Korea: Not So Bad

On most people's lists of places to visit are some Asian countries with the top two being Japan and China. Japan boasts of being a fashion forward and tech-savy country while China is a roaring lion of industry with historical sites like the Great Wall. Or maybe other Asian beach hotspots top the list like Bali or Thailand. Very few list the country of South Korea. To be honest, few people could probably even point it out on a map.

Despite its low profile, it is actually quite a nice place to check out. It's low profile is actually a benefit as it means there are no high tourist seasons to avoid and prices are stable all year round. If one has a chance to add a short layover on your itinerary across Asia, one should.

Reason 1: Diversity. Don't laugh. Yes, the people of Korea are quite homogeneous as they are of the same race, nationality, and speak the same language. Inside its metropolitan areas are lots of expats from other countries that add some flavor to the cities. There are areas that cater to the Chinese, Russian, Filipinos, and a melting pot of an area known as Itaewon.

Reason 2: Historical Sites. There are several UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the country and warrant a visit. Temples, palaces, and grottos to just name a few.

Reason 3: Food. While Korean food is a unique journey for the foreign tongue, it should be traversed. Koreans use things like ginseng and a fermented cabbage called kimchi which gives its food a strong and unique flavor.

Reason 4: Foreigner Friendly. Seoul in particular has done a great job of having a plethora of information available for foreigners in English, Chinese, and Japanese. This includes subway maps, websites, and even some buses. Besides language, public transportation is easy to navigate and cheap to use.

Reason 5: It's Safe. For solo female travelers this is important. Very little violent crime occurs in the country. School children are often out alone until 11pm, and one is never alone in this highly populated country that never sleeps.

These are just a few reasons to add Korea onto your next jaunt across the globe. If you know of more, feel free to make a comment.

Where's the Hottie?

"Where are all the hotties?"
A friend and I were in conversation on IM when he typed this phrase to me. What were we talking about? Flying. Somehow even though we are both frequent flyers, we always have bad luck when it comes to seating companions.

There are 3 things that can make a flight bearable. The first is free wine, lots of it. Second is an AVOD player with an extensive entertainment options. Third is a good seat companion. My friend and I are both single and would enjoy an attractive travel buddy for the trip every once in a while. It helps break up the monopoly of elderly old women and pimply teen boys that we usually get placed next to.

He stated he has never been seated next to a good-looking girl, and I replied that I had only had a cutie to share a flight with once. We both pondered this mystery. When walking through any mall in the world, I am usually surrounding by attractive people of both genders. Yet, when walking onto a plane, the dynamics suddenly change. What happened? Do beautiful people not fly? Do only ugly people have a need to travel?

Hmmm....the eternal unanswerable question remains. One that even rivals the age-old mystery of where missing socks go once they are put into the dryer. The unanswerable question: "Where are all the hotties?"

Food for Thought

My taste buds love the exotic spices and flavors that are used in many foreign foods. Luckily, America is such a great melting pot of people from around the globe. So that all one has to do to feel like one has traveled the globe is to spend a weekend in diverse cities like NYC, Chicago, or San Fransisco and sample the delights that city has to offer. Some of my favorite foreign foods are listed below with a short description.

Palak Paneer-Indian- creamy spinach that is best enjoyed with fresh jasmine rich and warm buttery na'an

Edanamme-Japanese-Steamed soy beans usually coated lightly in sea salt

Kimchijigae-Korean-A spicy red pepper-cabbage soup with beef and tofu.

Boa Zi-Chinese-This large steamed bun can be ordered with many different fillings, but my personal favorite is barbecue beef

Vietnamese Iced Coffee-each cup of java is individually brewed. This strong and sludgy brew is tempered with a spoonful of sweetened condensed milk. Caution: do not drink before bedtime.

Gallo Pinto-Costa Rican-This dish is a breakfast stand-by in this country. It consists of rice, black beans, eggs, veggies, and a special sauce known as Salsa Lizano.

Apfelstrudel-European-This delectable pastry delight can be found in any European bakery and should always be accompanied by a strong cup of coffee or tea.

Boba Tea (Bubble Tea)-Taiwanese-This drink has spread in popularity to most of Asia, and it is no wonder why. This milk tea can be found in almost any flavor imaginable and is an adventure to drink as the bottom of the cup is filled with dime-sized tapioca balls.

Murphy's Law in Taipei

Ever have one of those days where everything goes wrong? I had one of those days last year, where nothing went according to plan...

It starts with arriving at the airport for my flight from Incheon, Korea to Taipei, Taiwan. As I neared my gate, a tall familiar African-American head stood out among the short Asian heads in the waiting area.

It was a friend of mine from church. He and a friend were also on my flight to Taipei. This was great luck because they both spoke decent Chinese while I have a whole 2 words in my Mandarin vocabulary. So, after going through customs and gathering my handy-dandy backpacking rucksack, I join up with them and relied on their language skills to get me from the airport, on the correct bus, through the metro, and on to our desired stop.

Again, luck was on my side (all is lucky now, but just wait) and we both were staying in hostels not far from MTR stop Guting. At the subway exit, I part from my friends and wander off towards the direction I believed my hostel to be in. I follow my directions from the hostel website and soon become very lost.

So, I am standing in 90 degree humid heat, with a heavy rucksack, looking confused, and oh, so white on the street at 10pm. Luckily, a cute and nice Taiwanese boy on a bike sees my visible distress and stops to help me, but isn't successful. Surprisingly, a western couple happened to be walking down the street. They take pity on me and ask if they could be of help since they live in the area. Thank goodness, the lady knew which hostel I needed and walked me to it.

The hostel had messaged me saying their staff would be gone at the hour I was to arrive, but would leave a key for me on the downstairs gate. So,I found my name on a note and a key to open the rusty old metal gate. I trudged up the stairs and tried to open the door, but it didn't budge. I re-read the note that came with my key and it said I had to punch in a code.

Simple, I thought. Here is where my luck disappears. I try again and again to put the code in, but it doesn't work. I figure, at 10:30pm at night, someone should be at the hostel and could open the door for me. Wrong assumption. No one was there despite my loud rapping on the door.

So, now its dark, late, and I have no where to stay in a foreign city. No need to panic, I tell myself, I just need to call the hostel's phone number. So, I wonder down the street a few blocks and jump the first foreigner I see. It happens to be an 18 year old student from Mexico City with limited English. I ambush her with my sad tale and ask to borrow her phone. She allows me to use it, but no one answers the call. She and I walk back to my hostel, which coincidentally, is right across from her apartment.

So, I drop off my bag at this new acquaintance's room, run to the nearby market, and grab some dinner. Once my hunger is sated, I go back to the hostel to attempt the door again. Now it is after 11pm and SOMEONE has to be back, right? No. The Mexican girl and I try the code a few more times, but with no varied results.

Again, what am I to do? Still don't have a place to sleep in this foreign city. The girl offers that I could sleep on her floor, but I wasn't sure if I wanted to take advantage of her kindness. So, I thought hard and came to a solution. I used her laptop and looked up the name of the hostel the boys from my flight were staying at. I called the hostel, and was able to booked a room. Armed with directions and my rucksack, I went out in search of it at midnight. Thankfully, this hostel was easier to find that my original one. I easily checked in and had a nice and safe place to rest my head for the next 6 nights.

Well, that was the rough beginning of my trip. Mix in three days of being in the center of a typhoon and an earthquake to make one memorable vacation.

***Tip- The name of the hostel is Eight Elephants. If you ever go to Taipei, I highly suggest staying here. The American who lives in the wall (literally) adds some comic relief, and place has an almost home-stay feel to it.

One Year Older

In 60 minutes I will be 26 years old. I will have officially left the first quarter of my life and be passing onto a new phase. Will no longer be considered early 20s, but now enter the late 20s. Just typing that made a chill run through my bones.

I think back through the changes that have occurred in the last 10 years of my life: graduation from high school, college, and grad school. I had my first kiss, visited my first country, and bought my first car. Memories of moving into my first apartment, starting my first real job, and experiencing my first real moment of disappointment.

I sit here thinking about the next ten years and what they will bring. I ponder thoughts of a new career, buying a house, meeting a mate, and becoming a mother. I wonder how much of the next ten years will be filled with joy or what tragedies may befall me. Multiple possibilities entertain me as I consider the future and bids my curiosity to rise and hope.

I hope that this next year brings as much joy, excitement, and new experiences into my life as last year did. For everyone who has played a part in my life, even as just a character passing through, thank you.

Starbucks, My Love

One of my favorite parts of traveling to other countries and experience other cultures is for the variety it represents. The different languages, customs, and landscapes are bright colors that add brilliant hues to my life.

But as much as I love things that are unique, exotic, or different, there is another side of me as well. There is a part that loves something that is steadfast and known. There is one thing in this modern world that never changes. That no matter where in the world I am, I can walk in the doors and it is like I am transported back to home. What is that? Starbucks. I have been a Starbucks customer in Hong Kong, Taiwan, Bali, and South Korea. No matter the location, the scent, look, feel, and taste is the same. When traveling to and fro so much, it is nice to have something be consistent.

It is comforting to know that I can walk into any Starbucks worldwide, order a low-fat Cafe Latte and know that the taste will be as yummy as if I was stateside. That there will be cinnamon and nutmeg to sprinkle on the top of my foamy mug, sugary pastries to beckon me from their glass encasement, and soothing music help me relax. When living abroad, it is the little things that truly bring comfort and peace of mind.

Online Dating

As a single girl growing older, I noticed over the past few years that my Friday nights had turned quite tame. I spent many evenings with my married friends and board games. While I enjoy a nice round of Yahtzee, I also realized that I need a date every now and then. As I came to this realization, I looked around me and saw that most of my friends were all paired up. I then thought about my circle of friends and noticed that I had very few single ones. Even less ones with dating potential.

So, I did what any modern girl does, I signed up on an dating website. So far I have only been on two dates. One date was good and the other one was, well, not so good. But both were great learning experiences. I have learned two things since joining this site.

First is to accept who you are and your flaws. If you are chubby, don't put pictures of yourself from 10 years ago. Accept and embrace where you are physically or emotionally at this stage in life. Or, if you are a tech-nerd, don't write a profile that makes you out to be Don Juan. The purpose of the site is to provide a platform for all people to show who they are and find a match who finds those traits attractive.

Second, be aware of how you present yourself, articulate ideas, and relate to others around you. All these things can be fine tuned and improved upon if a person struggles in one or more areas. Using an online date is a great way to do this. The situation allows for a casual environment to practice these skills.

So, my advice to single ladies who are tired of watching chick flicks on the sofa on a Saturday night: be proactive and log on for love, or at least a date.