Thing's have been awesome since I've been back. The weather here is still muggy, but a far-cry from the swamp of misery it is in June-July. However, at least 2 cold showers a day are required for me to not feel terrible.

We've discovered some great restaurants in Daejon recently. One is Cantina-a Mexican restaurant/bar that serves delicious, blended margaritas, real mexican food, and has a great atmosphere. The food was good for 4 basic reasons:

1. All the meats were tender, rich, and oily, just how Mexican food is supposed to be.

2. They have hard shell tacos!

3. A free basket of chips and salsa comes with your meal, just like back home.

4. You get large portions for a great price. 4 tacos was $9! That's cheaper than most places back home when you consider you don;t have to pay tax and tip.

Another great place is Cafe Brunch. Guess what they specialize in? You got it: Dinner. Just kidding. Boy, did this place have awesome pancakes. They have a cinnamon crusted pancake platter that was probably in the top 3 pancakes I've ever had. The salad, sausage, and eggs royale (salmon Benedict) were great. That's definitely my new breakfast/brunch spot in town.

Finally, some of the best chicken I've ever had is found in Gung-dong at Oppa Dalk. The garlic chicken there is out of this world. Large quantities of meat on the bones, unlike the boney crap you get at another Korean chicken places; delicious hunks of garlic and a sweet and savory sauce coat slightly crispy-skinned hunks of carnivore's catnip (tender meat). I could eat at that place every few days. Waitresses are hot, too.

Also, the fountains that the government took all summer to build along the local riverside park have finally been activated!!! Holy crap they are awesome. There are two fountains in different locations, but their design is essentially the same. There brickwork on the ground near the fountains gently curves downward until it is submerged by the pool of water surrounding the fountains themselves, which are build into the side of a wall. One section of the wall has warious holes spouting water outward, arcing into the pool below, while the top lip of the wall (which is actually at street level above the river park) has water cascading down in sheets. Recessed in the lip at the top are colorful LED lights which run the length of the wall. The effect is that the whole sheet of water takes on the color of the LEDs. The flow of the water, the irregularities in the surface of the water sheet, and the shifting of the LED colors make for a magnificent display of dynamic lighting.

The other section of the wall has orthogonal steps protuding from it, progressively smaller as they get higher, such that is gives the impression of a step pyrmaid or ziggurat protruding from the wall. Water cascades down each of these steps, and all of the lips have their own sets of recessed LEDs too!! Totally amazing fountain.

Mik and I decided it'd be a great idea to go wading into the water and stand under the cascading water sheets. Great idea!! It was so refreshing in this hot weather, and to be able to physically play within the beautiful colored water gave a new persepective of the fountain. The interactive experience of being up close and touching the water makes this the coolest fountain I've ever seen. Even better than the Xian Fountains of China! I'm actually gonna head over to the fountains in a minute or two here ^^

I love discovering all of these fantastic new details of Daejon. I truly enjoy living here, and I'm looking forward to unlocking more of it's wonderful experiences. Seeya!