Angkor Wat, Cambodia | 1 of 3

The amount of temples and structures at Angkor complex is overwhelming. There is so much to see and explore. The main temple, Angkor Wat, is one of the most recognizable. When you think of Cambodian ruins, the image of Angkor Wat easily comes to mind. Angkor Wat itself, is quite big and includes a other smaller structures and a marketplace for souvenirs. 

Unfortunately, when we visited, the main temple was under construction. There was a horrible green tarp over a very visible section. There were also heaps of tourists, which got annoying after a while. The temple itself wasn't what I expected and I'm not sure it was my favorite, but it's one of those things you have to see when you go to Angkor. It's like going to Paris and skipping out on the Eiffel Tower, you just don't do it.

Spamalot and the West End | London, England | 6 of 6

Piccadilly Circus

On our last and final night in England, we went to see Spamalot in the West End. Its always been on my wishlist to see a production on Broadway or the West End. Before we left for London, Ari and I had made a last minute decision to go for James' birthday. Growing up I went a lot of musicals. My mother loves them and because of her that I enjoy these sort of things.
 

Piccadilly Circus

The Harold Pinter Theatre

Before the musical, we walked around a bit and toured the West End. There were so many theaters and so many different productions. There were a few other ones that I wished we were able to see, but I guess I should be thankful we were able to see one at all. Spamalot was showing at The Harold Pinter Theatre, one of the smaller theaters, but that made the experience even better. It felt more personal and intimate. It was a great production and I loved hearing all the familiar songs but also new ones. Spamalot was very similar to the film, but different enough to make it enjoyable. Although, if it was the same as the film, I still would have loved it just the same.

I am a huge fan of Monty Python, especially the Holy Grail. I watched the movie for the first time when I was a freshman in high school. After that first experience, I gobbled up everything Monty Python. I would quote the movie all the time, even when no one had any idea what I was talking about. So, it was only fitting that my last night in London would be watching Spamalot. It was one of the greatest moments of my life and something I will always cherish.

Cherry Blossom Explosion Part 2

Recently, Markus and I both had a random Monday off. It rarely happens, so we decided to make the most of it and went out for a few hours to see the cherry blossoms. They only last for about two weeks, so any chance we had to see them, we took. I always get sad when the cherry blossoms disappear. It feels like I'm living in a fairy tale for two weeks. It's so magical. The city is filled with beautiful pink flowers and before you know it they're gone.

We didn't need to go to any special street or place. Our neighborhood also had heaps of cherry blossoms. We walked around and stopped to take a photo at any spot that we liked. Markus and I are so busy, so we rarely have time to relax. It's a bit sad, but it's the reality of our lives. I'm thankful we were able to have this afternoon to explore and enjoy the little things. We only have five months left in Korea, so every moment counts.

Eats with Jeff #4: Samgyetang and Crispy Chicken

Crispy Chicken

If you know me, you know that I'm obsessed with chicken, especially if it's fried. Anytime I know chicken is in my future, I even do a little chicken dance. It's strange, but it's very much a part of who I am. Jeff knows this about me and suggested that we go to a samgyetang restaurant in Sajik. Samgyetang is a delicious soup that consists of a whole chicken, rice and ginseng. There are other components and they all meld together to create this savory stew. Most samgyetang restaurants only serve the one dish, but Jeff found a restaurant that also served crispy chicken. This chicken is special because it's cooked in an electric grill and not fried. The minute he mentioned the crispy chicken, I knew we had to go.

Banchan

The banchan or side dishes were really good. Most restaurants tend to stick to the same dishes, but this place had a few different ones. Also, everything was fresh and definitely tasty. After being in Korea for 18 months, I've had my fair share of banchan. I can tell if there is a lot of care put into the dishes and these were good quality. The flavors were not too overwhelming and had the write amount of spice and sourness. Surprisingly, my favorite was the chicken gizzards.

Samgyetang

Me, the owner and Jeff

We ordered two plates of the crispy chicken and one samgyetang. I think our stomachs lead the decision making. When it arrived, there was so much, but I tore into that delicious crispy goodness. The difference between crispy chicken and fried chicken wasn't that obvious. It tasted just like fried chicken and I didn't feel as guilty eating it. The samgyetang was delicious and very similar to the banchan. It tasted very clean and the major highlight was the chicken. I've eaten samgyetang before, but I try not to eat it often, since it is the highest calorie meal in Korea coming in at 918 kcal per serving.

The owner of the restaurant remembered Jeff and kept bringing little extras to us. He was so sweet and and seriously adorable. He walked over and would drop something off with a huge smile. His kindness only added to a delicious and wonderful experience.

Wandering Wednesday | Harvard, MA 2010

While we were in Boston in 2010, Markus and I hopped on the T and headed over to Cambridge. We planned to spend the day at Harvard. I really liked Cambridge. It had the same quaint feeling as Boston, but Boston still feels very much like a city. Cambridge felt a little more personal and easily accessible. It's such a great little city and has many things to see.

The main reason we went to Cambridge was to check out Harvard and it's campus. I have to admit, while we were there, I felt like an impostor. Never in my wildest dreams, would I have been able to go to a university like that. I felt a bit envious of all the students who were able to not only live in such a beautiful place, but attend such a great school. Alas, it was still pretty cool being able to pretend for a day. I was really tempted to sit in one of the bigger classes, but decided against it. Instead, we spent the rest of the afternoon enjoying the nice fall weather, wandering the streets and visiting the Natural History Museum.