Always On The Go!

Meet Kim

Born in South Korea, raised in the USA

She’s been traveling since 2012 and visited 24 countries

Travel Styles Adventurous, Simple Accommodation, Always on the go

Interview

How did we meet?

Answer: In Myanmar of all places. We happened to be staying at the same hostel and started talking over drinks on the roof. Talked briefly about our plans for the next day. Lucky for me, you were free so we headed to the Hsinbyume Pagoda in Mingun.

What inspires you to travel?

Answer: I’m inspired by history. I always say that if I ever win the lottery, I’ll become a professional student, but not actually go to school. Instead, I’ll travel to historic sites around the world and learn first-hand: experience the culture, get to know the locals, eat what they eat, cook how they cook, and always wash it down with an ice-cold beer!

What experience are you most proud of, and why?

I have 2 answers:

The first experience that I’m most proud of is moving to South Korea. I’m a South-Korean adoptee and I grew up with, for lack of better terms, a lot of white people. I didn’t know anything about my heritage or culture, so I thought, “What better way to learn about it?” What started off as a year of teaching abroad quickly became 7. I’ve met so many people along the way, a few of which I’m grateful to call my best friends. When people say “home away from home,” that’s Korea for me.

My second experience is when I visited Jordan. I’m sure Petra is on a lot of people’s bucket lists, and it was definitely on the top of mine. I spent 2 full days at Petra and never wasted a moment. I took in everything. With any major tourist attraction, there is always a dark side. The treatment of animals was despicable, and the scams run by the children of the families was heartbreaking. In case you’re planning on going to Petra, do not ride any animals no matter what. Outside of Petra, I visited Mount Nebo, climbed endless mountains in Wadi Rum Desert, spent a night under the stars, and floated in the Dead Sea.

What are the biggest challenges you face while abroad?

Answer: The biggest challenge by far is being a solo female traveler. I’m not one to be scared or nervous while traveling alone, simply because I’ve done it so often and because I exercise sound judgement. I’m not going out at night, getting hammered at the local pub, and stumbling back to my hotel or hostel.

Catcalling is one of the worst experiences I had to deal with. In India, the catcalling (harassment) was unlike anything I’ve ever encountered. It was relentless to the point where I almost cut my trip short. Also, I walk everywhere whenever I can. It’s important to me because it gives me a better idea of where I am, how to get places, and allows me to interact more with locals. At the same time, it opens me up to scrutiny and “danger.” Again, I really only experienced this in India and a little bit in Egypt. Otherwise, I couldn’t be happier traveling alone. I can do whatever I want, whenever I want.

When traveling, do you plan or wing it?

Answer: I would like to sit here and say that I wing it and go with the flow; however, I’m a planner and I’m always on the go. Most of the time, I wake up around 5:00am so that I can do (or see) as much as possible during day. Some people have messaged me, asking if I ever get burned out. The answer is “No.” I think it’s because I’m always looking forward to my next adventure, or city, or the excitement/panic of how I’m going to get there.

Usually, I come up with a list of things I want to do or see, and then figure out how much I can actually accomplish within my time frame. Even if I had an infinite amount of time, I would still plan (probably less rigorously), but always have an idea of what I wanted to do.

Which country has the best food? Any recommended dishes?

Answer: This is a hard question to answer, so here are my top 3: Korea, Nepal, Morocco.

In Korea, there is a myth that everything is spicy. If you’ve ever been there, you know it’s exactly that: a myth. Sure, there are spicy things to eat, but I think that’s true of many countries, not just Korea. I would recommend haemul pajeon (seafood pancake and not like the breakfast kind), dak –galbi (similar to a spicy chicken stir fry), and kimchi mandu (kimchi dumplings).

In Nepal, I think I ate enough falafel and hummus for an entire family, and I could never get enough; everything was just so fresh.

In Morocco, I really enjoyed tajine (slow-cooked stew that’s served in a clay or ceramic cone-like dish) and couscous (topped with anything from vegetables to lamb). I don’t consider myself a “foodie” but I love trying traditional dishes from wherever I am.

What three things can’t you travel without?

Answer: Hmm… I would have to say hand sanitizer, towel, and my external battery. Hand sanitizer is self-explanatory. A towel because some of the hostels I stayed at didn’t offer towels, but I didn’t mind since I had my own. Plus, I knew it was clean. And my external battery because it charges everything from my phone to my laptop. I have a horrible sense of direction and have a high chance of getting lost wherever I am. Weird huh? So, I rely heavily on Google Maps to get me around, and for that reason alone, I need my phone to be charged.

Top artists in your travel playlist?

Answer: That’s easy… Above & Beyond!Some of you may know who they are, some of you may not. They’re a trance trio from the UK and one of my favorite artists of all-time. Now before you judge me, I’m a hip-hop and R&B guru as well. I spent a fair amount of my teens and 20s listening to John Legend, Musiq Soulchild, 112, Common, Mos Def, etc. But when I was introduced to electronic music, Above & Beyond just gave me that feeling… I can’t really describe it in words. They just put me on another level, and when I’m traveling or just sitting at home, they’re the first thing I put on.

A publishing company wants to write a book about your life abroad. What’s the name of it and what’s it about?

Answer: I think the title of my book would be, “What’s Next?” It would be about experiences and learning, and how we’re never really done with either. As a teacher, I firmly believe that we’re always learning something new, whether it’s a new word, a new song or a new food. Personally, I never want to stop learning or experiencing other cultures. I will always ask myself, “What’s next?” The above photo was taken in Bali, and would be my book cover.

Best advice you have to share with prospective travelers?

Answer: The best advice I have is to be smart, do your research, be respectful, and be prepared for the unexpected.

By “research,” I don’t mean scouring Instagram for the next trending city. I mean do your due diligence. What local taxi apps do they use? How much SHOULD things cost? What should you be weary of? Do I have to bargain for certain things? How do you say simple things, like hello or thank you? What’s the dress code like?

Which leads me to being respectful. I’m all for equality and women’s rights, but when you’re in another country, be respectful of their traditions and culture. As a guest in their house, you may not agree with their rules, but still follow them. Did I love walking around in long sleeves and pants in India and Egypt? No. Did I do it? Yes.

And lastly, always be prepared for things to go awry. I made peace with losing my backpack if it ever happened. If someone stole it or it got lost at the airport, I knew that I would be ok without it. All of my essential and necessary things were in my carry-on and that stayed with me at all times. Also, be aware that transportation is not as reliable as you want it to be. When I was in Sri Lanka, the Ella Train workers went on strike, and I was out 2 train tickets with no other way to get from city to city except shared taxis.