One Saturday a few weeks ago, Leon and I both woke up feeling sort of blah. So we thought it was a good day to cross off #8. It actually turned out to be a really fun and relaxing day that lifted our spirits. We slept in, had breakfast in bed, read a lot, drank several mugfuls of coffee and tea, and watched Fight Club. That week we happened to be sleeping downstairs on the sofa bed (we sometimes do this when it's really hot, or just for a change), so we had easy access to the kitchen and the tv, which, it turns out, are crucial for successfully lazying around on your ass. We really did stay in bed most of the day, getting up only to use the bathroom or to fetch more tea. It was beautifully unproductive. And yet totally worthwhile. I highly recommend this non-activity if you ever need a day to recharge or simply recover from, you know, living. It's a good thing to do.
If you have a thing for fonts like I do, you'll like this. Or if you
have the sense of humor of a child. I have both, ergo I found this
HILARIOUS.
Above, all but the first picture were taken inside the cathedral at the Prague Castle.
Thanks, Rick! And thanks, Jana!
Isn't this an adorable picture? I laughed out loud - that hot dog is about as big as the boy's head!
Lately I have been fantasizing quite a lot about going to Korea, and this slideshow and article in the New York Times only worsened my pangs.
Since getting married, Leon and I have been talking about taking a trip to Seoul to visit my relatives, but our plans have been stalled by a myriad of factors including money and the difficulty of coordinating the trip with my immediate family. As we've been hypothetically planning our trip, I've found myself waxing nostalgic to Leon about my Seoul experiences - the few I've had as an adult - about the exhilarating pace, the nightlife, the beautiful countryside outside the city, possible road trips, and... the FOOD.
Since moving to Prague, I have been seriously jonesing for Korean food. It's true I cook Korean all the time at home, but there are limits to my repertoire as well as to my kitchen equipment. And plus, what I miss is not really the flavors of Korean food, which I can easily recreate at home, but the going out to an unusual Korean restaurant and making a night of it, something we did easily back in LA. A couple of weeks ago, I gave into my craving and Leon and I went out for Korean food at one of the few Korean restaurants in Prague. At the restaurant, we balked at the prices on the menu. We've gone out for Korean food only a few times, and each time we do, we have the same reaction: HOW many crowns? For THAT? You've GOT to be kidding me. And we have to pay for the KIMCHI?! What kind of place IS this? So, we won't be going out for Korean food again for a while. And it looks like it will be an even longer while until our trip to Seoul.
For now, at least, I have my 14 kilos of gochujang. (Which, incidentally, the NYT story above describes as "a red-pepper paste that is to Korean cuisine what butter is to French." Apt!)
We're in Berlin, a super cool and vibrant city with lots of good doner kebab stands. Will report back soon! xoxo, Shinwha & Leon
We rented bikes in Old Town and rode them around the city. Turns out, bikes are a great way to get around Prague (except for the cobblestones), and we got to see parts of the city that we'd never seen before on foot or by public transport.
Here's Leon with his bike and his Lance Armstrong face. BRING IT ON.
We rode mostly along the Vltava River, so throughout our ride we had beautiful views like this, which endear Prague to me more and more everyday:
We kept riding...
My guest hung out for a while, sniffed around, then flew out the window.
Been derelict in my blogging
duties again! A lot has happened. Most recently, we spent about
5 days in Hvar, Croatia, last week with friends who were visiting from the US.
We spent a lot of time sitting on the beach, riding boats, and eating
fresh seafood. Yeah, it was really hard work. Other good things that have happened: getting into grad school, turning 31, and celebrating our first anniversary.
I'm just really grateful right now. Be back with pictures soon.
