Settling in Seattle

I'm not exactly sure why I decided to write this post, given that my trip took place over a year ago. But I was perusing my iPhoto and got a teensy bit nostalgic, so here goes.

If you can believe it, in the six years I lived in the United States, I didn't get to travel much aside from the annual trips to California (and one long backpacking trip across the East Coast but that's a whooole 'nother story). I had completed my thesis in December of 2014 but I decided to stay an extra semester to do some research, and I had one additional goal in mind: to see parts of the States I had never seen before. After weeks of planning, I settled on Seattle. Unfortunately, I was only able to stay for two days and one night. So I packed in as many things as I can in those 48 hours and with the help of Yelp and Uber, I left the city feeling satisfied and excited to visit again.

What would a visit to Seattle be without going to the Pike Place? We arrived around 8 AM and immediately headed here with our backpacks in tow. It was a chilly Spring morning but the sun was out and there weren't many passerby. It made a very pleasant stroll around the famous strip. But let's be real: it was 8 AM and we were two very hungry girls who just had a rough morning of early flights, so we didn't enjoy the view for too long and immediately went on a search for some grub.

@ The Crumpet Shop

Thankfully, the place Yelp recommended was one short minute walk away! And our one minute of hard work paid off at the sight of the crumpets. These babies have a similar texture to pancakes (in that they're the perfect balance of moist and dry), but are shaped like English muffins. Confused yet? Don't be. They're delicious. Don't let the size fool you, though. That tiny circle of pesto, tomato, and cheese goodness filled me up and kept me going for a good five hours of walking and exploring. Don't ask me how - they just magically do.

Obligatory visit to the Space Needle

(though I didn't go up, and I'll expand on why later).

@ Grecian Corner

Simple. Relatively fast. Delicious! I reckon this spot is where a lot of tourist go to eat after venturing to the Space Needle. Usually those places aren't very good, but the thought of their gyros alone is enough to make me want to fly out to Seattle again and have some. (Yes, it was that good).

@ Kerry Park

A fantastic spot to get a view of Seattle's skyline from afar

@ Sky View Observatory, Columbia Center

The reason why I didn't go up the Space Needle was because of this view! We were told earlier on by a very kind gentleman at Pike Place that the highest point of the city is actually this observatory. It's also cheaper than the Space Needle. And boy... look at that view.

@ Seattle Public Library

Now this... this was the highlight of my trip. Upon research, this became the one thing I was the most excited to see in Seattle. And while it looks spectacular on the outside in all of its post-structuralist glory, the inside is even better! It took everything in me to leave after settling down with a book on one of their comfortable couches.

@ Original Sul Lung Tang

My friend and I went out to Lynwood to catch a movie and proceeded to eat here for dinner. The 설렁탕 (which is a soup dish with broth made from ox bones) was perfectly light and rich, but the BBQ was the winner. You can never go wrong with heaps and heaps of meat, really.

@ Biscuit Bitch

Ahh.. just the name of biscuit bitch makes my stomach growl. The place is a local favourite and the queue (despite having multiple locations relatively nearby to one another) reflects its popularity. It's basically a paper container full of greasy Southern goodness, which is perfect for the chilly northwestern morning weather. Somewhere underneath all that gravy and greasy sausage lies two pieces of soft and buttery biscuit that melts in your mouth.

@ The Gum Wall, Pike Place Market

Oh yes. I went there. And it was as gross as it sounds and looks.

@ Union Station

Nyeh.. I'm a sucker for these kinds of old architecture.

By a little after noon, my friend and I parted ways at SeaTac and it was back to real life (literally, since I went from the airport to work until 7 PM that evening). The trip was short and while I wish I had more time, I think the time limit gave me a jolt of adrenaline to really explore the places that I could. There were other places I visited and didn't get pictures of (like the Chihuly Garden and Glass), and they were all gorgeous views of city life and art. This trip was like a brief and sizzling love affair that made me fall in love with Seattle for all its diversity and modern charms.

Until next time, Seattle.

Guard Down

She was right there.

I'm not sure what she was doing because everything around me moves at a lightning speed as adrenaline rushes through my veins for twenty minutes straight. This game is my life. Every one of these games is my life, and I play as if it depends on it. But that also means that I miss things. Not just hoops, but also people. I shut things out completely to let myself be one with the game and my eyes just don't stop for anything but that rubbery orange ball I've loved ever since I could barely speak.

But that night... mine stopped for her.

Her ducking while shrieking in fear, to be exact.

My instinct immediately had me running towards to slap the ball away from hitting her. She looked up, eyes still filled with fear that turned into a smile in an instant.

"Thank you," she mouthed, still too stunned to speak properly.

Little did she know that somebody/something took control of my life at that second and I was never the same.

A/N I'm supposed to be finishing up my presentation butohwell. I've had this scenario running around my head since last weekend's basketball game. Pure fiction, guise.