AshleyBathgateBlog

Hi everyone!

Well, I hope you all had a wonderful summer because I sure did! China and Korea were amazing! The concerts were well received and took place in some of the finest halls that Seoul, Beijing and Shanghai had to offer. We even got to play in the  Forbidden City Concert Hall (in Beijing). The sights were unbelievable and more importantly, the time spent with friends was unforgettable. Having friends from the area didn’t hurt either seeing as we had no idea what to eat or where to go out for a good time. I can honestly say that both Korean and Chinese food are #1. FABULOUS for very different reasons and #2. nothing like they are in the states. Whenever you order Chinese takeout from now on, understand that this is NOT real Chinese food. Now, I like me some General Tso’s every once and a while but somehow I cannot enjoy it as much after tasting the finer cuisine that both Beijing and Shanghai had to offer. ( I even ate Brains, yes, little piggy brains and they were delicious!) We also climbed the Great Wall which was probably my favorite attraction visited in China. Granted I almost killed myself climbing to the top but it was well worth the struggle. (I will post some pictures in the gallery)

Korea was very different from China in almost every way; food, culture, architecture, entertainment. What was nice is that we have five days to really explore on our own and experience the life there. There was not nearly as much freedom when we visited China due to concert/rehearsal scheduling, flights, etc. If you ever do have the chance to go, I recommend at least a week in each city. The one thing both places had in common…. Karaoke! I have never sang so well and so badly at the same time, in so many different Karaoke (or Noreban as they say in Korea) bars. They have actual buildings dedicated solely to Karaoke. Folks, its name be-eth Party World and we need-eth it HERE!
When I returned to New Haven there was obviously a bit of a let down, especially since I was saying goodbye to a lot of friends who had graduated in May and were moving away as I have done. It is difficult to accept that the people with whom you spent so many days or even years, are now oceans away. I can only hope that we will have the opportunity be together again some day.

So, here I am in the middle of Manhattan, in my little 5th floor walk-up, and it is really a dream come true. I recall visiting the city on several occasions as a kid and wishing I could just stay. Well, now I can and it turns out that this city is a lot bigger than one can imagine. The next few weeks will be all about exploration. New places, new faces, new everything.

I will keep you updated as always, but please check out my new Schedule page for a detailed list of my upcoming performances. Look forward to seeing you soon!

Luv,

Ashley