26/04/2012
Yesterday was my 8-month Korea teaching contract anniversary; I’m two-thirds of the way through it and with just four months to go and plently still to see here I thought it would be a good idea to write a bucket list of sorts. I’ll include things I’ve already done, as the memories of them will bring a great big cheesy grin to my face as I write. If anyone can think of any more that would be fantastic!
Korean Language
- Learn to read and write Hangeul (x)
- Hold a conversation with a stranger entirely in Korean
- Order takeaway over the phone without using English
Korean Festivals (I won’t include those I’ve missed and now can never get to)
- Jinju Lantern Festival (x)
- Busan Fireworks Festival (x)
- Ulsan Whale Festival (x)
- Boryeong Mud Festival
- Gangneung Danoje Festival
In Ulsan
- Hike a mountain (x)
- Hike Mt. Gaji, Ulsan’s highest peak
- Daewangnam Park (x)
- See Bangudae petroglyphs (x)
- Watch the Ulsan Tigers football team (x)
- See Paraseo waterfall
- Night view of the city from Mt. Muryeong
- Penis cafe!
- DVD bang (x)
- Cat cafe (x)
- Board game bang
- Join a football team (x)
- Visit a jjimjilbang (sauna/spa)
- Camp at Jinha beach
- Camp up a mountain (x)
Elsewhere/General
- Everland amusement park
- DMZ
- See Nanta (x)
- Bargain hunt at Namdaemun market (x)
- Have a night out in Seoul (x)
- Swim in the West and the East Sea
- Hike Mt. Halla, Korea’s highest peak
- See a Korean wedding
- See a Korean funeral (x)
- Ride the KTX (x)
- Sit on a heated toilet seat (x)
- Go to Jeju in warmer weather
- Camp at Deokjeokdo/Muuido
- Cook a decent samgyetang (x), dak galbi (x), bibimbap, jjigae
- Do a temple stay
- Find and stay in a love motel with a heart-shaped/circular bed and/or jacuzzi
- Spend a weekend at the beach in Busan (x)
- Make ridiculous, unnecessary, over-the-top bulk purchases of substandard Western food at Costco (x)
- Wear a traditional hanbok
- Learn all the words to a K-Pop song
- Go to a K-Pop concert
Food/drink to try
- Kimchi (xxx)
- Kimbap (x)
- Tteokbokki (rice cakes in spicy sauce) (x)
- Baked egg (x)
- Korean porridge
- Korean-style raw fish (x)
- Sannakji (raw octopus) (x)
- Eel
- Jellyfish (x)
- Beondegi (silkworm lavae) (x)
- Whale (x)
- Dog (don’t think I could actually do this)
- Chicken feet (x)
- Pigs’ feet
- Acorn jelly (x)
- Spam stew (x)
- Makgeolli (x)
- Soju (x)
- Ginseng tea (x)
