Fireworks!!!

So I had a spectactular weekend in Busan... and I just wanted to show you some of the highlights via photos. For an indepth look at the photos... see

but here is a little preview...



And for more look at my site on http://www.flickr.com/photos/27441599@N07/

State of the Union

Let me just say that although, we have seen some price increases over the last few months over here... I am most certainly glad that I am not going back to the States for awhile. When I moved here, the won and the dollar were almost evenly pegged... around 1085 won = 1 dollar. However in the last 2 weeks, there have been dramatic losses on that front. The won is now worth about 64 cents on the dollar. The exchange has stabilized somewhat at around 1385 won to the dollar (official, not bank rates) and let me say I am very glad I don't have to be sending home massive amounts of dollars for credit cards or whatever else. I have a friend that sent home 10,000 W to get 7500 USD, just last week! OUCH! Those that are here, are glad they are here, those leaving shortly are hating life as they've seen a dramatic decrease in their savings in just a matter of days. My fellow co-worker just watched 25,000 turn into 13,000 overnight because he had to transfer money home. It just made me realize how crazy it must be over there. I miss you all and hope everyone is doing well.

Livin la vida loca

So alot has happened in the last few weeks... So where to start? Well, two weeks ago my friend, Jeff, and another American opened up a bar in Busan and then one week ago, two days after the gas company hooked up the gas in their bar, decided to cook some food up in their kitchen. He lit the burner and the kitchen exploded... the force knocked down a brick wall outside the kitchen and blew all the windows out in the building. Jeff was badly hurt in the accident, he received 3rd degree burns on his hands and arms up to his triceps, and 2nd degree burns to his face and stomach and feet. Its a long road ahead for him. He will be in the hospital for quite awhile in the burn unit recovering from his injuries.

This last weekend was the Pusan International Film Festival, one of the biggest, if not the biggest film festival in Asia. Films from around the world premiered in Busan this last weekend, combined with the fact that it was Foundation Day on Friday (see below) it was a packed weekend, with people oozing out of every hotel. It was kind of fun watching all the Korean movie stars descend en masse with the papparazzi everywhere. Producers and directors from everywhere were on the scene to sift through the latest and greatest movies from around the world. Someone told me that they had even seen Steven Spielberg and I'm not sure that I didn't see Spike Jones and Ice Cube. Craziness.

Anyway, on to the description of Foundation Day... So a long time ago, Hwawin wanted to live on earth instead of in the heavens and he came down and there was this bear in this cave and he fed the bear garlic and after some time the bear turned into a woman. She wanted to become a mother so he obliged her and their child was named Tangun. Tangun founded Korea and made his capital in Pyongyang and ruled for about a thousand years. Now Koreans will tell you that its a myth... but they all believe it! I love superstitious people!

P.S. -- I finally bought a camera! Pictures will be forthcoming again.