Busan Continues

Getting on my train...



Here is a little of the Korean landscape while the train zipps by...



3 hours is a long time to sit... and those who know me knows I get very antsy and is hyper-mobile/fidgity... so I walked around a little, and was screwing around with my new point and click camera. I wasn't going to bring my $2100 camera on a beach trip!



Arrived safely in Busan! Cause it I didn't then I wouldn't be here writing to you about my trip!



After showering and getting dressed I met up with my friend T.G. the one who led me to the wrong train station.



Everytime I see a fox I either buy it or take a photo because fox's are my Grandmother's favorite animal! Almost everything she has has a fox on it. She also has a couple display cases that are nothing but fox figurines! So I took this photo of a Korean logo for her!



Now the hippo has a story about it too. I really don't know how to explain it... when my brother and I were kids us and my mom came up with oddball names for eachother. My brother had a really bad cold and I was calling him nasal congestion boy, he called me a cubical, I guess it was the first thing that came to his mind. And I called my mom a hippo. Not in a bad way! I love hippos, they are so cool! So I saw the hippo and I took a photo for my mommy!

That was my first night in Busan, the next day our other friends got there and we went to the beach and Busan Aquarium.

Going to Busan

So we just had a long weekend and I met up with some friends about 3 hours away by bullet train, or otherwise known as KTX.



My friend told me to head to Yongsan Station



I make it up to the KTX ticket counter...

And find out that you can only get to Busan from Seoul Station! So here I am, back in a cab on my way to Seoul Station.





Got my ticket and headed on the train to meet my friends... More to come on my trip!

The Proposition

So something VERY strange happened to me Sunday night... I received an email from a girl via myspace here is what she says

Hi when I lived in Korea I did a part time acting gig on the weekends. It usually paid around $5000 (that is American Dollars) per weekend. I was browsing Myspace and came across your profile I think you might be ideal for the position.

If you would be interested please email me back or add me on msn at (emails have been erased)

Look forward to talking to you.

So I think cool... its probably some small thing, local commercials and stuff. So it peaked my intrest, who couldn't us an extra 5000 dollars right?

So I email back and ask her for a description of the job.

Ok the job is a bit odd but I will try and explain here.

When I lived in Korea I had a client with whom I worked 5 or 6 times. Basically I tied him up was mean to him and refused to untie him until I recieved $5000. There was no sex or nudity, he is youngish like 33 and he is from canada.

Might you be intersted?

Yeah... that face you're making right now? Multiply that by... a lot!
Now I am not a judgemental person, especially sexually, people like what they like. She told me 5000 was the least she ever made... and the most was 25000! I really do believe this chick was for real! And hey, I have a lot of frustration worked up towards the opposite sex, why not slap a guy around for a little while and make large sums of money for it right?

While it is fun to entertain (meaning joke about, and won't this be a funny story to tell later) an idea like that, I wouldn't do it!

1.) a few phrases come to mind... such as, serial killer, police sting, prostitute...

2.) There is a huge problem with human trafficing and prostitution and no way to ensure my safety.

3.) I have WAY to much respect for myself and other people, and too much pride in my country and service to even THINK about taking a chance at ruining everything I have achieved.

4.) I'm not going to be captured and sold into sex slavery!

Now the girl was very nice, so I sent her a respectful decline of her offer. I really can't believe someone actually came forward and presented this as an acting gig... Now she did provide me with a description of what happened the night she made $25000 but I won't put that on here for your own sanity.

Now one thing I learned about here are Juicy Girls

A Juicy girl is a woman who works in a "Juicy Bar" and is employed to sit and chat with male/female customers and persuade them to continue to buy alcohol for themselves, and expensive juice drinks for the "Juicy Girl", under the guise that the woman is also drinking alcoholic drinks.

Juicy bars are found throughout the world, they most likely originated in East Asia. Depending on the individual bar, there may be an area more secluded where sexual prostitution takes place but not to the extent of having sexual intercourse.

Typically, Juicy Girl bars that offer intercourse require the patron to leave the bar with the woman to another location. They are called "Juicy Girls" as patrons pay for their time by purchasing drinks of what are essentially juice/soda/water disguised as alcoholic beverages.

Now this is a light description of what some of these woman go through. They are working to pay off a debt, either for themselves or a family member.

"Juicy girls" are sometimes associated with prostitution, and the practice of a bar fine is not uncommon:[1] a patron can pay the bar owner some amount of money, usually in the range of ten to hundreds of U.S. dollars, which technically is compensation for the girl to take the rest of the evening off.

This is also known as "buying her day off," as the women work seven days a week. Common belief is that customers assume they are paying for the woman's company, similar to an escort service. However, it is usually presumed by all parties involved, though not mentioned conversationally, that sexual services are being purchased. However, women may choose to not engage in sex, as some just want to get away from the bar.

Many military men get caught up in this and try to buy out the contract, which is NOT allowed! If one girl's contract is bought out she will be replaced almost immidiately.

Its not an easy life, obviously, and stopping it has proven to be very difficult.

So ladies, be smart, think before you act, and stay safe!

-Sam-

ZONK

No, I'm not speaking some strange alien language. The word ZONK is a new Army term I learned this morning.

Apperantly when a PT instructor says ZONK there will be no PT and you must get out of their face as fast as possible or they will make you PT.

So she says ZONK and everyone starts running away, me being the only Navy person has never heard that term, I'm standing there like an idiot with a big question mark on my face. Then it was explained to me...

So yes, I learn something new everyday!

Everytime I hear an Army person say HOAH I giggle a little bit inside. It cracks me up!

Anyway, I hope wherever you are, you know what the heck people are talking about!

-Sam-

Uptight People

Please read this article, I laughed... its funny...

Mr Methane to blow away audiences

The world's only full-time performing flatulist is promising to "blow away audiences" at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.



Mr Methane, alias former train driver Paul Oldfield, will reveal his unique skills in a show called An Audience With Mr Methane.

In it, he tells broadcaster Martin Kelner how his 'talent' came to light when he accompanied his sister in yoga practice.

He discovered - to his surprise and delight - that he was able to take in air through the rear, retain it, and then expel it as and when he chose.

At first, it was nothing more than a party trick to entertain fellow railwaymen, but eventually Mr Methane found that by careful control, he could pick out a simple tune.

He gradually expanded his repertoire, which now ranges from Strauss's Blue Danube waltz through to Kylie Minogue's I Should Be So Lucky.

Using audio visual aids, Kelner will tell the Methane story, and may join him on a moving rendition of Da Doo Ron Ron, "performed fore and aft".

Mr Methane will tell how he conquered the Howard Stern show in America, did sell-out tours in Australia, and became a star on Japanese TV.

"He wanted to call it Working My Passage but I persuaded him not to," reveals Kelner.

So ok, everyday I do this show element call "Odd News From Around The World" and this guy is pretty damn odd! Its gross but really impressive! Who do you know that can play accurate classical music out their butt! No one right?

When I got done talking about this I get a phone call in the studio...

Me: AFN The Eagle

Guy: Were you the one just talking about flatulance?

Me: Yes... (giggle)

Guy: Why don't you just play some more music instead of telling stories like that...

Me: Ummm... Well there is music on right now... (confusion)

Guy: Good

click

Ok, is it just me or is this dude a little uptight? I mean really? If the word "fart" really offended you that much you need to thank your lucky stars you don't have better things to worry about! Or better yet, go out and get something better to worry about!

-Sam-

Asian Dust

Also known as Asian Sand, Yellow Dust, Yellow Wind... and others. This season lasts for about 5 months and it can reach dangerous levels. Here is a little background I googled for you...

Asian Dust is a seasonal meteorological phenomenon which affects much of East Asia sporadically during the springtime months. The dust originates in the deserts of Mongolia and northern China and Kazakhstan where high-speed surface winds and intense dust storms kick up dense clouds of fine, dry soil particles. These clouds are then carried eastward by prevailing winds and pass over China, North and South Korea, and Japan, as well as parts of the Russian Far East. Sometimes, the airborne particulates are carried much further, in significant concentrations which affect air quality as far east as the United States.

In the last decade or so, it has become a serious problem due to the increase of industrial pollutants contained in the dust and intensified desertification in China causing longer and more frequent occurrences, as well as in the last few decades when the Aral Sea of Kazakhstan started drying up due to a failed Soviet agricultural scheme.




I was warned about Asian Dust when we couldn't work out outside. You can taste the metal and dust in the air. And see a yellow haze in the sky as it settles over Seoul. Many locals wear face masks to filter the air.

Just a little insight to where I live!

-Sam-

Happy May!

Happy May everyone!

I just got back from my first live gig as an AFN DJ! It was very exciting meeting everyone and interacting with my audience. I never really thought how special it would be to actually meet my callers and listeners!

I appriciate them so much! I have only been on the air for a few short months and I have a good following. Regular callers like Josh, who calles at least once a week to brag that the White Sox are doing better than my beloved Indians... Dave, who is always winning contests, and so many others!

I was recognized at our bowling alley by my voice alone! How cool is that! Another friend from a differant AFN detatchment brought a friend into the studio so she could meet me! She is also a Photographer and has a studio!

I really can't say enough how thankful and greatful I am to have this job, I really lucked out with this merger! Radio is something I want to take seriously but it also takes the biggest risk to get into it and that is getting out of the Navy!

Really something for me to think on and pray about.

Photos will be coming soon!

-Sam-