Hows the wildlife ey?

We saw SQUIRRELS!!!!!!!!!

In the STREET!!!!

We saw them crossing the street!!!!!!

We also saw a skunk the other night which I forgot to report. We tried to take a pic but were very cautious. Apparently you can smell them blocks away in the summer. Pee-ewwwww....

Happy Birthday Joshie!

Awww. It's little Joshie's birthday today - he is 5 so I guess he's not little anymore!!! Hey Josh, you get 2 birthdays cos it's your birthday tomorrow over here! haha. Have fun explaining that one Mel and Scott! :-D

So I promised an update. It's hard to update when we've just been doing normal stuff. I have included some pics though so you can see some of Vancouver and the people we've been hanging with. It has been really great being able to stay at my uncle and auntie's, getting fed delicious food and getting to know my relos a bit better.

We have also met up with some friends of a friend (Boulto) from Canberra. They are into the great outdoors so we're sure there will be many stories and pics of rugged adventures to come.

It's been especially great to meet and hang out with the guys from 614 in the Downtown East Side area. They are really inspiring in the way they are serving God by just living there and passing each day with people who are ignored or intentionally shunned by the general population.

We are moving into our own place (for a couple of months) on Tuesday/Wednesday. We managed to get a sublet from an Aussie (amazing how we find each other!) who is going back to Brisbane for a couple of months. He lives in a small appartment right in the centre of town, so we will be closer to the action. I have to say I'll miss the Sea Bus though (for the majority, I think if I say "ferry" you get the idea).

We've enjoyed a fantastic time of relaxing (for Lach) but next week I think we'll have to start pinning down things like jobs, and begin to get into some sort of life routine.

Feel free to email or call us on skype. We are 5 hours ahead, but one day behind!

Shot of Vancouver from the "sea bus"...



Tim Horton's ...that's for you Sandra!!!



Lach with my Uncle and Auntie. Me (shae) with my cousin Joyce.



Michelle and Shae making Candy Wreaths for Christmas :-)



The 'outdoor' crew at a photo exhibition.

We're still here....

Sorry, have been really lazy about blogging. Will update soon...hopefully tomorrow :-)

Hope everyone is well. We are good, despite the constant rain :-( 

Setting up our double lives...

Today was pretty boring. Sorry no pics cos Lach hasn't put them on the computer and I am too tired my brain is hardly working anymore.

My auntie took us to 7/11 to buy public transport tickets, then we took the Sea Bus (ie. Ferry) 'downtown'. They live in North Vancouver (near the mountains, just beautiful) about 1/2 hour from the city or 'downtown area'. We walked around a bit and just checked it all out. It's a sleepier city than Seoul that's for sure!

We managed to get ourselves set up with new local SIM cards, so we have Canadian numbers now. We also got ourselves a bank account (with no money in it! haha). So we're well on the way to building our Canadian identities. We will try to get insurance numbers on Thurs (like Tax file number, so we can get paid).

Met Joyce (my cousin) after she finished work and went to (this is for Sandra) Tim Hortons (a coffee chain).

We'll start to look for a place to live tomorrow. And I (sharyn) will have to get a job.

Welcome to Canada Eh?

Yup. We made it. Nice full flight, had to pay for matey (lach's guitar) to be checked-in...but we made it. We are in the "no hayfever" land!

Basically caught up on electronic mail, rested, ate, now about to sleep. Checking out downtown tomorrow :-D

Last night in Seoul

Had a bit of a sleep in then got up and went out to Hangang River Park - very nice but it was so cold and windy...there were people flying kites which looked great.



We kept walking up to Yoido Full Gospel Church - Yongyi Cho's church. It was massive and a bit strange but cool to be there. They have 5 services a day (as far as i know) and have a different band and choir for each one. It's full on!



Went to Namdaemun market to have a look for some bargains but Lach wasn't feeling well and there really wasn't anything we'd wear so we checked out a department store nearby (ahhh, warmth) and then headed home for a rest before some dinner and night shopping in Itaewon.
We went to the BEST restaurant we think we've ever been to. No pics, but it's called Ola and is an italian restaurant opposite Itaewon Hotel. Soooo good. Great service too. Go there! haha

Can't believe it's our last night here. I am sad. It is a cool place and has been a very enjoyable holiday.

We head to Canada tomorrow evening. Stay tuned.

Who are the Visitors....

Got up and met mum and dad who came up to Seoul from Buyeo (about 3 hrs away). Auntie Pik (mum's youngest sis who teaches English in Osan, near where we were yesterday) also came to meet us at Starbucks. One of her colleagues heard she was coming to meet us and gave us these sweet little korean souvenir keyrings. So cute! People are so nice here.



It was a wet and miserable day but we decided to brave the elements and see more of Seoul despite the weather. Here is dad, busted jumping the barricades at the train station! haha



Auntie Pik took us to a korean traditional eating place where we sat on the floor to eat, and had black chicken! Weird. Was fun.



We then went to Insa-dong - awesome little area with lots of little craft boutiques. Had coffee there in a cool loft bookshop/cafe. Very funky. Walked around to a cute little stream area which was pretty but cold. Found a massive bookstore too which had anything and everything. Amazing how much stuff there is in this city.



Went to a moroccan place for a buffet dinner - probably not the best choice since we had been eating all day but it was Yum!

Thanks family for a great day! :-D

Folk Village Folks

Lach said yesterdays blog was too long so here's a shorty for you. Today we went to the Folk Village at Suwon. Took us 2 hrs to get there but it was worth it - lots to see and do. Check out the pics. Haven't quite worked out putting up the vids.

Seoul City Bus Tour + happy birthday kila

We finally got to sleep in today. When we got up, we had breakky at Starbucks then hopped on the Seoul City Bus Tour - a hop on/hop off bus that goes around the city to major districts/tourist attractions.

Our first stop was N Seoul Tower. A steep climb up and we were met with beautiful autumn leaves. We checked out the reenacted smoke signal tower, and breathed in the not-enticing aroma of beetle. Not sure what beetle it is but it STINKS! And they eat it.



Went up the tower which for a observation tower was pretty good actually. Amazed that Seoul is such a big city. We were both in awe of it's size. Huge...massive...gigantic. Very Big.



We also discovered the fences of padlocks. we don't really know what it's all about, but we joined in anyway. haha. We'll look up the story one day. Crazy Koreans.



Next stop was Deoksugung Palace. It was about an hour away cos we didn't want to miss the changing of the guard...so we missed quite a few other stops :-( Grabbed some KFC before the ceremony. The colonel would be proud. The ceremony was colourful and musical. Worth it.



Decided to walk to Namdaemun Market, where Lach discovered "camera corner" so we were stuck there for a looooong time. Bought a few additions (yes, even more) for little D40. Walked into the market briefly, by that time we weren't really up for market shopping.

Continued on foot to Seoul Station. Not much happening there but the old station would've been a grand building in it's day. It's now shelter to many homeless people, the first we've really seen here in Seoul.



Missed the bus (couldn't find the stop) so got on the subway (yay) and made our way home.

Had Korean bbq for dinner (galbi, rib meat). Was ok. We didn't find it that great compared to some of the other korean foods you can get.

Tomorrow we head off to the FolK Village. Can't wait! So far, Seoul has not failed to impress.

DMZ...Happy Veterans day for the americans.

Woke up nice and early AGAIN to go to the DMZ (demilitarised zone)…the border between North and South Korea. Had an angry taxi driver who had *gasp* been early and waiting for us for ages!! Haha.

Made it to the USO (united services organization) who run the tours, and got on a bus with some American military boys who didn’t stop talking the whole time we were on the the tour!

First stop at Punmunjeon (the DMZ) was the joint services area (JSA). Here we were treated to a “go the us/south korea” slide show, then taken to the demarcation line (DML) that divides North and South Korea. We went into the room where talks take place, and actually stood (technically) in North Korea, which was pretty weird but cool.

Next stop was a lookout where we could see into North Korea. Then another lookout where we could do the same thing but through binoculars. There are soldiers everywhere to make sure you don’t take photos where you’re not meant to, and to make sure you don’t defect to the North. Lol

Finally we went to the 3^rd Tunnel – the entrance of the tunnel was dug by the south but you walk down to where it intersects the tunnel that was dug by the north. We basically got 150m from the DML…underground. Quite an experience (and a very steep hike back up)

The tour was worth it but also I found it a bit weird and one sided (no pun intended). Interesting to see the DMZ though.

We wandered back from the USO to our hotel by foot, stopping in at the War Memorial of Korea. We didn’t go in, just looked at the military transport and weapons outside. If we have time we may go back and look inside but we were both pretty war-n out. (pun intended)

We are staying at Itaewon which is a pretty touristy district – we stopped at lots of shops/market stalls on the way home. We arrived back to discover our “reel escape”…This is HILARIOUS! A cable thingy to escape in an emergency…oh dear.

We decided to head out to a French restaurant down the road for dinner (mussels, yummo) and going to have a relaxed day tomorrow checking out some of the sites of Seoul.

Happy Pocky Day. Happy rememberance day. Happy blast off day.

Yup, we got up nice and early and our dear friends bec and nath came around at 6am to take us to the airport.

Flight was pretty good, although No personal movie screens and two pretty average movies (one was in Korean!). The above is one of Lach's "arty" shots from the plane - you can check more of them out on his Flickr

http://www.flickr.com/photos/32164766@N03/

Arrived at incheon airport, collected all our bags and found the bus to our hotel. Our hotel is pretty basic, but it’ll be home for the next couple of nights.

We were completely stuffed after the last few days plus Korea is 2 hrs behind Oz, so crashed pretty much straight away. DMZ tomorrow! :-D

One sleep to go: So long, farewell...

Quick entry today to say that it'll be a pretty boring day - lots of little last minute jobs before getting massages. It has been an intense week so we're treating ourselves to some relaxation :-)

Not anticipating any pics or anything today but the way Lach is going with the camera, you never know! Will post more later today if anything happens. Otherwise, the next time we post will be from Seoul, Korea!!!!!

Byeeeeeeee!!!!!!!

2 Sleeps to Go: Soak up the sun, might not see it for a while!

SUNday....it was a beautiful sunny day for our second last day in Melbourne.

The day started with coffee from our favourite bagelry (ok, the only one we know) - Huff Bagelry on Koornang Rd in Carnegie. Everyone go there!

It was an exciting day - the first in the new building at 1330 Ferntree Gully Rd for Highway Christian Church. Although at the end of the day it is just a building, it is a fantastic facility (so far) and it was amazing to be part of the next phase (even if only for one Sunday) of the Highway journey. We've only been part of the gang for a couple of years but have made such great and meaningful friendships that it feels like forever.

We then had our farewell picnic in the afternoon at one of our favourite spots in Melbourne - Fairfield Historic Boathouse....well, the park :-) Proved a little difficult to give directions but most people got there in the end, and we appreciate everyone coming out to see us off.

We were especially happy that Lachie's parents could join us for the weekend and the picnic.

(Too many pics for here- check out facebook or bug us for some if you want them :-D)

On the way home, they must've heard we were having a party cos there was a booze bus! haha. The people in front of us got busted (we think). Haha. Don't drink and drive idiots!

It was a long but memorable day. Thanks again to everyone, we will miss you all.

Special thanks to Bec and Nath (told you I'd put some pics on! haha). They have lent us their car for ages now and we have really appreciated having the extra transportation. Betsy has been wonderful! :-D

Here is a pic of the famous couple arriving at church this morning:

Three Sleeps to Go: Queenslanders!!

The day began a little earlier than most Saturdays... but we still managed to miss our tram! Anyway, we made the train so I (Lachie) thought I'd capture our last Melbourne train ride...


Our train journey complete, we met up with mum and dad down from Bris Vegas for a bit of Vic Markets action - to pick up some Ugs for our rellies in Canada.



After a great lunch where I introduced dad to wasabi (upon consuming a small amount of the green substance he pronounced 'I have to sneeze'!), we headed off to see Uncle Geoff, my grandad's brother.



Uncle Geoff regailed us with tales of past adventures... and current ones. He was telling us about getting in touch with an old high-school sweetheart - pushing 80 and he's still got it!


Uncle Geoff also pulled out an old album with pics starting from the 1920s... quite the adventurer! The one above is of my great grandparents.

Well that's about it.... I'm keeping Sharyn up asking how to spell stuff so I'd better call it a night!