Not Everyone Had A Merry Christmas....

As we celebrate the holidays, let's not forgot those less fortunate. For example, this bird has been 1) dead and 2) in front of my office window for the last 3 weeks. He looks like he got in a fight with a lawn mower and lost. I wish someone would give him a proper burial. We could fire off the 2nd Infantry Division cannon for him during PT....

In honor of this fallen bird, I have written a haiku:

This bird has fallen

His wings will fly no longer

Someone scoop him up.

It's A Skype Christmas!

OK, this is cool.

Live, via satellite from South Korea, It's Christmas in North Carolina!!!!

Mom, Dad, Dan, Deanna, Brian, Molly, and the newest member of the Korte family, baby EMMA! Thank you, Deanna, for letting me celebrate Christmas with my family even though I am a few miles away in S.Korea and cannot attend in person. This made my Christmas. Ho Ho Ho!

Thanking God For This and All Wacky Adventures

The wacky Christmas Adventure in Seoul is complete, and it is time to go to mass and thank God for my many blessings.

In the United States, my family is gathered together and happy. Thank you, God.

My friends back in the states are with their families, enjoying the sweet air of freedom. Thank you, God.

A few hundred miles to the North, Kim Jong-Il is drinking egg nog and not shooting stuff at us. Thank you, God.

I am healthy and rested and only 10 months and a week away from my triumphant return to the United States. Thank you, God.

Please continue to bless my family and loved ones, especially those who are sick and need your care.

Blame It On The Train, Yeah-Yeah

No wacky Seoul adventure would be complete without a wacky subway story.....Nothing too wacky, just a subway that just decided to stop, empty, and go backwards. Everybody needs to get off! This train is reversing direction rather than take me back to Uijeongbu. Clearly an attempt to get me back to the casino, but I am much too disciplined for that. Nice try, subway system!

Place Your Ad Here......

Whew. So glad to be back from Seoul, and away from all of the lights and colors and advertisements everywhere.....Oh. Yikes. There is a lot going on in this building. I'm pretty sure you can rent DVDs while going to the doctor and picking up eyeglasses while doing your nails and eating bulgogi and ahhhhhhh OVERLOAD!

There's a Hot Dog In Your Bagel. No, There's a Bagel In Your Hot Dog....

Admittedly, I am not very adventuresome when it comes to food in Korea. This may be the line. It's a hot dog, sort of. This was pretty tasty, but I couldn't tell you what all was in it if my life depended on it. Centuries from now archeologists will dig up the Paris Baguette underneath the Seoul Station subway and discover this gem. Most likely it will still be on the tray, uneaten and waiting for it's place in history.

A pagoda at the grounds of Seoul Tower. Reaching this was awesome. I was pretty tired from the steep climbs to get to the top. So So So cold, and I lost my right glove. I kept taking off my single Michael Jackson glove and switching hands to keep from losing a hand.

Pumping Iron

Interesting. I was just thinking, "you know what Seoul Tower needs? a place for me to bench press" -- and BAM! Here it is. Little areas like this are common in Seoul. Along the Han River there are many exercise areas. This is why Korean men are notorious for being super muscular. Wait, what? They aren't? Oh. Well, I dig the bench press. If it wasn't 10 degrees I would have gotten my lift on. I like that it's here.

NICE.

OooOOOoooh.

This is the big payoff. After running up the giant hill, I have reached the top and now have a beautiful view of Seoul. This picture does not capture 10% of what I saw, but it is still pretty. If you want a full view, you will have to join me. City life, mountains, a big river, skyscrapers, villas, it's all there. It is even prettier at night. Love Seoul. Just wish it wasn't so darn far away from the USA, because everyone should visit!!!

Seoul Tower

This is Seoul Tower, from a distance. It lights up in multiple colors at night, it's amazing. Here it is just a needle in the distance. To celebrate my roulette victory, I shall run to the top of the hill at the Tower. Cue the music: Survivor - Eye of the Tiger

It's A Christmas Miracle, Charlie Brown! (+$1,000)

OK, so I got a little side-tracked on my wacky Seoul adventure. My subway stop to get to Seoul is "Seoul Station" -- and 7Luck Casino is literally on the way to Seoul Tower from the subway....Seriously. So I sat down, and the Korean dealer wished me a Merry Christmas and the Korean cocktail waitresses had on little Santa dresses and I decided I better come in and quickly get out! The detour was quite successful, as I started with $200 and raked in $1,200. Thankfully they now have 50,000Won (roughly $50) bills, otherwise all that bling would have weighed me down as I ran up Seoul Tower :)

Merry Christmas, indeed. That cash will help me get back to the states. That was my Christmas present to myself. Merry Christmas, me.

Wacky Christmas Adventure, Here I Come!!!

Ok. Here I go. It's 5am, and the subway just opened. I have 5 hours to travel to Seoul, run up Seoul Tower, take pictures, play some games of chance, have a bite to eat, and make it back to Uijeongbu in time for Christmas Mass at noon. Ready? GO!

Back To Korea!!!

I took a little breather from Korea and scooted off to Florida. My dear friend got married and I went there to make sure both parties said "I do" -- Mission: Accomplished.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!!!!!!

...:::[ CPT Michael Korte ]:::...

Seoul at Night

Amazing picture I found of Seoul at night. This is exactly why I liked living here in 2007-2008.
Items on the SEOUL BUCKET LIST include:
-COEX Underground Mall & Aquarium
-The 63 BLDG
-Seoul Tower (been there already but I love it)
-Seoul Grand Zoo
-Dongdaemun Market
-Moonlight Rainbow Fountain

Shopping Districts: 

• Seoul: Myeongdong, Apgujeong, Cheongdam, Dongdaemun Market, Insadong, Itaewon, Gangnam-gu, Samseong-dong, Yongsan, Hongdae, Daehangno, Namdaemun Market

FOOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I think it is safe to say that Mongolian BBQ is one of the top5 things that will keep me from going insane here. OK, here is my secret to the greatest Mongolian BBQ, for those interested in replicating:

-Chicken

-Pineapples

-Onions

-Red and Green Peppers

-Diced Tomatoes

-Unsalted Peanuts

-Sesame Oil

-Crushed Red Pepper

_____YUM_____Serve with white rice. So So good. It shall be a Thursday Night ritual.

Trouble Ahead! Danger! Danger!

The last time I was stationed in Korea, this was my getaway. If my time in Korea was Saved By The Bell, this would be "The Max" If my time in Korea was Beverly Hills, 90210, this would be "The Peach Pit." This time around, I hope I will go a lot less, maybe even give it up all together. You can see the allure though. Lights. Lots of them. I, like most men, am drawn to shiny objects and the prospect of quick cash. This is one place I should probably keep off my Korea sight-seeing adventures...if for no other reason than the fact that I have seen it dozens of times before.

OLD NEWS!

Winter Wonderland Outside My Office

Very cool to see this outside my window. Kind of distracting though....All I want to do is make snow angels out there....

The Road Ahead.....

So...My DEROS date is listed as 5 November 2011, which is less than 11 months away. DEROS means Date Eligible for Return from Overseas Service, a drawn-out way of saying "First opportunity to get the F out of dodge." This may change, I sure hope not, but usually single people who go to Korea without family stay for one year and no more unless they ask for it. I will not be asking for more time here. I do intend, however, to enjoy the next 11 months and keep a good attitude about my situation. Situation: I want to be in the United States. Now. That said, the road ahead should be entertaining and filled with wacky stories. I hope to document them here.

Welcome to Uijeongbu

Well, here I am. Uijeongbu, South Korea. Here on a mission to recreate M*A*S*H, at least the hilarious parts. Will I dress like a woman to get thrown out? Will I hook up with "Hot Lips" Houlihan? Will my final post get the best ratings in blogger.com history? No, No, and probably not. This blog is just to share my experiences as an American in Korea. Enjoy.