My thoughts and prayers are with you, buddy.
PM before you shove off…
Heh, already did. Where you been?
Ike, Korea is one of the most wired countries in the world. Anything that you want you’ll be able to order via the Internet. Ten years ago it was a HUGE hassle to get stuff, but now it’s not so bad. Netrition has always been reliable for me, and there are other good websites as well. The shipping costs are an issue, but hey, things just aren’t going to be as convenient as they are in America. Get used to it. 
My only advice would be to look around and find yourself a good gym to go to. That has made a huge amount of difference for me. Once you find that, everything else should fall pretty much into place. And it probably won’t be easy. It’ll be some hole-in-the-wall somewhere that you’ll have to enlist local help to discover.
Pusan is about as close to Japan as you can get (and there’s a ferry that takes you right across the strait to Shimonoseki), so I expect you to get over here sometime during your stay.
And for whoever said “bring an American woman” above, you’ve OBVIOUSLY never spent any time in Asia. 
Thanks for the heads up, Char. I’ll definately be scooting across the strait.
I’ll live and die by the power rack, I hope to god I can find one. (Dumbbells over 40kg would be nice as well.)
Hey Ike.
first of all good luck there.
I lived in Singapore a few months this year, and char is right - you can order and get anything there, BESIDE PRO-HORMONES/EPHEDRA. if you plan on using those you better stack up… I would also get some protein powder as the shipment of big jars is expensive.
They have great professional gyms there - you just need to find them.
note: you can’t 2X4 anyone curling in the squat rack there…
S-man.
So it is safe to say there will be a reasonably good gym.
That’s good to hear. Thanks guys.
Oh yeah, a couple more things…
1)Take a good digital camera, as we back here in the states would love to see some photos posted in the forum.
2)What’s the family going to do missing a hand at harvest time?
3)You’re “Most Frequent Posters” rating is going to severely suffer, and all bets are off in our efforts to catch you…what, that’s not up there on your list of priorities? Fine, be that way…
great idea on the weapon of self-defense, CGB
I’m going to Korea too. In six days. Yikes.
I’m gonna get one while I’m over there. Should be cheaper.
Oh, c’mon. You know the answer to that, man. Migrant labor!
No, it isn’t.
Muwahahaha! >:)
Whoda thought? A Korea/Japan T-Cell?!
Ike, Stella, and SPBM, later joined by char-dawg, all strutting around the other side of the world wearing their “Testosterone” T-Shirts.
The T-Nation expands…
Mike,
Unfortunately – or fortunately, depending on your point of view – I do not live in Korea, but rather I visit there frequently as currently I’m close to SFO, the Asia hub for United and the Star Alliance airlines. Now that Asiana joined the Star Alliance, it’s made my travel easier since I can fly on United, Singapore Air, ANA, and Asiana to go to Japan or Korea.
Ike - I expect you to speak decent Korean next time I see you. Just remember that singing is a prerequisite to great social life in Korea. So if you can’t sing, start practicing now. (Unfortunately your max bench has nothing to do with Korean social life.)
Stella
So I’m fucked.
Ike - it’s not too late. Start practice singing.
I’m in Seoul right now and the gyms here suck, but if you search around you should find a decent one. And if you can make into Seoul every now and then you can buy supps at one of the makets. Not weird brands either, they have prolab, eas, etc. Sorry no biotest.
Okay, it’s working for my bench, so I ask: How the hell do I apply the conjugate method toward singing?
Anyone?
Ike, I’m assuming that you’re either Causcasian or Negroid in appearance? If so, you don’t have to worry about the chick thing. So long as you don’t look Asian, you’ll get your share.
Ike, sorry it took so long for me to chime in dude. I’m just outside of Seoul. It seems as though most gyms I found are missing certain (what I consider) vital pieces of eq’t. Namely a saftey squat rack (fucking smith machines everywhere) and a good military press bench.
Anyways, there are new gyms popping up everywhere. Some sell supplements, most don’t. There is a black market in Seoul that you can get most common supp’s like creatine, aminos, MRP’s, protein. If you’re picky, bring your own. If Myoplex and EAS Simply Whey are good enough for you, then get them here. At the market, they’re cheaper than I can get them in Canada. Also, Korea has a brutal inport duty (20%) so it’s not too order-friendly.
Any questions, fire away. If you end up coming to Seoul for a trip, pm me. I’ll show you to the market for supp’s and a few good bars
Oh one more thing… I seriously doubt finding d-bells higher than 40 kg. I went home for a trip only to return to my gym where they told me they got some new d-bells like I wanted. I ran over, happy as a pig in shit only to see that they ordered more between 12-19kg. When I said they needed heavier ones, the trainer replied that most people don’t need them and if I needed heavier ones, I should be using the bar. 
Oh and a Korea/Japan T-cell sounds fucking awesome!!!
Char – If you look at the Road to Portland thread, you’ll see that our friend Ike is portrayed by a very white German guy named Jon.
Beat me to the punch, Jim. Thanks.
SPBM:
Barbells it is then, 'eh? It is just as well, I hardly use dumbbells anyway. Mostly just for higher rep recovery stuff, so no biggie.
I shall definately look you up when I travel to Seoul, which I definately will.
Also, you should come down to Busan sometime in the next year, then you and I can catch a ferry over to go hang/lift with Char. You’re absolutely right: Far-East T-Cell, here we come!