Third Rock From The Sun: Christmas 2009

Christmas has come and gone. It was so much better than last year’s Christmas, and I feel that our effort to make the most of the long weekend really paid off. It was jam packed with goodness, fun, friendship and a sprinkling of booze.

I got off early on Thursday. I asked to leave early when I heard there was going to be an afternoon meeting from 4:00pm. I hate late afternoon meetings, I never know how long they will go on and am effectively consigned to my desk for their duration. Anyway I was given permission to leave early, so I squeezed some last minute shopping in before rushing home. There was a definite sense of urgency to the afternoon as Jess and I needed to pack various gifts and cooking utensils that we intended taking to Thomas’ house before the arrival of our single Christmas guest.

Last year Emily a Brit on a global backpacking adventure joined us for Christmas, this year Bianca who we met on Ulleungdo, played the role of Christmas guest. Ulleungdo is a small and remote island that is only accessible by a ferry that takes three hours to reach the island. Bianca had had, earlier in the day, arrived on the mainland for the first time in months and was thrilled to be offered a gin and tonic as soon as she entered our house. Ulleungdo’s remoteness, and relative inaccessibility, ensure that very few western products make it to the island. Bianca was incredulous that we have gin and tonic water here. While we drank, toasted and packed Bianca regaled us with tales of the many creative ways she had to devised to cook squid while on Ulleungdo; and of times when fresh fruit, vegetables and milk disappeared from the shops shelves during periods of bad weather which prevented resupply from the mainland.

The story telling did not last long and soon we were on a bus to Gumi. Unfortunately for us the seats on the bus to Gumi were all full by the time we arrived at the bus station, so Jessica and Bianca stood for the forty minute trip while I perched next to the bus driver. Once in Gumi we took a taxi over to Thomas’ large and very comfortable apartment where we met several friends from across the province. There was much drinking and laughter. Jess and Bianca, along with one or two others, cooked us roast chicken and vegetables; before which we played ‘secret santa.’ Secret santa is a very simple game. Each of us had brought a wrapped gift along, that cost under W10 000, placed them in a pile and then took turns choosing a single gift to unwrap and keep. The gifts were anonymous and afterwards we all said ‘thank you secret Santa’ together.

I’m told the drinking went on till late, but exhaustion and beer saw me pass out before midnight. On Saturday we took a cable car up Gumi san where we saw a frozen waterfall and a cave containing a Buddha figure. When we returned to the base of the mountain we ate ‘pajeon’, best described as a cross between a pancake and omelet with loads of vegetables, and drank ‘makoli’, an alcoholic drink made from rice.

In the evening we watched Sherlock Holmes, on the big screen, before catching a bus home.

On Saturday we caught the 8:30am bus to Suanbo, which is in the mountains north of us, from where we took a taxi to Woraksan national park. We had hoped to make a snow man, and although it had clearly snowed the previous night there wasn’t enough snow to roll into balls. None of us it to be so bitterly cold and we were unprepared to stay outdoors for long, besides the port that we had brought along barely touched sides, so we caught the first bus back into Suanbo where we sought out a restaurant recommended by the Lonely Planet for it’s pheasant dishes. Pheasant meals are a specialty of the Suanbo area. The meal was superb and consisted of seven courses. Once again much makoli was consumed, and once again I fell asleep.

Sunday was pretty quiet. Bianca, Jess and I visited a small persimmon festival on the banks of the Nakdong that runs through town. There were a number food tents, and many of them were clearly selling whale meat. Whale meat can only be sold if the whale was caught us bycatch. Since the legalisation of the sale of whale bycatch, reported bycatch of whales, in Japan, has increased dramatically raising serious questions.

On Sunday evening Simon, Dan and Melissa joined us for dinner at our home. It was a three course affair, eaten under candle light.

This morning I went to school for the last time this semester. Bianca had left for Seoul by the time I arrived home. I now have a few days off as the camps only start in the New Year. The last couple of days have been great, Jess and I enjoyed Bianca’s company. It’s always refreshing to meet like minded people. Looking back this year has, for the most part, gone well. I’m especially glad that Jess and I have made many new friends over the last couple of months. Having an extensive group of friends really makes a difference.

Having a little nap after the pheasant lunch.

Jess and Mark on our walk in Geumosan

Jess and Bianca

Simon and myself on the back of bakkie / pick up truck. We hitched a lift into a town when it looked like we mike miss our bus. I'm a big fan of Simon, he's always game for a good time.