so the other day in homeplus all the staff stand out in the aisles while they play 'if you're happy and you know it clap your hands' and they do all the hand movements. didnt have my video camera and havent timed it properly when i tried going back with one.

now I have my first full weekend, not worried about my apartment, or figuring out the buses, decided to go exploring the main sights in downtown daegu. took one of the local city buses instead of the rapid express to see where it goes instead. i figured out how to read daegu station in korean on the bus map so i knew this bus was going the right way. the route was too windy so i'll stick to the rapid express next time, but it took me to daegu station. then i carried on to see where it goes and save me some walking.

the next stop was Bongsan Culture street which was something i wanted to check out. this was meant to be an arts/crafts street but for some reason most of the stores were closed. this is something i have been noticing since jeonju so not sure why stores arent always open? a little further walk from the end was Daegu Confucian Academy. this is a more traditional style temple complex layout but all the buildings were locked. the guy said they do traditional wedding ceremonies sometimes so to check back.

then i had to go down into a subway station to cross the road. this is the stop where the two lines meet and its a big underground mall stretching a few blocks. i needed to get out at exit 14 to get to the other side of the road but there was no exit 14 so i tried 13 instead. then i went down the oriental medicine street. there lots of spices and herbs, very refreshing for the sinuses to walk down. at the end there is a decorative gate. explored the main shopping area again which is actually larger than i first thought. kinda looks like tokyo with the oriental writing but has a european feel.

bought some more stuff for the home at the dollar store and headed home as was tired from a full day of walking in the heat. oh yes, lunch was a creamy seafood pasta. on sunday just felt really tired and didnt feel like going out again but dragged myself as i have no tv and the internet wasnt working in the morning.

took the rapid express again and first stop was dalseong park. i didnt know this was actually a free outdoor city zoo, i thought there were monuments here. they had lots of animals of this region whose names i cant remember but they were similar to deer, zebras, monkeys, birds, also had tropical tigers, cayotes, and elephants. they also had the daegu city museum which had some historical exhibits

the road leading from the park is called hardware street which is a giant outdoor hardware store. kinda odd to have an entire neighbourhood like that as i would just buy something from the first store and not bother walking any further. they also have sewing machine street, towel street, motorcycle street, socks street, auto parts street with similar concept.

so navigated my way thru hardware street to gyeongsang-gamyeong park. just my luck, the main pavillions were closed for renovations, but the bell tower and fountains were still accessible so took some shots. then wondered over to gukchae-bosang memorial park which had another drum tower. then lunch was a curry rice and fried fish with an egg thrown on top!

wandered around the north end of the shopping district again as i read there was an electronics market there, which i didnt find, but instead a seafood market and outdoor food vendors. kinda tired after a weekend walking, but hopefully the pics will make up for it. next week start my first live lessons working from the textbook.

started to panic around last thursday as i didnt have a lesson lined up for the following week, but once i spoke to my co-teacher and figured out the cds doesnt seem too bad... a kid will say one thing that will crack me up each day in the middle of class.. for example, i like sleeping, became i like sleeping in subway stations! at home if u laughed on the job it meant you didnt have enought work to do!

here is a link to a bunch of videos i have uploaded on youtube from the weekend
http://www.youtube.com/user/londone73#g /u