Need Limes? Order them online and they'll be shipped to your door!

Just go to the following link and, if you're willing to pay the price, they can be yours!


http://english.gmarket.co.kr/challenge/neo_goods/goods.asp?goodscode=186569814&pos_shop_cd=EN&pos_class_cd=90000001&pos_class_kind=T&keyword_order=lime

Upcoming Area Festivals

Sacheon International Percussion Festival: Samcheonpo Bridge Park, July 29 - August 1 www.sacheonpercussion.org


Sea Festival: Haeundae Beach & other major beaches in Busan, August 1-9 www.seafestival.co.kr

Busan International Magic Festival: Haeundae Beach & BEXCO, Busan August 4-6 www.hibimf.org

Busan International Rock Festival: Dadaepo Beach Busan August 6-8 www.rockfestival.co.kr

The Great Battle of Hansan Festival: Tongyeong, August 11-15 www.hsdf.or.kr

Hedwig and the Angry Inch

Hedwig and the Angry Inch will be playing at the Geoje Art Center in Jangseungpo July 14 & 15 at 7:30 pm.  Tickets are 40,000 or 30,000 won.  For ticketing information call 055) 650-1000.

Ginseng Chicken

According to Wikipedia, Samgyetang (Korean pronunciation: [samɡjetʰaŋ]) is a variety of guk or Korean soup, which primarily consists of a whole young chicken and Korean ginseng. The dish's name literally translates as "'ginseng chicken soup" in English. Samgyetang is traditionally served in the summer for its supposed nutrients, which replaces those lost through excessive sweating and physical exertion during the hot summers in Korea.

So, in keeping with Korean summer tradition, we tried out one of the most frequented local ginseng chicken soup joints in Okpo.  It is right down the street from Duty Free, not very hard to find.  Don't worry about ordering, the place only sells ginseng chicken soup and it is delicious!  Definitely worth checking out!

Busan Lotte Giants Baseball

If you haven't been yet, you should definitely go to a Busan Lotte Giants baseball game.  It was one of the best experiences I have had thus far in Korea.  Upcoming home games are as follows: July 9, 10, 11, 27, 28, 29 30, 31, August 1, 10, 11, 12, 20, 21, 22, 24, 25, 27 and September 1.  Sajik Stadium has its own subway stop on the 3rd line but you can also get there from the Sports Complex Station also on the 3rd line.  Tickets are very reasonably priced at about 25,000 won each for center reserved section, running all the way down to 7,000 won each for in-outfield.  Tickets can be purchased the day of the game starting 3 hours prior to game time.  You can get a 2010 Lotte Giants EZ Guide Book in English in the team merchandise store at the stadium.  Just go to the cashier at the register and ask.  Go Lotte!

American Expat TV

We have a DVR/Slingbox set up through Fliptube.net and it is amazing!  Unfortunately, they are in high demand so they have a huge backlog of customers.  Many people have asked me about our service, and I hate to have to tell them that they can't get it right now.  Well, I FINALLY found a different company.  http://www.nationphone.com/USATVAbroad.html It is a bit more expensive, our DVR service is $169 per month, but to us, it is absolutely worth it because we never miss any of our shows back home, mainly sports..ROLL TIDE!  I'm done with the shameless college team plugs, for now.  Seriously, having this service has saved our sanity.  I don't know how many repeats of B-movies and Discovery Channel shows I could take! 

I Heart Korea

Just another reason why I love Korea.  Coolest, hippest fashion in the world!

Seoul Searchin

When you first get to Korea, things can be really intimidating.  I know I wanted to try to take the bus to Seoul for a while, but it seemed pretty complicated.  Well, it couldn't be any simpler!  Going to Seoul is so easy and so much fun!  As you can see in the picture above, there's a bus to Seoul from the Gohyeon Bus Terminal leaving about every 20 minutes from 05:40 until 24:00.  The ticket is 31,200 won one way, you will buy your ticket back to Gohyeon at the bus terminal in Seoul.  The trip takes approximately 4 hours with just one stop midway through, so if you even think you may need to visit a toilet, it is highly recommended you do so before your departure.  Once you get to Seoul, you will be arriving at the Nambu Bus Terminal.  There are several express bus terminals in Seoul, but only the Nambu Bus Terminal will get you back to Geoje.  There is a convenient subway stop right outside the terminal or you can use one of the many taxis lined up outside to take you where you want to go.
On a side note, if you're like us, and craving Mexican, then be sure to visit On the Border in Seoul.  There are locations at the following subway stations: line 2 #240, line 2 #219 and line 1 #139.  So delicious!

Okpo Korea Laundry Service

Living in Okpo Korea and need laundry service? Turn right on Tree Street from 58 then turn left beside Baskin Robbins and the best laundry service in town is about 100 yards down on the right. Shirts are 2,000₩ and pants are 3,000₩ with regular pick up and delivery at your door for no extra charge . Just go by and make sure to have your Korean agent on the phone ready to translate and take your green card because it has your address in Korean on it. With my Korean agent on the phone, it took about 10 minutes of translation to arrange regular pick up and drop off. I just add up how much, put the money in an envelope with the clothes in a bag and set them outside the door on Tuesday and then she drops them back off while my maid is here on Thursday. I have had this service going for about a month now and it has been smooth sailing!

Charity Concert Geoje Art Center

Tuesday, June 15, 7:30 p.m., Charity Concert Geoje Art Center in Jangseungpo for orphanages, homes for the elderly and other populations in need. Much of the music will be familiar to westerners. Tickets are 10,000 won. If you are interested, you may contact Eun Kyong at 010-8526-6310. Tickets may also be purchased at the door.

10 Magazine

Wondering how to find out about all the latest festivals, restaurant reviews, concerts, sporting events and just about anything else you can name in all corners of Korea? Then check out http://10magazine.asia/ You can browse the site or have the latest issue delivered to your door. It's 29,000₩ for a year or 15,000₩ for six months. I read it cover to cover every month and it's absolutely worth it. I only wish I had subscribed sooner!

Books

If you're addicted to the written word, like me, and were not smart enough to buy a kindle before coming to Korea, like me, then you may be freaking out right about now. Unfortunately, English language bookstores in Geoje, to my knowledge, don't exist. So, I have found salvation at http://www.whatthebook.com/ What the Book is a small English language bookstore in Seoul that can ship virtually any English language book to your door within 10 days at a pretty reasonable price. Truly, a lifesaver for me!

If you don't want to bother with ordering online, there is a pretty good selection of English language books at the book exchange in the Foreigner's Club in Okpo. If you're facing the kitchen, look right and go behind the screens. There's a hidden stash of books that have been passed around. All you have to do is pick a few up, and hopefully drop some off while you're at it. To me, this was one of the coolest finds in Okpo!

P.S.  A friend shared this tidbit with me: I found a fairly large selection of English books at Shinsegae Department Store in Busan when we had a bus excursion there with the Ladies' Coffee Morning. Sorry I don't remember which floor it was on-just remember it being near the escalator as I went up. Such a good selection I think I brought about 8 books back, if not 10.

Social Activities

Living in Okpo, Gohyeon, Jangseungpo or parts in between in Geoje Korea and thinking, "I am so bored I could scream?" Well you don't have to be! There is a TON of stuff to keep those of any and all tastes occupied. Check it out!

Yoga: M & F 15:00-16:00 Okpo Comm. Ctr. 10,000₩/mo (tel: 055-639-4390)

Yoga: M & W 11:00-12:00 Jangpyeong Comm. Ctr. 40,000₩/2 mo (tel: 055-639-4089)

Dance: M thru F 09:30-10:30, 10:30-11:30, 19:10-20:10, 20:10-21:10 Yoo-Young Dance Academy Okpo 80,000₩/mo (tel: 055-687-8978)

Dance: M thru F 08:30-09:30, 09:30-10:30, 19:30-20:30 Kim Young Dance Okpo 65,000₩/mo for day 75,000₩/mo for evening

Dance: M, W, Th 20:30-21:20 Ji-Ji Dance Okpo 50,000₩/mo (tel: 055-688-1962)

Art (Oils): M thru F 10:00-12:30 & 19:00-21:00 Gallery AA Okpo 20,000₩/day (tel: 055-687-8763)

Art (Korean Watercolors): F 09:00-12:00 & 13:00-16:00 Foreigner’s Club Okpo 100,000₩/4 lessons (tel: 016-555-5953)

Ceramic Painting: M thru F 11:00-20:00 Pink Sands Okpo 20,000₩/piece beginner 30,000₩/piece intermediate 40,000₩/piece advanced (tel: 055-687-3383)

Music (Guitar, Drum, Sax): M, T, Th, F 19:00-21:30 Adonai Music Academy Okpo 150,000₩/mo Lesson: 2 days/wk, 40 min/day (tel: 055-687-5504)

Taekwondo: M thru F 14:00-21:30 Duksan 2 Taekwondo Academy Okpo 100,000₩/mo (tel: 055-688-1011)

Taekwondo: M, W, F 09:00-2100 Wooho 3 Taekwondo Academy Okpo 100,000₩/mo (tel: 055-688-1117)

Taekwondo: M thru F 11:00-20:00 Gyeongnam Taekwondo Academy Jangpyeong 100,000₩/mo (tel: 055-635-5477)

Table Tennis: Sat 17:30-18:30 Sumgim Church Okpo FREE (tel: 017-577-3096)

Chocolate Making: M thru F 15:00-18:00 Café The Cacao Gohyeon 50,000₩/day min 2 max 4 persons (tel: 055-634-2505)

Mahjong: W 13:00-16:00 Foreigner’s Club Okpo FREE

Ladies Coffee Morning: T 10:30 Starbucks Gohyeon

Ladies Coffee Morning W 10:00 Foreigner’s Club Okpo

Origami: M thru F 10:00-15:00 Korea Paper Culture Ctr. 60,000₩/2 lessons/wk (tel: 010-7560-0708)

Ladies Bible Study: T 10:30-11:45 Sumgim Church Okpo FREE (tel: 017-577-3096)

Horse Riding: T thru F 09:00-21:00 Geoje Riding Club 450,000₩/mo or 350,000₩/11 coupons or 35,000₩/day (tel: 055-632-3366)

Flower Arrangement: T 14:00-16:00 Rishian Flower Shop Okpo 400,000₩/8 wks limit 4-6 persons (tel: 055-687-3732)

If you see this post at a later date and would like a more updated list, please visit the Ladies Morning Coffee on Wednesdays to get an updated copy.

Movies

Many people who just move to Geoje wonder, how to find out what's playing in English at the CGV movie theater in Gohyeon (6th floor of the Tesco Home Plus Bldg)? Well look no further! Maho and the kind ladies at Coens update the CGV movie schedule in English on their website every Friday. Just go to http://coens.com/eng/business/business0303.php  It is such a great and useful service and is perhaps one of my most visited sites!