wordless wednesday: wanderlust

Hello my lovely friends!

It’s week two of Wordless Wednesday, and this week, we’re looking at places we want to go/places we’ve been to. Anyone can participate, and the main focus is to share aspects of our lives that may not be completely related to books. Each week, I will post a topic for a Wordless Wednesday that you may answer in whatever fashion you may like. All you need to do is link back to kimmiegg in your post so that I can also read your content! (Feel free to use the banner as well.)

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The topic for this week is: Wanderlust – Whats on your travel bucket lists? Or tell of your last travel adventure.

To view a list of topics for the rest of the month, click here

Traveling has always been something I’ve always wanted to do more of. I greatly dislike the huge tours people go on, in which they visit many places in a short period of time. Instead, I enjoy staying in one place and being totally immersed in a new culture so that I can really learn as much as possible about a certain place and get a feel for the atmosphere for wherever I’m staying.

Feel free to go anywhere you’d like with this prompt, and I can’t wait to visit your blogs and see what creative things you come up with 🙂

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Greece

Romantic Sunset in Santorini

I know I should be more specific, but I honestly just want to explore this whole country. We all know of Greece due to their economic crises, but I’ve been in love with this country due to their history, geography and LOOK AT HOW BEAUTIFUL THIS IS! From the architecture to all the various islands, I’d be fine with spending the rest of my life exploring this country. I’d love to study the language if I ever get the chance to have an extended stay in this amazing country. Also, I loveeee Greek food. We have a small restaurant in the town I live in, but I can imagine that it doesn’t do justice to the authentic thing.

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Cancun

Luftbildaufnahmen von Cancun.

For some of you, this picture may be jarring with the juxtaposition of natural beauty and the modernity of humans. Although I’d much rather stay in a more humble abode that isn’t dominated by ulterior motives, I thought this picture was sure thought worthy. My dad has been to many business trips in this area, and my friends have often visited. They always come back with great stories! I love beaches, and I’ve heard that as soon as you go in, you pay a flat fee and then are able to eat whatever you’d like. Thus, the food quality is always great. The only downside, is that locals are unable to share this goodness..

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Sydney, Australia

Sydney, Australia

I know many of the book bloggers that I have met are from Australia, and thus I began some research about the area. I love it. This city is surrounded by the world’s largest natural harbor and I want to go to both the opera and the bridge there. The architecture is just stunning, and if this picture is not screaming at you to come visit, I don’t know what will ever convince you to travel.

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Puerto Rico

El Yunque National Forest

Lastly, a place to appreciate mother nature and the beauty of natural, untouched land, I present to you El Yunque National Forest. I love national parks, and love visiting, but each time I leave, I feel as if I was unable to fully grasp and appreciate the beauty of it all. Exploring and adventuring is always fun, but I believe more time needs to be spent discovering all the amazing secrets to that place.

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Did you enjoy this post? Please consider taking part next week, as I’d love to learn about your art interests. Feel free to use the topics in any way/order you’d like, and I can’t wait to learn more about your non-bookish sides

korea 2016

Hello my lovely friends!

So as you know, I spent the month of July in Korea, visiting family and friends, and taking a well needed vacation. I had an incredible time eating amazing Korean food, catching up with my extended family, and sightseeing. Although I tried to include every place I went to, and all the things I did, this post was wayyyyy to long, so enjoy this very shortened version of my trip 🙂

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We arrived at the Incheon Airport, late at night and stumbled our way to my grandma’s building in Seoul. *Pro Tip* If you ever decide to head over to Korea, make sure to take Korean Airlines, as their service is phenomenal, and if you take the day trip, they’ll make sure to give you great selections on food every hour.

This is the view from my grandma’s rooftop. This was taken early in the morning, when the air was still cool, and the city was already awake.

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After getting caught up with my grandparents, and some sleep, our family drove about two hours to Gangnam to visit my Dad’s parents. Gangnam is quite rural, and there are actual houses and these houses have backyards. (I only found this exciting because Korea is tiny and living space limited.)

Here is the front of my grandparents house, although it’s cut off, to the left, there’s a second story and the inside is decorated in a very quaint and lovely manner.

This is a tiny pond my grandparents had in their backyard filled with fish and frogs!

Mini history lesson: Koreans use to store their Kimchi and other goods in these clay barrels called 장독대. Everywhere I went, there were some of these huge pots that people still use!

I love how green, lush and fresh every morning here was.

Also in my grandparent’s back yard, a lovely stream in which we lost a towel in.

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After about a week, we headed to Daejon where the Kaist University is located. That is where my dad attended, and we met his friend to have dinner in a very fancy restaurant.

This was the view when we first arrived. There was a lovely stream running just below, and the decor of the room was very elegant.

This was one course of the seven course meal we had. Each dish was presented beautifully/ (Although this is half eaten, you sorta get the idea, right?)

And while we’re on the topic of food, it’s important to realize that in Korea, there are numerous side dishes that come free of charge with your meal. And that normally, there are several courses that you will be presented with.

This is about 1/3 of the actual table…

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Next, we headed to Geongbokgyung to explore the historical sights of Korea. There were many burial sites, Buddhist temples and museums we visited. One of the phenomenal sights were each grave, as they were all well sized hills. After a person was buried, rocks would then be stacked, then dirt, then grass would be planted.

Here is a wooden statue of one of the God’s protecting the Buddhist temple.

 

Prayer lanterns on one of the yards. There were thousands of these in every space possible.

This intricate detailing was done by hand, and found on every rooftop on the temples. And I can’t even color in the lines.

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Next, we headed to Sol Beach to relax and spend time together exploring the beach and playing at various water parks. I had the privilege of staying at two different resorts. Both were very spacious, and comfortable (each coming with three rooms, a kitchen, dinig area and living room) while enjoying arcade rooms and karaoke rooms each night. Oh, and did I mention that the view was incredible?

A picture I took standing just outside our room.

We had amazing, fresh seafood for about every meal. My grandma also would head to the beach and pick up various shellfish to put in our breakfast.

Here are a lineup of boats at the dock. We saw a man almost fall off a boat, and two men fighting over some goods. It was quite an eventful day.

 

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My family then stayed at a pension with a couple of my dad’s friends and their families. This was one of the best times I had because all of my cousins are significantly younger than me. I was able to learn and understand the Korean culture better through girls that were the same age as me.

A Japanese style pension.

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The last week was spent in Seoul, where my family visited with other relatives, and I was able to sightsee. We also visited Insadong, which is a tourist heavy site. There you can rent hanboks and walk around with your friends.

We also visited my mom’s college Ehwa’s Womens University, and I got to experience the amazing architecture and atmosphere that college offered.

Some bubble tea we snagged at a cute cafe.

I really got a great tan going to multiple water parks, including Carribean Bay! Shopping was so enjoyable, and I spent considerable time in stationary shops, subway stores, and the mall (which is very overpriced). Remember, that what you see above ground is not all, there is a whole new world underground as well.

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So there’s my 2016 summer adventure in which I visited seven places, ate incredible five course meals everyday, saw the most breathtaking views, and spent time with people I hadn’t seen in seven years. All in three weeks time. And I couldn’t even include all I did in one post! What are your travel plans this summer? Where have you gone, and what did you learn? Let me know in the comments below 🙂

Wordless Wednesday: 7.6.16 Korean Street Food

Hello my lovely friends! First off I’d like to mention that I am in Korea right now (this is a scheduled post) and I will not be able to reply to your comments as frequently as I’d like. I’ll still be checking up on my blog often, so don’t forget to say hello!

This week, for my Wordless Wednesday – when I post about anything unrelated to books – I’ve decided to show you the wonderful array of street food in Korea. This is part of my “Know Korea” series that I decided to start because of the time I’ll be spending there, and my insatiable need for me to share everything with you guys. Honestly, there’s nothing better than the outdoor markets, and delicious smells wafting from outdoor vendors as you walk down the streets.

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떡볶이 (tteokbokki )

This delicious spicy rice cake is perfect for any season and occasion. A quick eat, or a side dish for an elaborate meal, this dish is sure to fulfill your sweet and spicy cravings. The sauce is actually a combination of gochuchang (Korean chili paste), dried chili power and sugar. There are many variations to this dish, such as adding slices of boiled eggs or ramen. It is not uncommon to see students congregated outside a vendor giggling away.

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호떡 (hoddeok)

This savory Korean sweet pancake can is normally filled with a brown sugar syrup. However, many variations can be found including ones filled with vegetables. This warm snack is sure to keep you grinning as you sight see.

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 오뎅  (odeng)

Odeng is one of the cheapest street foods you’ll find, and are simply fish cakes drowned in a delicious broth. This is a filling snack, and is usually served as a eat first, pay later basis. For those of you who dislike spicy foods, go ahead and check out this snack as it is a variation of tteobokki.

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만두 (dumplings)

There are many variations of this delicious dish, including a deep fried version. This savory snack is classic favorite, and it is common to see many locals munching away on this soft, delicious snack.

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계란빵 (gyrenppang)

The toppings for this protein packed bread are endless! From shrimp, to octopus, ham green onion and various herbs this snack is sure to leave you satisfied, and begging for more.

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붕어빵 (Boong Uh Bbang)

This bread is stuffed with a sweet red bean paste that has recently been on the news for its adaptation into five star restaurants. Not only is the shape cute and fun, but the bread is crunchy and very savory.

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I hope you enjoyed exploring various Korean street foods with me today! What are some street foods that are famous in your area? Let me know in the comments below 🙂

Wordless Wednesday: 6.15.16

Hello my lovelies!

Wordless Wednesday is when I post about anything unrelated to books.  I have recently begun a series called “Know Korea” where I post things related to Korea. Today, I want to share with you five places I want to visit during my stay in Korea this coming month. (Yes, you heard me correctly, I’ll be visiting Korea in the month of July!)

경주 보문정 (Bomun Pavilion, Gyeongju)

Gyeongju was the ancient capital of the Shilla Dynasty and is known as “a museum with no walls.” This spot is clearly aesthetic in all seasons with abundant leaves in the summer, a beautiful scarlet and mustard foliage in the fall and the pure gentle snow in the winter.

경복궁 (Gyeongbokgung)

No trip is complete without a trip down the historical lane. Gyeongbokgung Palace, also known as the Northern Palace, is the most grandest of the five palaces. Although the premises were destroyed by fire during the Japanese occupation, the rooms were restored under the reign of King Gojong. There are around 7,700 rooms.

보성 녹차밭 (Boseong Green Tea Field)

I love green tea, so the rolling hills of Boseong where 40 percent of Korea’s tea is produced is a must see. Unfortunately, I’d be missing the green tea festival held every May, but the spectacular view that is the backdrop of multiple Korean dramas is sufficient for me.

파주 심학산 꽃밭 (Poppy Garden, Simhak Mountain)

The poppy garden is a scenic backdrop that is sure to intrigue any aspiring painter or photographer. The local town hosts a Poppy Festival in June.

롯데월드 (Lotte World)

And because no trip is ever complete without a visit to a theme park, Lotte world is the world’s largest indoor theme park and is open all year long. From amusement rides to shopping malls, luxury hotels, skating rink and a lake, this place is full of amazing fun.

I’m so very excited to be going back to Korea this coming month, and looking through tourist sites and pictures has definitely been causing me even more excitement! I hope you enjoyed the few snapshots I have shown of such a beautiful country.

for more information, visit:

http://travel.cnn.com/seoul/visit/50-beautiful-places-visit-korea-873093/

http://www.tommyooi.com/seoul-attractions/

Wordless Wednesday: 6.1.16

Hello my beautiful friends, here are a couple of released movies I am excited for and am planning on watching in the very near future. Personal reviews will be added accordingly under “my thoughts”.

The Jungle Book (2016)

Rated: PG // Rating: 7.9/10 // Time: 106 min // Directed by: Jon Favreau // IMDB

The Jungle Book was originally a collection of stories by renowned English author, Rudyard Kipling. Originally comprised of fourteen short stories, many have been published as short books and their titles, “Rikki Tikki Tavi” are well known. These stories were meant to teach moral lessons, and were followed by a verse. Original drawings were done by Kipling’s father. There have been numerous adaptions to this childhood classic, the newest one being released April 15, and is still playing in select theaters.

my thoughts:

Alice Through the Looking Glass (2016)

Rated: PG // Rating: 6.4/10 // Time: 113 min // Directed by: James Bobin // IMDB

A sequel to Alice in Wonderland that was released in 2010, this movie is said to take great liberty in the plot and follows Alice as she returns to Underland only to find the Mad Hatter in a terrible state. With stunning visuals, the last movie didn’t follow the plot and was bone dry. This sequel is loosely based on “Through the Looking Glass” by Lewis Carrol, and once again it has been said that the visuals are phenomenal, but the plot dry and characters not developed.

my thoughts:

 The Book Thief (2013)

Rated: PG-13 // Rating: 7.6/10 // Time: 131 min // Directed by: Brian Percival // IMDB

my thoughts:

My Fair Lady (1964)

Rated: approved // Rating: 7.9/10 // Time: 170 min // Directed by: George Cukor // IMDB

The archetype for many classics and modern literature, this movie is about a professor attempting to take a young woman and make her presentable. “The Awakening”, a classic by Kate Chopin follows this plot and is the reason this movie piqued my interest. Along with the fact that Audrey Hepburn is starring.

my thoughts: