Happy 3rd Anniversary KOTR!

[shanja]

:third: Yep, yes, Uh-huh and OK. Today marks the KOTR big 3 years. Tis a time for reflection, a time for sentimental journeys and above all "nunc est bibendum" ( now is the time for drinking, jollification and fun). A major thanks to Eric who set the whole thing up, also to Sonia who has posted more sites and info than everyone else combined, and to Ricky for the stories of a children eating pink teddy bear. In fact just like an Oscar ceremony thing, I'd like to thank so many of you all it's obscene!:eek8: Ricardo for supplying us with tax free goodies and banana/walnut pancakes, Rockboy (in NZ now) for teaching me about nat-pro placements and quiet climbing, Pedro for being the coolest climin' van ever, B-Team for teaching without (intelligible) words and crankin harder than should be legal, Nick for inspiring and inviting to the Himalaya, Soren for being a true friend of the rope, Craig for proving one man can carry 92 kilos and of course to KyungAh( Naomi) for letting and joining me in this madness of climbing.
If anyone has a cool, strange or funny and legally publishable anecdote of KOTR adventures please post it here. In fact this used to be a part of M&Gs. If nothing else say hi and thanks to your circle of KOTR friends and buy Eric a beer. (Karen likes Makoli more).

[Eric]

Thanks Jake and thanks to everyone who has made this site what it is. It would not be the awesome resource it is without the help of everyone!

Buuuuuuut, i made a date mistake. The official birthday is Friday, April 6th. So, if you want, you can start drinking today but you can't stop until Friday. Them the rules.

[shanja]

I'm on the job. Cracked first bevvie a few minutes ago. Cheers!

[skinsk]

:party: Eric, Congratulations!

[Eric]

Eric, Congratulations!
Thanks for posting 73 climbing areas! :becky:

[Fainthearted Wack]

CONGRATULATIONS KOTR!!!
And thank you Eric for setting up the site. What a successful achievement!:hail:

[skinsk]

Over two years for me now, and so many stories (read all about them somewhere on here!) but coming back to Korea (post-KOTR) the first person I climbed outside with (almost 2 years to the day on our "Arbor Day" holiday) was Eric-- at my old fave Sununsan!

Thanks Eric, not just for the belays, but for this site! Thanks for making it idiot-proof :doh: and for holding my hand, fixing my errors, and teaching me how to do all the cool posts. . . KOTR has given my research and my travels a "purpose" and has provided me with numerous partners (100+) to share the adventures :car: (Thanks partners!) KOTR has introduced me to people I might not have otherwise met-- from diverse backgrounds with unique perspectives, fascinating stories, brilliant humor and many talents to share. I am encouraged and inspired (and sometimes entertained, belayed, "hauled up" and even exasperated!) by all of you. I have learned a lot!

Enduring friendships have been forged and many adventures shared-- throughout Korea and beyond. . . many people are making Korea their destination, thanks to KOTR; others are choosing to stay longer because KOTR raises the quality of life for foreign climbers in Korea. . . it took a lot of people (just showing up!) to make that happen, but it began with Eric. . . my hero and computer-savvy genious. . .
:ranger:
Eric labored and birthed this thing:preggers: , nurtured it and then, like every good parent, let it come into it's own. If it takes a village to raise a child, it takes a number of expat climbers to grow a community like KOTR, but to start naming names is futile-- you know who you are!!

One other person merits special recognition, though. KOTR was not a *******! Nothing so wonderful could come along without a healthy dose of love, compassion, inspiration. . . KOTR was born into a two-parent family and Karen deserves credit as the capable, compassionate "better half" who has surely also been a behind-the-scenes as well as on-screen enabler of KOTR! Peace and love to both of you!:humble:

[ricardo]

Hey, if Bart Simpson can say b@stard on TV then it shouldn't be censored here! anyway...

Oh KOTR, how I thank thee...
2 years ago (almost to the day) I was freaking out over a job offer in Korea and the only reason I was even considering it was this website I found. I had my head so far up my alpine addicted @$$ that I couldn't fathom not having a glacier to board down any time of year. But this whole climbing rock thingy had me a little intrigued (yes, this is what matters to me in a job offer!!). More than anything I saw the connections/trips/people/etc on the site as an escape from the right-wing/bible-banging/bureaucratic conservatives I would be working with all day. I found my outdoor outlet and accepted the job.
It didn't take too long to realize how wrong my military stereotypes were. Most are very laid back, and many are very cool. Almost all of you I met climbing have become close friends. Every one of you (military or not) that I've met through this site has far exceeded my hopes of 2 years ago. I've met some kind brotha's and sista's that I'll still be speaking to many decades from now. This kind of community is hard to find even at home!
KOTR has pulled me to a foreign country (for a kick @ss job), introduced me to climbing and excellent friends, and has kept me here long after other frustrations had me heading for Incheon.
HAPPY BERFDAY KOTR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


is this the kind of sappy outpouring you were looking for Jake?? ;)

[Karen]

I would like to say a thank you to KOTR, too.

If it weren't for KOTR for which Eric usurped my computer 24 hours/ weekday and left for climbing the rest of the time, I would never have gotten my lovely little Sage E Poochers (http://www.dogster.com/dogs/85213)! I can trace back first wanting a full time companion (one without a computer addiction) to exactly the beginning of Eric's web obsession and the birth of KOTR.

In fact, if it weren't for Sage I probably would never have stopped bitching at Eric to get OFF MY computer, and KOTR may have ended up deleted, I'm ashamed to say. But thank you, skinsk, for thinking positively of me :o

[skinsk]

But thank you, skinsk, for thinking positively of me

Without you and Sage, who would I hang out with when Eric works on my website?

But what I meant is, who else would put up with KOTR (in the same house) and even find a way to thrive. . ? (though you are turning into a bit of a computer nerd) The rest of us just use KOTR for our own pleasure, but you have to put up with the intricate-techno-stuff, the beer fueled pod-casts, a husband at the service of every English speaking climber in Korea who calls in the middle of the night with some crazy idea slurred through a $30 cell-phone, 10 random people crashed out in your home, etc. . . thank god you got your own computer! Don't sell yourself short!

Oh, and today's really the day! HAPPY ANNIVERSARY KOTR!!!

[avenue]

I also have to chime in here...

When I was getting ready to come to the ROK, KOTR was a source of a TON of info--on climbing and other topics. I am so thankful for the welcoming feelings and wishes the members of this community sent my way. It takes a good soul to put together something so resourceful and valuable for the greater good. Major props go to Eric (and Karen for putting up with it, and Sonia who is the info-guru!!)!

Thanks everyone!

nic :)

[shanja]

Yes I do think we should all be thankful for Karens input too. She is much too self-depricating to be honest enough about how much she has helped KOTR, and all of us. Sage is also an official KOTR member and one of the great joys KOTR brings to me personally. Thanks Karen! Thanks Sage!