So long, summer.

 Despite putting off this post (and starting this blog) for days, I still don't know quite how to begin. Perhaps it's because I have yet to digest the fact that summer is already drawing to a close.  It has been an amazing and unforgettable one, as usual.  Instead of spending it abroad teaching English and performing humanitarian work like the past two summers, I opted to stay in the States this time and cling on to the last remnants of home before packing 6 months of my life into 2 suitcases and flying to Seoul in late August.  For the longest time I've been planning on posting a compilation of images that embody this summer.  The past few days in Seoul have been crazily packed with barely any time to breathe--until now.  After compiling most of this entry on the plane, I can finally launch it.

The summer kicked off with a business trip to New Orleans.  A  6am-6pm shift made it hard to find a healthy balance between tasting enough Bourbon at jazz bars in the French Quarter, getting enough rest and satisfying my urges for photo ventures.

A trip to the Bahamas was the perfect way to get some relaxing done after the hectic week in New Orleans.  Each day was graced by the pristine water, white sand beaches, deep blue skies and stunning sunsets.

What I want to remember the most about this summer, though, is home.  Life at home's summed up by random excursions to museums in DC, scaling up buildings under construction, jamming late at night, adoring my pets and, of course, eating.

 This is Toto.  He's a fairly new addition to the family.  We're hoping that he stays around the 6 month-old pup size he is now.  The crazier he gets, the more lopsided his tongue hangs out of his mouth.

A new favorite, Fuqifeipian (夫妻肺片,) at Joe's Noodles, a local favorite.

The lights on the trees stay on in Rockville Town Center all year long.

My friend keeps all of his empty cans of Red Bull on his kitchen counter..

 

Eve at the National Gallery

  

 No pictures, please

 

 hmmm

 

 A waste of paint in my opinion, but it's art, right?

  

 bread?  where?

  

Pretty eyes ;)

  

DC metro

  

Our pets, Frosty..

  

 ..and Toto

 mmm..roe

 

adorable

 making new friends while kayaking

 Second midnight building excursion in Baltimore

 

I think this building's somewhere around Canton

 

The top floor has a terrace that looks over across the harbor towards downtown

 Making Chinese scallion pancakes (蔥油餅) on a laid back Sunday morning

Leaving Baltimore for dinner in Frederick

The Voltaggio brothers from this season's Top Chef own Volt,
a restaurant set in an 18th century Frederick mansion.

2nd course - Foie gras paste w/bing cherries, nuts and toast

3rd course - Lamb

Compensation dish? (for my friend's over seasoned and undercooked 3rd course)
Strawberry ice cream on crumbled wafer and cheese with beets.

I think all four of us were a tad disappointed with the experience.

Steak and eggs for breakfast!  Nothing beats homemade.

 

Prowling around at night

National Cathedral

 Awesome banana crepe at Le Chat Noir in northwest DC

 

Resting up after a long climb to the top of the new condo tower off Rockville Pike

Awesome view of North Bethesda

 

Day at the zoo

Duck.  yumm...

 

Ostrich? hmm...

Flowers.  aww..

Ready to take flight

 Woah, did you know water could look like that?
Only if the shutter's fast enough

 

Outside the Air & Space museum

 Rehydrating during a hot and dry day

 - This concludes the throw up of pictures from this summer. - 

So now I'm in Seoul and will be for the next 5 months at Korea University.  As I left for my semester abroad I got a final taste of my friend's awesome homemade food from two sandwiches I brought with me on the journey.