Yesterday we met up with some friends and all headed to the World Cup Stadium, for the first football game of the season.Our friends had been to watch the local team 6 times last season, and had seen only a couple of goals in all of those matches, so we weren't expecting too much.Saying that, our only experience of live matches is watching Grimsby Town FC, so our standards are pretty low, and I was secretly hopeful!As it was the first game of the season, there were a lot of people at the game, and various stalls outside the stadium.They even had some dancing clowns as we walked in!You are allowed to take in food and drink, so we went to the mall next door to get beers, and one of our friends brought a cooler along.He also brought a mini megaphone, just in case the players needed guidance shouted to them, as they were practically a complete new team this year.

It was fantastic to get to see the stadium, and it only cost us 10,000 WON each, which is about 5.50GBP, and they were the expensive tickets!You can pay just over 3.00GBP to sit behind the goal.Now this would usually be my choice, but they have a running track around the pitch, so the seats behind the goal are a long way from the actual pitch! (see photo's)You can sit where you like, so we went up to the top tier, near to the middle, on one of the sides.On the lower tier were sections of people all wearing blue body warmers, and another section wearing yellow head scarves.The also had yellow thunder sticks, which Graham really wanted, and he managed to get a couple after the game.Apparently they worked for the companies that sponsored the Gwangju team, so I'm not sure if they get to go to all games, or just this first one.

When we sat down, the Korean man behind us gave Graham some dried squid!He said this is the number one soccer snack in Korea, so Graham obliged and ate it.The teams soon came out, and kicked many footballs into the crowd, but none made it up as far as us (must sit further down next time!)They then played what I presume was the national anthem, and then started the game with loads of fireworks!I think this is a great way to challenge the players, as the first few minutes of the match they were playing in fog!Our home team (Gwangju FC) were playing in yellow, and the hard core support group behind the goal had huge flags at the front, which were expertly coordinated, yellow flares, yellow ribbons, lots of toilet roll (which they threw as streamers) and they spent the entire match jumping up and down.The opposition had a similar group the other end, but much smaller.It was nice to see the enthusiasm in these supporters, as Koreans are mostly so shy and reserved.

I can't say that the players were particularly skilful, but it was an exciting game.Gwangju scored first, and more fireworks went off, and then in all the excitement the other team managed to equalise within a matter of seconds!Gwangju eventually won 3-2, after having one goal disallowed for being off side, but then getting a penalty shortly afterwards.At half time, a Korean girl band performed a couple of songs/ dance routines in the centre of the pitch, and some people dressed as various animals/ characters walked around the track.They also opened out a huge Gwangju football shirt, which covered the spectators behind the goal (see photos).At the end of the game there were more fireworks, and the team did a lap of honour carrying the huge shirt.They then did a free prize draw based on your ticket number, so people stuck around for that, and a very excited man wearing sparkly tassels did a dance in the stand below us!

It was a great atmosphere, and a fantastic way to see the inside of the World Cup Stadium for the first time.Plus we were sat in the sun throughout the match, which was great after all the rain we had last weekend. After the match I went home, as I woken up with a sore throat that morning (and no voice) and I did not want to make it any worse.Graham went out for some beers with the lads though, and bought me take away pizza on his way home!

This morning I was feeling better, so we thought we would tackle the highest peak of the hills by our apartment.It was a really sunny day again, so we packed a few supplies and headed off.There were so many people out hiking today - Koreans really like to keep fit, and they all have their hiking gear on, poles included!Not only did we make to the highest peak, but we decided to keep going and do the whole range.There are some amazing views from up there, so we stopped many times just to take it all in.The Koreans are so shy, that people rarely say hello to you, but some of the kids do (I think their parents tell them to practise their English on us!)One man did stop to talk about what a beautiful day it was, and another couple gave us some Satsuma's, which was very kind of them.I was pleased it was Satsuma's and not more dried squid!We also saw a few people doing the walk with their dogs.The only thing is that pet dogs here seem to all be tiny, so these poor little animals were struggling to climb the steep hills with their little legs, and they all had coats on (even though it was really hot) as they tend to use dogs as fashion items here, and dress them up.

It's been a great weekend and I don't start work until 4.10pm tomorrow!

Maggie x