Pleurisy

The latest news from Mark is Pleurisy. Not as sever as the last time (about a year ago when I was hospitalized with pneumonia). Anyway, I'll be out of action for a few days. I just need to sit around and take it really easy. I can't exert myself because I get short of breath very easily. So I'm staying in doors either laying down or sitting most of the day. It started suddenly yesterday morning, but I managed to go to the doctor, go for an X-Ray and pick up the meds. It was initially sore continuously, then just sore when I breath in, now it is not sore much at all, but I'm still taking ibuprofen.

Price Check for Kevin

Kevin, check it out, you won't go hungry man:

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I always favour freedom of choice, so here's the competition too:

(1,000 Won = €0.80 Euro)

Korea

I've been a bit slow to blog about my trip, sorry! Now I'm in Korea, I'll have to tell you about China in a couple of days, but first Korea. I've been to an Irish bar called "O'Kim's", in the basement of the Westin hotel. The Guinness cost 16,000 Won (about US$16, or EU€12.50), like everything in Korea, bloody expensive! I ordered to local brew at a mere €7 a pop. I was probably the only Irish person, the only Westerner, in the whole place. Bars are popular in Seoul on a Friday night, a crowd of all ages and genders, in groups of two to twenty. The Koreans are very sociable.

While I ordered my "hang sandwich", I asked, as a joke, if I got a discount for being Irish. He asked if I was really Irish, and said no discount, just a free beer! (And I had already ordered the cheapest one!)

I tried to tip the barman on the way out (the price of a beer in Ireland, not Korea), but he wouldn't take it.

Seoul is a big and busy city. I'll post some more pictures in a few days:

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In China

4pm Beijing, 9am Dublin

KLM are not exactly in the same league as BA, Virgin, or Singapore Airlines I think, but the flight was OK. No in-seat screens in coach class. Crappy movie. Food and service was fine. I spent most of the flight reading or working(*) on my laptop.

The hotel is lovely, as usual. I had a 2 hour nap and a shower and I feel fine. Need some food now. I have managed to persuade my head that it is afternoon. My stomach on the other hand is going to be a hard sell. It won't accept either a double shift of a skipped shift. (If you suffer from this form of Jetlag and know a cure, please post a comment and let me know. By "a cure", I don't mean "the cure". I tried that it just makes things worse.)

* Working = playing Simpons Hit & Run, or watching Dead Like Me.

China & Korea

From this Saturday for 8 days I'm going to be on the road again.

First Beijing for Sunday and Monday, then Guangzhou for Wednesday. Flying to Seoul in Korea on Thursday and back to Beijing on Saturday. Coming home Sunday. I'll probably have to sleep for two days when I get back! I may have a few hours off here and there. I've never been to Korea before, but this is my third trip to China. I am looking forward to it.

Unfortunately I'll be on the road for my birthday. Andrea and I will have to celebrate it when I come back.

New Bike

I went to Mike's Bikes in Dun Laoghaire and got myself this cheap and generic bike. This is my plan for getting some exercise! I have to get a helmet now.