The Simple Pleasures in Our Lives

i am alive!

Whoo hoo, I am still alive! Whee!!! Typed up an entry some days ago, actually, but because I was using a Mac, I did something stupid, and Mac ate my entry. *grrrr* And it was a long entry, too!

Anyway, am in Seoul right now, and I really should be sleeping, but oh well. The holidays so far have been really tiring, and full of high drama. I did lots of incredibly stupid things at times, and sometimes I'm really amazed that I actually made it through in one piece.

It's been a real character-building experience, I must say, although wow, I am really, really tired... But I don't regret going on this hare-brained trip at all! It's certainly one of those things I can look back at when I'm old and laugh at my stupidity then...

In Tokyo, went to Asakusa, Odaiba, Harajuku (Meijijingu, Takeshita Dori et al), Tokyo Imperial Palace, Ueno-koen, Yanaka, Shinjuku, side-trip to Kamakura. In Kyoto, wandered around Higashiyama-ku a little, visited Kinkakuji, Katsura Rikyu, Nijo-jo, Kyoto Imperial Palace, made a side-trip to Nara... Then on to Namba in Osaka!

Visited Gyeungju and Daegu in Korea, now in Seoul, and will be visiting Jinju as well. The Korean hospitality is absolutely wonderful. I am seriously being overfed. Was treated to a very lavish, VERY expensive buffet yesterday. Gosh, I can't even begin to describe all the great and wondrous food available.

Lots of sashimi, cakes, dimsum, sushi, assorted delicacies, caviar, fondue, fruits, salads, rice punch, four kinds of ice-cream, very, very, VERY good food... I have never seen so much good food in a single place before. It was STUNNING, I tell you. Was overfed today as well. I don't know what to say. My hosts are embarrassing me with the depth of their generosity and hospitality...

Anyway, Japan was very tiring but fun, Korea is very relaxing with tons of good food and hospitality. This is really a holiday to remember... *fond sigh*

posted by xu @ 8:32 AM