A little culture...and a new toy

Hola!

This has been a fairly eventful past 2 weeks.  Both of us (Mike way more than me ;) ) have been busy with work & the normal hustle & bustle of life but fortunately we both could make time to go to the Lantern Festival.  I've wanted to go for now 3 years but we've never had the opportunity.  They put on the lanterns and festivities for about a week, covering Buddha's Birthday, May 17th.  On that day, you can go to any temple and they serve free lunch (just your basic rice with red pepper sauce and mixed vegetables aka "Bee-beem-bop".)  We didn't go on that day but the weekend before.  We went to the local temple in Seoul.  I posted pictures of that one a few months back.  Here's a few shots of the evening...

It was really neat!  We stopped at one of the local cafes on the way home for a coffee and headed home.  I'm glad I could cross that off of my small bucket-list of "Things to See" before we leave.  Mike liked it..but..on the way home he's like "Ok, well, that's done" HA!  It was really tired that day because he had worked till like 3 AM for about 7 days straight.  The life of a soldier ;)

On to the new toy...I finally lost the 4 year battle with Mike.  He has been eyeing this bad boy for sometime now and we just went ahead and took the plunge.  What do you think?

No, I will not be riding on the back until 1) At least 1 year of driving experience and 2)  We are the HECK out of Korea!  It is way too dangerous here..which is why the furthest I've driven in 2 years and 7 months is about 1 mile each way.  My blood pressure would be out of this WORLD..and my gray hairs would grow even more plentiful than they are now.  But he loves it so, Happy Birthday Mike for the next 10 years!  And yes...it will be coming with us to Germany.  

So, I have a funny story.  The other day the Korean woman who I work with & also tutor her daughter, asked me if I wore deodorant.  So instantly the first thing that comes to mind is "Umm, doesn't everyone?"  Although, I'm sure we've all experienced people around us or shoot..even when just walking into a store and BAM..someone is stinkin'.  It is always just so obvious.  Well..the more I had thought about it, there really isn't many worse smelling things in this world than a sweating Korean.  Because, well, let's just take a moment & think about this.  They eat fermented cabbage, TONS of seafood (like squid, and other unidentifiable things), seaweed, tons of whole clove garlic..and so much more that's just not even worth mentioning.  So I reply yes and she follows with: 

"Does it make to not sweating?"  

Yes..the English is word-for-word how I am typing. 

Me:  Well..I guess it "reduces" sweat but...we mostly wear it to help not to smell.

Her:  Oh, we no care bout da smell.

YOU ARE TELLING ME.

Me:  Yea, that's pretty obvious.  When we boarded the subway the other day it smelt like a truck of rotted onions.

Her:  BUSTED out laughing

Can you tell that it is time for us to leave?  I have practically a zero filter at this point so fortunately..she found that funny.

Ohhhh, the memories we will have of living here.  SO irreplaceable :)

Hope you all have a great, happy weekend & we will chat with ya soon!

I came across this quote on a hilarious blog I read...definitely food for thought.

"Let go of the comfortable and embrace the strange and the change. Because every experience you've had in your adult life that made you stronger required you to choose to be uncomfortable."

Love you!

Aviation Formal!

Good evening :o)

We hope everyone is doing spectacular and everything is going well!  Things in "The Land of the Morning Calm" are good...and tensions have seemed to have settled down a bit (if any of you were wondering).  Isn't it a little funny though, how on the news channels you would've thought we were either AT war or war was fast approaching...and now it isn't even really a second thought?  Just shows that they aren't always credible and its' negative focus on things, I believe, has the ability to worsen situations and tensions.  But media is media and that's that!

Exciting things though...Mike only has like 10 days before he can start "officially" filling out paperwork for GeRmAnY!  Oh the joy that brings to my heart, ha!  Just leaving Asia brings joy enough but to think it's almost time for EUROPE.  GET OUTTTT.  So pumped.  So though paperwork can be a pain in the toosh...assuming the military doesn't lose it 3 times, the process should move right along ;)  

So every year, the Aviation group of Korea puts on this very formal, great ball called the AAAA ball (people just say "Quad A")  All the people who are aviation on the entire peninsula come together to celebrate each other as well as each others achievements while serving here.  It's a night to thank the Republic of Korea (ROK) military for being counterparts with us and having a successful joint service team.  The very first 4 Star General EVER in Korea (led the Korean war) was there as a Guest of Honor.  He was the sweetest man and so, so old.  Seriously...I'm assuming late 80's?  He still has his own secret service and what not and gets EXCELLENT treatment (which is totally should).    It was such a fun and special night to celebrate the aviators in Korea :o)

The translating board for the Koreans that were attending...thought that was pretty cool.

Ok, so, this picture might just be like "Oh, who are those people?"  No, THIS man is literally the God of Army Aviation haha.  He is the 4 star General that is in charge of both the U.S. Army as well as the Korean Army (leading Command basically).  Mike was specifically chosen almost 2 years ago to be his personal crew chief throughout his tour here in Korea.  I actually had the opportunity to meet him (he visited the base and bank that I work at).  They are the sweetest, most down-to-earth people.  He is the most senior-ranking Aviator in the entire Army, and he just happens to be leading Command in Korea.  How awesome is that?!  So proud of Mike!

Our third and final sighting of Cherry Blossoms has come and gone for the Sandberg clan.  They were beautiful as always this year, however, do to bizarre winds and off & on chilly, they weren't in bloom much longer than a week..BUT long enough for me to snap some pic-chas!

Spring is here in Korea, FINALLY.  I mean...it technically is here but yet..here I sit in sweat pants and a hoodie.  UGH.  It's way better than winter but..just isn't quite there yet.  I'm enjoying it though because I know the heat/humidity/rain that is upon us when Monsoon season hits.

Have a great day everyone!!!  The next post will be about the upcoming Buddha's birthday and the lantern festival for we are going to go to at a temple!

Chat with you soon <3

Our Asian Adventure!

We are HOME..and sunburnt!

I think one of the strangest things about traveling here is that when we return "home"..we are really, technically, still traveling.  Traveling..travelers?  I like it!  Anyways, it was a great trip, definitely an eye opener to how different the rest of Asia is from Korea..and really very different from one country to the next.  If you're wondering "How so?", well, Koreans hawk loogies like 324 times per day and the other Asian countries..while I'm sure they might need to, don't do it at RESTAURANTS.  Yea, so, that's a brief example :o)

I was thinking...after this vacation, while in Korea, we will have gone to:

Korea (obviously..for TOO long)   :P

Japan

China

Italy

Greece

Turkey

Singapore

Thailand

Malaysia

Plus Mike has been to a TON of Middle Eastern countries while being deployed.  Crazy to even think about that!  And surprised some moments and places haven't actually made us crazy :)  Or has it?  Ha.  There is one thing that I always, always think after each trip and that is how happy and thankful I am to be AMERICAN.  I can't really explain why it's just something that you feel when you observe how other places and people work.

We actually were able to get a quick glance at Indonesia on the way into Singapore.  We had no idea how close they really were..turns out we were only a short hop away from Australia.  That is like Mike's DREAM.  But we'd literally have to win the lottery..like twice before we could go.

Our first bit and I say bit because...Singapore is expensive!  But it's pretty cool because they  have plastic money.  And here I thought Korean money was like monopoly money!  But the Singapore dollar is about $1.20 something so the U.S. dollar is stronger, however, the price of everything totally makes up for the gain in currency.  Like....a pair of Gap jeans was like $200 US.  HOLY MOLY, they weren't $200 worth of cute!

Some fun facts about Singapore (these are credible because it came from a Singaporean...how weird does that sound...Singapor-EAN.)  Which brings me to my next point, Singapore is like an Asian bag of nuts.  Ok, I just made myself laugh..they are pretty nutty but what I really mean is that Singapore is no one nationality.  They are a mixture of Chinese, Malaysian, Indian..and so on.  EVERYONE and I mean everyone speaks English but at some point in their schooling, they choose an additional language.  So for example, if your family is primarily Indian, you'd choose to speak a dialect of India (which there are 27 dialects of Indian, not sure if you knew that) or you could choose Mandarin (Chinese) and so on.  So it's pretty neat because I feel Singapore embraces all cultures and no one seems so different unlike here, where everyones eyes squint the same!  I always say we'd be better off if they put us in the local zoo.  Hey, that's an idea!  

Anyways, I'm getting distracted...

Average cost to purchase an average car:  $150,000

Cost per week to park in the city:  $500

Estimate for a government owned 2 B/1 B condo:  $500,000

Estimate for a private owned 3 B/2 B condo:  $1,000,000 +++

In other words. O-U-T-R-A-G-E-O-U-S

In case you can't read the signs below:

No smoking:  Fine $1000

No eating/drinking:  Fine $500

No Flammable Liquid/Gas:  Fine $5,000

YOWWW-E!  No wonder the city is like, perfect!

Amazing...I feel like I should change my favorite color from red to green so I seem to have an obsession with green after not seeing it for like half a year here!  Those Floridians reading this are probably like...ok..yep..that's a tree.  But it is sooo much more than that to me :P

Can you spot the Buddhist monk?  Hmmm wonder if you're supposed to take their picture?

A fun cool place to visit at night!  Lots of neat restaurants and just a great atmosphere.

So this nifty little hotel, well not little, is called the Marina Bay Sands Hotel.  Not sure if you'd heard of it or if they advertise it at all during the states but it is COOL.  The top of it, that boat looking thing, is actually a bar, infinity pool, and so on.  This is actually a view from our hotel we stayed it on the 38th floor.  Shew!  Definitely the highest up I've ever stayed...Ha!  But the hotel is really neat, we didn't stay there because the hotel is a bit out of the way from the center of the city, not to mention, it's a small fortune to stay there.  When I say small fortune, our hotel was $300 something per night and that was fairly REASONABLE!  

Singapore is so, so beautiful.  I could literally brag about it for hours.  It is so quaint, yet so big and busy.  You never feel overcrowded or smothered.  You are never pushed, stared at, or..I don't know I'm out of things LOL but anyhow, it is so much better than Seoul.  The only downside?  The HEAT, holy taleedo--it was like mid 90s but with 70% + humidity.  Yowww it was incentive to go indoors and enjoy the b-e-a-utiful AC that they had.  

The greenery was like this all over!  Couldn't get enough, especially coming from the beautiful brown and sticks of Korea.

Ok, yes, I am in 7-11.  They have those here (BTW no 7-11s in Asia sell gas it is just meant to be a grab and go snack store).  The thing you should focus on is what I am holding...a SLURPEE.  I cannot describe how incredible this is.  I actually want one now, despite it still being in the 30s outside.  It was over 2 years and 4 months before I could even THINK about having one.  Korea doesn't see it fit to have slurpees here. I enjoyed every sip of that by the way :)

Singapore by night from our hotel the night before the cruise!  So awesome!

This statue was in Malaysia.  The guy who constructed the Iwo Jima monument that is now in Washington D.C. made this same structure.  This was made to represent the Malayan victories during WW1 and WW2 and their Revolutionary war.  The reason I'm really posting this picture is not because of the history..because that is fairly boring...but you can't see it but it refers to Allah on the engravings.  Most of Malaysia is Muslim & the remaining religions are amongst Hindu and Buddhism.  I know that the Muslim faith seems to be expanding but it's one thing to read about it but another to actually see it being practiced..but that goes with Hinduism and Buddhism as well.  It's pretty neat though!

This is Malaysian food that we ate at in the Patroneus towers (pictured below).  It was good...but let's just say it wasn't fun the entire next day in Thailand.  Okay not fun doesn't even encompass it.  There are no words!  I guess that just makes me more "cultured" or that's what I tell myself at least ;)

If you're wondering what it is..the rice is like a coconut rice with chicken curry a slice of cucumber and half a hard-boiled egg.  I know, weird.  What is slightly more disturbing was what LOOKED like a spicy cabbage side dish (on the very left of the place) which I totally would've been okay with..was definitely not a spicy cabbage side dish.  It was, however, a stinkin' dried like sardine nastiness.  OMG just typing this makes me cringe.  EW.  Ugh, I can't even explain how I felt when I first tasted it.  It literally was like they took like a million fish, drained their fish juice (if that even makes sense) and then made it like a broth they soaked this in..AND to boot?  I noticed a little silver thing after I had tried it..yep..a fish.  Ok, gross, done talking about it..I am reliving it more than I ever wanted to!

There are the beauties!  Fun fact, one of these towers is KOREAN owned as well as the bridge and the other is Japanese.  We had no idea before visiting.  We just figured it was Malaysia or something like that.  You know, something Asian :)  We were able to go on the first 4 floors of it which were just shopping...yes both outrageous and reasonable.  We ate at ice cream...haha!  You could pay like $80/person to go up to the top floor but I guess the tickets book out like 6 months in advance.  For one, I wouldn't care to do that and second, who the heck would pay 80 bucks a person!  Not this gal :)

The most holy Buddhist temple in all of Thailand.  Absolutely beautiful buildings and architecture.  Thai things seems to be loaded with color...kind of obnoxious but for some reason it looks great.

As we were touring the temple, some locals were actually practicing the religion.  I was trying not to stare (like a Korean would LOL) but what little I caught they were taking a piece of paper or whatever it was and rubbing it on the gold statues or Buddhas...ha.  Anyways, whatever they were doing, it was pretty cool.  

Thai monkeys looking for some fruit purchased by their visitors.  And yes, they are free-roaming!

Well, this is another funny story.  We got a traditional Thai massage while we were there and man was that HILARIOUS.  First, they had us get in these genie-like clothes which, I'm honestly laughing out loud just typing this because they were just ridiculous.  So when I thought "Wow, a 2 hour massage" thinking it would be fancy.  Yea.  Wrong.  That little 57 year old mattress on the ground was the greatest "luxury" we had.  What was more funny was watching this 4'11-80 lb. woman try to massage Mike.  I happened to glance over and see this poor women practically using Mike has a human trampoline to try and crack his..entire spine HAHA.  Oh my gosh, it took everything I had to not laugh.  Another great memory to that day :)

Everyone in Singapore talks with a British accent, along with British slang.  Too hilarious "Rubbish"!

Now that's something you'll never see in the states :P

Well, anyways, I could go on and on.  We had a great time.  It was too short obviously, but it was very interesting and allowed us to gain a great respect for other countries as well as see how different Asian countries really are from one another.

Hope you enjoyed the post!  I might put in pictures that I come across here and there on the next couple of blog posts.

We hope everyone is great!!

And sending a big CONGRATULATIONS to the Gent clan on the new family addition :o)

<3 Mike & Britt