Memorable Meals

What can I say, we like to eat! We definitely had some memorable, and not so memorable meals while traveling.  Overall we didn't love the food in Indonesia and New Zealand, but here's a list of our favorites in each country.

Cross Country (Part 3: We're Home!)

On October 2nd we drove across state lines into California, very bittersweety knowing that our trip was coming to an end, yet feeling content to be back.

Cross Country (Part 2)

September 22 - October 1: New Orleans, Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona!

Cross Country (Part 1)

And back across the United States we go!

New Zealand

Hi! Did you miss us?! We're back in the States now but let's have a little #TBT to New Zealand, the last country on our trip abroad. We spent about two weeks in NZ but easily could have spent a month exploring this beautiful country. By this point we were a bit anxious, tired and a little unprepared as it was nearing the end of winter (we were lugging around shorts and tank tops from humid SEA!), but we couldn't think of a better country to end our travels on.

Layover in Kuala Lumpur

On Wednesday, the 28th we had a long 38 hours of travel!

Yogyakarta

We ended our Indonesia trip temple hopping in Yogyakarta.

Kiel's Birthday

Turning thirty-four was pretty magnificent!

Bali Sea Turtle Society

On August 21 we released baby sea turtles into the ocean as part of the Bali Sea Turtle Society's sea turtle release program. 

Bali Cycling Tour

Our breakfast view of Batur Lake (8/20/17) 

Ubud Love

We landed in Ubud, Bali, Indonesia from Singapore on the 17th of August.

Marina Bay Sands

Kiel and I decided to splurge for a night and stay at Marina Bay Sands Hotel, one of the most luxurious and incredible hotels in the world.

Singapore

Hi, it's us! Where are the LeBaron's, you ask?! Well, we are currently spending our last night in Ubud (Bali), Indonesia, but let's go back to a little over a week ago when we were in Singapore!

So long, Thailand

It's our last night in Thailand and I have to admit, I am ready to head to Singapore! 

The Island Life is not for Me

I remember sitting at my desk job and telling Kiel we should move away and just live on an island and sell coconuts. Well, I take that back. <haha>

Koh Samui

Koh Samui is the second largest island in Thailand and our first Thai island stop!

The Blue Temple

On our last day in Chiang Rai we visited Wat Rong Seua Ten (The Blue Temple), another extravagant temple constructed in 2016, with the blue color representing Dharma, or Buddha's code of morals.

Into the Mystic

Nothing is your except the essential things: air, sleep, dreams, sea, the sky - all things tending towards the eternal or what we imagine of it.

Black House, White Temple

We've been exploring Northern Thailand for the past week starting in Chiang Mai and venturing to Chiang Rai!

Elephant Nature Park

I meant what I said and I said what I meant, an elephant's faithful one hundred percent!

Country #7: Thailand

We've eaten our way through Thailand and we've only been in Chiang Mai for two days!

Mingalaba!

That's Burmese for Good Morning! Good Afternoon!, and Good Evening!

This Must Be The Place

The sunrise atop a temple was certainly an unforgettable moment.

Mysterious, fascinating and charming -- that's Bagan for you.

Yangon to Bagan

Our oasis in Bagan

Hi, it's us! We had very little, to absolutely no WiFi this past week which was definitely a creature comfort we missed. Today we took a private taxi from Bagan to Mandalay. It was just under four hours on a rickety and bouncy road (I can't even imagine what the train is like!), but we made it safely despite not wearing seat belts, and as we quickly weaved around motorists, other cars and the occasional herd of cows.

Same Same but Different

We're all the same same, but different.

("Same same" is what people say when they want to sell us something, but we try and go elsewhere)

Just a normal Day...

Although it may seem like it, we aren't always on the go, go, go! Since we are doing such extensive travel, we've realized the importance of down time and openly/fully take advantage of it. 

Temple Hopping!

On Tuesday morning we were one of the many who woke up for a 4:30am tuk tuk ride to catch the 5:30am sunrise at Angkor Wat.

Siem Reap

 Greetings from Siem Reap!

Phnom Penh

On Thursday we hired a tuk tuk driver for the day to take us to lunch, The Killing Fields, and the Tuol Sleng Genocide Musuem.

Tuk Tuk My Friend?!

I'd say Cambodia is one of those countries we didn't know too much about and probably wouldn't have ever considered traveling to...until this trip. 

Saigon

Greetings from our final stop in Viet nam - Ho Chi Minh City, aka Saigon. The city of motorbikes, French colonial architecture, and (more) delicious food!

Baby Mustard Cooking Class

Today we took a private cooking class which was an absolutely wonderful experience and a highlight of our trip!

Hangin' Around

Hi, it's us! We've been bummin' around this old town for way too long... (Counting Crows lyrics...anyone?)

Hoi An

Yesterday we arrived in Hoi An, a delightful little old town.

Good Morning Vietnam!

View from our balcony at Hanoi 3B Hotel

This past Wednesday we arrived in Hanoi, Viet Nam from Hong Kong by way of bus --> subway --> airport train --> tram --> another tram and finally to the airport where we had an unannounced gate change and flight delay, followed by sitting on the airplane for about another hour before taking off on a gawking, coughing, and turbulent plane ride. The joys of traveling!

Four Nights in Hong Kong

The view from Victoria Peak

One flight, a wrong shuttle bus, followed by the wrong hotel drop-off and one cab ride later, we finally made it to our hotel in Hong Kong on Friday evening!

Tian Tan Buddha

On Sunday we went from Tung Chung on the Ngong Pong crystal bottom cable car to pay a visit to Big Buddha on Lantau Island.

Let's end on a high note and go out with a bang!

We're in a band...

The DMZ & JSA

On Wednesday was the much anticipated Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) and Joint Security Area (JSA) tour. I won't go into the full history of the Korean War, but it is something that we all have learned about and watched from a distance, and this tour definitely gave us more information and understanding about the North/South Korean conflict.

Oneday Hanbok

This past Tuesday I rented a Hanbok and we strolled through Bukchon Hanok Village. While I couldn't convince Kiel to dress up with me, he was still a good sport by being my photographer for the day!

Thirty-Three

I never imagined I would be in Seoul, South Korea, my birthplace on my 33rd Birthday. Although I cannot completely identify with the culture here, my heart is filled with joy knowing that this is the closest I've been to something that has been so unknown my entire life. And while the possibility of finding my birth parents is and has always been an option, I am okay with still keeping that a mystery.

After I was born, I stayed in the hospital for three months before moving into a private foster home. However, this is the adoption agency I was placed through by way of Parson's in Albany, NY.

Thank you to my Parents for making every birthday so special since I turned one year old, and to my Husband for giving me the opportunity to travel the world, showing me in just a few months, more than I ever have in the past thirty-three years on this planet.

Balwoo Gongyang

Last night we dined at Michelin star restaurant, Balwoo Gongyang for traditional Korean temple food.

Pixar Exhibition at the DDP

"Art challenges technology, and technology inspires art"

Yesterday we went to the Dongdaemun Design Plaza to see the special exhibition, Pixar: 30 Years of Animation. The DDP complex is clearly a neat looking venue, and we (especially Kiel) really enjoyed the Pixar exhibition.

A Palace & a cup o' noodles

Today was a bit impromptu - we started out at a bookstore and ended the night with dinner from 7-Eleven!

The Trick Eye Museum and Seoul Tower

On Friday we were super tourists- interacting and posing at the Trickeye Museum, before scouting out more of the best chicken and views of the city...

So much Seoul

Yesterday we set out on our own mini tour in Seoul. Our first stop was Seoul's City Hall, followed by Deoksugung Palace, The Seoul Museum of Art, and lastly The War Memorial of Korea. The palace's admission cost us each under $1 USD, and surprisingly both the SeMA and The War Memorial Museum were free to enter. The War Memorial is a definite must see when visiting Seoul; it's a wonderful educational experience and commemoration of the heroes of the Korean War. We easily spent over two hours there, but could have stayed longer. I'll try and let the pictures do most of the talking.

We're in Seoul!

Streets in Seoul near our hotel.

Goodbye Busan!

Yesterday afternoon we arrived at our hotel in Seoul. Apparently we looked lost once we stepped out of the subway station and onto the street because an Asian man asked us (in broken English) if we needed help. Already Seoul was a pleasant change from Busan.

Maybe the highs of Japan were still lingering once we arrived in Busan, making us quick to judge. Maybe we spent time in the wrong neighborhoods and that's why we felt a bit bitter. Or perhaps Busan is just different, socially and culturally from Seoul. Don't get me wrong, we enjoyed our time in Busan, but so far Seoul has proven to be a bit more enjoyable.

Day at Taejongdae

This picture took us about 10 tries until we finally got one with no people behind us.

We spent our last day in Busan at Taejongdae Park. It was a bit out of place and took over an hour to get to by subway and bus, but the sea views, rocky cliffs, and lush forests were a welcomed respite from the busy streets.

Busan Tower

View at sunset.

Yesterday set out to visit the top of Busan Tower, only to find it closed for renovations. However, we came across some nice unexpected gems in the city.