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.