Aimee’s World Tour

Little things take me across the world. Hand soap for instance.

The other day I was washing my hands in my friend’s bathroom. The soap was Japanese Cherry blossom. Quite honestly before venturing abroad maybe I knew cherry trees had blossoms and maybe I didn’t. I just knew George Washington wasn’t Japanese.

In any case, my mind was tranported to springtime in Korea – you just can’t miss the cherry blossoms. They are gorgeous. There are festivals and whatnot. In fact people travel from all over to Korea, and likewise to Japan, just to see these beauties.

Then there are the little Japanese restaurants I run into whether it be on the streets of NYC or the strip malls of Jersey. “Osaka” and “Kyoto” are popular.

The first couple times my heart leaps with excitement at the sight of one of these establishments. The excitement has since subdued into a smug smile.

How many people getting take-out or sitting down for sushi know that Osaka is a Japanese city located right next to preserved Kyoto. That Kyoto is the only Japanese city not destoyed in World War II, boasting thousands of temples and examples of authentic Japanese architecture. 900 photos in four days gives you an idea of its magnificence. And my love for photography I guess. 😉

I may not have eaten at Osaka or Kyoto, but I’ve eaten IN Osaka and Kyoto. And that is quite satisfactory for me.

Moving on. Pandas. Do ya like pandas? You’ve seen them in the zoo or on Animal Planet? Maybe you’ve slapped a bumper sticker on your car?

The famed Panda reserve is located in Chengdu, China, where my South African travel companion Justine and I spent an interesting morning.

Back home I see signs for Chengdu eateries all the time, in much the same spots as Kyoto and Osaka establishments.

In reality, these cities are anything but close in proximity. Japan is an island for those of you in remedial geography whilst China is a giant chunk of mainland Asia. But Asian food is Asian food over here.

Chengdu is part of the Szechuan region of China, renowned for it spicy cuisine. But do American copies do the region justice?

Just how spicy is the real deal?

Justine and I experienced szechuan hot pot once upon a cold March night in 2010. It was a must on our CHinese bucket list.

We immediately lost all of our layers, sleeves rolled up, tissues a plenty. Our noses were running, and we were sweating, perspiration everywhere. My ear was hurting which is a strange reaction I must tolerate. I ordered an entire bottle of walnut milk. Maybe two. The milk was essentially the only substance that coated our mouths to stop the burning.

Had you observed the tables sat with native Chinese, you’d not think much of the experience as they did not bat an eye.

An experience as fiery in my mind as in my mouth, Szechuan hot pot is not to be forgotten.

Jeju Island served it’s purpose. 

Though the weather was shit for the most part, it showed me that Korea isn’t soley or “Seouly” a concrete wasteland.  That all drivers aren’t suicidal.  That Koreans do in fact smile unprovoked.   That you can look at beautiful scenery with your peripherals because there aren’t horribly ugly edifices to the right and left.   Aah-gee-mahs still push but like that’s gonna change.

Another point in Korea’s favor is that I no longer am an employee of a moronic, money-hungry private school administration.   Perhaps one day I’ll try out a public school on an island or in a small town.  See another side of the people.  *Not any time soon.  😉 *

For a year and a half I had isolated myself in a small north west section of the country.  All I knew were the stone-faced, rich bitches of Bun Dang, a suburb of Seoul, as well as Seoul itself.   I never left the bubble.  And quite honestly my visits to Seoul have left me with many areas still untouched.

Leafing through my Lonely Planet for all the places I’d been outside of the Gyeongi-do province, I came up empty with the exception of Mudfest down south , the DMZ, and my beloved airports.  Pathetic.

Every vacation, I did my best to get OUT of Korea.  Thailand, Hong Kong, Japan, Bali… I saw them all.  

Weekends were always my time. My Sundays were as uneventful as possible to prepare mentally and physically for my Mondays and the little monsters that awaited me in the clasroom. 

Finishing up my contract I didn’t roadtrip the country but went for an adventureous month in China.

A knawing at my conscience led me to give Korea another go and so I am back in the ROK ’till Thursday.  After visiting friends and old students my first week, I spent my second in Jeju. 

Outside of  Jeju, there are a slew of places that unfortunately I do not have the time to experience.  And for these and countless others I must one day return.

Island hopping in the west sea.

Seoroksan National Park.

Jeongdongjin – Unification Park with the N. Korean submarine.

Ulleungdo and Jukdo Islands in the East.

Busan beaches in the summer.

The green tea fields of Boseong where you can actually bathe in green tea or sea water.

Suanbo Hot Spring and Woraksan National Park.

The ancient capital of Gyeongju.

A temple-stay.

The impressive limestone cave that is Gosu Donggul.

The Seoul Racecourse.

Islands like Yeondo and Heuksando immediately south of the mainland.

Jeju-do when it’s not cold, rainy and windy.

I thank you Lonely Planet for opening up my eyes to what I’d missed.  I wish I’d cracked you months ago.  And Sue Car Tiffin for her lectures and insistence that I get out there, that I see Korea for what it really is and not leave with a negative image due only to my own ignorance.  And of course Bona at theyeogiyo.com for finding me amazing flights.  XOXO.

~Aimee