Sarah Marquet

In a city of 10.5 million people, it can be almost impossible to find space to sit and clear your head or walk without having to dodge people.

The subject of today's blog dear readers is cultural differences. In the two and a half weeks I have been in Korea I have noticed some pretty big ones - some good, some bad and some just plain odd.

Although there may be ''positivity and optimism'' among some Tarras Water Ltd shareholders, others have labelled that as propaganda and will be making submissions to the Otago Regional Council, appealing for it not to support the scheme.

With some final boxes ticked by shareholders, Tarras Water Ltd has cleared another hurdle and will release a prospectus this week. But the largest hurdle, that of signing up a dry shareholder, remains.

A subdivision on and next to a significant Central Otago landscape feature known as Sugarloaf may soon be one step closer to reality.

The well-known Alexandra Pie Cart, badly damaged by fire almost a year ago, could soon be serving late-night revellers and travellers once again.

A scammer described by police as ''loud and expressive'' has been ripping off South Island Subway outlets. Sergeant Simon Paget, of Cromwell, said a middle-aged well-dressed Asian man would purchase a low-cost item such as a drink, hand the cashier a $100 note and take his change.

From rural Otago to the big city lights, ODT reporter Sarah Marquet blogs about life in Seoul, Korea. With funding from the Asia New Zealand foundation, she will be working in the newsroom of one of South Korea's largest papers, the Joong Ang Daily, for the next six weeks.

''Awfully grey lines'' between swimming pools and irrigation dams and ponds incited debate in the Central Otago District Council chambers last week. The Government had asked local authorities for their opinions after it proposed changes to the Fencing of Swimming Pools Act 1987.

A review of how government funding for roads is distributed could have ''reasonable implications for this district'' Central Otago District Council roading committee deputy chairman Barry Becker says.

After the men from the Alexandra Men's Shed group heard about Central Otago Mayor Tony Lepper carrying around his mayoral chains in an old cardboard box, they decided to do something about it.

The team from Cromwell College that is trekking in Nepal have had their first view of Mount Everest.

A potential multimillion-dollar irrigation scheme in Tarras, albeit a controversial one, is entering an ''absolutely exciting'' time, Tarras Water Ltd chairman Peter Jolly says. The company's final prospectus was released last week and its share offer will open later this week.

A Cromwell rugby dynasty began just because ''that's what you did''.

The Australian-Kiwi team of Matt Blundell and Michael Snell held on to its lead to win the Wild Descent four-day race yesterday.