Taipei, Taiwan

Millennium Hot Springs, XinBetiou

February 17.  I decided on Taiwan for my two-week break from teaching in South Korea and after a 12 hour layover in China and one airport change, I’ll be in Taiwan.  There’s a certain anxiety I get when traveling abroad; anxieties of not knowing the language, unable to call anyone (in case of emergency) for help and other general anxieties like getting lost or getting sick.

Still, I made sure plan for certain things and well…to take things easy.  After all, I’m on vacation.
:-)

A Beginner's Guide to World Travel

Wat Pho Temple, Bangkok, Thailand

I took my very first solo travel trip ever, late in 2012 and even then, at 31, the very idea of solo travel was completely new to me.  And backpacking, that was something teenagers --born with silver spoons-- did with graduation money.  Until very recently, I had no idea that it was in fact absolutely possible to travel the world, venturing across the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, to see and do as much as I could, all the while paying off huge chunks of debt I had accumulated as an undergraduate at Rutgers University.

Life in Korea: Seoul's Grand Park Station

The Grand Park Station on line 4 (exit 2), offers several things to do and see; enough for an entire day if you want.  I walked around aimlessly for quite sometime before I could really take in all that there is to do at Seoul's Grand Park Station.  I noticed there were at least twenty tourist busses parked in the huge parking lot, but as I got closer to the entrance, I noted that there weren't very many people out to the zoo on a Thursday.  This was good!

I noted the several different things to do at Grand Park Station; there's Seoul Land a huge amusement park filled with enough rides for to fill up an entire day, a charmingly small botanical garden, a rose garden which is pretty popular in early spring.  Today, I wasn't permitted to enter.  There's also the Seoul Museum of Modern Art and The Seoul Zoo.

Life in Korea: 3 Things to do at 63 Building (Square) in Seoul

I first learned of 63City (Korea's tallest building) from a student during my one year teaching at a  hagwon (private academy) in Pohang.  It's been on my list of touristy things to do in Seoul since then.  During my most recent visit to Seoul, I decided I would head there first to check out what all the hooplah was about.  Since I had been to the second tallest building in the world, Taipei 101, I thought 'Eh, it probably pales in comparison.'  And with summer showers looming, I questioned whether it would be worth it.  Still, I had my heart set on 63City so, with all the mojo I could muster, I took Line 5 to Yeouinaru Station (exit 4) and walked about ten minutes to the tall gold colored building you just can't miss.

Jeju Island Editions: 4 Best Beaches on Jeju Island

Hamdoek Beach

When I made the decision to come relocate to Jeju Island as my initial contract teaching in Pohang was coming to a close, I thought, beautiful beaches and remarkable scenery.  I hadn't heard anything negative about the island.  Sure, foreigners here are quite cliquish and it is rather small, but that can be a good thing...maybe.

Unfortunately, six months of teaching here amidst an egregious co-teacher, I was ready to call it quits, back up my bags and perhaps start graduate school at Florida International University.  Luckily, during my vacation in Taipei I found out that my school assignment had changed and I was congratulated on being placed elsewhere.  Happy about my good fortune, I counted my blessings!

Since then, I've adjusted nicely to my new school and finally settling in to life on Jeju Island and back to my initial thoughts on Jeju:  beautiful beaches and wonderful sceneries.