The reason we had to go to bed early is because the next day we were going to Lotte World! The largest indoor amusement park in Korea (and Asia? and the world? I dunno).

We hopped on a subway early in the morning and made the trek across Seoul to the park's location. The subway station was really nice, as it is beneath the amusement park, Lotte Hotel, and Lotte Department store, some of the swankiest places in Seoul. There were statues in the subway that were reminiscent of the higher priced casinos in Atlantic City.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v436/douglaspeters/more%20pics/IMG_7923.jpg

But we weren't interested in gambling, we were looking for:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v436/douglaspeters/more%20pics/IMG_8093.jpg

We got our tickets and entered the park. The building it is in has tons of floors. The top four floors are the park itself. Then there's a floor or two of shops and restaurants, with the bottom floor being a giant ice rink that you can see from all the floors in the building.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v436/douglaspeters/more%20pics/IMG_7924.jpg

We took a quick walk through the indoor area of the park, checking out the rides and scenery.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v436/douglaspeters/more%20pics/IMG_7925.jpg

The place is so big, you can literally fit the whole world in there.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v436/douglaspeters/more%20pics/IMG_7926.jpg

As we were walking through the park, a band was performing on stage. As we were moving to the outdoor area, they walked right by us and Annie wanted a shot.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v436/douglaspeters/more%20pics/IMG_7932.jpg

Now, the indoor area itself is huge. However, there is also an outdoor area for all the goodness they couldn't fit inside. From this shot of just entering the outdoor area, can you guess what famous park they are involved in with copyright infringement?

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v436/douglaspeters/more%20pics/IMG_7935.jpg

This was a cool structure we saw on the side of the park while entering, which would turn out to the favorite ride of some later.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v436/douglaspeters/more%20pics/IMG_7936.jpg

However, the first thing we headed for was a giant ride visible from anywhere in the outdoor section of the park. It was called the Gyro Drop. It's basically a giant freefall machine. Here's the people who wanted to go on.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v436/douglaspeters/more%20pics/IMG_7942.jpg

Here's the people who stayed behind to take pictures.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v436/douglaspeters/more%20pics/IMG_7944.jpg

Here's one of their awesome pictures while waiting on-line.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v436/douglaspeters/more%20pics/IMG_7943.jpg

And the riders getting ready to go.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v436/douglaspeters/more%20pics/IMG_7952.jpg

Annie was very nice and took a video of the whole thing.

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=EJxzhnEmxjs

After the gyro drop, we headed over to that awesome ride mentioned before. It's a roller coaster that goes into and out of a building, with a little bit of water thrown in to mess you up. (See if you can notice it being sprayed on the tracks).

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v436/douglaspeters/more%20pics/IMG_7965.jpg

The name of the ride?

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v436/douglaspeters/more%20pics/IMG_7969.jpg

It was really fun because it's a roller coaster that starts you at going pretty fast. You then keep that speed through most of the ride. The drops were pretty surprising, particularly considering that some came in the dark. It became even more exciting for me when we got back to work the next day and my students said that's the ride that some people died on.

After that coaster, Rich and Jess went on a ride I thought looked a bit too thrilling for my tastes. Basically it was a giant pendulum that held a ring of seats at one end. As it swung you up and down, the ring of seats spun in a circle. While they were waiting in line for that, I went to go get some pics of the park. Like the Lotte World mascot in front of a cooling air vapor fan.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v436/douglaspeters/more%20pics/IMG_7982.jpg

Or a fountain of a gargoyle, vomiting water.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v436/douglaspeters/more%20pics/IMG_7984.jpg

Here's a map of the outdoor area of the park, to try and give you an idea of the number of things to do outside.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v436/douglaspeters/more%20pics/IMG_7985.jpg

And of course, the siblings grabbing a smoothie.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v436/douglaspeters/more%20pics/IMG_7988.jpg

I got back in time to see Rich and Jess getting ready to get on the next ride. This is a picture of what they were waiting to get on.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v436/douglaspeters/more%20pics/IMG_7994.jpg

I liked the seats because they all came with plastic covers, to stop you from screaming or crying on other riders.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v436/douglaspeters/more%20pics/IMG_7997.jpg

When the ride was in motion, I tried to get pictures of Thom and Jess in full swing. This one you can kind of see them on the right, but it's not the best shot.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v436/douglaspeters/more%20pics/IMG_8002.jpg

This one however gives you a much better idea of Rich's enjoyment.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v436/douglaspeters/more%20pics/IMG_7999.jpg

After the swinging ride, we went over to the haunted house of Lotte World. And this one was in 3d!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v436/douglaspeters/more%20pics/IMG_8011.jpg

The line for this wasn't long, but it took us a while to get inside. You don't walk through this ride like a normal haunted house. Instead, it's a 3D haunted movie. Since we were on line for so long, there were actors whose job it was to keep the clientele busy. Here's a Korean dressed like a crazy pirate who did card tricks.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v436/douglaspeters/more%20pics/IMG_8005.jpg

Also while waiting in line, I saw the scariest dolls I'll ever see in my life. They were that big and would just move around a bit, shaking their heads and looking possessed.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v436/douglaspeters/more%20pics/IMG_8006.jpg

After a while, we DID finally get into the movie.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v436/douglaspeters/more%20pics/IMG_8010.jpg

It was interesting. The animation was pretty good, and the 3D was alright. The story was told from the viewpoint of a cat who goes into a haunted house. During the movie, YOU are the cat and are seeing through its eyes. You start by taking a nap in the attic. Then you are chased by a ghost dog through the house. The next area was a doll room where all the dolls were possessed. This is where some of the really creepy stuff came into play. The dolls all looked pretty scary, and there was one whose head was on fire and it was peeling its melted face off. There was also the requisite jar of eyes and other body parts that all moved. After moving throughout the house for a while, you get to the end and find out the cat died during its journey and you are now a ghost cat. A nicely depressing end to an unsettling movie.

By this point it started raining outside, so we moved indoors. Our first ride was the Voyage of Sinbad.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v436/douglaspeters/more%20pics/IMG_8012.jpg

It was an awesomely shameless rip-of of Pirates of the Caribbean.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v436/douglaspeters/more%20pics/IMG_8013.jpg

Dave's favorite part was when we went by the two ghost skeletons and they started speaking Korean. Even though you know you're in a foreign country, sometimes it brings you back to reality when parts of a ride in an amusement park bust out in another language than the one you know. The rest of the ride of course was in Korean, so we kind of had to make up our own storyline. Jess and Annie had fun anyway.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v436/douglaspeters/more%20pics/IMG_8014.jpg

Afterwards, we got a picture of this jackass. He's standing next to the donkey.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v436/douglaspeters/more%20pics/IMG_8015.jpg

We went on some more rides, including a jungle river cruise that shamelessly ripped off Indiana Jones.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v436/douglaspeters/more%20pics/IMG_8016.jpg

Annie's favorite part of that ride was you went through a cavern with giant lit crystals in it. We all were amused at some of the warning signs on the rides to let you know who shouldn't go on them.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v436/douglaspeters/more%20pics/IMG_8022.jpg

To save time, we got a "fast pass" ticket to the French Revolution. This allowed us to walk onto the ride at a later time while we went to go stand on lines for other rides. The French Revolution is a completely indoor roller coaster that loops around the park, including some walkways (here's Dave looking at a rider on the coaster).

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v436/douglaspeters/more%20pics/IMG_8020.jpg

While waiting for our turn on the French Revolution (and, by the way, no idea why it's called that), we hit some of the lesser packed rides. The monorail was fun, but we were sad that the rain kept it from going outside. Otherwise, we would have had a complete tour of the whole park though. It DID however give me an opportunity to get a shot of the ride we were looking forward to the most as far as pictures go.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v436/douglaspeters/more%20pics/IMG_8024.jpg

That's a balloon ride that's attached to the ceiling that takes a slow tour around the park. We definitely wanted to hit that later. We headed next for the log flume, along the way taking a picture of some monkeys.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v436/douglaspeters/more%20pics/IMG_8028.jpg

Jess and Annie were still having fun.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v436/douglaspeters/more%20pics/IMG_8029.jpg

And the log flume.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v436/douglaspeters/more%20pics/IMG_8034.jpg

This ride was unfocused to say the least. The set up for the ride takes you through the downtown area of an Arab city, where men are shooting at each other. After the first little drop, you are taken to an outdoor area in which you are surrounded by dinosaurs. I don't really know what the concept they were going for was. The coolest part of the ride was that at the top, right before the last drop, there's a guy there to remind you to hold on and wave at you as you go over. He has the best job in the park.

Lotte World through a waterfall (with flash).

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v436/douglaspeters/more%20pics/IMG_8036.jpg

Lotte World through that same waterfall (no flash).

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v436/douglaspeters/more%20pics/IMG_8037.jpg

We also went to see a 4D movie while waiting for our roller coaster time. You sat in a theatre with 3D glasses and watched a movie. Sometimes something would happen in the movie and air was blown on you or water was sprinkled on you, thus bringing in the 4th dimension. The movie was strange, as it starred Christopher Lloyd, Mr. Green from Clue, and Leah Thompson, but was completely in Korean. Also, the movie sucked.

Our time was finally up to go on the French Revolution. We made it up there and literally walked directly onto the ride. Besides the parts we knew about, there was also the added bonus of having half the ride in total darkness. This happened as you spun in circles, right before getting put back into the light for the loop around the walkway (pictured above). The ride was really cool.

After that, we finally got a chance to go on the balloon ride. It was slightly unsettling, but offered amazing views of the scenery.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v436/douglaspeters/more%20pics/IMG_8048.jpg

Plus it was at this time night was falling, so lights were coming on all over the park.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v436/douglaspeters/more%20pics/IMG_8049.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v436/douglaspeters/more%20pics/IMG_8072.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v436/douglaspeters/more%20pics/IMG_8076.jpg

I also got a close up of the ceiling (kinda) to try and give an idea of how much glass covered the park. Plus, in between all of those windows there were bulbs that lit up with different colors to make the park an epileptic’s nightmare from top to bottom.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v436/douglaspeters/more%20pics/IMG_8055.jpg

There was even time for a video of the park since the ride was moving so slowly.

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=wE_5kBEr_lk

Now was definitely the best time for a group shot.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v436/douglaspeters/more%20pics/IMG_8073.jpg

After the balloon ride, we went for the last thrilling ride we hadn't gone on yet in the park, Pharaoh’s Fury. We waited outside of the rid until it was our turn, and then we were hurried through the amazing area inside the ride where the line was supposed to happen. There were tombs, sarcophagi, hieroglyphics, and what we think is a radio Jess owns.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v436/douglaspeters/more%20pics/IMG_8083.jpg

The ride was weird. You got in a jeep and were taken on a really rocky coaster ride through a tomb. Why you would ride a jeep through a tomb, I don't know. Also, the amount of shaking on the ride completely broke the illusion of riding in a jeep. If it shook that much, I'd be dead.

The group split after this to try and do our own things as we had different ideas of what our last rides should be. Dana, Annie, and I went back for the river rapids ride, taking a picture of the park mascot mural along the way.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v436/douglaspeters/more%20pics/IMG_8052.jpg

We managed to get on the ride twice in a row, which was fun.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v436/douglaspeters/more%20pics/IMG_8085.jpg

The others went for the indoor Pirate Ship ride, one of those rides that rocks you back and forth and makes Doug upset.

After all that was over, we met up in the main area for the fireworks show. Lights went off all through the park. Lasers began projecting things on screens and just across the walls everywhere. Giant TV screens with a Korean speaking Zeus lit up, showing all the different constellations.

Fireballs erupted from all around the skating rink.

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=AH0OACF3vZA

And at the end, indoor fireworks.

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=t-oyCJCAqLA

It was awesome.

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=blJdLuUW_Uo

We grabbed a subway back home and went to the Chinese fusion place for dinner. Rich and Jess had a wonderful day.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v436/douglaspeters/more%20pics/IMG_8094.jpg

Dave was happy that we got him a giant jjajjang dish.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v436/douglaspeters/more%20pics/IMG_8104.jpg

And Dana was happy when the drunken Koreans came over to talk to us.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v436/douglaspeters/more%20pics/IMG_8111.jpg

Who loved to get their picture taken as a group.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v436/douglaspeters/more%20pics/IMG_8115.jpg

They sat at our table for a while and tried to teach us a drinking game. This would have been awesome if a sociologist or ethnologist was here commenting. "I think they're trying to communicate. The one on the right seems to be the dominant male."

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=GwV4MzeAyYM

I really like this shot of Annie and me in the restaurant, because we look so mysterious.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v436/douglaspeters/more%20pics/IMG_8100.jpg

The next day, we got up early to see them off. It was Monday, so we had work, but we wanted them to get one more big sight seeing day in before they left. We sent them to Suwon, which has a traditional folk village. At work, I got a new class, which is full of tiny versions of what I would call "Assholes" if they were adults.

We decided that this night would be a blow out night, since the next night they had to get ready to fly and Annie could sleep in the next day. We started at the outdoor galbi restaurant that has a plethora of side dishes. The whole group came out, including Thom, Jess, and Dave.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v436/douglaspeters/more%20pics/IMG_8116.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v436/douglaspeters/more%20pics/IMG_8117.jpg

After dinner, we headed over to Pirate Bar one last time. Hilarity ensued. For starters, it was the first time we ordered a keg for the table, which Rich was excited about.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v436/douglaspeters/more%20pics/IMG_8121.jpg

Jess took it a bit more in stride.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v436/douglaspeters/more%20pics/DSC01189.jpg

Rich ended up eating too many bar snacks.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v436/douglaspeters/more%20pics/DSC01191.jpg

While Dave continued his slow metamorphosis into a Korean person while having his picture taken.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v436/douglaspeters/more%20pics/DSC01192.jpg

Rich and Jess still couldn't do it right.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v436/douglaspeters/more%20pics/DSC01201.jpg

But Jess and Dana WERE excited about it.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v436/douglaspeters/more%20pics/DSC01204.jpg

Then everyone started making strange faces.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v436/douglaspeters/more%20pics/IMG_8146.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v436/douglaspeters/more%20pics/IMG_8147.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v436/douglaspeters/more%20pics/IMG_8150.jpg

I love the dual focus of the people having their pictures taken.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v436/douglaspeters/more%20pics/IMG_8180.jpg

For what seemed like a while, conversation came up about five dollar bills in America. Rich and Jess got it into their head to do a pose of one. I don't know how exciting this video will be for other people, but they seemed to enjoy themselves.

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=TqhfryLgFI4

And finally, after all that preparation, the five dollar bill pose.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v436/douglaspeters/more%20pics/IMG_8190.jpg

As we left the bar, we needed some shots with the pirates.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v436/douglaspeters/more%20pics/DSC01214.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v436/douglaspeters/more%20pics/IMG_8206.jpg

We left the bar in high spirits, bound for our final destination, a norebong. We'd been saying we would take them to a norebong for a long time, so we were happy to have our chance. It was the first time we'd been to the one we took them to, and we were happy with all the side benefits. However, the group wasn't nearly as excited as I was about the free squid snack.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v436/douglaspeters/more%20pics/DSC01216.jpg

It took a little while to warm up, but soon people got into it, with random singles, couples, and groups all doing their own songs. Here's two of the ladies singing something.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v436/douglaspeters/more%20pics/IMG_8219.jpg

Dana and I got excited about our rocking score.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v436/douglaspeters/more%20pics/IMG_8230.jpg

And almost the whole group got up to support Dave (P. not M.) in whatever song this was, with Annie accompanying on tambourine.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v436/douglaspeters/more%20pics/IMG_8231.jpg

And even though he was tired, Rich really had a good time.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v436/douglaspeters/more%20pics/IMG_8258.jpg

Such a good time he got up and ripped out an angry version of some song with these lyrics.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v436/douglaspeters/more%20pics/IMG_8261.jpg

Followed by a raucous lead with female backing.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v436/douglaspeters/more%20pics/IMG_8262.jpg

Then the ladies took the helm themselves to do 'Material Girl'.

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=xkwu1X-Sj4M

It's impossible to stand and sing the whole time you're in a norebong, so sometimes you'd have a nice sit down while belting out a song.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v436/douglaspeters/more%20pics/IMG_8273.jpg

And yes, we DO have pictures of Rich and Dana together.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v436/douglaspeters/more%20pics/IMG_8276.jpg

This is me and Dave, knocking out the ONLY 100% perfection score for a song that evening.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v436/douglaspeters/more%20pics/IMG_8279.jpg

Followed by a good, but not quite as good as me, teaming of Dave with his other sibling on a different song.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v436/douglaspeters/more%20pics/IMG_8292.jpg

But Dave did pretty good rocking out to Weezer's 'Say it Ain't So'.

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=rL3LKRjjxfg

Dana and I got together again, but it didn't go very well. Linkin Park is not the easiest band to karaoke to.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v436/douglaspeters/more%20pics/IMG_8294.jpg

But all in all, Jess and Annie had a good time.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v436/douglaspeters/more%20pics/IMG_8297.jpg

We finished up the evening with a horrible group rendition of 'The Scientist'.

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=0L-IELJQdEk

The group all stumbled home pretty late (I want to say 4?) and hit the hay. I was the only one up the creek though. Tuesdays are usually sleep in days with classes starting at 2. This day however was parent-teacher conference day. I had to roll into work dressed to impress. It was difficult.

That evening, we went out for a quick dinner after work. For their last meal, they decided on having ribs. We sat around reminiscing about the week, and then went home to get everything in order.

Wednesday the twenty-third we all got up really early. We wanted to get them on a bus to the airport with plenty of time to spare. We walked down to the bus stop with them helping with their suitcases (two and a half of which had our stuff in them, so it was the least we could do) and saw them off. When the bus came, it was a mad scramble to get all the luggage on board, so there was no real time for hugs and kisses, but we all waved and said goodbye.

Annie and I went home and crashed on their floor bed for a bit but were up soon afterwards since that was the first day of our summer session morning classes. It's just like the winter session classes. Three days a week we come in at 10 instead of the normal afternoon times. Evening classes stay the same. We started laundry after we got home to get a jump on things and slept on the floor again with all the fans.

Thursday all we did was set up the floor bed to our liking to make it one giant bed instead of four smaller beds that are randomly connected.

Friday was our second morning class. The one good thing about morning classes is that anyone who teaches them is allowed to leave early. Friday's we usually have to stay until 9, but are now allowed to leave at 8. We met up with Thom and Jess for a dinner at Bennigan's. The funniest part about the meal was ordering a bottle of champagne and the waitress having a hard time popping it. We went to DVD rooms after that and then home to our respective apartments for well deserved rests.