Bits and Tids

Well, it's getting to that point. I have a lot of things to tell everyone, but not enough to post them individually... plus, time's been whizzing by, and I haven't exactly kept up here. I've been sifting through pictures to see what's blog-worthy, and I've noticed I have a lot of weird videos and funny tidbits of stories, so i'll go with that.

Walking to school SLAYS me when I get to witness the salesmen at the car dealerships doing their morning, team-building warm-up:

No shame, no humiliation, just dedication to the cause. That's pride, baby. Stretching and limbering up on display for the morning commuters.

Let's see... ahhh yes. The Underwear Incident at the Lantern Festival Parade...

So, it's a nice afternoon at a wholesome event. I am wearing a dress--shocker, I know, but I was feeling festive. There are ajumas, monks, and little children everywhere, along with culture-seeking foreigners, eager to catch a glimpse of traditional dance and beautiful lanterns on this all-holiest of Buddha's birthday celebrations.

Jogyesa Temple in Insadong

Canopy of lanterns around the temple

There's a parade of thousands of lanterns that goes through Insadong (an artsy/traditional shopping area which is full of temples). We want to see said parade. We can't, because the aggressive old ladies are snagging lawnchairs like they're going out of style.

An amazing lantern float from the back as it passed by

We see a large group of people atop a cement wall with a grate. We decide to join them. Two of my girlfriends are also wearing dresses, by the way. The performances are underway, and we are enjoying our new found view. I am holding a delicate little, paper lotus-lantern... and a can of beer. Suddenly a breeze catches my skirt. This breeze becomes a violent updraft from, yes that's right, the SUBWAY grate we are standing on. Dresses blow nearly over our heads. I desperately grab at mine, disregarding my lantern and beer, which tango a bit with each other in my hands as I try to spare everyone around me from a full shot of my ass. The beer won, and the lantern, well, he never made it further than that subway grate. My friends and I let out these horrendous shrieks--as, I'm assuming, ANYONE with their dress blowing ALL the way up to their eyeballs might--and along comes an old, dirty foreign guy: "Let em go, girls, don't be shy!"... as he snaps numerous photos with his long zoom lens.

Brilliant. Your welcome, Lantern Festival. I hope it was as good for you as it was for me.

What else. Oh--how about that time I saw the drunk guy in a business suit passed out in the subway like a homeless person? Here, I took a picture:

I'd also like to bless you with this wonderful shot of my brother I snagged while skyping. He'll appreciate that I put him on here, I'm sure: