Saturday, October 16, 2010

The End

PICTURES on Marina's blog (the turtle chasing one :D)

Flying back to the States in a few days. I'm anxious. Not sure why. Haven't really stopped to think why.

Starting a new life perhaps? Stepping back into reality? Having to be an adult again?

Korea has been fun (obviously seen from the lack of posts)! I've seen and done lots. Of everything though, I've really enjoyed getting to know my relatives. They're the part of my parents that I didn't see or understand before. In getting to know them, I'm unexpectedly getting to know my parents a little better.

But, let's be honest. Gloria LOVES food. Korea has EXCEDED my expectation. The most delicious food I've had came not from restaurants, but my aunt's very own kitchen. I could seriously live off her kimchi jigae (kimchi stew) and rice forever. While it's a simple dish, no two kimchi jigaes taste alike. My aunt's cooking makes a glutton out of me...more so than before :P

Alas, my ticket for Wednesday reminds me that my extended vacation is coming to an end. America, America. Here I come, whether I'm ready or not.

Saturday, October 2, 2010

Korea!

Just ate so much food...can't walk...yummm...

I finally had KIMCHI too! Kimchi, my friend, it's been too long.

Marina: I need to find something faster than dial up to get you your pictures. I'll see if my cousins have faster internet.
Sister: We talk about you a lot :D

Wednesday, September 29, 2010

Too Lazy

Check Marina's blog (first one on the list of blogs to the right) for our trip to the Great Wall. Amazing place!

Having fun in Shanghai! Korea on Friday!

Could it be so close to the end of my trip? [shock]

Saturday, September 25, 2010

Beijing is HUGE

Ni hao, everyone!

Just flew into Beijing today. Because M & I are on a budget, we took a shuttle bus, the subway, and walked to get to our hostel. A nice American we met on the plane also joined us on our non-taxi way of getting around. It was quite the adventure trying to figure out how to get to where we wanted. Luckily, Chinese people in Beijing are so incredibly kind and helpful! Two strangers stopped to help the (obviously) lost foreigners.

It's cold(er) here! The clothes in my backpack are mostly (really all) summer wear. I had goosebumps walking to dinner! Not sure what I'm going to do since I'm sure Korea will be the same. I might need to extend the budget to get some warmer things.

Dinner of dumplings was DELICIOUS! The menu was all in Chinese with some English words here and there. M & I ordered a plate of "donkey" dumplings and "gnuit" dumplings. Not sure what they were exactly, but they were yummy! I suppose I can claim that I've had "donkey". For dessert we got "candied apples" (apples encased in some kind of dough, deep fried, melted sugar drizzled on top and in which you dropped each ball into a bowl of cold water to crystallize the sugar) and burned out tongues. Worth it :D

We have several days in Beijing. Excited!

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Last Days of Vietnam

We had thought that 2 weeks in Vietnam would be sufficient, but it's required us to spend a LOT of time physically traveling from one place to another. Despite the sore muscles (particularly in the behind area), it's been a good trip.

From HCMC/Saigon, we went to Mui Ne, a little beach town.

From Mui Ne, we went to Da Lat, a beautiful mountain town (a nightmare to get to with winding roads and crazy bumps) where we saw a lake and waterfall (after an alpine slide ride down) and DELICIOUS food.

From Da Lat, we went to Nha Trang, a large beach town with a beautiful ocean view. We did some some sea kayaking there. Kayaking in the South China Sea in the rain was rather fun...especially when kayaking to an island!

From Nha Trang, we took a train to Da Nang and then a bus to Hoi An. Hoi An is a small place that's famous for it's tailor-made clothing and a couple of good dishes (loved "White Rose", meat in rice paper that's twirled to look like flowers and then dipped in fish sauce). We did a day trip to some ruins at My Son ("me-son" meaning beautiful mountain). Most of it was literally in ruin after the Vietnam war bombings though.

From Hoi An, we took a bus to Da Nang and then a train to Hanoi (where we currently are). The train ride, while long, had some pretty scenery. The stretch from Da Nang to Hue has the most beautiful train scenery I've ever seen. It has almost everything: mountains, rivers, jungle, the sea, HUGE boulders, stretches of beach, hills of uninhibited land.

Currently, we're in Hanoi. We're planning on taking a boat trip to Halong Bay tomorrow and the next day. After that: CHINA!

This is a rushed entry; and again, an entry without pictures (boo). But, it's time to head toward the nearby lake in Hanoi and do what M & I do best: walk aimlessly about, discovering delicious places to eat :)

Saturday, September 11, 2010

Hello, Vietnam

A long bus ride from Phnom Penh, Cambodia brought me to Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam...or Saigon (if you're in District 1 and 3).

The architecture of the city really shows the influence of western nations. Skinny, colorful buildings crowd the streets and baguettes are found EVERYWHERE.

After a few days in Saigon (and a side trip to the Mekong Delta where I got to taste coconut candy and hold a big snake), I've arrived in the small beach city of Mui Ne, Vietnam. Too bad I can't be out in the sun too long due to the malaria pills. Malaria medication is (very) unkind to my stomach and skin.

M & I met up with a PC friend of ours. It'll be a nice couple of days to relax and catch up and do some group therapy [hehe].

So far, I'm loving Vietnam :)

||EDIT||

NOT a fan of the commis blocking facebook and my blog [frown]. Good thing things like IP address changes are possible :D

Monday, September 6, 2010

Gloria Lee, Tomb Raider.

I wish! [haha]

M & I have decided that we would NEVER wear Lara Croft's outfit while treasure hunting. We prefer comfortable and practical over look-i'm-practically-naked! But, I'd push for a utility belt for sure :D

I bring this up because yesterday (our 3rd day in Cambodia), we biked to Ta Phrom (sp?) where they shot Tomb Raider [hehe]. In fact, reference to Ms. Jolie's visit here can be seen in a lot of the tourist places and the things that Cambodian guides mention. The Tomb Raider cocktail drink, in fact, sounds kind of yummy :D

The temple was jungle infested, which was rather beautiful to see. It was fun to explore/climb/walk around.

We biked back to Siem Reap in a monsoon shower--refreshing after the blaze of the day.

And being in Cambodia, we also, of course, saw Angkor Wat. That was on our second day in Cambodia. Too bad it was covered in tarp from renovations (boo!). It was fun to climb up crazy-high steps and walk around this (really) old temple, which stands as the symbol of Cambodia. We also made a trip to Angkor Thom that day too. The temple of Bayon was pretty awesome. The (sort of) smiling face of the ego-tripping King who built it is EVERYWHERE.

No time for pictures, I'm afraid. This entry is rather short too. Oops. Oh, well. Time to prepare for the trip to the other side of Cambodia tomorrow :)

Friday, August 27, 2010

Chiang Mai, Thailand

For the past couple of days, M & I have had a busy time.

Thursday: We started our trekking tour outside of Chiang Mai, Thailand. I finally got to ride an ELEPHANT! I can now check that off my list of things to do before I die. However, I doubt I'll do it again. I don't like how the elephants were treated :( . We felt a little cheered afterwards because it started to pour and we got to wear our cool 7-11 poncho [muahah]! Then, we hiked through the jungle for several hours. I was given a bamboo walking stick. I named him Marvin! Clumsy me (and the JOR's sit-on-my-butt-for-2-years-lifestyle) made the trek difficult, but it was a good experience. We ended the trek at a tiny mountain village. Ball with some kids, dinner, games, and then sleeeeep. We slept in a little hut that's on a stand. Below us lived a giant pig [haha].
Friday: I walked the (very) short distance to the village church before breakfast. It's a tiny building that's more sturdy and costly than the other houses--stone, roof, glass on the windows rather than a hut of bamboo like all the other houses. Since the village only had 8 families, which the church served, it's was a small place. But it was humbling to see this little house of God in the middle of the jungle on a mountain in northern Thailand. After breakfast, we trekked some more. I wiped out so often and tripped so incessantly, I came out of the jungle with battle scars. It looks like I got in a street fight with a cat! My right arm and hand is badly cut, scraped and bruised. My legs are gloriously scratched-up and mosquito bitten too. We came out of the jungle and went water rafting and bamboo rafting. The water rafting was fun. The bamboo rafting was...interesting. They put all 9 of us in the group on ONE raft. we made the raft sink just enough that it looked like we were sitting in muddy river water. Our trekking group members were fun (especially the two, young, Irish boys [haha]) too. Very glad we did the trekking trip.

Saturday-Monday: We got picked up by the Elephant Nature Park people early in the morning (8am?! Eeek! :D) to begin our 3 day stay at the park. So much that we say and did, so the bigger parts of our stay were:

1. watching really sad documentaries
2. feeding elephants (that really young baby elephants are so cute to feed!)
3. meeting the park's 30+ elephants by family groups
4. bathing the elephants in the river
5. food cooked by the staff (I believe I gained several pounds during our short stay)
6. an elephant trying to slyly steal my fruit while my back was turned during lunch (ha!)
7. getting kissed by an elephant :D

Elephants are such amazing creatures! The terrible lives of the elephants before arriving at this elephant sanctuary has not stopped their present, persistent survival. They're very similar to people in their resilience.

Alas, it's time to part ways with Chiang Mai. It's been such a lovely time. We take the overnight train to Bangkok tonight and sort ourselves out before making our way to Cambodia! In Bangkok, we saw a minature of Ankor Wat at the Grand Palace. In a few days, we'll actually BE there!

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

ELEPHANTS!?!

After a comfortable train ride (beats the India train hands down), M & I arrived in Chiang Mai!

Ko Samed was wonderful. I will fondly remember the frog living in our bathroom, the (really) little hut we stayed in, and the intense sun burns we got on the beach :D

So far, Chiang Mai has been good. There are used bookshops everywhere (in which M has to drag me out of), we just signed up for a trekking trip and volunteering at an elephant nature park. It'll be a fun and full couple of days!

Elephants!

I can see the end of our time in Thailand quickly approaching. How sad! Thailand has been a blast and I'll miss it quite a bit. BUT, we have Cambodia, Vietnam, China and Korea (for me) to look forward to!

Note to sister: We should rock Thailand when you graduate! You'll love it here!

Elephants!?

Note to friends: It seems I'm always pressed for time when I manage to get myself to an internet cafe. Sorry for the short updates!

Monday, August 23, 2010

Loving the Island Lifestyle

Currently in Ko Samed, Thailand, an island off of the mainland. The water is clear, blue, and warm!

M & I got SUPER burned yesterday...which hasn't helped my awesome tan lines on my leg.

The lifestyle here is very chill, relaxed, and easy-paced. It's been nice to relax after bouts of busyness (e.g. crazy busy days in Bangkok trying to get visas...we know the metro and skyrail system QUITE well now).

At the moment, we're in a bar owned by a Canadian ex-pat with delicious pizza. Tastes like home! (almost)

We leave for Chiang Mai tomorrow. It'll be truck, ferry, tuktuk, and finally an overnight train to get there. We're hoping to volunteer at a nature reserve to work with elephants there! Huzzah!

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

Thailand

BANGKOK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sunday, August 15, 2010

India in the South

In Anjuna-Goa, India.

By far, one of my favorite places in India! It's relaxed, slow-paced, full of expat hippies, and absolutely beautiful. It feels like the jungle-old-time-India I pictured in my head. The monsoon rains are heavier and fall more frequently here, but it's still beautiful. Plus, after two years in the JOR, a good rain shower is a welcome event.

M & I rented mo-peds to get around. It's a mo-ped culture down here, with few cars. I really want a mo-ped now! We've been to most of the nearby beaches, all of which have been full of wild, smashing waves and surfs. Now is not the season for swimming. Still, Goa is wonderful! It's a great way for M and I to end our trip in India.


Thailand is up next in a few days. India, I'll miss you!

Thursday, August 12, 2010

India in the North



Whirlwind tour of the northern part of India is done! Earlier today, M and I rode the overnight train up from Varanassi. While much more comfortable than our first overnight train, it's hard to get a good night's sleep on a hard berth bed on a rocking train--especially when the train frequently pulls to a stop and there are people bellowing out "juice, mango, tea, chai, coffee!" up and down the aisles throughout the night.

With some time at an internet cafe in Delhi, I have a little more time to write about my trip.

Most Notable Moments in India:

1. Monkey Temple on the old road (the emperor used to take) between Jaipor, India and Agra, India. It's actually a regular temple to a Hindu god, but it's nicknamed the Monkey Temple because of all the monkeys that take residence there. M and I fed the monkeys right out of our hands! Some of them got greedy and grabby. In fact, one jumped ON me to get to the bag of peanuts! Another jumped up and tried to rip the bag from me. It was only half successful since I managed to keep a good hold on the nuts :P.


2. Boat ride on the Ganges River in Varanasi, India. The pouring monsoon rain took place in the afternoon (it seems like the usual time), so taking a cycle rickshaw to the ghats area was an adventure! The streets were flooded, with mass crowds of bikes, people, rickshaws, and water buffalo! We finally made it to the main bathing ghat to take a ride along the "Ganga river". We rowed to the main burning ghat, where we watched cremations take place. Our guide told us a little about the funeral process and the rules for putting your remains in the Ganga. After the subdued hush of the burning ghat, we went back to the festive main ghat to wait for the fire ceremony. Seven members of the Brahmin caste do a fire ceremony every evening. It was interesting to see. A lot of culture packed into a short evening.


3. Sweating my FACE off! (literally, I sweat off everything on my face!) The heat and humidity have been intense! For those from Virginia, can you believe it's even hotter and more humid than a July afternoon? All the pictures of me are shiney-faced, sweaty, and dirty...mainly because I AM shiney-faced, sweaty, and dirty CONSTANTLY.
4. Taj Mahal in Agra, India. I thought that I would be a little disappointed because of all the hype you hear about the Taj. Nope. I wasn't disappointed at all. It truly is an amazing construction! Beautifully erected and designed, I can see why people rave about it. The old king who built it for his favorite wife must have loved her greatly if the Taj's physical beauty (and size) is used as a measure of love.


5. Food (everywhere) in India! While the Indian food in America is great, like many other ethnically derived food, it's better in the motherland! The lassi (yogurt, water, sugar or salt drink) is DELICIOUS and the Indian tea (masala spiced tea with milk and sugar) is a perfect end to a meal. Two years in the JOR has never made me crave tea, but two weeks in India has me constantly jones-ing for some Indian tea :D

My last week in India starts tomorrow when I fly to Goa in the south! Huzzah!

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Picture 1: Cows are EVERYWHERE in India. As a holy animal, they're left to do as they like--whether sit in the middle of a highway, wander between traffic, or stand in a store. This is me with a cow in the streets of Pushkar, India.

Picture 2: Feeding a monkey at the Monkey Temple!

Monday, August 9, 2010

The First Week

The first week in India has been dizzying and amazing! I only have a few minutes left for internet, so here's the short of it:

1. Delhi

2. Pushkar (lake supposed to be created when Brahma dropped a lotus) where we saw ghats, people bathing in the holy lake, and where I got ridiculously sick bwecause I ate street food when I shouldn't have :P

3. Jaipor and Amber, where I saw beautiful palaces, forts, and a monkey temple! I fed monkeys by hand! One jumped on me to get the peanuts.

4. Agra, where I saw the Taj Mahal. Amazing and beautiful!

5. Varnassi, where I currently am. The Ganges river is dirty but it's been interesting watching the people.

No picture :( . I hope to find an internet place later though to write something longer! Tomorrow: Temples and a Ganges river ride!

Sunday, August 1, 2010

Masalama, Jordan!

The day has finally arrived: COS! Close of Service! The End!

Today is my LAST day in the JOR as a Peace Corps volunteer! Hurrah! I didn't think I would make it this far, but here I am! 2+ years of (challenging) service later, I can now claim the title of RPCV (Returned Peace Corps Volunteer).

I don't know if I'll miss very much about you, the JOR. I DO know that one of the few things I'll miss about you is the food. Oh, the food...[drool]. However, India is calling to me (err, my stomach), so masalama, Jordan.

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Picture: Sporting my new traveler haircut while munching on a potato spiral from Souq Jara on Rainbow Street in Amman, Jordan.

Thursday, July 29, 2010

Bye, Bye, Balila!

Today, I officially left my site (Balila in Jerash). It's been a crazy couple of days and weeks. But, I'm thankful to have the experiences of my village behind me, and I'm looking forward to the road ahead. First, Amman for the weekend, and then India, and then more traveling, and then Erika's wedding, and then...back to real (grown up) life :)

But until then: Here I am Amman! Here I come India!


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Picture: I was taking a walk around lower Balila with my neighbor before sunset. This is the one of the roads we walked on.

Sunday, July 18, 2010

Liberation Quest?

A little over two years ago, a fellow Peace Corps volunteer (M) and I thought about blowing all our readjustment money on a crazy backpacking trip. It was meant to be a carrot, dangled on a stick and string, for us to chug through the difficulties of life in a tiny, Jordanian village. It eventually evolved into a time where we could shrug off the damage of suppressing more than half of who we were due to the conservative nature of where we lived. We dubbed it "Gloria and M's Liberation Quest".

We didn't expect all of the experiences, changes, and happenings in the past months and years (some of which can be read here: http://www.gloria-jordan.blogspot.com/), BUT, here we are, a little over two years later, preparing to go!

Flight to India...check
Visa for India...check
Hotel reservation...check
Place to meet up with M...check
Wrap up and leave Jordan...(almost) check

I fly out in two weeks on August 1st and (plan to) meet up with M in Delhi, India. Until then, I'll be packing, moving out, and saying goodbye. It's been an interesting two years, Jordan. Don't miss me too much :)