything I need here), she still likes to send random items along with the things I request.

This time she sent me a small Star Wars Lego set, which I assembled immediately of course! That was included with enough Angostura bitters to stock a bar for a year (there's a second bottle...), and other requested items that I need (such as a phone case I'd left at home).

Jillian also made the pages of Toyota Trails magazine! Our first (and only) trip to Moab together for CruiseMoab 2014 put us on Kane Creek Canyon trail our final day, along with a gentleman named Tim Kurnos, who lived in Aspen.  Since he was riding solo, and Jillian was taking photos, he asked if we could forward any pics of him and his FJ40.  Toyota Trails did an article on his adventures and how he ended up in Colorado.

Well, I dug through the pictures I had sent to him, and there it was! Jillian's photo right in the magazine!  And as proof, a second pic where you can see my then red Land Cruiser in the background .  Fortunately for Tim, she took many pictures of him, since she couldn't watch me do it (as APPARENTLY I was about to drive off a cliff).

Not a bad way to end a Monday! Hope your's goes as well as mine!

Time Off

So, finally getting a few weeks to relax and not be in the mission or prepping to move or anything.  And it's much needed.  When I'm not in the field, I like cook and drink tasty beverages. That's what I'll be covering today.

I love making burgers.  And now they must have peanut butter on the bun (chunky peanut butter preferably.  This is actually a bison burger, something I stumbled on at the commissary.  Pretty darn good.  I wanted to throw a hashbrown and an egg on this, but I got too lazy.  Still delicious anyways.

              

On one of my travels, I picked up this bottle of scotch from one of the local stores, Lotte. It's kind of like a Walmart but classier, but just as crazy.  I pointed to the one I wanted, assuming they would hand me something on the right, with probably a clear cover.

Nope.

First came the nice Glenfiddich bag. Then she found the right product, which is actually wrapped, like a Christmas present.  I don't know who does that, but I'll be hiring them to do my Christmas presents next year.  The presentation is absolutely amazing as well, not to mention this is one of the smoothest scotches I've had.

My desk space is starting to dwindle.  Some interesting beers are on the left that I picked up in Yongsan while out visiting the breweries last weekend.  The iStout is from New Zealand, Jack Hammer from Scotland, and Sloth from Denmark.  I have Disaronno from trying out Godfathers last week (a bit sweet for my taste, or they needed more scotch...) and sweet Vermouth for Rob Roys (thats whats in the glass, and they are tasty!).

So that's what I've been up to as of late. A buddy from Fort Carson recently got here that is into beer as well, so many more beer adventures to come!

What have you been up to?

More Adventures

Haven't posted much lately, so it's time for an update

Decided to check out the aquarium in Seoul. It's in an unusual location: a mall.  After going to the National Aquarium in Baltimore, I'm sure it's really hard for anything else to compare, but it was still a good trip anyways

This picture doesn't do the size of these crabs justice!

After getting done with aquarium (and decided all the stores in the mall were too rich for my taste), I took a walk outside and right across the street is Bongeunsa temple.Still a functioning place of worship, its on a rather large piece of land in the middle of the city. Unfortunately, it was spur of the moment that I went, so I walked around the grounds to check out the buildings. The amount of detail in the painting on the buildings is absolutely amazing!

All in all, another fun day venturing around Seoul.  Still many more sights to see.

Now it's time to prepare for the squadron gunnery. Lots of long days ahead, so I'll update when we get back!

On the Road

So I've spent an incredible amount of time on the road lately, between picking up ammo, transporting it to training sites, making runs to drop off equipment, etc.  So I'm pretty familiar with the roadways now, my routes, and what to expect.

I wish the interstate system in the U.S. was like Korea's system.  No cops.  Only traffic cams. Everyone drives fast until they know a speed camera is ahead, and then they put on the binders.  Updating your GPS is apparently a big must around here, as it also updates the speed camera locations.  Fortunately, the app Waze does the same. And it's a blessing to have when finding new routes.

No major accidents to report, though a few of my soldiers have several years of bad luck ahead. Mirrors seem to be a common casualty with our trucks.  I'll take a lost mirror over an injured soldier any day.  So far the count is at 3 tactical convoys, 2 as the convoy commander, and the other as the assistant convoy commander.

That's enough words. Let's get to the pictures.

A quick stop at McDonald's on a late night journey.

BEST. APP. EVER.

Upon exiting the highway closest to base, you're greeted with this!

Hard in an armored vehicle, but a picture of the rest of the convoy.

Looks just like the states right?  And of course, obligatory road trip food (as learned from JP!)

No.

I'm writing this to tell you that I don't want to write a blog today.  I have stuff to write. But I don't feel like writing a blog.  Yet I don't want to go too long without writing one so you lose interest.

I swear I'll post more soon.

Probably.

P.S. I'm doing better than JP, so nobody can judge me.

Seoul Racecourse Park

Took a trip up to Seoul this weekend to get away from the base and find out what it has to offer. I went with a buddy from the squadron (who was in Korea less than 10 months ago) and he got me familiar with some of the little things I didn't know yet (i.e. the express train system, lodging, etc). We went our separate ways on Saturday and I made my way down to Seoul Racecourse Park.

Hopped on the the subway around 11:00 and 40 minutes and one transfer later, I emerged from underground to this:

Happyville is on the right and Luckyville is the building jutting out in the distance.

At the end of this long tunnel, you finally get to the gate.  Using my T-money card (the card used for traveling the rails), I paid my 2000 won admission and wondered if it was actually a horse track. There are two connected grand stands: Luckyville and Happyville.

Right in front of the grandstands, just inside of the gate is the paddock.  It's down in a bowl, with stadium seating.



I made my way over to the Luckyville grandstand to find the foreign visitor desk. After a brief lesson on how to bet and an english copy of the race program, I was on my way.

To the right are a (losing) betting ticket, the card for placing bets on the bottom, and the special pen you need to use in order for the marks to register in the machines.

Betting amounts are fixed on the card 1,2,3,5 hundered won. 1,2,3,4,5 thousand won, and 1,2,3,5,10 ten thousand won. Unlike in the states, Korea doesn't have a Show bet, they have a Win and Place.  Unlike our Place, their's covers 1st thru 3rd.

This is the length of the front stretch, with both grandstands covering the length of it. Not many people around outside, but it was only about 35* out, so most stayed inside until they were actually running.  There are fake turf patches in the distance for seating and picnics.  The infield is also built up with places for families and activities for kids.  I'd imagine in spring and summer that this is a pretty happening place!

Panoramic from the 4th level of the Grandstand

All in all it was a fun day.  A bit on the cold side, and I did lose my money, but it was a great experience and I'm sure I'll head back when the weather gets nicer!