Seoul Searching

We had the opportunity to visit Seoul over the weekend and even though it seemed like a quick trip, it still took us all day. It was our first time really "traveling" with Ella. And wow. I have to believe there aren't any handicapped people in Seoul because the lack of ramps, elevators, and the abundant amount of stairs was incredible. I'm just referring to the train stations/subways. I know they are not going to add elevators to historical palaces and such. By the time we actually arrived in Seoul, I was physically exhausted from carrying my almost 30 lb butterball turkey. Needless to say, we were able to take in one palace and have a late lunch before we called it quits. Seoul is a huge city and everything is very spread out. It will take a few visits there before I am able to see everything I want to see.

Ella was treated like Britney Spears' baby while we were there. I think it has to be the blonde hair. The Koreans flock to her and they all want to touch her and play with her hair. I normally don't care but we are at the start of a pretty big flu season and I cringe when they all come up and touch her. (mean, right?) I catch many Korean women ooohhhing and ahhhhing over her from a distance. They were giving up their seats on the subway so she could have a seat. They were giving her candy. Ella of course was having nothing to do with it. She was as shy as could be and would bury her head in my shoulder when they would talk to her.

All in all, not a very productive trip, but I was pretty fascinated with the beautiful Palace of Shining Happiness we visited. Tom wasn't impressed, but I liked it. I think he is used to the castles of Europe and this was nothing like the Neuschwanstein Castle. It was an open palace with it's own stream running through it. There were openings on the ground that lead to dungeons (which of course were locked up). There were soldiers in Joseon-era uniforms standing guard and we even caught the changing of guard ceremony. The palace once had 330 buildings and up to 3,000 staff before it was destroyed under the Japanese colonial rule. I am not really sure how Gyeongbokgung received it's name "Shining Happiness" as it seemed to have a very devastating history. From almost bankrupting the goverment to originally build it, to it being burnt down the first time, to the assassination and burning of the Queen, and then to it being destroyed a second time, it doesn't seem very "shiny happy" to me. But I wasn't around to experience all that so maybe they had a grand old time in there at some point;)

Waiting for the train at the subway station in Suwon. How cute are my two loves?

Here comes the train! Ella was calling it "Thomas" like the tank engine and saying "All Aboard!"

Me and E on the train to Seoul. Quite a comfy ride if I do say so myself!

Gyeongbokgung Palace "Shining Happiness" entrance

The soldiers standing guard at the front. Their composure is no different than the guards at Buckingham Palace in London. They take their job very seriously.

Once past the guards, this is the next building you see. The King's Sleeping quarters.

Look how tall these buildings were and the halls that surround it.

The stream is right behind me.

Tom working on his modeling skillzzzz

Taking a little break in the corridor

The beautiful painted details of the ceilings.

Ella taking a little jaunt around the palace corridors. She is a princess afterall. Probably felt it was her palace.

Dragon details on the corner of the rooftops

My favorite part of the palace was this building on it's own island. Beautiful scenery. Worth every penny to build a palace in such a spot.

Ella was so clearly intrigued by the history of it all, that she needed a snack break.

Daddy explaining the history of the palace to Ella...or telling her to look at the fish.

Changing of the guard ceremony

Ella slept through lunch so we felt the need to buy her (us) a smoothie from Smoothie King...a little touch of home:)

If you would like to see more photos of our trip, click here. It's still hard to believe I am here in South Korea. I feel so fortunate to be able to visit such a beautiful country and to be traveling again with Tom. It's like the good old days, but we added a new traveling buddy to our adventures!

The Big 2-9

Happy Birthday to me! It was a nice, relaxing day. Tom made me breakfast and we took Ella to the park to exert some of her bundled up energy. We shopped a little and had dinner and a movie at home. I got my birthday wish though to have my husband with me and of course Ella, too. It's hard to believe I'm already 29. Pretty amazing because I swear my mom just celebrated her 29th birthday this past year...right mom?

Ella having fun in Daddy's office. Yes, Tom had to work for a few minutes on my bday. But he really had the whole day off.

Umm this camo hat doesn't go with my plaid dress.

Looking cute

More fun in Daddy's office aka we were super bored so we took pics of ourselves.

Tom made me try on his heavy gear. And yes, I almost fell over. I could never be an Army chick:(

The outfit isn't complete without aviator sunglasses;)

Look at that crazy hair!

Tom didn't want a photo of his sign, but I made him take one. It was my bday so I could do what I wanted;)

This is what the Ville looks like. It's pretty much the only thing to do around here. You can shop til you drop though and I recently found TONS of children's stores. Can't wait to do some damage there!

Ice cream cake to finish off the fabulous day!

Fearless Me

It's been a week since we arrived in the Land of the Morning Calm and I have to say I really enjoy it here. It's the most unusual of all the places I have ever visited, and at the same time the most intimidating. Ask anyone who knows me and they will tell you I was pretty hesitant when we first moved to Germany. It took me a LONG time (and by long I mean at least a month) to leave our apartment by myself minus a very quick walk with Riley right outside our apartment. I felt very unsure of myself, the language, the people. The whole scene made me anxious. Turns out, I had nothing to worry about and after awhile I adjusted just fine there. Even the lady at the Bäckerei thought I was a German girl until a week before we moved back to the states.

But here I am again, in a foreign land and those same hesitations, same intimidations and lack of self assurance are BACK. I'm not scared to admit it...it took me 6 days to leave this apartment here by myself with Ella. After all, we only have 5 weeks here. I don't have a month to be scared! So we went down the block to the recycling center. Hey--it's a start. Don't judge me.

First intimidation, the locks on the doors here. They are keypads with codes. You don't use keys so you have to remember codes to get in every door. Second, the people here. Ummm I don't know if you noticed, but I look much different than the Koreans do. I totally stand out. When they see me, they know I don't belong here. They know I don't speak their language. I know some of you out there are saying "take advantage of being in a new country and try try try." I getcha. But it's still a bit daunting for me. However, Ella is really embracing all that Korea has to offer to her so far.

Eating an Asian pear. These things are really big pears. Think canteloupe size.

Learning to recycle. Such a little tree hugger.

Wandering the streets of the scary alley in front of the apt which turns out isn't so scary after all:)The view from the street

Ella checking out the view

"Hmmm I hope mommy takes me out of the house more often. This place is interesting."

Koreans find random plots of land and build their own gardens on them.

This is right outside Tom's place.

Mommy couldn't let Ella have ALL the fun;)

Back inside relaxing. For some reason, I love this photo of her. Maybe it's because she seems so calm.

Tom's Humble Abode

When we lived in an apartment off post in Germany, it seemed like any other apartment. Of course it had the typical Ikea kitchen and those really cool German windows, but besides those few touches, it didn't scream "German" to me. Tom's apartment here in South Korea SCREAMS Asian to me. But I'm diggin it. Really. I am. The place is brand new and a decent size (bigger than our German place). Even though Tom isn't a huge fan of all of the flowery wallpaper, I happen to think it's pretty and would love to have it in Ella's big girl room as an accent wall one day.

On a side note, I am still getting used to recycling everything again like the good Germans do as well. I am beginning to believe Americans are the only ones left who do not recycle the way these people do. Everything, and I mean everything, is recycled. The only thing you throw away is the actual food.

A view from the living room. Open floor concept apparently. Note-very low entertainment center.

View from kitchen area

I happen to love this flowered wall! The couch came with the apt and is hard as a rock:)

Frosted glass doors with a bamboo design leading to the sun room.

Sun room looking out onto the city

Beautiful silk drapes in living room

This is the a/c unit. A huge eye sore, but produces a very cold room:)

Wallpaper in the master bedroom. I really do love it.

The pic above is of the medicine cabinet in the master bath. The pic below is of the closet in the master bedroom. If you look closely, you can see the background of lightly printed flowers. Also, the hanging tassles. Definitely an Asian touch.

Tiles in guest bathroom shower.

Guest bathroom vanity

The sliding doors leading to the office

The infamous washer which takes 2.5 hours-5 hours for ONE load of laundry. I'm on day 3 of 6 loads.

Dasani water anyone?