My New Site Is Live!!!

Hey folks!!

The day is finally here. My new site is officially up and running. (Screams in excitement) I’ve even made my first post. Be sure to subscribe over there because I will shut this page down pretty soon!

 

New Site: http://www.brokeandabroadlife.com

 

GO NOW!!!

Just A Quick Update

Hey folks:

Just wanted to check in and let you know I’m still alive here in America. I wanted to come and give you a quick update.

So I will be re-doing my whole blog site in the coming weeks. Unfortunately, this version of WordPress that I have been using will not allow me to take my brand to the places it can (and will) go. Therefore, I will need to pretty  much start over. (Screams) However, I am ready for the challenge and I know once I do, it will be worth it.

I will post again once I get the new blog link, that way you will be able to just hop over onto my new email list. I plan to bring better content to help you really start living your best travel life.

In the meantime, you can check out the articles I have been writing with Travel Noire. I will link my author page below. I have been cranking away and producing some really great stuff for them, including a series I’ve been doing on Black Expats that’s been doing REALLY well. So yea, check it out and the next time you hear from me, I’ll have a new (and way better) site. I got goals y’all!!!

https://travelnoire.com/author/deanna-taylor/

 

As always, happy traveling.

 

 

 

 

This Is America.

Hey folks!

So I have officially been back in the States for two weeks and well…I’m over it. Many people who have done what I have done have coined this feeling “reverse culture shock.” Now I’m not writing this piece to complain, but more so to vent about my realizations of being back. Here they are:

 

1. Life goes on: This is the biggest realization since being back. While I’m sure my family and friends have missed me being around for the last year, their lives have continued to go on regardless. Before coming back, I sorta expected this mushy feeling of everyone missing me and wanting to hang out. However, it’s been quite the opposite. My friends are starting families, getting married, advancing their careers, etc and well they already have their routines. I’m happy for my friends, really I am. (Go y’all!) I just see that my being abroad didn’t have an effect on the people in my life. AND THAT’S FINE. It just assures me that my decision to go back is totally okay as well.
2. I spend too much money in America: I was spoiled living in Korea. As I mentioned before, everything was paid for by my employer. I didn’t have a car there so I didn’t have to pay for gas. Also, tipping in Asia is frowned upon so I had gotten used to that. I’ve only been back two weeks and I have already had to pay $75 for gas. Not to mention merchants expecting a tip at certain businesses. Again, this isn’t me complaining. They are simply realizations.
3. American work life sucks: So often we are taught that living the dream is being in corporate America, wearing your fancy business clothes, and working in an office. I have already gone back to that and I realize how easy things were in Korea. (I knew it then…it’s just highlighted even more now.) Luckily, I’m fortunate to not have to go back to a full grind just yet. I don’t really plan to because well, the plan is to head to China next!

While I am an American citizen, I am also ok with admitting that we need to do better as a country. (In so many ways!!!) I challenge more people to experience living abroad at least for a short amount of time just to see the difference. It really makes you put things into perspective.

As always, thanks for reading and happy traveling!

5 Ways To Become A Digital Nomad.

Working a regular office job is slowly becoming a thing of the past. There’s a new wave of people that are being deemed “digital nomads.”

What’s a digital nomad? Loosely defined, it’s someone who travels while still being able to work and earn money for said travels via digital sources. Below, I explain 5 ways you can join the digital nomad world:

1. Online English teacher: As you all know I just finished a year in Korea working as an English teacher. Since I was contracted to physically be in a school, there were some restrictions under my foreign work visa. Under most foreign work visas, you are normally only able to work in the agreed capacity. (Meaning it’s illegal to receive other sources of income in that country. *Wink wink) However, there are several companies that will hire you to teach via online platforms. This means as long as you have a computer, stable internet, and at least a Bachelor’s degree you can teach children (or adults) online from anywhere in the world. Some companies do require you to be TEFL or TESOL certified as well. It’s pretty easy (and inexpensive) to get certified online. Companies pay anywhere from $11-$25 per hour and you usually make your own schedule. However, you are mostly teaching people in Asian countries so your work hours will fall in line with their time zone.  Some companies include iTutor, Vipkid and DaDa ABC. There are dozens out there. Just research to find the one that best suits you and apply!
2. Freelance writer/ blogger: Many companies will hire writers as independent contractors to write content for their websites and blogs. A site that I recently became aware of is freelancewritingjobs.com. You can either follow the Facebook page or subscribe via their website to see dozens of remote writing jobs posted daily. Again, as long as you have a computer and the internet you can do this from anywhere. Most writers have personal sites too. Once you have a certain audience reach, you can apply to monetize your site. Basically, companies will pay you to run their ads on your site.  Another perk to being a writer is that companies will sponsor your travel to destinations in exchange for you writing about the place.
3. YouTube/Vlogging: This literally is just the video version of blogging and writing. I don’t have the patience to shoot, edit, and upload videos but if you do, it can be very lucrative. Find your niche, grow a following, and you are well on your way! Another alternative to this is launching a podcast. Podcasts are digital talk shows uploaded on different platforms. Again, companies will pay you to advertise their products during your show once you have a certain following.
4. Travel Photographer: if you have a passion for photography, capitalize off of it! Start by showing off your skills on social media platforms. Use hashtags to attract certain viewers of your work and to grow your following. Build a physical and digital portfolio. From there, start reaching out to companies to shop your photos. You can also search for freelance photography jobs.
5. Run an online business: You literally can sell anything via your computer. Some of the most popular are: diet and fitness plans, online stores and boutiques, or consulting businesses. Find something you love, build a website and social pages around it, and promote the heck out of it! The business will come.

As you can see, becoming a digital nomad isn’t far fetched. You just have to have the passion and drive to make it work. It may take some time for the money to flow consistently. Start while you are still in your regular job and once you are comfortable with your income, the world is yours.

I hope this post has been helpful. If seeing the world while making an income is something you are looking for, these are the ways to go! Good luck and happy traveling.

Although we’ve come…to the end of the road…

Wow! I really did it! I took a leap of faith, trusted God through it all, and lived to tell about it.

I never would have imagined a year and a half ago when I began the process to move abroad, that it would have ended up being so impactful.

Click  here to read about the process on how I made the move to Korea.

Getting off of that Delta flight July 21, 2017 was the beginnng of a new me. I’ve explained many times, that I decided to pause a career as a criminal defense attorney (and personal trainer) to make this move. Many people didn’t understand why I would take a significant pay cut (and way of life in general) to move to this once foreign land. But I did!

Over this last year I have grown and learned so much about who I am. I’ve been challenged  in ways that I never would have been in my comfort zone back at home. I’ve met some amazing men and women from all walks of life and have been inspired in ways they’ll never know.

Korea now has my heart, despite a few bumps here and there. (But who wants that perfect love story anyway?) She allowed me to come in and share my culture with people who may never have had the opportunity to interact with someone like me. She allowed me to teach, motivate, and bond with school-aged kids despite a language barrier and some cultural differences. She even allowed me to venture out and explore 8 other countries. Finally, Korea allowed me to be me! (Sure there were a few sideeyes along the way but who cares)

I can’t fully put into words the impact this experience has had on me. But what I can say is, it’s a feeling that I’ll never forget and I never want to go away.

So Korea, while this may be the end of THIS chapter, it’s not the end of our story.

Thank you for an amazing year! ❤️

 

Seniors. Spit. Stares. Stairs. And Smells.

Hey folks:

I know the title has you wondering what those 5 things have in common, well I’ll tell you. These are the things that annoyed me most while in Korea! Let me explain below…

1. Seniors: aka old people of Korea. Now if I haven’t mentioned it before, old people (more so old ladies) run Korea. They literally don’t care what they do or who is affected because well they’re older. Some of my favorite (or not so favorite) encounters with seniors include them pushing and shoving you when they want to get nowhere fast. This is normally the case on public transportation. The little old ladies will push you to either get to a seat they are eyeing or when they need to get on or off and you aren’t moving fast enough for them. I say they are going nowhere fast because they do all this pushing and shoving to only end up moving at a snail’s pace. ( insert major eye roll) My other “favorite” is when you are waiting at a crosswalk and there is space between you and the actual road. An old lady will come insert herself in the small space between you and the road as if there is a line to cross the intersection. Keep in mind the light is red and no one is going anywhere. Yet, when the light does finally turn and it’s time to cross, they move slower than molasses. I’m always thinking, really lady?! You did all that for what?  Smh you can’t help but to love em.

2. Spit: Yep! That spit. So Korean men have no issue hawking up all of the flem from the deepest parts of their soul and spitting it out wherever they are. Korean sidewalks are pretty gross and I constantly find myself walking in zig zag patterns to avoid stepping in fresh flem and spit. Now the even grosser part is that some even spit INSIDE buildings. Ewwwww.  I’m not sure of the reasoning behind it, but it just goes to show that things are viewed differently across various cultures.

3. Stares: Its’s no secret that most Asian countries are very homogenous, meaning there isn’t a lot culture/race mixing. Because of this, they seem to be “fascinated” when they see people who don’t look like them. Now add in some melanin and “ethnic hair” and whew! It’s too much for them. Normally when one gets caught staring, we catch ourself and look away. Not in Korea. (and Asia) Some people will stare a hole into your soul. I have had to stare back in a very extra way just to get them to look away. I knew prior to coming to Korea it would happen but some days you just don’t want to feel like you are an exhibit at a freak show. I know they mean no harm by it and it’s more so curiosity, but sheesh! It’s not for the weak at heart. Luckily, I could handle it.

4. Stairs: As you may or may not know, I walk everywhere. Now, I don’t mind it since it’s extra cardio. But what I do mind is the bazillion steps you have to climb at certain places. The subway stations in Seoul are notorious for stairs. Sure, they have elevators but they are usually packed with the seniors I mentioned above. And when I say there are stairs, baby… I mean stairs! Every now and then we will luck up and the stations will have escalators but there are usually so many people racing to get on, it’s just easier to climb the stairs. Also, because Korea has so many businesses in such a small space, restaurants tend to be in multi level buildings. So your favorite restaurant will end up being on the second or third floor of a building which means…stairs!

5. Smells: Honestly this one doesn’t need a long explanation. But…baby when I tell you that Korea can produce some smells…whew child! Contrary to popular belief, Korea isn’t this clean and prestine place. Korea is actually pretty dirty. People and businesses throw their trash out on pedestrian sidewalks daily. Now factor in the hot and humid weather and the smells intensify. Now the smell that really gets my stomach turning is kimchi. If you don’t know, kimchi is a traditional dish made of fermented cabbage and spices. There are several variations of the dish and they range in spice levels. The actual smell of kimchi fermenting is quite gross. Also, there are times that the smell will come out of the locals pores. *barf

While I truly loved my time in Korea, it had its flaws just like any other place. Luckily these things weren’t too bad and were easy to deal with overall. I will still miss it, flaws and all!

So…. If you don’t follow me on social media, you haven’t heard the good news. I have officially been offered (and now accepted) a position as a travel writer with one of the top black travel and news sites, Travel Noire/ Blavity. It’s crazy how things come full circle. This was the site that exposed me to travel deals and the one that encouraged me to live and work abroad. Now…I’m writing for them!  God is amazing! Don’t worry, I will still keep my travel reviews going and other important travel info on here.

As always, thanks for reading and happy traveling.

The 10 BEST things about living in South Korea.

As many of you know, my time here in Korea is quickly coming to an end. I am actually pretty sad now and not too excited to go back to America. (I mean duh. Do you watch the news?) I can already likely see myself going back abroad whether it be back to Korea or another country. Any who, before I leave I wanted to make the top 10 things I appreciate/like/love about living here. So without further adieu…

 

1. Easy work life: WOW! I knew that coming abroad would be a pretty big change as far as work life was concerned, but I didn’t think it would be as easy as it was. Don’t get me wrong, I had some days where the kids were on another level of rowdy but as far as actual work life, things were a breeze. As a foreign English teacher you either co teach with another teacher (normally a Korean teacher) which means you all may split the class time 50/50 so essentially only teaching 20 minutes or less at a time. Or, you may be like me and teach the entire 40 minute period, but even that is light work. The most I actually teach in a day is maybe 4.5 hours. The other time is spent at my desk, surfing the internet, chatting with friends, or blogging. Now there aren’t too many places in the states where you will get such a relaxed schedule. In addition to this, our dress code is relaxed AF. Some days I choose to dress up in business casual but you literally can come to work in jeans and tees. (let’s not forget we also wear slides/slippers while indoors) I can honestly say I haven’t been stressed from work or overwhelmed.
2. HEALTH insurance for the win: If you are in the States you already know the gamble with health insurance. Most people my age no longer work in standard companies. We are either entrepreneurs, working in start-ups, or contractors. Often times, being in positions like these don’t allow you to automatically be afforded a healthcare plan. I had to buy into a plan which I actually lucked up on. I hated paying that monthly premium but I was secure in knowing that if I needed it, it was there. As a teacher overseas you are provided health insurance. As far as how the premium is paid, I am not 100% sure but I doubt it was $250+ a month that I was paying back home. To top that, you can literally walk into any clinic, doctor’s office, eye doctor or whatever and be seen instantly. I think the longest I have ever had to wait was maybe 10 minutes because I came when the staff was just coming back from lunch. Now I will say, depending on the type of office you may get a super quick scan from the doctor, given a diagnosis (or prognosis whatever the word is), given your prescription, and sent on your merry way which sometimes makes you feel like you weren’t throroughly examined. But I have only experienced this at the ear, nose, and throat doc and he was usually correct in what I had at the time so it was ok. Now, my favorite part is the cost. In the States, depending on your plan, you pay a copay before being seen. After you are seen, you may then be billed for additional services not covered in that type of visit. In Korea, you pay AFTER you are seen and everything is paid for at once so no subsequent bills are coming in the mail. When I went to the ENT my cost was about $4 plus a $3-$4 prescription. When I went to have x-rays of my wrist after injuring it I paid $30 which included speaking with the doctor,  x-rays, a 10 minute heat therapy session , 15 minute cupping session , a 10-minute sports massage, plus them wrapping it and giving me a brace. When I had my wisdom teeth pulled (they only take two at a time) my cost was $40 plus a $5 prescription. Finally when I went to the eye doctor I paid $100 for an eye exam, 7-months of contacts including a set of colored ones, and new glasses which were cut and made in 15 minutes. I could go on and on but I think you see what I’m trying to say here.
3. Did someone say SERVICE?:  *In my best Oprah voice* “You get a free thing, you get a free thing, everyone gets a free thing!” That’s right, in many businesses getting something free is always part of your purchase. When you go to certain restaurants you often get free side dishes with your meal. When you go to any cosmetic store or skincare store, you always get free samples too! My favorite cosmetic store often has a promotion where you pick a number 1-5 and get an actual bag of free stuff based on the number you choose. 
4. Guns are illegal and crime is low: When I first told people that I was moving abroad, there main concern was my safety. I can say that I have never felt more safe than while being abroad. The main reason why is guns are illegal, dangerous crimes are not common, and Koreans are very HONEST people. I’m not saying Koreans are saints but I never had to worry about anyone robbing me, breaking into my apartment, pulling a gun on me, getting hit by stray bullets, etc. All of these things are actually giving me some anxiety about moving back home. I see and hear stories everyday and I’m just floored that things have gotten so bad back home. The most you will hear here in Korea is about men being pervs or some type of sexual assault, but it’s still not very common. You can literally leave your belongings, step away to go to the bathroom or somewhere, and can trust that your stuff will still be where you left it. I know a girl who recently left her bookbag with a new MAC laptop in it somewhere, and she was tracked down via a card in her bag and her belongings were returned. WOW! I’m not saying this doesn’t happen in America but it’s not as common. I did have the one run-in with the lady at the gym, but that blew over and I never had any issue after.
5. Transportation is super efficient: Having a car here is not a necessity because you can get anywhere by bus, train, or taxi. The transportation system is very efficient, very cheap, and runs pretty smooth. There is an app for everything to make things even easier. To get to Seoul from where I live, I pay about $5.50 to take an express bus which takes around 1 hour to go straight to Seoul. If you need to go anywhere far you can take speed trains that are also pretty cost efficient and low on travel time. Regardless of where you need to go, you can get there without breaking the bank and without too many issues. 
6. Cheap international travel: Of course this is probably my favorite because…well I like me a good vacay and for the low! In this year alone, I will have gone to 8 new countries (not counting Korea). The flights vary in price but have been significantly lower than traveling from the States. I have seen the Philippines, Malaysia, Cambodia, Thailand, Hong Kong, Japan, Vietnam, and I will finish with the Maldives next week! I mean who is gonna pass up cheap flights to destinations you probably would never see otherwise? Not me.
7. There is actually a diverse expat (foreigner) community: While moving to certain areas of the country will have you feeling as though you are all alone, there is actually a large number of foreigners scattered around. Yes, most of them are in Seoul or Busan, but the point is they are here. The program I am in has around 60 foreign teachers in our city alone so you can always find someone to have normal convos with. More and more foreigners are also opening busineses here so that is helping as well. Not to mention there are several large American military bases in the country and you can find almost anything American around them. So if you’re willing to do a little traveling you can always find a little piece of home. (Even if it’s not the U.S.)
8. Aye y’all got free wifi? Yes we do!: So wifi (or weefee as I call it) is EVERYWHERE in Korea. I know it seems wifi is almost any where in the world now, but surprisingly it’s not. Furthermore, Korea is said to have the fastest connection in the world. (I think they are being extra on that but it’s still great nonetheless) Wifi is so accessible that my friend has survived being here almost 2 years without phone service. Yea…let that sink in!
9. There is always something to see or do: I have been here basically a year and there is still so much I won’t get to see and do. There is always a new and interesting cafe popping up and I live for a cute cafe. Also, Korea is the home of festivals. I have never seen or heard of so many random festivals in my life. I literally saw a sign for a wax corn festival. ( I have soooo many questions about this) You can also city hop. You can get from one end of Korea to the other in 4 hours by train. So the possibilities are endless. Hopefully I’ll be back and I’ll be able to see and do more. 
10. Food delivery is super clutch: I know in the states we are used to having certain food delivered but Korea takes the cake. My eyes were opened when I learned about McDelivery (McDonald’s delivery service). You literally can have anything on the menu (within a certain price) brought right to your door. Almost all local restaurants deliver and the majority of fast food chains do as well. They even deliver rain, sleet, or snow. Now delivery guys drive like maniacs and will run your over on their scooter in a heartbeat…but at least the food is getting delivered right? I mean we gotta eat! 

As you can see, Korea is actually a really great place to live. I will miss it dearly although I’m not convinced we are really parting ways forever. If you ever get the chance you should definitely visit my temporary home some day.

As always, thanks for reading and happy traveling.

Swimming in mud and racing up 123 floors…the Korea edition!

Hello folks:

I wanted to update you all on a couple of MAJOR acheivements here in Korea. Now most people would think I’m crazy for doing them (and trust me I had to question myself a few times) but the feeling after actually doing it was worth it.

Back in May, I took part in the Lotte Tower Sky run in Seoul. Lotte Tower is one of the WORLD’s tallest skyscrapers sitting at 123 stories. Someone somewhere decided that it would be fun for people to compete by seeing how fast they could climb the 2,917 steps in the lava-lamp shaped building. Of course, being the over-achiever that I am, I decided to sign up and do it!

In the weeks leading up to the event, I ran the stairs in my apartment building to somewhat prepare me. I honestly never made it past running 60 floors but it was better than nothing.

On the day of the race, I met up with my friends that morning at the race site. One of my friends, who actually told me about the race, would also be doing the climb too. Our two other friends came as our personal cheer squad. I was super nervous but anxious to get it all over with. Since it’s Korea, they had a whole mini festival going on around the tower to get people pumped up for the race. There were even professional athletes in town just to compete in this race. They apparently travel around the world competing in these types of extreme races. The crazy thing is, the fastest time among them was FIFTEEN minutes.

My goal was to complete the climb in under 45 minutes. The first 50-60 floors had me wanting to quit. But, after that it’s as though the numbers were magically changing by 10 with each stair that I climbed. Once I hit the 100th floor my second wind kicked in. (Or I just really wanted it all to be over. Hey whatevs) I pushed through those last 23 floors and ran through the finish line! My time came to my phone… I MADE MY GOAL!!! I was so happy. I collected my medal, took a few pics from the top of the tower, and made my way down the high tech elevator.

Now I can say, I competed in an international race! It was a tough race, but some how I wasn’t satisfied and decided to go even farther.

I had seen posts from a Facebook group inviting people to come to Seoul for free Saturday workouts. This was something I had really been missing from my workout regimine. So my friend and I decided to check out this group called Seoul City Crew. They hosted free outdoor workouts for ANYONE on Wednesday and Saturday. They were also preparing to compete in….the Spartan race. Initially I said no to the race seeing how I had done a similar race in the states a few years ago. But again, the overacheiver in me decided otherwise. My friend and I would once again put ourselves through physical extremes. (What is wrong with us??) There were also over 60 people from the Crew that would take part in the race.

We loaded up on buses on June 30 and made our way to the race site an hour outside of Seoul.

There were soooo many people. I couldn’t believe that everyone wanted to endure physical torture just like me. Our race time was at noon so we spent time just walking around. (I was actually just trying to calm my nerves.) We would be doing the shorter version of the Spartan race, called the Spartan sprint. I was under the impression that it would only be about a 5k and 20 obstacles. BOY WAS I WRONG.

The race started out with 3 obstacles back-to-back. A set of walls to climb over under and through followed by a barbed wire crawl on the ground straight into a cargo wall. Whew…ok I was prepared for those so it actually wasn’t too bad. Next came what seemed like an eternal run on a path built over a really pretty lake. (thank God the scenery was beautiful because I would have quit LOL. Just kidding) After this LONG run came another set of obstacles….a rope climb that I had to opt out of and do burpees, a set of high hurdles to jump, a heavy atlas stone carry, then 3-4 different sets of monkey bars that I also had to opt out of and do burpees. (it all became a blur after this) The burpees were grueling since it was super hot out that day too!

Next came a VERY STEEP trail climb up a mountain that lasted about 30 minutes alone. Everytime I thought I was at the top, I had to go up even more. However, the race creators failed to keep one thing in mind…we all had to come down this steep mountain. There ended up being a long backup of race goers trying to get down the steep and narrow path. This added at least 30-45 minutes to everyone’s race time.

After we finally got out of the woods and off of that mountain we had to carry heavy buckets of rocks around a mini obstacle course and then go through a series of puddles of mud. The last “puddle” was actually a mini pool of muddy water that we had to swim under a wall to get out of. UGHHHHHHHH. From there it was another wall and more running. The last few obstacles included carrying heavy sandbags around a stadium, crawling under more barbed wire but in sand while being sprayed with water, a tall cargo wall, and finishing by jumping over a small fire pit.

WHEW!!! The total distance of the race ended up being well over 8 KM or around 5-6 miles. While it doesn’t sound like a lot distance wise, when you add in the obstacles it becomes pretty hard. Just think, people were out doing a 12 KM version. More power to them!

I was so proud of myself for even finishing. I wanted to stop several times but I just kept pushing and giving myself pep talks along the way. I was rewarded with a NICE medal and a t-shirt that says Spartan Race FINISHER! Yayyyy.

I’m sure after reading this, you think I have lost my everlasting mind. But I actually encourage you to try something out of your comfort zone. If you do, or if you have, share it in the comments section. I want to see how awesome (and crazy) you are too!

As always, thanks for reading! Happy traveling.

More Seoul searching…

Hi folks:

So the weather is finally breaking here in Korea and that means I’m back out exploring as much as I can.

My friends and I decided to head out to Seoul to check out a few rooftop cafes that we heard about. The first stop of the day was to a small but very picturesq place called Seoulism. It was initially a little hard to find especially since there is a lot of construction going on aroung it. I took the subway to the Songpa stop (exit 2) and then had to catch a cab from there. You can also walk. (it was about a 20 minute walk but it was so hot) The sign on the front just says coffee and it’s mixed in a small strip of other businesses along a main road. (Address Songpa-gu, Songpa-dong, 48-7, Seoul)

There is usually a small wait since the rootop area is very small. They let people up as other people come out. In order to have access to the rooftop you have to first purchase a beverage. The beverages are a little pricey as far as cafe drinks go. (6,500-8,000 won) I purchased an iced caramel macchiato, my friends had the berry ade and the cookies and cream smoothie. The berry ade was really good so I highly recommend that. Once you are given your drinks you are allowed to take the elevator up to the 6th floor.

When you get upstairs, you think that you are in the wrong place. But once you walk throught he curtain to the left you are taken to the small terrace like area to enjoy your drink. You can then walk up another set of stairs to find the gorgeous photo spot with the lotte world tower in the background. To make your photos even better, there is a really cute “SEOUL” backdrop and even a chair to sit in. Luckily the photo area wasn’t crowded when we were there, but then again it’s not that big anyway.

We literally only spent our time taking photos and then we left.

Out next stop was on the opposite side of Seoul so we had about a 30-40 minute subway ride to Hongdae.

We made our way to the Sangsu stop (exit 1) to get to Contoyner cafe. It was about a 5 minute walk from the station to the cafe. Just like most cafes in Hongdae, it was a little hard to find since it is in one of the smaller alley ways. (Thanks to my friend’s naver app we didn’t get lost)

Contoyner is a super cute cafe that sells all types of trinkets and memorabilia from your childhood. In addition to this, they have a really adorable rooftop as well. Just like with Seoulism, you have to purchase a drink to get access to the rooftop. The drinks here are a little more reasonable in price. This time I had the lemon ade, my friends had the grapefruit ade and a green grape smoothie.

We made our way to the rooftop and WOW!! It was a rush of pastel colors and cute props perfect for a photoshoot with friends. We could barely stop to enjoy our drinks before we started taking photos. Again, there wasn’t a crowd when we went so we were able to take lots of pictures.

We spent about an hour or so here just taking pics and coming up with random ideas for new poses. I highly suggest this place for the photo opps alone.

We worked up quite an appetite after this, so we made our way back toward the Sangsu station and stopped at a cupcake shop called Chikalicious. We stumbled upon it on our way to the cafe, so we had to make our way back. They had a large assortment of cupcakes from salted caramel, red velvet, and even earl grey. They also serve banana pudding. We sat at the small bar and enjoyed a cupcake and the banana pudding. It was probably one of the best desserts I’ve had in Korea especially since Korean dessserts aren’t usually prepared the same as Western desserts.

Even with our cupcake tasting, we still needed to eat real food. Just like the cupcake place we stumbled on the Hongdae location of Nekkid wings. I had never been to the Itaewon location, but according to my friends this location has more options on the menu.

I decided the nuggets as my meal. The nuggets come with a choice of two dipping sauces. I had the smokehouse BBQ and classic buffalo sauce. We all were really impressed with the tastes. Getting actual Western flavor is very hard in Korea since they love to put their own spin on most things and it tends to mess it up. But this place reminded me of an upscale chick-fil-a! My taste buds were very happy.

As you can see we had quite an adventurous day. I have about 7 weeks left here in Korea before I return to the states. I plan to explore as much as I can between now and then. There is still so much to see before I leave so stay tuned.

Thanks for reading and Happy Traveling!

 

Travel Review: Ha Long Bay, Vietnam

Hello folks:

Here is the continuation to my last post. As I mentioned before, I decided on a 2 day 1 night excursion out on Ha Long Bay.

There are several companies that offer tours to Ha Long Bay. They range from day tours, 2 day-1 night tours, and even 3 day-2 nights. In my opinion, the 2 day 1 night option is perfect. I used the boating company that my hotel (Hanoi Cristina Hotel) recommended. The hotel also served as a small travel agency. I emailed them ahead of time to ask for the prices of the tours. They offered three boats which ranged in luxury. The higher end boat was the Viola Cruise which was $160, then the Diamond cruise which was $150, and the boat I took was the Lemon cruise for $125. These initial prices were for double occupancy (two people). Since I was traveling alone, the prices were slightly higher: $210, $190, and $150 respectively. That’s one of the downfalls of solo travel.

You can also wait until you are in Hanoi and visit any of the many travel agencies in the Old Quarter to seek their prices. I saw signs for pricing that was much lower, but I am not sure of the quality of the boats.

Now, about my tour.

The host was the one who came to get me from the hotel around 8am of day 1. There ended up being only 5 other people on the tour with me which was perfect. We set out on the 4 hour ride from Hanoi to Ha Long. We stopped midway for a bathroom and snack break. All of the buses stop at this same place, which also sells souvenirs. We spent about 30 minutes there before finishing out the journey.

When we arrived at the port, we had to transport our bags from the bus to a smaller boat (our tender boat). Some of the higher end boats had carts to help you transfer your luggage, but the walk was less than 2 minutes to the boat. We took the smaller boat out to meet our larger boat since it could not dock directly at the port.

Once on the boat, we were assigned our rooms and given our keys. We were told to check our rooms for any issues and to report back around 1:45 for lunch. The room that I was assigned to was pretty simple. It had a comfy double bed and it’s on bathroom with shower. There were no T.V.s but there was air con. ( It only worked for a portion of the trip due to the small generator on the boat)

At 1:45 we met for our first meal on the main deck of the boat. The staff made more than enough for the six of us on board so you had the option to have more.

After lunch, we prepared to head out to our main excursion for that day. First we would kayak through the Bay and a small floating village. We kayaked for about 45 minutes. The scenary was very beautiful. Our boat was the only boat out kayaking at the time, so it was also very peaceful. We got pretty wet, so be prepared for that.

After kayaking, we went to a local pearl farm which was very close to the entry point for kayaking. The pearl farm was very small and not that interesting. (Hey I’m honest)

From there we loaded up again on our tender boat to head out to a beach on one of the over 2,000 small islands that make up Ha Long Bay. Initially we were one of the only boats there, but halfway through our time several other tour boats came to the small beach. The beach was cute and you also had the option to play some volleyball. (I played and had fun.) We spent about an hour there before getting back on the tender boat and heading out the the large boat.

Once on the large boat, we had some down time until our dinner. Our dinner that night was a large spread of various meats served on the large bamboo plate which is customary in Vietnam. We had a few side dishes such as rice, salad, and some vegetables. Fresh fruit was always served after each meal as dessert. On the boat, drinks were not included in the tour price, but the drinks were very cheap. (they also had a small bar on the boat if you wanted to order alcohol. Beer was about $2 and cocktails were $5)

We were scheduled to do some night fishing but it began to rain. I was pretty tired, so I headed in to my room for the night.

Day 2:

The morning started very early. Breakfast was served at 7am. Breakfast was pretty simple: toast, eggs, and fruit.

Our tour that morning was to a cave. The cave wasn’t very big and all of the boats came at the same time, so it was a bit crowded. After going through the cave, our host gave us some time on a small beach next to the cave for pictures.

We loaded up onto the tender boat one more time and then on to the large boat. At this point we started the check out process and closed out any drink tabs. We were making our way back to the main port. I simply took in the scenary on the way back just like I did on the way there. Around 11:30 am we had lunch which was another assortment of various Vietnamese dishes and noodles. We made it back to the port right around noon and set back out to Hanoi the same way we came. (with the same stop at the midway point.)

All in all, the cruise was great. The price was a little steep for a single person, but again you may be able to get cheaper prices once you actually get into Hanoi. The scenary was absolutely breathtaking so I don’t regret it one bit. You actually do alot in the short 2 day period. The food was always hot and fresh and there was always plenty. The crew was very friendly and willing to help with anything you needed. As I mentioned before, I highly recommend an overnight cruise versus just going there and back in a day. The four-hour ride each way isn’t worth it for just a day trip. If you are already closer to Ha Long, you may be able to do the day tour on your own, but coming from Hanoi overnight is best.

I hope you have enjoyed this post. As always, thanks for reading and happy traveling!