Finally I'm back! I was very busy taking care of school and other matters. Plus I had some problems with my pictures and weren't able to upload them on the site :(
This post will also be dedicated to my summer trip, although I know it's long over. Within the course of 31 days, my family and I went to Canada, Florida, and Seoul :)
The title is self-explanatory. Here's a list of my most favorite places during the trip, in no particular order:
1. Walt Disney World Epcot, Orlando
What looks like the world's biggest golf ball is actually Spaceship Earth, the symbol of Epcot.
If I had to rank the ones I visited, it would be: Epcot, with Magic Kingdom a close second, Animal Kingdom, and Hollywood Studios.
My favorite Epcot pavilion? Japan. (Yes I'm
However, biased as I am, it is not without reason. Let me tell you why!
Miyuki Sugimori, also known as Candy Miyuki, a candy artist. She's the only female candy artist in existence. We were marveling at her skilled hands sculpting a white taffy dough into various animals, each done in less than a minute. I requested a purple unicorn. See the picture below :)
In addition, the staff at one of the Japanese restaurants we ate at sang to me and gave me a slice of cake with a candle on top, plus a pink origami ring which was really cute. I also got to see the 4th of July fireworks display. Left me speechless.
2. Horseshoe Falls, Niagara Falls City
I was presented with a most wonderful sight when I arrived at Horseshoe Falls. I was in awe at the sight of it roaring its way down, crashing down at the water below. Simply one of the most wonderful things I'd ever seen. We bought the full adventure pack and experienced everything Niagara: Maid of the Mist, Journey Behind the Falls, White Water Walk, and Niagara's Fury.
Later in the day, a full rainbow appeared, and our cameras were snapping away despite the struggle of the attacking mist.
For more Niagara Falls pictures, please check out Summer 2013: Niagara Falls
3. The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Universal's Islands of Adventure, Orlando
So far my favorite land of the park. I adored the way it was made. I felt like I was really in a snow-capped town in winter even though it was a burning hot summer day. It's also home to one of the best rides I'd ever been on - Harry Potter the Forbidden Journey. Totally awesome!! We were lucky enough to be able to ride it twice!
I LOVED the Butterbeer there (you should definitely try it). It's pretty sweet, but not sweet enough that you it would make you sick. I'm not that big on sweet stuff myself, but I just had to buy another one because I loved it so much. I personally preferred the frozen one over the regular one :)
For all Harry Potter fans (and non-fans all the same), this is a must-visit place!
4. Casa Loma, Toronto
Casa Loma was a wonderful place to visit. I enjoyed going through the beautifully-furnished rooms and the underground tunnels was also something I liked, despite its lack of decor and color. I'd never been inside something like the underground tunnels before, and they had this authentic and mysterious atmosphere that I really liked :)
A bit of a hike to get there, though it was definitely worth it.
5. Stanley Park, Vancouver
Huge, clean, and green. Full of smiles, activity, and spirit, yet still peaceful. Loved it. The park is said to be comparable to New York's Central Park. Vancouver Aquarium is located here, and you can take great walks along the Vancouver Seawalk.
The second pictures features the totem poles, while the monument in the third picture is the Girl in the Wetsuit.
6. Granville Island, Vancouver
I really enjoyed the view and the market at Granville Island. We bought some fruits at the market to enjoy the lovely air and view with. Great family time :D Then we went on one of those boats to the other side, with a beach and more green grasses abundant with sunbathing people.
7. Gyeongbokgung Palace, Seoul
I was fascinated at how intricately the ceilings were crafted, how grand the king's throne room was, and the little animal statues on the roofs. There also many young men (probably volunteering students) who were cleaning up the damp grounds of the palace after the rain, which impressed me.
8. Lotte World, Seoul
I had a lot of fun at Lotte World :) I was surprised at how many rides they had (at first I wasn't aware that there was an outdoor theme park in addition to the indoor one). Lotte World's "Adventure" is the largest indoor theme park in the world. Magic Island was initially closed because we came on a rainy day (yes, it raining even on the eastern side of the world), so we were charged half-price. Later, when the rain stopped, they opened the outdoor park as well, which was rather surprising. So we ended up paying only half the price O:) I still didn't get to ride everything I wanted though :(
Lotte World Adventure has this huge skating rink in the middle of the park, where you can observe the young (and very skilled) skaters practicing. We were greeted by a Rio Samba carnival upon arrival. I was at all the energy, and stepped up to dance a bit too (nothing too fancy, just following what the dancer was doing). It was all good, pure fun. I wish I had my friends with me, though. It would have been even more amazing!
It was so easy getting to Lotte World, just get off at Jamsil station and follow the signs! A lot of students were there. I thought about how great it must be to be able to come to an amusement park with your friends so easily instead of just mall after mall like we have here. As I watched them play freely with their friends, I became a bit envious. :P
9. Changdeokgung Palace, Seoul
 | |
| The main entrance |
Changdeokgung Palace differs from Gyeongbokgung Palace in the fact that you have to join a guided tour to enter. At Gyeongbokgung Palace, you were allowed to roam free within its premises. The way Changdeokgung was built was also slightly different from Gyeongbokgung. Somehow it had a more calming and welcoming atmosphere, because there weren't wild flocks of rowdy tourists everywhere.
We made it for the first English tour just in time (I believe there were only two English tours a day). Some felt that the tour guide was speaking too fast and not clearly enough. Personally, I learned a lot of interesting things from the tour guide. My parents though, with the task of taking pictures and videos bestowed upon them, didn't get to focus on what the tour guide was saying as much as my brother and I did.
Bro Pick: Canadian War Museum, Ottawa
I've always had quite the interest in World History (although it didn't seem so in school). I have mad respect for the soldiers who braved all the horrible wars this world has seen. The Canadian War Museum in Ottawa wasn't the biggest nor the fanciest I'd ever been to, but without a doubt it was one where I learned the most from. Because it was small and direct, with a clearly arranged path from exhibit to exhibit and event to event, I felt no pressure in having to be able to see everything in a few hours. So we didn't feel as rushed as we would usually have been in a bigger museum. Not to mention that they had a kick-ass display of military vehicles. My dad and brother, with whom I share the interest of war history, enjoyed this museum as well :)
Thanks for reading! Of course we went to more wonderful places, but these are my favourites. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to ask in the comments section. I'll do my best to answer :)
アリシア
Now listening: (Orange) by GReeeeN (Gosh I love this group)
P.S. You may have noticed that I've stopped watermarking my pictures lately. Part of this is because I have yet to reconfigure my new computer for it (previously I always worked on my laptop), another is that I simply can't be bothered right now. So if you want to use my pictures please give credit :)
Picture Sources:
Epcot Spaceship Earth: http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/guides/epcot/
Canadian War Museum: http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/featured/the-canadian-war-museum
No comments:
Post a Comment