bangkok : thailand - กรุงเทพมหานคร

All senses are alive when in the Land of Smiles. Bright textiles drape bare shoulders, hot curries waft from open kitchens, while horns and dogs alike bark into the humid air. Bangkok, its capital, is at the cultural center of this kaleidoscope. Green curry and gold temples were the primary goals for this stop and there was no shortage of either.

Monks awaiting the ferry along Chao Phraya 

The ferry proved to be a nice way to traverse long distances in the winding capital. Much preferred to bartering with charismatic yet wily taxi drivers.

Don't rely on the ferry if you get motion sick easily, have a strong need to maintain a sense of personal space, or are afraid of jumping onto or off of a moving boat.  

Photos 2 -5 : Wat Pho : Temple of the Reclining Buddha 

The birthplace of Thai massage

Never have I ever seen so much fruit. If you go, try them all. 

Note: You will receive a chuckle if you order anything guava based as the Thai word for both foreigner and guava is farang. Do it anyways. It's worth the chuckle.

The Grand Palace

Denture Buddha

Wat Arun: Temple of Dawn

Photos 10 -15 : Wat Phra Kaew: Temple of the Emerald Buddha

The most sacred Buddhist temple in Thailand

Never a shortage of things that make you smile.

Next stop on the Thailand adventure : Chiang Mai

processing

Time came, and went. Here I am. Back in the States. Back in the South. Still trying to process all that has happened in the past fourteen months. The plan is to share as soon as I can find the words to explain. 

 Above: Bangkok, Thailand

감사합니다 - thank you

 

Thank you Korea for 

sharing your beautiful mountains, seas, and cities,

dissolving my sense of personal space,

increasing my tolerance for spicy or fermented foods,

teaching me how to use chopsticks when eating noodles,

introducing me to interesting and kind people from all over the world,

making me laugh every day,

reminding me of what I hold most dear, 

reigniting my patriotism via yours,

schooling me in the art of the Asian queue,

and giving me a wealth of unforgettable moments.

I already miss you.

Over a year has passed since I arrived in Korea. Less than a week remains until I depart... for Thailand. 
Here we go.

for all the 녹 차 in korea...

What better way to spend a birthday than by adding years to your life? In order to better understand the elixir of longevity we (Minhui, Eenah, Katie and I) traveled to Boseong Green tea plantation in southern South Korea. None of us knew what to expect as the signs directing us to the plantation were cryptic yet cheerful. After a short walk beneath towering cedars we were found ourselves at the base of a mountain covered in undulating green rows.

  

Look familiar? Tea is derived from Camellia sinensis, a member of the Camellia family. 

Word to all the plant nerds out there.

proud

Before living abroad, I struggled to articulate what it means to be American or to coin what defines my national identity.
Truth be told, I still do.
In conversations with Koreans or other expats, cultural comparisons are the hot topic. They rattle off with authority about their cultures' stance on everything from sandwich toppings to sexuality. More often than not, America's ethnic assortment prevents me from weighing in on the subject. No worries. Diversity over unified sandwich preferences any day!
What I can say without question is that Americans are dynamic, creative, passionate individuals who believe wholeheartedly in their right to be heard. I'm proud to say that we continue to have a President that truly represents who we are as a nation, and that is well respected all over the world. I've lost count of the times that a taxi driver, sales clerk, seemingly rogue child, fellow airline traveler or elderly man has asked "Where are you from?" and upon learning I'm American, responding with a huge smile plus " I love Obama."

Me, too.

가 을 - fall

With Siberian -seriously- winds and overcast mornings, summer has faded into a distant memory. Trees that were so recently sources of refuge from the sun are quickly shedding their function. The views from the bus seat have changed dramatically in the past few weeks, and scarves are a daily necessity. Fall is here, in full color.
A day trip to higher altitudes was in order to further appreciate the show.

 After assorted crowded interesting bus rides, we finally made it to Naejangsan National Park in southern Jeollabukdo province. Worth it.

 Golden gingkos.

A stranger's excellent use of naturally sourced materials. Andy Goldsworthy would be proud.

부 산 - busan part 2

The general temple decor is similar throughout Korea. After awhile the location becomes the differentiating factor when scouting for a new temple to visit. Yonggungsa, located on the outskirts of Busan, has a truly unique setting. To reach the temple you must walk down 108 stairs flanked by thick bamboo. Midway down the stairs the bamboo parts and the East Sea welcomes you in all its blustery glory. Yonggungsa is perched on the cliffs with twisted pines surrounding its back door.
It was definitely one of the highlights of the trip to Busan.