So much good food and some great Friends...

As I start this post I realise that everything I do from now on, on this blog, is out of sync/behind schedule, and not just a little bit but by like weeks! This is the tragedy of blogging. Just when you have written one post, you have a thought or do something awesome, either of which is worth writing about (the awesome activity, in particular, becomes a problem as it is normally accompanied by pictures which need to be carefully selected and edited and then painstakingly shrunk to fit on the interweb), thus it is time to write again. I can’t keep up. Sigh – in this vain I will refer you to my friend Stuart’s blog – Just Blog off which was set up with the idea being a blog about blogging (but as with all blogs has been a chronicle of thoughts and experiences that sometimes is interrupted by a post on the reason for writing the blog in the 1^st place).

That little side rant out of the way...

I am going to share, in this post, my experience of my first trip to Daejeon. The purpose of this trip was too see Deborah (the week before the F1 adventure with her) and Andrea, as well as meeting up with Lauren, Jasmine and Natasha, as we were all attending the Deli Tours Festival 2010. This festival was to share foods of the world and to have a “free” rock concert with 15 acts (mainly from Korea) as entertainment.

Oh and of course there would be “some drinks” as well ;)

The weekend started with my trip to Daejeon. About an hour before I was scheduled to catch my train, on Friday after school, I still had no place to stay for Friday night. In a chance chat/confirmation of travel plans with Andrea, she offered her floor space to crash on for the night. I was so so grateful. I didn’t have to arrive at a place I didn’t know, spend money and rush around trying to find people the next day. I went on the KTX train to arrive there at about 22:30 and when I got there a nice man got me into a taxi and I gave him the instructions, Andy sent to me, to get me to where I would meet her.

It was a very odd experience climbing into a taxi hoping to get to the right place but not really knowing where I was going. That said I got there W7400 later and there was Andy standing patiently waiting for me despite the late hour.

Andrea lives about a 7 min walk away from where she teaches so she met me there and we walked to her place where we stayed up chatting and catching up until about 01:00 then we went to sleep only to get up at 07:30 so that we could catch the bus into Daejeon Centre to meet Deborah so that the girls could have their hair done. Having got in so late to Andrea’s place and then chatting for as long as we did, it was certainly an internal struggle to leave my sleeping bag!

Eventually after doing so and having a couple of “naarjies” and a yoghurt for breakfast we leave Andrea’s place and climb on the series of busses we needed to use (NOTE for Travellers: Daejeon does have a Subway line but it is only 1 line and it only operates in the centre of the city, not the Burbs where most people live. Thus try use the busses as the taxi ride could get expensive).

On the walk to the bus-stop. My hair is now a lot longer as we start December...

Those busses were pretty busy and I had a massive backpack with me so I felt a little selfish with all the space I was occupying...

Eventually we get off the bus and take a walk to “Timeworld” which is the location of the more exclusive but still regularly frequented department store called Galleria. This is where we met Deb and the girls departed to do girly things while I was left to my own devices in this GIANT metropolis. For the 1^st time I felt like a real tourist. Picture this...

A caucasian male of English decent standing in the middle of a bustling city which is located in the centre of South Korea. On his back is a hiker’s backpack. In his eyes were the glittering array of opportunities and sights to see and in his way – was nothing. He was free to move as the wind moved past him.

I wondered around the city and eventually stumbled upon Mammut Outdoor ware (SEE GOOGLE MAP HERE: ).  I enter the shop and notice the large choice of not only hiking gear (which is found in every sports shop in Korea, in fact in every clothing shop) but there is also an assortment of climbing gear, alla belay devices, chalkbags, slings, cramp-on’s, harnesses and such etc... I required a chalk bag as my intention (at that point and still is) was to do a lot of climbing while I was here. So I purchase said chalk bag as well as an awesome pair of gloves and 2 beanies. While in the process of doing this I get chatting to the manager of the shop. His wife runs it while he oversees it as he is actually a civil engineer by profession. He offers me coffee and gives me both the shop business card as well as his personal business card. When I go to pay for said items they knock off 30 000 off the total cost and give me a catalogue, 2 bandanas, 2 pairs of short socks, and 2 branded carry bags... FOR FREE! They were awesome! After originally leaving the shop I actually went back to get a photo with these people at their shop.

Shopping done for the morning (or so I thought) I am walking back to more familiar ground-i.e. Timeworld, when I see a Krispy Cream savoury shop. Having tried Dunkin Donuts and one other American import I decide it is time to try another to be able to compare them. I get myself a lovely savoury scone with Bacon, egg and cheese and while away an hour enjoying the people and traffic of this hectic city passing me by.

When I return to Timeworld I am now waiting for Lauren to arrive from Ulsan so I take a walk through Galleria itself and I end up finding, in the foreign foods section, canned chopped tomatoes, baked beans and a whole bunch of spices I thought I wouldn’t find in Korea other than in Seoul. I proceed to purchase the lot, and now I AM finished my shopping.

I meet up with Lauren in an underground walkway where I am then, yet again, rueing my male’ness, taken on another “I just want to go and have a look in that shop” journey.

Eventually we get hungry so the browsing and sometimes buying stops and head to find some food in the food court of the Galleria centre, where there were all kinds of labels (like: Western food, Italian food, Korean food, Chinese food, Sushi)... 

 ...but it was pretty much Korean food despite the labels. Lunch was followed by going to meet up with Andrea and Deb as they were having lunch and we are joined by Jasmine and Natasha

And so begins operation “Find our motel”...

Now it must be noted that slowly and surely the sun was setting and things got very tricky. We had been told that “Sumhoja Motel”, where we were set to stay, is about a 5min walk from the Government complex subway station. The Government complex station was about a 10min walk from Galleria, so we set off. 10 min done and we were safely at the Subway Station. Now to find the Motel. We walk and walk and walk, never mind 5 min, 100min went by and we still could not find the place despite repeated calls to Deb for direction. Truth be told I was not worried but was getting really annoyed at the panic from my motel companions. Eventually a place on the skyline is pointed out and we start walking towards it. HOTEL TOKYO – it was called. (NOTE FOR TRAVELLERS: HOTELS are expensive. MOTELS are considerably cheaper and just as adequate if you only need a place to lie your weary bones.) We had been told the Motel cost 30 000 Won for a room. This Hotel cost 60 000 Won PER PERSON. Thanks to our “lost in translation” moments we had thought that it cost 60 000 Won for the room so 20 000 each. This was an amount we were prepared to pay, so we filled in the forms and did the Admin and were then asked for 180 000 Won. We could not understand why this was the case. Eventually we figured it out and decided to decline the rooms on offer. HOWEVER the experience was not a total loss – while we were filling out our forms we saw a basket that read: “Take one please!” – it was a smallish straw basket filled with soaps, so we each grabbed one thinking that we were staying there. We didn’t end up staying there but forgot to put the soaps back. Only once we had walk about 5min away from the hotel did we realise this and had a good laugh at our “fortune”.

A couple of last ditched calls to Deb and we eventually found the motel and it was so much better than I had expected. 50cm flat screen LCD TV...

... free internet and 3 bed all for just 30 000 for the room! We put our stuff down, freshen up and grab a taxi to the concert site at the Daejeon Convention Centre.

It was a really nice set up and there were so so many foreigners. I no longer felt like a commodity what with all the South African accents surrounding me. With all the home flavour and all the drinking that was going on it felt like I was back in Grahamstown on a Saturday night at the The Rat! Funnily enough that feeling got even stronger as I bumped into Dale Hutton and his girlfriend Roxy as well as Clair, a young woman who studied journalism with my brother.

Dale and Claire with me at the Festival

I had known Dale since I started at Rhodes as we were both RUMC member though he was a far more dedicated and talented climber than I was. I spent the evening hanging out with South African and had a Chicken Curry and Tandoori for supper. It was really great to have that feeling of home. The amount of different food that were on offer were from Mexican to Chinese, Turkish, Indian, American, Brazilian, and of course Korean.

I stood in line for AN HOUR for my food but it was in the end worth it (I think). It was so so much fun to hang out with Deb particularly as I think we have the same mindset on the over-partying vibe.

The music in the main was really good. Here is a sample:

All the while there was a range of Korean and Western rock music going on but suddenly it stopped and they started to clear up the stage. The worst think you could have done was take away the only source of entertainment for a very large bunch of drunk foreigners. I later found out that the organisers had actually not got permission to hold the concert so some local called the cops to complain about the noise and the gig was shut down. Much sadness for me and my new friends...

What with our disappointment of the lack of music, Lauren and I went in search of some rice wine which we acquired and finally drunk. Suddenly I was being pulled in the direction of the parking lot being told that the music had stopped so everyone was heading into the downtown area for more drinking and partying. We (Andrea, Lauren, Natasha, Jasmine, myself and some other chat I can’t remember) start walking along the road hoping to catch a taxi (though that was never going to happen as the Taxi’s refused to stop for us as there were too many drunk people and we were all over the road) and next thing I know Andrea, Lauren and some other people who we were in a group with climb into someone private car and disappear. I thought it was very impressive that they could just hitch a ride like that however since I could not see Jasmine and Tash I was trying to get them to stop climbing in the car and wait for us, to no avail though, as they sped off into the distance. Thus leaving me standing on the side of the road, in a city I have no idea, how to navigate, wondering how I would get back to my motel room. Jasmine and Tash re-appear and we are joined by an American chap named Ryan (He sounds Irish but he said it is because he hangs around with so many Irish friends), and an Irish chap named Fenton.

They were top notch guys really friendly and helpful. They stay in Daejeon so we caught a taxi with them and got to this bar called Yellow Taxi that everyone was going to, to continue drinking. At this point in the evening (about 01:15) I was not in the mood and just wanted to get to bed. I hung around with Tash and Jasmine because they were my motel mates and we thought it best to stay together to find our way back. HOWEVER I eventually decided to make my way back and let Jasmine and Tash continue their night out. I knew where I was because when the Taxi dropped us off I saw that we were not far from Galleria which meant only about a 15min walk away from the motel. I found the motel without a problem, showered and went to bed – leaving the door unblocked so that Tash and Jasmine would not have to wake me to get in. I later found out that they only got in at about 04:00 and I was super impressed with them and how quiet they were. I didn’t hear a thing when they came in, so thank-you ladies!

The next day my train was at 12:00 so I slowly get up at about 10:00ish and we all go in search of some food. I ended up choosing the Korean version of a toasted sandwich (NOTE TRAVELLERS: if you every want one – DO NOT have it with the hot sauce!) and make my way to the train station arriving 5min before my train was due to leave – perfect timing!.

That was my weekend in Daejeon and what a weekend it was – so much enjoyed and I hope to get back there soon!

Posts to come: Halloween Folly, Paragliding (As yet untitled) and my trip in to the hills... oh and a transport and food post as well ;)

Stay Tuned to Geoff’s Asian Adventure!

Geoff vs The Korean Army

This post is all about determination in the face of certain destruction, bravery in the face of trained killers and tried in and tested skills in the face of... well just in the face.

This is a post about Korean Sports Days.

I experienced my 1^st Sports Day (Like inter house events back in SA) at Gokyeon MS recently and I had so much fun it was great!

GoKyeon is small. 23 students in total. It is not like some of the schools my friends are at (E.g. Dan in Pohang – his school has upwards of 600 students). Therefore if just one student’s doesn’t feel like putting in the effort, it affects their team’s chances of winning dramatically. Thankfully this was not the case on this warm autumn day. I arrive at school knowing I have no classes to teach for the day and that I will, at the very least, be playing volleyball at some point during the day. The school is decked out in it’s best colours and all the student’s top work is laid out on display.

It looks great and man can some of these teens draw!!! One section is dedicated to caricatures of the teachers and it looks great, dead ringers almost! After walking around a bit the PE teacher hands me a lumo green shirt that fits me perfectly... in the width. The length and arms though are a little short (oh well). That meant that I was on the green team for the day.

From receiving my kit I was taken upstairs to receive my war paint. I chose to have a cool little symbol/crab thing, on my cheek with Korean written on it. I wanted a dragon on my forearm but there was not enough time.

Then it was time for the opening ceremony. The formality in the day was really interesting to witness. It was almost like the opening to the Olympics or the Commonwealth Games or for that matter the Asian Games. The two teams line up behind there banner carrier and marched in single file to stand in front of the podium.

They then sang the national anthem and did a couple of other things, such as warmed up to this really terrible music. It was really amusing to watch as even some of the teachers got into it – star jumps, jogging on the spot and stretching – the lot. In hindsight I should have done the same as the next day i was very very stiff. Finally the day was opened by the headmaster and a shot from the starters gun. (A pictorial summary of some of the events can be seen in the pic collage at the end)

1^st Event: GIANT Skipping Rope

I was first put in the jump team but after 4 failed practice jumps – 3 of which were my failing, I was “promoted” (I think they got the “pro” mixed up with the “de” sounds) to the guy how holds and rotates the rope. There were 3 rounds and my team won them convincingly as we got up to 13 jumps as a collective while the Pink team could only get to a maximum of 5.

Team Green 15 points – Team Pink 10 points

2^nd Event: Tug-o-war

Now when I have done this in SA there has been strategy. Biggest guy/Gal at the back who ties the rope around their waist and there are rhythm calls. No such luck here. I was stuck at the front of the cue of a very light weight pack. We got murdered in all three rounds.

Team Green 10 points – Pink 15

Running Total: Green 25 – Pink 25

3^rd Event: Soccer Volleyball (Boys event)

This was one of the events that I was not asked to take part in. Essentially the event is as the name says. Use your feet and heads and knees, anything but your hands, to get the ball over the net (allowing a bounce on either r side and or a bounce between players of the same team before the ball goes across the net. 2 bounce consecutively or if the ball bounces out of bounds then you lose the point. I noticed soon after that start that it was Team Green or TEAM GLASSES against Team Pink or TEAM SIGHTED as all the boys on my team wore glasses and all the Boys and 1 Girl on the other team did not. Interesting dynamic. It did seem that in this spectacle – a challenge of finesse, intelligence (glasses wearing crew), and size (non-wearers) was in the offing and it was the Spectacled Team (My team) that came out trumps in the end even though the play was not all that impressive.

Green 14 – Pink 20

RT: Green 39 – Pink 45

The tention is just too much to bare...

4^th Event: Relay Race

Again I was more photographer than participant in this one. It did get interesting though because the elementary school children joined us for this race. The track I think was about 300m long and it was split in 2. On the one side of the track you had the Elementary children (with 2 Middle Schoolers to make sure of even numbers) and on the other side you had the Middle Schoolers. So in essence the track was split into 2 halves of 150m each. The Elementary children would run half way around the track to hand the baton to a Middle Schooler and he/she would then run the rest of the track to hand off to another elementary child etc... until you get the final pair of Middle Schoolers running for the tape. This took a while to organise as there were a lot of bodies (and in particular – easily distractible little bodies) to organise into lines and prevent anyone from cheating, so at this point I will introduce an interlude to demonstrate in time just some of the time it took to sort out the students – here is a song called “Pizza Day” By the AQUABATS. I found it recently and seeing that I eat school lunches I thought it was rather appropriate (follow with the lyrics if you so choose)...

PIZZA DAY - THE AQUABATS - (Click to listen to the song)

Pizza Day Lyrics

Welcome Back. I hope you enjoyed that rather amusing song. So the race...

It was all going horribly for my team we were behind by about half the track but then the pink team had a bigger than normal Middle School girl, healthy is what I shall describe her as, going up against a hyped up little elementary school boy and he closed that half track gap and opened up a useful one for out last runner to storm to an unexpected victory!

Green 15 – Pink 10

RT: Green 59 – Pink 65

It was now down to the last event – the girls dodgeball (which obviously because I am a manly mister man, I never took part in). However it was time for a break and now comes my big event of the day...

Geoff _{(and Gokyeon Middle School Boys)}  vs  The Korean Army in a soccer match.

I think it must have been about 25-30min per half. With our nimble, slightly built, side, we had speed the speed to storm into a 3 – 0 lead. I had a hand in setting up 2 of the 3 goals. Half time came and went with a brief stretch and a sip of water and then the game got interesting. The much bigger Army lads stormed right back to level at 3 – 3. Our defence was taking a pounding but through some opportunistic tackling from one of our players we caught the keeper pretty much literally napping as he was staring at a butterfly or something when his shot came in and we were 4 – 3 up. Incedently that was this boys hat-trick! Back in the lead. The final act of the game I sprinted onto a loose ball and it was just me and the keeper. I looked him dead in the eye and ever so coolly slotted the ball home with my left foot, keeper left standing in awe of my sheer brilliance.

It may have been that these guys were taking it easy and using the break as a nice fun time away from basic training but that is a side issue – I MEAN THEY HAD BOOTS AND EVERYTHING! So we won 5 – 3 and on the balance of the game I would say it was well deserved.

Back to the competition...

With one event to go things were tight and it was down to my girls Dodgeball team to pull off a win if we were to win the day. I couldn’t quite follow what was happening, all I know is that one girl broke a finger but MY TEAM WON!

We were the Champions! (Cue Freddy Mercury and Queen...)

Victory Music

So Sports Day was finished.

No not quite. After wondering around for about half an hour I went outside and found that a massive Buffet picnic had been set up and was called up to the festivities.

I have no clue why this was happening – I think it was because the Elementary School was having a festival but I sat and ate a bunch of Korean goodies and was eventually called upon to help defend my school’s honour in a game of Volleyball against teachers from 2 other visiting schools (Presumably they were visiting because of the festival). We won both game of Volleyball 21 – 16. I managed to get in a couple of good blocks at the net and I even spiked home one winner!

Just as I sat down to have a drink and chat with other teachers form my school, Mrs Won YANKS me away and demands I go catch my bus – it will be here in 2 minutes. I wish she could have told me I was still taking the bus home... sigh...

So that was my 1^st Korean Sports day and what a fun day it was. The next day I was in so much pain but that is another story for a more winey blog...

More from Geoff’s Asian Adventure soon with Paragliding AND Daejeon Deli Tours, Halloween Folly and A day of peace and reflection coming soon

2010 Korean F1 GP – Frustrating and Exhilarating!!!

So the thing I have been talking about for the last 3 months has come and gone. The weekend of 22-24 October was the INAUGURAL South Korean Formula 1 GP – something that I paid a lot of money for on my 1^st/2^nd week in Yoengchoen. It begun with a casual stroll to the train station (collecting some Hot Chocolate and a doughnut on the way-from Dunkin Doughnuts) at about 18:45 on the Friday evening. I had a 50min wait after changing trains at Dongdeagu station to get to Gumi, so I grabbed the most unsatisfying, and as a result pointlessly expensive, hotdog I have ever paid for for supper + a couple of very yummy chocolate chip scones.

An Arty collage I took with different camera setting while I was travelling...

For the 1^st time in Korea I felt like YODA – I was attending this once in a lifetime opportunity with Ms Deborah Brown (a friend who got me onto this idea – whom I had flown with from SA).

Deb called me in a mild panic about how she would know when to get off her train to Gumi. I, having travelled pretty much exclusively by train so far(and judging by my experience on a bus this weekend, will continue to shun said mode of transport) had all the info for her and we safely leased once I got to Gumi.

Following a brief catch-up at the station we climbed in our taxi and to our surprise, found ourselves getting to Waegook Cook (Westerner Bar and Restaurant-the place that was organising this whole trip) really easily.

This was indeed the correct location though we were not entirely sure how we got there, what with pronunciation worries and all (Refer to Andong Die Adda Hand Darren to see why). After some confusion about when I need to settle the debt I owed the tour company I was told “Settle it tomorrow morning and go to your motel-it is around the corner. It has balcony’s covered in pink neon lights”. With that ominous instruction we walked for about 5 minutes and got there no problem. It was nice enough. Small but more importantly cheap! It felt like those cheap sleazy motels you see in movies – there were even the coloured neon lights in the room to add to that image.

My Room with Deb for our Night in Gumi.

The day was long and we were both viciously “moeg” so after a brief chat about things for tomorrow (qualifying day) we went to bed at about 00:15

We had to get back to the pub by 04:50 (we were told) to get on the bus to drive to Gwangju which was about 3 hours away and from there we would make our way to Mokpo and Yongnam (where the track was situated). So Deb sets her alarm for 04:00 and I get up at about 04:30 and we are on the bus by 04:55.

At the pub everyone looking bright eyed and bushy tailed ready to leave for the track

“We leave in 5min right?” WRONG!!! We frigging sat on that bus for 50min waiting for various guests to get their asses to the bus including the guy who was in charge. That was just the 1^st of a series of unorganised blunders by this tour company. The rest to follow. Eventually we get going about 06:00 and stop at a Korean equivalent of an Engen 1 Stop/Shell Ultra City at about 07:30 for some breakfast (we hope).

Deb getting off the bus as we go in search of Breakfast

It is at this point we find out that we left someone in Gumi because they overslept. Serves them right. We get off the bus and Deb and I go in search of food only to find nothing is open. I eventually have to settle for Rice Cakes which were not that nice and Deb I think a couple of biscuits. We leave the rest stop only to find we left someone behind again (Andy from England-he teaches in Busan) as they had found a place that was open for food and he was eating when the bus left. He caught up with us in Gwangju.  

After fits of sleep we arrive in Gwangju and it feels like I never left Grahamstown...

Let me explain: In Korea the bar culture is not that big. Well not like it is in SA. Instead they have relaxed alcohol laws and you can purchase the alcoholic beverage of choice from you local cafe or super market and drink it as you walk out the shop. NOW... in Gwangju for the F1, it was 09:30 and I see a huge crowd of our travelling group buying 3 cases of beer. This was the start of a number of people getting horribly smashed (so much so that someone puked in the bus on the way back to our motel after Quali-AND that 2 gents nearly missed the bus because they could not walk straight. Funnily enough they were all South African – something I don’t miss about our people).

One of the chaps I grew to severely dislike, having a smoke break at our rest stop for breakfast. He is wearing the t-shirt that was given to us by the tour company. "Waegook" means foreigner in Korean

On the bus ride to the track I meet Andy officially as well as a chap from Aus and an elderly couple from Hawaii (They have been travelling around the world watching F1 to give a purpose to their travels over the years). Add Deb to the mix and you have a lot of F1 knowledge in a small space. It was so fascinating to listen to as I don’t know that much about the sport. I am just a fan who watches when I can and when I remember.

We arrive at the track – eventually, after navigating a MASSIV Traffic Jam – at about 10:30. The Q1 session only started at 14:00. So for a long while Deb and I just wondered around the outskirts of the track, looking at the exhibitions.

Below is a detailed Photo Exhibition of A DRY Qualifying day :) Some of the visuals are explained below, so have a look and then read on...

Qualifying Day 

Now the track...

Deb and I were stressing so so much because the track only passed inspection by the FIA mid September. Luckily it passed and we had a race. HOWEVER, it was only the track and the major grandstand that were finished. Every other stand was still under construction and looked like they would fall to pieces, even the one we were sitting on (Stand H.a.). There were packets of nuts and bolts lying all over the place and a couple of seats people were using were not actually screwed into the stand.

The whole thing looked a bit of a rushed job BUT... I WAS STILL AT MY 1^st EVER AND THE 1^st EVER F1 RACE IN SOUTH KOREA!!!. Because it was still early we walked to every stall and Deb and I got photo’s taken on “the podium” saluting our adoring Korean fans and Deb got a pic with Jenson Button – her future husband – (well it was a picture of her next a giant picture of him smiling down at her, from the McLaren merchandise stall. I too indulged in that folly.

When we were walking past the main entrance of our section there was a guard of honour of Korean children dressed in Jeans and specially made shirts (for the race) waving flags and bowing as people walked in. Deb asked me to take a pic of her and some of the children and next thing we know we are surrounded by about 15 children and there are a whole bunch of Koreans taking photos of us with these children. It was very celebrity-like!

There were so many interesting stalls there the best would be for you to have a look at the pictures in the video - the one in particular that is a collage. We continued wondering around where I caved and bought myself a Korean F1 Cap (in black-really nice), and a McLaren F1 key ring both of which cost 2 descent suppers worth of cash.



The dead centre of the Pic is the Key-ring I bought



We take our seats in the stands just off two corners. The 1^st was a slow corner with potential for a lot of off’s and the second was a lightly quicker corner by was sharper also with the potential for loads of action. 1^st up was an air show from the Korean Air force – which was really cool, (what I could see of it at least) ...

...and then it was time for Quali...

We got to see Schumi running wide and nearly going into the tires in front of us, Lewis Hamilton spun on the corner and there was one more drive who had a problem with the corner. I was getting progressively colder but before we knew it, it was over and Mark Webber and Sebastian Vettel had pulled a Red Bull 1-2 at the front of the Grid in the last second of Qualifying. It was such amazing control and speed, and the noise... if you thought the Vuvuzela’s were loud, these things were about 10 times louder. Turn your speakers right RIGHT up and you will get a feel for how loud it was... (See Below-This is from Race day but it is just to give you a feel)

We both wore ear plugs for the duration of the racing weekend. After Quali we were told we were going to take a tour of the Paddock (where all the cars are stored before Race Day) but really no-one knew what was going on. We eventually after about 1 30min walk get to the main grandstand where the paddock is found and we can’t see anyone from our group. The tour leaders are nowhere to be seen and all we CAN see is a MASSIVE line to get into the MASSIVE MIASSIVE LINE to walk through the paddock. See Below:

Deb and I see 3 people from our tour and we all decide to stand in the line just in case we can go in, until we find out what is going on. (It was in this line that I was used as a standing post and was mistakenly groped by a very very drunk South African chap who was from our group. It reminded me of the good times at “Friars” back in Grahamstown! After deciding we were not going to get in the paddock before we were leaving we walked back to the bus only to have to wait for an hour while the Tour manager was stuffing around in the Paddock and forgetting about the people who paid him for the tour.

In happier times after Qualifying

This by the way was yet another screw-up on the tour organising front.

Now we have to get back to Gwangju where we are staying for the night. What is normally a 30min drive from the track to Mokpo was 2 hours. World Cup traffic issues – what issues (I went to two games and this was way way way less organised!)!!! We get to Mokpo tired and hungry at about 20:00 after leaving the track just before 18:00 (when we were supposed to actually leave at 17:30). From Mokpo it was another 2 hours to Gwangju. We get there and now

Screw-up number 4 I think...

Our motel room that Deb and I had paid for had been given to someone else. So we had to wait until everyone had their room keys to see what was left.

Eventually we were given out key and were supposed to meet in the foyer to all go for supper but we were so Fed up we did our own thing and went to TGI Friday’s at the main cinema complex where I had a 200g steak, backed potato(not as exciting as the pictured looked) and onion rings.

MEAT!!! Not the healthiest supper in the world but I was SO hungry I didn't care

Deb had a Quesadilla I think. While in the cinema centre we bought OJ and sandwiches for breakfast for the next day as we were desperate for a decent breakfast (which was a good idea because we never even stopped for breakfast the next morning because the tour operators were running late and wanted to get to the track early). Back at the motel it was shower and bed - asleep by 23:30 (to the sounds of Bruce Springsteen Karaoke that sounded like it was coming from the next room :( ).

SUNDAY WAS RACE DAY!!!

Again please refer to the link below to see a video of photo's of my Race day - as there are so many pics that I can't put them all in this post as it is long enough already! Shoo...

2010 Inaugural Korean Formula 1 Grand Prix - Race Day

SUNDAY WAS RACE DAY!!! We got up at 06:00 under the assumption that we were to leave at 07:00. We had an enjoyable and slow breakfast and made our way to the bus, but guess what...

WE NEVER LEFT AT 07:00!!! We ended up sitting on the bus for about 45min waiting for various people to emerge from their rooms and make their way to the bus. Sigh. While we were on the bus it rained a bit but we thought as long as it stops soon we will be ok for the race. A long drive in (though because we left so early (early considering the race was only supposed to start at 15:00) traffic was light).

This Gent was our coach driver for the weekend

We are at the track by about 09:00 and see that it has rained heavily there as EVERYTHING is muddy and there are these huge puddles everywhere. Add to that the cold and it was unpleasent. Sigh. BUT I WAS AT THE FRIKKIN KOREAN F1 GP so it was great (See the smiles below) :)

With the rain and the mud, it makes the unfinished stands look even worse. In the video (which is kinda chronologically ordered) you can see what I mean by the “unfinished” statement. The pile of chairs that you see in the 3^rd picture of the video show it too perfection.

It looked as if it would rain some more before the race (Oh please let it be light and pass quickly...!). Wondering around the wet circuit it starts to PELT DOWN – we are not talking about cats dogs here, we are talking Woolly Mammoths and Brontosaurus’. I had my piddly umbrella as did Deb so we went hunting for the rubbish bag rain coats that you see all the Asians wearing at wet sporting events. After getting close to soaked and buying a bear dressed in F1 gear for an absurd amount of money, we find a guy making a KILLLING outside selling them.

This NINJA looking chap was well prepared - UNLIKE me :-P

R21 got me dry or at least prevented me from getting me wetter for the rest of the day. We also had a CUNING PLAN to keep ourselves dry once we sat down... read on for the answer.

Following the purchases and walking around for hours on end we found lunch – i got a couple of sandwiches, we make our way to our seats (which are soaked in water with little pools accumulated in the butt wells. Just after I sit and as Deb is about to sit a little boy runs over with a towel and wipes down her seat. ON THIS DAY that is what I get for being a guy.

We sit down to watch the pre race which were a series of touring car. All the while it is still raining, though it has lightened BUT the track is soaked. Suddenly the field of about 12 cars is down to 3 as the rest have been told to make their way to the pits as it is too wet and dangerous, so they won’t win. The remaining 3 cars were left to fight it out for a lap before the safety car came out and did 3 more laps of the track before they called it a day and the guy behind the SC was declared the winner.

Now it was time for anticipation to build as the start of the F1 was nearing...

The drivers go out on the drivers parade before the race and it is dry.

Drivers Parade Before The Race Started

Deb is swooning over Jenson Button desperately trying to get her camera to focus so she can take a pic of him...

Then the rain starts again...

And keeps going again...

There was a parade going on, on the starting grid leading up to the Formation Lap - 
we could only watch it on the Big screen in front of us(doesn'y this boy look cute! He was on rollerblades.)

15:00 the race starts but it is so wet and there is so much spray that they pull out the safety car. They drive around for 4 laps and then the race is stopped due to the dangerous conditions and the amount of water on the track. 16:05 the race “begins” again though it does so behind the safety car again.

This was a lap under the saftey car - see all the spray!

They drive around the safety car until lap 17 of the 54 lap race when it is finally dry enough for the race proper to get going. Now though there was the worry of having enough light to finish. All the while there is rain and Deb have out CUNNING PLAN (see pic below) in operation: We sit on our seats in out rain coats with an umbrella over our heads (Deb’s as it was bigger) and then I get my open umbrella to cover our legs so in the main we stayed dry which was nice.

As the race runs along there were a few incidents in our sector of the track even a pretty decent sized crash but they were all just out of our view. Sigh.

The track was a bit dryer here.

The rain begins to clear a bit but it is getting darker it is well into dusk when the race was finishing and it was actually incredibly exciting what with Mark Webber crashing his car to take him out of the Championship lead... (see Video below:)

Doesn't Mark Webber look so sad :( ...

...Seb Vettle blowing his engine to smithereens with 9 laps to go...

Sebastican Vettel literally BLOWING his race...
(Note how clear the big, screen is in this pic - that is how dark it was at that point)

...and Fernando Alonso coming through for the win after both Re Bull cars looked to be easing to a comfortable win.

SHOOOOO.... What an incident packed race. Then in the darkness we have to find our way to the bus with every Korean present trying to get out of the parking lot first. It was madness alla World Cup. After about a 40min walk I get to the bus but Deb is nowhere to be seen. I give her a call and she is on the wrong bus – the one going to Seoul and not Gumi. She was told to get on that but I later find out that there are a mix of people on busses so we will be stopping to swop the right people for the right bus after we get going. Nearly another organisational screw up AGAIN!!!

Having switched bussed it is now pushing 20:00 and we are leaving the track.

Deb needs to be back Gumi to by 00:50 to catch her train home at 01:00. She makes this well clear to the drivers and organisers and even got assurances from them before she booked her ticket she would be back in time. I had arranged for the day off so that I didn’t have to worry about catching trains and such and then having to teach on the Monday.

It takes us 2 hours to get back to Gwangju where we pay for and are handed a large pizza to shared for supper but now we sit and wait because people need to finish their smokes and alcohol before we get going. 25min wasted and NOW THE BIG SCREW UP from the tour company perspective...

They tell Deb there is no way she will make her train back as we are only expecting to be back in Gumi after 01:00. I was “GATVOL” with all the shoddy organisation but Deb went about things in a very dignified manner (despite her seething inside) and through the kindness of a Swedish man who had his car and was driving back to Seoul (and thereby has to go through Deajeon where Deb lives) he will give her a ride. I couldn’t get out of that bus fast enough when we arrived in Gumi at 01:45. I said my good-byes to Deb and stormed to the motel to get some sleep for the night.

Monday morning dawns and I wake up at 10:00 so I had just under 8 hours sleep was which needed but still not enough. I find breakfast, a savoury scone, from a dinky little coffee shop  (Ti-Amo Cafe) and walk to the train station to catch my 12:15 Train to Deagu (30min ride) where I was expecting to catch the 13:53) train back to Yeongchoen.

Mondays Breakfast was at Ti-amo cafe which was a Ginger Latte and Health Sandwich, top left is the changing of the seasons in Gumi.

Lunch was at Yoger Presso- a couple of fruit waffles and a flavoured coffee of unmemorable nature. The waffles were amazing though. Bottom left is a perspective shot down the Main Yeongchoen Bridge when I arrived home.

On arrival at Gumi station I see my train is delayed by 45min. So Instead of grabbing lunch in Deagu I get a super yummy fruit waffle and coffee and take a walk to the Nike franchise shop where for about 20min I contemplated spending a very large sum of money on a New (Either) Man Utd/ Barcelona Soccer shirt. Reason and sense returned to me in time and I made my way back to catch my train. I was fully expecting to miss my connecting train as the estimated time of departure was 6min before I was supposed to arrive in Deagu. On arrival in Deagu I thought: “let’s just take a look and see if the train is there. If it is not then I will go up and buy another ticket for another train later”. A woman rushes past me down the stairs (presumably to catch the same train) and I am thinking, “there is no need to rush lady – the train has left. Trains 98% of the time leave on time” so I saunter down to the plkatform only to find... 

MY TRAIN IS STILL THERE! I now start to run to make sure I get on and I don’t even get on in the right carriage. I just walk through to the right one and head home after a LONG, ADVENTUROUS, EXCITING, FRUSTRAINING, AMAZING, F1 weekend with my friend Deborah Brown – a weekend I will never forget! :)

*Many thanks to Deb for some awesome pics that have helped enrich this post. Most of the close pics of the cars and big screen came from her awesome camera and skills*

Many posts to follow including my Soccer match vs the Korean Army, Halloweeen folly and PARASAILING!!! Stay tuned to Geoff's Asian Adventures...