Six Hours on the Seoul Train

Greetings from Seoul, South Korea!

We had an extremely long layover today in Seoul, and took full advantage of it. After figuring put how to navigate in a massively large airport ( we're talking like 200 duty free shopping opportunities plus an ice skating rink) we escaped the airport and took the "airport railway" to downtown Seoul where we walked around aimlessly until we found tourist attractions.

And by tourist attractions, we are referring to a beautiful palace that was built in 1395, and a Buddist temple, both from the Joseon Dynasty which ruled Korea for over 500 years. 

We had several other spots on our to-do list, but with limited time and a one-hour Seoul Train ride each direction, we ran out of time. Seoul boasts over 10 million residents and is one of the cleanest cities we have ever seen. 

Oh, and Leland had his first street food today... And have no idea what it is. Yumi...and ideas? 

Mmm... Street food...

Goodbye Paradise

Hi everyone,

We know we have been absent since the last post about Bali belly, but we are alive and well  in Gili Tarwangan, which is part of the province of Lombok. Since we last updated, we logged 11 amazing dives between the islands of Flores, Rinca and Komodo, got to "meet" some huge Komodo Dragons up close and personal in the wild and have soaked up our last four days of Honeymoon bliss here on Gili T.

We are now packing up and heading to catch the speed boat for our transfer back to Bali so we can start our 36-hour journey home.

Do check back with us though for some great photos of our dive trip and our stay here in the Gilis.

Komodo Sunset

Highest Volcano on Lombok, Mt. Rinjani

"Manta Point" dive site in the distance. 

Breakfast view from the Beach House on Gili Trawangan, Lombok

-Leland and Mia

Bali Belly - a real thing

Bali Belly goes by many names and can be contracted in a multitude of ways, but the effect is the same - aweful!

Mia and both got it, Mia's hit a day before me but mine lasting twice as long.  I'm sure for every unfortunate soul who gets this, experiences a different variation, but mine began with chills, then fever, sweats and progressed with an upset stomache (yes, this is a euphemism), nausea, dizziness and lightheadedness (which sent me to the floor one night), body aches, and zero appetite (and for the folks that know me, is a true sign that I'm sick). 

In total I was sick about three days and am still feeling a residual impact. Saw one of the local doctors who prescribed me poor tasting medication.  Apparently pills are no good, you must dilute powder in to water. 

Tomorrow, we're off to Komodo Island for a four-day dive adventure so let's hope were through with illnesses.  As a safeguard we were able to get a few extra antibiotics just in case.  As another precaution, we're using hand sanitizer after we touch anything (especially money). I generally refuse to use this stuff as it's a promotor of super germs, but I feel that's kind of what I'm up a against.

Ava

We went to the Safari to ride the elephants, and we did ( thanks Yurti!), but this little lady stole our hearts.

Her name is Ava and she is a 4 year old Orangutan, she is so sweet and all she wanted to do was play and snuggle, just like any 4 year old.

In case you were wondering,  "Orang" means Man, and "Utang" means forest or jungle, so it translates to people or man of the Jungle. 

Lions, Tigers and Orangutans! Oh... and Elephants too

Best. Day. Ever.

                                                       ...Well, second best day...

Courtesy of the Bali Safari and Marine Park

Bebek Tepi Sawah

This is another gorgeous hotel here in Bali, perhaps a stunning hotel. The words, Bebek Tepi Sawah means Ducks by the rice paddy, which oddly enough, there is a beautiful rice paddy right outside our room...although I have not seen any real ducks, other than the ones that they serve fried, Balinese style. :)

The rooms are good sized with a private patio that overlooks the rice fields, a giant soaking tub and private outdoor shower. There are two gorgeous and rarely inhabited pools, little geckos and frogs, and  a lot of gorgeous plants, which in homage to Leland's late grandma Hattie, I took lots of photos of.

Only gripe? The food is only so-so, but the staff is very friendly. Oh, and I almost forgot the roosters crow all day, and the dogs bark all morning. Just to let you know it's 4am. You would think sunrise, but they like 4am.

Monkey see, Monkey does whatever it wants

They have  their own frickin' forest!!!

We went to Monkey forest today and were blown away by all the monkeys.  It is literally, a forest full of monkeys. These are not the naughty monkeys of Uluwatu. These are happy, well fed little buggers who hangout, play, and occasionally hiss at you if you get too close or touch their tails.

Oops ...