Songkran 2009

Songran, 2009, (and yes you will get DRENCHED but it’s great fun!)

Mid festival

Me anf “Ms Off”

Jasmine and roses

Sacred flowers

2 farang (foreigners) enjoying the festivities

Traditional Thai water blessing

The water being prepared to be shared

The Thais drive by and douse anyone they see with water:)

Cutie with a mission…

Drummers

Me and “Ay”, with painted faces and soaking wet

Me and one of the drummers

Joe and I

Lucky having a BLAST!

Thai musicians

Parading down the road as Thais do…

This is how the Thais celebrate New Year…and it rocks

Only guns in sight;)

Random Farm town, markets and some creepy creatures…

So approaching my last week in Thailand before flying back to Seoul for a while.

Here are shots from around town, the local markets, the beach…a few animals in there:)

Cutie with a cutie

This table is AWESOME

THESE things (and they are insectsw) show up in MASSIVE quantities after a rain storm (I think they die as soon as they mate). I’d NEVER seen so many bugs, EVERYWHERE…

Snack anyone?

Tuna salad Thai at MAC garden
.

My boys…^^

Ko Samed Saturday and a few neat shots of yummies

Meet Ms. Ay and the fantastic sticky rice she brought in….

Ay is the lady who brings the sunshine to work everyday. This lady took empty heart-shaped boxes from the garbage and taped them on the wall to cheer us up on Valentne’s day-her attitude in life is truly inspiratinoal.

Sticky rice in bamboo, mixed with coconut cream and truly amazing stuff!

Dre is one of my fave people here:)

Courtney and I on the beach

Rice cakes

Shane is a local that everyone knows this small town knows-one cool cat

Pork rind crisps

Statue on Ko Samed.

Comfort Zones

For years I lived in a very specific COMFORT ZONE, relying on others for all things that involved tedious details and often, barely even ‘paying attention’ to the passing scenery unless it sparked an area of specific interest. I have recently made an effort to rip apart the walls of said comfort zone and it’s been pretty damn stressful but I have never grown so much.

Why be comfortable? Some people argue that a life spent in comfort is wonderful: one can relax, cope well with reasonably anticipated surprises, and have a tried and true backup plan. A crisis in a comfort zone is nothing like a crisis in no-man’s land with no friends and under mastered weaponry.

When I think of the contrast, I imagine a ‘well cared for cat’ lying in the sun by it’s favorite window, knowing exactly when the sun will set and when it’s owner will turn on the TV that it might switch to someones lap to be pet. That same cat might live in the wild, hunting for it’s next meal, honing it’s skills, and should it ever be expelled from it’s loving home, that cat may be better off. One breathing fresh air and exploring new alleys, the other enjoying the aroma of a casserole and the cushiness of a pillow.

I think there is magic in the word ‘balance’, but my life seldom has it. I still believe that there is also that magical moment during which one must say “piss on it, it isn’t worth killing myself over, no matter how much I might gain-I need to chill out”.

Duke Donohue’s First Show in Korea, February 28th…very cool concept

Korea Discontinued-for fans of old-school polaroid and a great artist’s eye…

Duke is a good friend of mine who resides in Bundang but originates from the big Apple. He came up with this concept a number of months ago and it is so cool to see it materialize. It will be held at my friend Terry’s lovely gallery near Ori Station. It’s extra cool that he is tying it to charity.

Duke remains one of the most talented artists I’ve met, particularly when it comes to spacial concepts and design. I love his mixed media work and would’ve loved to have known him back in the days when ran his own company. The dude’s worked in NYC, Miami, Italy, Korea…he’s been around the block and has a great perspective, very much inspired by cross-cultural experience.

Description

This exhibit will be my first showing in Korea. It will be a compilation of instant photos from my travels in Korea. Also there will be images that i shot in Cambodia and Vietnam. All the money raised will go to funding my volunteer trip to Cambodia in the coming summer to work with orphans. Remember to check out February’s edition of Eloquence Magazine for my interview about the show!

Photos

All fans of old school polaroid should be there! ^^

ENGAGING IN ONE GIANT BALANCING ACT

A difficult truth in Business: It may not be your FAULT, but it IS your responsibilty.

Shots from around this tiny town (Ban Phe, Thailand)

Thought it was time to get more casual about pictures and show real life around here before I leave…

At the market

Street shot of Ban Phe by the beach

Fish drying for jerky

Long Live the King

Thai market goods, wholesale-recognize the fruit?

My FAVORITE mushroom and peppercorn berry disk, local restaurant

Always hanging around town

Thai snacks

Good Read.

Acceptance.

My third leadership workshop gave me the key to what I feel is my ability to be largely (seemingly) unaffected by things that are going on around me. I was handed a card with suggestions that claimed to lead to success and satisfaction.   1. Acceptance is the Key. 2. Comfort zones prohibit growth. 3. Communication can make anything work.
Acceptance
First study this card’s image – use your intuition – and think about what the image means to you.Acceptance is one of the most powerful responses we can have to a difficult situation in relating. Unfortunately, it’s also one of our most unlikely responses. Problems usually excite us into action, or reaction, leaving us little space to relax, breathe, or just sit with what is happening. We have a low tolerance for things seeming to be “wrong,” so we tend to quickly jump into trying to change the situation – or each other.Ironically, much of what we do is counterproductive. Our actions are based on the sense that what is happening here and now is unacceptable to us. Our partner ends up getting the message that they are unacceptable – so they become hurt or defensive, then counterreact, withdraw, or shut down. This only creates more problems for us to resolve.Let’s face it – acceptance is what we all want to receive in a relationship. There’s no deeper hurt than the feeling of not being accepted. When we don’t feel accepted, we feel upset about our partner, ourselves, and our relationship. Typically, at that point our defensiveness and emotional reactions block us from seeing mutually fulfilling, constructive options. Is there something that you find hard to accept right now in your relationship? If so, how does this keep you from fully accepting your partner? In what ways do you communicate or signal your nonacceptance? What is your partner’s response? How is your nonacceptance keeping you both from moving forward and creating more fulfilling options together? The card ACCEPTANCE invites you to see how acceptance is the key that allows all movement. Nonacceptance is nothing more than a recognition that something doesn’t work. Taken by itself, this has little power to transform things. Keeping a focus on how things are wrong will only keep you stuck. Acceptance is a key that can unlock the doors of a stuck situation. When you open the doors with acceptance, you can begin to breathe more freely. The key is in your heart. As you open your heart and begin to find acceptance, many things in a situation become free to move again. The doors of willingness can begin to open. Through these doors you and your partner are able to move forward together, and find new and positive possibilities that you could not see before. In opening your heart, you begin to allow things to be as they are right now. You accept that the situation is the way it is, that you feel the way you do, and that your partner is the way they are – probably doing the best they can. Acceptance, however, does not mean accepting every way they act toward you. If behavior is physically or emotionally abusive, you are still responsible for saying what does not work for you and for making your boundaries clear. Acceptance can create a safer space in which you and your partner may communicate better, even in the presence of a problem. Healthy partners don’t see problems as signs that the relationship is “bad,” or that something is “wrong” with each other. Instead, they accept the situation. They accept where they are with it – that they may feel hurt, sad, angry, or afraid or that they may not know exactly what to do. But they do know that in remembering the key of acceptance, they can open doors that lead to true fulfillment.

Introducing Myself…Anyong Haseyo! Kelly eem-needa!

I’m Kelly Frances, former webmaster of Seoulstyle.com, creator of Facebook groups SEOULCENTRIC, ELOQUENCE EXPAT MAGAZINE , CARE BEARS, BEAR AWARENESS, and MEDIASPYRE multimedia group. I am a key member of animal rights group MOONBEARS.ORG. I have lived in Asia for 7 years, mostly in and around Seoul, Korea. I travel often and enjoy planning events, co-ordinating trips and a multitude of freelance projects that keep me busy and loving life. I’m always up to answer questions about the town I love so don’t be shy….

My personal detailed journal is located on livejournal.

My Korean Mother, Sunny, Baby JJ and I on Buddha's Birthday, 2008

Must do in Seoul!

I wanted to publish my list of “Must do while in Seoul” Stuff: 

Dear Chocolate, Apgujeong: Very artsy, very sweet and swank: dinner and chocolate factory-try the chocolate!

Drinks at Naos Nova, a true hidden gem in Northern Central Seoul-very conceptual, very chic; their 4 levels are named “Heaven, Hell, Earth and Zero”)

Italian food at Antonio’s (I strongly prefer the Apgujeong branch-though he recently opened in Itaewon)-everyone should try his stuffed pasta dishes

 

Bulgarian food at Zelen’s (excellent), in Itaewon-everyone should try their stuffed chicken with smoked cheese

 

A good old fashioned, no-nonsense hamburger and chips, central itaewon, and recently featured in Eloquence Magazine as well as Seouleats.com, WOLFHOUND PUB

 

Indian/Nepalize food at a hidden gem called EVEREST in Dongdaemun

 

Korean Galbi at Samwon garden

Dinner for the FABULOUS panoramic view of Seoul at N. Grill (not easy on the budget and the staff are not overly organized so book in advance-FAR in advance!) The restaurant rotates! Worth the $$$

 

Royal court dinner (very traditional, very posh), in Seocho, but runs about 120 bucks a head

 

Production: The Ballerina who fell in love with a b-boy, Hongdae (artsy district)

 

Tea, Patbingsoo (bean and ashaved ice dessert) and street candy in Insadong, our official art district and worth a stroll for both sights and refreshments

 

Dessert at Tartine in Itaewon, they have 3 cakes available: Cheescake, Chocolate tort and Raspberry

 

Obviously, seeing our big palace: gyounghuigung Palace near city hall

 

Metro Hotel, Myeongdong

 

Spa at Grand Hyatt with Buffet lunch

 

Production: Nanta

 

Museum: The Leeum in Hannam dong

 

War Memorial, Samgakji

 

Strolling in cheonggyechun

Cherry blossom season along the Ttangchun (Bundang)

Japanese Fusion at Zen hideaway, Apgujeong-ask for the private room but book 2 weeks in advance if you expect to get it!

Hair done by the famous Michelle at the Green Turtle, Itaewon-he always makes me feel awesome about myself and I’m not alone on loving his skills

Visit Seorak-san (not in Seoul but fabulous and not far)

Traditional Tea ceremony, performance and meal at the famous Samcheonggak, a little out of the way but an awesome cultural experience, (but save your pennies for this one!)