Top Ten Experiences in Ireland So Far

As it’s summer now, I took an unexpected break. To be fair it was refreshing not having to worry about a post a week, but I did miss the schedule of it all.

I’ve officially been here ten months, wohoo!

That means I have lived in Dublin longer than anywhere else in the past five years.

Here are my top 10 photos that I’ve taken in the past 10 months. I’ve selected a mixture of travel destinations and just pictures of great memories.

The Beginning

After nearly 8 years I finally returned to this gem of an Isle. This was the first picture I took of Ireland from the plane heading down to Dublin airport.

A Halloween Like No Other

Did you know that Halloween actually originated in Ireland? Neither did I until this past year.

Howth

This side of Dublin Bay has become one of my most frequented travel spots and I plan to go back to this place right outside of city centre. It's a quaint town that's right on the water, and, on the weekends, there is a great market there filled with delicious treats.

The Cliffs of Moher

This is seriously one of the most breath taking scenes I have ever visited. I'd love to go back out west and complete the entire cliff walk someday.

The Festive Season

With all of its small alleyways and narrow streets, Dublin was ripe with opportunities to decorate for the holidays. I loved just going out at night and walking aimlessly around.

Paddy's Day

No it's not St. Paddy's, or is it ever really called St. Patrick's Day. I spent my time watching the parade with my friend Steph from Australia- I hadn't seen her in nearly two years. A lovely member of the garda- policemen- took this photo of us and everyone around was buzzed with happiness.... and maybe a bit too much of alcohol, but who am I to talk.

The Giant's Causeway

I loved learning about the formation myth of this landmark, and I highly recommend going there and taking a tour of it. 

Pentatonix

After years of watching them come together as a group on The Sing Off and then all their youtube videos, I finally was able to see them live in Dublin. If you ever get a chance to see PTX live I would recommend going. They sounded amazing, if not better, live than on their records.

Dublin Zoo

Even though it's summertime and many of my friends have gone home, we were still able to plan a day trip to the zoo. Although I can't say it compared to the zoo in Dubbo, Australia or the Tarangire in Tanzania, I thoroughly enjoyed my day. I especially loved that the peacocks were allowed to roam freely all over the zoo grounds, plus good company always makes for an amazing day no matter what.

Home

After living here for 10 months I can confidently say that I am feeling Ireland is home. I really can;t describe what drew me here, but now that I am, I really do not want to leave. I've made some incredible friends here and I can only hope to make more and gain more fond memories.

xxKim

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Normally I would put a music recommendation here but I've been listening to such a variety that I can't choose.

-Olly Murs: just feel good music, especially his earlier material

-Fleetwood Mac: I was never a huge fan, but they have some great summer tunes

-DNCE: I can't stop listening to Cake by the Ocean

-The Beatles: summer becomes my time where I put on the White Album or 1 over and over again.

Friends, Fun and Paddy's Day

Over the past two weeks I've had my share of adventures, reunions, and just plain amazing times with both new and old friends.

Let's start out two weeks ago. On the Thursday before Paddy's Day, Maxi and Jana arrived from Germany and we had a reunion party to celebrate their return. We had some pre-drinks at a friend's and it was so good to talk with them face-to-face instead of in text or over a computer screen. By the end of the night it felt as if they never left.

Sunday we went into Howth and I finally got to experience the markets there. The pier was so foggy and you couldn't really make out anything but it the photos came out nice.

Looking across the pier- no editing, just pure fog.

Maxi, Jana, Emma, and I

The foggy Howth Pier

The next few days were generally relaxing and I had to say goodbye to my Germans again but also hello to my Aussie. Steph and I hadn't seen each other for a year and a half and Tuesday was spent catching up. Wednesday we had a mission to get suited up for Paddy's day- yes, we went full tourist but it was fun.

Steph and I waiting for the parade to start.

Since we were out late Paddy's Eve, Steph and I didn't get into town until late but we still managed to get a spot for the parade. The theme this year was 'the future' and some of the floats edged on an open ended interpretation. It started almost an hour late, but the wait was worth it. The marching bands were definitely the highlight! For being the largest outside of NYC, I was not disappointed.

So. Much. Green.

Friday and Saturday were Belfast and traveling around northern Ireland. There was definitely an influx of Americans everywhere and it felt strange being surrounded my my native tongue once again. Steph and I went on a tour of the north coast and saw sights such as the Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge- if you're scared of heights I do not recommend!- and the geological landmark of Giant's Causeway. I never knew the full myth of how Giant's Causeway came to be formed, but learning it definitely put a smile on my face. Let's just say if involves hubris, pranks, and a onesie.

The view on Carrick-a-Rede.

Tourists flocking over Giant's Causeway.

Yes, you can climb to the top of the rather steep hills.

The sights were amazing as always- Ireland hasn't disappointed yet!- but Belfast itself wasn't quite what I was expecting. Its kind of hard to explain, but  I'll have to go back and really explore the city.

Uni started back up on Monday and the reality of how much work I have to do is finally starting to set in. It's a bank holiday Monday so I'm determined to get as much as possible done this weekend.

Happy Easter!

Psyched to go back to Edinburgh at the end of April and I cannot wait to reunite with Chris and Steph again.

Let's just pray I survive the next month.

Xx kim

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Song of the week

Panic! At the Disco-  Death of a Bachelor

Thrifts, Theatre and Transformations

I have been delaying writing this post for a while, not because I have nothing to say- quite the opposite in fact- but I just haven't felt the motivation to write.

However, a change was in order.

I was going to wait until the summer to redesign my blog, but than I realised how ridiculous that was and that there was nothing stopping me so..... Welcome to Leap of Faith 2.0.

It's a little brighter, and, in my opinion more clean cut.

Shameless self promotion.

I've also included some badges to the left in desktop view so you can follow me on twitter and instagram. I must warn you twitter is mostly inactive besides music events, and instagram is food, landscape, and things I think look aesthetically pleasing.

And now onto the good stuff.

It's been a while, eh?

My illness was not the worst I've had, but it definitely hit me hard. Thursday and Friday were blurs and, by some miracle, I made a recovery just in time for my busy weekend.

Kilo Sale at the Raddison Blue Hotel

On Saturday Lisa, Leni, and I bought tickets to attend Tola's Vintage Kilo Sale. I realised after that there were quite a few kilo sales on and they are quite a cool concept that I have never heard before.

After purchasing a ticket we were lead into a ballroom full of racks of second hand clothing, jewellery, bags, and other miscellaneous things. After choosing your items you would get them weighed and pay the assigned price. I was able to find a big bomber jacket and sweater for €16. We then went to Queen of Tarts afterwards and enjoyed our spoils. I also bought a cheeky sketchpad and pencils because I left mine all in the States.

Sunday I attended a play festival with Emma, Aoife, and Alan to support our friend Rory. The plays were in the Smock Alley Theatre and I was hit with a huge wave of nostalgia as the productions reminded me if the 10 Minute Play Festival held at the end of the year at my undergrad college.

The week following passed by in a rush of classes and assignments. I was able to take a quick break to see Triple Nine- I'm still confused as why there had to be black Russian Jews? I mean I guess it was alright.....

Wednesday I tagged along to Lisa's Game Society meeting since it was board game night and I genuinely had a great time. It was nice to socialise with new people and forget about school for a bit.

My back garden in a blanket of white.

Friday I woke up to the beautiful sight of snow! Yes, I thought spring had sprung, but seeing snow made me feel home- it also kind of made me crave maple syrup and other New England things but I digress.

That night I returned to the scene of New Year's Eve for yet another house party. It was much more low key, but so much fun nonetheless. I was also able to actually talk to those I met New Year's without worrying if they'd remember talking with me or not! I may have made people stay up far too late again but oh well.

Xx kim

This is the last week before reading week and Paddy's Day so I have a lot to get done before Jana, Maxi and Steph arrive.

It's going to be a busy two weeks!

New section! 

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Song of the week: 

Lukas Graham - 7 Years

A Vegetarian Takes Dublin

While my parents might have the impression that my diet consists of pints and good times, over the past 4 months I have had the chance to explore some of the fine cuisine that Dublin has to offer.

As a vegetarian going on 9 years, there was little chance I was going to break my lifestyle when I moved. The last time I visited Ireland, I remember my very first dinner consisting of lamb, so sadly I ate potatoes and everyone’s leftover brussel sprouts. Appetising, I know. However, I knew that this time around would be far more promising.

Whilst I don’t really approve so many people suddenly deciding to go on the vegetarian or vegan ‘diet’ because they want to try out the 'fad,' I am loving the benefits of this big trend. Pretty much every restaurant now serves some type of vegetarian or vegan options, and there are quite a few that are vegan only.

Here is a list of some of my favourite spots so far:

Cornucopia

Cornucopia is one of the best places for a quick vegan meal. The food is served a la carte- I definitely recommend the soup- and everything is made fresh with a constantly rotating menu. The friendly service is also a bonus.

Wok In/Boojum

If you want a cheap meal I would suggest Wok In or Boojum. Both of these are conveniently located right next to each other and have great student deals for Thai cuisine and Mexican.

Boojum is like Ireland’s version of Chipotle, but if you’re vegetarian no worries. 

The guac DOES NOT cost extra. 

Better get there early though, the queues get pretty long.

Staple Foods

If you want to spoil yourself with farm friendly dishes made with local, organic, ingredients Staple Foods is definitely the place for you. I had the superfood salad and was craving it everyday for the next week. Everything is just so delicious.

Firepit

Firepit in Dublin’s Village District is a newly opened barbecue restaurant serving delicious grilled meats with spicy sauces, but don't let that fool you. Vegetarians are warmly welcomed here.

This place can be summed up in three words: Affordable. Halal. Delectable.

Be warned though! This is not a restaurant for a large party!

A few honourable mentions are Brother Hubbard, Pablo Picante, and then Against the Grain and The Bleeding Horse for some great pub grub.

The longer I live here the more I’ll explore the food available. Now all this talk of food is making me hungry, so I’m off to make dinner!

Until next time.

Xx kim

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Queen of Tarts

Also I have to make a shout to Queen of Tarts for satisfying my cravings for sweets every once in a while! I definitely recommend the scone and apple crumble.

A Very English Christmas

This isn't the first time I've spent my Christmas holidays abroad, however the last time was in Australia and I was wearing shorts and a t-shirt.... This year it feels more odd since it's cooler and it actually feels like Christmas time.

I've come over to England- just north of London- to spend the holidays with one of my good friends that I met in Australia. I hadn't seen Chris or his family in nearly 18 months and I was hit with a boatfull of nostalgia when he and his brother picked me up at the airport.

The family home is just far out enough on the countryside that it almost reminds me of where I live back home in the States. I haven't felt as home here as I have in quite some time. It's amazing how open families can be, and at Chris' home everyone has been so welcoming.

Since Monday, I saw an English pantomime and spent the day in London.
I had no idea what a pantomime was besides the fact that it usually consists of cross dressers... Boy it was quite an experience. The theme this year was Aladdin, and Priscilla Presley was the Genie. There was so much audience interaction and jokes for both the children and adults attending. I was so proud that i understood the majority of the jokes referenced even though they were mostly about English pop culture.

Before going to the theatre, we went to the Milton Keynes shopping center and it was huge. Unlike most of the malls in America, this center was all one story so it seemed to go on for ages.

The Theater at Milton Keynes

Today, Wednesday, Chris and I made the journey into London to go up the shard and do other tourist stuff- like see Parliament, Westminster Abbey and Buckingham Palace. We ended our day in the winter wonderland in Hyde Park. It was very much like a fair or carnival back home but loaded with stalls offering mulled wine and hot cider. I was lucky enough to meet with Allie once again and Nick- another friend that I met whilst in Australia. We stayed in the Bavarian Village for the majority of the night listening to live music's and catching up since it's been so long since we've all been together. Our meeting was to brief but I hope I'll see them again in the future.

All in all a very good break so far. I still can't believe it's been three months since I left. Time is going back quicker and quicker.

Xx kim

PS
I arrived on Monday no problem from Dublin, and the day was very nice and relaxing. Chris brought me up to me up to Dunstable downs- I know confusing, right?- and we experienced some of the most intense wind gusts I've experienced for some time.

Still, the view was pretty spectacular.

Pictures will be pretty sparse this week, because I'm only using phone photos and none from my camera since I don't have access to my laptop.
So long until next time and happy holidays!

Old Friend, New Adventures

Yes there was no entry last week, however I’m not going to apologize.

The sole purpose for this blog is for me to share my adventures with friends, family, and whoever may want to read it.

But, above all, it’s for me to write down and remember my experiences.

In the past week and a half I’ve done more than my part of socializing; both hanging out with friends and strangers, and finally doing touristy stuff all around Dublin.

My friend Allie- who is from Canada but we met in Australia- stayed with me from Sunday to early Thursday. I hadn’t seen her in almost 18 months and it was a much-needed reunion.

She has been living my dream of backpacking across Europe but I am so glad that she decided to jump the water across to Ireland. She made me realize how much I miss Australia, but also how little sightseeing I’ve actually done since arriving in Dublin nearly three months ago.

I can navigate around Dublin.

Honestly, it’s not that difficult.

Allie and I below some of the lights on Henry St.

I hadn't gone to visit one of the many free museums, and had yet to take a night to explore the amazing lights that Dublin has to offer during this festive season. Allie also kept reminding me to take pictures- which I’m sure my family will be happy to see.

We went to three museums on Tuesday alone and we even got to take a tour of The Irish Sun news office- but that’s another story.

Over the past few days my life has been manic. As part of one of my courses, we had to join a group and start a social media campaign. I was assigned a campaign about craft beer, one of the luckiest chances in uni so far. Through this group I traveled to Galway, made many a new friends, and have come to a better understanding about what craft beer and cider actually stands is. If you want to check out what I’ve been into in that respect here is our Facebook page, it was such a neat assignment: OurLocalBrew

What has taken the most time in regards to the campaign is the video editing. I’ve done a fair share of filmmaking when I was younger so I jumped at the chance to film some interviews with people in the industry. One thing I forgot to remember is how time consuming editing a video can take. Having to put up two videos in the last two days, I spent probably seven or eight hours staring at my computer screen and doing not much else.

I’m glad the way everything turned out and you can check out my videos here: 

Other than that school is winding down- although I should really say up with all the assignments looming in the future.

Ireland is finally starting to feel like home in the sense that I have a solid core group of friends that I can rely on. Although it’s only been three months, it feels like so much longer and I love it.
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Also, it has been extremely stormy here. The wind has been incredible and it even hailed a bit last Sunday. Shout out to Teresa Mannion of RTE for breaking the internet when she reported on storm Desmond in Galway.

Happy Thanksgiving... And Christmas

Remember how I said all of my coursework was looming in the shadows? Well it came onto me like a ton of bricks.

No entry last week- obviously- due to the sheer amount of pressure this one assignment was causing me. However, that’s over and I can take a breather until the next one.

Christmas.

Christmas lights at the GPO.
http://bewleyshotels.blogspot.ie/2014/09/the-magic-of-christmas-in-dublin.html

It’s starting to be an acceptable time for me to start singing Christmas carols and start my Christmas shopping. Thanksgiving is tomorrow, and though I haven’t celebrated with a real turkey for over 8 years, it’s that fact that I won’t be able to spend time with my friends and family that I am missing.

Also, pie. I love pumpkin pie.

Festivities are just around the corner and all the beautiful lights are up in Dublin and the Christmas markets are about to open and I’m actually getting a little bit excited for the holidays.

The reason why there aren’t going to be many of my photos in this- or next week’s blog- is that I lost my phone and it will take a while to replace it. Yes, I have a camera and I will try and bring that around more but it’s just not the same.

Amazing picture featured in the Irish Times
http://www.irishtimes.com/polopoly_fs/1.2000023.1415906311!/image/image.jpg

And to anyone that is wondering, I lost it in a taxi.

And, yes, it was an excellent night.

…….

In other news here’s a shout out to my favorite non-Uncles Paul and Al who got married after 3 decades together! I wish I could be there to give you a big hug!