Starbucks in Poetry

Hot chocolate or iced coffee , you cater for all seasons

No matter what time of the year, I always have good reasons

Full cream or low fat the choice is yours

Until around midnight when most have closed their doors

Cappuccino, Chai or just a Latte

It doesn't matter what size, but I wouldn't mind a grande

Good coffee, good service and super free wifi

The hours I spend with you just seem to fly by

On a rainy day in the city, I grace you with my presence

Your giant mugs also make for great presents

Starbucks I will miss you in my life when you are gone

Because back home you are nowhere in sight, a place Koreans call Namagong.

Oh Starbucks, I do love you so

I don't think I can ever let you go 

When my adventures in the east come to an end, I will depart

No matter how far apart, you will stay close to my heart

***THE END***

Photo courtesy of Catherine Stark

10 seconds and counting

A long long long time ago while back my friend Christine and I attempted to go hiking on a route neither of us had been on but she had gotten directions on how to get there. Not only was it a mission to find the mountain (there are millions of hiking trails in this country) but at one point we were hiking in the wrong direction and had to come down and start again (twice).  This, however, did not stop of us from having a good laugh or two at ourselves and just enjoying the breath of fresh air only available outside the city.

I thought I would share these few pictures that made me laugh a lot. You see, I kind of find self taken portraits clumsy- you know the ones I am talking about, where half the photo is the picture of your extended arm as you attempt to fit as much of yourself and of the background in the picture as possible. That's why the self timer on my camera is probably my favourite setting. Since there were not many people near us, this was the best way for us to take a picture with both of us in it, and our background minus the extended arm and double chin effect (also hate that a lot).  Luckily my camera has a 10 second delay option, combine that with multiple shots, one of them is bound to come out right...and ours did.

Christine waiting patiently while I set everything up

Christine having a good laugh at me as I chase time to get into the photo

they say 3rd time is a charm

I have been wanting to go hiking again for a while now but the summer is in full swing, its too hot now. I am going to have to wait for the temperatures to start dropping again in Autumn, which is a good thing because it is my favourite time of the year to hike anyway.

My love affair with markets

While traveling in Taiwan last year, I truly found what I enjoy the most when traveling in a new country or even city - visiting/shopping at the markets. In Thailand I had a ball at Chatuchak weekend market and in the streets of Surkhimvit with Raquel, despite the down pour of the monsoon season. In Phnom Penh, the Russian market did not disappoint with prices so low, you feel bad to even negotiate the prices any lower. Siem Reap was one of my highlights on our summer vacation last year. Great prices for clothes and accessories, phenomenal street food and luxurious foot messages for only $1, no jokes.

Floating market type shopping

don't these ever go out of fashion?

Street food/fruit - first holiday I have been on where I didn't pick up weight...

By the time I planned our trip to Taiwan with Catherine, I knew we simply had to visit the local markets there too, we ended up visiting 3 different ones and we went to one of them twice, thats how much I love them. I am not a shopaholic at all, not many women would dare say that out loud. But honestly I am not. I love the markets because I truly feel thats one of the places where you can really experience life like a local. You can sample delicious (and cheap) street food, shop for clothing and accessories which you can almost always bargain for, enjoy a free live gig or street performance and just soak up an amazing and bustling atmosphere.  

tasting the famous Dimsum for the first time- delicious actually

more delicious street food/fruit

Once you have been to a shopping mall or department store in one country, I feel like you have seen them all. The shiny tiled floors, the same franchised shops, over priced luxury stores that can sell one item and cover the months rent. No, thats not my type of shopping at all (with the exception of MBK mall in Bangkok, Thailand - that one is cool). 

MBK - the only exception to my rule so far

In Daegu, I found my own treasure dome, Seomun market and it fits the criteria of a great market. I haven't been nearly as many times as I would like, but the times I have been there, I have indulged in delicious Korean food (yes there is some), browsed around the great selection of quality clothing and accessories, picked up a few traditional Korean souvenirs to take home for gifts and just taken in the general sights, sounds and smells of Korean life. It's one of the places that makes me pinch myself and think WOW, I am an African living in Asia.  Seoumun Market never disappoints.

I was still new at using chopsticks as you can clearly see

but that didn't stop me from polishing it all up

The sweet couple that run this place-the food is so good, they have even been on TV

Unlike shopaholics, I hope my love affair for markets never ends. There is so much to explore, learn and take in. I am already on the hunt for markets for my next holiday. Destination soon to be revealed, still finalizing plans, can't wait :) I feel so blessed...

Question: What do you have to have to have to do when traveling to a new place?

Some photos courtesy of Catherine Stark.