A.K.A.: World Expo 2012

During the third weekend of our fun filled July, Kyle and I, along with his sister Katie and our friend Kaylee, went down to Suncheon again to visit Maggie and Spencer. This time, we were going to the World Expo in Yeosu. A world expo/world's fair has always been something I've wanted to see in my life. I read about the World's Fair in school, and San Francisco was the site of the World's Fair in 1915 and again in 1939, so in school I learned a lot about it. I was very excited to hear on the plane ride over to Korea that I would FINALLY be in the country (and alive!) where the World's fair was being hosted.

Yeosu is about 20 minutes from Maggie and Spencer, and it would be such a shame to take the 4 hour bus ride down there and not visit one of the biggest events of 2012. The World Expo is basically the world's fair...in recent years they started changing it to expo because "fair" brought along certain connotations that some international communities might not want to be a part of...carnival rides, funnel cakes, carnies, etc. But it still has the same idea- several countries from around the world come together for a common theme and relate it to their country and culture.

This year, the theme was “The Living Ocean and Coast” with subthemes of “Preservation and Sustainable Development of the Ocean and Coast,” “New Resources Technology,” and “Creative Marine Activities." Over 130 countries (I think...) came together in the international pavilion and shared information about their country. The entire expo was HUGE, and it would've taken a few days to see everything, but we only had one day, so we were constantly walking around visiting as much as we could.


On the train to Yeosu from Suncheon

Entrance to the Expo- the ceiling of the pavilion was a giant video screen like Fremont St. in Las Vegas.

Finally here!! And for only 10,000 won!

First stop....Oman. This was the line.

Inside Switzerland's exhibition hall....this was our favorite. It featured a column of ice that marked layers of ice where different events happened, such as the beginning of the ice age and when Korea was founded! Super cool! Literally!

It also featured a reflection pool with some trippy sound effects and designs.

I felt like I was inside a kaleidoscope.

Another view of the tube. The room was about 15 degrees C


A cup of water from Korea using Swiss purification technology.

After we visited Switezerland and a few other countries, we got some food and beer in Germany. One of the great things about the xpo was not only did we get to see the culture of these countries, we got to eat some of their food! For lunch we stopped in Germany and had some beers and sausages with sauerkraut. For a snack, we ate in India: some delicious chicken curry and Chai Tea. For dinner, we had White Russians and rolled pancakes with meat inside, and for a late evening snack, some Turkish kabobs. It was delicious! I didn't get many photos because we were so hungry!

An interesting sculpture/pendulum from the Indian Ocean countries.

The Pacific Islands Joint pavilion. Paradise....

Katie and I with the polar bear.

Waiting in line for the Climate and Environment pavilion.

One of the biggest things we wanted to see at the Expo aside from all of the countries was the climate and environment pavilion. Inside the giant hall, the temperature was -10 degrees C. It was a nice escape from the heat outside, but a few minutes later, we were ready to get back into the sunny. Just a glimpse of what is expected for winter....