Last year after running the Flying Pig Marathon, I decided that I was going to run at least a half marathon in every state.  In doing so, I decided to commit to the 2016 Tour Pass for the Rock N Roll Marathon Series.  Then after the Vegas half it became my goal to earn the “Hall of Fame” medal by running 15 races.

 

2/28 – New Orleans                                                   3/12 – Washington DC

3/19 – Dallas                                                                  4/9 – Raleigh

4/20 – Nashville                                                           6/18 – Seattle

8/7 – Dublin                                                                   9/3 – Virginia Beach

9/17 – Philadelphia                                                      9/25 – Montreal

10/8 – Brooklyn                                                             10/15 – St. Louis

11/5 – Savannah                                                             11/10 – Las Vegas

12/3 – San Antonio

Dates struck through indicates I did not participate  

Under my plan not only would I earn entry into the “Hall of Fame” I would also earn various limited edition medals such as: World Rocker, Lone Star Legend, Southern Charm, Eastern Odyssey and the Midwest Quest.

These would also be supplemented by the “heavy medals”:  Double Beat, Rock Trio, Groupie, Roadie, Six String, Stairway to Seven, Eight Track, Headliner and Gold Record.   If everything goes to plan I will finish 2016 with 30 medals (not including 5K or remix medals that would be an additional 16 medals).

However, after injuring my knee and kidney stones I am not sure if I am going to make it; my goal maybe a little overachieving.  So far I have dropped two races, New Orleans and Washington DC – I am not just simply ready.   Now I am starting to question if it is worth trying to find additional races to replace those.  I am thinking about replacing them with the races in San Jose on 10/1 and Vancouver on 10/22 but I am just not sure.  I will be so close to the Hall of Fame but at the same time I am just telling myself it is just a medal but in the same thought I have to say that quite an accomplishment.

For the past 10 years I have been looking into going to Las Vegas.  I bought guide books, planned out trips and book rooms but I always ended up having to cancel them.  That was until this past November when I finally made it to Las Vegas.  What finally got me there … well a marathon of course.

I flew in on Friday night and back on Monday … I didn’t have time but I was there, I saw the strips, ran the strip, ate some food, hung out with good people and even gambled a little.   My first experience was good and prefect length (time) wise.

After I got to my room on Friday evening, I decided to go for a late run around and see the strip. After making my way through the MGM Grand I was on the strip.

At first I just walked around and took in the atmosphere — I let it sink in, that I was Las Vegas.   It was honestly pretty late (10 pm) so not a lot of places were open.  So I ended up doing a lot of looking.

I thought it was really cool that Vegas was very welcoming to the marathon and the runners.  Billboards all over the strip welcomed runners.

One store I found open was the M&M store was open so I strolled through (with buying single one I may add), then I window shopped at a few stores.

Then I walked through a few of hotels.

The day that I flew out to the Vegas the Paris terrorist attacks occurred .  In support of the victims and city the lights were out on the Eiffel Tower at Pairs Pairs.

Walking around on the strip, I honestly felt under dressed because I was in running capris, a long sleeve t-shirt and running shoes but I did not care.   When I was walking through the Cosmopolitan and I found a place called Holsteins. Growing up on a cattle ranch, I just had to try one of their milkshakes.  So I found myself sitting at the bar ordering a milkshake next to people in cocktail dresses and suits (while in running clothes) … I have say that was one of the best chocolate milk shakes I had in a long time.

The next morning I met up with my friends for breakfast and had some of the best crapes I  ever had.

The rest of the day was spent preparing for the next day’s race but that night I meet up my friends for evening of fun… First we did dinner at Piero’s (see post here), then we went to Stratosphere and saw Vegas from above and did a little gambling.

While most of my time in Vegas was spent preparing for the half marathon, I was still able to get a good sense of what the city is all about.  It’s a good get away city.   You can definitely go there and relax.   The food and dinning is among some of the best in the world.  The atmosphere is next to none, as well.  And lets not forget the people watching.

You can walk around for hours on end just looking at the different hotels and casinos.  I honestly was not all that impressed with replica architecture, mainly because I have seen the real stuff, but they still look extremely cool.

My favorite thing about Vegas is the setting … when you on the strip you feel like you in a middle of a bustling city but then you look up or out your hotel window (depending where your room is) and you see the mountains.   I want to go back — I want to see some shows, explore downtown Vegas, and explore the surroundings mountains, along with the Grand Canyon and Hoover Dam.

 

The night before the big race (Rock N Roll Las Vegas) we had dinner at Piero’s.  How can you go wrong with pasta and protein before a big race?  You cannot!  Nor can you go wrong with Piero’s!

Just off the Las Vegas Strip is Piero’s a legangary landmark restaurant where members of the Rat Pack met.   The restaurant opened in 1982 and quickly became a favorite among locals and celebrities.  Parts of the movie Casino was filmed here.   It was also said to be a favorite spot of Mr. Blue Eyes himself, Frank Sanatoria.

Part of the restaurant boast a supper club like atmosphere, with high-backed booths and chairs, providing a relaxed setting. Pictures of the famous Italian mobsters grace the walls.  The main dinning room has a causal and intimate feel and is full of Italian oil painting and fresh flowers.

Part of what makes Piero’s a Las Vegas staple is that it has had the same chief in the kitchen since it open.  Executive Chef Gilbert Fetaz believes in only serving the freshest food and believes in consistent cooking methods, which is what makes the food delectable and your dinning experience unforgettable.

One of the main dishes Piero’s is known for is the Osso Bucco.  Osso Bucco is veal with the bone intact, which has been stewed for hours. The meat is rich tender, rich and full of flavor. The meat is served along side linguine and a tiny marrow fork is offered to get to get out every last bit of goodness.

The Osso Bucco is one of Piero’s signature dishes and it is not even on the menu;  its so famous, people just ask for it.  We got the Osso Bucco as an appetizer, which gave us time to look for the menu.  The menu is full of Italian favorite … It honestly took me a while to decide what to order.  I finally decided on the scaloppine parmigiana which is sautéed veal with plum tomatoes, glazed with mozzarella and parmesan. It was served with grilled veggies.

We ended the night with a selection of their dolci.  Then as we were leaving, we ran into Pia Zadora.

My last half marathon of 2015 happened around 4 months ago but then life happened.  So here is my recap of the Rock N Roll Las Vegas Half Marathon from November of 2015.

I went into the weekend and race very unprepared. I was just 10 days post-op from having some cyst removed.   I almost didn’t go but I would not let myself back out and I was so glad I did not back out…  This was a race full of so many first and so many memories.

One thing that made this race special was that it was first trip to Las Vegas.  (You can read more about that here).   Additionally,  I was there with a group of friends, which meant I actually had people to encourage me and cheer me on, which made the race even more special.  I can’t tell you how happy I was that I had friends at the race because it my first half marathon that I attended without my husband and while the race was going on my father in law, who is a huge lover of Las Vegas, was entering the final weeks of his life, which for me was very bittersweet.

I choose to stay at the MGM Signature Resort, which was closer to the start of the race but further away from the finish.  It was overall a good location because it was on the monorail route which made getting to expo and back from the races extremely easy.

The Expo

I typically just fly through the expo picking up my race pack and making sure I have / know everything I need to for the race.  Since I was running with friends this year I had someone to attend the expo with and it was actually a lot of fun.

After picking up our packets we strolled around the convention center floor browsing through the different booths.   We had fun making signs, picking up free stuff, shopping and getting our picture taken.

I definatly enjoyed attending the expo with a fellow runner 🙂

The Half Marathon 

I estimated that it would take me 1:45 to complete the half, which landed me in coral 6 (my best coral placement yet).   The only disappointment was that my friends were in a different coral.   I thought about hanging back and running with them but them I decided to go with my assigned coral.

Since the marathon is held a night.  The concert is held before the race.  I got to the start area just in time to hear the last part of the concert – Kidd Rock was the headliner.

After I got to my coral and stretched, I had my first disappointment… my bluetooth headphones would not connect. Luckily I had brought a wire pair.  Then I discovered my playlist didn’t sync across right; this left me in a bit of panic.  So I decided to listen to podcasts as I ran.  After the national anthem was belted out by a electric guitar, the flames went off and we were off.

Starting in the first couple of corals meant there was no standing around – something I was not use to.  I was on the course in a matter of minutes.  Honestly I was not ready to start, when I did.  The nerves took over and I had trouble settling into pace for the first mile. I think I literally sprinted for the 5K turning in pace marks of 6:59, 7:15 and 6:40 respectively, for a 5K pace of 20:54.  By this point I was past the Vegas Welcome sign and making my way back up the strip. The wind had picked up and it started raining lightly.

As I moved into the heart of the strip, I settled down to around a 9:00 minute pace.  There was something magical about running the strip.  I am not a gambler, drink or night owl, so I never thought I would find enjoyment in this but at this moment I did.   The lights, the people, the buildings, the music all made the strip magical.  At times I actually thought I was a big shot runner because I was running down the Vegas Strip!!!

When I reached the 10K point I was doing ok, I was a little head of pace but I also knew that if wind and rain did not break I would not be able to keep up my pace.  As pushed through last 5K I felt my body starting to breakdown.

I never cry when I run and started crying because I felt lonely, cold and exhausted. I was ready to quit.  I pulled myself off the course into the middle medium, for a few minutes, composed myself and gave myself a pep talk.  After a few minutes I was back on the course.  I made my way to right side so that faster runners could pass me and settled into a slow but steady pace.  I was running so slow the a member of the medical team stopped me to make sure I was ok (another half marathon first).

I don’t know how I got there but I reached the finished area.  I think all of the runners on the course at this point had one goal – to finish.  Everyone at this point was giving it their all to finish the race, you could see the determination in everyone’s face among the madness and celebration that  we running into – the music, the cheering crowds, the lights and fog.

When I hit the finish line the clock was 2:04:58.  I was so glad to be done that it didn’t sink in right away but that was a personal record.

I collected my medal, got some chocolate milk and water, then checked the stats on my watch… total running time was 1 hour and 58 minutes.  It hit me…. I set a new personal record!!!!

After I located my friend who was not running, I found a spot next to the Bellagio Fountains and just broke down in tears.  I did what I thought I would not be able to do … not only did I show and up run but I set a personal record.   The moment was bitter sweet, I called my husband a few minutes after to share the new with him and his dad but then reality of the situation with his dad hit me.   I sat in front of the fountains at the Belliagio and cried.  I cried because of my father-in-law, I cried because I was exhausted and I cried because I just want husband there to share the moment with.  After awhile, I met up with my buddy to watch our friends cross the finish line.  The Las Vegas Rock N Roll was by far the most exciting, unique, biggest and most memorable half marathon yet!

Post Race Celebration 

After we were all reunited we decided to do celebratory dinner at Gallagher’s Steakhouse.   I can honestly say – steak never tasted so good!

Today is leap day… so in honor of leap day I thought I would reflect on, what the biggest leap of faith I have ever taken my life so far?

I thought about this most of the day and I think the answer is simple, Allyn.

Allyn was not the type of guys I was use to.   Don’t get me wrong we have TONS in common but in terms of the type of guy I would date, I just was not sure; he was typically the type of guy I would be good friends.   When the two of us started dating I took a huge leap of faith, I put myself out there and thought of “us” before “I.”  He challenged me in and helped me see thing in a different perspective.  Allyn has also encourage to take “smaller” leaps over the years. Moving across the country, encouraging me to meet new people and just giving me the courage to handle things and succeeded on my own.

Before Allyn I think in many senses I was a afraid to leap to far without having certain comforts or support systems in place.  With Allyn I learned that it is okay to take a leap and not land perfectly.  Sometimes landing and making a big splash is better than not leaping at all.  If you don’t take that leap, you are missing out possibility of something even better.

As the leap day draws to a close I reflect on the leaps I have taken over the last couple years regardless how big or small or how big of splash they might have caused. I am glad for leaps I have taken in life from college to career moves to travel choices; all the leaps in life have made me into the person I am today.

N. Seoul Tower is an icon on the Seoul landscape.  It was one of the first places I visited and was one of the last places we visited when we were in Seoul.

Getting to the Tower is a journey… You can either walk/hike, bike, take a bus, taxi or cable car; you just cannot take a car

During our trip to Seoul, I visited the Tower twice. The first visit I did to the Tower was done solo, while Allyn was in a meeting one morning; I simply took off and hiked up to the Tower.  Then on our last night in Seoul, Allyn and I took a cable car up to Namsan Park and enjoyed dinner at the Tower.

Hiking up to the N Seoul Tower and Jangchungdan Park

Hiking up to N. Seoul Tower is not for the unfit.  Much of the walk is straight up hill, with several 90 degree curves.  Much of the path up to the Tower is rubber walking/running path, which makes the walk easier on the knees and feet. The walk is very scenic; there are several outlook on the path, giving way to beautiful views of Seoul.   Also noteworthy is the various natural elements from flowers to wildlife.

In total it took me about 45 minutes to reach the top of Nanam Mountain.  Regardless what time it is, making your way up to the top or come down from Nanam, there will be plenty of others doing the same thing, including those on bikes, runners, and even parents pushing strollers.

When I walked up to the N Seoul Tower, I did so by way of Jangchungdan Park, which was across from our Hotel.

Jangchungdan Park is small community park with playground equipment for children, a reflexology path, quaint landscaping, a tea garden, rock garden.

The Park connects to the Nanam Mountain, through a walking path that will take you up to the Tower.  The first part of the walking path is just pedestrians but as you get closer to the top the walking path is shared with automobiles (mostly buses).   One thing that is necessary for the making the hike up to the top of Nanam Mountain is water… make sure you carry a bottle of water with you.

A Place to Gather 

When you make it to the top of Nanam Mountain there are various places for people to gather. The area around the Tower is a park like atmosphere.  Love is theme that runs through much of the park area; flowers are even planted in heart designs.  There are various outlook where you can take in breath taking views of Seoul both during the day and at night.

While at the top it was explained to me, by a young couple, that it is the Korean tradition when you fall in love you make a pilgrimage to the N. Seoul Tower / Nanam Mountain area to declare your love to your significant other.  Centered in the middle of the park is a Gazeboo, which serves as a meeting place or a ceremonial gathering place for events such as weddings.   During the day it is a common place for pictures or where one can sit and relax.

Namsan Cable Car

If you prefer not walk or hike up to the N. Tower there is a cable car that will take you up and bring you back down.   During the week the cable car is fairly easy to catch.   On the weekends and Friday evenings it can be a be more crowded and it is not common to spend over an hour waiting in line to go up and come back down … And the cable car will be packed.  The views from the cable car are not overly impressive but it is also impressive to see the city as your rise and lower from the mountain.

Mongmyeoksan Beacon Hill Site (Namsan Bongsudae)

To the right of the Tower is the Mongmyeoksan Beacons.  During the Joseon Period the Beacons were used as a signaling system, to alarm the city in the event of an enemy invasion. Reportedly, smoke was used during the day, and fire at night. Also, the signals were encoded based on the number of beacons that are lit with each representing a different message.

During the week an re-enactment ceremony takes place, which includes patrolling, lighting the bacons, and the changing of guards

Locks of love

As previously mentioned, “Love” is a theme at the N. Seoul Tower and people take pilgrimages there to declare their love to each other.  The N. Seoul Tower is one of the few places in the world where people are encouraged to leave “locks” with love messages on them.  There are several places around the tower designated for this, the authority overseeing the Tower has even commissioned metal trees and hearts for this purpose.

Locks of all shapes and sizes are affixed around the Tower.  Many of them are traditional locks, while some are made from cell phone cover, scrapes of paper, plastic miniature figures and balls.   Then there are some really creative locks, such as the one made from a piece of chopping board, a spoon, a sock and a condom.  Beside messages, many people also include or attach a photo to their lock.

View from the Top

Going up to the top of N. Seoul Tower is quite the attraction.  Tickets can be bought in combination with popcorn and drinks. The observation deck is open from 10 am to 11 pm.   If possible, it is nice to visit twice… once during the day and again after dark; you will see two completely different views.   If you don’t want to pay to go up to the observation deck twice you can always take in the view from the various vantage points around the tower.

If you go on the weekends or Friday nights it is wise to purchase tickets in advance, for the wait can be long.

Once you arrive at the observation deck you will be able to see a 360 degree view of Seoul by walking around the observation deck.  The observation deck is indoors only.   There are markers and signage which points various landmarks and parts of the city.  There are telescope available which allow you to view far away places close up.

The only disappointment is that if you are hoping to take pictures the glass at the top is very reflective and you have to know how to work your camera to make sure you do not get the glass reflecting back in your picture.

On the observation deck there is bar, which serves a variety of drinks and candy shop. There is also a gift shop where you buy various tower or Seoul memorabilia.  Since the Tower is a place for “love”there is also a wishing pond where you can throw your coins and wish for eternal love.   (Since I was visiting the tower with my eternal love I decided not part-take).

The night we went up to the Tower, it was fairly busy, plus it was an ending to a very long day for us.  I think what I enjoyed the most was just sitting and reflecting out on the lights of the city and what a remarkable adventure we have had over the last week.

Dinning at the N Seoul Tower

There are plenty of places to eat at the base of the Tower.  The Tower has three sit down restaurants: n Grill, Hancock, and the Place.

n Grill, a high class French restaurant, is located at the highest point of the Tower and has best view. And very high prices!!!!

Hancock is a traditional yet modern Korean restaurant.

The Place is a casual Italian restaurant.   It has a very romantic ambiance with couple’s seats which over look the city.   We were lucky and were able to enjoy our last meal in Seoul together here.

The food was amazing.  The view was priceless.  Above all it was one of the most rememberable and romantic dinners Allyn and I have had together when traveling.

There are also several more casual restaurants around the base of the tower including, a burger and pizza place and several bar and treat places.

View pictures from my adventures at N. Seoul Tower at the following gallery:

Nansam Mountain, N. Seoul Tower, Beacon Mound, Seoul Fortress Wall, Jangchungdam Park

 

 

I am getting back to normal after a bout with Kidney Stones and a knee injury.  Today  I started my second full week of marathon training.  I have switched my heavy training to the mornings.  So far I have been getting a 2 to 5 mile run and 30 minutes of weight training in each morning before work.  This week I hope to add a 3 to 5 mile run in the evenings.  I am doing good with my water consumption but I need focus a little more on quality nutrition.

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On Valentine’s Day we attended the wedding of our friends J.R. and Larissa in Austin.  They got married at Chapel Dulcinea, which is southwest of Austin proper and is set off a cliff and overlooks the Texas hill country.

The weather was prefect for the outdoor ceremony.   Then the reception was held at the Palm Door on Sabine.  We had tons of fun getting caught up with friends and celebrating the newly married couple.  It was by far a prefect evening… good people, good music and good food.

J.R. and Larissa are two people that defiantly deserve each other and prefect for each other in so many ways I wish them nothing but happiness.  Seeing them together brings so much joy to my heart.

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I have been cooking a lot.   I think after being laid up and depending on either Allyn to cook, bring home dinner or eat whatever I could find, I have just wanted home cooked meals.   While I have made many of old favorites I have also tried a couple of new recipes such as sour cream chicken enchiladas, steak Oscar, lobster in a tomato basil sauce and banana strawberry crepes (a spin on my traditional crepes).

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Friday we had friends over for dinner.  It has been the highlight of my year so far.  This was just not a normal dinner, but one where a friend introduced us to a special “friend.”  I was so over joyed to see our friend happy and full life again.  I truly hope that is a friendship that keeps building and blooms into something beautiful for both them.  They are two lovely people and both deserve nothing but the best. As an added bonus, the “friend” fit in with us perfectly… I could see the four of us hanging out and doing things together for a long time.  Evening like this mean more me than anything… I just love to see people happy.

Another added bonus of our dinner was that they introduced me to new brand, which is made here locally. Smith-Berry.  After two bottles I think I feel in love with the wine.

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When we went to Texas for the wedding we got to spend some time with my mom and see some of our family.   Saturday morning my mom and I went for a ride to check on the ranch.  I had checking out my old stomping grounds.

The ranch is where I learned about life.   I love that land.   On our way to Austin we stopped by my cousin’s house for a birthday party for her daughter’s (my God-daughter) second birthday.

Before we left Austin, I had brunch with my Aunt Cee.   Then our way back to San Antonio I stopped at Texas State University (where I got my master’s degree) and picked up a couple of t-shirts and stuff.  The trip was quick but we squeezed a lot in and we got to see a lot our friends.

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I am almost done with the editing of my pictures from Korea and I almost have all of my blog post for the trip written.   I am determined to write post for everything we did.  After I finish the post I am going make a hard bound photo album.  I am getting so close …

For the past two week I have had a stent going from my kidney to my bladder, it caused me lots pain, lots of sleepless nights, moodiness and lots of discomfort.   Well, it came out yesterday and the past 24 hours have been pure bliss.  I slept all night for the first time since getting the stent and there was no yelling or weird sounds made when I went to the bathroom.

My side / kidney hurt for a while after the stent came out and today I noticed my kidney started spasming when I did not drink enough but other than that the pain has be minimal.  I have noticed that I have to drink something constantly or my kidney does spasm.  I have also noticed that drinks with caffeine makes me feel kind of strange and drinks/food with large amounts of sugar do the same thing, thus I have been avoiding them.

Tomorrow I head back to work.  I could not be happier.  Depending on how I feel after work I might try to the gym to do a light cardio workout.

So what is next…

The next step is doing a 24 hour urine analysis to figure out what exactly is causing the issues and correcting that through diet and with medicine.  I am sure there will be scans and test to check on the functionality of my kidney.

I am also trying to adjust my diet… we know the stones are high in calcium oxalates.  We also know that issues I have with my left kidney has causes my potassium levels to drop.   So what does this mean … it means that I need to follow a low oxalate, high potassium, low sodium and low animal proteins diet.   The combination of these, make trying to figure out what to eat difficult.  Right now I research just about everything I eat and trying to make smart choices.  I have found that there are few books or cookbooks on this topic or on these diet combination.  (I might have to change that.)

When I first started looking into things to do in Seoul, I read about War Memorial of Korea.   Being a student of history and having done a good amount research on war memorials and commemorations, I put it on the top of my to see list.

The War Memorial of Korea is located in Yongsan-dong; at former the Korean Infantry headquarters site and across from the Republic of Korea’s Ministry of Defense office. The War Memorial site includes a museum, outdoor display space of military vehicles and monuments and statues representative of wartime, pursuit of peace and memory of the fallen. The Memorial opened in 1994 to commemorate those participated in the war that lead to the modern nation state.  The memorial is the largest of its kind in the world.  By far it was one of most amazing war memorials / museums I have recently visited.

Statue of Brothers

I knew I had arrived at the War Memorial when I spotted the Statue of Brothers monument.  Without a doubt, this is one of the most impressive pieces on the grounds.

The monument consist of inner and outer portion. The upper (outer) part depicts two soldiers in a desperate embrace as they stand on a split dome landscape. The nearby panel tells the fictional story of two brothers meeting in battle during the Korean War: the elder an officer of the Republic of Korea (South Korea); the younger a North Korean soldier. As they recognise their fraternal love and reconcile, the statue symbolises the desire of the two peoples of Korea for reunification, while the cracked dome represents their ongoing division.

The tomb-shaped dome was built with pieces of granite collected from across South Korea, symbolizing the sacrifices made by our patriots. The crack in the dome stands for the division of Korea and the hope for reunification. Inside the dome is mosaic wall of paintings that expresses the spirit of the Korean people to overcome the national tragedy.

 

Tower of the Korean War and Defending the Fatherland

In the center of memorial park alined with the entrance to the museum is the Tower of Korea War.

The Tower of Korea War symbolizes a bronze sword and the tree of life. The sword represents the time honored history and the warrior spirit. The tree of life symbolizes the prosperity and peace of the Korean people. The Tower is surrounded by the bronze statues known as Defending the Fatherland.  Defending the Fatherland, includes 38 people from all walks of life defending Korea. The bronze statues depict the suffering and pain of the Korean people, caused by the war while embodying the sublime spirit of sacrifice and dedication to the defence of the fatherland of past patriots.

 

Remembering the Fallen

On both sides of the exterior of the museum are plaques honoring those who gave their lives in conflicts.  The memorials to the right are many of Koreans while the memorials to the left are memorials for soldiers from other countries who gave their lives while fighting for Korea.

There are also several other small monuments which is dedicated to the memory those who gave their lives for Korea and for peace.

 

Combat Vehicles and Military Equipment

After you get past the memorials, to the right of the museum is a wide array of military planes, helicopters, tanks, rockets, gun batteries, launchers and a ship. I believe there is over 150 items on display.  Many of the planes are equipped with ladders, which all you to peak into the cockpit of the planes or sit in the seats on top of the tanks.  Equipment is not only from South Korea but also from both American and Soviet sides, which helped with combat in the area.

 

Museum

The museum was a huge surprise.  I did not expect to find it as informational and interesting as I did.   I honestly expected it to mostly on the Korean War and a continuing memorial to those that perished in war.  Instead, a well developed and interactive exhibits  takes you on a journey through the history of South Korea. When you enter the museum you enter on the second floor. The second floor is dedicated to the memory of patriots involved in past war efforts.  Included on this floor is a moving memorial exhibit.  It is probably one of most moving national memorials I have visited. Also on this floor are several statues, mural and exhibits celebrating the culture and history of Korea.

 

If you want to start the exhibits in historical order, you will need to go down to the first floor.  In the exhibit area called “War History” you learn about the history of Korea from the prehistoric era to the Japanese colonial period. Military remains, relics, and documents are on display as well. Among them are war and victory records, ammunition, the Turtle Ship.

As you move upward you will next learn about the Korean War; the background, progression and how a truce occurred.   Exhibit included ammunition, information on major battles, and artifacts from people displaced by the war.Next you will encounter an exhibit on how Korean forces participated in other conflicts such as the Vietnam War, Gulf War and Somalia.   This is then followed by an exhibit area that provides history of the Korean Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps from the time of their inception till today. One of the final exhibits we saw was on the defense industry.  Included in the exhibit were state of the weapons and communication tools.

Overall the War Memorial of Korea was by far one of my favorite sites we visited while in Korea.  I thought I would only be at the Memorial for an hour but I ended up being there at least four hours and I probably could have spent more time there.   The exhibits were done very well and the exhibit panels were in both Korean and English.

You can view more pictures from War Memorial Korea at the following links:

Monuments and Memorials

Vehicles and Equipment

The Museum

 

I survived!!!!

Overall the surgery was successful.   They were able to remove the stones and then a stent was placed in the ureter protection. The doctor didn’t discuss the overall health of kidney with my husband; I am sure that will happen the post surgery appointment.

The doctor and my husband were a little amazed at the size of one of the stones and the number of small stones that were in my kidney.  The largest stone was a whopping 6mm. There was no way I could pass it and it was causing a blockage, swelling, fluid retention, countless infections and was the I was feeling yucky over the last couple of weeks.  To get the 6mm stone they blasted it lasers and and then used a basket to remove the pieces.  The surgery itself took a little over 2 hours.

To put things in perspective:

Overall I am feeling okay.  I am not ready to get up and run a marathon or do anything too exciting.

My side has a dull pain in it, which is mostly constant. I am urinating a lot, which is really good. I also continue to break out sweats and then get chills every now and then.   When I check my fever, so far the highest it has been as been 98.9, which is good.  I am little dizzy. I also find it is little hard to focus most things. I am on a round of several antibiotics to help ward off any infections.  Given it is cold and flu season and our weather yucky, I am at a high risk for infections. Thus, I foresee several days on couch in near future and staying in the little bubble of my house.

Sleep has been the most frustrating part of this.  When I got home, I slept on and off.   I went to bed and slept until about 3 am but after that I could not get comfortable, after trying various things… I just gave up and same downstairs.   It actually felt good walk around (the stairs were a tricky, albeit), believe it or not it actually helped the pain in my side to walk around a little downstairs.  I have also found the couch is little bit more comfortable than the bed.

I can’t complain… things could be lot worst.  However I am going to be cautious I am not going to push to do too much or go back to work to fast.   I really don’t want an infection.