Friday, September 25, 2009

My sister has always said I'm "18 going on 80"

I remember talking to my sister a few years ago, and her saying to me "I'm so glad I'm turning 30! I hated my 20's!"

I thought to myself, "Wait, aren't the 20s supposed to be the best years of your life, at least according to pop culture? One 10 year-long party till you turn 30?"

She and I had the same conversation earlier this summer. She explained, " You think you know everything about life in your 20s, but you really don't. And you won't realize it till you're 30, when it's already too late."

I'm turning 20 in 2 months. I have a feeling I'll share the same sentiment, but I feel like I've gotten off to a good start, at least.

At least I've gotten prior warning :)

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

A different kind of islander

Sorry I didn't post anything yesterday. We mostly slept all day. I guess that's what we get for trooping around nonstop for almost a week.

Today was super worth my early rise time (6:30am!) We took a day ferry and visited 3 islands south of Athens - Poros, Hydra, and Aegina.



This is the first island that we went to. It's a beautiful port town, and I had no idea that the other two islands were going to look as beautiful.



Okay, take notice of my skin tone. Nice and pale, tanned by the soft glow of computer and tv screens all day.



This is absolutely my favorite island in Greece. This is Hydra. It's a port town where cars are banned and the only transportation around are donkeys. Imagine what the air is like here - always clean and fresh. I'm going to have my honeymoon here and retire here as a cat lady when I'm old and my children have their own lives to live. :)



I'm trying to make you comprehend what the water looks like here. Unlike the rest of the world, I've never been to Hawaii, so this water absolutely baffles me.



Getting darker...



Aegina was the last city we went to. But by the time we were here, we were pooped out and exhausted.



Mission complete. Now when I tell people I'm Asian/Pacific Islander, my skin tone will match.

Sunday, September 20, 2009

I wonder what it's like

SPARTA! ...SORT OF!

Today we went and visited two really ancient places: the Sanctuary of Asclepios in Epidaurus and Ancient Corinth. We drove along the Peloponnese and basically trekked around where the Spartans lived. Later on we drove down South to Corinth. Corinth was definitely my favorite place so far, but more on that later.



If you look at my google map (----->), you can see that it was a long drive from Athens to Epidaurus. We drove along the southern coastline, and the view was breathtaking. It was like driving along 1 near Santa Barbara, but better.





This is me in front of the theater. It is the best-preserved ancient theater in all of Greece. Standing in the middle, you can whisper and the poor guy in the top row can hear you inhale. Ridiculous!



A view from the restaurant where we ate for lunch. It looks straight out a stock photo.



My family knows this, but I don't think anyone else does. I can easily finish a whole fish. By myself. It's disgusting and awesome at the same time.




Ancient Corinth is my favorite site I've seen so far. It's a big deal for me to be here because St. Paul lived and preached here, and I have no words for how important he is for me, and for Christianity itself. Unlike most other of Jesus' disciples, this BAMF said, "Hey, wtf? Why is Jesus only for the Jews? What about the Gentiles?" He was a very educated man - a Roman citizen - who argued with logic as well as faith, and did what all Christians are supposed to do - spread the Gospel through example and, more importantly, not be a dick about it. His letters are read somewhere around the world at any given moment of the day. If you were a teacher and your students were confused and being disobedient, what would you say? How would you address them? Now imagine thousands of years later people are reading them. If that's not influence, I don't know what is.




<3

Saturday, September 19, 2009

Not my fault I brought it with me.

Went to visit the Temple of Apollo and the Oracle at Delphi today. It was raining almost the entire trip there, especially since we were going up into the mountains. My uncle said it never rains in September, so he blamed its atypical presence on his niece from San Francisco. But light rain on humid days in Greece actually make my trip that much more enjoyable.



Sadly, this was not witnessed.



Me in my quasi-conspicuously low-cut tank top that I regret wearing, but the weather was surprisingly very pleasant even in the rain and gloomy skies.



Stormtrooping the Treasury of Athens




I wish I could show you a picture that depicts the enormously grand scale of this place, but I'll show you this gorges (HA!) picture instead. (Click on it, it's widescreen and awesome)



What this place was supposed to look like. Like you see in the picture above, it's not exactly the most accessible place in the world. But it's the sheer triumph of human will that built these places.

Friday, September 18, 2009

Just to let you know,




long days and pleasant nights, indeed.

Ancient Love



The only other thing in Athens besides the buildings that will last forever.

International Debauchery

Today we went back to the Plakka (a district in Athens), because apparently that's where we live our life.



Stormtrooping the Acropolis



Underneath the Acropolis Museum



After taking a picture with my Stormtrooper jacket on here at the Theater of Dionysos, the guard made me delete my picture not because I possibly looked like a terrorist (which I admit I kinda do with a full-faced mask), but because I was being 'disrespectful'. I understand because it's a thousand year-old monument, but it's not like I was wearing a phallic costume or posing lewdly. Oh well, I guess I have to make my mark in Europe somehow



Stormtrooping the Temple of Olympic Zeus



Fornication in Hadrian's Library (video to come)



View from our balcony dinner in the Plakka. Free wine ftw!

Thursday, September 17, 2009

Parthenawesome!

Okay, I promised pictures. So here are a few





This is a semi-public beach in Porto Rafti. It was amazingly clear water. Temperatures definitely swimmable! If you know me at all, you know I'm not down for oceanic swimming. But this was just amazing!



At Jackson Hill, I found out that a Guiness is more than a Smirnoff Ice.







Today, we went to the Parthenon and the Agora. Like I said, we got recognized for our Californian accents within the first 20 minutes, so that was hilarious.



Theater of Dionysus




THIS IS A TORTOISE. A TORTOISE. IT WAS AWESOME. (Video later)

Grecian Rain

Ah, sorry for the lack of posts! I wanted my pictures to accompany my bloggings, but alas, I don't have a converter just yet.

Wednesday:

Went to Port Rafti and swam in the Mediterranean! Wowzers, I've never seen water so clear before. Then we explored Athens at night. The Acropolis looks beautiful all lit up.

Today:

Took a taxi to Athens! Went to the Acropolis, stumbled upon the Agora, got recognized for our Californian accents (twice!), saw the Parliament, and taxied our way back home by ourselves. We also got caught in the rain twice, but walking around since 10am in the hot Grecian sun made the rain very welcome, indeed.

Oh, I'm going to try and get a Google map going of all the places I've been.

Hope to post my pictures soon!

Tuesday, September 15, 2009

Liz:0, Heathrow:1

Okay, I probably lost a few pounds briskly walking a few MILES around that godforsaken airport dragging 80 pounds of luggage. But at least it'll make for a good story!


Here's me at SFO. Stormtrooping it.



Olympic airlines, 16 hours later.



As you can see, the crazy got to me. Oh well, at least I had Jon with me. :)

Saturday, September 12, 2009

Close to Home




Last homemade meal in Orange County.