Lady and The Tramp Date Night

To Eat: Le Miel

As downtown Pyeongtaek slowly dwindles,

other areas like 동삭동 are starting to take off.

Sometimes we don't go near AK Plaza for months.

 

UPDATE: All current blogging for area recommendations has moved to the blog South of Seoul.

A new reason to try the new neighborhoods

is this love Italian restaurant called Le Miel.

This is where you want to go 

for blue cheese pasta or real carbonara 

which shine more than the seafood tomato pasta.

It's also one of our favorite new date nights

since the restaurant sits right on the river walk.

After dinner we can go and take a lazy stroll

and tell each other stories.

Far more relaxing than the hustle and bustle downtown.

Address: 경기도 평택시 동삭동 704-7 

Phone: 031-657-7288

Website: 031-657-7288

Pain in the Neck

My neck has been killing me since last Sunday and the two year old painkillers I found in the back of the closet just weren't cutting it.  Then this morning my glasses broke. So today at lunch I took some sick leave because I have that now.

Before going to the ER I stopped by the glasses shop across the street and in 30 minutes I had an eye exam and new glasses for $95.  

On a side note, the eye exam was one of the best I've had. Didn't even know one could have an opinion on eye exams until today, but now I don't want to go anywhere else.

Once at the hospital my Dr visit with X-rays took 30 minutes and cost $14 including medication.  So much medication.  Such a lovely pain killing shot.

Since the whole thing only took two hours with drive time included, I tried to go back to work but they told me no, I needed to go home and rest. So I headed straight to The Stoop for ginger ale and a salad, then I went home to bed.

Days like today are my favorite and happiest kinds of days. Sure, bad stuff happened but there is so much joy in having ones basic needs met.

Spicy Romance

To Eat: Swoyambhu Restaurant

Romance is warm colors,

strong flavors,

and shared memories.

Today we celebrated these memories of college

and last Christmas when we ran away to India

with the tastes make it all real again.

Name: Swoyambhu Restaurant

Address: 경기도 평택시 평택동 45-7

Naver Map: http://me2.do/F5xXLzMt

Social Climbers

Last week one of my younger students came in to chat with me before class started.  We were discussing our favorite summer activities and I told him I loved rock climbing.  The next day, as soon as I walked into school he came bouncing out of his class to give me a brochure for a climbing gym in Songtan and Pyeongtaek.  He said he went with his parents and had a really great time.

Although I knew this gym was in Pyeongtaek City, I hadn't realized there was one in Songtan.  I hadn't even thought to look. Of course I had to to check it out.  I mean, it was recommended by a third grader. 

The gym is about 5 minutes walk from Seojeongri Station.  It's only bouldering, but that's fine with us.  We climb outside on weekends so we are just looking for a place to train a few hours during the week.  The owner and climbers were very welcoming.  Sure, they didn't speak much English, but you can figure things out.  The Harri-bou-bou will be joining the gym after summer holiday and I will most likely join this winter.

They gyms are open Monday - Friday but closed on the weekends.  

They stay open until 10 or 11pm.

The price is 80,000 a month.

Discount for couples membership.

Discounts for 3, 6, 12 month plans.

Not sure the price for kids/families.

They don't usually do single use.

There is an are for storing gear.

Songtan:

Name: 평택클라이밍센터

Address: 경기도 평택시 이충동 467-8

(Where we went)

Pyeongtaek:

Name: 평택클라이밍센터

Address: 경기도 평택시 비젼동 818-3

(We haven't visited here)

Public Displays of Napping

I need naps.

I embrace naps.

I practice naps.

Hidden throughout the cities and countryside,

beneath the leaves and between the trees,

 are napping havens.

Sometimes I just stop what I am doing

take of my shoes and rest.

There is no reason to be tired

in a culture that accepts cat naps

as a normal part of life.

Put your pride aside,

let down your guard,

stretch out and relax.

Listen to the birds,

watch the sun in the leaves,

enjoy the banter of grandmothers.

Be still in public 

and say, "I am home."

You will be amazed at what you will discover

about yourself and the world around you.

A quick stretch and rest on these do a stiff back good.

Feel free to kick off your shoes and crash.