Korean Magic

I left my second Korean port disappointed. I really wanted to love Korea and I was totally bummed that I didn't connect. Then I arrived in Masan. Masan is great.

It's sweetly nestled into the hillsides.

The port is thriving with a steady stream of merchant ships and an endless flow of fishing vessels.

The air is crisp and the mornings pastel.

The people are friendly and want to chat.

Most importantly the Longshoreman are excellent.

I'd come back here in a heartbeat.

*as I was sitting here typing this a longshoreman came up to me and said, 'Korean magic' and then began to perform a magic trick where I put a hammer into a strap and then he whipped away the strap.*

Like I said, I'd come back here in a heartbeat.

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Rainy Days.

I can't figure out if it rains all the time in Korea so they're super used to it and plan accordingly or if it never rains at all and they're confused about how to best proceed. Either way, it's misty and the hillsides look like the kind of Korean art work you see in people's walls. You know the kind I'm talking about. Cypress trees and rocks and misty low hanging clouds.

We're idle at the dock waiting for the rain to dissipate and I'm loving the 'catch up day'. So many in port days recently has left me quite a bit behind in the paperwork department. All the while I'm loving the rain I'm hating that its just adding days to this ever lengthening trip. I'm currently at day 85 and we haven't even started crossing the pacific yet. In fact, we're two ports away from being westward bound!

On that note I say, 'rain, rain, go away'!

It's good to be...

....Chief Mate sometimes. Like when you're tired and come out on deck first thing in the morning to undock and make up the tugs....

....and you bring your coffee with you....

....and no one says anything about it or calls you a douche bag.

Korea.

I've wanted to come to Korea for a long, long time. Probably because I'm half Korean. I may be the whitest Korean with the bluest eyes you've ever met. Kidding. Although this was the joke growing up because my Step-Dad Johnny is Korean. We've talked a lot about Korea in my house over the years. I'm not exactly sure what I imagined buuuut I'm pretty sure it's not this.

Several notes.

No one speaks English. Normally, at least someone in the port speaks English. Nope. Not here.

This port is smelly. Like really rancid grain. I hate to say this but the smell is worse than the camel pier in Djibouti. Yes. That bad.

Their Kim Chee smells waaaay more pungent than ours. Also, there was no Kim Chee for sale in jars at the grocery store. I thought that would have been a given (and the perfect present for Johnny).

Highlight of my stay?

The Agent delivering me some Bi Bim Bap.

Ohayo!

Hello from Okinawa! My life long dream of making it to Japan has come true! This is a BIG day in Nautie Mermate Land!

Today a little truck pulled up to the ship and the bed of the truck was full of bentos.

I felt so incredibly at home.

I must say, Okinawa is the furthest from home while feeling at home that I've ever been. (Did that even make sense?!)

Link Love :: Gender Equity, Molasses and Flakiness

In July, I made this list.  I followed this tutorial to comply with the list.  It works!  But, they were right - don't put it in the dishwasher - if you do your mug will have a semi scratched up 'Nautical but Nice' written on it.....

I want to go here.  I also want my friend Baisey to go with me.

Agreed.  We should stop flaking out.

A Mettle Making Quote.

Gender Equity.  Interesting.

I had no idea there was a molasses pipeline in Hawaii.  Apparently, there was no contingency plan for a spill.  That's just absurd.

11 Untranslatable Words.

You can take your roots with you.  Preach.

I love me some Humans of New York.

I tend to store up internet goodness like a squirel preparing for the winter.  What's the point of storing up internet goodness if not to share with friends?!