Annapurna Base Camp 8-22 Dec 2018

An adventure trip of adventures...

ABC 8-22 Dec 2018

There is always a tour of duty when it comes to most anything, trekking in the Himalayan ranges not withstanding.  Annapurna Base Camp is just one of those commonly trekked parts. It makes no sense for us not to trek ABC before we progress further.

And boy was I pleasantly surprised and happy to have on board with our small group, Jacalyn Chung, our good cycling kaki, and Shu Ning, Fann’s best friend; not to mention Nicole, who finally managed to find the time to join the Wong family for this trip, to experience together all the emotional roller coasters - serenity, exuberance, suffering, pain, fear and more that the mountains invariably served.

Discovering the Spirit of Iran

Seeing an ancient world with modern eyes


To many who read widely reports by 'external' media, Iran is a country with inextricable link to terrorist organizations, and has been under pressure from the international community for its nuclear development.  And with Trump’s recent pulling out of the nuclear treaty with Iran and sanctioning on countries from purchasing crude oil from Iran, this country has once again been brought to the forefront of international attention.

Many have expressed disbelief and reservation about my decision to take this trip to the ancient land of Persia.

“Trust me. It’s one of the safest countries and the people are so friendly you will never believe it,” reassured Adrian.

And the deal was done.

Nubra Valley Medical Volunteer work - a trip of discoveries

Ladakh... up north to where life is simple(r).

My good friend Haw Chou texted me three weeks prior to the departure in mid July for this most meaningful trip of medical work up north in Nubra Valley, and I took up his offer within a second.  And of course, the rest was academic history.

2018 汉城迎春清晨步、首尔庆年白日眠

近年来，春节时期频频往外飞。不但国外游玩，而越游越久，甚至索性也把孩子们的爷爷奶奶也一块儿带出国喜庆另一种过年的气氛。

As always Roydon very guai. Always made sure he sent us off at the airport.

前年，我们带了孩子到伦敦过春节。去年开始扶了老爷爷奶奶到曼谷。玩得他们老人家兴致勃勃。今年2018年的春天，我早在11个月前就已经计划好并订了飞机票以及明洞住宿，让孩子们及两位老人家能度过一个难忘的新年。

我与Serene俩对韩国明洞特有独钟。游过了济州岛，到过了 Gurye。可首尔的活力气息、人潮的节奏，加上路人阴阳桑去特别明显的韩语对话连连入耳，完完全全把自己浸汝在一个韩剧环境里。

但是韩国人也过春节的呀！怎么能够去韩国过年呢？

这是一个往往返返时时刻刻涌于我脑里的一个大问题。好多朋友病人都皱起眉头，以怀疑的眼神回应我的计划。好几位韩籍病人亦强调韩国人对过春节这传统非常注重。一过年就是好几天的。好比中国人过年一般。

“韩国二月会冷吗？”奶奶担心地问。

”OK的啦。好比冷气坏了一般。凉凉的啦。” 有时候还是别说老实话。不然老人家会吓坏了。我还记得2017年我跟 Serene 到明洞是，晚间温度下降至零下10度呢！

今年我不断观察首尔天气的趋向。还算不错。白天大概5-6度，晚上大约零下7-8度。早两、三个星期，在一月内当时是首尔最冷的时候。那一个时候，零下十多度加上又下雪，应该是挺享受的。虽然二月比较温一点，但也无妨，带着老人家，还是暖一点比较适当。

2018年2月13日

我们第一回乘搭韩国的Asiana 班级。11个月前以一人$670一张机票订了。在春节期间 super peak period 这价钱算是非常不错啦。况且我直接与 K-Guesthouse 的항길주 Hwang Gil Ju 联络，一晚一间房S$80，也十分优惠。

星期二下午工作至3点，终于收工啦！

我通常喜欢漏夜飞往首尔。那六个小时十五分钟的班机，睡得好的话，一醒来就天亮了。这回爷爷奶奶也真的是睡得不错。

抵达首尔时大概上午7点。冷到爷爷奶奶 buay tahan!

The airport shuttle bus 6015 never failed us.

上午6点着陆于仁川机场。凭着我们的经验，搭了一辆6015的巴士，一小时后就到了明洞站。信不信，虽然真正的 check in 时间是下午两点，但是六楼房间有空位，九点钟我们就有得 check in 了。太妙啦！

这么巧！我们跟奶奶的旧同事陈老师同时同巴士抵达明洞！

旅游节目安排

自由旅行就是好在这一点。一切随自己的时间。累嘛就迟点起身，若有精神就花多点时间在外头。景点一切随缘。我们在 Guesthouse 碰到一群从马来西亚来的年轻人。他们说每天的行程是：“靠着感觉走！” 潇洒哉！

Really hungry at 9am. Luckily we could grab a nice full breakfast at the guesthouse!

没想到家人全都肚子饿了。还好，Guesthouse 自助早餐还允许我们煎蛋、泡咖啡、烘面包、吃玉蜀黍片配鲜奶。我心里偷笑。这位 Guesthouse 管理员 Gil Ju 也闭一只眼睛、不与我们计较，随我们去吃到够。