Tuesday, August 13, 2013

Six Months of Travel: Indonesia [May 2013]

After spending a couple days in Kuala Lumpur with nothing overly fantastic to report, we made our way to Bali, Indonesia. Since Rob had lived in Indonesia before, he stepped up as tour guide, speaking the language and everything. We stayed in Kuta for a few weeks and traveled around the island via motorbike, with the highlight being our week-long trip to Ubud (monkeys, ew) and Lovina (dolphins, yay). By and far, our favorite place was Dreamland, a beach about a 30-minute drive away with fewer tourists and a much nicer atmosphere. Many a sunny day was spent here.


Dreamland
Tanah Lot Temple
7AM photo in Lovina for dolphins

 We originally planned on staying in Bali for over a month and were finally able to get a newly built apartment in Seminyak (an area near Kuta with our favorite restaurant and a dish from the heavens—red snapper grilled in a banana leaf with balinese herbs and spices YUM). We moved in as soon as we got back from our island trip up to Lovina; it really was a great week. There was air-conditioning, our own kitchen area, wifi and then...disaster.

Six Months of Travel: California [March-May 2013]

Oh sunshine and Mexican food, how I had missed you.

The first month home was spent seeing family & friends. And eating In N Out. Lots and lots of In N Out. Anyway. So many reunions! I sincerely missed having so many girlfriends, as most of my friends from Korea are men. There were brunches, happy hours, themes, Vegas trips and country music/dancing attempts. And with every single one of them/you, nothing had changed. It was as if I had seen everyone one week ago, not one year. I'm incredibly thankful that you all have put up with my random disappearances over the year. I'll be back, and look forward to seeing you all again soon!




Then the boyfriend came to visit for a month. Ladies & gentlemen, we have another Panera obsession on our hands. A place with soup, salad and sandwiches is basically made for him. We spent our days tanning and our nights drinking whiskey. Summer vacation in California is absolute perfection, and ours included daily trips to Santa Monica and LA, a week-long road trip up and down the coast to San Francisco, beach trips and a final weekend in San Diego!



We said our goodbyes at the beginning of May and set off again. Back to SE Asia, we go! x

Sunday, August 11, 2013

Six Months of Travel: Thailand [February 2013]

After my 12 months in Korea, after surviving a real winter and after saving some money, an adventure was needed.

 

It started off in Thailand, where I met a few of my friends from Korea for a week in paradise. We stayed in a villa on the island of Koh Samui. With a rooftop pool. Please & thank you. We barely managed to survive with our endless beaches, nighttime markets and getting lost in the rain, but we made it. As tourists do, a trip necessity was the Full Moon Party. With our neon shirts and body paint, we fit right in! 

 

After our luxury week, I set off to Bangkok for a solo journey, with a last dinner with Lauren, Troy and Vinny to see me off. I made it to Koh San Road, which quickly went from a friendly tuk tuk driver helping me find a hostel to a marriage proposal to him trying to molest me. Cue me calling Rob to bawl my eyes out. After surviving my first 24 hours of traveling alone in Bangkok and not feeling too keen, I manned up and made my way to Chiang Mai. Thank goodness, because Bangkok almost ruined this beautiful country for me. Not only did I spend a day at the Elephant Nature Park, I met a great couple, changed plans to stay at their hostel and went out with the group to a night market. 



 

Now here's where I jump up and down—Tiger Kingdom! We saw the littlest tigers (less than six months) and the biggest female tigers. One of the big females took a liking to one of the guys I went with, following him around the pen and making us all a bit nervous. They. Are. Massive. And photogenic.

 

And let's not forget the food. Cheap. Fast. Delicious. Filling. A nice combination of street food and restaurant meal.

   

I still need to make my way down to Phuket to enjoy southern Thailand and surrounding areas, so I'm not done with the Land of Smiles quite yet. Up next is my two months at home! x