Vietnam - Sapa Valley

Vietnam was never high up on my list of places to go in Southeast Asia as there were other places that I was more interested in going to - but I'm so glad I went! Really I have Mel to thank as Vietnam had been the one spot she had been wanting to go to all along. So we packed our bags and headed off on another adventure together, this time accompanied by our friend Sara. I am so thankful for their company on this trip, on my flight leaving Korea after living there for two years.

Our first stop was Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam. It took a long while to sort out our visas when we landed but was a simple process overall. Once everything was sorted we jumped in a taxi and headed to the old quarter of Hanoi to meet another Sarah we all knew from Korea then headed out in search of delicious food.

I must mention that not only did I have my travel backpack stuffed with essentials, I also had a duffel bag full of my scuba diving gear to lug around. I realized immediately that using a duffel bag had to be the worst idea I've ever had as it was HEAVY and cumbersome. Thank goodness for friends who helped me cart it around and for Sarah who let us stash all of our bags in her hotel room that first day in Hanoi!!

After having a delicious meal of spring rolls and pho, we stumbled upon Friends Travel Vietnam, a booking agency and honestly had the best experience with this company. The owner Sidney made our time in Hanoi seamless and easy. We were really hoping to book tours to both Sapa Valley (as we already had train tickets booked to Sapa for that night) and Halong Bay which we were able to do! Sidney talked us through all of the different options,answered our millions of questions, put up with our sleep deprived state, gave us so many recommendations for things in the area and even let me keep my dive bag at their office the entire time we were in Hanoi and Sapa! What a relief and huge help that was! 

That evening we made our way to the train station and eventually figured out where we needed to be for our sleeper train to Sapa. I have never slept on a train like this before so it was a neat experience. We booked a four bed cabin even though we were only three, the privacy and extra space was worth it. 

We arrived in Lo Cai really early, 5am, but we were using our time as efficiently as possible to make the most of the week we had in Vietnam. From there we got into a van and were brought to a hotel to have a quick breakfast and freshen up before starting our trek. Perhaps we were all too sleep deprived to realize what we had signed up for the day before but not one of us realized that we would be trekking 15km that day and were incredibly under prepared. It confused us when our guide looked at us funny as we were all wearing flip flops and didn't bother to put on sunscreen because it was extremely overcast (yes, I can hear you all, you definitely can still get burnt and we sure did!) but that all made more sense by the end of the day. 

Our guide, Shu, took us to the market first in order to get food for our meal later on in the day. We walked around purchasing different fruits, vegetables and meat then began our journey ... carrying said goods just purchased. Yes, Mel did carry a pineapple about 12km when we would have preferred to have eaten it after the 4km mark, or even at lunch time for that matter! Shu took us on a "real, everyday path" instead of the usual touristy paths. This meant trekking through mud and bushes. We were accompanied by two other women who helped us up muddy hills and across tree trunk bridges. We were surrounded by incredible beauty. 

At about 13km in, we arrived at Shu's home where her and her husband prepared food for us. It was really good food but this part of the day felt a bit awkward. We were put at a table in the middle of their home and left to eat by ourselves as Shu and her husband ate by themselves in the kitchen. The other two women approached us and tried to get us to buy their handmade goods. This part of the day was also a bit long, we seemed to have stayed in her home for a really long time. Long enough to realize how badly we had been burnt anyways! This realization made the next 2km a bit tough as we were in a bit of pain and didn't want to get more burnt than we already were. With no other options we pushed through. 

Despite our lack of preparation for the day, it was an incredible experience, the view of this region is unbelievable. Even just being able to talk with Shu and get to know her story was really interesting. She has lived in the same village her entire life, got married when she was 14 and had her first child when she was 16. Her and her husband harvest rice and she guides tourists through Sapa for a living. Her English is really good even though she has never had any formal training, she has learned everything through tourists. Truly a different way of life, one that I am grateful to have been able to get a glimpse of.

Upon arrival back at the hotel we managed to convince the front desk person to allow us use of one room in order to shower and get cleaned up as we would be heading back to the train station for another night train back to Hanoi. I could not imagine having to get onto that train and into those beds in the state that we were in! Not to mention when we arrived back in Hanoi the next morning we were meant to be going directly to Halong Bay! 

<3

From May To Goodbye

So what else happened in May?

Another thing I really wanted to do while being in Korea was visit the DMZ - the Korean Demilitarized Zone. We went to the joint security area, and were able to cross the demarcation lines which technically means we entered North Korea. It was an incredible experience. Kind of surreal as well as we had to sign waivers stating that participating could result in death - which makes sense as it is still the most heavily militarized border in the world and there is still immense tension between the two countries. As well, you could see armed North Korean soldiers therefore they could see us and technically could at any instant do harm if they wanted to. 

The JSA - halfway across these blue buildings is North Korea

Propaganda Village & Panmunjom (the world's 4th tallest flagpole) in North Korea

Bridge of No Return - prisoners were brought to this bridge and given the choice to choose and side. They could not change their minds once they crossed in South Korea. 

Dorasan - the subway that connects the North and South. It has been restored but is not in use.

A statue to represent unification of the North and South. This was at the tunnels (we were not allowed to take pictures inside). The tunnels were created by the North Korean army as a way to infiltrate into the South. You are only able to walk until third barricade although is goes all the way to the demarcation line and possible beyond. 

Of course I did a lot of diving in May as well since the weather warmed up! I also completed my rescue diver course!

Mel and I during her advanced course

We went on our hike field trip and celebrated Children's Day at school:

Haim

Daniel

Eunice

Lily and Eunice

Reid and I also went bike riding along the Han River on a night sunny day. I did not do that enough! Later in the month we said goodbye to Reid, it was a fun night but sad to say goodbye to another really good friend. 

Bag drinks!

Mel, Reid and I 

SY, Mel and I on the Subway the next morning going home. We spent the night having drinks and playing darts then went to and ate galbi (Korean BBQ), chatting until the sun came up.

Highlights of June:

The reality of leaving Korea really began to hit me in June. This is when I began selling my winter things and when I sold my suitcases. While I was excited to be heading into a new adventure, it was really sad to have to leave Korea. A place that I not only made my home, but a place where I grew in so many ways. 

June was an interesting month because spread of MERS made everyone panic, so much so that all of the schools were closed. My school closed for a week and a half. When school went back in session everyone who walked through the doors had to use hand sanitizer and their temperature was taken. I was happy to have the time off but it meant that many people had to make up the missed classes on Saturdays and one or both of the summer/winter vacations were shortened. Luckily for me, my contract was ending before any of that would affect me. During the week I decided to go to the salon to have my hair dyed back to match my roots. The end result being dark brown - not the same colour as my roots. It was a bit of a shock but as in all things, I got used to it. 

This month I also went to a language exchange meetup and to a baseball game! 

Noelia, Ashley, MJ, myself and Mel at the baseball game

With SY and Song Won at the language exchange

Highlights of July:

Ashley, Mel, MJ and I made a trip to Busan which was so nice! I love Busan and was so happy to go down there one last time before leaving Korea. It was sunny for half the time and the other half it rained but we still made the most of the time! We went to the beach, saw a movie and went to the best jimjilbang.

When you ask a stranger to take a photo!!

Chunk of frozen mango on a stick! The best!

We also celebrated Eunice and Daniel's birthdays!

Haim sleeping while the others play

I am pretty sure I spent most of the month crying, knowing that I was leaving. I have learned over and over again that I cry - at everything. I knew that about teaching though, you get so invested in the kids it's hard to say goodbye. I cried everyday the last week before leaving, the last day I was a mess. Thank goodness I wasn't going on the airplane by myself though! Thankfully Mel, Sara and I were headed to Vietnam together. It was so sad though to say goodbye to everyone at work, to leave my apartment, my home. I do not have words to explain how I feel about that country, so much of my heart is there, even still. Also, thank goodness for Mel otherwise I'm not sure I would have ever packed or been able to go through everything in my apartment! Even writing this post is challenging because it brings up so many emotions!!

Goodbye dinner with Laura, Ben, SY, Myan, Myan's friend

Grace, Sally, Diana and Michael on my last day with them, taught them since day 1

The weekend before I left, I went up to Paju one last time to the dive shop to collect my gear and say goodbye to Russ. The night before I left, I had my last bingsu with Mel and MJ, then MJ came over and helped me repack one last time. In the morning Shawn helped me carry everything and went to the airport with me to meet up with Mel and Sara. Oh, goodbyes are the worst! 

Next stop, Vietnam! <3

Let's Play Catch Up

Hello? Is anyone out there?

More recently people have been asking about my blog - wow it's been a long time! I guess that shows that I was quite busy after the start of the newest school year ... last year. For my own benefit, as I want a keepsake of all of adventures (one of the reasons I started this to begin with) and for your benefit, to find out what I have been up to this past year, I am going to go back to where I left off and do the best I can at retelling my stories. I am also in a place where I am able to sit down and do this again, which I realize now I have missed so much!

My last kindergarten class I had in Korea was a challenge as the children came in with little to no knowledge of English. It was so rewarding though, those children will have a part of my heart as will all of the other children and people I have encountered.

Highlights from March:

Mel and I checked out the CNN Cafe on one of the worst days for air quality which resulted in us wearing masks. We felt like secret ninjas and had fun with it!

I also bought my first dive computer! I was slowing trying to accumulate dive gear in anticipation of doing my Divemaster course later on in the year. 

Highlights from April:

April brought the beauty of cherry blossoms so Mel, MJ and I spent a day taking fun pictures around Seoul to enjoy them. These are some of MJ's amazing photos. 

                                        

Of course we couldn't escape other wanting pictures with us. This lady then followed us for a bit longer trying to get us in the back of her photos. 

We also celebrated Easter together at CCS (the school Mel worked at) in usual fashion. Liisa and I made spring rolls which were a hit. 

We went on a field trip to the car museum too! The boys could handle having a step each, but the girls all had to be number 1!

Mickey, Tommy and Daniel

Rosa, Lily and Eunice

Highlights of May:

Since arriving in Korea I had always wanted to go to the Boseong Green Tea Fields but never made the time for it. Finally I booked a trip down there with MJ and Liisa. The weather wasn't great, but it was beautiful! First we stopped at Naesosa Temple which decorated for Buddha's Birthday. 

We also went to this beach (which names escapes me now) but took some great photos. 

So pale!!

Made a pit stop at a park at dusk - Gwanghanru

And another stop at some wetlands...

Finally, we went to the tea fields!! I bought a bunch of green tea and tried a green tea churro with my green tea ice cream. Yum!

                                   

The area we stayed in for the night:

We also hiked to the tallest peak of Bukhansan and enjoyed a picnic on the top!

 
                 

Eating a cucumber the Korean way

Wow! Who knew that May was so busy! Stayed tuned for part two of May! <3