“Home” for the rest of the year is in the Yunnan Province, near the border of Tibet, Burma, and Vietnam. My fridge is already stocked with ripe tropical fruits, and every meal feels like a new discovery. Since it looks like I’ve only been taking photos of food here, the photos of my apartment will have to wait until next time!
Our goofy late-night purikura shots!
This is the city center. I love the ancient gates next to the new skyscrapers, and the mountains in the background.
Cold noodles topped julienned carrots, savory sesame chili paste, and cilantro
The famous cross-the-bridge-noodles. They bring you a plate of ingredients first (quail eggs, ham and chicken slices, etc.), a bowl of boiling chicken soup next, and then the noodles last. You put everything into the soup before it cools. I put way too much chili oil in this one, but it was delicious!
Vegan sunflower seed cookies from a Buddhist restaurant
Peanuts tossed with cilantro and chopped up peppers. I think we ate at least two cups of these on rice.
The first night we moved into my new apartment, my housemates cooked us a delicious Sichuan-influenced meal!
The next day, we made lots of dumplings for dinner: lightly scrambled egg and chives dumplings + pork and ginger wontons.
The first plate of our finished dumplings, a homemade dipping sauce, and BBQ sesame chicken.
I found a moving plant store nearby my place!
P.S. It’s my birthday! I turned 24 years old today. It’s my second time celebrating my birthday in China, and so much has happened since last August.
A couple of my favorite memories: my first trip to Hong Kong, a winter island vacation in Southern Thailand, hanging out with elephants in Pai, my friend Zeolite’sΒ visit and our trip to Xian, big meals with friends in Shanghai, aΒ summer in Beijing,Β a family trip to Korea, and finally settling here, safe and sound.
I think there will be just as many changes in my life this upcoming year. I’m excited to find out!
36 Comments
Thuraya Lynn
August 27, 2011 at 12:58 amEverything looks and sounds yummy!
I may not know you well, but something about you pours well into your photos.
Happy happy birthday. Continue to have wonderful moments. π
Sewon
August 28, 2011 at 1:15 amAh, the food here has been so good. Thank you, Thuraya!
Eileen
August 27, 2011 at 2:58 amHappy birthday!
Sewon
August 28, 2011 at 1:19 amThanks!
beebee
August 27, 2011 at 3:34 amHappy Birthday! I love your blog so much- and all of your wonderful pictures! I hope you had a great birthday!!
Sewon
August 28, 2011 at 11:56 pmI had a good one, thanks! I’ve been enjoying looking through your blog, as well. Ohh I can’t wait for you to receive my package!
Purple Deer
August 27, 2011 at 4:43 amOh and happy, happy birthday my sweet lady! You’re a LEO…I would have not guessed. But most of my close friends are Leo…So that makes sense. Get drunk fro me XO
Sewon
August 29, 2011 at 12:01 amThanks so much! My birthday is actually on the 27th (my blog still thinks it’s in Virginia and I’m 12 hours ahead here!), so I’m a Virgo. Taurin and I shared a bottle of wine! :]
ZEOLITE
August 27, 2011 at 12:57 pmhahah I’m really into that moving plant truck. Hope you had a great birthday! I can’t wait to make dumplings with you.
Sewon
August 29, 2011 at 12:01 amI know, I was so excited about it! See you soon, Zeo. :]
Katie
August 27, 2011 at 3:21 pmHappy birthday! It looks like you had a great time π
Sewon
August 29, 2011 at 12:01 amThanks, Katie! xx
Galine
August 27, 2011 at 6:19 pmhappy happy birthday!!!
you truly take such amazing photos, they are all so beautiful. they also make me hungry…yum!!! and how cute is that moving plant store?! asia is full of such unique and wonderful things π
Lydia Kong
August 27, 2011 at 6:55 pmHappy Birthday Sewon! Wish you the best in Yunnan =D
Chris
August 28, 2011 at 4:30 amYOUR LIFE IS SO COOL! <3 π
anniken
August 28, 2011 at 4:46 amOk, that’s it, I definitely have to visit Yunnan one time or another, preferably sooooon. The food look so delicious, and the city center looks so nice! Happy birthday π
Sewon
September 4, 2011 at 9:20 amDo it! I know you’re quite the globetrotter, as well. I think you’d really enjoy Southwest China.
Sofie
August 28, 2011 at 9:16 amomg so many food photos! yess my favourite!
those photos of you with the potplat are so cute :’D you’re really photogenic. all your photography is really lovely by the way!
Sewon
September 4, 2011 at 9:21 amThank you! I think it was a rare photogenic moment for me, fortunately/unfortunately next to the wall with all those mysterious streaks. :] xx
Amelia
August 28, 2011 at 1:01 pmHappy belated birthday! I wish you the best this year! May it be as fun as the last one!
Rachael
August 29, 2011 at 2:39 amhappy birthday! hope you had lots of fun. and i love these photos– that food looks SO very yummy and it’s making me hungry!! x
Estelle
August 29, 2011 at 1:25 pmHappy Birthday. (Sorry i’m late, i just came back from a big move)…
Crystal
August 29, 2011 at 6:00 pmHappy birthday! I love your photos! They are all so beautiful and make me feel like I am seeing all of this in person. I look forward to seeing what adventures you can take all of your readers on with you throughout the next year!
Anabella
August 29, 2011 at 6:14 pmhappy happy birthday! my birthday is right after yours π
many more great ones to come!
<3
ai
August 30, 2011 at 2:31 pmHappy belated birthday.
Your wantons look perfect.
Maria
August 30, 2011 at 3:41 pmhappy belated birthday (:
Ashley
September 1, 2011 at 2:34 amOh no, this is so belated but HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! I hope it was a great one (and give me a bowl of those cold noodles stat!)
kallie
September 1, 2011 at 11:41 pmthanks for stopping by. i’m completely in love with your blog. COMPLETELY. I’m loving reading it. Happy somewhat belated birthday!!!! All the best π
hannah
September 2, 2011 at 12:24 am<3<3<3<3<3 Happy Birthday! xx
Sophie
September 2, 2011 at 9:02 pmHappy Birthday! That food looks so yummy. I hope you had a wonderful Birthday. <3
Benedict
September 3, 2011 at 4:03 pmYou really inspire me– Happy birthday!
Tricia
September 7, 2011 at 10:42 pmOMG cutest potted plant ever! I miss you!
Johanna Tagada
September 9, 2011 at 9:35 amHappy really belated birthday wishes!!!! Joyeux Anniversaire Sewon. <3
IΒ΄m so sorry I didnΒ΄t know about it when we were writting last week.
wl
September 9, 2011 at 11:02 amwow happy belated birthday sewon ! I dig cross-the-bridge noodles, even though I’ve only had them at a dingy little place in shanghai ! so tasty and it’s my perfect hangover cure *guilty look* well, at least they seem more authentic than the ones I find here in hk, which is a mishmash ad hoc non-tasty impression of cross-the-bridge noodles (you don’t even add the ingredients yourself, poo half the fun lost).
Merissa
September 10, 2011 at 11:40 amHappy belated Birthday π
The food looks so healthy there.
I know I would be eating at the Buddhist restaurant if I were there π those vegan cookies look delicious!
I’m not vegan, just vegetarian but I love vegan cuisine. I just can’t give up the honey, butter, and cheese.
Merissa
September 10, 2011 at 11:41 amHappy belated Birthday Sewon π
The food looks so healthy there.
I know I would be eating at the Buddhist restaurant if I were there π those vegan cookies look delicious!
I’m not vegan, just vegetarian but I love vegan cuisine. I just can’t give up the honey, butter, and cheese.