Hi All,
I started a new blog to provide updates on my voyage from South Korea. All design credit goes to the beautiful Kendall Hanna. I do not know how interesting my life will be for readers once I am en route, but I will give this blog a shot.
While waiting, I have been working in the BHP Billiton office at the DSME (Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering) shipyard as well as exploring the city of Okpo a bit. DSME is one of the largest shipbuilders in the world, and it is just one of the shipyards on this island. The shipbuilding industry here supports the existence of Okpo and other the towns here on the island of Geoje. I have enjoyed the opportunity to learn about the shipyard here and experience the environment. On my first day at the office, I was working on my laptop when I heard what I can only describe as Disneyland-theme-park-like music playing across the shipyard. And this music plays on and off throughout the day, with intervals of 2-3 songs a round. Some times when the music plays (and I have not identified the pattern quite yet), the workers will halt their work and gather to stretch together as the music plays. While this may be a morale booster for the DSME workers, it is quite a comical experience for the guys in our group (...and a little aggravating to some of the old grumps in the group). All of the DSME workers use bikes to get around the expansive shipyard. Without a bike, it is worth driving to get around or using the bus system within the shipyard. Below is a short video clip of the bustle in the mornings. I may not be shooting from the best angle because I was attempting to be inconspicuous.
In my free time, I have explored the nearby trails that wind along the hillside and coastline. There is a particular trail that I have enjoyed that starts along a stilted boardwalk, guides through wooded hills, and then finishes at an old war monument of a naval battle that took place off the coast of Geoje. There were a number of good vantage points to view the shipyard and town from along the way.
I typically eat meals out with a few of my co-workers, or just buy groceries for meals. Because of all the foreign contracts at the shipyards with companies such as BHPB, there is a large foreign population here resulting in a sort of cultural melting pot. The restaurants in my area seem to cater to foreigners, serving all types of cuisines. So my diet has been quite different than I imagined....ranging from cajun gumbo to quesadillas to kimchi. One common type of restaurant here serves raw meat for you to cook yourself on a grill in the middle of a table. The cook-it-yourself restaurant some co-workers and I visited served two options; ribs and spicy ribs. So I opted for the spicy ribs, but boy it was spicy. I had to take a few breathers mid meal to assist with the heat exchange process. But it was one of those spicy flavors that just tastes so good while it burns. We had a good time with it.
I'm going to end it here for now. If all goes well, I will board the Invictus tomorrow and the journey will be underway later this week. Please send up a prayer for Kendall and I that this show will hit the road soon, it was discouraging this past week to learn about the complications and delays that will prolong our time apart.
-Clint
I started a new blog to provide updates on my voyage from South Korea. All design credit goes to the beautiful Kendall Hanna. I do not know how interesting my life will be for readers once I am en route, but I will give this blog a shot.
I have now been in Okpo, Korea for a little over a week in preparation to travel on board the Deepwater Invictus (our new drill ship) as it sails to the Gulf of Mexico where it will be operated. Okpo is a city on the island of Geoje located off the southern coast of South Korea (see red circle in the image below).
The Invictus was scheduled to depart mid-last week, but was delayed due to various complications. Tomorrow I will finally board the Invictus for the first time and I will remain on board until the final equipment testing and punchlist items have been completed. Below is a model rendering of the Deepwater Invictus drill ship. The boat is currently anchored a short ways offshore, so I am scheduled to meet at the docks at 10:00AM tomorrow morning to take a short boat trip out to the rig.
The Invictus was scheduled to depart mid-last week, but was delayed due to various complications. Tomorrow I will finally board the Invictus for the first time and I will remain on board until the final equipment testing and punchlist items have been completed. Below is a model rendering of the Deepwater Invictus drill ship. The boat is currently anchored a short ways offshore, so I am scheduled to meet at the docks at 10:00AM tomorrow morning to take a short boat trip out to the rig.
While waiting, I have been working in the BHP Billiton office at the DSME (Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering) shipyard as well as exploring the city of Okpo a bit. DSME is one of the largest shipbuilders in the world, and it is just one of the shipyards on this island. The shipbuilding industry here supports the existence of Okpo and other the towns here on the island of Geoje. I have enjoyed the opportunity to learn about the shipyard here and experience the environment. On my first day at the office, I was working on my laptop when I heard what I can only describe as Disneyland-theme-park-like music playing across the shipyard. And this music plays on and off throughout the day, with intervals of 2-3 songs a round. Some times when the music plays (and I have not identified the pattern quite yet), the workers will halt their work and gather to stretch together as the music plays. While this may be a morale booster for the DSME workers, it is quite a comical experience for the guys in our group (...and a little aggravating to some of the old grumps in the group). All of the DSME workers use bikes to get around the expansive shipyard. Without a bike, it is worth driving to get around or using the bus system within the shipyard. Below is a short video clip of the bustle in the mornings. I may not be shooting from the best angle because I was attempting to be inconspicuous.
DSME Shipyard
In my free time, I have explored the nearby trails that wind along the hillside and coastline. There is a particular trail that I have enjoyed that starts along a stilted boardwalk, guides through wooded hills, and then finishes at an old war monument of a naval battle that took place off the coast of Geoje. There were a number of good vantage points to view the shipyard and town from along the way.
City of Okpo
Stilted boardwalk along the coastline
Shots along the trails
War Monument along the trail (Victory Park)
View of the bay
I typically eat meals out with a few of my co-workers, or just buy groceries for meals. Because of all the foreign contracts at the shipyards with companies such as BHPB, there is a large foreign population here resulting in a sort of cultural melting pot. The restaurants in my area seem to cater to foreigners, serving all types of cuisines. So my diet has been quite different than I imagined....ranging from cajun gumbo to quesadillas to kimchi. One common type of restaurant here serves raw meat for you to cook yourself on a grill in the middle of a table. The cook-it-yourself restaurant some co-workers and I visited served two options; ribs and spicy ribs. So I opted for the spicy ribs, but boy it was spicy. I had to take a few breathers mid meal to assist with the heat exchange process. But it was one of those spicy flavors that just tastes so good while it burns. We had a good time with it.
Ribs grilling in the center of our table
Kimchi
Rice bowl and assorted "goodies"
I'm going to end it here for now. If all goes well, I will board the Invictus tomorrow and the journey will be underway later this week. Please send up a prayer for Kendall and I that this show will hit the road soon, it was discouraging this past week to learn about the complications and delays that will prolong our time apart.
-Clint
Dude this is so awesome!! Please keep this up throughout the whole trip!
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