Week 3 (Our Winter Olympics are over)

Our Olympics (continued)

Ice Dance: Free Dance

Well this was an event enjoyed by Denise.  I Absolutely loved it!  The music was varied and unusual and the costumes were amazing.  We must remember Petie Pie has no sense of artistic taste what so ever.  At home we go to the theatre and leave him at home.  Why you may ask, well it’s a waste of money to take him.  I found it interesting, trying to work out why everybody was clapping during the performance.  Is it because the skaters didn’t fall, or was it because they just enjoyed watching the skaters?  I am going with the first – they didn’t fall.

We had no wardrobe malfunctions (Thank Goodness), and only one fall during the whole event.  The most exciting part for me was seeing if the little kids (he was calling them ducks) who skated on the ice after each performance could actually catch the stuffed toys that were thrown on to the ice after most of the performances.  It seemed a bit hit and miss with who got stuffed toys, but the best hauls were for the Koreans and the final Canadian pair who I predicted after their performance would win.  I should be a judge as they did win gold.  He predicted my eye, no idea!!

I must say that if Denise has the same enthusiasm for the other snow sports we have seen as I do for ice skating, well she hides it quite well.  I’m sure I struggled with staying awake for the Men’s Slalom. Over 100 competitors!  Freezing my buns off!

Getting to the event was interesting as it was only 30-40 mins up the road so we left a little later.  When we got on the first bus there were only two seats left.  A women got on behind me and made a commotion that she wanted to be with her friend who was already on the bus.  I decided we should get off and get the next bus (10 min wait) as we weren’t in a hurry.  He was grumbling!  The woman tried to thank me, but I really wasn’t interested after the commotion she caused.  No empathy!  I gave her a hug and said it was OK!  The next bus we missed as we had gone back into the warmth and when we got into the line we missed by one.  The third bus we were at the head of the line and some old women (local) decided they were going to push in – not likely, and I told them so and pointed to the back of the queue.  They still tried unsuccessfully, but my elbows won out.  I saw they got on a few people behind me.  I sometimes wonder if he is going to be the grumbliest old man or he has always been like this but only people at work had to put up with his nonsense.

Men's Slalom

The slalom was a good day.  We missed out on seeing the first few starters as we arrived about 15mins late.  It was always going to be cold as the forecast was for 0-1c with a wind chill to reduce that by at least 10c, even with the sun out.

There were 108 starters (did you see that 108 starters!  Bloody Hell!  He whinges about the Ice Dancing) and all got a run.  The first 30 started after the previous skier had finished or crashed out, but after the first 30, they were let go when the previous skier had done 75% of the run or crashed out.  It made watching a little confusing at time.

We could see the whole course but used the big screen to watch the first half of the run.  To qualify for a second run, you had to finish your first run so there were a few skiers went back up the course to get round a gate they had missed.  Most just gave up.  There were 56 who failed to finish the first run. Thank Goodness!!!!

The second run decided the placing by adding both run times together.  For the second run the first 30 started in reverse order and didn’t begin their run until after the previous skier had finished or withdrawn.  As skier 31 was already 6 seconds down, the winner was going to come from the first 30.  Once the first 30 skiers finished, everybody decided to leave, including us.  The remaining skiers started as each preceding skier got had done 75% of the run or crashed out.  I have no idea how many saw the last skier, but we were probably still waiting for a bus.

Lucky for me, we met at lovely lady and her family from Iceland.  She is the girl that took the photo of me looking like the Michelin man.  Anyway, we have exchanged email addresses and plan to go there when we can.

Men's Ice Hockey - Semifinals

When choosing tickets we decided that the Men’s Ice Hockey semi-finals would provide us with the best games in the world.  Then the NHL decided to withhold all their players, so you guessed it, USA failed to make the semis and Canada only got Bronze.  Sounds a little like they got what they deserved.

We ended up seeing Czech Republic v Russia (or Olympic Athletes of Russia) and Canada v Germany. The second game didn’t start until 21:10 so it was another taxi home.  Another adventure!

The NHL has much to answer for after stopping players from representing their own countries.  Not only were teams without their stars, the two semi-final games we saw were lacking the skills as well.  Poor handling skills and sloppy plays made it difficult to watch.

The Canada v Germany game saw the Canadians doing everything but score.  They should have been well ahead, but their finishing was ineffective.  They clawed their way back from 0-3 and 1-4, but just couldn’t find the net.

The support was about 75% for Canada and we had many of the Canadian athletes beside us.  I hope the Canadians had all finished their events as the beers just kept on coming in trays of eight or ten at a time.

It was our last late night and another taxi ride home.  Denise was navigating by voice and the cabbie had no idea what she was saying.  It was amusing watching as both thought they were in control.  At least we made it home and I think the cabbie was relieved when we got out.  Mind you, he is also poor at conveying his thoughts to the locals! I’m so glad he found it so funny!!!!!

Alpine Team Event

Alpine Team Event

Next morning, we were off early, and again it seemed like the alarm went off as soon as we got to bed.

The Alpine Team Event was already getting poor press as the top skiers had decided they wouldn’t compete for various reasons. Some of the reasons even sounded plausible.

The weather was OK with 0c forecast and -6c Windchill, but the sun was out, sort of.

Once again, we could see the whole course and this time we didn’t require the big screen as it was a short course.  It was being held on the hill beside where the Slalom was held so we were in the same seating area.

The speed of the event was amazing with a new race every minute.  Each run only took 20sec and it was two skiers, racing through parallel poles, first to the finish as long as they made it through the course legally.

As we were on the aisle seats my view of the finish was blocked occasionally by people deciding to chat or watch from the stairs.  I began telling people subtly (like being slapped in the face with a wet fish) to move, but by the last race I nearly crash tackled someone.  They all got the hint to move reasonably quickly.  I think one bloke was important, but I wasn’t arrested so all good.

On the way home, the ground coming in to the town near our hotel was covered with 1-2cm of snow. Denise missed that as she was fast asleep.  Because at this stage I was sick and as usual there is no care and concern from my husband.

Gala Exhibition

This was the event I was hoping I would enjoy, but I had my doubts.  I could tell Denise wanted to go as it’s the fastest I have seen her walk on the trip so far.  Whoops, I lie.  She actually ran a few days ago when we were booked on a train that was departing in a matter of minutes.  The cashier actually ran with us to ensure we made the train.  Where else would that happen?

I am now convinced that the crowd applauds ice skaters when a skater does a trick and doesn’t fall, although they also applaud the ones who do fall once they get up.

The other thing I worked out was when a male skater wears feathers he is probably good.  Why else would he wear feathers? Unless he lost a bet.

The event was enough to keep me awake, just, and everyone appeared to enjoy themselves.

Very entertaining and I loved it!  We are not surprised!

 

…and with that, our Winter Olympics are now over, and it is with mixed emotions that we are leaving to begin the next stage of our adventures.

Overall I thought the Olympics was overpriced, but as it’s a captive market I suppose they can

do what they want, and they did. We were told that what we encountered was normal and to be expected.

For the amount of money we spent and the time the organisers are given to get things right, there is a lot that you would expect to be done better.

Would we go to another Olympics? Probably not.  We are going to Iceland!!  Yeah!

Did we enjoy our time at the Olympics? Very much.

Olympics on TV

It has been frustrating trying to watch the Olympics on TV over here.  For a start the commentary is in Korean and you can’t get an English version or even watch it online in English.  Then when they do put up graphics they are in Korean, plastered over the English words, so not only can’t you read what is happening, you can’t understand what is happening either.  The only way to get some order is to have the Olympics website on the laptop and see who is competing in the event and the updates are almost instant with scores/times.

Having several hundred channels to choose from, the Olympics was only shown on two channels.  Most of the time they showed repeats of Korean wins in heats etc.  If Korea wasn't involved, it was highly likely there would be no Olympics telecast at all.

Haesindang Park

On one of our days off Denise decided we should have a cultural experience as suggested by a nameless friend (Stinky Dave).  Stinky was very keen for us to go to this Park.  We went to a place called Haesindang Park.  Check it out on the net.  Denise said it was a quick trip down and back.  We left around 10:00 and got home around 16:30.  The first bus trip was an express bus to the next town/city, and after that it was a local bus which stopped regularly.  The coastline was interesting and we even saw a cable car going across a small harbour.  This area looked like it would be packed in summer.

As we travelled on the bus I was watching our progress on Google Maps, so I knew when to get off, but once off the bus it was find your own way, although a local did give some directions.  I realised quickly that this place isn’t popular in winter, and we were the only non-Asians there.  We only saw about 20 others in the whole time we were there.

The place itself is quite interesting, but when we went up to the headland I think the breeze was coming straight from Siberia - it was freezing, so on went another two layers.

There were statues everywhere and legend has it that a woman was left on a rock off the coast by her partner to collect seaweed.  Unfortunately, before her partner returned she drowned in a storm.  Now it gets weird.  After that, the village people were not able to catch fish.  Some people said that it was because of the dead woman.  One day a fisherman peed in the water and afterwards he was able to catch fish, so it was thought that exposing himself to the deceased woman pleased her.  To soothe her spirit further, the local village people made several phallic wooden carvings and held religious ceremonies on her behalf.  After a while, the fish slowly returned and the villagers were able to live comfortably again.  Sounds a little dodgy to me.

Anyway, there are large phallic statues everywhere showing all sorts or organs - standing erect, drooping, you name it they have it.  I even saw a model of a couple about to have sex, or at least he looked ready.  The park is otherwise known as Penis Park

Penis Park had all manner of displays for which Old Fellows are depicted.  There are the 12 Chinese New Year Penises, The chair penises, the rocking horse, the totems and the list goes on.  I could say more but I will refrain!

So, sorry to those friends of ours, that will be offended but it is one of those experiences that happened on holidays.

Oh well, we can tick that off our list, if we actually had a list and that park was on it.

Other things

Thank to Google, I have worked out why Google Maps doesn’t work properly over here in Korea.  The Korean Government has blocked it apart from providing public transport information.  Presumably to stop the North Koreans if and when they get across the border.

The hotel stairs are always an obstacle course as I assume nobody, except me, uses them.  They are used for storing the rubbish bags and always seem to have door stops in the middle of the landings for each floor.

Since arriving in Korea, we have seen the latest of Samsung, LG and Hyundai with hydrogen cars, electronics in everything including whitegoods, and even the new Samsung 9.

Something that surprised me a little is that Korea is dirty once you leave the tourist path.  Not as dirty as Kiribati or Tanzania, but rubbish in many places.  In the tourist spots there are cleaners, but beyond that you see rubbish on the ground.

I have worked out why you bow to taxi drivers when you leave the cab.  Try saying goodbye from outside the cab without bending and also there is the mandatory check to see if you have left anything.

Unsurprisingly I woke up one morning with a sore throat.  So far it hasn’t progressed to anything further…Denise also came down with a cold a few days later.

Once you find the right restaurants here (with meat) the food is amazing.  We have had a few great meals, and some so so.  So so means it was spicy and heaven forbid, the food has flavour.  The beers here comes in 500ml stubbies but it can’t be too high in alcohol.  I knocked over 3 with no problem or does that mean I’m a soak!

We have met some great people during our time at the Olympics, some of whom we will visit on this trip and possibly others in future trips.

A word of warning to you all, there is a possibly a further blog coming up in 2019 as I have agreed to ride (bicycle) across the USA (LA to New York), and Denise is coming along as one of the road crew.  Yes, another charity ride, and I know I’m a sucker for those things.  When will I ever learn?  Never!!!

Big hugs Everyone

Denise and the boy that drives me Mad