Sunnin' on Samui

Hey everyone! So I realize that I have many, many blogs to catch up on, and I'll do my best to write about the places I've been traveling to within the past few months. I'm sad to think that my vacation is almost at an end, but I am absolutely ready to be settled in one place for a bit rather than traipsing around with my backpack every day. I flew back to Thailand from Indonesia on Sunday, so I'm back at my (expat) home base!

Where I am now, Koh Samui!

My way home was quite long. I was on the island of Karimunjawa with my friend Terceira, who works for the Peace Corps. First I had to take the ferry back to the mainland, then a three-hour bus ride to a different city, then a train to Jakarta, then a flight to Bangkok, then a bus to the other airport in Bangkok, then another flight to Koh Samui. We started Saturday morning and I arrived in Thailand on Sunday night, and I am glad to be back home now! The journey was well worth it, but that's a post for a different day!

So, when I came back I immediately went to Koh Samui, one of the beautiful islands located on the eastern side of Thailand. I have just been trying to relax and do some schoolwork, but I have also taken some pretty breathtaking pictures of the island. Have a look!

 

View from across the street from my hostel, 2W Beach Hostel.

This is a mini golf place!

Tomorrow, I'm off on a ferry to Koh Tao so that I can get my Open Water SCUBA license with Roctopus Dive. I'm super excited to be doing this, and if you hear of a tourist getting eaten by a shark off of Koh Tao, it's probably me (because I am super lucky). Just kidding, I've been assured that it's really safe.

Photo of the Week 10: That Time I Did an English Camp

This past week, I helped with an English camp that we did for my school, Anuban Nakhonsawan. We took about 40 kids for a three day vacation where they could only speak English. It was an amazingly fun time, the kids learned a lot, and I think that the teachers and students were able to connect in a very unique way. The picture above was my section in a relay event. Together, the students had to create a new animal. I was asking them questions about it at this point -- where it lives, what it eats, what its name is. It was definitely interesting listening to what these creative guys could come up with! I'm very happy I could participate in this learning experience.

Namsan Tower (Seoul, Korea)

Hello everyone . . . I'm in Korea! I made it safely, and I am beyond excited to be here right now. Stepping out of the airport felt like going home. I spent so much time here that everything is familiar, and I can't wait to see my friends and eat at my favorite places.

Yesterday, Libby and I did one of the few touristy things that I missed out on when I lived here -- we went to Namsan Tower in Seoul. We found a bus that would take us there (luckily, most buses in Seoul have the names of their prominent destinations on them written in English.) Unfortunately, we got off the bus a little early and had to climb a million stairs to get to the top of the mountain. It was actually a really pleasant hike, and it made me remember how much I admire the juxtaposition of nature with the busy cityscapes here. Here are a few pictures from the hike:

Libby and I, reunited at last!

We were lucky enough to get there right around sunset. The sky looked gorgeous as we made the final climb up to the tower, and I got a few amazing pictures (the one on the right is my favorite!). 

Putting locks on the tower is kind of a thing. To the left are some Christmas tree lock combinations (ah, so punny). There were also different fences and grids around so people could express their undying love for whomever they were there with. This is an incredibly popular date night spot, and there are many different ways you can express your devotion (the locks, magnets, pictures, making wishes).

Lots of lovely magnets.

Probably some really sweet messages.

Locks everywhere!!!

Below are some of the spectacular views you can expect to see at the top of Namsan. Unfortunately, "yellow dust" (pollution from China) kind of makes everything look like it's covered in a layer of fog, so the pictures don't really do the view justice. We stayed until we could see the lights come on, and we could see some spectacular views of bright Seoul.

N Tower from ground level, at night.

Hours: 10:00-23:00 Mon-Thurs/Sun, 10:00-24:00 Fri/Sat. Open 365 days a year!

Admission: 9,000 won for adults and 7,000 for children (Observatory only)

Getting There: If you want to go there, check out this website for directions. You can take shuttle buses from certain points for 950 won cash, 850 won with the transportation card.

Photo of the Week 9: That Time I Cut Off My Hair

You guys, it's hot in Thailand. Like really hot. Over 100 degrees for the last few weeks kind of hot. 

And having long hair has not been ideal -- I just throw it up in a ponytail and hate how sweaty I am.

So I cut it short.

This is what I look like now:

So far I dig it, and I am so much cooler! I forgot how much I liked a shorter style.

Short post, I just want to make sure everyone knows I'm alive.

And I leave for my big adventure on Tuesday--South Korea here I come!

Photo of the Week 8: That Time I was a Wedding Officiant

I love this picture--this is Rhonda and Jessy Hill, and it was taken a few hours after I performed their wedding ceremony!

I'm not sure how many people know this, but I'm a licensed wedding officiant. So far I have done three weddings, and they have all been incredible and beautiful for different reasons. I was recommended as an officiant for this wedding, and I'm so glad that I was! It was simple and beautiful, and it was great to get to know these two incredibly kind, and wonderfully in love, people.

Their wedding took place in a barn, but the wedding party came together and made it look gorgeous. I was honestly a little nervous standing up there, speaking in front of so many people at such an important event, but I hide my nerves well! It was fun, and I of course I had to help celebrate with them afterwards at the reception. Here are a few more pictures from their beautiful day:

The pulpit.

A bit closer to my view of the place. The sunlight coming through made the whole room glow.

The gang at the reception.