Seoul - Day 3

I met Maxwell at the lobby of the hotel I stayed in just off Teherano-ro. It was beautiful, seeing him waiting for me. After many months of being separate, it really felt like we had never been separate at all. We dropped off his things in the room, giving Mum the room to herself, while we went to Starbucks to have some time together. Sitting there, it occurred to me many times how lucky I was to be sitting by the window next to my boyfriend in the beautiful city of Seoul. How I wished I could have frozen that moment and just held his hand forever. He is truly a gem to have and I am extremely lucky to have such a sweet boyfriend who went all the way to Seoul to see me and stayed with me for three days.


I'm writing this in Manila now. After the second day, I didn't have enough time to write an entry. On the third day, we went to Changdeokgung Palace. Compared to the first palace we went to, Gyeongbukgung, this one had a more intimate feel. The smaller size definitely helped give out this feeling, as well as more trees and gardens inside the palace. Although we had to pay an additional fee to enter further in to what is called the "Secret Garden", where the royal family went to stroll, meditate and learn the humanities, it was a beautiful, despite costly, addition to the tour. The garden itself was really beautiful. Because we were right smack into winter, there were no leaves. I can imagine how much more beautiful it would look if it were in autumn. But because I usually don't get the opportunity to see these kinds of gardens, it was really a beautiful scene to behold. The small, roofed spaces built just over the edge of the water to give the sense of serenity and wholeness with the water must have been a most peaceful experience for the royal family. All the lakes had frozen so this was another new sight added to my list of things I've never seen before. What made it all the more beautiful was that I was with my boyfriend. Holding his hand, walking through this beautiful garden, what more could I ask for? The walk itself was long and, although not being strenuous, it was a tiring walk. After Changbeokgung, we went to Itaewon. I was expecting a lot more from this space, but it resembled a rough neighbourhood of an Asian country that was jam-packed with international restaurants, lots of stalls on the sidewalks. We were pretty much tuckered out from the Changbeokgung palace tour and so we made our way to the nearest café (along with short detour to KFC asking if they had wicked wings available) and had a few snacks there. We were expecting to have had dinner there, but my Mum was rather displeased with the area. Instead, we tried heading to Garuso-gil. Instead, we found ourselves surrounded by plastic surgery clinics. Although all the signs were in Korean, I could see my boyfriend's expression of disbelievement and amusement from the sight. Again, we could not find a decent enough restaurant. And so, we headed back to our area in Gangnam and scavenged for some restaurant on the way back to the hotel. After a long and difficult decision-making, we decided to eat at a "hue" restaurant (or what my boyfriend calls a Korean sashimi restaurant).  We ordered a meal that was supposed to be a dish usually for the summer season, but we really enjoyed it nonetheless. It was something we never tasted before, but my Mother and I had unexpectedly really enjoyed the meal.


We headed back to our hotel feeling satisfied. My boyfriend and I then took a stroll around the neighbourhood in the cold. Again, it was one of those moments where I wanted to freeze and play it all over again. We slowly walked around and went to Tom n Toms café. Sometimes, we don't talk a lot, but I don't mind it all. It never has felt awkward or uncomfortable. Rather, it felt like just enjoying the company you were with and that no words are always necessary in a conversation.


Now that I am in Manila, a completely different environment to that of Seoul, I find myself feeling blue and terribly missing him. I should count myself lucky that after this trip in the Philippines, I will be flying my way back to him in no time. I just have to keep my patience and hopes up for one month before I see him again.

Seoul - Day 2

Today was finally the day I got to see my boyfriend after four long months of being separate. It was a bittersweet moment. When I saw him coming out the doors of Kyobo bookshop, I quickly noticed how thin he had become. But his smile was as bright as ever. It was a surreal moment. It was a moment that I had waited for so long, and it just didn't seem real enough that he was walking towards me. We hugged very briefly though. I think he was trying to look respectful in front of my Mother. But it was just a moment that I wanted to feel proud of. That he came all the way to Seoul from his hometown just to see me. He truly is wonderful. And, because our hotel is stingy not to let a third person stay in our room, I had to see him off at the elevators of our floor. We finally kissed. To be honest, it felt weird to kiss him again. I guess it really becomes uncomfortable for me to kiss, especially since I haven't kissed him for that long. I didn't really get to hug him tightly today though, more because I was just trying to think of my Mum and not make her feel awkward in seeing her daughter constantly snuggling with her boyfriend. But when I think about it, I haven't seen my boyfriend in months, and I want to be spending as much time as I can with him.

Today was our second day in Seoul. Before meeting with my boyfriend, we went to Bukchon Hanok Village. It was really an interesting and fascinating long walk, that took us quite a far distane without our realising it. The old, Joseon-period hanoks were mixed with modern, unruly, and cramped buildings. It was such an interesting and juxtaposed mix of architecture. I really enjoyed being able to see hanoks just peaking out of corners, almost blocked by other, more attractive areas. We walked through old-style alleyways, and the beautiful sun made the scene all the more dramatic. After this rather tiring walk, we went to Cheong-gye Cheon, the stream that runs in central Seoul, just near the Kyobo building. Although we stayed for a very brief time, I really liked the stream. It would really be a good place to seek some form of tranquility, despite its being located in the heart of busy, busy Seoul. We were famished by this time so we had no choice but to eat at the nearest restaurant that looked decent enough to eat at, a Vietnamese restaurant called Pho Bay. It was already getting dark, so we headed to Myeong-dong. Boy, it is such an exciting and alive area!! Once you climbed up the stairs from the station underground, you are already hit with the huge, white lights of the shop called Uniqlo. Turning left, we found ourselves at the entrance of the Myeong-dong shopping district, which comprised of small alleyways that were filled with fashionable shops and people cramming around having a look at clothes of the street venders to people who are trying to make their way to more shopping areas. The lights were so excited and made the environment so thrilling and exciting. I really, really enjoy this kind of atmosphere. There, I even bought the things I needed, such as a pair of gloves from SPAO and hand cream and face mist of Innisfree. I would love to go back there and experience it. Walking through the many, many shopping areas seriously drained us of our energy. Surely after a while, we were feeling colder and colder. We headed to Shinsegae for some warmth before heading off again back to Gangnam-gu. We had bibimbap for dinner at a Korean restaurant in COEX Mall. We were quite happy and fulfilled, and had coffee afterwards.

I feel extremely tired after today. I guess the culmination of intense-walking and touring for four days is slowly dawning on me. My knees are already feeling sore. I can only hope that my knee will feel much better tomorrow morning. I will meet my boyfriend at Starbucks tomorrow morning, an hour earlier than when my Mum will meet us. In the mean time, I look forward to day 3 in Seoul! Changdeokgung, Namsan and Itaewon, here we come!

Seoul ~ Day 1

Seoul is even more beautiful than I imagined. When I say beautiful, it's not the physical side of it. Of course, today's venturing has let us witnessed the colourful ceremony of the changing of the guards at Gyeongbukgung. Instead, what I mean by beautiful is the charm that the city exudes. Although, when we had arrived in Seoul the night before, my Mum and I were as apprehensive as any tourist in a foreign country would be. And, seeing as how it was dark, we were tired, anxious to get to our hotel, we weren't really able to keep up the most positive attitude. What was worse, some guy had to ram my heel with his trolley cart full of luggages. He apologised courteously in Korean, but I was just so annoyed and trying to find the right words to say "It's okay" in Korean, I wasn't able to muster anything except a glare at him.

Finally, when we got to our hotel after having had a chat in Korean along the way, we were so tired (and hungry) that we just fell asleep then and there. I had only energy enough to change my top before lying down and finding myself drifting off. It was funny that I kept waking up constantly and seemingly checking what time it was. Possibly, it was my apprehension at wanting to have a good look at where we were. Surely, as soon as I woke up, I took a look out the window and saw the beautiful and (then) quiet street of Teherano-ro. It was ironic, seeing as how there are up to 12 million people living in Seoul, and yet at that moment that I looked down at the streets of the main road, there was hardly a soul in sight. Oftentimes there was only one or two people walking by themselves.

Today, we weren't able to go to all the places I had initially planned to go to, but we were able to go to Gyeongbukgung palace. We transferred once to get on a train line (line 3) that would take us over the Hangang River and onto the north side of Seoul. The palace was trully a spectacle, even to the non-architecture savvy person. It's a wonder how vibrant the colours of the palaces, and how much time is spent restoring it. It was a surprisingly large complex, and I mean large! It was quite annoying as we had missed an area where maps of the palace were available. So we had walked straight on, probably due to our overwhelmed reaction to just how pretty it was. We had walked quite some time already before realising that others had acquired copies of maps. We took much longer than expected in looking around at sights with having little knowledge of what they were. This was mainly why we weren't able to go Changdeokgung and Bukchon Village. Instead, we went straight in front of the palace to, what I think is called, Seollung where the famous statues of the samurai and a golden statue of an important person seated on his chair. I had seen these sites in the famous series Iris, where some parts of the action scenes were filmed in this very area. Afterwards, we were so cold and hungry that we wandered until we found ourselves in front of Kyobo bookstore. It was one of the places I had wanted to go to purchase my Korean language textbooks. We had an early dinner there, which was very very cheap. Afterwards, we took the subway back to Samseong station and walked through COEX mall, Hotel Intercontinental Parsan, and Hyundai department store, before walking back home. Tonight, I was also able to taste Banana milk, a drink that is really popular here in Korea. It wasn't as amazing as I expected but it tasted very good nonetheless.

Now, it's time to get some good and sufficient amount rest before I embark on the second day of touring Seoul.

T-minus 8 hours and counting.

The day has finally come! In fact, I have less than eight hours before my flight to Sydney and then from Sydney to Seoul. Looking back on all those long months of waiting for this day to come, I feel proud that I have done many things so that I can look forward to coming back here in the new year. I feel like it will be a new year of fresh opportunities that await me.
Seoul, the megacity, is soon to be one footstep away from me as I take a leap forward and into a new and different culture. Having Korean friends I think will not be able to give me an entire picture of what is that is Korean culture and Korea itself. It will be a 10-11 hour flight. We arrive in Seoul at around 6:30pm. Our hotel is located in the fashionable and ritzy Gangnam-gu district. To think that in twenty-four hours that I will be in ibis Hotel is pretty incredible.

Nine more days.

Wow, it's starting to become so surreal that in almost a weeks' time, I will be in Seoul, the megalopolis of a city with a population of, what, 12 million people.
Now that I see the actual number of days passing by quicker and quicker every day, I should really make sure that I don't leave things to do till last minute. The worst I could do is forget to do something that's really important then find out that I won't be able to do much if not anything at all until I arrive back in Melbourne. My month in the Philippines will feel like a blur. I hope it will go quickly, because I just want to spend as much time as I can with my boyfriend.
Last night, I had my last korean class, elementary 1, for this year. Next year, I will be entering the second level, halfway through the class period since I will be in korea till the end if february. My teacher was nice enough to give me some advice and told me to buy my textbooks in Seoul instead of ordering them from Australia. Kyobo bookstore is the store that I am recommended to purchase my textbooks from. Kyobo bookstore is the most popular bookstore in South Korea, similar to the then-open Borders and the Australian brand Dymocks. The main branch is in Gwanghwamun and my teacher told me to go to this branch. Wow, I guess I will really be putting my Korean to the test when I am buying the books at the cashier. I must remember to exchange my money to South Korean Won as soon as I receive money.
Wowowowow, Seoul here I come (in 9 days)!

Seoul subways... '-'

Although this picture does show a quiet and relaxed subway ride in Seoul, I have been told otherwise about how I should be careful. Not only should I keep a close and tight hold of my bag, I should also be wary that during peak hours, trains can get very packed. Some unruly people usually take this as an advantage to feel someone up. As excited as I am in my trip to Seoul in less than two weeks, I feel rather nervous at the thought of someone just feeling me in these weird and even unappropriate places when situations call for everyone to be stuck together like sardines in a can.

It's December

I told myself that I wouldn't start to get excited until it was December. Now that the festive month has finally arrived, I think it's time for me to start doing a little jiggle here and there and scream into my pillow from joy. Has it really arrived? This month will finally be the one where I will see my dear boyfriend. It's not my intention to turn this blog into some hopeless romantic-sounding things that most people don't even care about. But I simply cannot easily contain my joy that all this wait shall be and have been worth the wait. Whenever I think about it, my heart warms up. It really does. It starts to beat quickly, and I feel myself feeling all warm and joyful without a care in the world.

I've been trying to imagine what it will be like when I finally lay eyes on him after many, many months of being separate from him. Will it be bittersweet as I always believed it would be, since we will be separate again for another month before I return to him in the new year? Will it be romantic just like the movies, where I run into his arms and he catches me and kisses me while spinning me round in circles? But what if he acts coldly and differently? He's always told me that he normally can't be as crazy and bubbly as he was in the US. That public display of behaviour seems to be frowned upon there is something unfamiliar to most people there. Will he coldly just hug me and then try to act like a grown-up? It does sound harsh. But no matter what happens, I just hope it will be the most perfect reunion to a long, arduous, and painful wait.

Korean university students - do they really have it tough?

I just finished reading a disturbing article in the Korea Times (with thanks to the blog Marmot's Hole for mentioning it first) about how a student who killed his mother because she was unhappy with his grades.
The first thing that came to mind was how a student could be driven to do such things! But from my prior knowledge of just how competitive and important on all levels education is to students and achieve high marks to make it into the country's top institutions, this student must have been driven to the limit where just might have not been able to take it any longer. According to the article, after the student had revealed that he had gotten a low mark (actually, his marks had been considered very good), his mother had beaten him up with a baseball bat and a golf club for many hours and was subsequent to several abuses such as being denied food. Of course, I am not agreeing that killing his mother was the logical solution, unless he was in a situation where his life was at stake. But with cases like these, how students are pressured throughout their entire life in order to get these soaring marks that will help get them accepted in prestigious universities like Seoul National University, Yonsei University or Ewha University, what these students must be going through, placing their life's worth in these entrance exams that will determine what universities they would be eligible can be so foreign to people who live in other countries.
In relation to this topic, I read an article explaining how and why South Korean universities were so poorly ranked in the world. In the paper, reviews and peer assessments by students were part of the judging criteria on opinions of South Korean universities did not have high rankings in the world, considering the intensive education model that children follow up to their last year of middle school. After such intensive pre-college preparations, students see first and second year university as a means of repaying for all the hard work they did. Some students even went to confessing that barely any studying is done. Also, seniors get permission frequently to miss out on large amounts of class times, just to be able to travel to some other city to attend an interview. This is even when the student has not finished his last year nor has graduated. Wow, these university students seem to have it so easy. When you compare it to universities of other countries, particularly in Western countries, university classes or what is sometimes referred to as contact-hours are significantly lesser than those of universities in Asia. However, this kind of study mode requires many hours of pre-studying and out of class readings. In a way, I feel that this kind of study mode takes on a more mature and therefore independent way of studying, of self-improvement all done by the student himself. Furthermore, discrimination with foreign teachers, which include lesser wages and limited access and participation with the faculty and staff, makes it unattractive for long-term stays.
It would be very interesting to write an essay about the differences of higher education between Western countries and East Asian countries. What do you think is the better kind of higher education? I know people have their own preferences, but if you were to put yourself in the shoes of, say, a politician with power to do higher education reforms, what would you do?

강남구

Less than three weeks are all the remains until I embark on my journey to Seoul. Comparing it to other countries I've been to, this trip will be especially exciting. First, it is where my boyfriend comes from, and to be able to see what Korea is like will certainly add all the more to my understanding of his home country. Second, I have only an amateur's knowledge of the Korean language. It will be interesting to see what happens when I am put in a situation where I am speaking to a person who doesn't know English. Third, South Korea has only just become such a hot destination for many younger people (this includes myself, I think). And fourth, like all my visits to other countries, this will be a whole new experience to me.

For four days, we will be situated in Gangnam-gu, a rather expensive neighbourhood in Seoul well-known for its endless designer shops, celebrity sightings, plastic surgery. Strangely enough, the hotel we booked at was cheaper than staying in Myeong-dong, a more active, vibrant, and youth-driven area, with just as much fashion retails and cafés in every corner. I've only just started making a broad itinerary of places to go. I've basically planned it out in a way that we will be spending one day in each district, one day in Gwanghwamun, the next day in Myeong-dong, Namsan, and Itaewon, and so on and so forth.

I really cannot believe that in 18 days (soon to be just 2 weeks) that I will be on another adventure. Ever since I finished my exchange in Seattle and was about to tour the east coast, I've found my love for experiencing new cultures and seeing new sights that I thought that I would never have had the chance to see in my lifetime. Now, Seoul is my next destination. I have no expectations, good or bad, for South Korea. The whole point of travelling to these new places is to be enlightened.

What to give your boyfriend for Christmas?

It's no uncommon scenario for couples to feel apprehensive on what to give one another for Christmas. Being in this situation for the first time, I find myself in this predicament. Not only do I want to make it as special as I can, I want to give my boyfriend something that he will really like.
There are some kinds of people who really don't like or mind receiving gifts. I think most guys seem to act this way whenever they receive something from their girlfriend. I know for a fact that my Dad is like this sometimes. Rather than receiving gifts, my Dad seems to prefer being the one to give the gifts (no complaints there for me). But going back to my situation, this is where I am having a bit of a problem. I'm unsure of whether whatever gift I give him might be too girly. I also don't want to give him something that declares our love too flamboyantly. I did read a suggestion of getting your boyfriend tickets to something, which I think is brillant, but seems impossible for me to do. I did see some nice vintage-inspired toys in the department store, but I am thinking that it might give off a too-childish feel. However, I feel that he might rather like it.
I guess what really is troubling me ia getting something fot him that he will truly and genuinely like. I should continue this search for the right gift, and taking advantage of the upcoming christmas shopping nights this week.

Lost in Translation... literally!

I read an interesting article (rather, just a collection of pictures) of how when Western brands are introduced and translated into the foreign markets. What's left are rather obscure and quite hilarious transliterations of theses well-known brands.

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2011/11/12/world/asia/chinese-products-in-translation.html

Samsung Galaxy Note

There is a new member to the Samsung Galaxy family! Its name is called the Galaxy Note, and according to the official website, it is the creative multimedia monster of the family. It sports a bigger 5.3" HD Super AMOLED screen, the first in the world, and has a digital pen that is uniquely synced with the Galaxy Note to provide a more enriching touchscreen experience.
This mobile phone/tablet is definitely worth checking out. I'll be really interested in looking at the benchmarks of this phone, particularly how long the battery will last.

\

http://www.samsung.com/global/microsite/galaxynote/note/case01.html?type=find

11.11.11 Millenium Pepero Day

Today, I received a surprise gift in the mail from my lovely boyfriend today. It was a big box full of peppero sticks!
I was so touched and happy to receive such a box full of delights. Till now, I still cannot contain myself. I am lucky to have the most amazing and sweetest boyfriend ever!

Booklist

1. Media Consumption and Everyday Life in Asia(Paperback)

Edited by Youna Kim

2. Consumption in Asia: Lifestyle and Identities (New Rich in Asia) (Paperback)

Edited by Beng-Huat Chua

3. A History of East Asia: From the Origins of Civilization to the Twenty-First Century (Paperback)

By (author) Charles Holcombe

4. Understanding Australia's Neighbours: An Introduction to East and Southeast Asia (Paperback)

By (author) Nick Knight, By (author) Michael Heazle

Chiffon, be mine.

Despite the advice of my boyfriend to save money and not buy things anymore, I finally bought the navy blue chiffon dress. For $45, I am finally able to be at peace of mind. Fashion-wise, I know I've made a wise decision in buying it, since I don't have a dress like it at all. However, considering the tight position I am in in terms of saving up, that's where I made a mistake. But I can guarantee myself that this will be my last purchase. The only things I will be spending on is public transport and Starbucks. From this point on, I really will hold my boyfriend's advice as my top priority to keep.

민규, 당신들을 것입니다. ^^

Cutest Youtube comment

As I was watching Lee Seung Gi's MV You're my Friend (친구잖아) (here's the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pXfp-plkRPY), I read the cutest comment. I've highlighted it in the red box below. Hope you like it and find a warm feeling inside your heart.

There is life... in North Korea

The general idea of North Korea in most people's mind is that North Korea is a barren wasteland whose population is suppressed by the scary Kim Il Sung. Maybe the barren wasteland concept is too harsh. In other words, there seems to be little sign of daily life there. It feels as if people are locked in their houses. Freedom and expression of self is seen as action against the government, and you wouldn't want to get on the wrong side of the North Korean government.
Throughout all these state problems and isolation from the world, normal life persists in North Korea. I found an interesting slideshow of images of North Korean life taken by David Guttenfelder for the New York Times.


http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2011/11/09/world/asia/20111109-NKOREA-GOBIG.html?ref=asia#1


What really surprised me is that if you were to tour North Korea, pre-bookings are mandatory. In addition, once you are actually there, you will always be accompanied by one or two official tour guides who will show you to selected attractions and tell you all you need to know, provided that it does not diminish their ruler's image.


Also, there is a book that tells of the normal lives of people living in North Korea. Written by Barbara Demick, Nothing to Envy seems to be about normal daily life that still persists in the country despite the strictly sanctioned government and the stereotyped image of troubled North Korean. I have not read it yet, but it seems to be an engrossing and interesting read for all those interested in East Asian studies or anything about Korea (both South and North).

Navy chiffon dress!

Continuing with my current fad of chiffon dresses, it never occurred to me that a chiffon dress would look amazing in a navy blue colour. The usual colours I've been able to see in stores are of neutral colours, such as pink, cream, mocha, grey, and light green. I found online an amazing navy blue chiffon dress (and they have one in my size too), which costs around AU$45 dollars. I am a big fan of navy blue, and it's only occurred to me now that I don't even have a navy blue dress. So, this gives every reason to just buy, because I will most likely not be able to find one like it in stores in Melbourne. I am a fantastic shopper!

쇼핑... 가자

With the perfect weather lined up for the day, it's hard not to be tempted to go out and go shopping. Sometimes, the thought that there will be so many people doing the same thing you're doing doesn't even seem to bother you any longer.
My shopping list at the moment is quite on the expensive side. 

1. Nikon J1 camera or a Panasonic Lumix GF2 (both cameras have interchangeable lens, are light, and look fabulous!)

2. A chiffon dress.

3. More stock of Korean dramas.

4. And anything that's cute to have.

Fortunately, my fad for winter clothes and outfits has started to fade, a result of much-spent hours surfing the web on winter outfits and online shopping. Now, what's really on my mind saving money so that I can go shopping in Seoul!

ㅋㅋㅋㅋ

Chiffon chic

I've never really owned a chiffon dress, let alone what that I can wear on a casual basis. However, as I'm watching this television series called 49 Days (49일), there is this particular chiffon dress that one of the leading actresses wear when she is in her ghost form. 

In the series, she is stuck in a spiritual/ghost form where she is not about to go to heaven yet. She is given 49 days to get three people to genuinely cry for her. That's why she is currently stuck in that form, and assumingly is not supposed to get a wardrobe change. So, in every episode, I constantly see this dress. It's really cute, and I do like how chiffon dresses gracefully drape over your body. In a way, it conforms to your body shape in a beautiful and elegant way, provided that you are wearing the right size and style. I am inspired to find a chiffon dress like this. Luckily, here in Melbourne, there are a huge variety of shops that sell dresses similar to this style. One great thing about Melbourne is that if you are wanting a particular style or looking for a trend, even if it is out of season, chances are you will be able to find it. It's just a matter of finding the shops that do sell it. If you are unsuccessful in that aspect, you can always find something online. Generally, things are cheaper online. That's why I've been doing a lot of my shopping online these days.

To start off my new fad in fashion, here are a few very pretty chiffon dresses that I've found.

가을

가을은 한국에서 너무 예뻐 보인다.나뭇잎의 색상은 빨강, 오렌지와 노란색의 생생한 색채 있습니다. 멜버른에서, 가을은 아주강한 계절되지 않습니다. 때로는 가을이 전혀 여기에 기분하지 않습니다. 겨울과 여름이 여기에 주요 계절입니다. 봄이 아름다운지만 난 주위를 비행하는 모든 꽃가루에 알레르기가 일반적입니다.
어쨌든, 가을에는 한국을 방문하고 싶습니다. 나 자신이 공중에서 화려한 나뭇잎을 던지고 상상하실 수 있습니다. 내 남자 친구와 공원에 누워.

가을 내 마음이 아니라 겨울에 있습니다. :p