8 days

Today is my eighth day in Koh Tao. Adam, Morgan, and Alexis have been doing lots of diving so I have had lots of free time. Luckily we ended up meeting some quality people that I've been hanging out with while everyone is diving. We met them at a place called the Car Bar, a great little VW bus turned bar, which has a great chill atmosphere and good music. The guys we met are dive instructors here and have been living here for a few months. One of their friends is on a holiday so we are able to stay in his bungalow for quite cheap now that we have to leave the dive resort. The bungalow is nothing special, but it will do for a place to sleep.

I think we will spend a few more days exploring the island now that diving is done and then head off to Koh Phang Yan, another small island south of Koh Tao, to hit up the Full Moon Party. I've heard some crazy stories about it so I'm interested in checking it out.

I'm finding it difficult to upload pictures since the internet is so slow here, but soon, very soon! (I hope)

koh tao

is a beautiul island! I've been here for about 5 days and am enjoying relaxing on the beach! Adam and Morgan have been busy getting their scuba certifications. Alexis is joining the boys to get her advanced diving certificate, so I will have the next few days to relax by myself. The whole island is relatively chill, not too many tourists, which I have been enjoying. Sorry I can't write too much more, just wanted to give a quick update. I'm alive and well, I hope you all are too. I will write more when I can find a cheaper internet cafe!

b-b-b-Bangkok!

I made it to Bangkok! My trip has finally begun! I'm excited to travel at my own pace and really get a chance to explore and see things! Bangkok is a busy city and I still don't feel like I'm on holiday yet. It hasn't sunk in that I no longer have a job nor a permanent place to live. I am thinking after about 10 or 15 days it might hit me.

I had a great sendoff in Seoul! Lots of people came out for the going away party and I had some friends over the night before I left. I really have enjoyed my time in Seoul, but I am happy to be exploring. But, I'm gonna miss you guys!! =o)

Alexis made it to Bangkok about a half a day after Adam, Morgan and I did. Our travel party is complete. We are staying in a cheap but chill hostel on Khao san Road. The amotsphere is very touristy/backpacker/party! I'm not sure I like it too much, but I think it is an ok place to transition into a new culture. After a day here, though, I'm ready to get into a more traditional setting!

Today we went to Wat Po to see the "reclining Buddha." The architecture was beautiful! Bangkok is a mix of modern and traditional, which has been interesting. We will travel to a few other areas in Bangkok to explore tomorrow. By Saturday we all hope to be heading south to hit the beach!

Hope all is well! I will post pics as soon as I can.

I am...

officially a vagabond. As of Friday I no longer have a job or a place to live. It hasn't sunk in yet, but when it does it will feel quite good!

Friday was a hectice day! It was my official last day of being a teacher. I said goodbye to all my students and co-workers. I also moved out of my apartment and walked to the post office three times carrying heavy boxes to send home. I'm staying with a friend until I leave Seoul.

It's funny how time can go by so quickly.

taking a break

Aaah! Packing sucks! I came to Korea with two suitcases and somehow it seems that everything I brought here has multiplied, even though I am getting rid of two big bags full of things I don't want anymore. Since I'm not going home right away my suitcases are being used by a friend so everything I want to go home is going in a box. I am in the middle of packing up all my stuff, cleaning the apartment, finishing up the last week of school, saying hellos to the new teachers and goodbyes to my friends. Now I have the task of figuring out exactly what I'm going to fit into a backpack for the next few months of traveling! Hard to think that a week from today I will be relaxing on a beach in Thailand...

reflections

Today is my one year anniversary of arriving in Korea! It is strange to think that one year ago this country that has now become so familiar to me, was once so unfamiliar! This past year has been good to me, for the most part. In honor of my being here for a year, I'm going to take a moment to reflect on the happenings of the past year.

Highlights:
Soraksan
Mud Festival
Ulsan
California Fitness
DMZ
Hawaii
Philippines
Flow Festival
Surprise care packages
Becoming a fan of Northern Exposure, The Office, and Weeds
Lantern Festival
Nine Inch Nails
The weird car guy
Seeing my kids read on their own!
Making amazing friends
Planning for my next big adventure
Mastering chopsticks!
Not blowing my nose every time I eat spicy food

Lows: (I don't have too many of these, which is good)
hurting my back/countless visits to the doctor
the many colds I have gotten here

In the past year I can honestly look back and say that my lifestyle has changed. Partly because it had to change from living in a new country, but also because I've made changes on my own.

In the past year I have lived without:
a tv (i've been watching certain shows on my computer only)
a car
a dryer
a dishwasher
an oven
a microwave
a living room
fast food (by choice)

I have discovered:
the importance of stretching
yoga
tea
fresh food
I can read Korean
I can get by with my low Korean speaking skills

I have also started checking things off of my "life's to-do list"
I have always wanted to live in a different country.
I dreaded my hair! I've wanted dreads for about 8 years and about 2 weeks ago I decided to just do it!

So yeah, I guess you can say it's been an eventful year. I am happy with the person I am becoming and the things I've been learning.

"It takes a lot of courage to release the familiar and seemingly secure, to embrace the new. But there is no real security in what is no longer meaningful. There is more security in the adventurous and exciting, for in movement there is life, and in change there is power." -Alan Cohen

casting stones