The weekend started at the unholy hour of 430am on a Saturday morning. I had booked these particular train tickets becuase any time later, we would’ve had to stand for the 4 hour trip to Boryeung, a town on the west coast.

I had heard of this festival a few times from friends and such. One even described it as the best time he’s had in Korea. Obviously, I had high hopes.

I think a weekend like this is too crazy to deliver in any kind of comprehensive, linear story. So, I apoligize, because Instead I will account random things from the weekend in a non-linear fashion.

Shellfish. The delicacy of Daecheon beach, so I heard, and found out. You get a full grill of clams, oysters, and various other shelled aphrodesiacs brought in from the ocean. I’m not usually a big seafood guy, but this was pretty great stuff. Hilight: Watching Angelo, repeatedly, trying to capture a video fo the one of the clams opening from the heat.

Fireworks. Likely some of the best fireworks I have ever seen. Mind-blowing, really. Even more wonderful knee deep in water on the beach. What more could I really ask for? Sitting on the beach, with friends, a guitar, beautiful people walking allover the place including the beautiful man walking around selling fried chicken.

Fireworks again. Every corner store was selling fireworks. So naturally, I’d stumble in, buy a beer, and $5 firework. At one point, there were about 30 Gumi people, standing around lighting off fireworks at this busy pedestrian intersection. Early in the day, this dude Hoffe told me he saw a guy walk out of a store, light a firework, and hit an old lady in the face, singing her hair. The lady

Mud. I was generally, a pretty clean kid. I didn’t play with bugs, or in the mud, or things like that. You know, the things that I see kids on tv doing so adorably in Tide commercials. I’ve never been to a mud wrestling match. When I think mud-wrestling, I think Married with Children usually. You know, two busty blonde girls screaming and pulling eachother’s hair flying around in the mud. It was the same thing, but instead, I was the one wrestling. Not nearly as hot as bikini girls wrestling, but there were those in Boryeung too. But man, did I love playing in the mud. We’d get muddy, run into the ocean and wash-off, and repeat.

Strolling the Beach with Angelo and the Guitar. We first ran into some Gumi people, and Angelo started playing Redemption Song, and this black guy showed up in his Bob Marley shirt, and sang the whole song. We then sat on the steps in front of the stage, passing the guitar back and forth, playing songs. Lots of smiles, and claps, and cheers, and ‘woooo’s’ and pictures taken and staring Koreans (often confused by how well I speak and sing in english to which Angelo would say ‘Gyopo, gyopo’ and point at me).

Fratboys. This was probably the only downside to the whole weekend. Every foreigner it seemed, no matter what age, devolved to a first year frosh-week fratboy. It’s kind of a mood killer for my laid-back relaxed self when people are using their outdoor voices when talking to people sitting across the table. Or even just being hassles to local business owners. I hate watching as a Korean man is trying to clear 40 foreigners who are hanging out in front of their Family Mart. Mind you, they do have chairs and tables for sitting and hanging out, but these people were being more than a hassle to this guy.
Roof Party. The first night, Saturday night, the weather was nice enough that we could, as mentioned, hang out on the beach. Sunday night wasn’t as pleasant. Showers were starting and stopping over and over. The beach was soggy. But the party wasn’t over. Someone in the group had a friend with rooftop access. 5 Flights of stairs later, we were hanging on the roof, playing guitar, drinking, firing fireworks, all while the korean dude standing on the roof next to us stared and listened (and refused to come on over). I was surprised at how lax the building owners were with our behaviour. Not that they were there, but no one gave us a problem. Whereas, the place me and the boys stayed, the Blue Hill Pechant, had a freaking fascist for an owner. It was beyond ridiculous how he treated my guests. However, that is a whole entire anti-Blue-Hill-Penchant post to itself.

The Old Chicken Stand guy. This random dude who was sitting around the chicken stand entertained us for a good hour with his antics. He had some super thin chicken wire or something, and he was placing it on the ground so people would step on it, and get it caught on their feet. We’d all laugh. Then we’d all wonder why it was so funny. (Video of this, soon to come)

Good company. What topped the weekend of was good company. I hung with Antnee, Steve, and Angelo for most the weekend. And you know, it’s only when you spend extended periods of time with someone, you get to know’em a bit better. I had lots of good laughs with these dudes. As always.

July 21st, 2006 | Life, Life in Korea