Wednesday, December 17, 2014

"My favorite thing is to go where I've never been."

After a layover in the Singapore airport (seriously the best airport to spend several hours in) we arrived in Bangkok, Thailand! Thailand has been on my list for quite a while!! I couldn't wait to begin exploring!  We were lucky that our hostel was situated in the more authentic part of the city.  With locals all around, street markets and food, and incredible tea!  Later after a speedy boat ride down the canal we were zipping through the packed streets in a tuk tuk.  This provided a unique view of this vast city. After seeing some beautiful Buddhist temples, sampling some more tasty street foods such as dumplings and fried bananas, we boarded the overnight train headed north to Chiang Mai.  This was quite an epic train ride, supposed 12 hours turned into about 19+ hours! Wow! Finally we arrived to the lovely Chiang Mai. There were fresh fruit juices on every other street and numerous exquisite temples to explore, and after a delicious lunch we spoke with the owner about taking a cooking class the following day.  That evening we visited the night bazaar!  Rows and rows of jewelry, souvenirs, shirts, bags, scarves, and much more!  We wove our way through the maze of people, browsing through the goods, as well as enjoyed some scrumptious goodies!

Filled with excitement, we arrived early the following morning to begin our class with a trip to the market, a real treat for the senses!  She enlightened us on the various varieties of fruits, vegetables, rice, noodles, and spices.  We arrived back to her restaurant and set up in her kitchen eager to learn the ways of Thai cooking.  With the breeze from the open windows, the funky music mix in the background, and the heavenly smells and sounds of sizzling, mincing, and chopping it made for such an authentic experience.  We learned several dishes such as panang, green curry, coconut curry, papaya salad, pad Thai, and mango sticky rice.  We recorded all our recipes and instructions in a little notebook which she later decorated with paper and it became our little Thai cook book.  We  had the opportunity to enjoy our creations as well!!

After another extra long train journey we arrived back in Bangkok and had to relocate to a different train station for our trip west.  We boarded our train for our journey to Kanchanaburi where we would be volunteering for a week with elephants with Elephant Nature Park (if you're ever in Thailand totally do it!!)

I have loved elephants since I was little and had been dreaming of an experience like this for so long.  Our area consisted of little cabins, an outdoor kitchen/dining area surrounded by a small village of families, the jungle, and the river.  Our mornings began with feeding the elephants buckets of bananas for breakfast.  It's challenging to describe the true amazingness of being so close to these extraordinary animals.  There were 5 retired elephants there.  It was heartbreaking to think of the work they had been forced to do throughout there life but wonderful to be able to help out with them now that they are free (more info),  It was so wild to feel their strong trunk as they took the bananas from my hand.  It was quite an adventure to be so near to these beautiful and powerful animals.  Throughout the week we chopped sugarcane and grass, built fences out of bamboo, weeded and planted in the garden, and picked up poop.  We prepared treats for the elephants by mixing pineapple leaves, cassava, and a few other ingredients in a giant mortar, as well as some other snacks and whatever else we could do to contribute during our time there.  Each afternoon we bathed the elephants in the river with buckets that ended with us completely wet as well!  Along with the other 2 volunteers we also sometimes worked with the mahouts.  These were younger boys who cared and looked after their individual elephant.  They didn't use hooks or poles to control the elephants but had a very special relationship with them.  It was fascinating to see their bond.  Throughout the week we learned a great deal and it was surely a time I will never forget.  I definitely plan to return to Thailand in the future!

Monday, November 17, 2014

"I was born very far from where I'm supposed to be, so, I guess I'm on my way home."

I know I haven't blogged in forever, but I thought I'd try to catch up a bit and share some of my adventures.  I originally wrote this several months ago with slim hopes my photos would be recovered and with no good news as of yet I only have a small amount of photos from my iPod.  If by some miracle my photos are saved I will put them up ASAP.

So I left South Korea at the end of February when my former roomie and adventure buddy met me for a couple days before we would begin out Southeast Asian ultimate adventure!! I couldn't believe my year in Korea was over! What an experience!  After 2 flights and a layover in China, we landed at our first destination: Bali, Indonesia!  A place I've wanted to go for years now!

With visions from travel blogs' photos,  Eat, Pray, Love, and months and months of daydreams filling my head nothing could compare to the views zooming outside our taxi windows.  We arrived around 4 in the morning to a torrential downpour and thunderstorm.  But as the hours passed by and the skies cleared, the sun began to rise and my eyes were greeted with a truly magical sight!  The luscious greens of the rice fields, the volcano looming in the distance, markets bustling to life at the crack of dawn, and colors so brilliant! I was simply dazzled by this new world around me and couldn't stop smiling!

We were headed to the east coast to the tiny coastal town of Amed.  Our place was THE tropical oasis, still thinking about I can't believe we were actually there!  Glistening from the morning showers, flowers and unique plants weaved their ways along the pathways to the bungalows.  This was a spectacular place: the views were unbelievable, the food so delicious, and the owner and family/friends were bubbling over with hospitality and
smiles.  I thoroughly enjoyed watching the daily life of the locals in this small town.  Something that caught my attention were the offerings (Canang sari) they made each day.  It represents their thankfulness for peace in the world and the effort and time put in to make it signifies their self-sacrifice. They were so intricate and colorful, I loved seeing them everyday.  It was fascinating to see their daily practice and devotion. Unlike the rest of Indonesia, which is Muslim, Bali practices Balinese Hinduism with influences from Southeast and South Asia, Indian Hinduism, and Buddhism.

During our time in Amed, we chilled on the beach, hiked to a waterfall, snorkeled above a Japanese shipwreck overflowing with all kinds of fish, listened to live music and watched traditional dancing at our place's restaurant.
After a couple days we headed to the "cultural heart" of Bali, Ubud.  Yet another bungalow oasis complete with a charming front porch, outside shower with fish pond, all surrounded by tropical plants and flowers. We meandered our way on the paths through the Monkey Forest, nearly escaping a frightening mini stampede. There were moss covered temples, hanging vines, and monkeys looming on the pedestals, branches, and temple walls.  A bit outside the town the rice fields provided an escape from the hustle and bustle.  The fields glistened in the setting sun as the light illuminated the shades of green and water within the rows.  It was an extraordinary sight.  I remember just closing my eyes and savoring the moment...one I truly didn't want to forget.

Bali was quite an enchanting place, with its ridiculous natural beauty, tasty cuisine, and intriguing culture, it is definitely somewhere I'd like to to return. 

Thursday, February 6, 2014

"Once the travel bug bites there is no known antidote, and I know that I shall be happily infected until the end of my life."

For my winter vacation I reunited with my mom and we spent the holidays together!  We traveled in the Czech Republic, Germany, and Poland.  It was so wonderful to see her again and to have a change of scenery.  It was great to back in Europe again too!  Traveling around and exploring together brought back memories of my first time in Europe with mom about 9 years ago, when it all began! Those couple weeks then instilled my love of travel and inescapable wanderlust I still have to this day!

I was alone in Prague my first day until mom arrived that night. I spent my day getting reacquainted with this enchanting city.  I began by watching the morning sun glow over the city from a top the castle hill just a couple minutes walk up from my hostel.

As I strolled through the endless cobble stone streets I had my first hot mulled wine, a typical drink served throughout these countries during the winter, and continued to be mesmerized by this city I first adored over 2 years ago.
It's so strange to come back to a place again. That was only my second time ever returning to a city I'd been to before.  It was interesting to view it in a completely opposite time of year and see how many things are different in this new time.  While I'd been to the other countries before, I hadn't been to the cities we visited, so it was completely new.

Eierpunsch in Dresden
The day before Christmas Eve we were off to Dresden, Germany.  There was a small market nearby to where we departed the bus and we took a quick walk around there sampling some treats.

Next, we boarded a train to Leipzig for the night.  The market there was amazing!! There was a huge bright Christmas tree, a manger, a stage with puppet shows, and rows of lighted wooden stalls.  You could definitely feel Christmas in the air.


The appetizing aromas of sausages and mulled drinks filled the air.  There was an abundant amount of savory bratwursts, potato dishes, hot drinks and sweets! Many of which I had to try!  From the cream filled waffle, to the flat fried potatoes, to gingerbread cookies and fudge! There were just too many delightful treats!


The morning of Christmas eve we took a short train ride back to Dresden to check out their main Christmas market. We explored the surrounding area while we waited for it to open.


It was absolutely adorable, a real life magical Christmas wonderland! All their stalls where topped with various Christmas scenes, from teddy bears, elves, and snowmen, to reindeer, snowflakes and gingerbread men.


 There was a carousel, Ferris wheel, and wooden Christmas decorations.  It was so charming! It felt like we were in Christmas children's story book. Continuing with my tasting, I have to say this market food was just way too good!!


That evening we arrived back to Prague and strolled around the Christmas market in the new town area, Wenceslas Square.  Only a few of the stalls were open, being Christmas Eve, but there was still a glorious bright Christmas tree, and other things to see!  After passing through that area and winding through the maze of streets we ended the night in the Old Town Square with a delicious Christmas eve dessert!

The place we stayed in Prague was the best location possible! Our window overlooked a lovely Christmas scene below.  Rows of market stalls, a Christmas tree, and the hustle and bustle of shoppers roaming about.  It looked like a scene from A Christmas Carol.


On Christmas day we went to the incredibly beautiful main market in the charming Old Town Square.  This square is truly incredible.  The architecture of the buildings and churches surrounding it are so exquisite and just unreal.
That afternoon we climbed the clock tower where the astronomical clock is and at the top had panoramic views of the city! It was quite a spectacular view!  That night we strolled across the Charles Bridge all lit up with lovely views of the sparkling river and glowing castle.  We topped off the night with a delicious apple strudel in an ancient looking but very cute restaurant.  What a splendid Christmas!

The two days following Christmas we spent our time exploring around Prague.  The first day we took a free walking tour for a couple of hours, learning the history and significance of various building, structures, and areas around the city. Literally everywhere you walk in Prague your eyes are just in awe, the buildings are all so gorgeous, you just can't even handle it!

That evening we had a traditional Czech dinner in a medieval looking restaurant.  I had beef goulash, potato dumplings, homemade bread and the best hot spiced wine yet!  Mmm mmm!  That evening we attended a wonderful Christmas concert in one of the grand churches.  The atmosphere of the dimly lit church along with the music of the singer and instruments, especially the extravagant organ, was so captivating.  The next day we took a different walking tour and cruised down the river for a different perspective of the city and also explored the castle grounds.  It was still as magnificent as I remembered and the views overlooking the city were absolutely stunning.


The following morning we boarded the train bright and early and were off to Berlin! It was such a scenic ride as we whizzed pass the Czech countryside with its quaint towns, rolling hills, and winding rivers.

After a somewhat long journey we arrived late in the afternoon, dropped off our bags, and began our search of the several markets to see in this city.


 That night we went to 3 markets, also seeing some sights along the way.  The final market was our favorite with a charming surrounding square, ice skating rink, music, and lots of cute stalls and treats!
         


         

 The following morning we took a short train to the small and quaint Potsdam.  We roamed around the city and saw the Sanssouci Palace which was the summer residence of Frederick the Great.  It had massive gardens, fountains, a windmill nearby, and many statues (but they were covered for the winter).

We had a nice time just enjoying the area and taking our time wandering wherever the streets took us.  That evening we had an amazing dinner of schnitzel!! It was beyond delicious!  Following dinner, we passed through their little Christmas market and stopped in yet another beautiful church before calling it a night.


The next morning, New Years Eve, we rode the train back to Berlin for a couple hours of sightseeing before our train departed to Prague that afternoon.  We saw the Reichstag building, the Chancellery building, and the Brandenburg Gate to name a few.

It was fascinating to see the gate and to realize all the events associated with it throughout time.  You could just feel the intense wartime history of the area.  A couple minutes from the gate was the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe also known as the Holocaust Memorial.

We arrived back to Prague in the early evening.  Before the big night we peaked inside some of the many immaculate churches around the city.
Wow New Years Eve in Prague!! What an unforgettable moment!  The Charles Bridge was the place to be. Hours leading up to midnight people were shooting off small fireworks from the river bank and further off in the distance in the city, there were firecrackers going off all throughout the streets, sparklers, and other various explosive materials shooting on the bridge.  The whole city was booming like thunder!  When the clock struck midnight the whole sky was ablaze! Fireworks literally in every direction, all over the city were going off, the boats that filled the river all blared their horns, and people cheered.  Everywhere you looked there were blasts and celebrations, it was a spectacular way to ring in 2014!!

New Years morning bright and early we began our long journey to Poland.  After 2 trains, and a bus, we finally arrived to Krakow that night.  After an absolutely incredibly delicious dinner (I had been dreaming about my beloved Polish food for months) of pierogies and golumki we headed into the old town square and walked around the Christmas market.  Heavenly scents of kielbasa wafted through the air as we took in the holiday scene.  This was another gorgeous square of buildings with pretty architecture, a grand church and a glowing clock tower above
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The following day we had the whole day to explore.  We saw bits of the Old Town, the old Jewish ghetto, and spent a couple hours in the former factory of  Oskar Schindler.   It's now a museum dedicated to the wartime experience of Krakow under the 5 years of Nazi occupation and the experience of the city and the Jews.

 "Roughly a sixth of the museum's permanent exhibition is dedication to them.  The rest shows prewar Krakow, the German invasion in 1939, Krakow as the capital of Poland under the Nazi occupation, the sorrows of everyday living in the occupied city, family life, the wartime history of Krakow Jews, the resistance movement, the underground Polish state, and lastly the Soviet capture of the city.  The centerpiece of the part of the exposition dealing with Oskar Schindler himself is his office fortuitously preserved over the intervening years."

After crossing the river away from the factory and former ghetto, we went back towards Old Town.
We stopped at a couple of tasty bakeries, sampling a couple treats, before having an epic dinner of more pierogies, kapusta (bigos), and a delicious chicken dish.

I couldn't get enough pierogies! I could eat them at every meal, haha which I did besides breakfast!  After a couple of stops in some shops and a church we were back to the main market.  After one last quick around, another plate of pierogies, and a stroll through an indoor market street, we headed to the station for our overnight train to Prague.

We arrived early in the morning for our last day in Prague.  We couldn't believe this amazing trip was coming to an end.  We spent some time savoring our last views of the Christmas market and Old Town Square, doing some souvenir shopping, and went out to a delicious final dinner.  Early the the next morning we were off to the airport.  Before my second flight, from Moscow, my ticket got changed.  I'm thinking it was because the flight was not very full (the seats surrounding me were empty and they put weighted luggage on some chairs).  I got moved up to first/business class.  I felt like a princess! It was so wild!  Nice drinks, a little white cloth on your tray table, real plates and silverware, it felt like I was in a restaurant.  The food was so great and there was even ice cream for dessert! My seat fully reclined and the TV screen was bigger as well.  You know I'd always wondered what it was like to sit up there and now I know...so exciting and comfy!  It made a much more pleasant trip for the long flight back to Seoul.