[2009] Bali, Indonesia

Highlights!

The Monkey Dance!!  <--A must see by any standards.

Uluwatu<--a surfer's delight

It's a shame...

I spent most of my time in Ubud on a toilet due to some street food in KL.

A Toast to Bali for...

-their naughty monkies. One stole Hayes' sunglasses off his face! 

-having scooters to rent for next to nothing

In Good Company:

Darby, Hayes, Annette

[2009] North Island, New Zealand

I'm having trouble with my blog...it's kind of the reason I have been posting more sporadically. I have come to the realization that I am a Math and Chemistry teacher for a reason.  I hated English in high school! Even though I enjoy learning new languages, I struggle with writing in general. Therefore, I am devising a new format for writing about each location. It's still a work in process, so it may take a while before I finalize on an outline, so here's prototype 1.

Highlights!

-Glowworm cave! We went to a really small one, owned and run by a Mauri family. --- Really cool! Highly higly recommend. Except that I don't remember the location. John Willoughby will know though. Ask him!
-Hayes thinking he contracted Avian Flu!!! 

It's a shame I didn't...
-visit the South Island
-get to go to the fish farms and eat supposedly the freshest sushi in the world.

Things to note
Don't worry if you get lost in NZ, just pull out a map or pull off the road or turn on your blinkers, or just look confused and within 30 seconds someone will stop to help you out. Seriously, I am not even exagerating. The people are REALLY nice!

A Toast to New Zealand for...
-introducing me to pinot noirs! Soooo good!
-teaching me how to drive on the wrong side of the road
-smelling like sulfur in most places.

[2010] Monument, USA

My trips to Monument, CO are always the most relaxing. They usually involve animal and sunset watching. Not a pasttime I get to enjoy on a daily basis, living in a city and all, so it is quite a delight. I also find it so easy to nap, mostly due to the altitude, partially due to my laziness, which is also a bonus.

We bought a salt lick while we visited and it seems to attract deer consistently, which makes deer watching even more exciting. Throw in a ninja kitten lurking in the grass trying to pounce on them and you've got double the excitement! :)

[2011] Luxembourg

I travelled to Luxembourg with 3 students from the Global Issues Club to attend the Global Issues Conference. It was a disappointing conference for several reasons that I do not need to get into here, but I have to say I really enjoyed this city. I think every Luxembourg student I met could speak 3+ languages! How amazing is that? Needless to say, I felt quite inferior to these students.
Our group enjoyed a quick walk through the Modern Art Museum, just a block down the street from our hotel. They had some really beautiful pieces.
I guess I have to admit that my favourite thing about Luxembourg was the fact that it had a La Duree shop! Drool! Love at first sight...double love at first taste!

[2008] Eiffel Tower, France

Ever since I studied the Eiffel Tower for a grade 4 project with Mr. Dawson, I have dreamed of visitng Paris to visit it. Unfortunately, I don't have a photo of my Eiffel tower model made out of toothpicks...but I was finally able to visit it. It was during the week of Bastille Day and so it was a beautiful blue Eiffel tour.

 

[2007-2009] Daejon, S. Korea

It's been some time since I've been in Asia now. Approximately 1.5 years and I'm finding myself missing it. When so much time goes by, I seem to forget all the negative stuff and just hold on to the good aspects of it. It's kind of like an ex boyfriend. I even miss the hustle and bustle, whereas while I lived there I couldn't stand it.
Here are some pictures of the 'dong' (neighbourhood) I lived in in Daejon. The Ojungdong, AKA dwaejidong, was packed with suljibs (bars, or can be directly translated as alcohol-houses), bunshikjums (hole-in the wall restaurants) and coffee shops! A university student's haven. Which makes sense since we were adjacent to a university.
I really miss going for a quick snack after classes with my colleagues, or ducking into a coffee shop to mark during a free period. It made working and living in a university neighbourhood well worth it. Even if I did have to watch out for throw up in the streets along my walk to school.
Below are a few photos of the storefronts in the area. 

[2011] Berchtesgaden, Germany

Eagle's Nest was Hitler's favourite place for some reason. He built a little cottage/meeting place on this peak to entertain/impress important guests, I suppose. We learnt on the tour that he only visited it once after its completion. 

It wasn't the most interesting place I've been. And, the price to take a bus and elevator to the top was not worth its while. Next time, I would walk the trail to enjoy the view.