Korea Town

All good things must end, and this trip is no different. I'm writing this post from the United States, struggling to stay awake against the insistent fierce doziness of jet lag. Our long flight from Korea (during which I consumed a marathon 3.75 movies, 7 t.v. shows and one lamentable hour mired in that wretched "Bookworm" game--- i now hate spellung ferever) ended in a surprise overnight stay in Detroit; just one more in a three and a half month blur of strange beds.

But it is great to be back. After only being home for a couple of hours, we immediately tackled the important task of eating pizza and fried chicken. How else would we know we had really arrived?



But back to the chronicling. Our last week of adventuring was extra special because we were suddenly not alone. We met up with Young's parents in Seoul, Korea and had a blast seeing sights, meeting family, and of course, eating lots of amazing Korean food.


YWL and his umoni contemplating the old ways at a restored royal palace.



Very cool public art in the heart of the city.



Lovely ladies in hanboks on parade for Buddha's Birthday.

We munched on toasted Ginkgo and Chestnuts during the parade.



Tough choice: Fish-o or Squidy?




Dak Boki- Steamy, chewy rice cakes and veggies in a tangy sauce. We ate it.



They love all derivations of the hot dog in Korea.


Above, various dried fishy items.

Okay, I know, a lot of food pictures. But eating was a really big part of what we enjoyed in the world's biggest, bestest K-town, and additionally, good eating with family is very Korean. Check out the below picture for the mad spread we were served at a cousin's house. I suspect there might have been more food lurking, but the table might have collapsed.


Here's me at the traditional Korean mansion that I like to pretend I own.

They should let me house sit.

(Posting delayed overnight by storm/blackout...)

I suppose that now that we are back home safely, I should try to come up with something profound to encapsulate what this grand tour has meant to us, but right now all my jet laggy brain can muster is some cliches about unforgettableness and the thrill of getting to really live life each day and it just aint cutting it. I can say I feel truly lucky to have had the chance to go on this adventure, and I'm sure that I will remember it as one of the best years of my life. Right now, I'm very anxious to see and talk to all the people I've been missing and dive back into life before the Backpack entered the picture. "Real life" is also it's own adventure, and I'm ready to return.

Bangkok Buddhist Temple

Our last day in Bangkok we visited Wat Po, a Buddhist Temple complex which also boasts a Thai massage school. The Temple complex was gorgeous, and the Thai massage we got tip-toed a fine line between enjoyable and agonizing (some connective tissues do not react well to prodding with elbows).

Anyhoo, here are some pics!


Many a Golden Buddha.




I discover a kindred spirit.


I dont know who these fellas are, but I like their style.






One very large reclining golden Buddha.

Thailand

Above: Railay beach, Krabi. Towering cave laced peaks surround the cove.

Thailand will always be one of my favorite places to visit. Unlike the other countries so far on this adventure, we've been to Thailand before. Twice. In previous visits we hit the mainland and east coast islands. This time, we began in Phuket, and traveled to the Ko Phi Phi ( aka Disco Island) and on to beautiful, daunting Railay Beach in Krabi, eventually circling back through Phuket. We're now in Bangkok, waiting for our evening flight to Seoul, via a quick stop in Vietnam.

Below, Railay beach, sunset.


Railay beach had some scenic viewpoints that required some, ahem, light climbing.



Railay Beach


Ko Phi Phi.


Ko Phi Phi again. Even the port is pretty.


Beach from "The Beach". No Leo.


Krabi scenic overlook. Well eorth the muddy climb.


Thai Boxing, Phi Phi.









Phi Phi at Night.


Cocktails are sold by the bucketfull on Phi Phi.


We named ours Tom Bucket.



We did some Sea Kayaking on Phi Phi. Named our Kayak the S.S. Tom Bucket.


More Kayak.



Tranquil Khao Sahn Road, Bangkok

Island Paradise(s)

Time has been flying by in a hot, sticky blur the past couple of weeks. If time were pulling this rickshaw instead of me, we'd all be home by now.

Anyhoo...

After KL, we headed south to Melaka, a port town with a distinctly Nonya, or Chinese/Malay feeling.



Melaka post sunset; everything glows blue.



The streets of Melaka are narrow lanes lined with traditional two story mansions, most containing an open courtyard in the middle. Probably the most Chinese influenced place I've visited.


Above, the "tri-shaws" you can pay someone to pedal your lazy ass around in for an hour or two. Added bonus: they blast cheesy party music.


After Melaka, we caught a bus to cut across the peninsula over to the East coast. The buses here, btw, are NICE. By that, I mean they are air conditioned, and the persistent fear of death we've come to expect from bus travel in Lanka and India is all but a hazy memory.


We landed late afternoon in the port town of Mersing. Since we only had about 12 hours to kill before the ferry took us to our intended destination, the island paradise Pulau Tioman, we opted for a dirt cheap hostel. I assume that many tales of misadventure in travel begin this way. Ours was no different. Things got broken, a mysterious Fraulein delivered a grim warning, ravenous insects made an appearance and our heroes were unfortunately very hung over for a rough ferry, to predictable result. This is why, as my adored aunty would say, you always opt for the luxury hotel. If only.

But, the island turned out to be stunning. High forested mountains surrounding crystal clear waters loaded with coral and tropical fishies. Oh, and pretty sunsets.


Surprisingly spacious, for an island.


Trees, pulling off the mysterious feat of growing out of salt water.


Tioman beauty shot.


Waiting for the early ferry back to the mainland.


After Tioman, we hit a beach town called Cherating. It was nice enough stop on our way to uber paradise Pulua Perhentian on the North East coast of Malaysia.


Above, one of the few beauty shots of the smaller island that I've got. This island has the best visibility for snorkeling that I have ever seen and reefs that can be reached by just swimming off the shore, no fins required. Because of a mild but malingering head cold, we weren't able to bust out our PADI cards, which I regret since I am sure the diving there has got to be beyond awesome.



above- YWL uncovers a ruin of earlier civilizations.

Our few days of island hopping passed in a turquoise blur of amazing aquatic adventure. We hit the mainland at Kotu Baru, and again, it was time to eat.

The Chinese Market in Kotu Baru was a very happy place for us in uber Muslim Kotu Baru. They sold cold beer, when even 7-11 wouldn't.


Of course we also tried out the famous Malay night market.

This nasi kerabu doesnt look so hot, I realize. Perhaps because the rice (nasi) is actually blue, and because roast fish never looks so pretty. But despite looking nasi, it tasted pretty. Ba dum bump.

If you can guess what's under the peanutty/shrimp pasty sauce in this dish called rojack, you are better than us.

If you guessed fruits and veggies, you are RIGHT!

More Hating on Durians.


And this is where we will be again tonight. The Pengang Night Food market, whose own SIGN dubs itself "Food Paradise." Are they exaggerating? No, they are not. At times like this, it is a pity to have but one stomach to feed.


It's hard to believe we have only two more nights in Malaysia, Food Paradise before we move on to Thailand, Food Utopia.