A trip to Korea's most prized possession...Dokdo Island {Instagram}

Farmboy and I were lucky enough to be selected to join a small group of other English Teachers here in South Korea on a trip to Dokdo Island. Dokdo Island is currently part of South Korea territory, but there is constant unrest between Korea and Japan as to who it really belongs to. Us "Foreigners" really had no idea just how patriotic South Koreans feel about the Island, and this trip really opened our eyes to their passion and fighting spirit to keep Dodko Korean.

It was an incredible opportunity that a mere 1% of all South Koreans will ever get a chance to actually see and experience, and for that we are so grateful. The trip was 4 days and 3 nights, full of very long bus trips and ferry rides, strange meals for breakfast and sleeping on the floor. But we were rewarded with spectacular scenery, history, culture and powerful understanding.

Here are a few of my Instagram snaps from the trip.

Enjoy!

x

Snaps from Seoul

Just before our early morning flight to Malaysia (we spent a week on the Perhenetian Islands for our summer holidays here) we spent the night in the capital of South Korea, Seoul.

 Here are a few iPhone snaps of here and there (including a few of the Dog Cafe we visited...click here if you missed the post!).

{Dog Cafe} in Seoul, South Korea

Many of our friends who have heard our tales of South Korea will do a double take when reading the title of this post...so let me quickly clarify! Dog (and cat) cafe's are playgrounds for furry friends to meet new people while giving us a chance to play with creatures we might not normally come across or be able to keep at home.

Here in South Korea space is limited, people live in sky rise apartments, and so are only able to keep small pets (the most popular being rabbits, hamsters, lizards and beetles!). At these animal cafe's, you stroll in, order yourself a yummy beverage, and get petting. 

Here are some snaps of our first experience with a Dog Cafe, in Seoul.

Don't let the sad eyes fool you! These pups are happy chappies in their home, they get attention all day everyday, and when they're not googoo eyeing you they are fast asleep. What a life!

This cafe is called Sunnyne, here is the address if you're in Seoul and want to pop by:

16, Yanghwa-ro 18an-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul 

서울특별시 마포구 양화로18안길 16 (동교동)

>>>here is the link for their website (it's only in Korean but gives you a good idea of the place).

Open from 10am to 10pm, and on the second floor. Just look out for the bright yellow signs.

The Perhentian Islands {Malaysia}

Here are some of the highlights of our incredible holiday in Malaysia. We landed in Kuala Lumpur and speedily made our way straight to the Perhentian Islands on the East coast of mainland Malaysia.

These are my photographs of our trip, from our afternoon in Kuala Lumpur, to the Islands, and to the incredible market in Khota Bharu. Later this week I'll try and post Farmboys photographs too.

For information on getting there, where we stayed and other useful travel info, head on over to our travel blog Farmboy & Citygirl where I'll have a post up soon on the nitty gritty of our trip.

Enjoy

x

I'm back!

Farmboy and I have just settled back into our little apartment after an incredible week in Malaysia. 2 flights, 3 taxis, 2 buses, 1 subway & copious amounts of walking...we finally touched back down on Korean soil this afternoon...what a journey home, I'm shattered!

I can't wait to share the photographs with all of you, and let you know what it was like. Here are a few instagram snaps until I get editing. I hope you are all having a wonderful relaxing weekend.

x

All of these photographs were taken with my iPhone, and most were edited with the wonderful #ABeautifulMess app. Click here to find out more about more about it.

Crystal Waters, Drakensberg

This past weekend was spent with my hubby's family in the Drakensberg at a little piece of heaven called Crystal Waters. Nestled away between lush green trees and open fields of golden grass lies 3 stone cottages and a trout dam. Electricity was limited to a few 110 V light bulbs, while gas provided us with hot water and a place to cook yummy meals.

This was one of our last weekends spent in South Africa, before we jet setted off to Asia on the 20th June 2013. 

I hope you all had a wonderfully relaxing weekend, and are ready for the week ahead! 

Happy Monday everyone!

xxx

{Golden Hour}

A few photographs with my new camera of our drive to the farm last weekend. With this kind of late afternoon wintery light, how can one resist not pulling over and snapping away...

{Road Trip} away from the blog...

Dear readers,

I am typing this post from the gorgeous town/city/plekkie of Knysna. Farmboy had lots of important work related stuff to do here in the Western & Eastern Cape, and I have been lucky enough to tag along for the ride. So there won't be much posted on here until we hit home this weekend. In the mean time, here are some photographs (albeit Instagram snaps) till then.

I hope you are all having a wonderful week.

x

The Philippines...looking back

While Farmboy and I were teaching English in South Korea in 2010, we spent the second of our holidays with Farmboy's brother and sister-in-law (who were teaching in Japan) in the Philippines. Here are some special photographs, taken by my wonderful husband. I learnt all I know about a camera from him.

We flew from Incheon & landed in Puerto Princessa. From there we took a 9 hour shuttle to El Nido where we spent 6 days, of which were spent on an Island hopping tour. At the time El Nido was incredibly small, with just one road of restaurants and cafes. It has since increased in size but I have heard that it is still a very special place to visit. You can now fly directly into El Nido saving you a very long and uncomfortable ride from Puerto Princessa. If you get to El Nido, make sure to hire a scooter and head of in search of Nacpan beach, a beautiful stretch of coastline.

For more info on our trip, including tips and other travel advice, click here to visit our ever so helpful (but rather old and slightly out dated) blog on life in South Korea >>> FarmboyandCityGirl.com

Enjoy

x

Sun, Sea & Sand in {Sodwana Bay}

Hello again friends! I hope you all had a wonderful long weekend, and that you all are feeling refreshed and ready for yet another short week, in preparation for lots of stuffing of faces with Easter eggs and hot cross buns!

Farmboy and I, along with our friends Kelly & Nathan headed off to Sodwana Bay (near the Mozambique border, up the North Coast) for the long weekend, with tents and blow up mattresses in tow. Apart from a very nasty incident last wednesday evening when my precious camera and Farmboy's work laptop were 'liberated' from my LOCKED car (using who knows what kind of sci-fi tech) but apart from that, the weekend was swell. Here are some snaps taken with Nathan's iPhone (ah man I really am mad about Instagram) with being without a camera and all...

{If you are ever looking for a holiday destination that feels very exotic and tropical, with incredible snorkeling and only about a 4.5 hour drive from PMB, then head out to Sodwana Bay}

{Antiques} Lions River Trading Post...Midlands Meander

A drive around the Natal Midlands always leads to some exciting find, whether it is a lovely coffee, boutique store or Antique barn. And thats exactly what happened when Farmboy and I headed out a few weekends ago in search of a fishing spot. 

I present to you, Lions River Trading Post:

Address:

11km from Howick

-29.4632, 30.1643

Telephone Number:

+27 33 234 4098

Open 9am - 5pm daily.

A lunch date at Wolves Cafe, Illovo

This past weekend I had a very quick trip up to Joburg (Farmboy is away in Zambia so I thought a very quick visit home was in order). I met up with my dear friend and recent maid of honour at my wedding, Louise. Here are some snaps from our lunch date at one of our favourite hang out places, Wolves Cafe in Illovo. By the by, their red-velvet cake is to die for!

The lovely lady behind the cafe, Angie has an awesome blog called Luck Pony. Go and pay her a visit, you won't be disappointed as her blog is filled to the brim with goodies that will have you scrolling for hours.