Having fun in all the right places

Now that the weather's warmed up a little bit, Shayne and I have decided to get back on track exploring our city. This week we got a few extra days off due to Lunar New Year, so we called our new friends, Jared and Elia, and headed off across the city to visit the famed Ulsan Grand Park.

(Starting off with high hopes)

The park was built a few years ago with millions in city money, and is chock-full of games, fun and amusements. We intended to get the most out of our day...and our $2.50 in parking fees.

Here's Elia trying out the first thing we came across: a (very) small climbing wall next to what seemed to be a roller-skating fun course. We just walked along the fun course (being without roller-skates), and Elia mastered the peaks. (Shayne's note - for those of you out of the loop, a roller-skating fun course is Jo speak for a roller-skating track.) (Shayne's note part Deux - Who still uses the term rollerskating anyway?)

Ahh...just in case you weren't sure who sponsored the park, here's a giant, cabbage-rimmed clock to remind you: SK, "Korea's number one mobile communications company." And in case you were wondering, the time is correct.


Further on we discovered a serene lake, replete with a windmill. Perfect for romantic walks by couples in matching outfits.


On the other side of the lake we discovered something very cool. A huge area devoted to various outdoor games. There was Throw the Darts into the Bucket, Whip the Top, and what game area would be complete without...


...a row of mini teeter-totters - perfect for launching your date or child onto the mats so kindly provided.

But that stuff was all small-time. As we got deeper into the giant park, we discovered diversions that made our whole trip worthwhile.


Behold, the nylon sledding hill. For only 4,000 won (4 bucks, or so) you can slide down this hill as many times as you like. Of course, most people were better drivers than me. Somehow I just couldn't steer the damn thing.

...I guess that's why they have these handy inflated bumpers. Sigh...one more foolish foreigner feuling the myth that white people can't drive.


Take a close look at the above photo. This is by far the coolest thing I've ever seen in a public park. It's a mini roadway! And it has functioning traffic lights, crosswalk signals, a tunnel, and even a pedestrian overpass. Where were these when I was a child?


Look, the little guy is actually obeying the red light - sooo cute!


They even have a mini parking lot!


Anyways, the childhood fun didn't end there. Further along was this strange rubberised rope castle. That was okay, but the big money was next door. Check this out...


It's a freakin' trampoline mountain! I was born too late and on the wrong continent.

Anyway, we only made it about half-way into the park before our stomachs started crying out for some lunch. Unfortunately in all the planning, they didn't create any "fun" activities for adults....like a pub or something. So we heading back out of the park in search for something to eat. We came across this....


No, your eyes aren't playing tricks with you. It's a creepy white guy taking a crap...in a clothing store's shop window. I have no explanations.

Well, that was our day, such as it was. I'd like to end off with some incredibly insightful message, but I just don't have one. The dude on the toilet wiped all my insightfulness clean away...ba dum bum. Have a good one.

Jo