Category: Travel

travel

  • Walking Busan With My Personal Translator

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    As has become my habit on the first full day somewhere new, I woke up and went for a walk to see what I could see. I absolutely love exploring areas I’ve need been to before, taking in the sites and just following the thread of interest as I walk around.

    I did however have two objectives to take care of while walking. First, I had to find a place that I could use my ATM card to get some local currency for the exchange of goods and services. Second, and very importantly – I needed some accessories to get my power situation sorted out. While I was smart enough to do the leg work before leaving and get the proper adaptors and voltage converts prior to my trip, I was just stupid enough to leave them unpacked on the kitchen floor at home. So, at most I could plug one device in at a time, but I have a lot more than one thing to plug in.

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    No big deal, there are tons of stores all over, and after all I’m in Korea where electronics are king! But after  4 hours of walking, I didn’t find what I needed. Nothing even close. I found several Starbucks, Seven 11 stores and a Baskin-Robbins (seriously, I did), but nowhere that sells the simple and common items that I need. I realize now that I’m not going to just stumble on it and need to put more effort into it.

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    So I walk for another hour but with the focus of walking toward anything that looks like a shopping district, and then give up. Time to get some local help from a cabbie.  (more…)

  • Landed in Busan South Korea

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    Photo by simonbondphotography.com

     

    After two long flights, waiting in several lines and a a very sore behind (from all the sitting), I have finally checked into the hotel that will be home for the next week and a half. Tomorrow is a adjustment day, so i’m looking forward to viewing the area on foot as soon as I wake up. 

  • New Book: Dispatches from the Peninsula: Six Years in South Korea

    In preparation for my trip to South Korea next month (work related), I decided to do a little reading on my destination. At first I was looking at official travel guides, but this first hand account seemed like it might be a interesting read as well. I’ve only spent about 20 minutes reading it so far, but I’m already intrigued. Especially since the story is told from the point of view of a american male entering the country for the first time. 

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  • Carnival Magic Cruise 2012 Photos

    Our vacation (on the Carnival Magic)  this year was LONG overdue, and was amazing. Not because of all that we did, but of how little we did. Being lazy, afternoon naps and staying up until 2am dancing are all underrated in my opinion. We spent almost the entire time on the ship and only got off for a few hours in Key West. We only planned for whatever moment we were currently in, and no further. What a way to live.

    Here are some of the photos, way too many more can be found on SmugMug