Sunday, August 12, 2012

12 Aug 2012: Korea Revisited and another Chinese Wedding!

Greetings all,
After a few days in the at the end July in the US for work, I came back to Asia, and Rod met me in Seoul, South Korea.  We stayed in Seoul and of course I did some shopping!  We had thoughts of going to Busan, but given the heat, the fact that it was a Korean holiday and seeing the pictures on TV of a bizzilion people on the beach in Busan...we stayed in Seoul!
While there, we did take the opportunity to visit one of the temples, very similar to the forbidden city in Beijing,  while there was a changing of the guard...something we had not seen before and quite a spectacle!  Below are some pictures.




Changing of the guard at the palace in Seoul (the Korean equivalent of the forbidden city)

Rod and Sarah at he Palace in Seoul

Rod and Sarah with one of the guards at the Palace in Seoul

And a kiss for good luck at the Palace in Seoul!

Just as in China, foreigners are favorite targets for pictures at the Palace in Seoul
In the Chinese horoscope, I was born in the Year of the Rat, and Rod in the year of the Pig.  These symbols are right next to each other on the horoscope and on the clock...evidently, this is something also common in Korea, as we found the horoscope figures in a circle outside the Palace in Seoul
After a week back at work, we were invited to a wedding of one of the supervisors at work, and this time, I was asked to participate.  It is customary for the employer to say something on behalf of the person getting married..so I was asked to do this!  I didn't have alot of time to prepare, but I was able to say a few words in Chinese at the wedding..and they understood it because they clapped when they were supposed to (and it wasn't the end of the speech!)

Here are a few photos of the big affair!



Sarah making a small, short speech at the wedding of Gu Lei and his wife Ran Lulu

Sarah walking down the aisle in reverse after the speech


And then the food...tons of food...all at 10:00am!!  No idea why they order so much so early in the day...so much waste!

Gu Lei and his new wife Ran Lulu on their way out to change clothes

Gu Lie, his wife (after a clothes change), with Sarah & Rod after the wedding
 So, after this big day yesterday, I'm worn slap out...ready to get some rest!
Have a great day ya'll and thank you for your continued prayers and emails!

Rod & Sarah