Woof Woof [2.6mg AVI]

Fame is in Korea and we DO WANT TO LIVE FOREVER!! The sub-par american production came to town to showcase what the 80’s really did to our lives. It wasn’t that bad but compared to the classics… it doesn’t do broadway justice.

JiYoung and I… and who could forget the iconic sign and set!

Shibuya Crossing, Tokyo, Japan. PLUS, the crew waiting for the subway :)

The week after my birthday and the rents are in town. It was the longest I’ve spent with them in a long time and a whirlwind tour of Seoul and the Korean countryside. They spent quality time with JiYoung, we had a mini-surprise dinner for my birthday and ate the freshest kalbi i’ve ever had. Other activites on the JiYoung tour included…

/ Tokebi Storm was a traditional drum festival show – blue man group meets ancient korea
/ Us at the Walker Hill Show: The Dancers and The Flowers
/ The United Nations Dinner. JiYoung’s Parents, My Parents. 3 Languages. Ton O Fun :)
/ Dinner at the Korea Tax Building… the spaceship looking building with sweet views.

Then it was off to KyungGu to see some of Korea’s most ancient landmarks… many ranked in the top 100 of the UN’s most prized and precious memories in time…

/ The Family at the gates of KyungGu
/ The Icon: KyungGu Palace
/ JiYoung and I at the historic palace
/ JiYoung and I chilling at a shrine
/ JiYoung getting trouble on the forbidden terrace
/ Me and the Big Fish
/ JiYoung and I breaking on the steps
/ Dad spreading his wings at the shrine
/ My stubby legs making the hike up to the top
/ JiYoung salutes the warrios of ancient KyungGu
/ Dad and JiYoung spend some quality time together
/ JiYoung sitting the in the ancient bathtub
/ Mom and Dad in front of some old shrine
/ JiYoung resting on the Tree bench
/ My Dad taking in the sights on mountaintop

…and after much sightseeing, it was a break in the day where we rented some bikes and just chilled along the lake.

/ Mom and Dad on a bike – first time in like 10 years!
/ The Wicked Witch of Shillim :)
/ Mom and Dad break at the lake
/ Crazy JiYoung swooping in…
/ Dad and I at the water wheel thing
/ JiYoung pondering life at the water’s edge
/ The Rents and JiYoung
/ The Rents and JiYoung (again)
/ Dad.

One of the best things that JiYoung arranged for the parents was this traditional Korean wedding. My parents got all dressed up in tradtional garb and actaully got married in front of a crowd of a couple hudred people in Insadong!! It was a blast and my parents loved it (who would have thought!)…

/ Mom getting ready
/ Dad rehearsing his part
/ JiYoung pops in on the couple to be
/ Dad bows at the alter
/ Mom in the Tea ceremony
/ The Terrific 3 take a proud walk
/ The Happy Couple

and bonus… this upcoming July is their 35th wedding anniversary! What a treat.

The birthday… it was pretty low key but highlights included some great Korean BBQ with JiYoung and a killer PSP – who rocks!! It’s a great little toy that has come in handy on long busrides and 15+ hours plane trips. During the day, the kids at the office surprised me with some cake (in a box and on my face) and some traditional korean seaweed noodle soup!!

[check out the powerpoint show]

Also, a couple days after my birthday JiYoung and my parents conspired to throw me a little surprise dinner! Who would have thought – no I. I get home, ready to take my parents to dinner and there was a full table setting complete with Korean Kalbi and Geiggi (stew)… ummm… so good!! so special!!

Last saturday was Family Day at Nike Korea. One of many holidays that we have here as an excuse to get together and have fun. Less cultural significance than Buddha’s Birthday or Children’s Day, but none-the-less a great time. We, being the 300+ employees of Nike Korea and their close friends and family attacked Everland… an amusement park along the lines of half Disneyland and half Great Adventure… at half the size. It has 3 major adult rides but outside of that, not much… but I have to admit, it was bigger/better than I expected… a couple shot from the day.

/ Arriving on our Magical Carriage
/ Hanging Out
/ In Front of THE Marqee Roller Coaster

Korea’s first (and only) NBA player returns home to Korea… and spends some time with Nike doing the usual. Media interviews, autograph signings and media interviews. Now I’ve met some ballers before but this guy is HUGE (even Phil Knight agrees). He’s 7′4″ which is almost 20 inches taller than I – damn! And his return marked what I believe is my first appearance in any kind of Korean media… internet of course  – which would be the equivalent of Yahoo! News.