Saturday evening I was encouraged to go for a walk to a very mysterious building which lies at the top of a hill overlooking Seogwipo harbor and the ocean.
The building turns out to be a Japanese-Korean Friendship Training Center, a sprawling complex which looks like it could be anything from a country club to a giant cult compound.
Doing some cursory research it looks like it might have something to do with Buddhism education, but at present, it’s hard to accept that anything that calls itself a “Friendship Training Center” is on the up and up. It doesn’t help that the main building is this massive high-rise which looks like a hotel, except for the fact that ALL THE LIGHTS ARE OFF. It’s like a giant facade. The front foyer was lit when we walked towards it, but my investigative partner was either too responsible or too GUTLESS to allow me to try and walk in.
Actually this is probably a good thing. It’s just as likely trespassing on a “Friendship Training Center” will get you mowed down, or even worse-brainwashed-as it will lead to anything good.
In addition to the hotel building, there are about fifty or so villas encircling the area, and behind the hotel is some really beautiful and bizarre landscaping. Walking around the back also ends in some cliffs overlooking the ocean, which is really beautiful.
There is a strange lilly-pond, some Greek columns, busts of several eclectic figures from history including William Wordsworth, and a giant stone sculpture which looks like an orange wedge to me.
Finally, there is a sculpture of a naked girl and a boy who is crouching on all fours staring at her breasts. He’s about two feet from them. This was hilarious but it confused the hell out of me.
It has to be seen to be believed. And it will be seen. Because I will go back there and take pictures.
In other news, I finally had my long awaited second cheeseburger at the Seosokkak Stone Cafe, and walked along the ocean back to Seogwipo. The walk along that stretch of the shore is probably one of the prettiest on the island, as you pass several small islands and rocky tidepools. This trek is also in need of a return visit, perhaps once a week, when I have my camera. I also managed to pick up a cowboy hat, which has been labelled everything from “too cool” to “too much.” You be the judge:
It looks like I’m scary poor Lily in this picture. But that would be a misrepresentation. Anyway, she’s from London, so I’m not surprised that my sudden switch from Jeju Jew to Urban (or is it Midnight?) Cowboy would be off-putting. I also think it was cold outside.
Friday night was a birthday party and there was a lot of singing and a lot of drinking. I would up sending text messages at 5 am in a Buddhist prayer room on the 8th floor of an apartment building. I woke up in bed next to a mostly naked man. I sort of ended up there by choice. Later in the morning I was chastised for crashing five minutes from my flat. It seemed so far away at the time, though.
I was punished for being this lazy when I left my keys there and wandered around all Saturday, having been banished from my home.
I’ll post some fun pictures of Friday later on this week.
In other news, I am now a reporter in at least two different countries. I covered a story for the Jeju Weekly about a kimchi-making charity event. Here are some fun photos:
And a final message: Thank you Jose Reyes for the memories. And right now, I’m feeling a stronger allegiance to the Kia Tigers or Lotte Giants than I am for the New York Mets.
Culture Time 