End of 2012

Well folks, 2012 has come to an end, thus inspiring me to get to writing a blog entry.  Or perhaps it's the current stomach flu leaving me bored out of my wits and needing to take my mind away from the pain.

A lot has happened in the past six months of non-blogging: meeting Audrey and Jordan in Malaysia for a couple weeks, hitting Singapore, diving in Borneo, meeting my parents in Seoul for a week, catching up with an old college friend in Hangzhou, and most recently- catching up with Bonita and Rachal in the Philippines.

Ideally I'd write a little blurb about each trip to fill in those who rely in this blog for keeping in touch, buuuuut, I just can't do it.  Instead, how about a few of my favorite shots from each place?

Two of my dearest friends, Audrey and Jordan, lugging their suitcases across the beach in Malaysia, July 2012

Pulau Perhentian Island, Malaysia - right outside our place, July 2012

Beautiful Ma with her huge ice cream in Seoul, Oct 2012

Dad enjoying his first legit galbi experience in Seoul, Oct 2012

West Lake, Hangzhou, China

A walk around Apo Island, Philippines, between dives Dec 2012

Our bangka, Honda Bay, Palawan, Philippines Jan 2013

Needless to say, things have been quite eventful and I'm utterly blessed and thankful to be living the life I am.  As the years go by and I lose touch with more people, I grow so much closer to others who have stuck by my side.  I have a fabulous support system of family and friends and I am so incredibly grateful for each and every one of them.

I am in the midst of a job hunt for the upcoming school year, so bare with me for news of where I'll take my travels next!

As 2013 kicks off, I wish a healthy and happy year to you all.

Fall 2011

Old Stone Man Beach, Qingdao

To start things off I have to give some love to my dear friend Natalie who single-handedly made my blog b-e-a-utiful!  I am so excited to have it personalized to my style...it has definitely inspired me to write more frequently.  Thanks, Nat!

Since I last wrote, I have moved apartments.  The new place is directly below the old one and much more cozy.  I'm beginning to slowly get household items that make it feel more like a home- plants, DVD player, candles, lamps, etc.  My favorite part is that the shower has these awesome lights that are meant for drying/sanitizing the shower after use...I use them during and it's basically like showering in the sun...who doesn't love brightness and warmth and happiness?  I like to pretend I'm back in the Philippines on a blistering hot day so the cold water actually feels good and doesn't make me want to cry.  If only the lights kept up my tan at the same time...

Gyeongbokgong Palace, Seoul

Speaking of losing tans, autumn weather is here.  My guess is that I'll have the rest of October to enjoy the sun at the beach before I need to hibernate.

Katie @ kalbi in Seoul

We had a week holiday off work, so I went to Korea with a co-worker for a shopcation (sidenote: the entire country was off, so it was advised to not go anywhere in China or I would have).  I decided not to go by Poly and see the kids this time...tough choice to make, but I've been lucky enough to visit them twice in the past 7 months and it's a lot harder now to interrupt their classes since I don't know the teachers.  Unfortunately I didn't get to see most of my friends while I was there either, but I'm not too worried about it since I'm sure I'll be back soon. Seoul is just over an hour flight away, so it will be easy to treat myself :)   It felt different this time- maybe because I didn't visit Hwajeong, my kids, and my Korean co-teachers...in only year it has become so much more Westernized.  It seemed like everyone spoke English, lots of American music was playing instead of Kpop, and chain clothing stores were more common than boutiques and clothes stands.  It wasn't bad per say, just different.  One of my favorite things about Korea is that it is so dissimilar from America- that being said, I hope the Western trend doesn't continue quite so rapidly.

My next vaca is 8 weeks away, so until then I'll just have to dream of the hot sun and salty water that I love so much...