I honestly didn't know anything about baseball until last year when the San Francisco Giants won the World series-- AGAIN. Now, I have traded my home team for yet other Giants-- the Busan Lotte Giants. And coincidentally enough, their colors are also black and orange.
On May 5th, which is Cinco de Mayo in the Americas and Children's Day in Korea, I was taken out to a ball game for the first time!
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| Sajik Stadium, home of the Lotte Giants |
Along with some coworkers, we got seats in the "Exciting Zone". This are is the first three rows from the playing field. With no chain link fence separating us and the players the section is "exciting" because we must always be alert of baseballs being batted in our direction.
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| View from my seat. |
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| View from my seat. |
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| In celebration of Cinco de Mayo! You don't know how difficult it is to find limes in Korea. |
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| oh yes we did... |
Surprisingly enough, in the middle of the game a ball WAS hit in our direction. I was too busy eating nachos in a sombrero to notice. All I heard was someone saying, "looks like that ball is coming our way". The next thing I know everyone, including myself was ducking for cover. When we came up, we saw Qin Shu holding the ball. While everyone else was hiding, she had caught it with her bare hands! AMAZING!
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| With her prize ball~ |
Towards the middle of the game we were losing badly. The opposing team, Samsung, has scored 4 runs in the 2nd inning. It was the 7th inning and Lotte still had scored zero-- yet the crowd was fanatical! They were cheering and singing and dancing like no other, making the experience really special. Win or lose, the energy was just phenomenal.
At some point they passed out orange plastic bags that serves two purposes: first to wear on your head as Lotte swag and second, to throw your trash in after the game was finished.
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| Everyone was wearing them! |
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| A whole crowd with plastic bags on their heads. |
Towards the end of the game, I walked around the other sections of the stadium. From up top, you are able to see the beautiful city skyline.
Here's a video of the crowd towards the last inning. Keep in mind that the score was 1-5 and there was no way Lotte was going to make a comeback. Yet the crowd still cheers on...
The game ended. We lost horribly, however we still got to eat cotton candy. And eating cotton candy is always a small kind of victory.
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| Jessica looking like a 6 year old ^^ |
Since May 5th is also Children's Day in Korea, there were many stands and activities geared towards kids. On our way out Jessica showed me this game. They sell cookies with a shape pressed into it. Then you use just a pin to cut the cookie out in one piece. If you get the shape out in one piece you win another cookie!
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| I lost, just like the Giants :( |
Directions to Sajik Stadium
(There are numerous ways to get to Sajik, but these are directions from my apartment)
From Oncheonjang Station, take Exit 1. Turn left and cross the street. Cross the street again so that you are on the opposite side. Continue walking until you get to the bus stop. Take Bus 189 all the way to the stadium, less than 20 minutes. Baseball tickets range from 7,000-30,000 KRW.
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