Wednesday, June 30, 2010

Contenders or pretenders?

We currently have three serious offers - that if realized - would polish off our expected Big Swim goal (see the top right scoreboard) of 5,000,000 won to make this project a safe reality.

To not get the Big Swim team too excited (it's happened before, more than once, i.e., shouldn't there have been another '0' at the end of that check?) and to not embarrass a potential talking, but no acting contributor, we will wait for the money to be deposited in the account, before saying or writing anything.

-Steve

"I Love Korea" TV show appearance

This message is from Jeju-native-yet-globally-minded-Big-Swim-translator Ji-su:

Last time I went on the SBS Web site to watch the program online, you had to pay maybe 500 won. This is the Web site for the program -

http://tv.sbs.co.kr/korea/main.jsp

This is the re-watch Web site -

http://wizard2.sbs.co.kr/w3/template/tp1_review_detail.jsp?vVodId=V0000343971&vProgId=1000608&vMenuId=1012485&cpage=1&vVodCnt1=00010&vVodCnt2=00

There are two boxes, one is pink and the other is yellow. The pink box says "il-ban" in Korean which means normal quality, and the other one on the right says "da-un-lo-deu" in Korean which means download.

Anyway, both of them cost money to watch, which is equivalent to 40 cents in American currency.

-Steve

Sunday, June 27, 2010

Day 20 Big Swim Planned Route ...


From Sarabong to Samyang Beach (FINISH!) is 3 kilometers.

(211 kilometers trip total)

This is the twentieth's day estimate for Thursday, August 19: from high tide to low tide (out), window of swimming time is 6:42 a.m., to 1:14 p.m., plus additional slackwater opportunities.

-Steve

Day 19 Big Swim Planned Route ...


From Iho Tewoo Beach to Sarabong is 12 kilometers.

(208 kilometers trip total)

Here is the nineteenth day's estimate for Wednesday, August 18: from high tide to low tide (out), window of swimming time is dawn to 11:57 a.m., plus additional slackwater opportunities.

-Steve

Day 18 Big Swim Planned Route ...


From Gwakji Beach to Iho Tewoo Beach is 17 kilometers.

(196 kilometers trip total)

This is the eighteenth day's estimate for Tuesday, August 17, from high tide to low tide (out), window of swimming time is dawn to 10:33 a.m., and 6:28 p.m., to dusk, with additional slackwater opportunities.

-Steve

Day 17 Big Swim Planned Route ...


From Hyeopjae Beach to Gwakji Beach is 10 kilometers.

(179 kilometers trip total)

Here is the seventeenth day's estimate for Monday, August 16: from high tide to low tide (out), window of swimming time is dawn to 9:24 a.m., and 4:40 p.m., to dusk, plus additional slackwater opportunities.

-Steve

Day 16 Big Swim Planned Route ...


From Yongdang-ri to Hyeopjae Beach is 9 kilometers.

(169 kilometers trip total)

This is the sixteenth's day estimate for Sunday, August 15: from low tide to high tide (in), window of swimming time is 7:41 a.m., to 2:10 p.m., plus additional slackwater opportunities.
.
-Steve

Good advice always wanted

Sherrin and I are not religious. ...

Smiles anyone? I've never met Fred Dustin. I hope to some day. I'm intrigued at the foreigner lifers on Jeju. Fred seems to be omnipresent, but never seen. He is the foreigner God. I've had a fellow foreigner tell me last year, with so many Christians on the island, who needs Jesus when you have Eugene? Who is the Holy Spirit that completes Jeju's Holy Trinity, Father Cotter? Is Sherrin the Mother Mary, giving the virgin birth to Eugene? I'm honored to be surrounded by such greatness.

Concerning Day 5, Fred offers his expert advice: out of Sehwa, swim to Udo's Coral Beach. Then the next morning early "get across the tidal convergent area which runs east of Udo in a line roughly south off of [Sunrise Peak], which will give a good swim to [Seopjikoji] or even further south."

And Fred again (edited):
"Look at your map and tide charts again. You'll see it is roughly a 10-kilometer swim from Sehwa to the Coral Beach on Udo. Stay away from where the broad 'V'-shaped channel (deep blue on Google) hits the white or shallow area - very disturbed and turbulent on tidal changes, especially on an ebbing tide. I think from that Coral Beach, on an ebb tide, you can virtually 'float' between Udo and Sunrise Peak, but be careful where the two currents meet, the one coming along the east side of Udo and the current coming between Sunrise Peak, very turbulent sometimes. On that day, there will be an 88 or so centimeter tide difference; that's a lot of water moving through there. Best to strike out for the northern portion of Udo and let the current 'drift' you to the Coral Beach. Exertion on Sherrin's part just to make sure she is not swept past it!!! There will be some pretty strong kayak paddling needed there too!!

We will investigate further and are always looking for more advice.

-Steve

Day 15 Big Swim Planned Route ...


From Yeongnak-ri to Yongdang-ri is 10 kilometers.

(160 kilometers trip total)

This the fifteenth day's estimate for Saturday, August 14: from high tide to low tide (in), window of swimming time is 6:59 a.m., to 1:13 p.m., plus additional slackwater opportunities.

-Steve

Saturday, June 26, 2010

Day 14 Big Swim Planned Route ...


From Hamo Beach to Yeongnak-ri is 13 kilometers.

(150 kilometers trip total)

This the fourteenth day's estimate for Friday, August 13: from low tide to high tide (in), window of swimming time is 6:20 a.m., to 12:22 p.m., plus additional slackwater opportunities.

-Steve

Day 13 Big Swim Planned Route ...


From Hwasun Beach to Hamo Beach is 12 kilometers.
.
(137 kilometers trip total)

This is the thirteenth day's estimate for Thursday, August 12: from low tide to high tide (in), window of swimming time is dawn to 11:15 a.m., and 5:29 p.m., to dusk, plus additional slackwater opportunities.

-Steve

Day 12 Big Swim Planned Route ...


From Jungmun Beach to Hwasun Beach is 10 kilometers.
.
(125 kilometers trip total)

This is the twelfth day's estimate for Wednesday, August 11: from low tide to high tide (in), window of swimming time is dawn to 10:28 a.m., and 4:46 p.m., to dusk, plus additional slackwater opportunities.

-Steve

Day 11 Big Swim Planned Route ...


From Gangjeong to Jungmun Beach is 6 kilometers.

(115 kilometers trip total)

The eleventh day's estimate for Tuesday, August 10: from low tide to high tide (in), window of swimming time is dawn to 9:30 a.m., and 3:50 p.m., to dusk, plus additional slackwater opportunities.

-Steve

Win one for the environment

Living in Korea the past 2 years, my belief in thinking optimism is just false hope cements itself firmer in my mind every day. It's rare I can believe what people tell me anymore. I just believe after the deed has been done and a person talks about it, rather than believing a person will do something before it's done, just a dream.

I was sitting at lunch one seat opposite of the principal at Sehwa High School a few weeks ago, and I had to ask who all these blue-collar dressed, middle-aged people were joining us at the lunch tables. I had no idea, a strange sight. One of the females sat with her tray directly in front of me.

I finally asked, and they were about 25 or so parents who were planting 50 trees around the grounds. I was elated. Even better, the mother opposite started talking in English to me and said she and a few others had seen me at Samyang Beach a few days earlier. These are honest, global citizens, able to act and talk freely. With all the other nonsense I have to put up with, events like this are fulfilling enough to keep me on Jeju (and hopefully Sehwa High School) for my last and final year in South Korea.

-Steve

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Day 10 Big Swim Planned Route ...


From Seogwipo Port (west of) to Gangjeong is 10 kilometers.

(109 kilometers trip total)

The tenth day's estimate for Monday, August 9: from low tide to high tide (in), window of swimming time is dawn to 8:42 a.m., and 3:04 p.m., to dusk, plus additional slackwater opportunities.

-Steve

Day 9 Big Swim Planned Route ...


From Wimi-ri to Seogwipo Port (west of) is 12 kilometers.

(99 kilometers trip total)

This is the ninth day's estimate for Sunday, August 8: from low tide to high tide (in), window of swimming time is 2:16 p.m., to dusk, plus additional slackwater opportunities.

-Steve

Tuesday, June 22, 2010

Day 8 Big Swim Planned Route ...


From Tosan-ri to Wimi-ri is 14 kilometers.

(87 kilometers trip total)

The eighth day's estimate for Saturday, August 7: from low tide to high tide (in), window of swimming time is 1:17 to 8:14 p.m., plus additional slackwater opportunities.

-Steve

Day 7 Big Swim Planned Route ...


From Samdal-ri (through Pyoseon Beach) to Tosan-ri is 13 kilometers.

(73 kilometers trip total)

The seventh day's estimate for Friday, August 6: from high tide to low tide (out), window of swimming time through Pyoseon Beach is 6:37 a.m., to 1:22 p.m., plus additional slackwater opportunities. NOW, past Pyoseon Beach we are going with the tide from low tide to high tide (in), so window of swimming time is from 1:22 to 7:25 p.m., plus additional slackwater opportunities.

-Steve

Monday, June 21, 2010

Day 6 Big Swim Planned Route ...


From Seopjikoji to Samdal-ri is 10 kilometers.

(60 kilometers trip total)

The sixth day's estimate for Thursday, August 5: from high tide to low tide (out), window of swimming time is dawn to 12:08 p.m., plus additional slackwater opportunities.

-Steve

Sherrin's week from Hades

It's not easy living in Korea as a foreigner. I think sometimes the perception of what Korea thinks it is to the world never is congruent with what the outside world thinks of Korea. This causes conflict and I question how this "dynamic" country will truly globalize - or will it insulate itself back to the Hermit Kingdom?

Language difficulties are impossible to solve in this Free International City of Jeju. I'm not exactly sure what this slogan means. And believe you me, it is just that - a slogan. Is Jeju "Free?" Is Jeju "International?" Is Jeju even a "City?"

I'll save the true details, but will be polite, respectful and rude all in the Korean manner. Prescription goggles are hard to come by in Jeju. Sherrin found this out the long way. Paying duty for an aquatic watch is even harder. Sherrin's hissy fit with the officials in charge of collecting duties may have made her chances of getting her watch the hardest.

The woman from Down Under's last week has been wrought with chiropractor visits, vomiting, and pills. It sounds like the Rolling Stones circa 1970.

-Steve

Day 5 Big Swim Planned Route ...


From Chimibong (approaching Seongsan Sunrise Peak) to Seopjikoji is 10 kilometers.

(50 kilometers trip total)

This is the fifth day's estimate for Wednesday, August 4: from high tide to low tide (out), window of swimming time is dawn to 10:57 a.m., and 6:14 p.m., to dusk, plus additional slackwater opportunities.

-Steve

Sunday, June 20, 2010

Day 4 Big Swim Planned Route ...


From Sehwa Beach/Sehwa 5-day Traditional Market to Chimibong (approaching Seongsan Sunrise Peak) is 8 kilometers.

(40 kilometers trip total)

This is the fourth day's estimate for Tuesday, August 3: from high tide to low tide (out), window of swimming time is dawn to 9:53 a.m., and 4:37 p.m., to dusk, plus additional slackwater opportunities.

-Steve

Day 3 Big Swim Planned Route ...


From Gimnyeong Beach to Sehwa Beach/Sehwa 5-day Traditional Market is 12.5 kilometers.

(32 kilometers trip total)

The estimate for the third day of Monday, August 2: from high tide to low tide (out), window of swimming time is dawn to 9:12 a.m., and 3:18 p.m, to dusk, plus additional slackwater opportunities.

-Steve

Day 2 Big Swim Planned Route ...


From Hamdeok Beach to Gimnyeong Beach is 9.5 kilometers.
.
(19.5 kilometers trip total)
.
The second day's estimate for Sunday, August 1: from high tide to low tide (out), window of swimming time is from 2:17 to 8:36 p.m., plus additional slackwater opportunities.

-Steve

Day 1 Big Swim Planned Route ...


From Samyang Beach to Hamdeok Beach is exactly 10 kilometers!

Here is the first day's estimate for Saturday, July 31: from high tide to low tide (out), window of swimming time is 1:20 to 7:56 p.m., plus additional slackwater opportunities.
.
-Steve

Wednesday, June 16, 2010

Publishing media arriving next Thursday

Although the roughly 49 million mainland Koreans had access to view the SBS Seoul documentary that aired Monday at 6:30 p.m., local time, the half million Jeju-ites did not have viewing privileges to see The Jeju Big Swim team in action.

Two days after, we have a new love interest. Next week Thursday, a writer, photographer, and university reporter are flying down from Seoul to produce a piece in a book entitled "Saem-teo."

We have no idea what we are getting ourselves into.

-Steve

Save Biyang-do for another day

I am an honest person. Sunday was not fun. A wretched hangover heading to Geumneung Beach in Sherrin's car with my head fighting all those Jeju speed bumps every thump of the way - dreading the upcoming rough waters between Hallim and Biyang-do. About 1.4 kilometers in distance, the water is dirty, turbulent, and, as we soon found out, ripe with high-speed fishing boats.

Not to mention the debacle of trying to coordinate swimming with the newbie lifeguards for the summer season. Clusterf*ck anyone?

I'll refrain from saying anything bad about the new crop of water saviors this year. But be forewarned there were numerous deaths around Jeju waters last year due to operator error.

From Hyeopjae Beach to Biyang-do we swam/ kayaked 1.2 kilometers and then I saw Sherrin doing the swimming treadmill stroke, not moving due to the strong currents. We packed up. She jumped in the kayak after fishing boats were swiftly making a B line for us. This was the only time I have felt I was going to tip into the drink (when Sherrin heaved her way in at the time of some choppy waters). I paddled us back wishing to get home and surrender to my bed in Samyang.

Oh well. We learned a number of things.

-Steve

Mystery donor revealed

BEK works for the Fisheries Research and Development Institute in Busan (see entry below). It is possible she took up a collection and passed the hat around. Thanks again.

-Steve

Monday, June 14, 2010

Biyang-do's out of reach

Read about our attempt to conquer Biyang-do next.

-Steve

Open Mic musings


WTF? Good question! The Chujado exile - who I considered to be the best performer of the night - serenades the big-white-with-natty-dreads backpacker. Dude, I didn't know Jamaicans visit Jeju!

From left, Lisuonan, Leela, Vadim and Sherrin show some emotion.

A real band on Jeju? These guys rocked!


Groovin'.


She sang Johnny Cash's "Hurt," which is actually a Nine Inch Nails song written by Trent Rexnor. Soon after, he went absolutely apeshit with a few Ramones' tunes.


That's me in the lower right, with Phil (not sure if I spelled his name correctly). I don't know Phil, but apparently he drove an ambulance at one time in his life, shared a Grateful Dead story with me, and performed Tom Petty's "Yer So Bad" ---- My sister got lucky, married a yuppie. Took him for all he was worth. ...
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Thanks for all the support!

Of all the members of the Big Swim, it was our first-ever Open Mic night. A mishmash of foreigners, I must say to the youngin’ with the white Ramones t-shirt your performance was incredible. As was the Alabama native turned Chuja-do exile. I was thoroughly impressed throughout.

On the night we raised a solid 400,000 Won (all the donors names are listed in the Supporters link to the right.) Of the Won, much of it sat unattended on the table while everyone was dancing near the end. Only in Korea.

The rolling budget tally stands at 1,250,000 Won. We are seeking 5,000,000 Won to fund three things: safety equipment, a nightly minbak stay for Sherrin, and daily food. That’s it. All of our spending will be documented daily once The Jeju Big Swim starts July 31st.

After a night of too many whiskey cokes, white Russians and Cass bottles, from 3:30 to 5:30 in the morning, I cuddled up with a secluded park bench facing a farm off the main road halfway between City Hall and Samyang. It’s good to be completely free. I certainly would have missed my curfew if I was Korean. Only in Korea (the curfew, not my freedom part)

-Steve

Is Jeju ready for a superhero?

Captain Clean is in the birthing process. Even Sherrin and I do not know of this man's strength. By the end of the week, The Jeju Big Swim team may get A LOT bigger. Stay tuned.

-Steve

Anonymous donors

We love anonymous donors! Mysterious! Who are you? Why did you decide to contribute? We may never know the answers. This is an ongoing theme with me in Korea: So many experiences and encounters happen, but how it is filtered is never the truth, just perceptions.

Our whiz kid accountant, Jisu, alerted us of the deposit on Friday, and three days later, after much questioning we have no idea who you are.

You will be affectionately dubbed BEK under our supporters, unless you come forward and want to be named. The Jeju Big Swim team thanks you. It is a person like you that restores my faith in the global citizen.

-Steve

Saturday, June 12, 2010

My Secret Weapon

Sherrin says -

Yesterday I did laps. I swam for five and a quarter hours at the Ramada Sports Centre pool. I was able to do it, thanks to my secret weapon – my SwiMP3 player. Swimming laps for long periods of time is extremely boring and hence a real challenge. But not anymore. Loaded up with great music and a couple of podcasts I happily swam all those hours – in fact, the time passed quite quickly. It's not exactly hi-fi, but it sure beats the sound of bubbles.

I spent most of the day listening to songs from the "Rogues Gallery" album. It seems that when Johnny Depp was filming Pirates of the Carribbean, he became interested in sea shanties, ballads and pirate songs. Depp initiated a compilation album performed by a wide array of artists, including Sting, Bryan Ferry, Nick Cave, Lou Reed, and others.

I'm going to do another long pool session on the 22nd, however this time I will swim a full 6 hours. Have to say, I couldn't do it without my SwiMP3 player.

-Sherrin

Wednesday, June 9, 2010

The ballet and the environment

Sherrin weighs in –

Last night I went to see highlights from the ballet "Swan Lake" performed by the Korea National Ballet. The dancing was wonderful – a shame about the audience though. It was a full house with standing room only. The curtain rose and the performance began. Suddenly, little bright lights started to flicker throughout the audience. Nearby, I could hear strange clicking sounds. I was shocked to see that people were texting on their mobile phones!

This continued throughout the whole performance. And it got worse. A woman sitting directly behind me spent the whole performance talking either to her husband sitting beside her or making calls on her phone. A few rows in front of me a phone rang. The man answered and proceeded to have a conversation. Throughout the performance little bright lights flickered on and off all around the concert hall. The strange clicking sounds – 'snap!' – were the sounds as people closed their phones.

The worst was yet to come. There were hundreds of children in the audience – which was great. Kids should be exposed to as many experiences as possible. However, what wasn't so great was their constant talking throughout the performance. Most shocking to me was the parents made no effort whatsoever to teach their kids the appropriate behavior expected of an audience. On one side of me a little girl, when she wasn't talking to her mother or sister, spent a considerable amount of time jumping up and down on her seat or kicking the back of the seat in front. On my other side a woman and her little boy held a running conversation throughout the entire performance.

Masses of people disturbing others with their mobile phones, and parents who don't take the time or trouble to teach their kids to be mindful of others – I have to say I have never seen people behave so selfishly. It was shameful.

Perhaps I shouldn't have been so surprised. After all, just look around. When it comes to the environment, the evidence of such attitudes and behavior is all around us.

-Sherrin

Tuesday, June 8, 2010

A new member to the team

ABOUT LISA, WEB GURU

Lisa Caraway is a graduate of California State University Long Beach's Studio Art and Biomedical Art Certificate Programs. She has a firm commitment to the environment and is currently functioning as our in-house web guru.

-Steve

Never look a gift horse in the mouth ...

So the saying goes. With that comes a bit of a cultural lesson. In Korea, a westerner quickly finds out from experience nothing matters until it is actually finalized and what has been promised is actually delivered. Talk is cheap, a dime a dozen here. Actions are proof.

That is The Jeju Big Swim’s findings with “promised” money from many people.

Kudos to our latest supporter Louisa Frank, putting her money where her mouth is. It is people like this that will ensure Sherrin safely finds her way swimming around Jeju.

We need several more people to act as Louisa has just done. We are not relying on Korean promises.

-Steve

Friday, June 4, 2010

Fundraising Open Mic style June 12th

The Jeju Big Swim on Saturday, June 12th, will be holding a Jeju Big Swim Open Mic fundraising event at "Haebyeon Concert" (해 변 콘 서 트) bar. Starting about 9 p.m., please come along and take the mic - sing, play an instrument, tell jokes - whatever. We'll be seeking voluntary donations so tell your friends to come and support this much needed environmental campaign.

To get there: From Jeju National University Middle School right by Youngduam tourist place, follow the coast road for about half a kilometer, past the 24-hour sauna place. The bar has a white guitar on the front and the word "LIVE" written in English. If you get to the Family Mart you've gone too far.

Hope to see you there!

-Steve

Media appearances

These are already completed:

9) The Jeju Weekly (English Jejudo newspaper) // Friday, May 28, 2010 // “Blessing of the fleet, First official event for Big Swim team”
http://www.jejuweekly.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=760

8) Busan 90.5 e-FM (English Busan radio) // Friday, May 28, 2010 // 20-minute “Inside Out Busan” radio interview with Brandon Na, 6:30 p.m. // radio file forthcoming

7) KBS2 (Korean national television) // Saturday, May 22, 2010 // 25-minute coverage part of the 1-hour emotional documentary that airs every Saturday, starting at 10:15 p.m. // in the process of tracking down link

6) Arirang TV (English national television) // Thursday, May 13, 2010 // 30-minute “Heart to Heart” talk show hosted by Kolleen Park
http://www.arirang.co.kr/Tv2/Tv_Video_On.asp?PROG_CODE=TVCR0106&code=Po5&sys_lang=Eng
Note: It may prompt you for a username and password. It takes maybe 2 minutes to enter information to access Arirang TV for free.

5) Arirang Radio (English national radio) // Thursday, May 20, 2010 // news piece about Blessing of the Fleet aired at 5:30 p.m. // no audio clip available

4) Halla Ilbo (Korean Jejudo newspaper) // Monday, May 17, 2010 // back page article about The Big Swim with crisp color photo // link will be established, picture will be uploaded soon

3) The Jeju Weekly (English Jejudo newspaper) // Friday, May 14, 2010 // “The big swim, A former reaper prepares to give back”
http://www.jejuweekly.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=732

2) Arirang Radio (English national radio) // Tuesday, May 4, 2010 // Steve’s 20-minute “All that Jeju” radio interview with Jenie Hahn, 10:30 p.m. // no audio clip available

1) Arirang Radio (English national radio) // Tuesday, April 20, 2010 // Sherrin’s 20-minute “All that Jeju” radio interview with Jenie Hahn, 10:30 p.m. // no audio clip available


In the works, interviews complete, waiting for publication:

* Korean National Fisheries Research & Development Institute newsletter/ magazine

* Joongang Ilbo (Korean national newspaper)


In the filming process now:

* SBS “I Love Korea” documentary (Korean national television)


Media expressing interest, making plans for stories:

* Seoul MBC documentary (Korean national television)

* Arirang TV “Hand in Hand” documentary (English national television)

* KCTV English News (English Jejudo television)

* KCTV Korean News (Korean Jejudo television)

-Steve

Media rolling out

This is the last media story showcasing The Jeju Big Swim, in the quaint Jeju Weekly: http://www.jejuweekly.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=760

Thanks Darren.

For You All's Information: I am not Canadian! Never was, never will be. I like Canada, though.

With 57 days from the start of our project, we already have had roughly 15 media appearances, cutting across radio, newspaper, and television mediums, both local and national, English and Korean.

This weekend, SBS Seoul is filming for a national documentary.

The media section will be updated shortly and continually, as well.

Currently, I am holding two aces up my sleeve for Korean national newspapers.

-Steve