2010 Travel Entries~Airplane~

Hello Everyone! It's been a whirlwind of a two weeks, yet it feels like a lifetime has gone by in a blazing flash of time. I'm going to recount to you some of the highlights of my trip~possibly some of the entries from my travel journal to boot!

I started packing a moderately-sized pack, and stressing out over how many shirts and pants to bring (let me tell you I needed just the one long-sleeved shirt. I brought three, but we'll get to that when we get to Thailand) I ended up with three long-sleeved, two tshirts, 3 tanktops, a skirt, a pair of shorts, and some stretchy pants. And I used ALL of it; minue the long-sleeves!

I stayed up so late, then decided I MUST do my dishes before I leave the country, which is what I did. before I knew it, my entire house was spic & span, and it was 3...nearly4am! Oh well, take a shower, watch Gray's Anatomy, and it's time to get out and catch the bus. So that's what I did!

It was 430am when I trudged out in the least amount of clothes I could muster myself into--it had snowed and was still snowing overnight--and found myself waiting on an early morning mainstreet Guri for the 1st airport bus to pop on by. The street was silent, plenty of taxis driving by, all stopping me and offering a ride; it was that special time of day, when the people on the street were early morning work-goers/exercisers mixed with those who have been out all night partying and are lazily making their way home on foot. One of the latter saw me standing in the middle of the street. He walk by with a curious look on his face, me standing there, looking up into the snowy-black sky, singing any song I could think of that had the impression of snow in it (Personally, I prefer Baby It's Cold outside; even though it's a duet). He drifted out of view behind a pickup truck, but reappeared a few minutes later, hot coffee in hand, and offered it to me. I said thank you and took it. He walked off, and I continued singing gleefully: I was going on vacation!

How cool, to be in snow in the morning, and swelteringly hot that evening? Which is exactly--mind you, what I got. The only uncool thing about it was that I had a full set of winter clothes bulking up my backpack in the most tropical places I've ever been to for my entire trip.

I took a 5 and a half hour flight to Bangkok, and then a 2 hour flight to KL. It was nearly 11pm Malaysian time when my airport bus pulled up to the Travellers Palm Lodge. I was greeted at the front gate by 'Shark' who gave me a tour of the house and showed me where I'd sleep. It had been over 48 hours since I'd had a full night's sleep. I was BEAT! So I went to sleep almost immediately. Adventures to ensue the following day and four more.... To Be continued (to ~Kuala Lumpur~)

Malaysia: Outstanding!

Just a few photos from my current expedition. I LOVED Malaysia; I want to go back someday.
I flew into Kuala Lumpur, and stayed at the Travellers Palm Guest House in the Golden Triangle. We took day trips out of the city and saw amazing things--of which I will write when I am not paying by the minute. From there I flew to the AMAZING island of Langkawi and spent loads of time reading on the beach and other things, too :)
I wrote a million postcards; swam in the ocean. it is so nice to be HOT in the middle of my winter! It's funny, though, traveling Northward; now Thailand does not seem as hot. I say hot? psshhhha! It's nothing compared to the heat in KL!

I'm solo, but I never seem to be alone for long! I met 6 girls along the way whose names start with 'S;' (and some cool guys, too) I feel lucky with the new friends I've made. I don't know who of them I'll see again (except Stephanie, who lives in Seoul :P) but I am so blessed to have known and shared with them this experience!

Now I'm in Krabi, Thailand. I went for a run by the river; sent emails; and now I'm going to find some yummy yummy roti for breakfast. This afternoon I will head to TonSai Beach for rock climbing and meeting up with Joowon.

Standing in line @ the Cable Car. Some friends we met who are from KL.

in front of the travellers palm lodge; guesthouse KL, Malaysia

Petronas Towers

Seven Wells; Langkawi

With my dear friend, Nina

outside a restaurant

in Apgujeong

Seoul, SK

Climbing reminds me I am capable of being motivated.

it reminds me I am strong

I am capable

I am clever

tenacious,

and can solve physically demanding puzzles if I just keep at it.

don't come down, just keep trying

do it till you figure out

how it must be done

then try it again and again,

and little by little, eventually

one of those times, you'll get it

because damn! you tried and succeeded!

I LOVE to climb.

I LOVE that hiking makes me sweat and stuggle

breath hard

feel like dying

and that when it's so hard,

theres a goal ahead

a great reward, and possiblity

on the horizon

Dobongsan; Seoul

January 24, 2010

Sunday

Dobong (San) Mountain

it is cold. the wind is strong at the peak. mountains are dusted with snow and the stone steps on the path are slick with a heavy slab of ice. The sun is high and bright and the sky is blue.

I'm in a funky mood and the mountain is busy. I am ascending to the peak with my good friend, Joowon, and she is focused on her pace and solitude of the mountain. So I am often mistaken as a lone foreign hiker who must obviously need help and encouragement to get up the mountain, because no one realizes Joowon is with me, ten million times more people than usual stop to talk. I spend the second half of my ascent and all of my descent with my earphones in my ears. Jack Johnson, the Grateful Dead,Springsteen and Brittany set the tone for the scenes ahead.

TV, Zombies, Castles & Paddles

It's been a busy but fun weekend. Here's some of the highlights. I was on TV--they thought it'd be fun to feed a foreigner Bundaeggi (mealworms of some sort) except I've totally eaten those before. All my friends with me were korean-looking, so they all stepped back the moment the camera went on--

Traitors. Well, I poured the juice out onto the guys'

feet, and then piled them into my mouth, chewed them up, and showed the camers. They were all SHOCKED.

I Killed some Zombies with the help of Prince & Joowon, (I like it when the green blood goes places...); then I scared a child on the subway because I'm so funny-looking and later made friends with him (HIGH-FIVE-UH).

We hit up a very famous Authentic Japanese Ramen place near the Hongdae university district on the West side. it was REALLY good. VERY japanese, the Cook even spoke japanese. There was a line out and around the corner.

We went to a really interesting restaurant/bar called Castle Praha. It was gorgeous. It was a real Castle; they put us in the basement-dungeon, and they served us 10real hoppy-brewwed beers on a long, wooden platter. there were 8 of us--I ain't no 10-beer in one sitting kindof girl! :P

At the end of the round, we were left with a long wooden paddle, holes n' all. And what can I say? I'm all for a little good clean fun! Cari, I love you more than iPOd, Wooden Paddles, and Toy Story 2. You are my couple! (at least that's what my underwear says) Live music and dancing followed well into the evening, and the morning was followed by a nice long Jimjjilbang visit: hot tubs, showers, and saunas to wash off the grime; sleeping in a big hot room with dozens of snoring Koreans; a massage & lunch; then subway home. It is Monday today and i'm so distracted! This one'll take me a while to recover. but then again, it was so WORTH IT!

Peace out, Chingus! Have a good time, until next time!

Click to see the whole thing...

My January Report.

There is much to report.

• I am teaching winter camp right now and it is running smoothly, however it gives me little to no free time during my work day.
• Korea had record snowfall in over 70 years (70 years ago being when korea started recording stuff)
• I FINALLY got my awesome xmas to me present: an Ipod touch to replace my ipod that was accidentally washed. Cari was kind enough to bring it back with her when she went to Georgia for the holiday break. It's awesome. pretty. green. I'm still trying to figure out how to get my music on to it. Oh! and Crystal sent me the best present ever! A HUGE envelope filled with traditional medicinals (brand) teas. I got throat coat, breathe easy, gypsy cold care, and echinecia PLUS. A gift only the way Crystal could do, because she knows me so well. <3>
• I am sick AGAIN (swollen tonsils) but I attribute it to extremely cold weather, a busy social calendar, and the hazards that I gladly accept that come with working with young children.
• The public school system is on its two-month break (Dec. 16 ~ basically Mar 3 with a two-day return period for final exams), so it's the popular time of year to take vacations. Friends are coming and going and many are preparing to depart from the country permanently between the months of March~April. Transition is in the air, and as someone who has an 'alternative' contract date, it's always a little uneasy for me, watching and participating in the transition. meeting new people is tedious, and the mass exodus of friends means a lot of very similar goodbye parties.
• I will go to Thailand Feb 13~27; this time with a friend. Hopefully Casandra will join us for a week, too! We will spend some time in the islands and definitely do some rock climbing. I want to do the deep sea climbing, where you free climb a rock and jump off it when you're done. I hope they have shoes for me--I don't want to ruin mine.
• Currently I'm sitting in class watching my students look up vocabulary in the dictionary in order to later on read the book, One Snowy Day. I think--on the whole--this is one of the best classes I have ever had, and wouldn't ask more of their behaviour. I think I'm pretty lucky. too bad I loose them tomorrow and get --GRRR--5th graders. I'm hoping it to be as great as this one. but I'm not holding my breath. The older they get, the more surly they become. Did you know that when you reach grade six, you temporarily forget how to walk while simultaneously holding your head erect? well it's true. When they're finished with their morning work, we'll play LEMONADE, their favorite game. I learned it at camp from the director's little sister, Blue Rain. We'll then be on our way to ending the day, so I can get out of here and go to the SAUNA!!!!!!! Dragon hill in Yongsan is great. the sauna is HUGE, and they even have an outdoor hot tub. Can you imagine walking around AL-natural with snow on the ground? it id divine!
• Kate and I used food coloring to dye yarn and now I'm making it into gloves.
• I made a snowman last week.
• I found a place that has real good brewwed beer. it only took me 2.5 years!
• i'm an awesome teacher!
• my friends here in Korea are pretty awesome. Kate and Cari's brothers have both come to visit with them and it's really fin to see the ways they're similar and to see a whole new side of my friends.
• I got my hair cut and straight-permed. I like it. much easier to manage.
• I can read. that's a bonus.

That's all I have time to report right now. I will write again soon!

Much Love,

Sus

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Christmas in Crampons: Sus & Kate take a Hiking Holiday

With Several days off in a row, we wanted to do something wonderful and epic with this time. Four friends made plans to go to Jiri National Park and hike to the peak, along the ridge, and celebrate the winter season. First, Joowon got sick and dropped out, then, Ka found himself unable to make it. So Kate and I set out on a train to Guryego, then took a cab ride to the sleepy village of Uisan, where we'd spend our Xmas day exploring and preparing for the next day's events. Over the three days we spent here, we hiked across Jinbuk Mountain, Jiri Mountain, and finally up and down Jinam mountain. We encountered the three corners--a place where three provinces meet up--and met some new friends. We got to use crampons (shoe spikes) for the first time. Wow! the snow was most lovely! We saw goats in a mountain village getting frisky, hiked up, down, across, and up and down again--we saw so many breathtaking mountain views that it was sort of like when you see a buffalo for the first time @ Yellowstone and by the end of the trip you're like, yup, that's another buffalo, and you don't even reach for the camera anymore. But seriously, it just kept getting more & more amazing. I have SOOOOOO many pics of the mountains. in Blue, in black and white, with me posing on top of something, with me and Kate squeezing each other tight and grinning.

Spent Xmas day at a Minbak in the Teeeeeny mountain village called Uisan.

This is where three Korean Provinces Meet. It's like the four corners in the USA, but it's way harder to reach, b'c you have to hike for two days to get to it.

Nogodan Peak on Sunday, Dec. 27th

Our ultimate destination point.

The best view of the National Park that I've seen yet.

Hiking thru Bamboo Forest. SO worth the extra 5.7 kilometers.

Yes, really really.

wow.

Camping out. Smelly shelter.

I spent most of the night listening to Flight of the Conchords on my Mp3.
.....It's an experience....

What an amazing Sunrise!

Happy 2010!

We Celebrated at the W Hotel's Techno competition featuring DJs Yuksek & BT

Hosted by Miller MGD & Mini Cooper.

We danced our way into the New Year.

Best Wishes for the Upcoming Year!