Interview with Spooky Coolhunting TV Travel host, La Carmina

Filed under Interviews by on May 19, 2013 at 10:50 pm {2 comments}
La Carmina, female travel blogger, travel tv host, lacarmina blog

All photos on this post are from www.lacarmina.com

For many of us travelers, traveling can be like crossing through a looking glass into a weird Wonderland, where we are seduced by worlds that are strangely beautiful and which we never knew existed.  We’re shocked, awed, delighted, bedazzled and mortified all at once, reawakening us with a curiosity to go deeper. It allows us freedom to experience alternative spaces and it broadens our world to involve other realities, which in turn, gives us growth and a greater knowledge of the world.  Personally, this is one of the reasons I love travel.

But sometimes, even in travel, we can get into a rut of falling into a pattern and mimicking footsteps before us, rather than carving out our own.  How do we escape that rut even in (more…)

Why is Osaka Aquarium one of the coolest fishtanks in the world?

Filed under Japan, Kyoto | Osaka by on May 15, 2013 at 2:22 am {6 comments}

You might have seen this photo on Instagram

… Okay, I haven’t actually scoured the world for amazing aquariums. But I’d heard rumors that Osaka Aquarium was a pretty rock star aquarium .

And you know… it was! (more…)

Love Letter #28: Reasons it ain’t easy being GRRRL TRAVELER’s mom.

Filed under Inspiration, Love Letter Postcards by on May 13, 2013 at 2:06 am {3 comments}
travel mothers day

Love Letter #28: To my Mother  (Photo from when my mom visited me in South Korea)

Happy Mother’s Day to Moms around the world!

I hope you took the opportunity to do something for your mom.

By the time this is posted, this will have been a day late.

Nothing new. My mom knows how it goes and loves me all the same.  She hasn’t disowned me yet, although I’m sure there have been times it’s crossed her mind to leave me on a (more…)

Finding a perfect budget deal to lay back into Osaka

Filed under Japan, Kyoto | Osaka by on May 10, 2013 at 1:16 am {4 comments}

big ferris wheel osaka, what to do in osaka, budget travel osaka

It was coming up on my second day in Kyoto and I was in a quandry. What would I do?

I was contemplating visiting Osaka Aquarium. I wanted the  most affordable sightseeing itinerary and most efficient use of my day, as I’d have to return to Kyoto in time to catch the night bus to leave.

(more…)

Attack of the Robots!!! RoboSquare Museum in Fukuoka

Filed under Fukuoka, Japan, Video Postcards by on May 7, 2013 at 11:00 am {6 comments}

ROBOSQUARE, an interesting look into Robot Technology in Japan

When you think of robots, what’s the first thing that pops into your mind?

For me, it’s movies like Blade Runner, Terminator and 2001: Space Odyssey, where robots turn frighteningly evil and eventually, take over the world. Scary, right?

Another part of me thinks of fantasy Lego-set bots like Transformers or cute, quirky mechanized toys like Wall-E or R2-D2 from Star Wars.

(more…)

fukuoka yatais, yatai stalls in fukuoka japan
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What to do and see in Fukuoka in 24 hours on a shoestring budget

I wrote about my awesome manga adventure in Fukuoka, but finding an adventure in the day was a different story. Beaches and parks aren’t my thing and Fukuoka holds a quiet lifestyle. Areas like Gion and Tenjin hold small streets and alleys that you can walk and explore. Meanwhile, Fukuoka at night emanates a beautiful neon glow. Here’s some highlights you might enjoy.

April 30, 2013 3
spam jam waikiki, spam recipes hawaii, local hawaii foods, SPAM events, spam jam attendance, hawaii loves spam
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SPAM Festivals and Hawaii’s Love Affair with SPAM (video)

There’s no doubt, Hawaii has a love affair with Spam. Growing up, our kitchen was always stocked with cans of it, as were my friends and their families.

Fish and chips, hush puppies, maccoroni and cheese?… Those never flew in Hawaii. Instead, we have Spam.

April 28, 2013 6
filming in hong kong macau
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What is your Travel Magnet? ( *mine are Film Sets Around the World*)

Do you have a penchant for attracting certain situations or people when you travel? Travel can bring unusual patterns,  synchronicity and personal discoveries. The fact we’re often far from home, just makes them more prominent. For instance, I’m a film set magnet. In the U.S., I have a knack for stumbling upon film sets… frequently [...]

April 24, 2013 0
media cafe popeye manga cafe fukuoka
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A night at the coolest budget stay in Japan… the Manga cafe

When I had an overnight layover at Fukuoka airport and discovered they didn’t allow sleeping in their terminals, I felt a stab at my pocketbook. Manga Cafes otherwise called Manga Kissa are 24 hour internet cafes, furnished with wall-to-wall manga comic books and videos. Local Japanese who miss their bus home or need an overnight rest place, can rent a cubicle out for the night.

April 18, 2013 17
dark dwellings, photographs of rural America, night travel photographs, farmhouses at night
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Are your secret solo travel fears really that scary?

As a solo traveler, I admire solo travelers, who commit to bravery when going alone.

I still have my moments of fearing traveling alone and getting lost or stranded in some place foreign. And yet, …

April 12, 2013 8
korean rental phone, sk rentals korea
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How to rent a phone in Korea

Traveling to Korea and want to keep in touch with friends or have a backup phone?  Rent a phone. Firstly, Korea is a CDMA based network and most foreign phones won’t work here. If you’re able to use your phone, but are

April 10, 2013 11
litter clean kitty litter
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Camping on the Beach in Hawaii (& incidentally, a World’s Worst Toilet)

Growing up on a small island in the Pacific Ocean, I’ve only known family camping trips at the beach.

April 5, 2013 3
harajuku, idol shops, j-rock stores, where to buy j-rock posters in japan, must-see tokyo
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What are Tokyo ‘Idol’ stores and Harajuku Fashion all about?

I was in Tokyo’s Harajuku area. It was Sunday afternoon and I had just missed seeing the pageant of cosplayers (aka costume play) near the park bridge, so my next chance was on the popular side street of Takeshita.

April 2, 2013 0
getting ulzzang beauty, kawaii makeover photos, teen fun japan, tokyo photo booths, photo makeovers asia, beauty makeovers asia, anime doll makeover, asian beauty makeover photo booths
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Under-the-knife?… Visiting the Ulzzang Makeover Booths of Harajuku

Ever wondered what you’d look like with anime baby doll eyes or if you had airbrushed and flawless cover girl skin?

When I was living in Korea, I’d pass by joints crammed with photo booths, filled with young girls in their teens to twenties. I used to wonder… what was the attraction to those booths.

March 27, 2013 9
hangul keyboard, writing korean and japanese on a Mac or PC
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How to get Asian characters on your Mac, iPhone or internet.

When you’re living in Korea, you’re always trying to get the gist of the culture. Thus, there are times you’ll want to write in the country language for your Facebook status,  to impress your Asian friends or maybe, you just want take your language studies to another level. Unfortunately, I don’t have a Korean or [...]

March 22, 2013 0
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Panchan: 101 little reasons to love Korean food

I was in a restaurant in Korea Town with a girlfriend and before our meal could even arrive, the waiter brought out a handful of side dishes. What was this generosity? My friend explained to me that they it was common to Korean culture, that a meal came with side dishes (or 반찬 banchan) and they were free. Wait. Rewind.

March 19, 2013 4
grand lisboa casino macau, macau top attractions, sightseeing in macau
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What to Do and See in Macau in 10 hours

As early as 1850, Macau has been favored as “Monte Carlo of the Orient”. As the only destination in China to legalize gambling, Macau gains it’s revenue through gambling dollars made mostly off of visitors from China and Hong Kong.

March 14, 2013 3
Clever Travel Companion Tank tops, theft-proof clothes, travel safety clothes
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Is the Clever Travel Companion clever about travel theft?

As a female solo traveler, I’m constantly thinking of ways to protect my valuables and to not show that I have them.

This is because I have to be my own Superman and “tourist carrying a DSLR camera” usually equates big money for depressed economies and desperate folk.

.

How do I protect my valuables when I travel?

I don’t wear money belts….

March 11, 2013 2
tai-o village
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Selling husbands and pink dolphins… Lantau Island’s oldest fishing village

There’s a rural beauty to Asia that I’m continually drawn to.

Whether it’s tribal villages that you can visit through treks in the mountain, one-room boat houses on river, floating river markets or night markets with curious food snacks and crafts, … visiting other lifestyles can feel like stepping into a medieval fairytale.

March 6, 2013 4
top attractions in hong kong, what to do in hong kong, nong ping cable car, cable car ride in hong kong, best cable car ride
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Hong Kong’s most romantic ride, solo vomitting and a really big Buddha

Hong Kong is made up of islands and one of the must-see islands is Lantau Island, the home of the Giant Buddha and Tai-O Fishing Village.

As it happened, the one week I was in Hong Kong, was the one week they had bad weather… a lot of rain, clouds and low visibility.

When life and travel seasons aren’t optimum, there’s no sense crying over what you can’t change. Instead, it’s time to put on the soggy galoshes, go with the flow and make the most of it. So I didn’t let a little bad weather spoil my sightseeing.

March 2, 2013 4
hong kong city
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7 Things You’ll Really Want to Do in Hong Kong

How much sightseeing can you squeeze into six days in Hong Kong?

Probably more than you think and Hong Kong has enough sights to keep you busy.

February 22, 2013 14
hong kong city images
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7 Jaw-dropping Reasons to visit Hong Kong now

When I booked my flight to Hong Kong, I knew little of what to expect.

I only knew three things … it was a modern city, it would likely have Chinese cuisine and most importantly to me for winging a trip, it didn’t require a visa for entrance.

I never suspected it would be one of those few countries that would floor me.

What was so jaw-dropping about it?

February 19, 2013 17
leg warmers
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5 Secret Items to Trim your Travel Wardrobe

Traveling to multiple countries? Changing climates? Looking for ways to put your luggage on a diet? Versatile and convertible fashion accessories can go a long way, when you’re on the road and the constant go.

February 14, 2013 11
Is Solo Travel Safe for Women? …6 Safety Tips that make it so
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Is Solo Travel Safe for Women? …6 Safety Tips that make it so

There’s been headlines in the news about women encountering danger abroad. In Delhi last December, a nation was awakened when a local physiognamy intern accidentally boarded a private bus with a friend and was raped by six men. Even more recently, the body of 33-year old Sarai Sierra was found in Turkey after she had gone missing for two weeks.

It’s made the public and media becry – Is it safe for women to travel alone?

February 8, 2013 17
Abducted by a Monk in Thailand (Read more...)
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Abducted by a Monk in Thailand

I have a fascination with Buddhist monks.

India and Southeast Asia are rife with them.

Maybe it’s the shaved heads, robes, spiritual aspiration and ascetic lifestyle. Whether they’re wearing a Tibetan crimson or Theravada orange and brown, whenever I see a monk, my eyes zero in with intent focus as if they’re human puzzle pieces, walking on a waft of incense.

February 4, 2013 18
Fukuoka tourist information
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How I survived my last minute trip! (Part 4)

Since I’ve completed almost of month of travel, with having had only two days to prepare before hitting the road, it’s time to assess my shining highs and my rock-bottom lows.

What did I learn from this crash course in winging a last-minute trip?

Quite simply, I learned how to survive it.

So now I’m going to give you some “insider tips”, so that you that can survive it better than me.

January 31, 2013 7
grrrltraveler survives ktx cold
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How to survive a last-minute trip!… Things I SUCKED at (Part 3)

In my last post about survival trips, I told you the things I did well. But obviously, everything wasn’t smooth-sailing. If you’re pulling a last minute trip with multiple desitinations, you’re bound to have flaws… big ones.  So while I aced most of my trip, there are a couple of things that I failed big [...]

January 24, 2013 2
female urinary device, fud
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If you’re a woman, would you pee standing up?

Are you a newbie to using squat toilets? Traveling a country, where there’s non-western toilets? Going hiking in the woods, where the toilet is the great wide open? Well, here’s a helpful aide for my squeamish squatters…

January 17, 2013 26
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How to survive a last-minute trip!… Things I did well (Part 2 )

Well, I did it!

I went on my last-minute travel break and I survived it.

It was heaven.

… And stress.

January 12, 2013 2
korea heart, korea i heart you
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Top 5 fun gifts you want to bring back from Korea

On my recent trip to Korea (and incidentally, my mother’s return from her Korean drama tour), the subject of souvenir gifts weighed as a topic on my mind… Why? Because I’ve gotta bring back souvenirs for family and friends! But oi… what to get? If you’re visiting Korea and shopping for holiday stocking stuffers or [...]

December 28, 2012 13
world is a book
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Why I won’t hang up my travel shoes.

A few months at most… I’ll go back home just long enough to find another job to get me back to Korea.” That’s what I told myself. Returning to the U.S. was the furthest thing from my plan.

My Hindu astrologer in Dharamsala quoted a year. I had difficulty believing him. A year later,… the stars were right.

December 22, 2012 23
The look I probably gave her response.
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Mailing things home from Korea, the cheap and easy way

So when the Korean computer repair shop couldn’t revive my Mac Airbook this past month, I didn’t know what to do with it. But now that it was deemed waste, I didn’t feel like packing dead weight onward to other countries. Maybe it was time to do what I do, whenever my traveling gets weighed down with too many souvenirs? Time to mail it home.

December 20, 2012 12
shooter
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Returning from a Gap Year: 9 Tips to Starting Over

Here are 7 tips to Starting Over:

• Find a job… any job.

It doesn’t matter what your major or career was before you left.

December 3, 2012 9
jumping the gap year
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Returning from a Gap Year & the Morbid idea of Starting Over

Returning to the U.S. after two years abroad was the bravest move I could make.

It also occasionally has felt like the stupidest.

There’s only one fear which plagues the backseat of every gap year | long-term traveler| expat’s insecurity…

November 25, 2012 17
Back in Hawaii
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Coming home after a gap year? Well, get ready for a shock…

How did it feel being back in the U.S.? I’m going to be honest. It kinda blew.

October 22, 2012 80
The Taj Mahal's Lovely Backside
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A side of the Taj you’ve never seen: The Taj Mahal’s Lovely Backside

Travel cliches.

We love to hate them and yet, we continually do them.

After I wrote Can hype kill famous landmarks… like Angkor Wat?, more famous sites erupted to memory, like a serial killer’s growing body count.

Angkor Wat wasn’t the first site to bite the dust. Nope, there’d been others before it.

September 28, 2012 22
bus_delhi
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Adventures on an Indian bus: Is it easy being a solo female traveler in India?

It’s no secret I’m a big fan of public transportation, when I travel. Buses particularly. Until now, the notion of traveling in India by public bus used to intimidate me. Every time I’d see a bus parked at a stop, it looked like a rudimentary tin cans on wheels, packed tight and spilling over with people.

September 18, 2012 21
taj yoga
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Will you Like Studying Yoga in India? You might wanna read this first… (Part 1)

Almost a year ago, I’d traveled to India. It was my second visit, but my first time exploring it through yoga.

At the time, I wrote some light posts from a travel perspective, giving readers a brief peek into what it was like staying at a yoga ashram and getting my yoga teacher’s certification at a school there.

August 27, 2012 34
IMG_64651
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10 Reasons You’ll Absolutely LOVE Cambodia

Why would you like Cambodia? Well, aside from being one of the best budget destinations in Southeast Asia, here’s some things you might want to know about.

August 13, 2012 25
IMG_6227
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Can hype kill famous landmarks… like Angkor Wat?

When I stepped foot onto Angkor Wat Archeological Park and stared at the crumbles of time, I thought one thing~

This is it?

August 3, 2012 40
IMG_0334
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Banking in Korea: Is online banking easy for Foreigners (and Mac Enthusiasts)?

If there’s one feeling a foreigner dreads, is that their money might get accidentally locked in Korea, while they’re thousands of miles away; and this is not a distant possibility. Your last salary pay and security pension is usually deposited into your account a month or so, ‘after’ you leave the country!

July 30, 2012 22
toilet
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World’s Worst Toilet #9: Which would you prefer- Western or Asian?

If you’re a Westerner, sometimes the last thing you want to have to use is an Asian squat toilet.

…Unless the squat toilet is actually cleaner.

July 4, 2012 19
christine kaaloa
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Are you a street-smart traveler or just travel-jaded?

Street wise. Been-there and done-that. Old hat.

After traveling in Asia over the course of a year, there were two things I felt I had become proficient at: haggling and avoiding scams.

April 30, 2012 28
cambodia weird foods
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Cambodia: Which of these Fear Factor foods would you eat?

By the time I got to Cambodia, after having visiting much of Southeast Asia, I found there really wasn’t many Fear Factor Foods I haven’t seen.

‘Same Same’… but not too different.

In fact, the prize Fear Factor foods of Khmer folk seemed to share its neighbors’ palettes.

Here’s a few interesting foods as well as, a couple of players I haven’t yet seen…

April 12, 2012 28
IMG_0371
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Photo Essay: A Teddy Bear Museum on Jeju Island?

At the Teddy Bear Museum on Jeju Island, the teddy bears do more than just sit in glass cases in wait of love. These teddies make art history, play out war enactments, they impersonate famous stars, such as Elvis and Marilyn, they depict Korean history and even act out scenes from popular movies, like Titanic.

March 19, 2012 27
siloam spa seoul
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Is Siloam Sauna the best jjimjilbang in Seoul?

So, I’ve promised some of you the inside tip on the best jjimjilbang in Seoul… After the disappointment of Seoul’s much hyped Dragon Hill Spa, I was reluctant to return for another night of overnight non-thrill on a hard wood floor. Fortunately, a friend offered me an alternative suggestion…

March 12, 2012 30
profile
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Travel Bucket List 2012: Booking a role on Hawaii Five-O (Part II)

At Hawaii Five-0 studios in downtown Honolulu, I play my lines to the casting director in an bare room. It’s one scene and I’m an assistant to boss, who’s a murder suspect (Spoiler alert! …and murderer). I’m being questioned. The casting director has me perform it several times, adding different direction.

February 17, 2012 55
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Solo Fear and Diving: How to Cope with Age and Birthdays on a Lonely Road.

The water was flooding panic into my goggles and stinging my eyes. I blew out sharply to clear out my mask. We were pulling ourselves down by the anchor rope, descending to the ocean floor. I was at the head of the group and the second in line. Going back up was not an option…

January 13, 2012 15
Fez Markets
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10 Reasons You’d be Stupid not to Visit Fez

There’s a secret to Morocco and I’m convinced it speaks through its spices! From scented oils, city-wide prayer calls and intricate Arabic/Berber craft work designs to maze-like streets bustling with the traffic of crowded souks and taxi-ing donkeys,..

December 31, 2011 14
girl on Skytrain
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10 Amazing ways to Get Around in Bangkok

In Bangkok, all roads may not lead to Rome, but you’ll have many ways to get there.

One of my favorite things about Bangkok is its transportation. Skytrain, city bus, taxi, motorbike taxi, ferry boat,… each presents a unique way for getting around the city, while also presenting angles of Bangkok life.

December 23, 2011 5
recommended microfiber travel towels
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Should you pack a travel towel?

o you’re on the road and your luggage is loaded with spanking new travel gear. Now is the time to see if what you bought really works! Will you revise your load if it doesn’t work the way you imagined? One of the items I least care to pack is a towel.

November 18, 2011 17
luang prabang main street
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5 ways to have a blast in Luang Prabang

At the heart of Northern Laos sits Luang Prabang. As a UNESCO World Heritage site, the small city blends old European colonial architecture with a Lao urban structure and has a little bit of everything. So with all there is to see, what should you actually do?

October 31, 2011 13
Laos boats
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A Solo Guide to Transportation in Laos

When I took the overnight train into Laos, that was the start of my adventure with Laos transportation. Getting around in Laos isn’t hard but it can occasionally be interesting. Check your expectations at the door and go along with the fun.

October 21, 2011 12
ipod touch 4
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Is the Apple iPod Touch a traveler’s best companion?

Before I moved to Korea, I couldn’t imagine how much the today-me would want to congratulate myself for getting an Apple iPod Touch. Flash forward to a year abroad and nine countries later and I believe, it’s the only hand-held choice for a traveler.

October 6, 2011 10
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Kimbap restaurants: the healthy fast food joints in Korea

Living in Korea, it often feels like you’ll never see a fat Korean (…okay, they are exceptions; but it’s rare)! Obesity is not a chronic problem in Korea as it is in the west. One big theory is how healthy Koreans are when it comes to what they eat. Koreans do however, occasionally like their meals served simple, cheap and pali! pali (fast)!

September 12, 2011 23
India_flag
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5 Travel Must-Haves for India

If anyone thinks tromping through India will be like traveling any other country, think again. Here are some things I found useful on my trip. Here are 5 Travel Must-Haves for India:

July 23, 2011 7
chiaki-portrt
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How to travel solo in India: Interview with Chiaki Nakashima

What does the idea of “a solo woman traveling in India” surface for you?

When I met Chiaki, we were both, waiting for the local bus to our yoga ashram. A Japanese waif of gentle yogic smiles, she challenged my notions about what it is to be a solo female traveler in India. Chiaki didn’t boast the extensive list of a world traveler nor was she avoiding the challenges of navigating the local terrain in the way a native would; yet, she was tackling India solo doing it in calm stride.

How the hell was she doing it?

June 26, 2011 10
SAM_5249
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Eat, Pray, Love… 10 Things to know before Staying at an Indian Ashram

At 6 AM. the morning fog was lifting off the lake. Devotional music poured joyously over the loudspeaker of a neighboring temple and echoed eerily, as fly-by birds bore life to the serene setting. Sitting in silence I felt the sun spreading it’s rays across my body with an exquisite orange and gold. I inhaled….OM.

June 2, 2011 23
www.fulltimeparenting
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Is buying bottled water in India an exercise in blind faith?

In India, purchasing bottled water doesn’t always ensure safety.

When I entered a guesthouse cafe in Hampi it was filled with fellow travelers. Food-wise, I felt a little safe. I walked past an employee sitting off to the side, with a line of empty water bottles and what did I see?… He was filling the bottles with tap water and recapping them!

April 14, 2011 11
apgujeong fashion
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7 Cool Things to Do in Seoul

For a weekend traveler living in Korea, Seoul makes my blood race. Sometimes there’s an ongoing list of things of events taking place or sometimes, I just have to create my own ways of having fun.

March 9, 2011 17
my korean students
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Do you really want to teach English in Korea? (Part I: Q & A)

Well deciding to teach English abroad can feel like ordering a mail order bride. You’ve got a description and a list of hopeful expectations; yet you can’t see what you’ve got until the day arrives. How will you know what you asked for will be what you wanted? Honestly, sometimes even when you’ve crossed over to seeing your prize, things can still seem a bit veiled; but at least you’ve tackled the biggest hurdle… making it happen!

Recently friends and readers have asked me about my experiences in the ESL classroom and how they can teach English abroad too. I’ve decided to make it a three part series. This is general Q&A I’ve gotten.

December 20, 2010 13
jeju island map
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Top 8 Things to Do on Jeju Island

Jeju Island is touted as the Korean Hawaii (and the honeymooning capital of Korea) and being a Hawaii native, I’d say it’s in the running realm of consideration. A tropical climate, beaches, inactive volcanoes and a little bit of a laid back way (compared to mainland Korea), Jeju presents the island way…Korean style.

September 30, 2010 11
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How I Survived Solo Boredom in Hanoi

Last day in Hanoi. While I’m ready to leave Vietnam and the insufferable monsoon heat, I’m not ready to return to Korea. Noooo…

Today I need to move hotels. I emailed various hotels to check on availability, last night. Vietnam being the way it is, none of them returned an answer, so this [More...] morning I went hotel shopping on foot. I stopped by Veronica’s hostel to see if she arrived safely; lo and behold,…

September 14, 2010 8
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Solo Vietnam: Theft and Halong Bay in a Day

Day #9: After my Sapa trek, I decided to book another tour with Sinh Tourist– a day trip to Halong Bay. Price tag? $19. Vietnam may not have the friendliest service-oriented people, but they sure have the most affable budget tours!
Ass time. The one major drag about Vietnam is the constant

September 13, 2010 8
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Find Great Budget Tours in Vietnam (and not get ripped off!)

For the female solo traveler, Vietnam shouldn’t be an intimidating or scary country to travel. Commuting between main cities is easy and cheap via public transportation. And if it’s an attraction, you can bet there’s a budget tour for it, as tour operators are everywhere, vying for your business and ready to assist your travel needs.

August 21, 2010 16
SAM_36391
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Dashing Diva: Foot-friendly nail salons in Seoul

As a traveler trekking all around on foot, there are times you get to feeling like a bit of a rag doll Cinderella. If you’re like me and possess backpacker-explorer mentality, you’re on your tootsies from sunrise to midnight. Your feet probably wears some serious Grrr and looks like it to!

May 30, 2010 13
country labels
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Confronting Korea with my Waygook card

So last week, I did something very un-Korean…I told my co-teacher, in a very truthful and direct manner about my reasons for resenting her. It was inevitable. I was pointed at the tip and I knew I had nothing to lose. Nothing at all- Money, love, friendship, job, a city, a country..? When you have nothing to lose, you have nothing to fear. Nada. Nietz. Zip. A perfect time to gamble for “change” with the odds in your favor.

April 28, 2010 17
ppar33
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Experiencing Culture Shock in Korea

So you live in a new country, you’ve got a new job, you’re working out the variables of navigating new food, new work relationships, cultural and communication barriers… so why are you depressed? Welcome to culture shock. Nothing you do can prepare you for what you think you will or won’t experience when you move abroad.

April 26, 2010 5
3ceramics
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10 shocking facts about Korean schools

10 Things you didn’t know about Korean Public Schools – some of them will surprise you!

March 21, 2010 19
whtHs_65354x6r
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Solo Travel for Women: How to Hurdle your Fears of Traveling Alone

There are two fears to my becoming a first time female solo traveler. Unless I find a way to deal with these saboteurs, my solo travel plans are still-born and I will not clear my hurdle.

October 28, 2009 6
1-india-signs27
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Crash Course Lessons of a First-time Solo Traveler in India

Pros to Solo Travel: As terrifying and dangerous as it is to be “a first time solo female traveler” traveling India, there are also a great lessons I’m experiencing.

October 7, 2008 0
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