As I sat here tonight thinking what it was that I wanted to write about, nothing popped into my head. There was no slice of life from today that warranted a post about it. Then I remembered that I am going to Paris in 2 weeks for Spring Break…now, that’s a slice worth writing about!
Since this will be my fourth time to visit Paris, I don’t have the typical long list of things to see and do. Additionally, I’ve been so drained lately from work, that the idea of having a fully packed schedule seems really daunting. My friends and I have all been to Paris before, and as such, we’ve decided that we just want to exist in Paris, with a few things planned and the rest of the time playing it by ear, which sounds pretty delightful to me!
As a foodie, I have a few food-related things on the agenda. First up, we are going to take a croissant making class with a French chef, where we will learn how to bake flaky croissants, pain au chocolat, and pain aux raisins. Next up, we are planning on taking a food tour of Canal Street, where we will get to sample a wide range of different street foods. The pictures look delicious, so I can’t wait! Lastly, we will visit a food market, where we will eat freshly made crepes and crispy fried potato pancakes. I visited this market the last time I was in Paris, and it was one of my favorite things we did.
Of course, we can’t go to Paris without visiting some museums. The Louvre is top on my list! Even though I’ve gone at least once every other time I’ve visited Paris, I’ll definitely make another trip to one of my favorite museums in the world! Another Paris stand-by is the Musee d’Orsay, where I love to take a picture of the huge clock from the inside. This time around, we’ll take a stroll through the Musee de l’Orangie, a museum I’ve yet to visit. Another new place to add to the list is Monet’s Garden, a day trip from Paris. The pictures look gorgeous, so I can’t wait to see it in real life!
The rest of the time, we’ll stroll through the streets, taking in the beauty of the city and stopping to eat at cafes, where I’ll people watch or read or write in my journal. I’ve never been to Paris in springtime, but I imagine the flowers and trees will be beautiful, as the buds are starting to open, new life emerging. I’d like to stop by the local boulangerie to pick up a baguette and the market or grocery store to get some various cheeses and fruit and have a picnic on the Champ de Mars near the Eiffel Tower. Like I said, I basically just want to exist in Paris.
I’ll leave you with a few pictures from my last few trips to Paris…
I grabbed my suitcase off the conveyor belt and headed to the taxi rank. Luckily, the line was short. It was after 10:30, and wanted to get to bed as soon as possible. I’d be back here at 6:30 tomorrow morning.
“Number ten,” the attendant said, pointing to the spot I needed to wait. I shuffled over, noticing the sign indicating that I’d be charged a $5.80 airport surcharge. No biggie, my hotel’s close.
The taxi pulled up, but he didn’t get out to help me with my bags. Hmmm, that’s weird. Everyone in Adelaide always helped. Maybe it’s different in Sydney. A little perturbed, I loaded my bags and got in. The driver was on the phone and didn’t look my way. I waited until he hung up. “Citadines Hotel please. It’s an airport hotel. I can show you the address if you need it.”
“Why didn’t you take an Uber?” he barked.
“Um…I don’t know. I thought I’d just grab a taxi.”
“It’s going to be very expensive for a short ride in a taxi,” he informed me.
“I saw there’s a surcharge. No problem. I just want to get to the hotel.”
“Why are you here, not in an Uber? It’ll cost you a lot,” he repeated, as he was driving towards my hotel.
“How much do you think it will be?” I asked, starting to get irritated with his attitude.
“37 or 38 dollars,” he claimed.
“What?!? How is that possible?? My hotel is like 5 minutes away!” I exclaimed, my shock and frustration beginning to show.
“I told you. You should have taken an Uber.”
“But you told me after I was in your taxi and you had already driven off,” I argued.
Noticing that I didn’t see the meter ticking away, I asked, “Where’s your taxi meter?”
“No meter. It’s 37 dollars,” he stated, with authority.
At this point, I began looking around the cab, looking for the stickers with the taxi company phone number and taxi driver’s number, so I could call and complain. No such signage existed. “What’s your taxi company phone number? You have to use the meter. It’s the law,” I countered.
He started mumbling under his breath in another language, clearly frustrated with me and my arguments. He refused to give me the number and still wouldn’t turn the meter on, if there even was one.
“I’m not paying that much,” I declared.
“Give me your taxi company number. I’ll call them and sort this out. Then I will pay you. But I’m not paying you 37 dollars for a 5 minute ride!”
Around about this time, he pulled into my hotel, still mumbling under his breath. Once he came to a stop, the yelling started. “You need to pay me!”
“I’m not paying you that much. You’re trying to rip me off!”
“Get out!”
Unsure about what would happen next, I exited and unloaded my bags. I was a little nervous about how much to pay, but when he got out of the cab, shouting in a language I couldn’t understand and slamming the trunk down as hard as he could, I realized he was pissed at me for calling him out and thought I was going to stiff him (which was never my intention). He then slammed my door before I could shut it, jumped back into the driver side, and peeled out of the parking lot.
Reeling from what just happened, I asked the front desk staff what a taxi ride from the airport should cost, since I almost just got ripped off, and the ladies informed me that taxi drivers have “gone wild” in Sydney and charge whatever they want now. One woman told me that some people were charged $100 for the 5 minute ride to the hotel. (What?!?!) She recommended I only use Uber from now on. Noted.
I hate getting taken advantage of or ripped off! It’s not so much the money either. It’s the fact that some people see a foreigner and think they can pull one over on them and that’s not fair. Well, not today, buddy! Not today!
“Speed bump ahead,” the robotic voice says, over and over again, on the drive home.
My car talks to me all the time, reminding me of upcoming speed bumps and changes in the speed limit, in addition to alerting me to the speed and intersection cameras. While I appreciate the heads up, the incessant one-way conversation interrupting my music can get quite annoying.
The most unusual thing about driving here in Jeju is the frequency of the speed bumps on the roads. You may be thinking I’m talking about some roads, perhaps residential ones only. Well, let me be clear. Apart from highways, all roads in Jeju are littered with speed bumps. And they are at least every hundred meters or so, sometimes closer than that. They even have fake speed bumps, which are intended to slow you down. The road is painted in the same way a speed bump is- thick yellow line with white stripes- only the road isn’t raised. I’ve been fooled before by these fake outs, but I’m wise to their game now.
As I drove home from school today, I counted 11 speed bumps and 3 fake-outs. My commute is less than 5 minutes long, and that is with a speed limit of 30 kilometers per hour (18.64 mph)! It’s ridiculous! While we’re on the subject, the speed limit situation here is absurd! The limits only range from 30-80 kmph (18.64 – 49.11 mph) anywhere on the island, with most roads being 30-50 kmph (18.64 – 31.07 mph). The TOP speed you are allowed to drive is 50 miles per hour! And that’s only on highways, of which there aren’t that many. Most of the time we are only allowed to drive 30 mph! I feel like a granny behind the wheel. Maybe that’s why everything feels so fast when I go back home. I’ve been conditioned to drive like a turtle here.
As I was leaving school this evening, I decided to stop by the CU to get a Dr. Pepper. It’s the Monday after Spring Break, and I needed a little pick-me-up. Once I walked in, I was hit with the smell of baked sweet potato, which I couldn’t resist. That will be part of my dinner tonight! I thought. After I paid for my warm sweet potato and ice cold drink, I suddenly had a slice of life idea. I could write about what you can find at a CU in Korea. I mean, who ever bought a sweet potato at a convenience store in the states? I could showcase all the different things we have here that you might not see everywhere else.
First off, you might be wondering what CU means. It’s one of two popular brands of convenience stores in Korea, the other being GS-25. CU’s slogan is “Nice to CU!”, which is very cute. We always say to one another, “See you at the CU!”
I forgot to take a photo of the outside, but here’s one I found online.
The sweet potatoes are cooking on hot coals, so they are slow roasted all day. The one I had tonight was the perfect consistency inside and very warm and tasty! It cost me 2,000 KRW for one, which is $1.53. Not too bad.
A snack many Korean people love is called triangle kimbap, or samgak kimbap. It’s made with meat and vegetables surrounded by rice and wrapped in seaweed. I’ve never had one, since I don’t eat meat, but I’ve heard they are good. For 1,200 KRW ($0.92), it’s a good deal!
Another snack I’ve never tried is a pre-made burger in a bag. This one is topped with mac and cheese. I have to say, these don’t look very appetizing to me, but I’m sure the kids like them!
If you’re thirsty for something a little different, you can always get a bottle of corn juice. I’ve not tried it here, but it’s very common in China, so I’ve had it before. It’s not bad, but my brain has a hard time understanding that I’m drinking a taste that’s normally eaten with a fork!
A staple in all Korean diets is kimchi. I doubt this is the best kind here is since it’s sold at the convenience store, but if you have a hankering for this traditional banchan (side dish), this would do in a pinch.
The Koreans have a love of SPAM and you can find it everywhere! I think it goes back to the days of Americans first being stationed in Korea during the Korean War. Spam musubi is a popular Korean children’s snack, which is Spam on top of rice wrapped in seaweed. If you look closely at the picture, you will notice the “2+1” sign. That indicates that if you buy 2, you get 1 free. They also have “1+1” sometimes, which is our BOGO (buy one, get one free).
If Spam wasn’t enough, you also have this large selection of processed meats to choose from. Barf!!
The ramen obsession is full-on here! There’s an entire aisle plus an end cap full of choices. If you go to a proper grocery store, there’s at least 3 times as many choices of ramen there!
Would you care for some dried squid or octopus? You can find it on the dried fish aisle!
Korea has a wide selection of ice cream at the CU. Most of them come in the form of popsicles, but if you are craving a pint, the most popular brand here is Haagen-Dazs. It’s not cheap though! A pint will set you back 15,900 KRW ($12.16). It’s a good thing I’m not a big ice cream fan.
The last thing I find really interesting about Korean convenience stores is the pre-made cups of ice and the drinks in a bag. You buy a bag of coffee, juice, soda, etc. and pour it over the cup of ice. Fountain drinks aren’t really a thing here in Korean unless you go to a McDonald’s.
What do you have in your local convenience store that’s unique or strange?
“You have to stay here,” the woman in the hazmat suit said.
“But I need to catch my connecting flight to Jeju, where I live. It leaves in two hours. I can’t stay here,” I said, trying to keep my voice steady and show that I was in control of my emotions, which I most certainly was not.
“No. You stay in Seoul. PCR test.”
“But, I have a negative PCR test result from America that I took before boarding the plane. I will take the PCR when I land in Jeju.”
“No. You cannot go to Jeju. Stay here.”
End of discussion. No more bargaining. I was taken to a cubicle by another hazmat-suited worker, where I would remain for the better part of two hours. I was given a new mask to wear, one that had two thick rubber bands to hold it in place and cut into my face, leaving marks. No water. No food. No access to a toilet. I was contaminated in their eyes. Someone to avoid, less I give them my germs, the ones that might contain Covid.
As I sat in my isolation chamber, becoming more and more restless and agitated as the time slowly ticked by, I called my boss, my friend, and my parents to tell them what happened and try to make sense of what would happen next. I called Korean Air to inform them of my detainment and inability to make my connecting flight, which I then lost.
After what felt like ages, I was finally given more information. I would be given a PCR test, taken to retrieve my luggage, and then take a bus to a temporary quarantine facility, where I would wait until my results came back. If I tested negative, I would be allowed to rebook my flight to Jeju, where I would be able to spend my 10-day quarantine in my own home. But if I tested positive, I would be sent to another quarantine facility outside of Seoul, where I would quarantine until I was told I could leave. Things weren’t looking good for me.
A little while later, I was escorted, along with a few other pariahs, along a corridor, down the elevator, and outside, into below freezing weather, to wait in line for what can only be described as the most invasive and painful PCR test I’ve ever had.
After getting off the bus at the quarantine facility, I struggled with my three large bags, as the hazmat suits stared at me, offering no help at all. To say the facility was depressing doesn’t do it justice. I walked down the fluorescent-lit hallway to my room, dragging my bags behind me. The door to my room opened onto a small “holding area,” beyond which was another door. My room was sparse, containing a twin-sized bed with a hard mattress wrapped in unclean plastic, a bedside table, a table and two chairs, a TV on a stand, a small fan, a wardrobe, a mini-fridge, and a landline phone. I had a basic private bathroom with a shower, a lone hand towel, and no soap (I’m in here due to Covid, yet I can’t wash my hands…the irony!). Luckily the wardrobe had a blanket and a pillow, so I didn’t have to lay on the plastic-wrapped mattress. I was shocked to find that the facility did not have wifi access, but I was lucky that I live in Korea so that I was able to use the data on my phone.
The only towel I was given. This was to dry off after my shower, too.
I was told the wait would be 8-10 hours. After a 15-hour flight, several hours in the airport, and the stress of the day, I tried to get some sleep. I was awoken abruptly around 2:00am by a gruff hazmat suit who stormed into my room without so much as a knock. In Korean, I was directed to sit at the table. For the record, I don’t speak Korean, but I figured it out using context clues and body language. A laminated paper was placed in front of me informing me that I had tested positive for Covid. Tears came to my eyes, fear and dread setting in. But I’m not even sick, I thought. I picked up the paper to read more information about what would happen to me next, but hazmat suit snatched it from my hands, barking, “No touch!”
The instructions said that I would be taken by ambulance in the morning to another facility in another (undisclosed) city for my quarantine. I was to take my luggage, but prior to leaving, I was to pack everything I would use in the next facility separately, as all of my personal belongings used at the facility would be incinerated upon my departure and any electronics would likely be damaged during the cleaning and disinfecting process. I would be responsible for all of the costs for the government quarantine, but no amount was given, as it would depend on the number of days I had to remain there.
The reality of the situation set in, and I couldn’t hold back my tears, as anger, frustration, and fear pulsed through me. My worst nightmare had come true. I’d heard about this happening, and I knew it was a risk for me to have traveled home for Christmas, but I hadn’t thought it would actually happen to me. I begged hazmat suit to let me out. I’d quarantine at home, I promised. “You can put an ankle monitor on me if you want. I won’t leave my house at all.” Every request was met with an uncaring “NO!” which only left me spinning out of control. I wasn’t even sick! I had a little bit of a stuffy nose, but that was it. Surely I’m not a danger to society. “Can I see my PCR result?” I asked through my tears, unsure how i could have tested positive after testing negative on twelve rapid antigen tests and three PCRs back home. Like every other request, it was denied. No amount of pleading changed her mind. Getting tired of my emotional response, she left.
I crumpled. Ripping off the mask, I sobbed, realizing that no matter what, this was my fate. It didn’t make sense. It wasn’t rational. And the sense of injustice I felt couldn’t be squashed. The heat in the room didn’t help the situation either. Hot air blew into the room, making it nearly unbearable. I knew it was -11C outside, but I needed to crack a window. Damn! The windows were bolted shut. Probably to prevent an escape, I thought.
Look carefully at the flags…
After calling everyone (parents, friends, boss) to alert them to my predicament, I collapsed on the bed, mentally, emotionally, and physically exhausted. A few hours later, I was awoken again by my breakfast delivery, a ham and cheese sandwich and bottle of orange juice, along with two small bottles of water. I’m a vegetarian, which I told them when I was detained. No dietary accommodations were made here, they said. Orange juice, it is! Luckily I had a few snacks in my bag that I’d brought from Texas. Mostly cookies, chips, and candy, but hey, it was something.
That first day I was a fighter, doing everything in my power to get myself out of there. The ladies on the other end of my landline got so tired of me calling that they mostly just hung up whenever they heard my voice. The US Embassy tried to help, but they couldn’t make any headway either. As the day progressed, I realized I was stuck.
Lunch and dinner were the same, white rice with some sort of fried meat, kimchi, and three pickle slices. I ate the rice and pickles.
Due to a lack of space at the other facilities, I ended up staying there for four days. Without wifi, and not wanting to drain my data in case I needed it later, I was bored. I watched reruns of old crime shows, like CSI and Law and Order, that played on one of the three English channels. But mostly I slept. The heat was unbearable, and despite the small fan and lack of clothing (I only wore a tank top and pair of sleep shorts), I was burning up. I didn’t have a fever though. My thrice daily temperature checks I had to do confirmed that. After my numerous complaints about the heat and requests to turn it down, one of the hazmat suits brought me a large ice pack, which I would use to cool my body, moving it from my head to my torso to my feet. It helped some.
The days dragged on, and I felt like I’d never be free from that prison. On day four, I was notified that I would be transported to the new facility. My own hazmat suit, gloves, new mask, face shield, and booties arrived with my morning delivery. This is what I was to wear in the ambulance.
Everyone’s all a buzz at school about what they’re planning to do for spring break. It’s not for another three and a half weeks, but for the first time since the pandemic began, we can actually travel with little to no restrictions. It’s definitely cause to celebrate! We are allowed to leave the country, as long as we get the required PCR tests and re-entry permits, with no quarantine upon our return. Many teachers are going to Vietnam, Thailand, or Singapore. We are also now allowed to travel to the mainland (South Korea) for the whole week without a PCR test upon our return. During previous holidays, school has only allowed us to go for a few days without a PCR test (and I avoid those things like the plague…in Korea, they are incredibly painful!).
While I’d love to travel somewhere outside of Korea, preferably Thailand, I’m going to play it safe this holiday. I don’t want to risk testing positive on a PCR (I’ve had Covid and you can test positive for a while after) and/or not be able to get back into the country for some reason. I’m looking forward to traveling back home and to England this summer though!
I’m excited to spend half the week in Seoul and the rest of the time here in Jeju. I’ll fly up on Sunday and stay Sunday and Monday nights at the Grand InterContinental Parnas hotel in an area called COEX in the Gangnam district. It’s an area I visit often when I’m in Seoul, so I know how to get around easily. I’ll eat at some of my favorite restaurants, Paulie’s Pizza (it’s just like pizza back home!), Egg Slut (yes, the name is awful, but this breakfast chain from LA is delicious), and Cafe Mama’s (a Korean cafe with the yummiest ricotta salad). I’ll also partake in some shopping at the COEX mall, where I can find some of my favorite shops that we don’t have here, like H&M and ZARA. I’m also looking forward to going back to my favorite salon, Juno Hair, where they treat you like royalty.
I’ll then move to the Grand Hyatt Seoul hotel in Itaewon, a trendy neighborhood in Seoul, for Tuesday and Wednesday nights. A couple of my friends are also going to be there, so we’ll have lots of fun walking the artsy streets and alleyways, shopping in boutiques and art shops, and eating at new restaurants. I love Plant Cafe Seoul, which is a vegan restaurant tucked away in Itaewon. I’ll do my best to persuade them to go with me. There’s also The Original Pancake House, which is like stepping into an American breakfast diner. One of my favorite night spots is a tiny place called Apt (for apartment). It’s got a really chill vibe, with old school jazz music and velvet couches, and the cocktails are top quality. I haven’t drank any alcohol in a long time, so I’ll have to see if they’ll make me a mocktail. While I’m staying at the hotel, I’ll probably try to squeeze in a relaxing massage too.
For the latter part of the week, I’ll be back in Jeju, where the weather has just started to be perfect. I haven’t made any plans yet, but I’m thinking a staycation on the west side of the island, a place I haven’t explored much yet, is in order. Since it’s not a Korean holiday, things are cheap and can be booked at the last minute, so I’ll probably play it by ear.
Here are a few pictures of Seoul from previous trips. Let’s see what I get up to this time!
It wasn’t until moving to Korea that I owned a car as an expat. Everywhere else I’ve lived has been a major city with easy access to public transportation, such as subways or metros, taxis, motorcycle taxis, and buses. I’ve also always used a bicycle as a major form of transport or walked where I needed to go. When I moved to Jeju island in 2020, it was obvious that I’d need a car to get around, as taxis are quite limited, buses run infrequently, and I live in a pretty rural area, so bikes and walking aren’t the ideal form of transport for most places I need to go.
For the most part, I like driving here, and I appreciate the freedom it affords me. No waiting around for a taxi, spending hours changing trains and walking long distances to get where I want to go, or having to plan my outings so meticulously. But there are some definite differences in driving here as compared to the US- some I’ve gotten used to and some that continue to frustrate me.
If you like to drive fast, you’ll be so irritated here! The maximum speed limit anywhere on Jeju is 80 km/hr, which is only about 50 mph. Can you imagine only being able to drive 50 mph on the highway?!? You might be thinking…yeah, but I’d just risk it and speed. Well, while there are no police cars virtually anywhere, nor have I ever once seen anyone pulled over for any reason, there are speed limit cameras EVERYWHERE. I’m serious…my car talks to me all the time to warn me about upcoming speed limit cameras and beeps incessantly while turning my music all the way down if I am over the limit (which is in itself a very annoying feature that cannot be turned off!). The only good thing is that you are warned about the cameras. The most annoying thing about the speed limits on the highways is that instead of a few speed cameras along the way, which would mean you could at least go faster when you are not near a camera, there’s this thing called a “boxed camera zone” in which you must maintain an average speed of 80 km/hr over a long stretch of road. Again, my car comes in handy by telling me the average speed I’m going, but if I’m even 1 km over the limit, the loud beeping starts and my tunes cut out, forcing me to slow down so that I can hear my music. There are cameras at the beginning and end of the zone which take your picture. If you are too fast (it’s based on time stamps from when you enter and exit), you get a speeding ticket in the mail. I frequently see people who’ve sped past me earlier pulled over on the shoulder just before the exit to wait so they don’t get a ticket. It’s bizarre! One last thing about speed limits…all school zones have a 30 km/hr limit (18 mph). It doesn’t matter what time of day or night, what day of the week it is, or if it’s a school holiday, you have to adhere to the speed limit or you’ll get a ticket.
Another tactic to reduce people’s speed is to install speed bumps on nearly all roads, even major thoroughfares. Whereas in the States, you only encounter speed bumps in parking lots, near school zones, at airports, and in some residential areas, here in Jeju, speed bumps are a way of life, popping up every few hundred meters on most roads. This means that I get to hear my car tell me “speed bump ahead” all the bloody time.
Everywhere you go people complain about other drivers and say they have the worst drivers, and while I’m not going to make that claim, I can say that Korean drivers are very selfish. They will cut you off, block the road and refuse to move, pull right out in front of you, even when you have the right of way, and take ages to park while you are stuck waiting on them (nearly all Koreans back into all parking spaces, which always takes more time). When you honk at them to signal your frustration, which I do (yet most others don’t, which I find really odd), you get what I call the ‘Korean car apology.’ They turn on their hazard lights in a half-hearted attempt to acknowledge they were in the wrong. Don’t tell me your sorry by flashing your lights, just don’t drive like an asshole! The thing that confuses me the most about the selfishness of the drivers is that it’s in complete contrast to how Koreans behave in any other setting. Koreans are the most polite people ever, always giving to others, using the best manners, and bowing out of respect to everyone. So to drive like they are the only ones on the road is a mystery to me!
The one exception to the selfish drivers rule is roundabouts. Now I know we don’t have many roundabouts in the US (although I think they are becoming increasingly popular), most drivers understand the basic premise of how to use them. When you come to a roundabout, you yield to the cars that are in the roundabout. Simple, right? Well, not in Korea. In Korea, they do the exact opposite. They drive as if the person entering the roundabout has the right of way. It’s a frequent occurrence for a car to come to a complete stop in the middle of the roundabout to let loads of other cars in, sometimes causing a traffic jam in the roundabout, which is what a roundabout is designed to prevent! Another common action is to barrel into the roundabout without even slowing down, regardless of if there are other cars in the way, and expect the cars in the roundabout to stop for you. Blaring the horn does little to deter this unwanted behavior.
Driving in another country is always an adventure, and while driving in Korea has its share of frustrations, I enjoy that I can go on little adventures around this beautiful island I call home. Have you ever encountered any odd driving rules or habits in other countries?
Disclaimer: I have only driven in Jeju, and while it’s in Korea, I’m not sure if these problems exist in all of Korea or if they are specific to Jeju.
Weekends are always a time of respite from the workweek just gone and a time to catch up on the one coming. While I always take some time to myself on the weekends, usually Saturdays being my “no-work” days, there’s always that little voice in the back of my head reminding me of all I have to do, all I didn’t get done, and all the people I need to reply to, prepare something for, or support. I can push it down, but it never really goes away.
This weekend Frances and I came to Jeju City, a mere 45-minute drive away from home, to stay in the poshest hotel around, the Grand Hyatt called the Jeju Dream Tower. The hotel, which opened in December of last year, will eventually have 1,600 rooms open, but for now, there are around 500 open to the public. With 14 dining options, a spa, pool, and the most incredible customer service, it lives up to its name of being a dream.
There’s something about sleeping in a different bed that makes all the difference. The act of taking a purposeful break away from everyday life, stopping to pause and relish the luxury afforded to you in a place such as this, is good for the soul. As I sit here in the lobby cafe, sipping my iced chocolate, writing this slice of life as I wait for my massage appointment, I am content. I know that I have work to do later this evening to prepare me for the week ahead, but I’m completely at ease, the staycation having done its job.
In the past 24 hours, I’ve eaten at the Italian restaurant on the 8th floor, with a beautiful view of the bustling city below, where I enjoyed a spicy aglio e olio pasta with delicious ribbons of fresh parmesan cheese straight from Italy; taken two relaxing baths in the largest bathtub ever; caught up on my shows and slice reading/commenting that I didn’t get to this week; dined at the Steakhouse on the 38th floor, literally in the clouds as the fog settled in around us, where I indulged with two Moscow Mules, crusty bread with salty butter, a burrata salad, and some roasted asparagus and smooth, creamy mashed potatoes; had a lazy morning, sleeping until I woke naturally at 9:00am, feeling well rested and refreshed; ordered and enjoyed my first-ever room service breakfast, something I will definitely do again, as eating a delicious meal in my pajamas overlooking the city is so much better than hurriedly elbowing my way through a buffet; had a late checkout and a leisurely break at the cafe, listening to the sounds of the music playing, coffee brewing, and the adorable toddler wandering, laughing, and exploring.
As I leave you to enjoy my final indulgence, an hour-long foot treatment massage, I am quietly at ease, ready to tackle the next two weeks before Spring Break. I hope you were able to rest and recharge this weekend, too.
Had I known it was going to be such yucky weather today, I would have postponed. Jeju is much better to explore on sunny, clear days. Today’s plan was to try out a new-to-us restaurant on the northeastern part of the island, Tennessee Table, which has a substantial Instagram following. Of course, we had to also make a pit stop on the way to get donuts at our favorite place, Randy’s Donuts, a chain from California that has *miraculously* made its way to our tiny speck of an island.
As we left, we noticed a blue-gray painted across the sky, but not a rain cloud in sight. Just as we were about to pull up to the donut shop, the rain began. “At least this means the line won’t be too long today. The rain will have kept people away,” we naively said. After parking (down the street, since Randy’s lot was full), we were shocked to find that the line was the longest it’s ever been, snaking around the back side of the building. Undeterred, we took our place at the end of the line to wait our turn. Forty-five minutes later, we had the goods. And before you say it, yes, the wait is worth it. These are some damn good donuts.
See the line behind me?!?!
After devouring the chocolate-covered one first in the car, we set the GPS for our next destination, Tennessee Table, which was about an hour away. The rain had given us a reprieve, and we were able to enjoy the cherry blossoms that seemed to pop up outside our windows as we cruised down the highway, singing along to my girls’ night playlist.
About 20 minutes into the trip, we were enveloped in a blanket of fog so thick you could only see about 2-3 car lengths in front of you. Slowing down considerably, I switched on the hazard lights to alert others to my presence. Jess, sitting in the passenger seat and free from the stress of driving through the soupy, barely visible sky, marveled at the scene, taking photo after photo of the eerie backdrop. As we drove through pine tree-lined backroads, I felt like I was in the movie Twilight, which seemed to always be covered in fog. The predicted time of about an hour took us longer in the end, but we made it to Tennessee Table for lunch.
Jessica, the owner, welcomed us in her southern twang, and her accent, coupled with the decor on the walls, reminded me of home. Jess had the chicken burger with fries and a milkshake and I had the veggie burger with fries and a coke. The food was delicious and lived up to its Instagram hype. Just look at the photos and you’ll understand.
We talked to Jessica, learning a bit more about her story. She has been in Jeju for 13 years, and after being a teacher for 15 years, five of which in Jeju, she decided to follow her dream of opening a restaurant, thus Tennessee Table was born. She, along with her Korean husband, built the entire restaurant themselves, which was very impressive, but something she said she’d never do again. After our conversation (including an unprompted “Bless your heart”), we headed back out. Stopping off in a Korean bookstore for a quick browse, we got back on the road.
On the way home, we made a detour to see the ocean, but the wind and rain ensured our visit was short-lived. The waves were much bigger than normal, which meant the surfers were out, but Jess and I agreed that you couldn’t pay us enough to get into that freezing cold sea on a day like today.
The ride home was a little stressful, as again, we drove through patches of dense fog, but we made it safely back to the GEC (our part of Jeju). We made one more stop on the way home to get Chai tea lattes from Grumpy Baby, a perfect end to the day.
One of my favorite things to do whenever I move (and sometimes when I travel) to a new place is to scope out the grocery stores and see what they have on offer. I usually find some unusual things mixed in with the ordinary. Korea is no different, however as far as grocery stores go, I can find most of what I want to buy here (if I’m willing to pay the high price tag, that is), which hasn’t always been the case in my other locations. There are a few things I can’t find, but they are things I can live without.
In no particular order, here are some of my favorite Korean grocery store finds.
How’d you like to buy 1 cantaloupe for $30 USD?!? Lucky for me, I hate cantaloupe!
Not sure what these are, but some people were cooking up these Korean snacks in the middle of the store. As far as I can tell, they are sandwiches, with cooked eggs acting at the “bread” part and meat and other fillings inside.
This sign totally made me laugh! I’m not sure if the sign is meant to entice the foreigners to buy the snacks or the locals, since foreigners buying them makes them more attractive.
There are sooooo many unusual Pringles flavors to choose from, but these caught my eye! I’m thinking the butter caramel ones might be good, but I’d definitely have to pass on the Sweet Mayo Flavour Cheese…yuck!
Now I’ve heard that onion tea is great for your skin and makes you look younger, but I don’t think I could stomach the taste!
This one is a peanut butter flavored drink, like a PB version of hot chocolate. I have some, but haven’t tried it yet. My friend says it’s pretty good. This is the Skippy brand.
Need a glass of wine, but don’t have a glass? Just buy the single serve version- glass included! 🙂
This one threw me off for sure. I’ve had peanut butter before, and I’ve had squid (not my favorite, but I’ve had it) too, but never in a million years would I have put these two flavors together! Would you?!?
This one is so weird for many reasons. For one, who buys 9 green beans at a time? Why do we need plastic packaging? And why do these 9 green beans cost nearly $2 USD?!? Needless to say, I didn’t buy them, but I have to say, I do miss eating fresh green beans. They must not grow them here or they must not be “a thing” in Korea.
Anyone fancy some seaweed flavored oatmeal?? I love it that it’s Quaker brand, too! 🙂
Have you ever seen anything at your local grocery store that made you laugh or wonder who in the heck would ever want to eat that?
my heart is happiest when i travel. read. write. connect. 