Vacation Time- Part III

Christmas in Taiwan 12/25/2012

Well, the reason that we picked Taiwan as our destination is the fact that we wanted to escape the freezing temperatures of Korea.  On this particular day we escaped the city of Taipei and went to the white sands of Bai-Sha-Wan. 

Christmas gift to myself: Sunshine.

Here are my two beautiful friends at Foot Print Bar.

 WE MADE IT!

 Good-bye Bai Sha Wan... Thank you for the beautiful day.

 Our wonderful bartender of the day...

 Christmas dinner.  We splurged a tad...

 View from our restaurant balcony.

Vacation Time- Part II

12/24/2012 Taroko National Park - Taiwan

One of my favorite things while on vacation... Exploring nature.

Me at "Sister Waterfalls"

 The water was so clear!

 Me and my Taiwan travel buddies... GREAT company!

 Natural hot spring... happiness. 

 Natural hot spring.. Clear water... What more could you ask for?

 Secluded Buddhist temple nestled in the mountains of Taroko National Park.

 Me. 

Vacation Time- Part I

After a wonderful five months in Korea, it was time to leave and do some serious traveling for my winter vacation.  

First stop: Taipei, Taiwan. 

 Taipei Station... Felt like Christmas. 12/22/2012

 Boba tea in its native country... Amazing.  Taiwan has the BEST street food!!!

 Street food!!!

 Most people travel by motorcycle or moped. 

 "Chinese pizza".... AMAZING.  I could eat this every day.  There was always a line...

 Took a visit to the National Palace Museum... 12/23/2012

 Restaurant on the top floor of the National Palace Museum... 

 Message in the hostel I stayed at.... Love!

 Night market... My FAVORITE part of Taiwan...

 Amazing street food... Always...

 Hostel life...

 Taipei's incredible metro

I do have a life outside of the classroom... December in Korea. Pre-vacation period.

On this particular day my parents laughed at me while we were video chatting.  They thought it was hilarious that I was using chopsticks to eat boiled eggs.  

 Nearest city to me.. Mokpo.  It looked so peaceful.. I had to take a picture.

 Brownie Popsicle.  It's amazing that I haven't gained weight here...

 I've been cooking more and more in Korea.  This turned out to be pretty damn delicious.

 Exposing my Korean friends to Jenga... At a bar...

 I finally tried bugs...

 Gamjatang... So freaking delicious. Tom calls this "dinosaur bone soup".

 Here is Tom, by the way (the guy mentioned in the picture above)... I don't know why we were touching his face.

 Kimchi jigae... A favorite of mine.  So simple and so delicious. 

 I've come to really appreciate a good cheeseburger here. This was at a foreigner bar in Incheon. 

Bathroom stalls... Love reading randomness. 

Exploring Korean fashion at a local store..

My friend Katy's first snowball fight..

Everyone has this jacket in Korea. I kinda want one too!

Yummm.  That's it.. Just yumm.