Korea Farewell

Out with the crew having a delicious seafood dinner!

Korean seafood soup - favorite meal I've eaten here, by far!!

#DELICIOUS

Appetizer

Salmon Sashimi - Very fresh.........

I've Been a Complete FOODIE in Korea

FOODIE 101

CALIFORNIA BURGER @ 9 OUNCE BURGER - SEOUL

SUSHI SPOT w/FRIENDS

TRADITIONAL KOREAN DISH

VERY GOOD FOOD @THIS BAR.. SHOWN HERE IS A GIANT OMELETTE

I FORGOT THE KOREAN NAME FOR IT..

TRUTHFULLY - KOREAN FRIED CHICKEN BEST I'VE EVERRR HAD!!

@ A THAI RESTAURANT IN SEOUL - SHE HAD THAI CURRY SHRIMP

FUN & GREAT BEERS @ KOREAN PUB - ZZAN!!! CHEERS!!

DINNERS READY - SHE PREPARED A TRADITIONAL KOREAN MEAL 4 US!!

DELICIOUS :)

Workout Abroad!

So, someone pointed to me to go exercise at an nearby outdoor sports complex

Leg press

My favorite exercise - the pull up!

Yo?!

Travel & Exercise - My two favorite hobbies!!

7 Fun Facts of South Korea

1. There are 250 Kinds of Kimchi - "Kimchi" is a spicy pickled or fermented mixture containing cabbage, onions, and sometimes fish. 

 

2. Koreans eat seaweed soup on their birthdays.

3. Adultery was illegal until a few months ago. 

4. Koreans cheer the High school students taking the national exam by giving them candy.

5. Koreans believe in the influence of blood types for personalities.

6. Korea's flag is highly conceptual

 7. Half the population has identical surnames.

The official report by the National Statistical Office (NSO 1985) revealed that, among a total 275 surnames, each of 44 surnames was reported by less than 100 people. As of the 1985 population of 40,410,000 people, 5 surnames were reported by more than one million: 8,780,000 were owned by those who had the last name of Kim, 5,980,000 of Lee (or Yi or Rhee), 3,400,000 of Park, 1,910,000 of Choi (or Choy), and 1,780,000 of Chung (or Jung).

Seoul, Korea - Part 1

SEOUL, KOREA

@C27 Cheesecake & Coffee

Coffee Date 

Chocolate Mouse cheesecake

I have to add - Some of the best coffee I've ever had, better than Starbucks! Well again!!!?? I dunno, lol

We both had pasta, I know that it's a Steak joint, but hey?1?

Whenever in Seoul give this place a visit....

Stay Tuned! New Destination next Week......................

Stay Tuned for an all new destination blog feature next week - See you soon.......

KANGAROO BURGERS

• My roommate, whom was British; attended a soccer match. Perth vs. Sydney - going to an International soccer match or tournament would be a wondrous experience!
• Watching the news on television overseas while traveling gives you a multi-pronged  perspective. I watched Australian news a bit at our beach house - As I like to watch it in every country that I visit.
• Long flights gives you much needed writing time, and thinking....

So, my friend mentioned possibly eating KANGAROO for a Australian meal on our trip! At first I was quite skeptical, but after careful consideration, I gave in; and for good reason..

Kangaroo Steaks! Yummy......

CARRINGTON FALLS

The Carrington Falls is a plunge waterfall across the Kangaroo River

"The Group" Had a blast - wished we'd extended our trip some

Elevation 1,178 ft (542) meters 

430-520 ft

Willie & Nikki posted - taking in the earthy view

I still don't know the reason why Will had 1 shoe off! ;)

MORE TO FOLLOW.........

FACTS OF AUSTRALIA

FACTS

AUSTRALIANS pronounces it's country with two syllables, instead of three. (insider) lol

1. AUSTRALIA was inhabited by indigenous people for about 50,000 years before the British came.

      2.In Australia, there are more kangaroos than people

We got to encounter KANGAROOS during our Blue Mountains tour

• Australia is the world's sixth - largest country by total land area
• Australia has over 10,000 beaches. You could visit a beach everyday for 27 years.
• The city of Melbourne used to be called "BATMANIA" - Referring to it's old bat infestation
• Australia is the only Western country in the world to not have a bill of rights. 
• MANY CLAIM THAT A GENOCIDE WAS COMMITTED IN AUSTRALIA AGAINST IT'S NATIVE PEOPLE FROM 1910-1970 IN AN EFFORT TO CREATE A "WHITE AUSTRALIA."
• AUSTRALIA has 10 times more camels than koala's; and it exports camels to Saudi Arabia - go figure, lol......
• 75% of Australia's living species in unknown to man. (This sort of explains the ransacked wildlife zoo that we visited)...
• In Australia, Burger King is called "Hungry Jacks" - Don't ask.....

BUNDI & COOGEE BEACH WALK

BUNDI BEACH (AUSTRALIA)

NIKKI, WILLIE & MYSELF (BUNDI TO COGGEE BEACH WALK

LIVE FREE OR DIE (OZ 2K16)

BEACH

NIKKI & WILLIE (BEACH)

Sydney Aquarium & ZOO 2K16

JAWS!!!

SCHOOL OF FISH

THE GROUP VIEWING 

POISONOUS AUSTRALIAN SNAKE 

KANGAROO'S 

GIANT ALLIGATOR

SYDNEY ZOO

Australia Day 1

I just boarded a 10 1/2 hr flight, wait! ------ I just boarded a 10 1/2 hr flight????!!!!!! There's not enough alcohol in this world for me to concure; even though I indulged in a little drinking.

Crown Beer - Australia's Favorite

Flight attendant: Sir, what would you like to drink?

Me: A beer please ma'am.

Attendant: Beer for breakfast?

Me: Ma'am, today it's beer for breakfast, lunch & dinner....

Take off!!

Having a U.S. passport is an awesome thing - you can just about travel to anywhere - worldwide!!

InFlight map HNL - SYD

Sydney Harbour Bridge on a sunny day

Our group is debating on climbing it- Stay tuned for that

Places I'm afraid of visiting

1. San Pedro Sula, Honduras = Only listed as the most dangerous place on earth, even over active war countries. Even Lonely Planet refers to it as having an horrendous reputation for gang violence. Indeed, it's been named world's most violent city, (outside a war zone) many times, more recently in 2015. Let's be clear however, ,most of the crime here is gang-on-gang, and it's a low probability that innocent tourists are caught up in the cross fire. Even though, reports of few sights, very little culture life. San Pedro's International airport and its crucial bus transit travel hub is a main entry for tourist, you'll be very likely to pass through it. #Goodluck :)       
2. Caracas, Venezuela = On my own recent account, I met a woman from Venezuela. We where chatting about Venezuela, and even though she wasn't from Caracas; she had nothing nice AT ALL to say about Venezuela! 
3. I'm brave at heart, and my quest to visit over 100 countries in my lifetime still insights me.

The World's Most Underrated Countries - According to HC

1. NICARAGUA
2. JAMAICA
3. ECUADOR

AND THE COUNTDOWN BEGINS

AUSTRALIA IN T- MINUS

Travel or Die! -- 2016 Travel Tips

Travel or Die - 2016 Travel Tips

1. Try using the search engine: Rome 2 Rio
2. Get an unlocked mobile phone or use T- mobile's international plan
3. Be flexible with your travel time, and place. Certain times of the yr for your destination could fluctuate in price throughout the year. High season / low season
4. Before booking a roundtrip flight - search for 2 oneway tickets first -- Sometimes its noticeably cheaper. Save money!!
5. Bring your own airport/ airplane snacks. Also, bring an extra empty water bottle through airport security, most airports have clean water fountains to refill once you're through security.
6. Research your destinations museum policy for free tours. 
7. Always refer to http://www.lonelyplanet.com for backpacking essentials...
8. Follow the so called "six-blocks rule" 1. Never eat at a restaurant within 6 blocks of your accommodation. The food is double the price and is half as good. It's true.... Sites like Yelp, Openrice, and foursquare can help you find great eateries.....
9. Use ride sharing apps or sites to get around, Also, do like the locals do & catch public transportation to save money..  Ride sharing sites like blablacar or message boards like Gumtree to catch free rides with locales....
10. Hit up those morning markets, they offer money saving, healthy snack options that saves us travelers money. And if you're hungry, you can just eat at the market, itself. 

Koko Head

KOKO HEAD CRATER HIKE

• Koko Head Crater is a dormant volcano
• Last erupted 30,000 - 35,000 yrs ago
• Peak elevation = 1203 ft / 368 m
• Features Lana'i Lookout, which is a scenic lookout that pictures a view of the neighboring island of Lanai, to the southeast of Oahu
• Koko head regional park is located on the Southeastern side of Honolulu

Backdrop: Koko Bay & Hawaii Kai

Today was my first time hiking it,  I ain't gonna lie, it wasn't a easy hike, nor to my roommate, whom together we hiked... I 'll definitely hike it many more times.. I also wanna tackle 'Stairway to Heaven', as its called, which is deemed an extremely difficult hike by many standards -- given its name!! lol

MORE TO FOLLOW.......

My recent post tardiness........

First off, HAPPY  NEW YEARS PEOPLE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I would like to start off by stating an apology for my recent non travel-blog posting...

Time just fly's by so fast here in Hawaii.... 

This is a wonderful state, not just state, but an wonderful island!!!

* The real reason for my non travel blog posting, is that I've actually recently decided to relocate to HI, for the foreseeable future - or at least until the Western hemisphere's summer time, which is June 22 - Sept 22, timeframe. 

During my time here, I'll be furthering  my education -- being that I was just accepted into a local community college, for their Spring semester..

* My top resolution for '16 was to make an gradual step in completing my tech degree -- and '16 couldn't of gotten off to a more prominent start, with the acceptance into school here..


However, from this post forward, I will continue to travel between my current and other Hawaiian Islands, and update you'll w/ pics, interesting stories, videos, and other blog stuff.. 

(The Blog Will Continue................)