Diagon Alley & Ministry of Magic | Harry Potter Studio Tour 5 of 6

Magic is Might

As I said before, the Harry Potter Studio Tour was massive. We could've spent all day there, since there was so much to see and explore. Two of the most impressive and easily recognizable sets were Diagon Alley and The Ministry of Magic. Besides The Great Hall, these are the other most recognizable locations from Harry Potter.

Seeing the Magic is Might monument from The Ministry was pretty cool. I didn't think it was that massive, but when I finally walked up to it, it was quite big and really detailed. Markus, James and Ari were wandering about the other sets, and I was a bit tired. So, I sat down on a bench below the statue. While I was sitting there, I imagined myself as a Ministry worker on a lunch break. There were heaps of people walking about with wands and cloaks, so it only added to my daydream. It was a bit silly, but it was a moment I enjoyed.

As you can tell from the photos, Diagon Alley wasn't as big as you would think. I think that's the magic of movies. When you see the films, you imagine a larger than life world and seeing it in real life takes a little of the magic away. It doesn't ruin the films, but it's still a bit jarring. I will say that the amount of detail and work that went into these shops were amazing. I wish they let us walk into the shops, but I know they were just for show. It was still a wonderful experience and more than just seeing a set from Harry Potter. It was like stepping into another time period, it was almost Dickensian and it was awesome.

Olivanders Wand Shop

Wands galore!

Eats with Jeff #3: Makguksu 막국수

Bibim Makguksu (비빔막국수)

In this installment of Eats with Jeff, we try makguksu and suyuk.  When he was describing the meal to me, I have to admit I was completely skeptical. He kept saying, "Cold noodles and boiled pork." Sounds really delicious right? Also, the restaurant is really far from my house and I can't be bothered to travel far. Jeff kept insisting it was worth it. I was really disinterested, but he said it was one of his favorite meals, so we agreed to go.

Boy, you cut those noodles.

Boiled Pork (수육)

Makguksu (막국수)

I will always remember this meal because it was one of the tastiest meals I've ever had. The makguksu was refreshing and delicious. It's very hard to describe, especially for someone who isn't used to eating cold noodles. I know that as an American, my mind is completely boggled by the concept, but it's so delicious. The noodles are made with buckwheat.  After eating, I didn't feel heavy like when I eat pasta. The broth is never overpowering and heightens the flavors of every component in the dish. Everything melds together perfectly. 

The suyuk or boiled pork was a revelation. As a Filipina, I love pork. I've had it every way possible, roasted, fried, stewed, minced but never boiled. I was worried that the meat would be bland and a strange texture. I was wrong. The meat was warm and savory. When you combine it with the sweet kimchi, the taste is amazing. Ever since we ate this, I've craved eating it again. It's something that I would trek hours for. It's that good.  This meal taught me another important lesson, always trust Jeff when it comes to food. 

A face you can trust.

Bayon Temple | Angkor Wat, Cambodia | 2 of 2

Bayon Temple is definitely a highlight that cannot be missed when visiting Angkor Wat. It was one of the most packed temples, but it didn't affect my enjoyment.  When you think that you've seen all there is to see, there is more waiting around the corner. Looking back on our time at Angkor Wat, Bayon Temple would have to be my favorite part. It was different enough from the other temples. It was different enough from the others and completely unique. 

 

As we walked around, I started to imagine what it would have looked like back in 12th century. It must have been a magnificent sight. Even now, it's quite amazing. It boggles my mind that we still have things like this in existence and definitely thankful that I was able to see something like this in my lifetime. We spent more time there than we should have, but it was worth it. I think we were able to capture the beauty and splendor and will have these photos to remind us of our time there.

Wandering Wednesday | Boston Common | 2010

One of the things I loved about Boston was Boston Common. It's amazing that in a huge metropolis there can still be parks like this. I think this is why I love big cities. They truly are the best of both worlds. Even though the city can be bustling with heaps of people and loud with noises, there are still little pockets of peace and quiet.

 Being from Florida, I don't get to experience the four seasons. I spent 90% of my life only experiencing summer, spring and sort of fall. It was amazing to see bright red and vibrant orange leaves for the first time in my life. I've only seen brown and green. Even though I've experienced all four seasons in Korea, there is nothing like fall in Boston.

Unnie Time

Love triangle?

Markus and I have been very lucky to have amazing co-workers. Markus used to work on the Magic English Bus. I know it sounds so awesome right? Basically, he would ride the Magic English Bus from school to school spreading the joy of English. It was a dream job for anyone in Korea and Markus was able to spend our first six months in Korea working there. On the bus, Markus had the most amazing Korean co-teachers, Gloria unnie and Seulhee unnie.

Cutie Unnies

Gloria unnie and Seulhee unnie are so awesome. Within five minutes of meeting them, I was instantly comfortable and knew that we would be friends forever. Not only are they beautiful but they're hilarious. They always have me laughing and the time always goes so fast when we're together. They speak English better than most Koreans I meet. They know more than just textbook English, but they know about pop culture so it's never awkward. I'm so thankful for their friendship and having them in our lives here, makes this experience even better.