April 15, 2010 More Adventures!

We began the day with coffee at the assisitant governor's office. Ten local Rotarians joined us as we went to a local garden park for a photo opportunity, We drank makali, a rice wine that tastes like a wine/beer combination. Needless to say, there were toasts for everyone! Next, we went on a tour of a noodle facility where noodles are made, processed and packaged. Some are made for distribution in the USA. Later we walked through a famous Garden & Gallery in Chungcheong. The artist who has his work on display in the gallery did the paintings using a brush in his mouth. After an accident, he no longer has use of his arms. The paintings depicted the beauty in the garden. For lunch, we had a delicious traditional Korean feast at a local wedding catering venue. Afterwards, we toured the caves of a business that processes and cures kimchi in caves dug out of a hill. The renown business has been featured on local television stations. Next, we toured a pottery factory and watched as clay was gradually transformed into plates, cups and bowls. The plant manager gave all of us cups as gifts to commemorate a fascinating tour. At 2:30pm we went to a restaurant named Siwelae with a breath-taking panoramic 150 degree view overlooking the ocean. Siwelae means "Autumn Love." A huge photo of Richard Gere and Winona Rider walking though fall leaves was featured prominently in the main dining hall of the restaurant. Next, off we drove to the Hongseong Bird Science Center. The center is dedicated to educating visitors about the importance of protecting birds and the environment. We toured the exhibition halls and watched an informative movie on that topic. Following a trip to the post office for postage stamps, we toured the Museum and home of General Kim Jwajin who was a brave freedom fighter for Korea. We completed our busy day with yet another feast at La De Fense Restaurant where 75% of the GSE team sang songs while 25% took photos.