One of the best perks of teaching English in Korea is the opportunity to travel. Granted, the job doesn't allow much travel during the school year; even a weekend trip to Seoul can seem hurried when long hours of bus travel are involved. But thanks to my renewal bonus, I was able to add a third week onto my two-week winter vacation.
I had known that, unfortunately, Jun wouldn't be able to travel with me. He'd already used his allotted vacation time visiting my family with me last summer. Going home to Minnesota again and in January was out of the question: it's winter there. (Minnesota winters are not to be trifled with). Additionally, most of my family wouldn't even be home if I had decided to visit. Instead of freezing my ass off on my parents' couch and eating leftover Christmas cookies whilst shivering under a blanket, I opted to visit two of my siblings in Australia.
Of course, having my penchant for maximizing travel, I opted to spend a few days in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia en route to Australia's Gold Coast. The flight to KL was the first I'd taken solo since my move to Korea in 2014. I happily rediscovered my fondness for solo travel and was fortunate to make new friends in fellow travelers and friendly locals. Though blistering heat and thick humidity factored into the experience, it was worth climbing the steps into the Batu Caves, marveling at the skyscraper-studded skyline, being pulled from the audience to the stage of Mud: The Musical, and savoring coconut milk ice cream.
After a few well-spent days in KL, I flew to Gold Coast. My sister had just started her semester abroad at Bond Uni in Gold Coast and I caught a bus from the airport to her campus. Anthony has been in nearby Brisbane for over a year, so the three of us got to celebrate Annie's birthday together that first weekend. Since she had classes and Anthony was still on break, I got to stay at his house and explore Brisbane during the week.
Anthony and I flew to Victoria for a long weekend which consisted of a road trip along the Great Ocean Road and a visit to Melbourne--both of which were laced with bizarre vignettes that facilitated a whole new chapter in our collective memory of inside jokes. (A word of advice: Do your homework before you book a room. I made the mistake of reserving a cheap room in a central location--not a pleasant experience! I was lucky to have Anthony to laugh it through with me, but I don't miss the flickering florescent lighting, the stale smoke smell, the broken lock on the door, or the filthy facilities. Please, read the reviews!).
Anthony had to be back in Brisbane for class, so I booked an overnight bus ride to Sydney. Unlike the frightening hostel Anthony and I had stayed at in Melbourne, Mad Monkey Backpackers on Broadway was awesome--they let me check in early and take a shower. (After 12+ hours on a bus, I deeply appreciated that! If you're looking for a clean, fun place in Sydney, check it out). In KL, I met someone on his way back to Sydney after volunteering in Nepal, and he showed me around Darling Harbour and Circular Quay in the afternoon.
I returned to Brisbane to spend my final weekend Down Under with my siblings. Traveling back to Korea was a grueling, exhausting experience, but a small and inevitable price to pay for an unforgettable trip--besides, after I slept off the jetlag I got to see Jun and tell him all about it.
So, that sums up my trip to Australia. In retrospect, I've become even more interested in the literature of the country--a surprisingly undercirculated body of some distinct works, several of which I had time to read during the subsequent weeks of mandatory"deskwarming" while my students continued their recess from school.
As far as life in Korea, it's good, I'm happy, and after writing this blog post I can't think of much to say. When something blog-worthy happens, I'll write another entry. Peace!
As far as life in Korea, it's good, I'm happy, and after writing this blog post I can't think of much to say. When something blog-worthy happens, I'll write another entry. Peace!
