Korean Wedding

The morning I arrived back in Korea after two weeks in Thailand was a bit of a stressful one to say the least. It was the same day as my co-teacher’s wedding and after landing at the airport I had only a couple of hours to get across Seoul back to my place and back out to get to the wedding venue in time.

It was my first experience of a Korean wedding and I found out quickly how different they are to Western weddings.

Firstly, the bride and bridegroom can see each other before the wedding ceremony begins; it isn’t considered bad luck here. So before the ceremony, the bride sits in a special room having loads of photos taken but the groom is right there too and he can see her! That was very different.

The next huge difference was the speed of the wedding. Korean weddings are SO fast and they’re over in the blink of an eyelid. Within two hours the whole thing was finished and I was back on the subway home!

The third major difference and probably the most apparent was the reception. Western receptions are probably the best part of the day because it’s much more relaxed and it’s when the bride and bridegroom finally get to enjoy their day together. But at a Korean wedding it’s a different story entirely! While the photos are being taken after the ceremony, some people choose not to watch and instead, to my surprise, go straight ahead, before the married couple, hand in their ‘meal coupon’ and begin eating. I wanted to watch the photos being taken, which I did, but I still ended up going to the reception hall and eating before the bridal party because they had the second part of the wedding to get underway before they could eat.

The second service is the traditional Korean wedding and this part was just for the family. The bride and groom and both sets of parents wear hanbok (traditional Korean clothing) and this service is very different to the first ‘Westernised’ ceremony but I can’t comment too much as I didn’t see this part.

Just as the bride and groom arrived at the reception hall our table had finished eating and we were being moved out so the next wedding party could come in. So I didn’t even see them sitting down and eating together. And unfortunately there were no speeches. It wouldn’t have worked as people were coming in and out all the time.    

Despite all the difference there were some similarities like the dress, the bride’s walk down the aisle with her father and lots of flowers. The wedding even included Julie throwing her bouquet which is apparently not typical of a Korean wedding.

Although it was very different to the weddings I’m used to, I had a lovely time and was so honoured to be there to share in Julie and Julian’s special day. I wish them a lifetime of happiness together :)

Koh Samui Paradise

The final week of our Thai adventure was spent on the beautiful island of Koh Samui, Thailand’s second largest island situated in the Surat Thani province off the east coast. I have never needed a week of beautiful beaches and relaxation more than I needed it that week after a very busy first week in Thailand. And apart from our fun-filled snorkeling/ canoeing boat trip day to the stunning Anthong National Marine Park, beach bumming was pretty much how I spent the entire week. It was absolutely wonderful.

After a move from Cheong Mon beach (which was a bit too quiet for our liking) we spent the rest of the week at Chaweng Beach which was much more lively at night but still peaceful and not too busy on the beach during the day. It was a nice happy medium. The beach was heavenly, the food, although much more expensive than the rest of Thailand, was great and the buckets, well, they did exactly what it says on the tin!

All in all, it was a perfect week, with perfect company, in perfect paradise.   

  

Unforgettable Chiang Mai

After a few days in Bangkok we headed north to Chiang Mai. And despite being northern Thailand’s largest city, after the chaotic hustle and bustle of the capital, Chiang Mai instantly felt like Bangkok’s polar opposite within seconds of arriving off the train. Chiang Mai is like no other place I’ve been before. It’s difficult to explain what was so wonderful about that place but it just had such a chilled out vibe. Everyone seemed to be so happy and chilled and at peace there and this rubbed off fast. I could have happily stayed there forever!

Unfortunately, due to the accident and having overdone it a bit in Bangkok, I decided to take things a lot easier in Chiang Mai and therefore didn’t get to explore as much as I would have liked. However, I did experience two of the most unique and unforgettable experiences there that I have ever had. The first being my day at an elephant sanctuary where we got to feed, ride and bathe the elephants which was just incredible. 

And the second at Tiger Kingdom where we got to play with little tiger cubs and even go inside the cage and pet the huge fully grown tigers which felt at the time as unbelievable as it sounds.

Chiang Mai is a wonderful place. A place where dreams come true! 

Bangkok Madness

Despite all the worry, tears, the injured ankle and the cancelled trips to Vietnam and Cambodia, I made it to Bangkok to meet my friends as planned. And it was even more wonderful to see them after everything that had happened. Seeing them made everything better!

First time together in a LONG time and ready to begin our adventure...

First Thai meal- pad thai- of course!! Most delicious meal EVERRRRR!

So cute

Giving the 'good' leg a treat for all its hard work! 

My gorgeous girls! <3

As great as it was to have made it to Bangkok and see my friends, I did have a difficult time there. It’s not the kind of city you can easily hobble around on one foot and a pair of crutches and in my bid to see as much as possible and make the most of my time there, I overdid it slightly. Although having said that, we had a great time in Bangkok for the few days that we were there. It’s a place like no other. There’s so much history and culture to be explored during the day and so much ‘crazy’ to be experienced at night. Not the mention the thrill of the crazy tuk-tuk rides and the amazingly cheap and delicious street food.

Floating Markets

Grand Palace

Wat Arun (Temple of Dawn)

Street food

In a tuk-tuk off to a see a interesting kind of show!

Bangkok certainly is an eye opening city and it was a great way to begin our adventures in Thailand. 

Oh, what a week!

As far as weeks go, it's been a terrible one! Due to my fall and my injured ankle, I was unable to go on the first part of trip with Katie to Vietnam and Cambodia. I still can't believe what's happened and just two days before my trip was supposed to start. I have the worst luck in the world. I've been so sad all week because I've missed it after looking forward to it for so long. And the pain I'm in and the fact I can't move out of my apartment makes everything so much worse and on top of all that, I've had to say lots of goodbyes throughout the week which has been awfully sad. And now, the icing on the cake, I've found out that I'm not going to get any money back for my cancelled flight. Great. Literally the worst week EVER! 

On a positive note, I have been looked after so incredibly well this week. I've had so many friends come round and visit me, bringing lots of goodies in the form of food (including some great home made treats) and lots and lots of wine which has made me very tipsy due to all the medication I'm on right now!! Oops. I'm so lucky to be surrounded by so many great people and it's been a stark reminder of how many great friends I've made here during the year. So HUGE thanks to all the wonderful people who have looked after me this week. It means the world and I really can't thank you enough. 

Another positive which has really got me through the week is the fact I'm going ahead with the the second and third week of my trip and I'm flying to Thailand instead this Friday. After nine days of rest, and perhaps a few tweaks to the original Thailand itinerary, I'm sure I can manage it. I'll just have to. We've had this planned for around eighteen months now so there was just no way I was missing it and missing my best friends who I've not seen for such a long time and won't see again for another year and a half. So I'm trying to look on the bright side as I know that all this could have been so much worse. At least I'll still get to go to Thailand and have two fun filled weeks with my lovely friends who I miss dearly. So, all's well that ends well. :)

Happy Birthday Mum and a tumble OFF the stairs!

Today is my lovely Mummy's Birthday. So Happy Birthday Mum! In Korea, my Mum's Birthday began with me falling off the side of my stairs in my apartment in the middle of the night and then a subsequent trip to the hospital. I've torn three ligaments in my outer ankle and I'm in a lot of pain. I was told that such a severe sprain can take up to ten weeks for a full recovery. Brilliant! just what I need! I have a cast on my leg and a pair of crutches (I can't even stand on my right foot at the moment because it hurts so badly) so the likelihood of me making it to Vietnam this Friday is not looking so great! :'( So sad!

On the plus side, all the staff at the hospital this morning were beyond AMAZING!!! I was in, x-rayed, shot in the bum, casted and bandaged up within 40 minutes. Unbelievable. That would have been a four-five hour job in  Manchester! 

I got looked after so well and they were all so lovely to me. The receptionist who spoke perfect English wheeled me around all over the place even outside to take me to the chemist where she picked up my medication for me then afterwards got a taxi for me. So lovely. All the staff made this horribly daunting situation so much easier for me. What I thought would have been so much more difficult to handle not being in my own country actually turned out much better than if I had have been. Just makes me loved Korea and its people even more! 

More Goodbyes, More Tears...

So, this week is my last week with some of my good friends in Seoul.  And so far, it's been emotional! As much as I'm looking forward to next year, I'm so sad that some of my favourite people won't be here to share it with me. Good luck and best wishes to everyone who is leaving Seoul. I hope the next chapter of your life is everything you want and need it to be.

Goodbye Jiyeon

Goodbye Eris

Goodbye Illyria

Goodbye JP

Goodbye Ben

Goodbye Kevin

Goodbye Louise

A special mention to Katie and Nicole who I m going to miss dearly. They have been excellent friends this year and we've gone through a lot together. It's so important to have good friends that you can trust and rely on during these kind of experiences. Girls, it's been a pleasure knowing you, thanks for everything, good luck and best wishes for all that comes next and I'll be seeing you again soon. <3

The Fantastic Four

Goodbye Katie 

Goodbye Nicole