China Daily Life Food Photos Trips & Travels Yunnan

Hey, it’s my birthday!

“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!

a1

a2

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Our goofy late-night purikura shots!

a3
This is the city center. I love the ancient gates next to the new skyscrapers, and the mountains in the background.

a4

b1.1
Cold noodles topped julienned carrots, savory sesame chili paste, and cilantro

b1.2
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!

b2
Vegan sunflower seed cookies from a Buddhist restaurant

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Peanuts tossed with cilantro and chopped up peppers. I think we ate at least two cups of these on rice.

b8
Crispy roasted duck!

b4
The first night we moved into my new apartment, my housemates cooked us a delicious Sichuan-influenced meal!

b9The next day, we made lots of dumplings for dinner: lightly scrambled egg and chives dumplings + pork and ginger wontons.

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The first plate of our finished dumplings, a homemade dipping sauce, and BBQ sesame chicken.

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I found a moving plant store nearby my place!

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I got a little potted plant.

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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

  • Reply
    Thuraya Lynn
    August 27, 2011 at 12:58 am

    Everything 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. πŸ˜€

    • Reply
      Sewon
      August 28, 2011 at 1:15 am

      Ah, the food here has been so good. Thank you, Thuraya!

  • Reply
    Eileen
    August 27, 2011 at 2:58 am

    Happy birthday!

    • Reply
      Sewon
      August 28, 2011 at 1:19 am

      Thanks!

  • Reply
    beebee
    August 27, 2011 at 3:34 am

    Happy Birthday! I love your blog so much- and all of your wonderful pictures! I hope you had a great birthday!!

    • Reply
      Sewon
      August 28, 2011 at 11:56 pm

      I 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!

  • Reply
    Purple Deer
    August 27, 2011 at 4:43 am

    Oh 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

    • Reply
      Sewon
      August 29, 2011 at 12:01 am

      Thanks 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! :]

  • Reply
    ZEOLITE
    August 27, 2011 at 12:57 pm

    hahah I’m really into that moving plant truck. Hope you had a great birthday! I can’t wait to make dumplings with you.

    • Reply
      Sewon
      August 29, 2011 at 12:01 am

      I know, I was so excited about it! See you soon, Zeo. :]

  • Reply
    Katie
    August 27, 2011 at 3:21 pm

    Happy birthday! It looks like you had a great time πŸ™‚

    • Reply
      Sewon
      August 29, 2011 at 12:01 am

      Thanks, Katie! xx

  • Reply
    Galine
    August 27, 2011 at 6:19 pm

    happy 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 πŸ™‚

  • Reply
    Lydia Kong
    August 27, 2011 at 6:55 pm

    Happy Birthday Sewon! Wish you the best in Yunnan =D

  • Reply
    Chris
    August 28, 2011 at 4:30 am

    YOUR LIFE IS SO COOL! <3 πŸ™‚

  • Reply
    anniken
    August 28, 2011 at 4:46 am

    Ok, 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 πŸ™‚

    • Reply
      Sewon
      September 4, 2011 at 9:20 am

      Do it! I know you’re quite the globetrotter, as well. I think you’d really enjoy Southwest China.

  • Reply
    Sofie
    August 28, 2011 at 9:16 am

    omg 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!

    • Reply
      Sewon
      September 4, 2011 at 9:21 am

      Thank you! I think it was a rare photogenic moment for me, fortunately/unfortunately next to the wall with all those mysterious streaks. :] xx

  • Reply
    Amelia
    August 28, 2011 at 1:01 pm

    Happy belated birthday! I wish you the best this year! May it be as fun as the last one!

  • Reply
    Rachael
    August 29, 2011 at 2:39 am

    happy 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

  • Reply
    Estelle
    August 29, 2011 at 1:25 pm

    Happy Birthday. (Sorry i’m late, i just came back from a big move)…

  • Reply
    Crystal
    August 29, 2011 at 6:00 pm

    Happy 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!

  • Reply
    Anabella
    August 29, 2011 at 6:14 pm

    happy happy birthday! my birthday is right after yours πŸ˜€
    many more great ones to come!
    <3

  • Reply
    ai
    August 30, 2011 at 2:31 pm

    Happy belated birthday.

    Your wantons look perfect.

  • Reply
    Maria
    August 30, 2011 at 3:41 pm

    happy belated birthday (:

  • Reply
    Ashley
    September 1, 2011 at 2:34 am

    Oh 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!)

  • Reply
    kallie
    September 1, 2011 at 11:41 pm

    thanks for stopping by. i’m completely in love with your blog. COMPLETELY. I’m loving reading it. Happy somewhat belated birthday!!!! All the best πŸ™‚

  • Reply
    hannah
    September 2, 2011 at 12:24 am

    <3<3<3<3<3 Happy Birthday! xx

  • Reply
    Sophie
    September 2, 2011 at 9:02 pm

    Happy Birthday! That food looks so yummy. I hope you had a wonderful Birthday. <3

  • Reply
    Benedict
    September 3, 2011 at 4:03 pm

    You really inspire me– Happy birthday!

  • Reply
    Tricia
    September 7, 2011 at 10:42 pm

    OMG cutest potted plant ever! I miss you!

  • Reply
    Johanna Tagada
    September 9, 2011 at 9:35 am

    Happy really belated birthday wishes!!!! Joyeux Anniversaire Sewon. <3
    IΒ΄m so sorry I didnΒ΄t know about it when we were writting last week.

  • Reply
    wl
    September 9, 2011 at 11:02 am

    wow 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).

  • Reply
    Merissa
    September 10, 2011 at 11:40 am

    Happy belated Birthday πŸ™‚
    The food looks so healthy there.
    I know I would be eating at the Buddhist restaurant if I were there πŸ™‚ 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.

  • Reply
    Merissa
    September 10, 2011 at 11:41 am

    Happy belated Birthday Sewon πŸ™‚
    The food looks so healthy there.
    I know I would be eating at the Buddhist restaurant if I were there πŸ™‚ 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.

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