He also made me realise that I am a Hedonist through and through.

And I quite agree (thnx Wikiz): "Modern day hedonists strive firstly, as their predecessors, for pleasure. But also, hedonists feel that people should be equal, and that the way to achieve that is through allowing much more personal freedom. Hedonists, in the words of an organization known as Hedonist International, "want joyful togetherness, anarchy, epicurean ideas, multifaceted joy, sensuality, diversion, friendship, justice, tolerance, freedom, sexual freedom, sustainability, peace, free access to information, the arts, a cosmopolitan existence, and a world without borders or discrimination, and everything else that is wonderful but not a reality today."(Hedonist Manifesto). This aligns almost perfectly with my views. See also: http://www.hedonist-international.org/?q=en/taxonomy/term/10


I am nearly finished 'The Picture of Dorian Gray'. It's extraordinary. I have always had a major crush on Mr. Wilde. Now it is true love. If only he wasn't "into" men, and way too dead at the mo. I am glad that I have kissed his grave, though. Has anybody read this amazing, way-too-referency-to-art-and-literature-and-society-and-historical-figures-and-other-prominent-figures-that-would-have-only-been-known-to-the-Victorian-middle/upper-classes, sensual romp of a story? Truly a treat for my eyes and imagination. I think I may have finally found a book to clear away the terrible absence of reading that has plagued me for too long. I thank you, ever-so kindly, sir.


Anyway, this is a Korea blagity, so perhaps I should stick to topic. Err, well, at the moment I look like a smurf. I have a blue face mask on that one of the cousins made me wear. Not only that, she's a nail artist and did my nails last night, clear of course, after I protested against having the grotesque fake nails she so aptly applies. I have trimmed cuticles. I have never felt so girly in my lyfe. It's way strange. And yet, she looks like she could beat me up in a twitch. She spent a year in the Philippines having fun and partying with the locals. She went there to learn English. We spoke for an hour last night in the green tea bath, naked, and having stilted but absolutely not awkward conversation. She's way nice. But she learnt jack-all whilst 'studying' English.


So, in the last couple of days. What's a been a happening? Well, we're teaching kids again! Not exactly. It's more like we're doing pseudo-science - I'm not talking about homeopathy or astrology or anything like that, 'cause that would be just be annoying - with equipment like milk cartons, burnt sugar, and coloured glue. We failed to make bouncy balls. I was way disappointed. Especially after I chose an awesome lime green colour. We burnt the first batch of candy we were supposed to make. With the second lot of kids we made the candy taste real good. At least mine was. Also: mine was way artistic. Booyah! kids who made shithaus shapes. And then we were told that we should interact with the kids more, and that we weren't really there to do the experiments ourselves, but instead teach and help out all involved. Goddamn it. I like science, and doing it. Also, I'm competive. So with the weird black cylinder we made today, I decided not to make one. I'm okay with my merciless ways, if I don't participate at all. I just helped to cut out holes in the bottom of black-paper-covered milk cartons. It helped me see...things. I can't explain. It was kinda...silly.

Yesterday, we saw a temple. And then, climbed up and alongside a small-watered, but wide, river (apparantly it's huge and rapid-flowing in summer) for about 45 minutes until we got to a reasonable-sized but beautiful waterfall. The sound of water is soothing. The jagged rocks that line that waterway and the vast cliffs above are mesmerising. The temple was nice, if not one of the more ordered one's we've been too, though the newer buildings in the complex were...disconcerting. I like gravel. It makes for good sounds. Maybe in my old age I will be the ancient person who rakes the small rocks at temples. I would like that. A lot. Especially if I can play with radho technology afterwards in my little...gold-covered shrine.

We had sashimi the other day. My story doesn't end there. No, not only did I eat sashimi, but I saw what I ate, alive and literally kicking with it's fins. And then I witnessed the knife-wielding ajumma slice and dice it until it's skin, blood, bones, guts, and head were all neatly separated. Surprisingly, I felt refreshed after this experience. It felt clean, somewhat, to see what I was actually consuming. I could never do this with anything bigger than a chicken. It made me think about how I eat my produce, thinking vaguely that I could become a vegetarian, or someone who could eat meat only if I saw how they were manufactured from near their habitat to my plate. It sounds good in theory, but I find beef and pork way too delicious for this philosophy to become a reality. Goddamn my want of pleasure being of higher priority than that, say, of ethics.


Also while I was at this fish market: I saw cut-up whale. Apparently it's caught by 'mistake' sometimes, which 'can't be helped', but I am afraid that the temptation to catch it would be too great to believe that absolutely every one is a 'mistake', as termed. I also saw a huge fish (there are photos that will be uploaded soon, look for the one with the gloves for size comparison) that was on the back of a truck, which was apparently extremely rare to catch, and I presume extraordinarily expensive. It was heaps chunky.

Anyway, I'm sleepy. Lovely love! :)