South Korea pt. 2

A few months late, but here we go...

I was in South Korea from December 15 until January 7 and it was one of the most amazing trips of my life. When I visited in May, it was summertime, not too hot, but in December it is completely different. I arrived on December 16th after an 18-20 hour plane ride around the world, leaving from Orlando, Florida to San Francisco, California, then into Incheon, South Korea. The plane ride over the Pacific Ocean is always the weird one, 12 hours of constant chatter from the person next to me really makes the trip. In May, I was stuck next to an over excited little boy who had obvious had too much caffeine for his age and made those 12 hours of my life probably the worst ever. This time around, I was next to a 24 year old Texan, who was relocating to teach English abroad in Seoul. It was interesting hearing about his pre-adventures and what not and I gave him some good tips since I had been to Korea once already. I got to the airport and went through all the securities and what not and then BAM! REUNITED!  Cayman was there waiting for me, like the perfect boyfriend he is! We had coffee at the airport, then left on a shuttle to the hotel which was on the oceanside. He booked the "Executive Suite" and online it seemed VERY nice, but of course it wasn't what they offered, but it was still very nice! Heated floors and a big jacuzzi bathtub.

We had dinner there and left the next morning after breakfast to head back to Songton, which is where the Air Base is.   My dinner=Beef Bulgogi and Rice

Isn't he so handsome???

When we got to base, we unloaded all my crap and met up with some of his friends. I've met most of them when I visited in May so it was like a great reunion. I love those boys, they're all so unique and hilarious! I was reunited with his small dorm room, that we'd be sharing for the next three weeks. I felt like I was back in freshman year again. We went downtown and got some kebabs, there's a small Turkish place called Mr. Kebab that has these great bites! DELICIOUS!

The next three weeks were full of hanging out inside and outside, we didn't travel around as much as before because he doesn't have a lot of leave to take since he took off time in May and August when he came home. So we made due with the weekends! Around base, there are lots of shops with just about everything you could want. Fake purses, McDonalds, paintings, clothes, EVERYTHING! I only ventured out twice while he was at work, because 1. it's really cold out and 2. i was scared. Haha! I'll grow some when we get to Italy, I'm just a Nervous Nancy!

I know he LOVES ME <3 <3

There is a market downtown, where all kinds of people come around and sell a variety of things. This woman was posted up on a corner selling vegetables and fruits. PDA is not a big thing in South Korea, so we had to keep it PG on the Subway! I can't help it, he completes me <3

Another thing I loved about going off base was...

PUPPIES!!!

Cayman tells me that they sell these puppies for food, but SERIOUSLY?! Who could eat these cute little babies! And they were expensive! Like 300,000 WON which is roughly $300 USD. I asked the guy selling them what their breed was and of course, he didn't know.

 It started snowing the second week I was there and until I left, it was great! I haven't been around snow like that before so I would play around in it when we walked outside and I could tell I was annoying Cayman, but he just doesn't understand! I love the snow. Its fluffy, white, pure feeling, I could just eat it up!

and i did...

We went snowboard on Christmas Eve. How perfect. I've never been before, but Cayman has. He told me too not wuss out and ski, so I was a big girl and opted for snowboarding. Hardest thing ever. I feel more time then I can count. I bruised my tailbone. IT IS POSSIBLE. And it hurt so so much! Cayman laughed when I showed him, it was pretty sick.

Our Ski Pass

Waiting our turn on the ski lift

Being cute on the ski lift!

THANK GOD I splurged and bought these boots, end of story!

Lugging these things around=strong ankles

I don't even want to talk about it... This is the toilet.

We went to dinner on Christmas day with a bunch of his guy friends and we played dress up! It was so cold, but I still tried to look nice! So, this is us in the cab on the way to dinner! We ate at a Brazilian Steakhouse, where they bring you a lot of meat. The best part=dessert=grilled cinnamon pineapple. DELICIOUS!

We went ice skating at a place called the You and I Center. I'm going to relate it to our YMCA type of place. It had pools, ice rinks, work out rooms and a daycare/school. We tried to find it one night after he got off work, but they had already closed. So we tried again the next day. We skated for a couple of hours, getting blisters and meeting cute little Korean University girls. They wanted to hang out with us on New Years, but we already had plans. They loved my red hair and pale skin.

We had to wear these stupid helmets, I think only because we were American!! Jerks!

Christmas Day! I got Cayman a pair of nice Diesel Jeans and some other clothes and small things, we HAD A LIMIT! And he surpassed his...

This is me, being super dumb and excited for my new MacBook Pro. This is my Christmas present, Birthday present, and forever present. He's too good to me!!

We ate at an Italian restaurant downtown, it's weird eating around there because they try to be multicultural. It's rather funny.

They had a cute set up, cute artwork and chairs. It was very "Vintage"

A face!

I'm so blessed with an incredibly gorgeous boyfriend!

My last request was to visit a Dr. Fish pedicure salon. This is an odd practice that is mostly illegal in the United States because of health codes, but it's tradition and something you HAVE to do in Asian countries. They have a tank with these weird fish, called Dr. Fish. They are actually  two species of fish: Garra rufa and Cyprinion macrostomus. They are small fish that eat away calluses on your feet, it felt like little vibrators on your feet. Weird but so cool!

That was an end to a perfect day. Cayman really didn't want to go and his friends were making fun of him for me asking/begging to go. They said it was disgusting and we'd get an infection, but WE DIDN'T! I loved it, it was a great bonding time and we did something fun together that we've never done with anyone else-that's what I love about it.

I love doing new and exciting things with Cayman, I love traveling with him and seeing the world. I cannot wait to get to Italy! Its about 100 days from now and I'll be boarding a plane to live in Italy temporary with the love of my life.

I left Korea on January 7th, I started Spring semester the next Monday, talk about hitting the ground running!

It was a great trip, yes we had our trials, but doesn't every one!? I love him just as much as I did before and that'll never change. He holds the key to my heart, forever.

Next stop: Aviano, Italy - June 11th 2012