closing time.

It's almost time to go so I've been compiling a list of things that I will miss about Korea, and things that I can live without.

What will I miss about Korea:

• The incredible transit and transportation systems
• My Ediya cappucino which only costs me 2,800w
  
• Aloe juice, Milkis, makoli
  
• my apartment
• my kiddies
• cheap dry cleaning, medicine, dentist visits, beer,
  
• stationary
• the fastest downloading speed in the world
• the incredible amount of shopping
  
• Hongdae, Idae, Myeong-dong, Sinchon, Insadong ie. shopping!
• Being far away from Asia again when there's still so much to explore
• Norebang, Wii bang, DVD bang....all the bangs!
• My dance studio
• my sweet work schedule which I won't get anywhere else ever!
• Maple Bear
• My friends :)
  

What won't I miss:

• Being pushed everywhere I go because there are SO many people
• kimchi...was never a fan
• having a phone that takes me 5 minutes to send one text
• street traffic
• Soju bleh!
• not being able to understand 90% of the people here (my own fault)
• Being so close to North Korea
• Not having general access to Wendy's, sushi, spinach dip, a car
• more green spaces ie. grass
• Not being close to my family and friends at home

I've been packing, sending home boxes of all the clothes and shoes I've accumulated over the past year (let's not talk about this one). I have 3 weeks left and for the first time I'm really starting to feel it. I've watched so many other people leave that I can't believe the next person will be home. I'm so looking forward to going home for the holidays but I'm torn. When you get so comfortable somewhere, it's hard to leave but I think I'm almost there.

I have lived here for 16 months so no matter what I will miss it. I will miss the food even though it's too spicy, I will miss the people, my job, my responsibility free life. I love it here and every place has their pros and cons. I couldn't have asked for anything more and I know that my experience here has changed me forever.

It'll be a sad day when December 17th comes and I hope they have a moment of silence across the country for my departure. Already shedding a few tears at the thought.

Until next time,

j xo

bangkok.siem reap

Over the Chuseok holiday Angela and I took our 5 day vacation to see one place that I've been dying to travel to for ages....Cambodia.

We left Seoul Saturday September 18th after work and arrived into Bangkok during the wee hours of Sunday morning. We were only scheduled to be in Bangkok for a day, mainly as a stop over because neither of us had seen it although we had both been to Thailand. Our main purpose for this trip was to get to Siem Reap.

After a very short sleep, let's call it more of a nap, on Day 1 we got up and ready to see everything we wanted to in one day AH!! We started our tour by seeing the Reclining Buddha temple. It was gold, massive and beautiful. The temples around were beautiful too, very intricate and detailed.

After the Reclining Buddha we traveled to see the Floating Market which is actually a ways out of the city. We hopped into a boat which would take us through the channels. I expected the Floating Market to be all food but since its become a tourist stop it's mostly souvenirs and trinkets that you can buy. All I wanted was delicious fruit so as we floated around I was grabbing fresh Mangosteen and Mango's to munch. It was so interesting, and nothing like I thought it would be. I think the market has changed alot over time and isn't what it used to be but is still pretty cool. After the Floating Market we drove to te Tiger Temple for Angela, she has always wanted to pet a tiger. The temple had all these rules we didn't know about clothing wise SO I didn't end up going in but Angela did so she got to pet a bunch of different rescue tigers and get her photo taken. By the time we got back to our hotel it was pretty late and we still hadn't eaten. We grabbed some delicious thai food mmm I swear I could eat thai food every day if I had the chance. We made it an early night because our next day was going to be spent traveling via bus to Siem Reap.

Day 2 of our adventure started early and slow. We took a shorter than we thought bus trip to the border between Thailand and Siem Reap. At the border we got our visas (wish my visa for Korea was this easy) and passed through easy peesey. Once in Cambodia, it was only about 2 hours to get into Siem Reap and to our hotel. So to recap, in one day we have taken these forms of transportation: small van, another small van, walked, shuttle bus, cab, tuk tuk (during our stay in Siem Reap I would learn to love tuk tuks). We arrive at our guesthouse Ei8ht Rooms which is right by the main downtown strip Pub Street. It is the cutest guesthouse, so perfect and romantic with Ang and I sharing a bed and our mosquito netting. Anyone who goes to Siem Reap must stay there.

With only a short walk we were at Pub Street where you can find most of the restaurants, bars, shops and markets. Every night on Pub Street, street-food type vendors set up shop and every night they take them down. The food is amazing and SO cheap, like 1 or 2$ for a meal which is actually crazy. That's where we had our first meal and it was delicious. All of the food we had in Cambodia was incredible actually, there was nothing I ate that I wouldn't have had again. Angela ate the Ammok curry which is a staple in Cambodia. It taste similar to thai curry and is just as yummy. After wards we went over to a bar called Angkor WHAT??? which is by far one of the best names for a bar EVER!! We tried the local beer which was delicious and hung out, watching the crowds flow through the streets. I was surprised to see how many travelers were in Siem Reap considering it was low season. I already knew I was going to like Siem Reap, it had a good vibe and I felt happy and comfortable being there.

Day 3 was our trip to Angkor Wat. It was early but already stupid hot outside so we knew it was going to be a rough day. We were up nice and early to meet our tuk tuk driver who was going to be taking us around for the day. Before making our way to Angkor Wat we stopped for our basic vacation breakfast which consisted of fresh fruit mmmm pineapple, watermelon and our new favorite were these thingys that tasted similar to lychee but were all stringy on the outside. With our breaky in hand we drive to the Angkor Wat temples, buy our tickets and get to the main entrance. At this point I was beyond excited! I was finally getting to see Angkor Wat, a place I had wanted to see for years. Seeing Cambodia was a must for me and I couldn't believe that I was actually there, with Angela, at that very moment. We spent the day walking around the ruins of the different temples and it was truly unbelievable. They were larger than life and so amazing to think that they were built and then abandoned just like that. Many of the ruins are still intact but ofcourse some have taken hits over time.


My favorite was Ta Prohm because it was unique from all the others. It was smaller but had trees growing out of the ruins from all angles. There was something eerie about it, I still can't put my finger on it but it just seemed so unreal. The trees were enormous and so striking. I don't know how they grew, how they are so big or how the roots look the way they do like spider webs or candle wax but they were truly amazing.

Look how small I am compared to this tree, and that's not even half of the tree either.
When leaving the temples we saw wild monkeys on the side of the road so we stopped to see them, little did we know we were about to get attacked!! These monkeys were not messing around but they were not as scary at the monkeys I met in Kuala Lumpur at the Baha Caves. We bought mini bananas and they didn't even wait for us to give them the bananas because they came straight to us and grabbed them. I think we were more afraid of them then they were of us because we were screaming and they were just fine, eating away.
Getting to see Angkor Wat was such a high point in my traveling life and a place I'll never forget.

Day 4 was a laid back day but still a good one. We took our morning pretty easy, ate breakfast, had some gelato and then took a tuk tuk to the country side with our friend Sarath and our tuk tuk driver David Beckham :) We drove through the countryside and through some smaller towns to see what real Cambodia life was like. The weather the beautiful, I still remember the clouds and the way the sky looked which was unreal.


We took a boat out to see the floating village which was quite the site. Literally, it's a village that floats on water. All of the houses are on water and they travel by boat...crazy right!! As we went by we were waving to the kids and people in the houses. We even stopped by the pagoda where are the children play to join them. We were skipping rope(well Angela was), lifting them up, handing out candy and taking pictures. The kids were adorable and there were so many of them. At first many of them were nervous to see us and play with us being the 2 whitest people in the universe BUT after awhile they warmed up and started lining up to play. After leaving the floating village we continued driving around the countryside and went to visit a cousin of David Beckham's (our drivers) and see their house. The were rice farmers and fed us this amazing rice treat which was wrapped in leaves and boiled. There was bean inside and you eat it with sugar mmm yummm! It was so nice to get out of the city, see green, especially after living in Seoul. I miss the quaintness and simple life, not like I ever had one, but I miss the idea of one which I haven't seen since moving to Seoul. It was great to see real people, away from the tourists and the busy spots, and just see the normal life that these people lead.

That was our last day in Siem Reap. After another wonderful dinner that cost a few dollars, it was Cambodia bbq and delish, we did a little more wandering and went over the the Night Market to do some shopping....and did we ever shop! How we got all our junk home is beyond me but my bag weighed twice as much as it did on the way over!!

Day 5: This was our travel day. We got up early to once again catch our taxi to the border, pass through and then catch our bus back to Bangkok. We got back to the city with quite alot of time left before our flight but not enough to actually do anything so we spent our time in the very air conditioned Bangkok airport eating, spending the last of our thai baht and sleeping. Finally it was time to leave our mini vacation and travel back to Seoul to continue our teaching life.

This marked the last trip I will take while living in Seoul. The next time I get on a plane, it will be taking me home to Canada back to where I belong...weird huh!! My ticket is booked, December 17th I will arrive back at Pearson to be home for the holidays and until I decide to leave again if at all :) I've seen 6 different countries in Asia, 7 including South Korea, and although there are still many more to explore, it'll have to wait for another time.

Until then,

peace out

janey xo

the cutest kids in the world award goes to:

Love them to bits and pieces and wish I could put them in my pocket and take them home :)

it could not possibly be hotter in this country

I have to say that although I have my moments of annoyance in Seoul, I'm not quite ready to leave yet so it's a good thing that I'm not. I think I have alot of growing left to do and although it won't be complete in 5 months but I think I'm making good headway. It's a good place to be, although I have way too many distractions, but I can easily zone out the rest of the world especially when you don't speak the language...ignorance is bliss I must say!

Anyways let's not talk about me, I'm boring! I'm going to talk about Korea and my recent discoveries and inquiries.

You know what every place in the world needs.....more street vendors! Ok well maybe Seoul has too many but honestly you don't even have to go into stores here, you can buy everything on the streets and it's CHEAP too. The best is the street food, not just hot dogs but Korean food, kebabs, waffles, everything!! I love love love it and think that every place should have food this widely available :)


Seoul is WAY ahead in fashion, but not in everything. Every genre of fashion history is being rocked at all times but sometimes it's just too much. My biggest pet peeve right now, colourful socks with any kind of sandal, especially of gladiator variety! It pains me to see girls walking down the street in 35 degree weather wearing bright purple socks with their cute gladiator funky sandals. Isn't the point of sandals in the summer time to give your feet some freedom...this is supporting every kind of food repression and I'm not ok with that. Stockings and heels, stockings and sandals, stockings and everything....there should be a rule during the summer time...no colourful socks allowed!!

The cat/dog cafe: This is one of my favorite places to go..the cat cafe more than the dog cafe. I love dogs, I love all animals BUT about 20 different dogs together in one room is loud and hectic whereas cats are chill and calm. I have been to the same cat cafe in Hongdae a few times and I could spend all day there, I just love it! It obviously makes me miss my kitty and want an animal asap but it's a great way to fill the void. Many families in Korea can't have animals because the city and living spaces aren't really built for people let alone pets. There just isn't enough space inside or outside for pets like you would see in North America although lately I have seen quite a few large dogs being walked around. Anyways this is the perfect setting to give cats/dogs a lovely home, give them food and loving from random people :)



I have noticed in the past few months that I have sweat glands in my body I never knew existed until my summer in Seoul. This city is so insanely hot, and I mean deathly hot, people need ways to stay cool right? Seoul is filled with mini splash parks, well that's what you'd think their purpose was when really there are just fountains everywhere that are used to un-sizzle. Cheonggyecheon stream in the middle of Seoul has become headquarters for children and pretty much anyone to enjoy....think swimming people, except te water only goes to your calves. I wouldn't go as far as to drench my entire body in the water like the kids do but putting your feet in is the perfect way to stay cool on these sweltering days. I wear one day I will run through a fountain even if its not socially acceptable :)

Despite the heat I'm staying cool and happy...did you expect anything else?

One love

janey xo

it's a long road ahead

Lately I have been in a mood...I can't exactly describe it. It's not homesickness, I'm not mad at anyone, I'm not sad, I'm in in a mood and it's a bad one. I don't think I've ever gotten in a bad mood that's lasted so long and it's coming out on all those around me...well not the ones I like atleast.

I'm just totally out of energy and running on empty. I'm usually a night person but I can't seem to stay awake and stay conscious past a certain hour. I have no motivation in general which is the weirdest part. My kids are driving me mental and pushing me over the edge. But what's really getting me is the people in Korea. Walking down the streets, being on the bus...they all just piss me off! I'm from Canada where people are polite and say things like "excuse me" when they are pushing by you or if they hit you say "sorry" once or twice. I feel like I'm losing my Canadian-ness because people aren't like that here, they are rude and it's just the way the culture is. I get pushed around all day by people who all act like they are in the biggest rush, bumping me and not even acknowledging the fact that they're stepping on my feet or hitting me. It's so irritating and I try not to let it bug me but this week it's ALL coming out. I mean I have places to go, I have to be at work too but I'm not running into people all day and when I do I say "SORRY" even in Korean.

Korea has all these charms, all of these traits that are just so Korean...that's the only possible way to describe it. But lately Korea has been losing it's charm to me and the things that were once charming are now annoying or frustrating. If I hadn't decided to stay until Christmas, I would be leaving in less than 2 months, about 6 weeks. But in reality I have been away for over a year now if you include camp last year so maybe it's that. I need to somehow convince my body and my brain that I'm not leaving yet and still have 5 and a half months to go...I need to look at this long road ahead and power through! People always say to me that they admire what I'm doing and could never do this either because they have too many things for them at home or are just homebodies...well guess what, I'm one too! I've turned my apartment here into the place where I retreat too since my home in Oakville is too far away! I like being home, I like having familiar things around me, people I know, my bed, my cat, and a good book. I like being boring...I think I actually am boring! To be honest I don't really know how I stay away...maybe it's because I know that there's an end point when I get to go back or maybe it's that I try not to think about it so I don't really let it affect me. Whatever it is it's starting to drift but I don't want it to taint me experience here and I won't let it!

I guess I'm just being a baby, it's not the first time. I'm really good at complaining about things when I shouldn't because I'm lucky and I know that...I just need to be reminded :)
I have more things to say but no time right now...I will write again tomorrow!

Until then,
jane-aroo xo

1 year

1 year ago today, around this exact same time I was arriving at the Geneva airport from an all night flight from Toronto. I would soon be hopping on a train to Sierre, be taking the finicular up the mountain to arrive in Montana. Today is the day that staff training begins at ISCM and 1 year ago I was apart of that...I would be getting picked up at the finicular station, checking in and getting horrible staff photo taken which would haunt me all summer, I would once again be having the butterflies in my stomach about meeting new people, seeing old face and looking forward to another unbelievable summer....but I'm not, is it awful that I'm jealous?

I'm in a wonderful place in my life with wonderful people. I love my job and I'm happy to be where I'm at...so how can I possibly be jealous? The thing with people is that we always want what we can't have, we want to be where everyone else is and do what they're doing. We want another persons job, their apartment, their fashion sense, we constantly want something else but what's so wrong about what we already have!?! It can be hard to live in the now when my life here is so temporary, it's so easy to think about what's next especially when I have my end date.

I really can't complain, I have a great life and have nothing bad to say. I think I'm just upset that I can't be two, three or four places at once...I hate missing things, missing people and missing experiences that I know are bound for greatness. I'm constantly missing things, missing birthdays, house warmings, weddings, hockey game nights, delicious family dinners so I guess this just adds to my list of things I will eventually have to make up for...watch out 2011.

Today I just feel kind of lonely because I know that if I was at camp, I would be spending the next 10 weeks surrounded by hundreds of people at all times and I like that. There's no place in the world I would rather be than there because there no place in the world that makes me feel the way I feel there....so free (the air quality and the mountains help). In a city like Seoul, with millions of people around me all the time I still feel so small and insignificant all the time. Putting the language barrier and my obvious non-asianess aside, I just don't feel surrounded like I do at camp and I don't get that same feeling. I like feeling small sometimes, and insignificant, and totally lost because it means I have to fight to be noticed and find my place but sometimes it's exhuasting. I miss camp because it's effortless, it's easy, it's also equally as exhausting but I know that, I get that, and I can handle that.

Another thing that struck me about ISCM starting is that it was a year ago that I left home and said goodbye to most of my friends/family until I return. It's so crazy to think that I've been gone a year because it definitely doesn't feel like one. It's strange to also think that I'm here for another 6 months, 6 months that will probably go by just as fast. I do look forward to going home, I think about it all the time because I know what's waiting for me which makes it hard to wait BUT I need to continue to try and live in the now, so I don't missing what's right infront of me.

~janey waney xo

sans expectations

So it occurred to me recently that no matter where you go in the world you always have expectations. it's almost impossible not to. Whether it's Italy, Australia or New York, you hear stories and see photos and without having been there you have an idea of what it will be like. Expectations can be our best friend or our worst enemy, especially if they're not met.

Our image of a place can be totally tainted due to someone's description either for the better or the worse. People tend to have very different ideas on what they want their traveling experience to be...whether it's vacation, relaxation, adventure, immersion, and another person can't really compare their trip to yours. But they do, and it happens to me and everyone I know anytime they go somewhere. I'm just as guilty for creating expectations or smashing them to pieces but I can tell you that there's nothing better than going somewhere where you literally have none...this brings me to my trip to the Philippines.

When I found out that I would have time off in May, I really wanted to use it to do some hardcore traveling and planned on making my way to Cambodia for some history. Due to lack of flight availability and expenses it wasn't going to work out. After deciding to stay in Korea until December I realized that Cambodia could be done at another time. My 2 friends Alice and Angela were planning a trip to Boracay in the Philippines and it only made sense to tag along. I never really imagine myself going there, never really needed to, but after having gone my need and my desire to return is stronger then my initial desire to go in the first place.

Getting to Boracay is quite a trek and here's how it went: Left City 5(my apt building) at 6:00am to take a bus to the airport, flight to Manila, shuttle from Manila airport to another airport, flight from Manila to Caticalan, trike from Caticalan airport to ferry boat, ferry boat ride to the island of Boracay, trike from ferry dock to our hostel. And thus brings us to FRENDZ RESORT!!!

Frendz was like my home away from home, except tropical! It was the best hostel experience I've ever had and it started from the moment we arrived. Everyone was so welcoming, so friendly and it was a guarantee that by staying at this place we would have the best trip ever!! Our room was perfect, had a balcony, a hot shower and most importantly AC!! Boracay was beyond hot, it was beautiful don't get me wrong but SO hot that I think I lost my weight in water and gained it back in beer :)

Boracay is known for its white beaches and sunsets which bring people out from all around the island each night to watch it. It truly is an incredible sight to see and share with some wonderful people. The ocean was amazing, the water so warm and the beaches were the best I've been on. The set up for Boracay is perfect and because its so small its easy peesey to get around. We spent alot of our time on the beach and alot of it at the hostel hanging out or drinking. The best thing about the Philippines is the price of alcohol....let's just say less than 2$ for a beer!! CRAZY right, well now you can understand why I drank my weight in beer.

Our first night out on the Boracay beach was to a club who's name I don't remember but I do remember the fire show with our favorite lady boy Carla!! She was incredibly and introduced us to the fire dance which we now frequent at clubs....its the new rage I swear! But seriously, amazing!! After this was a much needed dip in the ocean and why keep our clothes on...that's right, a skinny dip! Well me not so much, I can't even shower at the gym BUT I did my best. I have to say that nothing says "hey, nice to meet you" like a skinny dip in the Philippino ocean eh! Now Ang, Alice and I were bff's with our new Frendz buddies :)

Day 2 was obvi spent on the beach, drinking mango shakes, drinking beer ie. just drinking and soaking up the sun. Yes I did get burnt and yes it hurt alot, worst ever I think but totally worth it! That evening was one of my most favorite dining out experiences. We walked with our Frendz friends a little off the main road to a market called Talipapa's. At this market you can buy fresh fish, seafood, meat and veggies and then bring it to a restaurant where they cook it to your specifics. It was incredible to have such freedom and chose what you want. Since I didn't eat any meat or seafood there meant splitting a hell of alot of veggies with my new friend Ines who was also a veggie lover PERFECT!! We essentially took over this little restaurant, all 20 of us from Frendz, and chowed down on the deliciousness. It took a looooong time for our food to come out but was totally worth the wait YUMMY!! After our 3 hour dinner we spent another night out on the beach bar hopping. The girls ended up going home early so it was just me and the boys. it's amazing, I can be tired every day in Seoul but as soon as I get to the Philippines I can survive all night on little sleep...the ISCMer in me keeps me going! We went to this crazy club on the beach that night and although I went there twice the name of it still escapes me. There were little tables and bean bag chairs on the beach and a dj spinning up top...the drinks were flowing and so was the dancing. It was the perfect night out and another late one!!


At this point I'm lacking all kinds of sleep and hungover...so why not get up early and spend the day on a catamaran!! We rented a private boat to take us around the island, take us snorkeling and to the Crystal Caves. I spent most of the morning sleeping and hating my life but obviously the views were incredible and it made me think I LOVE MY LIFE!! Honestly what could be better then good friends, a beautiful beach, the sun shining, sailing on a private boat...I just took it all in! After our sailing excursion, myself, Alice, Angela, Tien and Jeff all thought why not go ZORBING!!!! Ok let me explain, zorbing is when you roll down a hill in a giant plastic ball. Sounds silly, well it is, but it's also awesome!! It's not scary, just funny and we had some great laughs!! That evening, we met up with our director Eric and his wife for drinks at the Hobbit House...again, let me explain. So the Hobbit House is basically a bar where really short people (ie. hobbits) serve you. I don't know why they don't have a bar like this at home...apparently the Philippinos don't find this offensive. Well it isn't really, it's again just silly and not really anything special except for the awesome reference to Lord of the Rings and the hundreds of different kinds of beer!! After that another late night drinking at Frendz and walks on the beach!!

On day 4 I'm starting to crash, so thank goodness we were going to be spending another day on the beach drinking mango shakes, drinking beers and soaking up the sun! What a life, I could get used to this for sure! We met again that night with Eric and Pat for dinner which we followed with a lovely swim in their hotel pool and then a visit to the same beach club who's name still escapes me. I've mentioned some of my favorite things about the Philippines but not all of them so I'll take some time to do that now. Other than the obvious ones, I loved the people. Everyone was so friendly, not just at our hostel but everywhere we went. I guess coming from the Korean rudeness it was such a needed change of pace and made me feel at home. The shopping and eating was awesomely cheap and just all around wonderful. And there was just something about being in Boracay, it was exactly what I needed, the perfect refresher to celebrate my half way point of living in Seoul.

Our last day in Boracay was another relaxing day, buying souvenirs, eating halo halo's, drinking mango shakes and more beer, soaking in our last rays of sun, watching sunsets and spending our final evening at Bom Bom, the acoustic BoB Marley inspired bar on the beach...no better way to round off our adventure.

We got up the next morning at an ungodly hour to pack, eat breakfast and check out with enough time to make the same trek back to Seoul. Leaving Frendz and Boracay was sad but I like to leave knowing that I'll be going back some day :)

Since my time in Korea and out of all the trips I've taken, my trip to Boracay can go down as my favorite. There were no expectations, no stresses, no schedules, no sites we really had to see....all we did was take in each as they came and go with the flow. We met some great people, had some amazing moments, some perfect firsts, spent amazingly beautiful days on the beach and in the water and really what more could you ask for. It was exactly what I needed, exactly what we all needed and I wouldn't have changed anything about it. I will go back to the Philippines some day, there's so much more to do and I couldn't imagine never returning after such an incredible experience.

Since being back in Seoul I feel different and I thought it was just me but other people have noticed the difference too. Again, I don't know what it was, where the change came from...it might have to do with the amazing weather and the amazing things that have been happening since our return...but it's there :)

It's only been since I've been back that I realized how fun Seoul is and how much I appreciate being here. Ofcourse I miss home and that will never go away but I know it's not forever so I have to make the most of it while I'm here.

So here's to our summer of 2010, our summer of adventure and summer of fun

*cheers*

sandy sailboat

Rediscovering Seoul

So I know it's been awhile and I guess that's my fault EXCEPT that it's not and I'll tell you why....

I have spent the last month or so loving life in Seoul. I was loving it so much that I didn't have any time to write about it. Now let's not confuse things, this post does not mean that I have time and therefore am hating life but I finally have decided to stay up late to write this long winded message in hopes to jot it all down before I forget.

On April 8th, my friend Ashley arrived in Seoul. This was really the beginning of getting my groove back!! It actually took another person coming here to get me out of my routine and back into the tourist in me who still hasn't seen so much of this country that I call my temporary home.

We started with the DMZ tour one early Sunday morning. This is something I've wanted to do for awhile now and decided I couldn't keep waiting for the nice weather and just had to go. Now I'm still totally torn about this experience but what I can say is that it's eye-opening. It's a tour that thousands of people do a year so they have it organized down to a tee. Nothing is really that shocking, well nothing you see at least but history doesn't lie and that's the surprising part. For a demilitarized zone, there is more military then I've ever seen around it. The DMZ stretches for 4 miles, 2 miles on each side of the border and inside that zone weapons are not around...it's the outside that's intimidating as ever. You can't even take pictures of NK, you have to stand behind a yellow line to capture a glimpse and really it's just hills and fields. There's alot of shit that went down here, alot that I don't really know but I can tell you that the most affecting part of what we saw that day was at the Freedom Bridge where families and visitors have left notes on coloured flags. These messages are of sadness, love, but mostly for peace. I was lost in translation for most of them but you can't deny emotion and you could see it by just glancing at these words. The truth is that what North Korea did was awful and everyone knows that but somehow it gets caught behind the line of sad war torn countries and when it comes down to it Korea isn't doing too badly. We don't know alot about NK so it's hard to say their stance but you can speak from the families. Every year, on one special day, families that have been divided by this demilitarized zone are able to come together and see eachother. These families have one day to see these loved ones and that just breaks my heart. can you imagine a border dividing you one day and wherever you were at that moment is where you'll remain....can you imagine not being able to leave your own country. Makes you appreciate the ability to travel and it makes me thank my lucky stars for being from such a free country. I don't really want to go into NK, I think by doing so I'm making what they're doing ok and funding their peoples mistreatment but atleast I can say that I saw it, even if it was from afar through a set of binoculars.

Next stop....Gyeong-ju. Now Gyeong-ju is where the old Shilla dynasty reigned and is a UNESCO world heritage town. In all my Korean travel books they mentioned that going there is a MUST for my time in Korea so when my friend Yang-Keun asked Ashley and I to join her I figured why not! It is a 5 hour drive from Seoul and when we arrive very late at night there is one image that is everywhere....CHERRY BLOSSOMS!!! In Seoul, they are scarce with the weather being so bad but in Gyeong-ju they are in full bloom and amazing! The trees line the streets everywhere you go like palm trees in Palm Beach. Seeing this is reason enough to take this trip but there is still so much to come still. Our first day we meet another friend of Yang-Keun's and set off on our adventures. We take our time but have many stops to make. First is a temple where I first discover the prayer stones. There is this area with stones that have been used to make statues that resemble Inukshuks. Visitors of the temple pray and build these statues without using the stones that others have used. They are everywhere and amazing so we joined in and made our contribution while sending a few good wishes. Next, we go up the mountain to see the golden Buddha and have the pleasure of catching the beginning preparations for Buddha's birthday coming up on May 21. We then travel back down and head to the tombs and if you didn't know any better you would just think that they're giant hills...or atleast I would. There are too many to count and they are everywhere. The size is based on importance but yet we still don't know how is inside of them. We have a few more stops and one is to this tiny stream that royalty would sit around and write poetry. As they wrote they would drink tea which they would pass down and around the stream. For some reason the cups would never turn over, this mystery is unsolved but what a life eh! Finally, we headed to the most important place of the day....where the King's would have their parties. Through time and war many of the buildings are essentially non-existent and being rebuilt but reading the stories is enough to imagine it all.
On our second day there we find ourselves driving towards the sea to the one and only sea tomb. It is a collection of rocks not too far from the beach where the remains of a previous King were laid to rest. It's pretty cool, and a little weird, but who am I to judge when I too would like to be cremated. We also make our way to a few more temples, you can't be in Korea without seeing a few temples, and round off our trip with a nice 5 hour drive home sans traffic. When you don't driving anymore and rely on public transportation you forget how annoying traffic really is! Seeing Gyeong-ju was an amazing piece of Korean culture and what made it even better was hearing about it from a Korean who actually knows the history.

When Ashley returns from a 4 day trip to Beijing we kick it into high gear. We have 3 final days to take on the town and we do a pretty good job at it I must say. Weeks ago I had this idea to have a party but of course it had to be themed so it became the "dress like a Korean" party pretty instantly. Why you might ask? Well living in Korea your view of fashion totally changes when there are so many ideas of it around you. It wasn't just a chance to tease Koreans for the way they dress but more to see our interpretations....and were they ever out there. We had the drunk business men, the girls who look about 13 when they are 25, the ajumma, the minnie mouse, the girls who wear heels all the time and the nerds....let's just say it was amazing!! The following day we had a full on girls day of brunch, Wii bong, duty free shopping and more shopping. Who knew you could duty free shop at any time as long as you have a plane ticket to somewhere...they are everywhere! Ashley and I then headed to Hongdae to the Hello Kitty cafe. Now there is nothing more Asian than this cafe that is the most intense place I've ever seen. When I say they love Hello Kitty I really mean it....absolutely everything is Hello Kitty themed down the the designs in your cappuccino. Afterwards we made our most amazing discovery of all.....the cat cafe! This cafe is called Cats Living and is literally just a cafe where you can go and play with cats. The cats are really well kept and loved obviously since people pay to hang out with them. They have their own little toys, beds and hiding places to explore. Now for me, this place was heavenly and exactly what I needed. I miss my orange cat and this was a nice little filler until I get home. Our last day together consisted of a visit to the Steve McCurry photography exhibit which was breathtaking. His photos were stunning and pulled at every emotion I have in my body. He's famous for the "Afgan girl" photo which graced the cover of National Geographic and became one of the most influential photos ever taken. That evening was time to celebrate by drinking apple and kiwi fruit soju out of an apple cup....probably the best way to drink soju since I can't actually drink it on its own. Our last dinner was at chicken ginseng soup and was incredible. Anytime you're sick or just really hungry this totally hits the spot. It's a whole chicken stuffed with rice and ginseng in an amazing broth mmmmmm makes me hungry for it just writing the words.

The next day Ashley left me :( and was ready for my vacation to the Philippines with Angela and Alice which is a whole other blog post that I will get to VERY soon!!

The whole point of this post isn't just to tell you my day by day activities but was really to remind myself that there is still so much in this city that I haven't seen, and so much I'll never see, and I have to remember that even though I live here I'm still a tourist too. Sometimes we just need little reminders to bring our feet back on the ground and this was a little one for me, not to take this year for granted and to make sure I take it all in stride. Always a learning experience, always a lesson and they never stop eh!

That's all folks. I'm peacing out for now and will be back shortly!!

janey waney xo

what i would give...

....for a dance class right now.

It has been 7 months since I have actually danced and it is absolutely killing me. Now that I'm in a bigger apartment I do what I can around my floor and stretch as often as I can but seriously, come on, a dance class is not much to ask for right?! I honestly feel my body shake when I listen to music, something that I could choreograph to or learn a dance to but instead I'm on the bus and am limited to dancing in my head. I swear one day I will just break out in a routine in the middle of the street like they do in the movies. My dreams to open a dance studio get bigger and bigger every day that I am without dance...I think they should make a tv movie out of me and my poor unfortunate life eh!

The gym and yoga isn't enough, I need more and I miss dancing SO much. I could go for a Shawn Byfield routine and would give both my arms for it, except then the routine wouldn't look too good but you get what I mean....I'm dying here! I've had to subject to learning stuff off youtube and that's just sad. I need mirrors and springy wood floor and speakers!! When I get home I am signing up for every dance class imaginable to get myself back into shape....and although I might suck for awhile I'm determined. So anyone who is reading this and is lucky enough to be taking a dance class, please enjoy it an extra amount for me and think of me while you're performing....and I will be crying lol ok too dramatic I think.

Dreaming of dance from now until September,

janers xo

"I don't want people who want to dance, I want people who have to dance"

Koreans don't wave

So it occurred to me after being here for a little while that Koreans don't wave...they don't wave hello or goodbye, they just don't wave. In Asia, people like to bow. Let me re-phrase that, in Korea, people loooooove to bow. They don't just bow once, when they bow they go big or go home. There are usually 3 or 4 bows, maybe more depending on how many people they are saying hello or goodbye to. It's hilarious, well at first it was, now I'm just used to it. But even worse, now I bow too! So I'm bowing and waving and then bowing again, people probably think there's something wrong with me. I also think that I've converted my kids and parents into waving because I do it so incessantly that they probably just gave in and joined me....I like to think that if foreigners are taking over Korea, maybe waving should too! I'm just worried that when I go back to Canada I'll bow to people when I'm saying thank you as a natural instinct...somehow I don't think bowing would fly in Canada.

I also realized this past weekend that I stopped taking pictures. Of course I take pictures of events, my kids, nights out BUT not of the Seoul scenery or places that I go. I spend so much time in the same areas that I forget that I'm still kind of a tourist. I mean I live here, I finally after 6 months feel at home in my apartment but still, I'm not here permanently. I forget, as many people do here, that Seoul is actually pretty cool and there are so many quirky parts of the city that I really need to remind myself that those things won't always be there. I have my memories of them but I feel like Seoul is a place you can't really explain, mostly because half the things here are unbelievable....you need that evidence so that people don't think you're lying. I always carry my camera on me but stopped taking photos so on Sunday at the Andy Warhol exhibit and then walking around Idae I started again without even thinking about it. It's the little things here that I love and that I can't take for granted. It's the graffiti on walls, the poorly translated English, the names of clubs and restaurants that leave you wondering (ie. Nuts Dogs Coffee hmmm figure that one out), the fashion and just the daily happenings here that leave you wishing you had a camera. Koreans don't know how hilarious they are, how entertaining the things they do and say are. You don't see it when it's you, but for me I just can't help but smile, then get frustrated, then laugh and smile again. I love living here because it makes me feel something, even if that something isn't always good. It makes you feel alive, those moments when you remember where you are, you just can't help but appreciate it! Don't get me wrong, I have many moments of anger and annoyance, but I think I do wherever I am when things are different or don't go as planned. Sometimes I forget that I'm the minority, that I'm the weird one and when things go wrong it might actually be my fault just for not being Korean. And ya that sucks but that's the way it is so really can I complain? Well probably not but I will anyways :)

Until next time (picture me bowing and waving about 18 times, just to make sure you get the point)

janey
xoxoxo

26 medals....14 golds...just brings tears to your eyes

Today is the day that the Olympics officially come to a close (well in Vancouver, tomorrow in Korea). I feel like they have been on for weeks, not just 17 days, its been a great run and I'm actually surprisingly sad that they are ending. I have become quite the expert this year, I don't know why now and not before but this year meant more to be and many other Canadians home and away. Soon my knowledge on speed skating will no longer be put to good use...whatever will I do? I'll have to find something new to obsess about now I guess :(

The games have been AMAZING and such a whirlwind of ups and downs for not only Canada but for many other teams. There have been injuries, controversy, sudden loses, surprising wins but all in all it has been an unforgettable Winter Olympics. The last few days of the Olympics have been the most emotional and simply unbelievable. There's nothing like being proud of your country and your athletes but when you can show everyone what you're made of and prove them all wrong, that is by far such an accomplishment. For all the haters, the doubters, and the people who knew nothing about Canada, now they know and maybe get us a little bit.

Winning that final gold in hockey was the best possible outcome and victory for Canada and for some people the only one that mattered. It was a tough battle and we were definitely the underdogs but never underestimate a country to created the sport! It wasn't just the victory, it was what the victory meant to a country so wrapped up in one single sport. Canada is the only country where people will pack bars and then take to the streets afterwards and cause mayhem in downtown Toronto....Canadians are the only people who would wake up at 5am in Seoul to stream it online....and Canadians are the only ones who really care if they win or loose a hockey game, nowhere else in the world do you feel that passion for this sport, it truly is out game!

The Olympics are over just as quickly as they came and it's really sad even though I'm not in Canada now. Watching the games and feeling that spirit made me miss Canada. I miss the cultures, the skyline, the lake, the politeness and people actually saying "excuse me," I miss the city of Toronto and even my little town of Oakville but more importantly I miss the people who are irreplaceable in my mind :)

I'm on this adventure on the other side of the world and I don't think anyone including my parents believes me when I say that I'm coming home but I am and I will be in 6 months or so. It's strange to be so happy in one place but still miss another but I do and it never goes away but instead I come to appreciate both places that much more.
Time to continue to take in my Seoul experience and enjoy a day out wandering the city!

Until next time,
janeython xo

my new apartment :)

▌♥ ▌Proud to be Canadian ▌♥ ▌

This one has taken me awhile to write...only because every time I try to talk about home I get overly emotional and can't quite find to words to say what I want to say. It's been 10 days since the Winter Olympics began in Vancouver and that's why I'm writing this I guess...to reconnect with my heritage after feeling so disconnected with being away for so long.

Last Saturday myself and my co-workers got together at a Canadian owned bar in Seoul to watch the opening ceremonies. We got all decked out in all things Canadian including flags, the Olympic red mittens and jerseys. I couldn't be more excited, this is something I've been waiting for for ages and it was finally starting except I wasn't home to see it. Not like I live in Vancouver but there's nothing like being home and witnessing it all happen on your terms and your turf. It became a big celebration for us, something we had to do and see for ourselves...watching highlights just wouldn't have been the same. So we watched...we laughed and got excited and although ther performance was hours long it felt like minutes. I don't know if it was Canada, the people I was with, ther performance but something really struck me and ever since I've been super emotional about the Games and obsessed. Like obsessed as in I wake up and my homepage is the Vancouver 2010 website, I check CTV, CBC, CANOE, TSN, even NBC just to get the full perspective. I get to work and I check incessantly all day until they would be over in Vancouver and even then I check out of habit. Not having tv and that instant gratification of finding out what I want to know and seeing what I want to see is torture so this fills that void.

There is nothing about the Games that has struck me as a failure or as a disaster as so many critics have been saying to bring negativity on such an incredible moment in Canadian history. The thing with bringing hundreds of people from all over the world to one city is that shit will happen and there's nothing you can do about it. This is obvious but for some reason so many people expect perfection but when have we ever had perfection at an Olympics in the past. You can't control the weather, you can't avoid crashes and falls and you can't change things that happen unexpectedly but you can make it better for the next person or the next event so that it doesn't happen again. Not only is all the criticism coming from a country that I am partly connected to but its coming from people who aren't even there, or who's athletes aren't placing so really is that objective. If you read comments and watch footage from the people who are there then you'll see that the only problem is really the beautiful weather when its supposed to be cold to keep the snow and ice....otherwise it's all smiles and smooth sailing and when something does go wrong it gets fixed. It's called problem solving and as Canadians we're good at that and we don't freak out when it happens, we go with the flow and we take it step by step. I don't know why it bothered me so much and why I took it so personally but I did and I felt really sorry for the people who didn't get Canada and what we're all about and more so for the people who are so closed minded that they don't care but here's what I know.

It takes being away from your home, your country, to really miss it and remember all the wonderful things about it. Being Canadian isn't just how I'm known everywhere I go in the world but it's in my blood and that sense of pride and respect is ingrained in me from birth. Canada is the second largest country in the world filled with only 33 million people from every other country in the world. Canadians are peacekeepers, we're problem solvers, we're laid back and we have humility. We take the criticism but we defend ourselves with dignity because we have nothing to ever be ashamed of. We're educated and we respect not only the place we come from but anywhere we travel to. We have a whole lot of pride for our country but we're not obnoxious about it or over bearing (unless we're watching hockey). In Canada we curl, we drink a lot of beer, we spend most of our time outdoors even when its cold but we can take it, we consider hockey a religion and it's true, we do say EH! I am proud to be a Canadian and proud to know that these Olympics and these 17 days will have such a huge impact on Canada for the better.
We support our athletes and when things don't go according to plan we get ready for the next game when we can do better. We have faith in our athletes and we know that sometimes other teams are just better despite how good we are and that's really what it comes down to. You can never regret your best performance and if you work your ass off then you can't be upset....half these athletes are superhuman anyways so there's only so much we can expect from them.

I know I'm rambling, I can't help it when there's so much to say but I'll try and pull it together now. Until I came to Korea I never really thought about it but I consider myself lucky to be from Canada. I don't know any other country in the world that I would rather be even in the dead of winter with 10 feet of snow but I would be home. So eff those critics and all the criticisms cause they can get the hell out of my country, we don't need the bad vibes especially now when there's so much good happening at home...so much love and so much support. I know where I'm from and I couldn't be more proud. So for the next 7 days I'll wear my red Olympic mittens with pride, I'll obsess about the latest news and I'll be watching the closing ceremonies because that's the difference between Canadians and everyone else in the world....we can always find reasons to celebrate and to come together to show our pride for our country!

▌♥ ▌GO CANADA GO ▌♥ ▌

why i don't think i can be a teacher in Canada:

So it's not that I couldn't actually be a teacher....not to brag but I think I'm damn good at it lol just kidding, who knows what kind of teacher I am in reality. I get by I think, I love my kids, I love teaching them and I love watching them learn. So what's the problem you ask...well I'll tell you. I think the reason that I love teaching so much is because I'm teaching in Korea, and its a whole different ball game over here. At home there are so many rules, so many things to worry about that don't apply at all here. In North America you can barely touch your kids without a parent trying to sue you for child molestation but in Korea the parents want you to be affectionate with their kids, that's how they know you like them. Everything is about appearances and if you are smiling and hugging them and playing around then you are a good teacher....they almost rather that then their children actually learning. I enjoy being able to be affectionate with my kindergartners and especially my moms and tots because they're just so little and adorable...I couldn't imagine not being able to hug them and play fight and all that stuff, what do you do with them then? Maybe I'm just too much of a kid to understand the seriousness of it all.
I have another reason and it also has to do with working in Korea and teaching english. The beauty of the job is that no matter how good a student is at english, they still don't understand things like sarcasm and different sayings and jokes, its lost on them but that's what I like about it. I love that my students sometimes have no idea what I'm talking about and that I can tease them and say things and they are clueless. Even my Kindergarten class, I spend most of the class talking about them to my T.A and couldn't imagine not having that freedom to just say something out loud. I know I know I'm horrible and should spend more of my time helping them instead of laughing at them but I've realized that because I don't understand them I pay more attention to their behaviour and their body language. Since there's that communication barrier I spend alot of time trying to figure them out and watch them (not to sound creepy) but I do and without understanding eachother we still get by and I can still get a good idea of what they're all about. I couldn't imagine actually having to listen to them, especially my older kids, with all their attitude and drama and whining UGH I would go mental.
There's something about living somewhere and not understanding anyone...It's kind of nice being able to zone out and live in your own little world. You have to rely on everything else and pay more attention to all the visual cues you see and body language rather then words.
Anyways back on track...teaching in North America, is it in the cards for me hmmm who knows. I just know so many wonderful teachers who are much better at it then me and when I think about who I want teaching my kids its not me, it's them and that's ok with me. I would never use teaching as a fall back, I have too much respect for it now to think of it that way and would only do it if I really loved it because I would want that to show. I think I'll leave the teaching to the professionals and my kind of teaching, my play fighting, my hugging, my smiling and teasing self can stay in Korea where its allowed and legal :)

Until next time,

Yours truly xo

the durian fruit

Our first taste of Durian fruit:

where do I even begin?? hmm at the beginning...

I'm sitting in my favorite coffee shop sipping on a cappucino just like I do every monday...what can I say, I like writing in a coffee shop, makes me feel like an actual writer even thought I'm not :)
Anyways this week in Seoul has been a cold one with more then enough snow to last a few weeks. I love snow, makes it feel like I'm in Canada, except I don't think many Koreans share my love for snow. No one in Seoul is prepared for the amount of snow we got last monday, it was alot even in Canada so I don't blame them but was it ever a chaotic day. The snow is amazing, the cold cold weather is not and although its supposed to warm up, even I wasn't prepared for this kind of winter here. What makes it so hard is that a week and a half ago I was still on vacation and going from somewhere of such hot and humid weather compared to here, Seoul weather is the opposite of south east Asia.
Well the point of this post is to write back my Christmas vacation, so here goes (disclaimer: this might be a long one, but that's nothing new)

I'll start with Thailand since it was the first stop...
So after a long stream of flights Tien, Jeff, Mark and I finally arrived on the island of Koh Samui, Thailand late on December 20th. We checked into our guesthouse which was of course lovely and the perfect place to spend 6 days in paradise. Koh Samui has become a big resort town so although the streets don't look it, they're filled with markets and restaurants, but the beaches are incredible and filled with Europeans and boutique-like hotels. Despite the tourism, myself included as a tourist, I loved Koh Samui. I think just being in Thailand is what I loved...finally going somewhere that you've said you'd make it to for 8 years, since high school, is an accomplishment and pretty freakin awesome!! Our week was spent beaching, eating, beaching and eating some more. We ate every different kind of food, Mexican, Italian, Thai of course. We took two day trips: the first was a snorkel trip to Koh Tao which was amazing! We spent the morning snorkeling and the afternoon on Koh Tao lying on the beach until we took the hour and a half boat trip back. On Christmas Eve we went on a private jeep tour of the island with Khai and Paul. Our first stop was to watch a monkey pull coconuts out of the tree, to share coconut milk and hold the monkey on our shoulders. The second stop was to the mummified Monk who just so happened to be sporting a fashionable pair of Ray Bans. Our third stop was to the zoo where we saw an elephant show and then (drum roll please) got to ride a real life Asian Elephant!!! It was amazing and something I also wanted to do and finally, finally I was on one with my friend Khai just love life, what could honestly be better?!?!? After the elephants we went to a waterfall which we then decided to climb and swim in the water....nice and refreshing in the heat and humidity! The we took a very intense and insane trip up the mountain through the jungle on top of the Jeep. I honestly feared my life more then once but mostly I think our guide and driver were just messing with us and feeding off our screaming and terrified looks. We had an amazingly fresh Thai lunch and continued to stuff ourselves with fresh fruit smoothies and yummy dishes! At the top we stopped to take some photos of the view and then kept on our way down the mountain towards the Big Gold Buddha off Big Buddha beach. That's where our tour ended which was probably a good thing because we were exhausted and had to get ready for our Christmas Eve dinner. Dinner was at a Brazilian restaurant decked out in Christmas cheer and was amazing, and of course filling. Being away for Christmas is hard, being away from family and everything you've been used to for the past 23 years but if I had to be anywhere, I'm glad it was in Thailand with some wonderful friends :) Christmas day, our last day, was spent opening presents in the morning and then beaching it all day trying to soak up the last rays of the sun before we took off to Kuala Lumpur. It was an amazing first week and first experience in thailand but its definitely not the last experience there, I'll be back for sure!!

After a very very very long 24 hour bus trip where we changed from bus to boat to bus to van to bus we made it to Kuala Lumpur early on December 27th. After a much needed nap we dragged ourselves out of bed to explore this unknown city. I was really excited to be in KL because it is primarily Muslim but yet is such a mix of cultures and religions and was refreshing in contrast to Seoul. We walked first through Chinatown and Mark and I tried our very first durian fruit. After seeing so many of them on our Jeep tour in Thailand we figured why not BUT have heard many things about it, not all good. Durians have very strong smells which are comparable to an old person who smokes...not joking. We smelt it, yep that comparison is smack dab on, and then we tried it. There is nothing I have ever tried to compare its texture and taste to but it was not one I liked BLAH grosssss!! The first building we arrived at was a Mosque and while we were standing taking pictures we heard the afternoon Call to Prayer which is something I've never heard before and was really cool. Our next stop was Independence Square and more exploring of the downtown buildings. We then made our way to the market to do some shopping and finally it was our favorite time of the day, time to eat! Little India was where we had our first Indian meal which of course was awesome...again our stay in KL revolved around many kinds of food including Malay and Indian. Our second day in Malaysia was spent traveling to the city of Melaka which is a UNESCO world heritage city and right by the water. The city was old, traditional with lots of character and I adored it. The heat that day was unbearable and exhausting but it was worth the trip. We spent the day wandering, being passed by the most flowery decorated rickshaws I've ever seen and taking photos of the beautiful buildings all around us. Our final day in KL was an early one, like many of our days on this trip, to make it to the Petronas towers in time to go up to the top. A stop at Starbucks was necessary everywhere we went and this time it made us later then intended and due to this and the hundreds of other tourists and tour groups we did not get to go up the tower that day BUT did spend alot of time inside and around it. The towers were amazing and are the central landmark of KL and I now totally see why, the architecture was unlike any other building in the city. Next we stopped at the National Mosque and to go inside were required to cover up with hijab. We put on our mauve coloured hajibs and headed inside to learn more about the Mosque and the Muslim religion. It was a very eye opening moment: although I am a very open minded and accepting person, I realized I know nothing about this religion and so it was more of an educational experience for me! After the Mosque we traveled to the Batu Caves which is a Hindu religious site...from one to the other just like that. The caves are guarded by a massive gold Hindu God statue which is followed by 272 steps up to the caves. I'm sure the caves were once beautiful but after many tourits have made their way through they have become very dirty and are filled with really scary monkeys. The Hindu statues inside the caves are colourful and wonderful and the caves themselves and incredible. At the top of the caves is an area filled with monkeys, one of which chased me cause he thought I had food, and usually I like monkeys but these I did not...well I liked the ones who didn't chase me :) This was our last day in Malaysia and early the next day we were taking yet another bus to Singapore for our last stop on our trip. I really loved Malaysia, I loved being exposed to those cultures and the people were the nicest people I think I've ever met...peoples desire to answer our questions and help us everywhere we went was unreal and surprisingly but much needed and much appreciated.

Our stay in Singapore was a short one but a great one and this is a place I hope to return to one day for sure. Our hostel was in Chinatown surrounded by colourful buildings everywhere. We were brave and using our trusty map me made our way to the Singapore Zoo, one of the best ones in the world. With our luck and late arrival the zoo was closed, so we went on the Night Safari there instead. I was sad, I will admit it, I was looking foward to seeing the Orangutans and many other animals, I'm an animal person and I love zoos BUT was not disappointed with the night safari. We saw elephants, flamingos, tigers, leopards, lions, hippos, rhinos, many kinds of deer, antelope, tarpirs, and walked through bat caves. We walked a few trails where we got to get closer to the animals too...it was so much fun and was highlighted by a hilarious tour guide! That night we ate dinner in Little India at a Nepalese restaurant...probably one of my favorite meals of the trip. Our last day in Singapore just so happened to be New Years Eve and we decided to spend this day on a city bus tour...the best way to see the city with such little time! We went to the Raffles Hotel, to the Esplanade theatres and saw the preparations for the NYE celebrations, walked through the downtown and to the Merlion, drove through Chinatown and Little India and spent some time shopping on Orchard street. It was on Orchard street (think Bloor Street Toronto) that I found a Starbucks that just so happened to be serving my most favorite drink...the infamous peppermint mocha!! Can you believe it...I was ecstatic, is that sad that this made me that happy...probably! Whatever it was the best and I savoured every sip :) This rounded off our bus trip and it was time to go back to our hostel and get ready for the night...NEW YEARS EVE!!! Mark and I got all dressed up and headed downtown to the Clarke Quay for our NYE dinner outside by the canal. We had wine, champagne and toasted to a wonderful year before heading over to watch the fireworks...us and a thousand other people! It was packed, crazy packed, and there was nowhere to stand and no way to get as close as we wanted to or even to meet Tien and Jeff. We got as close as we could and counted down to the year 2010 with everyone in Singapore and watched an unbelievable fireworks show!! Unfortunately our 4:30am wakeup call to catch our flight was getting near and we had to find our way out of that mess to get back and atleast get a little bit of sleep. I've never spent NYE in another country but I'm so happy we were celebrating the year 2009 while bringing on 2010 in Singapore with so many people and so much life....what an experience!!

So that's it....my trip in a nutshell, or in a really really long message! The 4 of us had some amazing moments, saw some wonderful sites, met great people and created some first moments, atleast I did, and I could not be more excited to create some more. That's my problem, I love where I go but I'm always looking for somewhere new to explore....that darn travel bug! That's the problem being in Asia with everything so close right!! I don't know where my next stop will be but I am looking forward but will never forget my trip this Christmas!!

Hours later its dark out, I'm still in this coffee shop sitting on the floor (thank goodness they're heated) with no cappucino left which means its time to go but this was a good one, a long one, and a much needed one don't you think?!?!

Until next time,
jane xo