But it's okay, the process of learning is always worth the pay off and I've found many things to break up my day a bit.
1. Exercise - after a light breakfast I've been hitting the gym and running 3 miles regularly. I think I will reward myself soon with those new balance minimus shoes that have been all over TV.
2. Cooking - man I missed my kitchen.
3. Friends - I see them at the library, at meals, and at night. I always knew this, but I really do have some of the most amazing friends. For example, some of my classmates and I stayed up until 2am playing mafia and taboo the other night. See? Awesome!
4. Family - was great seeing my cousins and new niece! The new parents are a bit tired and not eating very well though so I promised to visit them in the South Bay more often and cook for them...it's more of an excuse to see them though. :P
Warning...this is long! Korea, Korea...I was astounded. Stunned. You kind of took my breath away by how amazing you are. Your city has a vibe to it that can only be compared to New York, Hong Kong, even Saigon...but really you are still your own. I loved the city...and I loved couchsurfing! This is truly such a great network that more travelers need to take advantage of. A definite recommendation!!!!
So Day 1: I met up with 2 couchsurfers with some ambitious goals of what we wanted to see. The interesting thing about couchsurfing is that even though we were all strangers, we instantly took up the role of being "good travel buddies." We talked like close friends and watched out for each other throughout the day. With these folks I felt like I got a good taste of Seoul (I saw palaces, folk villages, Insadong, Myeongdong, and walked a few miles to Banpo bridge...though the light show hadn't started yet!).
Great subway system - SF please learn from Asia.
Checking out some of the more traditional neighborhoods...
Did
I mention it was snowing on us??? We were freezing to say the
least...considering none of us dressed accordingly. I was actually
scared for awhile that my toes had frostbite as they went numb for most
of the day. Oh yea...this was at one of the smaller palaces in Seoul,
the main one was closed.
Taken inside a subway station believe it or not.
Seoul
was a very large, developed, modern city...sorry I realized I did not
post my city-like pics but I had to limit SOME of my pics here!
So I absolutely loved the large gloves they used in Korea. Why hasn't VN thought about these?!?!?
I got me some of this candy! (The white stuff is pulled honey)
Dunkin donuts is a BIG DEAL here
My buddy J's recommendation in Myeongdong...omg, these were to DIE FOR!
Cheonggyecheon Stream
Day 2: As exciting as Seoul is, I love seeing the "countryside" of places I visit if possible. It just gives a different perspective on things most of the time...this feeling has certainly developed more strongly in me after all my amazing treks and country runs in Vietnam. So I took a subway, a bullet train, and a bus to Daegu.
My
first meeting with couchsurfer U. She was an instant sweetie and turned
out to be one of the most inspiring people I have ever met. Her
curiosity and generosity had no limit. She was traveling to escape an
arranged marriage. Somehow we became close fast and spent all of our
free time talking and talking and talking.
This
is M who was revisiting Korea after having studied abroad there a few
years ago. It was great having someone that was familiar and who could
read/write/speak!
We
walked the last bit of the long commute to Haeinsa Temple where we were
about to find the best couch in the history of couchsurfing!
This
is Sunim WJ, the best host on couchsurfing ever. Yea...so we weren't
doing a temple stay, we were couchsurfing at the temple as his guests!
He is a Korean Buddhist monk preparing for a 18 month international
pilgrimage by hosting travelers through CS. There is no way I can put
into words how he invigorated my thoughts and emotions. He spent hours
with us talking about ideals, religion, meditation, and most of
all...who we are. It was an amazing 2 days with him and after our
interaction, what I wished for most was more time with him.
He gave us traditional style rooms where we slept on a heated floor on cozy bed-blankets
This
is K, someone who was doing a temple stay by herself but ended up
hanging out with us while we were at the temple. She was another
inspiration during my travels. She was adopted as a child to a family in
Belgium and returned to Korea to look for her biological parents. She
should be airing a news bit about her search soon...
Sunim
WJ took us to his favorite restaurant. It was traditional style where
each group had their own room and we sat on our heated floor. :)
Veggie Korean Pancake
Green Tea Noodle Soup
Spicy fermented beansprouts and tons of ban chan!
After
morning prayer (@ 3:30am!!!) and breakfast, M and I decided to take a
hike through the mountain behind the temple (also a national park)
M
was actually worried about hiking with me because he didn't think I
would be able to keep up with his pace as he is a Swedish viking after
all. BUT I SHOWED HIM!!! All that running/trekking in Vietnam did me
proud (or maybe it was my stubbornness) as I ended up tiring him out!
bwahahahha! Anyway, it was a beautiful hike.
There was still snow on the trail!
Not
pictured was the great opportunity to see the great father of Korean
Buddhist monks on our way back from our hike. Only a select few are
actually allowed to meet with him but he was taking a walk on the trail
at the same time!
Not the best group picture, but we tried!
These things are all full of fermenting tofu. yum!
This is what we were fed at the temple...a delicious cold noodle dish!
We
were told that if we could balance a rock on the piles outside the
temple that our prayer would be answered. That top rock is mine. :)
Day
3: so after another subway, train, and bus, I was back in Seoul! Just
in time for a CS meet up with locals and expats. This guy just finished
his mandated military time...it was an interesting conversation.
This is H who is the epitome of cute.
Korean pizza. what. someone tell me where I can get this in SF!
Some of the CS group
Dinner was followed by norebang aka karaoke. Cause I obviously didn't get enough of this in VN.
Day
4 was the only day I spent by myself. I went ballistic with shopping at
Dongdaemun, eating street food, and freaking out in the subway as I was
running late to catch my plane at the airport.
