When Korea (or any country) shows you who it is…believe it!

Hey folks!!

It’s been a few weeks since I last posted. As many of you know I made the decision to pack up my life as an Attorney to live abroad for a little while. It’s been a pretty great experience overall, but Korea is by no means perfect. To be honest, these last few weeks here haven’t been so pleasant. My “some what perfect” experience has officially been tainted.

As you all have read over these last eight months, I have really enjoyed my time here. I’ve seen and done more than I could have imagined in such a short time. Unfortunately just like any other country, Korea has its flaws. I was quickly introduced to them in a couple of unpleasant situations recently.

Situation 1:

As you know,  I teach at two elementary schools. One 4 days a week and the other only once a week. The school that I work in once a week is pretty behind compared to my other school and I am usually the only English these kids get during a week. It’s frustrating at times to not see them progress. It can be even more frustrating knowing some teachers aren’t making the effort to catch them up. This creates even more of a language barrier between my students and me.

In my 3rd grade class we were without the interactive CD-rom for 3 weeks. Keep in mind these are students new to taking English so it was very difficult in those weeks. I had to improvise but we made it.

The situation that really took me over the top, was with a different class. These students are also fairly new to English but not new to me. However, their home room teacher is new to this school and his style is very different from mine. In one particular class, I was introducing some new vocabulary to the students. I noticed that most of them weren’t listening or even looking at me. They were distracted by the other teacher going around a playing with different kids. It got so bad that the student’s became super rowdy and I was now yelling over them to fight for their attention. I was yelling so loud I felt like my head would explode. I figured the kids would catch on to my frustration, but they never did and neither did the home room teacher.

I put my foot down and made the students take out paper to copy sentences. I told them to copy the three sentences on the chalkboard, ten times each. Now, my “good students” complied. The others…not so much. They continued to play and the home room teacher just stood there. My blood was boiling. I finally asked one kid to turn around in his seat to finish and he boldly told me NO! WHAAAATTTT??? At that point I knew that my time was not being valued, so I packed up and told the home room teacher I cannot teach under these conditions. My being there was pointless. He then tried to act confused which added fuel to the fire. I told the teacher he can come get me when the students are ready to respect me and ready to learn. And that was that.

After about 20 minutes, the teacher comes down to the office. I’m thinking ok, he’s had a talk with the kids and he wants me to come back. WRONG. He came to make copies and to play the “Oh my English isn’t good, I don’t understand” role. You see, Koreans “don’t do” confrontation, which is REALLY annoying. He starts talking to me acting as though he suddenly forgot how to use his English. (Mind you he talks to me just fine any other day) So in this broken, choppy way he tries to ask me why I left. (*Insert a super side-eye here) I try to explain that I cannot teach under those conditions and he continues to act clueless. He then starts trying to “tell the story” in Korean to the other teachers that were in the office at the time. I knew this because he said my name a few times and I picked up a few other words as well. Lucky for me, no one really fed into his story so he left.

I decided to wait until all of the children left for the day to go to his room to talk about the whole situation. I knew if I didn’t then I would continue to have this issue for weeks. Using my best hand motions and broken English I explained to him that if he wants me to effectively do my job, he needs to do his. He magically understood but asked me to make some rules for the students. (*insert another side-eye here) Mind you we are a month into the year and these aren’t kindergarteners, so they know how to behave in school. It’s HIM who needs the rules. But I agreed.

The next week I came with my pretty new rules in English and Korean and we actually had a great class. Now let’s pray the rest of the semester goes well.

Situation 2:

Now this situation really did it for me.

So I am really big on fitness and working out. I was a trainer back in the States and was pretty consistent on staying in shape. I knew coming to Korea I wanted to maintain my fitness routine. I started out at one gym but it wasn’t that close to where I lived so I changed.

I initially paid for a 3-month membership. It was (and is) a nice gym with everything I needed and it was steps outside of where I live. When I signed up, I was only given the receipt to show proof of payment but nothing more. I threw the receipt away because I was told by another foreigner that they will notify me when it’s time to pay again. COOL! (Or so I thought)

The months went by. During this time, I also went on vacation for weeks among other things. So keeping track of the exact date, wasn’t the first thing on my mind. I continued to workout day in a day out. The staff would greet me and nothing else was said until…

About a month and half after my membership expired, an employee finally came up to me to say it had expired and I needed to pay. I agreed to pay and didn’t think anything else of it.

Two hours after I leave, I began getting nasty texts from the owner. Her first text was a threat to seek legal action against me for “illegally using her facility and if I didn’t pay back $140 by the next day, she would sue me.” Of course this took me by surprise seeing as though I had just agreed to pay when asked that same day. Needless to say, we got into a text battle over notice and her failing to do her job adequately as a business owner. She belittles me when I explain to her I am a lawyer and I understand how things work. Furthermore, I explained that I know right from wrong and had I really known that I was doing something illegal, I would have made it right. She started bringing up “other issues she had with me” which didn’t apply to anyone else in the gym. (Not to pull this card, but I am the only black person that attends this gym. And yes racism is alive in Korea just like any other place.) After the hour long text war, I told her that I agreed to pay and that was my intention the next day. I think what distured me most, was that this lady could have easily said something to me in person. (Goes back to the point of Koreans “don’t do” confrontation. UGH)

I go in after work to pay for a new month of membership, it was a little after 5pm. To my surprise, there was no one working the desk of the gym so I went to the other floor to check for someone. NOPE. I go back to the desk and walk around looking. There is no one there. So I go home to wait. I return about 30 minutes later and the front desk girl is finally there. I explain that I am here to pay for one month and like I told the owner I will pay for an additional 3 months in a few weeks when payday comes next month. The girl pulls out a calendar to show me when my last membership expired and that I needed to pay from that date through now. Ummmm No! I was never notified that was when my membership expired so I am not responsible for that. Furthermore, if I was not supposed to be there, why was I allowed to workout all this time? She calls the owner several times but she never answers. Finally, the girl agrees to the one month. She writes it on a basic intake form and takes my payment. I asked if I needed to sign anything and she said no that was it.

I go back to my workouts for the next 4 days with no issue. Four days later, the owner begins texting me again this time saying if I am seen there again she is going to call her lawyer AND the police. So either I pay her more money or I don’t come back. I told her I paid as we agreed and these subsequent texts make no sense. Again, she starts bringing up more issues that she has with me (my outdoor shoes) that have never been addressed with anyone else. It was at this point, I realized that she definitely has a personal issue with me.

I decide to contact my director to explain to her the situation since the lady is threatening to have me arrested. (I have never been arrested a day in my life so I don’t play with that.) My director contacts the lady, but as expected she comes back saying that I needed to just pay the money.

It was at this point, I finally saw who Korea (and any other country) really is. You see as a foreigner, you don’t have the same rights as a native. Furthermore, as a black foreigner it’s even harder. Now I understand every class and race faces discrimination and racism in some aspect. But no one can truly understand the day in and day out of being black in any place. While I hadn’t experienced any direct discrimination until this point here, there have been little situations that show me that people everywhere look down on me just from the color of my skin. I’ve experienced things from people staring and taking pictures of me because of a hairstyle, people scrunching their nose up because they think black (and brown) people smell, and even taxi drivers blatantly not stopping for me and my friends. Those situations honestly didn’t bother me because they were small. But, after being in a situation like the gym one, I realize this place (along with the world) is still very flawed.

It doesn’t matter how many degrees or certifications I have, how many news appearances or newspaper articles I’ve had, or even my general compassion toward others I’m still not good enough to some people… and that’s fine. It’s sad, but I refuse to let people like that keep me from living the life that God has designed for me. Now I will admit, this situation has shown me that my time here has run its course. I will likely be coming back to the states after my one year instead of extending now. But this won’t stop or slow my passion to see the world. There are still places out there that love me and my skin and I would love to go and show them love back.

I hope this post in no way deters anyone from traveling to or living in Korea, or any foreign place for that matter. These were only 2 situations in a matter of 8 months that I faced. I am grateful for my time here and I will cherish it forever. I have met some awesome people and even learned a new language along the way. I’ve taught my kids to accept and honestly love natural hair, something they hadn’t really been exposed to before me. I’ve made an impact on my female students and taught them they are beautiful no matter what society tries to shove down their throats. I’ve connected with my male students so much so that they have special handshakes and salutes when they see me. I’ve written for an international website (my city’s tourism site) and been given high praise for it too! So, I think I have made my mark in this place and for that I am satisfied!

Sorry this post is a bit long, but it was important that I share this! As always, thank you for reading and Happy Traveling.

Life Abroad Update

Hey folks:

In this post I will update you on all that’s been going on with me and my time abroad.

Can you believe I have been here almost 8 months now?! WOW!! Time really does fly when you are having fun. I’ve seen and done so much in the last few months, so I thought I would create a post to update you all on my life over here.

So the kids here went on Winter vacation the Friday before Christmas. (December 22) I was pretty much off along with them. As a part of our contract we have to “work” half days when school is not actually in session. Since my school was officially closed (no staff present) I was assigned to a language camp for about a week and a half. After that I had to report to my school for a week to host an English camp for students who signed up. During the week we played games and made crafts centered around my theme, “The Olympics.” It was a pretty fun week for all of us and again, you can’t beat three hour days.

After fulfilling my duty of hosting camp, that is when I was able to go on my 12 day trip that I previously wrote about. From there school was in session again for another week or so in which we actually wrapped up the school year. On February 9, the sixth grade students had graduation and I was kinda sad to see SOME of them transition to middle school. After that week, we were back on break for another two weeks. (Yes another break) This was the actual “spring break.” It’s a lot different than schools in the States as you can see.

Somewhere in this time, I accidentally became a YouTube star in my Korean city. (Seriously) I applied for a writing gig her in my city and was also asked to help film a YouTube video. It was fun. I’ll paste the link for your viewing pleasure! (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BfKGoEPvMBc&t=77s)

During the shorter break, instead of going to the language camp, I actually went to my school for my three-hour days. I spent most of my time on the computer writing and chatting with friends.

It was around this time that the Winter Olympics started in Korea. They were held in Pyeongchang which is north east from me. Two friends and I decided to purchase tickets to an event and attend our first Olympics!

We had to catch the bus to Seoul (1 hour), take the subway to the KTX train station (30 minutes) and then take the train ride from northern Seoul to Pyeongchang. (1 hour and 15 minutes)  Despite the long travel times, we made it to our event, Women’s aerial skiing. It was super cold, but it was super exciting so we didn’t mind.

 

Since our event was later in evening we didn’t get to see much else around the village. One of my friends and I decided to make the long trip again the next day to walk around the Olympic park. It was a really great experience and I can actually say that I have been to the Olympics.

The next weekend, I attended my first concert in Korea. It was a Hip Hop festival featuring OT Genesis, 2Chainz, and the Migos. (They also had some Korean hip hop artists too) I had a blast and it was cool to see Koreans enjoy American artists as well.

Soon after the Olympics I was notified that I got the writing gig I had applied for. I didn’t think the gig would be a big deal, but I was wrong. We were invitied to a really nice dinner that also included meeting and taking photos with the Mayor of our city. I, along with 8 other foreigners from all over the world, were introduced as the 1st class of Social reporters for the city’s tourism website. Pretty cool!! (I will keep you all up to date as my articles are published.)

On March 2 the actual school year began. (I was getting used to this whole vacation/ 3-hour days thing) Since it is a new year, literally everything changes. Unlike in America, teachers here work on 5-year contracts. So the longest they will work at a school is 5 years. We lost a few teachers and of course welcomed new ones. Also for the teachers that did stay, many of them changed the grade level they would teach. My teaching schedule changed and I even have new books that I will use. It’s taking some time to get used to it all but I am managing.

This past weekend (3/10) my friends and I took an impromtu trip up to Seoul to check out this bar/cafe we have been wanting to try. It’s called Urban Space/ Urban Source. (Located off of the Seongsu subway stop Exit 4.)  I list two names becuase one side is a restaurant and dessert cafe. The other side is a BALL PIT BAR!! (Yes, a ball pit) If you remember I went to one in Kuala Lumpur, but this one was much CUTER! Event the drinks were super cute. (you can get alcoholic or non-alcoholic) You have to purchase a drink to be able to get into the pit though. We spent several hours here. We ate dinner and spent time at the pit after. They even played really good music too! (The food and drinks are a bit pricey, so keep that in mind)

As you can see, I’ve been staying pretty busy over here and just enjoying my time. Once Winter officially leaves, there will be even more to see and do! I can’t wait.

Thanks for reading and Happy Traveling!

 

Travel Review: Phuket, Thailand

Hey folks!

I’m back with my last review of this amazing trip! (Finally lol) In this post, I will review my time in Phuket, Thailand.

When I last left you I was  leaving Bangkok. My flight was in the late afternoon. (after a delay) It was about an hour and a half flight out to the island. Once I arrived, I decided to stop at a stand a purchase a SIM card for super cheap, $5, so I could use my phone during my stay. I then proceeded to the exit to find transportation to my hostel in Patong. I was quickly approached by a lady that worked for a company that did travel presentations. I had been approached for one of these on my trip in Cabo so I knew it meant listening to a 90 minute presentation. After hearing the perks, I agreed to do the presentation. She not only paid for my taxi to my hostel but included a 5000 baht book of vouchers to use at different restaurants, spas, and even a tour company.

Once I finished my paperwork to arrange the presentation, I was walked to my private taxi for the 1 hour ride to Patong. I must say it was actually a very SCARY ride. The driver was driving like he was in a NASCAR race around the winding roads. I even started to get a little car sick. BUT I arrived to my hostel in one piece.

I was staying at the LubD hostel Patong. I booked through booking.com for about $60 for the 3 night stay. I was staying in a female 4-bed dorm. It was my first time staying in an actual dorm like hostel. The rooms were pretty clean and the hostel was HUGE. There was a really cool pool, a grill/bar, a workout area that offered daily Muy Thai classes daily, as well as a media room to watch movies and TV.

The plan was to go hang out with a friend who was also staying there, but after the cab ride I was feeling a little queasy. I decided to just find food and head to bed since I had a long day the next morning. Luckily there were plenty of food options super close to the hostel. I decided on the cute little food market across the road. I went for the chicken noodles ( I don’t remember the exact name) but they were delish. The food in Patong was a but more expensive than the food in Bangkok though. (UGH) I paid about 120 baht for the noodles. ($4) After sitting outside to enjoy my food, I walked back to my hostel to shower and go to bed.

The next morning, I was set to go out on a tour to Phi Phi island. I actually booked the tour at the airport in Bangkok through my airline, Air Asia. It was around $60 which is the average price. A van would come to pick me up to take us to the port to meet our speedboat.

Before getting on the boat, we stopped at a building where snacks were provided, we were given a briefing of the day, and then divided into groups to load up on the boats. The ride out to Phi Phi from the port was about 45 minutes to an hour. Initially the ride wasn’t too bad but it began to get choppy. Our first stop (and literally the only one I cared about) was to Maya Bay. We arrived along with about 10 other boats. Luckily I was prepared for this and knew exactly where to go to get the best photo ops. So my pictures turned out pretty amazing. I literally could have gone back home after that. (LOL) We were given about 30-40 minutes at Maya Bay before it was time to get back on the boat to go to the next stop. Our next stop would be Monkey Beach. Before stopping we passed through another popular Bay.

Once we arrived at Monkey Beach, we were able to get off the boat to get some up close and personal shots of the wild monkeys that inhabited the island. The boat drivers gave clear instructions to not touch the monkeys, yet people seemed to do it anyway. (SMH) One lady on my boat was scratched very badly by one and had to get medical treatment. So if you go, please follow instructions.

We only spent about 15 minutes on Monkey Beach, it’s not the biggest place so that was enough time. Next up was a stop for snorkeling. I was actually impressed with the snorkeling. There were some really pretty fish around in the area we stopped. We snorkled for about 30 minutes before loading back up to head to another island for lunch. There was a pre made buffet waiting for us. It consisted of a few thai dishes, salad, spaghetti (not that great), and fish sticks. The food was satisfying but I was ready to get back to some good old street food back in Patong. Our last and final stop was to a very touristy like island where it cost to literally do everything, including sit. By this point I was starting to feel sick (I was getting a sinus infection) so I paid 100 baht to rent a beach chair in the shade. I slept for most of the 2 hour stop on this island and only went to get into the water to cool off. Our boat also provided fresh pineapple, watermelon, and ice cold water for free. So I loaded up on that as well.

I was so ready to head back to Patong and back to my hostel. We made the boat ride back and the vans then took us back to our accommodations. I’ve done a million boat tours, so they actually bore me now. I had the whole hop on hop off routine that’s required.

After relaxing back at LubD for a while, I decided to go check out the infamous Bangla Road. Bangla Road is similar to Pub Street in Siem Reap. It’s a long strip filled with bars, clubs, restaurants, and everything in between. If you know anything about Thailand, this is also where people try to persuade you to go to a “ping pong” show. But do your research first. They can be a scam. Unless you’re willing to pay almost $20 for a coca-cola, I say avoid this.

After walking for a bit, I found a cute little vegan spot on a side street. I sat down and ate pineapple fried rice. It was really good. I went back into the main action of Bangla road and decided to go see a “lady-boy” show aka a Drag show. To enter you had to buy a drink which was 300 baht or about $9. The show runs every hour starting at 8pm. It was actually very entertaining. The lady-boys LOOKED AMAZING. They performed show tunes from different musicals and did lots of audience interactions. Unfortunately my phone died so I didn’t get any pictures. But they are more than willing to take pics with you.

I soon headed back to lay down for the night, as I was still feeling kinda sick.

The next morning was my travel club presentation that I agreed to at the airport. A private taxi came to pick me up and take me to the presentation. The presentation was pretty painless. It was actually an interesting presentation but I didn’t give in. After collecting my incentives, I asked the taxi to take me to Jungceylon shopping plaza so that I could use some of my vouchers. My first stop was to the spa. The vouchers were valid at a really nice spa called Pimnara. I booked a 90 minute massage and then a pedicure.

I was led to a room and given a really good (but painful) massage. It was a Swedish massage, but it included tapotement (chopping and pounding). So there were times that the lady would start chopping and pounding my muscles to get out the knots. After the massage, I was taken to the pedicure room for a really in depth pedi. My total for the spa was 1000 baht or $32. Next I went downstairs to a restaurant for lunch, a burger and fries using my vouchers as well.

From Jungceylon, I decided to head to a local travel agency that also accepted the vouchers. I needed to book my return taxi to the airport and I wanted to see what other tours they offered as well. I ended up booking a city tour for my last day before heading to the airport. (Still using the vouchers) I still had some vouchers left over, so I decided to save them and use them for dinner that night.  From the agency, I took a scenic route back to my hostel. I walked along the main strip of Patong beach. Patong Beach isn’t the nicest beach to be honest. It reminds me of any other beach in the States. I think if I ever go back, I would stay in Krabi, Phi Phi Don, or just opt for another island in Thailand all together. (There are A TON)

Later that evening, I made a reservation for a cute little restaurant that accepted my vouchers called Two Chefs. They also had live music every night which sold me. The in house band was duo of a singer and a guy on guitar that covered pretty much any hit. They also took requests on the spot. THEY WERE AMAZING. For my meal, I ordered the cashew chicken with rice, water, and the brownie with ice cream for dessert. The restaurant even gave out free shots to every one eating. I stayed for a while just enjoying the band before making my way back to begin packing my bag. Did I mention that the fruit stands in Thailand are BEAUTIFUL.

The next day was my last day but also the day for my city tour. I checked out of my room and stored my bags with the hotel before being picked up bright and early. The tour took us around various spots in Phuket that are famous to the island. The last stop, and my only reason for booking, was to Tiger Kingdom. During the tour we stopped to see a random baby elephant, a really pretty scenic outlook atop a mountain, a honey factory, a cashew farm, some temples, a jewelry store, and the famous big Buddha.  THEN FINALLY it was time for Tiger Kingdom. I’ll let the pictures speak for them self. Yes it was a bit scary at first, but it wasn’t too bad.

The tour ended around 2:30 and it was back to my hostel to take a quick shower, change, and then head to the airport to head back to COLD KOREA.

Overall, Phuket was underwhelming. I was happy to see Maya Bay and Tiger Kingdom, but next time I will opt for another Thai island such as Koh Samui or Koh Lipe. I hope this doesn’t sway you  not to see it but just go in open minded. Some people love it but if you’ve been to beaches all over the world (like me) you may find it a bit BLAH.

Stay tuned for my next post…I went to the OLYMPICS!!!! As always, thanks for reading and happy traveling!

 

 

Travel Review: Bangkok, Thailand

 

Hi folks:

I am back to continue with the reviews from my amazing trip. In this post, I will spill the deets on my time in Bangkok, Thailand.

When I last left you I was leaving Siem Reap to head to Bangkok. I had a night flight out of Cambodia and the flight was only 50 minutes. I actually learned that many backpackers take a cheap overnight bus from Siem Reap to Bangkok for about $8!!! I will definitely keep this in mind from now on as well.

I arrived into Bangkok after 11pm. I flew in the smaller airport, DMK, so getting through customs was pretty easy. I was actually staying with a friend from college who lives and works in Bangkok, so I don’t have any deets on where to stay. I’m very grateful that she opened her beautiful home to me for the trip!

Just like in KL I used the Grab ride share app service to get to her home. She lived near the Asok BTS station so it was about a 25 minute ride from DMK and the cost was about $12. Since I arrived so late, I decided to stay in. I chatted with my friend for a while getting suggestions on things to do and see while there. She would actually be heading out for the weekend the next day, so I wouldn’t get to hang out with her after that night.

The next day (which was a Friday) I decided to spend the day exploring the various Thai temples. After getting in quick workout I headed out to start my day.  I made the short walk to the BTS station (the above ground train system in Bangkok) and caught the train to the Siam station and then transferred lines to head to the Saphan Taksin station where I would be able to catch the ferry at Central Pier. The easiest way to explore the main temples (or Wats as said by Thais) is by the ferry. There are various ferry lines but I took the orange line ferry which was 15 baht. ($.50) I had previously downloaded a very easy to read map that listed out which pier to stop at for each temple. My first stop of the day was to the Grand Palace located at Pier 9. (You have to be up and waiting at the exit of the boat before your stop because the driver does not stop long so you have to pay attention to where you are.)

 

Once I was off of the boat, I walked through a small market and then saw the loads of other people heading to the palace as well. There is a large wall around the perimeter and a guard at the gate who checks your clothing to make sure you are properly dressed. These temples are religious monuments so showing respect when entering is very important. I was not aware of the rules so I had to purchase a wrap to cover my legs from a vendor across the road. (Keep this in mind if you plan to see the temples.) After covering my legs I was able to enter the main gate. It was very crowded with tour groups, but I eventually found my way to the ticket counter. There is a 500 baht (cash only and about $16) fee to enter the Grand Palace.

There are free guided tours available in different languages as well as maps of the premises. (It’s pretty big) I decided to self explore. The different buildings and temples were beautiful. Seeing all of the jewels and details on the buildings was breathtaking. It was also VERY hot out that day. (at least 90+ degrees) There are some buildings (mostly the ones with Buddha statues) that you must also take off your shoes  before entering. (Again these are religious shrines so as a sign of respect you must follow the rules. People even come in and pray)

I spent a few hours exploring the Grand Palace. I even spotted a celebrity doing the same. (Ty Dolla Sign)

I headed back toward the Pier, grabbing a fresh guava juice  and some fried sweet potatoes on the way. (Fresh fruit and fruit juice stands are everywhere in Bangkok. You can get a bag of fresh fruit for $1) I hopped back on the boat and went to Pier 8 to see the famous reclining Buddha. (Wat Pho) There was an entrance fee here of either 100 or 200 baht (I can’t remember) and it came with a bottle of cold water. (THANK YOU JESUS) The reclining Buddha left me speechless. Before entering you must put your shoes in a bag and then walk in. (You must still follow the clothing rules too. No bare arms and legs covered to the knee at least) The reclining Buddha is enormous. So much so that you can’t photograph it in one shot. It’s made of gold and the detail is spectacular. I literally walked around it like WOW!! There are a few other shrines as well as a Thai massage school on the same premises.

 

I headed back to catch the boat and made my way to one more set of temples. I didn’t pay to actually enter them, I just took a few photos from the outside. At this point I was starving. I had only eaten some fried sweet potatoes and bananas I picked up from a street cart. I knew I needed to find real food. A very popular are for tourist and backpackers is Khao san road. It was one of the stops on the ferry so I decided to head out there since it was further from where I was staying and I wouldn’t make it there otherwise.) Before getting off on the stop, I met another solo female traveler from Canada. She was staying in the Khao san road area so we decided to walk together. She was also traveling around South East Asia but for a lot longer duration than I was. Once we neared her hostel we parted ways and I went on to explore what is deemed the cheap eats part of Bangkok.

Khao San road is full of street vendors, street food, massage parlors, and outdoor restaurants. I finally stopped at a cute outdoor restaurant for some Pad Thai, cold water, and a sprite. My meal total was $5. Although I quickly found that you can get Pad Thai from the street carts cooked to order for a little under a dollar (30 baht! WOW) I needed to walk off the Pad Thai, so I continued to explore. I can literally walk up and down a street 50 times just taking it all in. That’s what I did on Khao San Road. I eventually stopped for a foot massage. They were a little more than the ones in Cambodia, a whopping $5 for a 30 minute massage. (LOL) By this time, I was ready to try mango sticky rice. It’s a popular dessert in Thailand made of fresh slices of mango, sticky rice, and sweetened coconut milk. It was love at first bite. The average price of mango sticky rice in Bangkok is 80 baht ($2.50 roughly)

I finally decided I had enough and bargained with a Tuk Tuk driver to take me to a BTS station so that I could get back home. (Again, Khao san road is pretty far out so plan accordingly)

 

Day 3: (Saturday)

My friend told me that one of the must see things was the Chatuchak weekend market. Just as the name hints, it’s a large market that is only open on Saturday and Sunday. Once again, I headed to the BTS station for the Mo Chit stop which is the direct stop for the market. My plan was to get up and go around 9am. However, I slept in, made breakfast, and got in a workout. So I didn’t head to the market until after 11am. By this point the sun was beaming and the crowds were in abundance.

There are maps for the market but it’s literally so big they don’t help. I just wondered aimlessly through the stalls. I stopped for a fresh banana mango shake to cool off. The market was very lively. The vendors sell everything from clothing, to plants, to custom artwork. There is every a few food sections. After a while, I decided to sit down to eat. I found a cute little stall that was pretty busy. They served various dishes with the main ingredient being duck. I settled for the noodles with sliced duck. The duck noodles were $1.65 for a large filling bowl. Once I finished my lunch I walked around a little longer to ensure I didn’t miss anything.

I made my way back to the BTS and back toward the Asok area. I first wanted to stop at the Central station to see the mall. In Bangkok, there is a shopping mall at EVERY BTS station. When I say a mall, I mean a large milti-level complex with stores and restaurants galore. Many of them also have movie theaters, gyms, and other attractions inside. The central station had about 3 large malls around it so I wanted to see them. (Malls in Asia put the malls in America to shame. ) There was also a great view from the garden on the top of the mall.

After perusing the mall I finally headed back to the apartment to relax for a while, the market wore me out! I knew I wanted to go out later that evening since it was my last night in Bangkok. I couldn’t decide if I wanted to see the famous bar (Sky Bar) where the movie Hangover was filmed or if I wanted to explore a night market.

Finally after a few hours of fighting sleep, I decided on a night market I found through a search. It was also pretty far out but I didn’t care. I took the BTS as far as I could, and then took a cab the rest of the way.

The “train” night market was super cute. Just like the Chatuchak  market, vendors sold a wide variety of things but on a smaller scale. I was more so interested in the awesome (and cheap) street food. That was my first stop of the night. I tried a few things: more pad thai a thai pancake, and of course mango sticky rice. After that I decided to browse the various stalls of vendors. I loved seeing the knock off clothes and shoes. I ended up getting a gel manicure for around $6 at one of the stalls before I made my way back to find a taxi. I had to make sure I caught the last train of the night.

Last Day:

On my last day in Bangkok, I decided to head to one more mall in search of a Nike Thailand or Nike Bangkok signature shirt. I try to collect them in countries that sell them but I came up empty handed in my search. After grabbing some ice cream at cold stone and a quick lunch, I made my way back to prepare to head to the airport for my last destination, Phuket!!

Overall, Bangkok was everything to me. I truly fell in love with Thailand just from my short time there. So much so, that I have started the job hunt there as my next potential home. Thailand is so cheap and the fruit is AMAZING!!!! I could definitely see myself living there for a little while.

As always, thanks for reading and Happy Traveling!

Travel Review: Siem Reap, Cambodia

Hi folks:

I’m back to bring you the review of destination 2 of my 3 country trip recently. I had the opportunity to travel to Seim Reap, Cambodia after leaving Kuala Lumpur.

Now I will admit, Siem Reap was not somewhere initially on my radar. After speaking to a fellow travel enthusiast, she convinced me it was somewhere that I had to see.

I flew into Siem Reap airport from Kuala Lumpur. The flight was super short, less than 2 hours. Once I arrived into Cambodia, I had to apply for the on-the-spot visa. The visa is $30 for tourists and an additional $2 if you don’t bring a passport sized photo too. The visa is required and you can pay for it online in advance. (Most people just get it on arrival) The process took maybe 30 minutes total and I was out to meet the driver from my guesthouse. Also, although they have their own currency American currency is preferred most everywhere in Siem Reap so keep that in mind.

Most, if not all, accommodations in Siem Reap come to the airport to pick you up for free. Just make sure you communicate the times ahead of your arrival. My driver had a sign waiting for me and off we went to the guesthouses’s Tuk Tuk. (a carriage like cart powered my motorcycle or scooter.) The ride from the airport to my guesthouse was only about 20 minutes. There is lots of dust in Siem Reap so keep this in mind and pack either a mask or scarf to cover your mouth or eyes while in a Tuk Tuk.

 

I was staying at the Blossoming Romduol Lodge just off the main road in Siem Reap. I booked a private double room through booking.com and my total was $54 for 3 nights. (Yes $18 per night!) It was a nice sized room with a large (and SUPER comfortable) double bed. It had a TV, wardrobe, and small table too. I also had a private bathroom. The bathroom was a little outdated and was more so of a traditional Asian bathroom. (Meaning no separate shower. It’s a shower room so there’s a shower head on the wall next to the sink and the water drains in the middle of the floor. My apartment is the same here in Korea so I’m actually used to it. It dries pretty fast too) The property provided free breakfast daily and had a really cute pool and pool bar as well. (The picture shows the fish spa in the front of the property. They were cleaning it during my stay.)

I was welcomed with a cool towel and some refreshing tea. I headed to my room to settle in for a while and rest. A few hours later, I decided to head out to the main area where the markets and restaurants were located. It was a short 7-10 minute walk to the main area so I didn’t see the need to pay for a tuk tuk. I was surprised at how cheap things were there. My first meal was fried noodles with chicken and vegetables, a fresh banana shake, and bottled water. The total for that was $3.50. There were souvenir shops that had T-shirts for $1!! ( I got a few actually) After eating my meal, I walked around the markets and explored Pub Street before the crowds came out. (It’s a famous road full of bars that comes alive at night) I also stopped by one of the local travel stands to book my transportation for the Angkor Wat temple tour. It was $13 for all day transportation around the “small tour.” (mostly the four main temples that people know of) My last stop for the night was to get a foot and leg massage. ( I told you in my last post I got one literally every night after that first one. I was serious.) In Siem Reap, the 30 minute massages were anywhere from $3-$4!!!! After an oh so relaxing massage, I headed in for the night since my tour would start early the next day.

Day 2:

I woke up to have breakfast before I was picked up for my tour. I had a plain omelet, baked bread, fruit (dragonfruit and watermelon), and hot tea. (It’s very easy to be a vegan or vegetarian here. The fruits are in abundance and sooo fresh. They have so many things that we don’t have in the states.)

I packed up my backpack and then headed out with my guide. The first stop was to the main building for the Angkor Wat temple tours. You have to first purchase an ID card to enter the various temples. You have the option of a 1-day, 3-day, or 7-day pass. The prices were $37, $62, or $72 respectively. I only wanted to do the one-day tour. You can pay by cash or credit card and they also take your photo for your ID.

After I received my ID, I loaded up into a different van to start my tour. Our first stop was to the infamous Angkor Wat temple. This is the temple that is the symbol of Cambodia as evidenced from the country’s flag. Our guide allowed us to follow him or to freely explore for two hours. I started with him to get the general history and then took off on my own to get in some pictures. It was pretty crowded and super hot! Yet, we still had a long day ahead.

Our second stop of the tour was to the temple where the movie Tomb Raider was filmed. Most of the temple was being repaired but you could still see the most famous part where the movie was shot. By this point I was super sweaty and pretty hungry. Luckily, lunch was our next stop.

 

We were taken to a pretty touristy restaurant where the prices are more than double what they would be in the main area. It’s like this because tours brings loads of people here daily and it’s one of the only options to people on the tours, so you either eat or starve. For lunch I had Cambodian curry with chicken and a banana shake. The total was $10!

We loaded back up and went to our third temple, Bayon. (which was my favorite) This temple is known for the many carvings of the face of the King who built it. His face is literally everywhere. It was pretty cool and very detailed.

After Bayon, we went to one last temple where we would stay to watch the sunset. There wasn’t much to do around this temple so most people literally sat on the ground for two hours to wait for sunset. After watching the sunset I headed back down the mountain (we had to climb a mountain for about 10 minutes to reach the peak to watch the sunset) and toward my van. Around the parking area was many food vendors and souvenir carts. A big thing in Cambodia is young kids hustling tourists instead of going to school. Our guide warned us early so I knew not to give in. They want to encourage the kids to not beg and to hopefully enroll in school instead.

It was a super LONG day and I was so ready to head back to shower. I did just that and then headed back out to the main road for another cheap dinner (chicken lok lak) and my daily massage. (it was soooo needed on this day)

Day 3:

This day I decided to sleep in. I didn’t have any real plans and I was perfectly fine with that. Siem Reap is a super laid-back place anyway so it’s very easy to just chill out. Just like Day 2, I had my breakfast of eggs, bread, fruit, and tea. I decided to then go check out the pool for a little while too.

Around noon, I finally decided to get dressed and explore for the day. The guesthouse has free bicycles for guests to use, so I checked one out. It was the cutest old school bike with a basket on the front. Before I left I also asked about cooking classes offered in the area. I decided to book one for later that afternoon.

I took off on my bike and it was one of the most carefree feelings I have had in a very long time. It was so fun and I felt like a kid again.

My cooking class was scheduled for late afternoon, so I went back to my guesthouse to take the Tuk Tuk there. The class took place in a cozy cottage tucked behind Pub Street. Once everyone arrived, we walked over to a local market where our instructor explained some of the main ingredients used in Cambodian dishes. We spent about 30 minutes at the market then went back to the cooking cottage.

We had three courses to make and we also got to eat them all. Our starter was veggie spring rolls. We went step by step including cutting our vegetables and wetting our rice paper to make the casing. Once we made them we were able to eat them and talk about them with the other people in class.

Next up was our main dish: fish amok. (It’s another native dish of Cambodia). It was very delicious. I was amazed that I was able to actually create something that good. Our final dish was dessert which was a fried banana and passion fruit dish. (YUUUUUMMMMM) The cooking class was really fun and I was able to sit and talk with people from all over the world too. (so that was a double win) As part of the class we were given certificates, sample spices to take home, and a recipe book as well. It was well worth the $27. (I’ll add more pictures of my dishes later)

Since the class was so close to the action, I decided to head out and explore more and of course get my $3 massage. Pub street and the surrounding markets really come alive once the sun sets. I decided to even try a fish spa. They are everywhere and are also pretty cheap. It felt really weird at first but after I while I didn’t mind it since I was in deep convo with a guy from Greece who was also at the spa. (This is why I love traveling, you meet so many different people)

It was pretty packed around the markets so I just took in the sites and sounds for a few hours before heading in for the night. It was my last official night in Siem Reap and I would fly out the next evening.

On my last day, I slept in, had breakfast, and sat by the pool to read most of the day. The guesthouse allowed me to store my luggage after the check out time and I was able to still hang around the property. I even went back out on bike to just kill time. I stumbled upon a really cool Buddhist shrine. The day honestly flew by. My tuk tuk driver promptly took me to the airport to catch my flight. Next stop…Bangkok, Thailand.

Siem Reap was such a laid back and carefree place. I literally wore no makeup, workout leggings, and $1 Cambodia t-shirts the entire trip. Siem Reap is known as a hippy town and is very popular for backpackers. (people who travel with only a large back pack for extended periods) Everything was so cheap and I loved it. I would recommend maybe two-nights stay unless you plan to see more of the temples while there. It is very safe and aside from the kids who hustle, you don’t find too many beggars.

As always, thanks for reading and happy traveling!

Travel Review: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Hey folks!

In this post I will review country one, of my three country trip recently. During my first stop I had the chance to visit Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. I will tell you everything from where I stayed to what I did. So if this is something you want to know, then continue reading.

One of the perks to teaching in Korea is the two weeks of paid vacation that we get in the winter and then in summer. I decided to take advantage of that two weeks and travel to warmer places. (It’s freezing here!!!) I booked my flights well in advance and did one-ways tickets from each place. After playing around with routes, I decided it was best financially to fly to Kuala Lumpur or “KL” from Korea.

After getting the flights locked down, I had to then search for accommodations. Since I was traveling alone I had to make a budget for what I wanted to pay for each country. I would only be staying in KL for two nights and I knew that staying in a central location was key to maximizing my time there. My first stop for searching is always booking.com for accommodations. I wasn’t really feeling what they had so I headed to airbnb.com. Lately I’ve found that airbnb is featuring more upscale places especially here in Asia, and for way less. I stumbled upon several postings for The Face Suites. I read several reviews and couldn’t believe that such a gorgeous place was so cheap. According to the posts, they were fully furnished two bedroom apartments with an amazing rooftop infinity pool on the 51st floor. You have the option to choose the smaller room for $26 a night or the master for $40 ish a night. I decided to swing for the master room in one of the apartments. So my total for the two nights was only $82. (Still kinda expensive for SE Asia)

I flew into KL from Korea late on a Saturday night and arrived after 11pm. Prior to coming to KL, I learned about a popular ride share app similar to Uber called Grab. I downloaded it before I took off to ensure it would be ready for me to use once I landed. I landed, went through customs, and ordered my car with no issues. (With grab you have the option to pay cash.) I arrived at The Face Suites and followed the instructions for obtaining my key as provided by the owner. Everything was super simple. The place was AMAZING!!! I walked in and was in awe.

After doing a quick tour, I decided to change and head out to a popular entertainment venue in the area that I knew would be closed the next night of my trip. TREC KL is a large two-story entertainment plaza  filled with bars, clubs, and restaurants. Most of the places stay open until at least 2am. Once again, I called a Grab and headed out.

The main reason for me going to TREC that night was to experience a “ball-pit” bar. (Yes, these exist and are becoming popular overseas) The ball pit bar in TREC is called Boogy Boo KL. It’s a small bar but super cute. You basically pay about $2 to get a shot of your choice and then you are allowed to enter the pit.

I walked around TREC for a little longer before deciding to catch a Grab back to the apartment. It was after 2am at this point so I was exhausted.

DAY 2:

The next morning, well a few hours later, I got up to get to the rooftop infinity pool before the crowd came. (and yes it gets crowded up there.) I went up around 8 am to get in my perfect shot! The view was amazing and it’s definitely a selling point for the place.

I didn’t stay in long because I wanted to get in a quick workout in the rooftop gym and then start my full day of exploring. I was on a tight schedule so I had to get moving.

My first stop was to get food and exchange some currency. At the advice of the apartment owner, I headed to a popular area called Bukit Bintang. He also informed me of a free bus that runs around the main parts of the city, including Bukit Bintang. After a short 5-7 minute walk I arrived at the stop for the free bus.

I hopped on for the short 7-10 minute ride (with traffic) to the area. After exchanging currency at one of the stalls, I searched for cheap eats. I came across a cute little outdoor restaurant and took a chance. After glancing the menu, I decided on chicken rice. (which is literally roasted chicken, steamed rice, and clear soup) The total for the meal was about $3.00.

I didn’t stay around to explore much of Bukit Bintang beacuse I was focused on getting to the infamous Batu Caves. Lucky for me the subway station was right across the road from the food place. I entered the station and bought the coin to head to Batu caves. I had previously studied the KL subway map so I knew the directions I needed to go in. I had to take one train to KL Sentral station and then transfer to a train that goes straight to Batu Caves. I had to buy two different tickets for the trains, but they were both fairly cheap. (about $1 or less)

The train to the Batu caves only runs every 30 minutes from KL Sentral so keep that in mind. (all other intercity trains run every 5-7 minutes)

The train ride to Batu was pretty smooth. I had a very interesting encounter while on the train as well. I was sitting next to a younger Malaysian girl when I noticed her humming along to a popular song from my church. I tapped her on the shoulder and let her know that I attend that church back in the states. She was so amazed. We struck up a conversation for the rest of the ride. It was pretty cool to see how God is literally everywhere. (Thanks Elevation Church)

The Batu stop is the last one on that line so it was easy to figure out. The train literally lets you off right in front of the caves. Since it’s a major attraction, you will likely always find it pretty crowded unless you head out super early.  I stayed around for quite awhile literally exploring all there was to explore. I walked the famous steps, stopped and watched the wild monkeys steal food from tourists, and even went inside the public part of the caves.

I made my way back onto the train and back to my apartment for a quick shower and change. I was scheduled to do something I wanted to do for a while!!!

I ordered my grab and set out for this special event. It was something I had seen done in other countries and was surprised to know it was offered in KL too. Thanks to a special friend I was finally able to take part. What is this thing you ask? It’s DINNER IN THE SKY!!! Yes, it’s exactly what it sounds like. You are seated at a special table and suspended in the air by a crane, all while eating a 3-course meal. Words can’t really explain how awesome it was. Just look at my pictures. (BTW the food was amazing as well)

After dinner, the night was still young so I decided to head back to Bukit Bintang to explore the shopping. In this area you will find everything from high end stores to street vendors ready to bargain. There are even street performers and a night market that comes alive too. The night market is a long road full of street food vendors. You can find a little bit of every taste from southeast Asia for super cheap. The food market stays open from 4:30pm until 3 am!!! WHOA.

I had a few more things on my list before I turned in for the night. First was to get a cheap SE Asian foot massage. There was a really nice looking spa right across from the food market. They offered massages for about $6 for 30 minutes. OMG…that foot and leg massage was so heavenly I asked for a shoulder and back one too for a few more dollars. IT WAS SO WORTH IT!! I was hooked and would end up getting one in every stop of my trip!!

After that massage I was feeling quite relaxed and honestly just wanted to go home and go to bed, but I knew I flew out the next day so I had to get in this last stop!

My last to-do item in KL was to get a shot in front of the Petronas Towers at night. I set out on foot(bad idea after that massage) to find the perfect spot. After some searching and watching others get that perfect angle, I got my picture! YAY!

Now I could officially say I did everything on my list for KL in the short time that I had. I headed back to the apartment to pack and go to bed.

The next morning I was able to get in another workout before taking a quick trip back to Bukit Bitang on the free bus for food from the same place I went the day before. It is a 24 hour restaurant so it was one of my only options at 9 am. This time I opted for the Malay fried rice and a lemon tea. DELICIOUS!

It was back to the apartments one last time to grab my bags and head to the airport. NEXT STOP…SIEM REAP, CAMBODIA! Wheels up!!

 

I hope this review of KL has been helpful although my time was pretty short there. It’s a great city that gives you modern with the perfect balance of traditional Asia. You can opt for cheap eats or even break the bank in one of its fancier establishments. Overall, KL was a pretty fun city. I would definitely go back!

 

As always, thanks for reading and Happy Traveling!!!

Tips for the aspiring (and frugal) solo traveler!

Hey folks!

It’s been quite a while since my last post but don’t fret, the travels are still going strong. I just came back from an amazing two-week solo trip around 3 southeast Asian countries. (I’ll blog about them soon) So often people ask, how do you travel solo? Well, I’m here to give some tips to those looking to do more solo traveling and for those who also don’t like to break the bank while doing so.

1. Hostels and Guesthouses are your best friends: I know what you’re thinking, a hostel??? Contrary to popular belief, hostels are no longer the grungy run down places they once were. Since more and more millennials are backpacking and taking sabbatical to travel the world for extended periods of time, hotels just aren’t economically feasible. Sure, if you are going on a short trip and maybe for a special occasion, then break the bank. Hostels and guesthouses provide safe and clean accommodations for super low prices. In southeast Asia, you can find hostels for as low as $6 per night. Another perk of hostels and guesthouses for the solo traveler is that they give you the chance to meet other solo travelers and to make friends while on your journey. A large percentage of hostels provide the same services as a regular hotel such as housekeeping, pools, and free breakfast. The only con, and honestly it’s not that bad, is that in order to get cheaper prices you will likely be staying in a dormitory style room. The rooms can have bunk beds, pods, or even single beds that you share with other guests. The same goes for the bathrooms. However, there are some hostels and guesthouses that offer private rooms for a little more money. So when planning your solo trip, don’t shy away from hostels or guesthouses. I tend to use booking.com or agoda.com. (airbnb is also an option) Once I find a place, I usually look up the REAL reviews on tripadvisor.com.
2. Pack comfortable shoes for walking: As a solo traveler, another way that I save money is by using public transportation and also by walking. (I know, I know walking sucks!) Depending on where you travel to, public transportation may not be a real thing, so you have to set out on your own two feet or risk getting overcharged by money hungry (and shady) cab drivers. If you take my advice in point one, your hostel will likely be located in a central area for tourists so walking won’t be terrible.  Just remember it’s free to walk. The only con to this is if you are in a place that may not be as safe, then by all means take what is best for your safety.
3. Public transportation? Yes please! : On my last few trips (and even living in Korea) public transportation has become my best friend. (It also helps that I have a great sense of direction and that I don’t panic too fast if I get lost.) My personal trick to navigating public transportation in foreign places is to screenshot a clear picture of the transportation maps that I plan to use. (they can easily be found with quick google searches) This is helpful because you may not always have phone service where you are and having a picture version of the maps is clutch. I also do some research ahead of time to map out some of the places or things I want to see. I may even write notes in my phone with directions to places as well to have just in case. Now there will be times that you may take a wrong turn or get off on the wrong stop, but don’t panic. Just try to ask someone at a nearby store the correct directions or if you find another foreigner (a person not native to that country) you can try to ask them. Public transportation is usually super cheap and very efficient in other countries. Also since its “public” you don’t run the risk of getting in a  private car with a shady person. The con: You have to have the patience to wait to get from point A to point B. There can always be delays with public transportation so just keep this in mind when planning activities.
4. Don’t be afraid of street food/local restaurants: We as Americans and even some in the UK, have been trained to only eat certain foods that are prepared in certain ways. When you get to 3rd world countries, they may not have the same standards as us so we shy away from the foods. However, you’d be surprised how good street food is. After all, if you are traveling for the culture then what better way to get acquainted than by eating how the locals eat. Yes, there will be restaurants that cater to tourists and serve the local dishes, but the prices will be at least double. The good thing with street food is you can watch the food being cooked right in front of you. This also gives you a chance to try to talk to the locals and learn more about that place and where else to go. Did I mention it’s usually super cheap!
5. Research the safety of the place: Another myth is that all places outside of the U.S. are not safe. Actually, southeast Asia is one of the safest parts of the world. (literally not even pickpocketing) However, don’t be totally naïve into thinking nothing can happen. You should always be aware of your surroundings. Try not to keep a lot of cash on you. Only take a little with you each day while you explore, and keep the rest locked up or hidden in a safe place in your room. Try not to act like you are alone. This is why researching and mapping things out ahead of time is helpful. You will look like you know where you are going and you won’t set off the lonely gullible tourist alarm. (Hustlers can sense this a mile away and will try to get ya by offering help and later try to charge you for it) Finally, if needed, carry a small thing of pepper spray with you. (Just make sure it’s not illegal in that country.)
6. Book tours and activities once you arrive: While planning my trips, I tend to write out a list of things I want to do in that place before I get there. However, I try to wait until I actually arrive to book. I do this for two reasons: 1. things can change and you don’t want to lose out and waste money. 2. The local tour companies usually charge less than online companies and you may be able to bargain. The only time bargaining doesn’t work is when it is a super popular tour that has a set schedule, like boat tours. Most companies usually keep the same prices but may compete by offering other perks in their price. (so just compare a few companies first before you settle on one) Another way I found to get cheap (or free tours) was by doing travel club or timeshare presentations. These aren’t as popular overseas but I lucked out in Thailand when I was approached to do one. The presentation literally only lasted the 90 minutes like they promised, and in return I received a voucher that paid for almost two days worth of activities including food. (SWEET)
7. Invest in a backpack: It doesn’t have to be anything fancy. Just get something that can hold your essentials while you are out. This is especially important for women. I normally keep bottled water, my big camera, phone charger, and wallet in mine. It’s also harder for someone to snatch it off of you too.

 

These are the things that I feel are important for the solo traveler. Of course, this isn’t an exhaustive list by any means. However, I hope this has been helpful and even encouraged someone who has been thinking about trying solo travel. Traveling solo is actually very peaceful at times and you learn so much in the process. Don’t get me wrong, I love traveling with my girls but everyone needs a solo trip to just explore on their own and in the way they want to. If you have any questions about solo traveling, please comment and I will respond. As always happy traveling!

Hong Kong in about 36 hours: Birthday Trip 2017!!!

Hey folks:

So I recently turned another year older. (blah) But what’s a birthday without bringing it in while in another country? Over the last few years, I have made it a point to bring in a new birthday in another country. This year, I chose Hong Kong. As you know by now (or at least should know), I currently live in Korea so I needed a destination that was doable within a weekend’s time. I narrowed my choices down to Tokyo, Osaka, and Hong Kong. Based on flight price and times alone, Hong Kong won.

The good thing about living in Asia is that are many airlines to choose from. It really just depends on your budget. For this short trip I went with Hong Kong Express. The flip side to Asian budget airlines is that you usually have to pay extra for baggage, picking seats, and even meals/beverages on board. But if you don’t mind that, it still ends up being worth it for shorter trips.

I booked my accommodations at the JJ Hotel in the Wan Chai area of HK. I reserved the hotel online with booking.com. It was very reasonable compared to all other hotels in mainland HK and ended up being in a GREAT location. The hotel was smaller and reminded me a lot of Aloft hotels in the states.

I flew out from Korea late on a Friday (10:00pm) and arrived in HK at around 12:45am (HK time. So 3.5 hour flight) Unfortunately because it was a late arrival the buses and trains had stopped for the night so taxi was my only option. It was pretty pricey to get from the airport to mainland HK. So if you plan a trip make sure you pick an arrival time that allows you to catch a train or bus to your hotel. (or rent a car if you’re bold)

Since I arrived so late, I literally went to the 24 hour McDonald’s nearby for some quick food and then headed to bed. I knew I wanted to get my day started pretty early since time was limited.

I got up on schedule and headed out. I read in several blogs that a must try for breakfast are the egg tarts. They can be found at almost any bakery but there were only a few bakeries that actually get attention. Luckily, once was only a short walk from my hotel. I found the Honolulu cafe two streets over from the JJ Hotel. I ordered an egg tart, a pineapple bun, and a warm almond drink. (similar to almond milk but a little thicker and warmed) I was able to get a small table very quick. The price was about $38HKD or $4.37 USD. The egg tart was decent but not this miraculous thing. At least I can say I had one. I paid with cash and headed about my day.

My first stop was to see Victoria Peak. I took the subway from the Wan Chai station ( a 5 minute walk from my hotel) to the Central station. (2-3 stops away) From there I walked to the Central bus terminus to catch bus 15. Before I caught the subway I bought an Octopus card which is the transportation card used in HK and it can also be used to purchase food at lots of places. (best investment ever)

The bus ride from Central terminus to the peak terminus was right around 40 minutes. There were other stops along the way. I picked a seat on the second level of the bus. (Most city buses are double decker) There were some great views even on the ride up. I was like a kid at times saying WOOOWWW.

Once we arrived at the Terminus. I walked though the peak plaza mall and out near the peak tram building. I opted to take a short trail to see the view as opposed to the tram. (The trail was free.99) It was only about a 10 minute walk to the spot with clearest view. There were plenty of people also walking the trail and even folks taking their daily run. So don’t worry about thinking it’s some deserted trail. After snapping some great pics, I headed back to the bus stop. (remember, I’m on a tight schedule here)

My next stop was to the Mong Kok area which is known for the infamous Ladies Market and Sneaker Street. (yeaaaaa buddy)

Mong Kok is literally a big shopping and food area. I ended up at the Ladies market first. It is stalls and stalls of souvenirs, gadgets, clothes, and knock off bags. (some look pretty real though) The vibe in the market is exactly what you expect, stall owners trying their best to get you into their stall by making their best offers on things. (I literally heard the stereotypical “$5 dollar for you ma’am” a few times.)

I walked through the stalls to take it in and finally stopped to buy a couple of HK souvenirs for my mom. The main reason I wanted to check out Mong Kok was for “Sneaker Street.” For as long as I can remember, I’ve been a big sneaker fan. I have quite an impressive collection for a woman that is supposed to wear business casual most days. (Hey I like what I like.)

Sneaker street is any sneaker lovers dream come true. Its stores upon stores lining several streets with all the latest and greatest in the sneaker world. I was so happy, I wanted to cry! My goal was to find a particular pair of Nike’s that I’d been eyeing for months. I was let down by a few stores and was literally about to give up and buy a different pair when I stumbled upon one store that actually had them. Without hesitation I got them!!! So after that it was time to head back to Wan Chai to rest up and get ready for my fancy dinner reservation.

By this time, I was starving. The only thing I had was my breakfast from earlier and some bottled water. I was scared to try the street food in Mong Kok although it looked quite interesting.

I decided to stop by another highly recommend and even award winning place, Kam’s Roast Goose. Just like Honolulu cafe, this place was a short walk from my hotel. This was great because there is always a line to eat here, so I decided on take out. I ordered the roast goose over rice and extra veggies. OMG I don’t think I ever ate goose before but this was delicious!!! The skin was kind of crunchy and then the meat was so juicy. (my mouth is watering.) The veggies were poached in some kind of oil and still a little crunch but perfect! The meal was $88 HKD or around $11.27 USD. It was worth it.

After I devoured the food I tried to lay down for  short nap before getting dolled up to take myself on a fancy date.

I made a reservation at the Wooloomooloo (yea that’s a tongue twister) steakhouse 31 floors up in the Hennessy building in Wan Chai. I had seen several pictures of the view this restaurant offered and I knew I had to go. SO I DID! I requested a table with a view and they met my request perfectly.

Since I was still somewhat full from the roast goose, I only ordered the signature sirloin salad, a cocktail, and dessert. I spent most of my time just admiring the view and reflecting on how awesome God is to allow me to see things like this! The restaurant knew it was my birthday so when they brought out my dessert, they wrote happy birthday on the plate and brought a candle. I made a wish, blew it out, and enjoyed my apple crumble cake with ice cream. Once I finished my meal I headed one floor up to see the view from the restaurants rooftop bar area. IT WAS AMAZING. The tall buildings adorned in neon lights was something special added to that was a view of Victoria Harbor in the background. I snapped a few more pics. Then headed back to my hotel on foot. (The restaurant was super close too. I was able to walk in my heels and back)

By this point I was super exhausted so I stayed in for the rest of the night to get a good night’s rest in the giant bed. The plan was to get an early start again to see a few more things before flying out the next day.

First stop was to find what’s known as “The Mansion.” It’s a giant housing building, similar to a housing project in the states, made up of five buildings connected. It was off of the Tai Koo station. (about 7 stops from Wan Chai) It was a little hard to find initially because there isn’t a giant sign for it and from the main street is looks like any other building. But after walking and reading the building signs a little closer, I saw two small signs that referenced “mansion” so I walked up the steps and through the breezeway to see. I WAS RIGHT!!! Once you walked through the breezeway and into the courtyard you are instantly amazed that 1.this structure is real and 2. that people live here. Apparently these buildings have been used in a few movies as well. It was so surreal. I almost felt bad for taking pics knowing people had to live here, but they didn’t seem to mind.

After taking it all in, it was back to the subway and off to Causeway Bay, another major shopping area of Hong Kong. Causeway Bay gives the perfect mix of high end stores with local and traditional HK flare. The HK Times Square (really just a fancy mall) is also located here. I walked around and went in a few shops before heading back to the hotel to checkout at noon.

After checkout, I had the hotel hold my luggage while I made one last stop for lunch. I had been eyeing a cute little spot called Elephant Grounds after seeing it on Instagram. It was known for it’s creative hot drinks, in particular a rainbow latte. Just like most other things, it was in walking distance from my hotel so I made the 15 minute walk to the place. It was in an area of Wan Chai that reminded me alot of L.A. It had that trendy semi upscale vibe to it. I was seated pretty quickly. Unfortunately, they were out of the ingredients to make the rainbow drinks so I was pretty bummed. I decided to stay and eat lunch anyway. I ordered the B.E.L.T (bacon egg lettuce tomato) which came with fries. It was pretty good. A lot of people ordered the fish filet sandwich and it was massive. ( I should have tried it but didn’t know what it was like until after the fact) The music and vibe was super cute. (they were playing the good music too) The service was a bit slow seeing as though the place wasn’t that big but I made due.

I headed back to grab my luggage then make my way back to the airport. This time I was able to take the airport express train which literally drops you off in the airport. After checking into my flight, I went to the service counter to return my Octopus card. If you return it, they refund you $50 HKD plus whatever balance is left on the card. I initially paid $150 HKD (which is the minimum to buy it) and added an additonal $50HKD on it just in case. I rode the subway several times, the bus, and even bought food and snacks with the card and still got a refund of $60HKD. (SWEET!) I used the cash to buy a few more souvenirs and snacks before boarding my flight back to Korea.

Hong Kong was such a melting pot of cultures and races. It was the perfect blend of trendy and traditional too! Although my time was short, I feel like it was perfect for seeing all that I wanted to see. To me it’s a city that you pop in and pop out off for short periods only. I would definitely go back though. I want to see Disney Hong Kong before I go back to the States for good.

As always, thanks for reading and Happy Traveling!

I jumped off of a mountain…literally!

Hi folks:

I’m back. In this post, I will talk about my paragliding experience a few weeks back. I know what you are thinking, she’s crazy! But hey, what can I say, I like adrenaline rushing things. Sue me.

I had seen a few of my favorite YouTubers mention this experience here in Korea and it was something I HAD to do. I looked  up the company (Fly in the Sky Korea) and to my surprise, it was ran by an English speaking person.

I rounded up a group of friends and we made our reservation. We were initially scheduled to go in October, but due to wind conditions on our day we had to reschedule for a later date.

Our new date was November 4. I was excited yet anxious about the experience the morning off. We had to take a train to a city called Daechon which was about an hour away from our city. Once at the station, the owner sent a van to pick us up. ( It was 6 of us total)

The ride from the station to the check-in building was only about 10 minutes. Once we arrived, we met the owner Craig. He’s an American who has been in Korea over 15 years and is the only licensed American paragliding instructor in Korea. He was very nice and explained how the process would go.

Once we went over the basic instructions, we loaded up again to head to the top of the mountain. That ride was about 12 minutes.

There were other people flying that day as well, so our group was split up into two. Of course, I volunteered to go first!!!

I was strapped up in my harness and with my tandem instructor (the man that would be controlling the parachute). My next instruction was to crouch down and start running off the edge of the mountain. (Ummmmm what!!!!!?) My tandem instructor was Korean, but he spoke some English. Once we were all strapped up he yelled GO!!! So I went.

I crouched and literally ran off of a mountain. (You can see the slight terror on my face when I realized what I did in my video from the experience. LOL) Once the ground left me, I wiggled my body into the little seat attached to the parachute, and from there it was smooth sailing.

We flew for about 7 minutes total in the air. Before coming down, the tandem instructor did a few spirals and other tricks with me in the air. (It was scary yet awesome!)

Once we landed, I was unhooked and given the Go Pro camera from the company to have my video and pictures sent to me via email.

Overall, it was a crazy, adrenaline pumping, awesome time! If you aren’t too afraid of heights, I would highly recommend doing this. They have them all over the world. But if you are in Korea, then I suggest Fly in the Sky hands down!! Craig and his crew were awesome and very helpful.

As always,

Happy Traveling.

My Korean Adventure: Apple Picking and Pocheon Art Valley Tour

Hey folks:

I’m back with a new post all about a cute little day tour I took a few weeks ago. Here in Korea, there are many tour companies that cater to foreigners in order to help us see some of the hidden gems this country has to offer. My tour was with a company called Goh Travel Korea. There is also Wink travels and a few others that are pretty popular for random tours.

Since we are in the heart of fall (more like Winter to me because it’s cold here) we decided to take a day trip to an apple orchard and then to two other attractions near the mountains.

We had to meet the bus for the tour in Seoul. (an hour bus ride from my city) Once on the bus, it took about an hour to hour and a half to arrive at the apple valley.

Once we arrived, we were given a bag and allowed to pick up to 1kg of apples. (About 4 large apples) We honestly spent most of the time just taking photos in and around the apple trees. (Sidenote: those were the most delicious apples I’ve had in a long time. I peeled and cut them and made fried apples for breakfast a few mornings with some oatmeal.)

We loaded back up onto our bus and headed to our next stop: Herb Island. Herb island is like a mini Disney world centered around all things herbs and flowers. It was actually a pretty interesting and cute place. I would love to go back at night to see the lights. They had everything from restaurants, DIY craft centers, an indoor garden, a bakery with free garlic bread samples, and a Gondola ride.

We started out with lunch in the fancy restaurant and then headed out to explore all we could in the remaining time there.

Our last and final stop, was the prettiest of them all! (and the main reason I wanted to go on this tour) We made our way to Pocheon Art Valley. Pocheon art valley is a natural granite park that was turned into a tourist park. The main attraction is the beautiful valley with water flowing through it.

There are also granite sculptures throughout the park. (Warning: one is a bit graphic but Korea has an obsession with men’s private parts as seen in many of it’s parks. It was weird literally seeing families take pictures together in front of this particular sculpture.)

It was a long yet eventful day. I was happy that I was able to see some things that I otherwise wouldn’t see on my own. These companies are very helpful and the guides speak pretty good English as well. If you are in Korea, you should check them out.

As always, thanks for reading!!! Stay tuned for my next post about me running and jumping off of a mountain in Korea. (Literally)

Happy Traveling.