Happy Chusok

I feel like I have done this blog somewhat of a disservice.   I hope you all enjoyed the break.  I am now at the stage where I am enjoying where I am and am provided with a giggle every second day because of the slightly odd and very random nature of this place. 

In early August I went to Washington for a week to visit Sumin.  Washington seems like more of a normal city and is refreshingly full of free museums.  Most of them are due to a large amount of money left to the United states by an English Scientist.  He had never been to America but was placing his hope in the new world as a seat of learning and enlightenment.  I enjoyed nice weather and buying pants that fit. Oh ... and I had a bath ! for first time since I left Australia.  ( I have been having very regular showers, but they aren't the same).  I passed through Beijing during the Olympics and even wished the Aussie football team luck.  I was a little upset to see that some fool had the Australian team dressed in convict outfits. 

A new giant shopping centre is nearing completion just near my house and some parts are already open.  This should make the winter a little more bearable as I will have something to do just a few minutes freeze from my house.   The thing has a cinema giant shopping areas and even a driving range.

This weekend is the harvest moon festival called chusok.  It is a time to be thankful of the food that was harvested and to enjoy some good food before it all gets preserved for winter.  Well that is how I see it anyway.  It is a nice holiday and somehow seems more real to me than Easter does.   There is a sharing of food and small gifts among family and everyone gets together to eat.  It is based on the realities of the country, that a good climate for crops rapidly changes into a bitter cold that everyone weathers.

 

Anyway I am off to enjoy a beer and watch old planet of the apes movies on tv.  I can't watch them anymore without the songs from the Simpsons, planet of the apes musical ringing in my ears .... "O my god I was wrong, It was earth all along ...."

Happy Chusok,  have a looksie at the photos.