Farewell Hwesik

One of the most important things about having a successful and happy life in Korea is having great co-workers. I've been very blessed thus far and I have worked with some amazing people. Unfortunately, all good things must come to an end and three of my closest co-workers, Kelly, Jenny and Mickey, left last month with the start of the new school year.

The Waygooks and Mickey Unnie

Boys

Kelly has been one of the best people to work with. She's been my office mate, my teacher and most of all, my friend. I couldn't have asked for a better person to work with. She's always ready to listen to me sing or complain. Any time I would go to her with a problem, she would always be ready to help. She's quite possibly one of the most selfless people I've ever met and I'm so thankful for the opportunity to work with her.

Jenny, Kelly, Mickey unnie, Me and Doug

Ever since I arrived in Busan, Kelly and Jenny have been there. They've been the two people that I've relied on the most. Jenny took care of not only me, but Markus too. She was the best co-teacher and always there whenever I had a stupid question. She always anticipated my needs and was always there to pick me up. She's amazing and when I think of Korea, I will always think of her. I'm sad that Jenny, Kelly and Mickey unnie no longer work with me, but I'm very thankful for the short time we had together. They made this crazy adventure worth it and for that I will always be grateful. 

Bayon Temple | Angkor Wat, Cambodia | 1 of 2

I have to admit that before I moved to Korea, I didn't know much about Cambodia. I think it's one of those countries that falls under the radar, especially when you live in America. It's so easy to forget that there is a whole other world on the other side of the planet. Before moving to Korea, I never journeyed to Asia, the closest I ever got was the Czech Republic. Thankfully, living in Korea has allowed us to explore other wonderful countries that I would never have the opportunity to visit.

Bayon Temple is one of the well known temples in the Angkor Wat complex. The most distinctive feature of Bayon Temple are the  many faces that cover the towers of the temple. It was built in the late 12th century, so many of the 216 massive faces have deteriorated over time. Despite this, what is left is truly breathtaking. I've never seen anything like it and it truly felt like I was stepping into unknown kingdom.

Homes & Masks | Harry Potter Studio Tour 4 of 6

Hagrid's Home

The other areas of the first studio had sets and props from other famous places in the world of Harry Potter. There were the homes of Hagrid, Sirius Black and the Weasley family. I will say that it's super awkward seeing this sort of headless mannequins dressed as all the characters. I do like that they had something, but seeing my favorite characters clothing without heads is slightly off putting.

The Leaky Cauldron

Weasley's Home

Sirius Black's Home

The second studio was filled with even more interesting things. The first part delved into special effects and showcased a lot of the monsters and makeup. It was crazy seeing how detailed and intricate the masks were for some of the characters. I'm pretty sure being a make-up artist for films like these is an awesome job. Although, I do think they could've displayed Dobby a bit better. It was a bit jarring seeing his head propped up on a desk. Poor Dobby, murdered and displayed for all the world to see. 

Westminster Abbey | London, England | 4 of 6

Unfortunately, we weren't able to make it inside Westminster Abbey. We visited on our last day in London and by that time, we were a bit tired of museums and things of that nature. Also, the £18.00 ($27) fee was a bit steep. Now, in hindsight, I regret it a tiny bit. I had the chance to see the beauty and splendor of the Westminster Abbey and I let my fatigue and an entrance fee stop me. Who knows when I'll ever be back in London, that's the thing about wanderlust. It causes you to want more and see more. Most likely, you'll never return to the places you've been because the world is so big.

I think while we were there I knew I would later regret not going inside and went a bit crazy on the photos. I only had the outside to take photos, but it was enough. Even though we weren't able to go inside, we were able to make it memorable. James, Ari, Markus and I found a nice grassy spot in front and sat for a bit. We had a nice chat and people watched. It wasn't how I thought I would remember Westminster Abbey, but it's still a nice memory.

Eats with Jeff #1: Grilled Octopus

Markus and I love to eat. It's one of our favorite pastimes. We enjoy finding and trying new things. It's one of the greatest things about living in Korea. There isn't a lack of interesting and delicious foods. Recently, we befriended Jeff who, as I said before, bears a strong resemblance to my older brother. He also volunteers at the Women's Shelter and we bonded over our passion for food. Jeff has been a bit more proactive in his culinary adventures. So, as of late he's been taking us all over Busan to indulge in his finds.

Recently, Jeff took us to a grilled octopus restaurant in Seomyeon. One night, he stumbled upon the nondescript place in a back alley of the neighborhood. Later, he went with a Korean friend so that he could sample the food. As soon as I saw the photos on Facebook, I knew we had to go. 

Pancakes filled with pork

Spicy Grilled Octopus

The Boys: Kasim, Markus and Jeff

I'm glad Jeff found the place because it was quite delicious. The restaurant is hard to find and could easily be missed. It's down a very small alley that is off a side road that is off the main road. It's that hidden. Despite it's hard to find location, the place was packed. There was even a wait, which I rarely see. The restaurant focuses on one thing, octopus.  Glancing at the other tables, it's the only thing that everyone had on their table. The octopus itself was quite delicious. It was very spicy, but not in an unbearable way. It only heightened the taste that comes out once the octopus is grilled.

Once we were finished eating, we quickly left to free up our table. We stood outside the front of the restaurant with full bellies. We were trying decide where to go next. While Markus and Jeff were chatting, Kasim and I had a quick shoot. I believe he'll take any chance to pose and whip out his "modelling skills."

Strawberry Waffle

After eating heaps of spicy octopus, we all agreed that we needed sweets to soothe the fire in our mouths. We found a nearby cafe that served delicious strawberry waffles. Kasim couldn't resist feeding Jeff, its a thing they love to do in Korea! The waffles were so yummy that Kasim and I ordered another and proceeded to meet our carb quota for the day. Overall, it was a successful and delicious night out with Jeff.