GRRRL TRAVELER pens everything from her travels (tips, insights, woes and inspirational humor), her work in reality TV and her life as an expat living in South Korea. Whether traveling solo as a single female or with friends, surviving travel is about finding GRRR!, exploring one’s independence and empowering oneself as a traveler by navigating cultural diversity while experiencing the bizarre, foreign, frightening and often times, funny.
India Me
Christine Ka’aloa is an avid lover of travel. She worked in entertainment as a shooter/producer of reality TV for over 7 years for clients, such as MTV (My Super Sweet 16, Engaged & Underage, True Life,…), VH-1, Food Network, etc…
Born and raised in Hawaii and being hapa (Native Hawaiian, Japanese, German & Chinese), her appreciation for cultural diversity began at home. She can navigate cuisine via chopsticks, poi fingers and traditional western silverware. Christine has lived in Hawaii, Los Angeles, St.Louis and New York.Currently, she has packed up her life into two gap years to live abroad as an English teacher in Daegu, South Korea and travel.
In the process she has gotten her Yoga Teacher’s Certification in Dharamsala, Reiki Master Certification in Dharamsala and PADI certification in Thailand.
My other sites:
www.bluinkinteractive.net (work)
www.christinekaaloa.com (art)
www.ckaaloa.blogspot.com (travel photography)
My Crazy Kimchi (GRRRL Traveler’s sister ESL teaching blog)
I wish I could pack up my life like you did and work abroad. I love to travel. I just do not have the courage yet to say that I am leaving my comfort zone.
@Xiaosxin: We all have different comfort zones which keep our dreams within manageable boundaries. I think both boundaries and dreams are necessary! And sometimes, when boundaries want to be expanded, life gives us a little push. Don’t worry- you’ll find a way to make your dreams happen one way or another. Just apply steady pressure…. ha ha… Thanks for dropping by!
Hey!
Just wanted to say I came across your blog on The Korean Blog list and think its great! Loving your stories and your honesty…and your layout is awesome. Did you design it yourself?
Cheers,
Janet
Hi,
I really like your blog!
I wondered if you’d be interested in being featured on a Korean Travel Website?
We started the site as a pilot, with just Gangwon-do, but it’s been so successful that we’re launching version two really soon with information on the whole of Korea. We have someone who has offered to help us with Daegu information but are still looking for more!
We’d love to feature some information from you or your blog if you have some you think would be suitable – we would link to you and hopefully increase traffic to your blog also…
Hope you like the website! Look forward to hearing from you!
Claire (site creator)
Hi Christine,
So good to read your blog.
I’ve had a big crushed on Korea like ages now, and still looking best way to get there, hahaha..
Anyway, thanks for sharing your story.
You’ve picked interested parts
Share more..
Best,
Anna
@Anna: I appreciate that. Hopefully your crush with Korea turns into a reality and hopefully this inspires a juggling of ideas for you. Where there’s a will, there’s ALWAYS a way. You just need to find your way,…but it’s there. Good luck.
Good day Ms. Christine…I’m izce from Manila and I really find your contributions on this site helpful to my upcoming christmas trip with my parents. I would like to ask for some more help since it is my first time going to Korea during Winter. I want to make the most out of our tour. It is my parents’ first time to experience winter so i would like to know what are the places in Seoul that we must not miss during the trip. My mom is a nature lover.
Thanks in advance – izce
@izce: Thanks for dropping by. I have a couple of posts on Seoul and one more I’ll be adding in the next coming weeks– you can get them off my Destinations link under Korea/Seoul. The Korean Tourism Organization has a bunch of stuff that you can go through depending on your parents’ interests; they also have listings of monthly festivals that you may want to check out. Seoul is historical mixed with modern– palaces, temples, or hanok villages, stuff like that. For nature, you may want to check out some mountains and temples nearby if your folks are into hiking. Koreans are bigtime into that pasttime. Just a tip and it’ll be mentioned in my 5 favorite things to do in Seoul (TAKE the Seoul City Bus Tour! That’s the best recommend. I can give). Hope you and your parents enjoy!
@izce: Thiis the newest post on 5 things I love to do in Seoul
Just want to say that I stumbled upon your blog while googling “staying at jjimbilbang”. I am almost finishing my own RTW trip and you’ve been to places I’ve been but you write about it differently from me and it’s a refreshing perspective to my own so it’s fun to read.
@Kenneth: Thanks for dropping by and taking the time out to read! Good luck on your RTW– You must have some great stories to tell!
Hi! I just stumbled upon your blog and was excited to see that you’re from Hawai’i – me too! I’ve been living here for a couple of years now, but am homesick – always for the weather! haha. Just had some spam and rice for dinner tonight – great comfort food! Anyway, if you’re up for it, it would be great to meet up sometime! ^-^ I think that you should be able to see my e-mail, so let me know!
Hope you are having a wonderful time travelling around the world. All the best. Just have a look at this site if you want to know the time and date zone difference between countries
@Ananya: Thanks for the link. I’m sure its helpful!
Hey I’m so amazed with your blog that I added it to my favorite internet read!! I’m traveling to Korea this fall and your blog is so encouraging and helpful. I’m a single female traveler to and this was so encouraging and interesting. Thank you so so very much
I am so glad to find your blog. Your articles and photos are inspirational. Can’t wait to join you on FB! Are you still in Korea?
@Eun Jang: Comments like yours are so nice to read and hope you find some of the info helpful! Thanks also for joining my FB page!
Just left Korea about a month ago but am looking to return within the next few months. Fingers crossed! I think Korea has so much to offer and though my experiences are always shifting, overall, I like Korea a lot. Are you visiting family or considering moving?
I’m loving reading your blog! I am looking to move next spring after I graduate in December and right now South Korea is in the lead of where I want to go! I’m excited to go through your past posts about Korea but I am loving reading about your new travels!
Heather recently posted..one… little… world
@Heather: Hey there grrrl, so you’re up for the Korean adventure, huh? Korea is only improving with time and the influx of foreigners so by the time you get there it may be ready for you! Thanks for reading my blogs and leaving your comment. Maybe I’ll see you on the other end!
hey there.. I was blogwalking and I found your site.. nice site with lots of info.. keep it up
Dan Arif recently posted..Incredible India #5 – The ancient city of Fatehpur Sikri
@Dan: Nice blog and I appreciate your comment. Am enjoying your India posts! =)
Hi Christine
Great site! I have been enjoying reading through it. I especially like the recent Morocco articles as would love to go there and also the Korean stuff. I’ve been playing with the idea of teaching english for a while now.
@Chad: Thanks, i’m not sure how I missed your comment. Hope you play with the idea of teaching English in Korea a bit more. It’s fun.
Just wanted to say that I’ve really enjoyed reading your blog and found it useful for my prep in coming to Korea! Thanks and keep up the awesome work!
@James: Thanks so much. Congrats on getting to Korea and not that you’re there, “fighting!”
I would love to do what you do! Traveling the world! Did you go to school for a teaching degree? If not, how were you able to teach English abroad?
I didn’t go to school for teaching but my mother’s an elementary teacher and I’ve been raised alongside of having to tutor her kids, etc… But that doesn’t make a difference in Korea. They have their own program and we got week’s intensive about teaching in a public school. Also, we have Korean co-teachers there to help the kids with further understanding. Why not give it a try?
Is there a specific agency you went through to get the teaching job in Korea?
@Rosa: There are many agencies depending on whether you want to teach in a government funded school or hagwon. Here’s an article: http://grrrltraveler.com/countries/asia/korea/teaching-english/teach-english-in-korea/
Hey there. Love the blog. Would you like to meet up and have a cup of something and a chat? Thanks, Ben
Sorry I forgot to say the most important things: that I’m in Daegu, and English, and a 32 year old man (with his head screwed-on backwards judging by the absent-mindedness of my last post!)