Super Fun Day!

Last Friday I hung out with my awesome friend Corinna.  She promised to take me out to see some fun stuff, and she delivered!  We went to the most amazing hole-in-the-wall antique/thrift store and we spent a long time browsing through all sorts of fun things randomly stacked around.  It was so much fun!  I was not really to spend $30 on the fabulous ninja sword I liked, but I got a sweet set of mini kokeshi dolls for $5.

We roamed the Kintai area and I saw all sorts of neat shops.  We ordered some custard filled pancakes and perused a fruit stand which had a jar of honey I could not live without.  And oranges.  I got a bunch of yummy mikon oranges.

Next we went to lunch.  Oh my!  She showed me her favorite Udon place and it was surprisingly tasty. I had not been impressed with my prior Udon experience, and this was so much better.  And the tempura..... be still my heart!   After we giggled our way through lunch she took me to a food supply store.  It was kind of like a small shop that sold bulk foods, and a good variety of them as well.  It was great to be there with someone who knew what a lot of the foods were and could tell me about them. I have discovered a source for bulk yeast and awesome appetizers. Oh, and lots of odd things like squid and octopus. Alas, we ran out of time about then and had to go home.  I had a very good time.

Some of the things in the fun antiquey shop.

Me and my new friend!  Awesome carved mask with the "hair" on that guy being the natural roots.  Way cool! 

This is what the front of the shop looks like.  So I can find it again!

The little fruit stand was fun, and it had a box of this!  These are balls of... mochi and are made out of rice.  They are rather popular.

Curry Udon.  I know, sounds odd, but very delish. 

 Plus the tasty chicken, pork (that was a surprise!), and squash tempura, and rice ball.  So good!

Look what the food store had! 

And this is just for my dad.  Awesome!

Check it out!  More American stuff.... but triple the cost, ouch!

I have no idea what this is, but I may need to get it!

Mmmmm, this, I can do without.

Another familiar item.

And these are Grrrrreat!

Birthday Love

 Delaney was at James' house in Korea on her actual birthday.  And she had a great day.  We had a little family celebration when she came back home and she was pleased with it.  She asked for a pink inside cake with white frosting and hearts.  She got a strawberry cake, which was pink, with white frosting and one heart made of pink sprinkles on top.  It was devoured with no complaints.  There was a too-large loot haul which she enjoyed immensely and was so excited about that we had to open gifts before we ate the cake.  Delaney was most delighted by a little kid-sized sewing machine.  It ws a good birthday for her!

The lucky girl and her cake.

The joy at realizing it is a sewing machine! 

Pleased to show it off and barely able to continue on with her festivities when all she wants to do is start using it. 

Lots of little helpers here. 

Rylee wanted in on the action, but did not want to give me a cute pose.

Delaney's Trip: The end

  

A view from the top!  We hiked the hill with the famous tower overlooking Seoul.

It was a warm enough day that performers came out to do some traditional dancing and swordplay.

The best angle to see the tower and pogoda at the top simultaneously.

She's a Daddy's girl.

Those are not Christmas trees, just wire frames.  Couples come up and put a padlock on the trees and some fences with a personal inscription to symbolize their commitment.  They were everywhere.

She and James really enjoyed their time together.

The famous Seoul fish market!  Tons of fun, as you can see.  We saw Tiger Shrimp twice as big as any I had ever seen in New Orleans and there was a lady would let you get suction-cupped by a live baby octopus.  Delaney did not want to do that.

Octopus, anyone?

Coincidentally, less than 1/2 a mile from the fish market was the aquarium.  Not a bad place...got through it in less than 2 hrs.

That's a static display sea lion Delaney is sitting on.  Kids can find entertainment anywhere.

The other sea lion was not cooperative that day.  It was funny to see this one do all the showmanship while the other one just goofed around.

Delaney's Trip: The middle

We went to Lotte World which is the largest indoor Amusement Park in the world.  It was huge.

This was a popular play area that Delaney and James barely got into for height limitations.  Very soft Disney knockoff figurines to climb, beat or otherwise abuse at your leisure.

These projectiles shot as many soft balls into the air as you can stuff in the vacuum below.  Great fun!

When you get tired of vertical shots you can take aim with these air cannons.  It feels like someone is throwing oversized marshmallows at you.

Not from Pinnochio..nod nod, wink wink, even though the raft just out of view is piloted by an old man and a wooden boy.

Vertical lift and drop.

Bumper Cars.

The entrance to the indoor river raft ride.  Not a lot of getting wet on this one.

This art gallery was great for its 3D effect.

My little Angel!

James being silly.

James, Katrin and Delaney Having fun.

Delaney and Katrin posing with the wall art.

When it is 30 degrees outside this place is popular.

The parade was as good as any done by Disney.

She didn't get her photo bombing skills from me.  I am guessing the Mad Hatter and Cinderella knockoffs are Eastern European.  It was very interesting to see Koreans everywhere and then the parade was filled with Caucasian dancers like these two. 

Delaney's Trip: The Beginning

Delaney finally got her special trip.  If you recall, we have a tratition of taking our kids on a special trip around the time they turn 8.  This year it was Delaney's turn!  She was so excited.  Dan got the honor of taking her and they went to Korea.  This was a doubly special trip because they got to visit Delaney's great friend James, who was our neighbor back in New Orleans.  It was a great trip for both of them.

Delaney enjoyed her first ride on a bullet train.  Only 1.5 hrs from Iwakuni to Fukuoka main station.

We got to ride a bus along the flightline to the international terminal.

Can't wait to get off and get our tickets to Korea!

James' dad built this and hauled it to Korea.  The bed was a highlight for the trip.

Delaney got a jewelry box from James for her birthday.

Delaneyenjoying the moment with James and Katherine.

Seoul, including the Army base there, is a crowded place.  James is lucky to live in a duplex.  Not a bad place.