Bye Bye Babbie, Goodbye

 For one brief moment,

Babbie returned.

Then she was gone.

Her smile.

Her laughter.

Her brightness.

Always,  

apologetically,

perfectly 

herself.

Wishing You a Merry Fishmas

First there was Thaigiving,

then there was Fishmas.

Picking the presents

All unwrapped.

Stuffed turkey.

Thank you Zhi Xiong and Babbie,

you help to make Korea a home.

Christmas Eve

Home for the holidays.

Babbie threw a party

and we celebrated 

like the lost children

we all are.

 

REMIX:

Wait, this doesn't look like Babbies?

Nope, a quick stop at Min's for some light dancing.

'nuff said

Out of the blue the devil appeared in Sokcho.

We were left with only one option,

protest with couples shirts.

Just a Barbie girl living in a Barbie world.

There's a place in Sokcho where ex-pats and locals unite for mayhem.

Especially on Holidays.

Despite the fact I didn't spend a whole lot of time at Min's when I actually lived in Sokcho, its become my festive destination of choice.  I've grown increasingly fond of this quirky outpost and its charming patrons so it's always worth every minute of the long commute across half the country.

 

Why make such a journey?  Because Min's has got that down home feel.

 In short- it's quirky, it's crazy and you never know what might happen.

However, the one thing I'm certain of is that I'll be welcome and included in all the unexpected fun, even when I haven't been home in quite a while.

So - Come on Barbie, let's go party!

Through The Looking Glass

  

It always feels like I've stepped through a magical door when I go home to Sokcho.
While researching Korea I knew Sokcho must be special,
but I never really found anything that did it justice.

People don't seem to realize it's just dreamy here.

The lake walk in fall.

My favorite part of Sokcho, the people.

 

It's always a good idea to play in the park.

Natural beauty every which way you look, even in the tiniest places.

Soju Come Here Often?

Homemade soju "glasses"

 B and I believe deeply 

that one should always keep it classy.

However, sometimes drastic times call for drastic meaures.

Hari-bou hasn't talked to me in ages

and ZX is trapped in Italy.

Obviously it's time to get our Seoul on.

Drunk'n and disorderly.  I'm taking you in.

Salsa dancing, of course we don't know how.

It was the salsa clubs two year anniversary - rice cakes for everyone.

Somehow we ended up at a hooka bar in a basement.

It was epic, it was random.

It was what friendship is all about.

It Stays The Same

No matter how much one tries to prevent it, 

culture is always changing.

The First Goodbye Is The Deepest

It was a day of long slow steps

that we will each remember

through unique filters

of time and experience.

Our paths now diverge 

and we fall away

with one long goodbye.

 

And this is why I don't like to say,

"Goodbye"

but instead,

"Until we meet again."