First Full Day

My first full day started off well. Apparently the guy (Derrick) whose birthday I share got so drunk last night he ended up on the couch in the living room. They arrived at 4am and made a bunch of noise. Luckily, I was so tired from the flight I didn't hear anything.

In the morning, our birthday, he wanted to make pizza. Thus I got my first taste of the 'Lowtoe market' (spelled for you like it is enunciated). He then wanted to go on a hike on a mountain by his apartment in Gimhae (think of Jangyu, where I live, as a 'suburb' of Gimhae). So we hiked to the top and it really proved my lack of fitness. I was destroyed. Koreans don't appreciate the gentleness of a lazy trail and decide they like the more direct and efficient route, straight up.

At the top of the mountain there was a nice exercise area and we played around on the equipment for a bit before coming back down the mountain. I think I fell twice.

Due to the late start and my slow pace, we were very late getting to a birthday bash held in Derrick's honor at a weird German bar in Busan (it took us two and a half hours to get there due to traffic, I slept most of the way). The place was packed. The seating area was comprised of large picnic benches and people from all ages were clapping along to this band from some country in the old soviet block singing Korean and American songs. After a bit of drinking the Koreans really went nuts and were dancing on the table and waving around napkins. It was endearing and also a bit shocking to see.

I, of course, was exhausted and decided to skip out when everyone left to go see some DJ Shadow at another bar. I took a taxi back to Jangyu (cost me over fifty bucks altogether this evening). The taxi got lost and for a while I was really freaked out that we wouldn't be able to find our way back. But he eventually pulled up to another taxi and asked questions. I wouldn't be writing you if I hadn't made it back. I am tired and need the bed. I will not be going out for a bit.