My A to Z travel

This list seem like questions you get on a job interview. I know, it is designed to get to know you better. But just like the job interview, you want to make the best of it. So here we go:

Age you went on your first international trip.

I started travelling by myself after college and my first destination was to visit my college friend in Toronto, Canada. It was the first time I fell in love with a city. I love that you could get anywhere with public transportation. Food is cheap. It had the best Chinatown where I had my first taste of bubble tea.


Best foreign beer you had and where.

Hands down on the beer hall in Munich, Germany. I ordered the large mug of light beer. There was a refreshing taste that I can't shake it in my memory. The beer wasn't bitter and best paired off with grilled chicken and scalloped potatoes. The cranky butch looking bar maid adds to the charm.

Prost!

Cuisine (favorite)

I am always partial to my comfort foods. It has to be something simple and easy like the lunch plates they serve in Hawaii. To me it is the best food to have when you picnic by the beach.

Corn beef hash with rice and eggs + homemade salsa = yummy!

Destination (favorite, least favorite) and why.

My favorite destination has always been Las Vegas, Nevada. We even decided to have our destination wedding there. And no, it wasn't a drive through wedding.

I haven't found a least favorite yet. So far all the places I have been are all memorable to me. I haven't encountered a place and vowed not to step on it again.

Event you experienced abroad that made you say "wow".

We were on a road trip with Contiki tour and our stop on that particular day was in Rome. The guide mentioned that there is a possible Papal audience at the Vatican if we are interested. There is no way we would pass this opportunity. It was easy to get a pass if you know where to get it. In our case, we asked a Papal guard (those on yellow and purple uniforms) and he told us to follow and handed over 2 tickets to the viewing.

Favorite mode of transportation.

The train. We had the opportunity to back pack our way around Europe and we only relied on our Eurail pass to get around. There is something relaxing around train travel and Europeans seem to perfect this mode of travel. Also the best thing about it is the main train station is always located in the town center. The photo below on the AVE train heading for Seville.

Greatest feeling when traveling.

It should be the anticipation to getting from point A to point B. And the feeling of going back home knowing you have found something marvelous that you want to share it to the world.

Hottest place you've travelled to.

Las Vegas in the middle of summer. Temperature reads at an average of 115 degrees F. Way too hot for me.

Incredible service you've experience and where:

I would say Seoul, South Korea. I love the way they serve you at restaurants where they cut your meat in front of you. Great thing about it is that you don't have to worry about tipping. Eating out is such a joy there and definitely worry free.

Journey that took the longest

The journey from North America to Asia is always the longest for me. I am not sure if it is the long haul plane ride or the anticipation. Or the jet lag. Maybe all of the above.

Keepsake from your travels.

I usually take a lot of photos but hubby like a more tangible souvenir like a small replica of the Chichen Itza or the Eiffel tower. They are all displayed on our living room.

Let down site and where

For me that might be Nice, France. The water is gorgeous but the beach is full of small pebbles. You could not even sit on it comfortably with just a towel. One thing that bothered me while walking through the small streets were dog poop everywhere. The French Riviera seem over hyped.

Moment where you fell in love with travel

Growing up I always knew I want to explore the world. It is just a matter of when will it happen.

Nicest hotel you've stayed in.

We are such frugal travelers which meant that we usually don't fork out a lot of money when it comes to accommodation. We make it up on having a time share unit that we can use around the country. My favorite was the penthouse unit in the middle of Waikiki that accommodated the rest of my family comfortably.

Obsession. What are you obsessed with taking pictures of while traveling?

Ever since I started a blog that I became obsessed with taking photos of everything. Food photos should be way up there on that list.

Passport Stamps. How many and where?

I recently changed passports since I have to change my name. I only have 2 stamps from trips to Seoul and Cancun.

Quirkiest attraction you've visited and where.

It should be the Liberace Museum in Las Vegas. It was an out of the way attraction from the Las Vegas strip but it was the quirkiest at best. Too bad it closed down early last year. The photo below is one of the usual costumes that Liberace wears on his performances.

Recommended site and where.

The top of my list is New York City. It has everything for everyone. You won't get bored.

Splurge. Something you have no problem forking over money for while traveling.

We always have a budget when traveling but we usually fork out money on great food.

Touristy thing you've done.

We love getting on the hop on hop off city bus tour. You could easily get a lot of coverage for such a short time. The photo below is the Seoul City Tour. Its the cheapest and the best way to see historical sites in Seoul.

Unforgettable travel memory.

The week long Contiki road trip in Europe. We all started traveling in the bus not knowing anybody but by the end of the trip we seem to be good old friends. It was nice drinking and chatting with folks from the different side of the world. I surely love hearing their accents. The photo was taken on the last night of drinks in an Irish Pub in Paris. The couple on our left was a couple from New Zealand and on the right were college students in England but originally from Hong Kong and Malaysia.

Visa. How many for where.

I try to shy away from countries that require to pay for visas. It adds up to the travel expenses.

Wine, best glass while travelling and where.

I don't know much about wines but I remember drinking a lot of great house wines in Tuscany and Paris.

eXellent view and from where.

The recent one in memory was the view from Namsan Tower in Seoul. The photo below was taken from the tower. I am was hoping that it was a clear day to get a glimpse of Manila. I guess I wasn't that lucky.

Years spent travelling.

I haven't travelled in long hauls but I try to get away at least once a year. Sometime in the future, it would be a dream if hubby and I could explore the world together. I am hoping that by that time I could still walk without a cane. You have to dream somehow.

Zealous sports fan and where.

We try to watch a baseball game when in town. My favorite was the game in Houston where folks are really serious about their baseball.


My pick on other bloggers to pass on are my favorite blogs that I follow:

• Daphne -  http://daphne.ph/
• beyond toxicity - http://docgelo.wordpress.com/
• Reg's Blog - http://rscheng.blogspot.com/

I can't wait to read on your A to Z travels!

Wordless Sunday

Our house is still a cluttered mess. The Christmas tree hasn't been put away. Boxes are everywhere.
I need an inspiration.

source: jeanniejeannie

Korea series: Insadong

We woke up listening to a local news channel and heard that the Vietnam president is in town for a state visit. He was there for a proposed joint venture project with the South Koreans. Ho hum.

We got out of the subway in Insadong and the first thing we noticed was a motorcade with a limo in front with Vietnam and South Korean flags. Walking through the shops we saw a bunch of people staring at a small shop. We saw folks in suit with an earpiece and they look so serious. They finally started to move along and we saw a group of well dressed women shopping.It is expected that Insadong has been the first place to visit on most foreign dignitaries.

Insadong is the main art and antique district in Seoul. It used to be the a wealthy district during the Joseon era till the Japanese occupation. Wealthy residents were forced to sell their belongings and hence the district became an antiques alley.

This is the most touristy area in Seoul. The street are lined with galleries and souvenir shops. On the weekends, they close the street to give way to pedestrians and some street performers.

This shop only sells paint brushes of all kinds.

I still could remember the smell wafting from those dried goods. It was said that those are the same items the monks used on cooking Buddhist temple fares.

There is a long line for these pancakes. You could see those are made fresh on site. The lady said it has crushed peanuts and sugar. It was made too sweet for my taste but I like that the dough was chewy and crunchy on the ends.

My sister went in for seconds.

An open mini-mall called Ssamziegil (pronounced sam-see-gil). It has cute boutiques where you could find unique items. It is a bit pricey for me but I cave in when I bought my personal stamper.

Inside Ssamziegil. The top floor has nice coffee shops.

Tucked into a side of Ssamziegil are an alleyway of traditional Korean restaurants. Our guidebook mentioned that this is the place to get our favorite Korean fare, the seafood pancakes.

We got our usual ban-chan. I couldn't get enough kimchi here. I like how they make it on the salty side and not too spicy. It's just about right.

The Seafood Pancake. This food is usually associated with drinking the local drink called soju. Our server was surprised we didn't order any liquor. It was so good, very nice and crunchy.

We continue walking after eating all that food.

The guidebook mentioned that Insadong is unique that is the only neighborhood that requires its stores to have  their signage with hangul characters. This is the reason that we have a hard time trying to find a restaurant since we can't read the names. Good thing the street names are in English.

Can you spell Starbucks?

So far, this has been my favorite place in Seoul. Sure its touristy but I would like to know this place more intimately and explore its small alleys. We went up to a couple of small galleries. My sister was even tempted to buy a painting but balked at a $5k price tag. Oh well. If there is a chance I could come back to Seoul, Insadong will definitely be my first stop.

I am wrapping up my Korea series with about 2 more posting on the pipeline. It is a weird feeling similar to the sadness that I felt knowing that I only have 2 more days before I head back home. Conflicting emotions indeed.

45 Lessons Life Taught Me

For some reason, reading the list again makes me feel better. This should be something that you should read on a really bad day.

source: reginabrett.com

1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.
2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.
3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone. Change the way you think.
4. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and family will. Stay in touch.
5. Pay off your credit cards every month.
6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.
8. Release your children when they become adults, it’s their life now.
9. Save for retirement starting with your first pay check.
10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.
11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.
12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.
13. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.
15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye.
16. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.
17. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
18. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.
19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.
20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.
21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.
22. Just because you believe you are right, doesn't mean you are. Keep an open mind.
23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.
24. The most important sex organ is the brain.
25. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.
26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words 'In five years, will this matter?'
27. Always choose life.
28. Forgive everyone everything.
29. What other people think of you is none of your business.
30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.
31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
32. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
33. Believe in miracles.
34. Your job is to love your children, not choose who they should love
35. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.
36. Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.
37. Your children get only one childhood.
38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.
39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.
40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back.
41. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
42. The best is yet to come
43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
44. Yield.
45. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift.
 
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I feel better now. I might read it again next week.

Korea series: Kids Fair 2011

We were supposed to walk around the Coex mall when we stumbled an ongoing Kids Fair for educational items. The inquiry took about a half hour run around since everyone we asked kept us pointing to another person. It turned out that we had to fill up a form for our information and since we were in the children's apparel business, they eventually waived our entrance fee.

I have attended my share of children's business industry trade shows in New York City so I am excited to visit one in Seoul. 

It turns out the the Kids Fair was open to the public. Lined up are all Moms with their children in tow. The event also provides free stroller rentals. 

See how huge this place was. 

The items on display are available for purchase. Most of the items I have seen were European brands, they are also the pricey ones.

This is something familiar. 

With all the fancy booths around, the Korean Mothers are only interested in one -- the book isle. Most of the books are in Hangul but I got a couple of free items that I gave to Madison. 

The Pororo booth. It is the local kids animation character. Very much Korean.

This exhibition is inside the Coex mall. It felt like we went into a local event. We must be the only tourist here since I am the only one snapping photos on every corner. 

I still have more anecdotes from my last Korea trip. I will share photos from a unique tea house in Insadong and from another exhibition, the Korean Food Expo. 

New Years Eve!

You might have seen this on a couple of sites but I just want to post this video. It is so simple and yet very touching. Two people jamming and enjoying each others company. Good company is always welcome in my book.

I might have to watch this again after I hit the publish button. 

My year in review 2011

Here we go, again! 


Last year, I made a 2011 resolutions. I want to look back if I followed what I had preached from last year. 

1.It was noted that I read about 25 books from last year. I don't even remember having a moment of reading frenzy but the average of 2 books a month sounds reasonable. I will try to top that with 3 books a month this year.


How did I do? I started reading 3 book in the first 3 months but it winter time so I spend most of my days indoors. I read even less this year, a mere total of 21 books. Let's top it off again next year.


2. Last year, I made a resolution to take on more exercising particularly outdoors. I did some hiking, swimming and running but most of them depending on weather. I cancelled my gym membership last year since I didn't really had time to go in between work and mommy duties. This year, the little one had a bike for Christmas maybe I can use that as our bonding time.


How did I do? Meh. The running thing didn't last long. I will try again next year.


3. And about eating...This is a tricky one but I made a resolution to include more fish, fruits and veggies in my diet. Anything else should take in moderation. Easier said than done but I am making an effort.


How did I do? I think I did better this year. Eating veggies are not as painful now as it was before. Putting Kimchi into my diet was the best thing I did so far.


4. Lately, I haven't been travelling as much as I wanted to. We hadn't been away for long except for the long drive to Myrtle Beach and the Boston rendezvous with my friends. I have plans to further explore the tri-state area and if time permits, another week or so in Florida and Las Vegas.


How did I do? There wasn't much local exploring happened. I went to Las Vegas (more of that soon) and Seoul, South Korea. I wish to travel more internationally but between work and Madison going to school full time, there wasn't any time to do it. Other than my yearly pilgrimage with my friends, we may end up south again in Myrtle Beach in the summer.


Here's to another great year. I wish great health and happiness for everyone. 
Thank you for reading Corner Turn.


Sincerely,
Mich

Shows I enjoyed watching in 2011

I love TV series. In fact, I have been watching them more than movies. I prefer to watch them after the season is over so I don't have to bite my nails over the next episode (like The Walking Dead). I choose them either on reviews or recommendation. Some are hits or miss. But often enough if somebody recommended them, it meant they liked it.

Justified 

A Deputy US Marshall was reassigned back to his hometown that he wants to avoid at all cost. Coming back home meant bumping into estranged family, old friends and foe.

This was one of my best finds on television. I didn't realize that a gun toting (and good looking too) law man with a southern drawl and a cowboy hat could be so way cool. More of these please.

Walking Dead

A Sheriff deputy wakes up from a coma only to find that the world is surrounded by flesh eating zombies.

I was a little skeptical in watching this show only to find that it has too many nail biter moments. Hubby and I had to watch this when Madison is sleeping. Its not for young children. You have to watch this after you digested your dinner. You have been warned.

Zen

A police procedural set in Italy about a detective named Zen and he lives with his mother. 

When I read the premise about an investigation based in Italy but the dialogue in English, this is something I have to watch. The characters are Italians but the conversion were in English. I love it that you don't have to scramble in subtitles. Each episode is a 90 minute procedural. The show is set in the current times but it has that noir of the 60's feel. I hardly seen any signs of technology until they whipped up their cell phones. It didn't help that most of the characters on the show wears a designer looking suit. If you are wondering, Zen is a Venetian name.

Hawaii Five-O

A remake of the popular procedural drama about an elite crime solving team based in Oahu.

Besides having a catchy tune, its about time that they have a kick ass lady on the force. Watching this show on a cold winter day makes me crave the sun and surf of my beloved Honolulu. I don't care what everyone says but I really think Scott Caan is the heart of the show. Book 'em Danno!

Those are my recommended shows to watch if you have time to spare. Feel free to recommend me some of the other shows that you think I would like.

Top 5 Madison one (or two) liners

Madison has grown up a lot. She often says something that always makes me laugh. Most of our funny conversations happen while I am driving.

Let me list my favorite Madison one (or two) liners:

1. I love sushi!
2. Mom, I am sleepy. I want to sleep in my bed. Drive faster.
3. Mom, I am hungry. Let's eat at Grandma's house.
4. We are the Power puff Girls. I am Buttercup, You {are} Blossom, Daddy {will be} Bubbles.
5. Mom, I am {a} Power Ranger. You {are} the Monster.

She's such a riot. 

How about your little one? I am sure they have said something that made you chuckle. 

Please share some.

Merry Christmas!!