COSTCO- Korean Styles

This weekend was one of 'firsts'. I finally got out of Gwangju which I have wanted to do for awhile now. I love my girls but a change of scenery was desperately needed. I witnessed my first really wicked lightening storm, I rode a train for the first time, visited Daejeon and shopped at Costco! Whew, I'm pooped but I had a wicked time.

The train ride was really nice. I took the KTX (Korean Train Express) both ways and although it is a little more expensive and skimp on the leg room, it was more relaxing and faster than the bus. The KTX trains are among the fastest in the world and have the ability to get close to 300km/h, although I definitely wasn't going that fast.

The bus trip would have been 2 hours and 30 minutes and I got to Daejeon just under two hours. Overall, I was happy and will definitely be doing the train again. Oh, and there are washrooms on the train which is a huge pro over the bus.. can't forget that.

(centre of the picture is where the train begins)

Once I arrived in Daejeon Bryan picked me up and the first thing I noticed was the streets looked exactly the same as the streets in Gwangju. If someone had blindfolded me and plopped me down in Daejeon without a doubt I would still think I was in Gwangju. Daejeon has a larger foreigner community and is more densely populated than Gwangju. It is also only an hour from Seoul which is a pretty sweet considering you can live there, keeping costs down and then party or visit Seoul with relative ease.

Dinner in Daejeon was one of the best I have had in awhile- it is right up there with Shabbu Shabbu now. I can't remember the name of the dish because I suck but it is a chicken dish. They throw in some chicken, cabbage, this hot paste sauce, sesame leaves, garlic, onion and stir it topping it off with mozzarella cheese. Korea boasts hot foods and I am always disappointed- but not with this one. My mouth was definitely feeling the spices. Mixed with a little rice at the end made for a very filling dinner!

During dinner it poured rain, I mean a sheet of rain falling from the sky. There were a couple claps of thunder that shook the place and the lightening was pretty impressive. The 'storm' only lasted about 20 minutes but it just rained for the 20 minutes and then stopped. There was no variation in the rainfall, just start and stop. So strange but it makes me excited to use my rain boots!

On Sunday I was getting ready to head home and the topic of groceries and shopping came up. I didn't even know that there was a Costco in Daejeon. We went there for a couple of things before I got on the train to go home! Below is what I came home with... I spent 160 dollars-ish but it's BULK and will last me awhile... especially the vodka!

(my costco bounty- the bag, 2 litres of vodka granola bars,

cheese, parmasian ccheese, penne, ham, salsa, sausage,

almonds and a giant beach towel.)

We only spent about 40 minutes inside of the Costco but it was 40 minutes that felt a little like home minus the sea of Asians. The set up was almost exactly the same as in Newmarket, membership etc, etc... they even sold items that very few Koreans would purchase like patio furniture and outdoor fun water games like slip and slide. Koreans hate the sun.

(a little taste of home for .20 cents)

The Kirkland brand was all over the place and the prices, overall, as far as Korean standards go weren't that bad. I spent what would seem like a lot for home but it's just the comfort and convenience to get it all at once at Costco, that I guess I'm willing to spend a little more money for. It was pretty funny watching all the Koreans watch me drag my bag of groceries through the train station! I was not carrying that shit more than I had to. Being in Daejeon also fueled my determination for my license and potential car purchase (pun fully intended). I found out you can buy a really decent car for about $1,300 and insurance is only about $35 a month! Gas is stupid expensive here though, that is the only downfall. Last I looked it was around $1.60/L!! BUT- with the right amount of budgeting it would be cheaper than taxi rides all over the place and I wouldn't have to spend forever on the bus.

So we'll see.... lol.

Love and miss everyone

PLH out!