Samsung overtakes Apple as smartphone king

It's been announced that Samsung has become the world's top smartphone manufacturer within the last three months, overtaking it's so-called rival Apple.
In the first article, there is a section which says

"The semiconductor division also played a key role in making Samsung come up with impressive quarterly earnings."

My boyfriend is studying electronics in university, specifically in semiconductors. ^^

http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/tech/2011/10/133_97497.html


http://uk.finance.yahoo.com/news/Samsung-Slices-Apple-From-Top-skynews-888054662.html?x=0

Winter snow boots ~~ 스노우 부츠

After several weeks of debating with myself on what pair of boots would do the job of keeping my feet warm as well as being comfortable and strong enough to be hiking boots, I've finally bought a pair of winter boots. They are called Sporto Gracie lace-up boots in grey suede.

According to the description of my boots, Sporto is an award-winning brand who've been in the business for around 125 years. It's funny because I've done plenty of research on boots, and I never read about these brands until I found them on eBay. These boots are made of waterproof suede material. Inside is a Thermolite footbed. More importantly, the sole is a non-skid rubber outsole so that I won't be slipping constantly on slippery ice. I bought these boots for under a hundred dollars. That's a pretty good deal for a pair of snow boots packed with all that gear to protect your feet from the bitter winter cold. Plus, I'll also be using these shoes for when I will be hiking to places. I've never actually owned a pair of snow-worthy boots. All of my boots are just the normal suede boots that shouldn't get wet.


I also saw another pair of absolutely cute ankle boots of the same brand. These are called Sporto Katie lace-up winter ankle boots. I was tempted to buy these but many factors stopped me. First of all, they are of a beautiful white colour, so if I got them dirty then that would be very annoying. Second, they are ankle boots so that would leave my calves freezing to death. But like I said, these boots are absolutely adorable. I'm certain that they would still do a more-than-worthy job of keeping your feet warm.

Poems in Hangul

가까이 다가가고 싶었지만 가까이 다가갈 수 없었습니다.

내가 가까이 다가가면 다가가는 만큼
그대가 멀어질 것 같아서..

가까이 다가가면..
내가 다가가면...
그대는 영영 떠나갈 것 같아서
가까이 다가갈 수 없었습니다.

그대가 떠나간 뒤, 그 상처와 그리움
감당할 수 없을 것 같아서
가까이 다가가고 싶었지만
더이상 가까이 다가갈 수 없었습니다.

한 순간 가까웁다 영영 그대를 떠나게 하는 것보다
거리는 조금 떨어져 있지만 오래도록 그대를
바라보고 싶는 마음이 더 앞섰기에...

Although I wanted to come closer, I couldn't possibly go closer

Because the more I come closer,

it felt like the more you would drift from me

If I come closer...

If I do...

I felt like you would leave me forever.

That's why I couldn't be closer.

After you left, the pain and loneliness...

I didn't think I would be able to handle it.

So Although I wanted to come closer,

I didn't dare to come closer.

Rather than having one moment where I am close to you and letting you go away from me forever.

Although we may be of some distance away,

I wanted to be at a place where I would always be able to see you.

~

Can you imagine that feeling when you read a poem and your heart suddenly wrenches because it more or less capture as perfectly as it can how you feel?

세상에 완벽한 남자와
완벽한 여자는없다.
모자라는 남자와
모자라는 여자가 만들어가는
완벽한 사랑만이 있을뿐이다.

There's no such thing as the perfect guy.

And there's no such thing as the perfect girl.

But only a less than perfect guy

and a  less than perfect girl

Can make a perfect love.

~

내 눈엔...
너 만 보인다는말...
난...거짓말이라고 생각해...
내눈엔 많은 사람들이 보여..
그 치만..그 많은 사람들 중에서
" 너만을 찾게돼..."

In my eyes...

The saying is that you're the only one I see...

That, I believe, is a lie...

In my eyes, I see a lot of people...

But throughout that group of people,

I only search for you.

This has got to be one of the most compelling and beautiful love poems I've read.

Namwon 남원

What a fitting emblem for a city of love!

Nawon, the City of Love.

It's the famous city where the love story of Chunhyang is set in. The story is a bout a maiden named Chunhyang who is love with a young man. While her love is away on government affairs, she is taken advantage of by an immoral local governer who tries to force her to marry him. When the young man returns and sees what is happening, he disguises as a commoner, who witnesses the injustices that are happening to the people because of that bad governer. In the end, the young man kills the governer and is able to restore peace and harmony in the city, and also marries his maiden. A happy ending, is it not?

Namwon is a small city located just outside of Jirisan National Park, and is also just three hours away from Seoul. Every year, the city celebrates the four-day festival of the Chunhyang Festival. It is claimed to be the oldest festival in Korea. There are many sights and places around the city which pays tribute to the love story. An example is one of the most beautiful gardens in the southwestern region of Korea called Gwanghallu-won Gardens. Apparently the garden is made of three small isles, which are connected by three bridges. Furthermore, it is said that if couples cross through this bridge every year, they will have a happy marriage. So romantic, isn't it? I will try to get my boyfriend to take me here. <3

Gwanghallu-won Garden

Taebaek 태백

Taebaek is associated with the mountain range called Taebaek Mountains (태백산맥). This large mountain range stretches from North Korea adjacent to Pyongyang all the way down to Ulsan. People say that the Taebaek mountains are synonymous with that of the Rocky Mountains in Canada and the Himalayas in Asia. I don't think any mountain range can overcome the beauty and grandness of the Andes. But I think that any mountain range in itself is already an amazing must-see destination.

This image has got to be photoshopped in some ways.

I cam across Taebaek in my guidebook on Korea. During the winter seasons, they hold ice sculpture festivals with various large sculptures. They also have igloo restaurants. I'm not exactly sure if it is as picturesque as I imagine it to be. I think I get excited the minute I read something related to snow and festivals. It sure looks really pretty though. I recall seeing picture of my grandparents' travels in China, and they went to an ice sculpture festival. They took plenty of beautiful pictures standing next to these amazing sculptures that it was hard to believe they were even carved in the first place.

Coats galore

Asos mixed check cape, $132.20 AU.

Winter flared dress coat, $69.00.

~

To buy or not to buy...

GRADUATION 졸업

After a hefty amount of visits to my faculty office trying to get my credits done while on exchange to be credited towards my degree and a whole lot of paperwork accomplished, I have been notified that I am finished with my bachelor degree. I am now an official holder of a Bachelor's Degree in Art with a double major in Archaeology and Spanish.


Initially, I was surprised by the news as I was expecting to complete my last semester beginning of next year. But circumstances change, and here we are! I have graduated. The official ceremony won't be till March of next year. Till then, I must seriously consider what I will do beginning next year. But put all that aside, I have graduated. I am happy!


In addition, tomorrow is my boyfriend's birthday. Unfortunately he will be spending his entire day in exams, but I hope that he will enjoy his day nonetheless. 

생일 축하 내 사랑!

Muju 무주

Two hours south of one and a half hours west of Daegu. There is this heavenly mountain range that looks stunning in pictures during winter. Muju is most popular for its annual fireflies festival. There is also the popular Muju ski resort. Apparently, it's one of the most tourist-populated areas in Korean. :o

Still~such a beautiful place. 

New winter coat

Today, I bought a new coat. Its design is similar to the picture above, but in the colour scheme of the picture below.

Midnight in Paris

It's always a great feeling when you step out of the cinema after having just finished a great movie. It's not every day that a movie as great, witty and a feast for the eyes is made anymore.

I watched Midnight in Paris, and was immediately transported into the beautiful and mysterious world of Paris, no matter how cliche that may sound. Woody Allen sure knows how to capture the beauty of a city. It now makes me feel like reading all my books by F. Scott Fitzgerald and Ernest Hemingway again, and reliving exactly why I bought them in the first place.

I especially loved this dress that Marion Cotillard wore. It was so pretty!

Here's a link to a nice article about the movie. Bon apetit!

Midnight in Paris: A Beginner's guide to modernism

My gadgets

The pressure to keep up with up-to-date gadgets and the latest innovations that come along with them is tedious work! I don't know how other people do it.

Proud of my gadgets despite the temptations to upgrade a couple of them. ^^

Tech Capital of the world ~ Seoul

I thought New York City's subway system was confusing, now I am perplexed on how I am going to be able to navigate myself through this complex subway system. But then, South Korea's renowned and reliable transportation system isn't called that for nothing.

It is daunting to know that you're heading to a city that's one of the most digitally-connected and technologically advanced cities in the world. Since the rise of the Chaebol corporations like Samsung and LG, technology is getting better and better by the month. My boyfriend studies electronic engineering, specialising in semiconductors. Hearing him talk about all those complex terms and equations gets me mind-boggled.

I've heard nothing but amazing things about Seoul. I met an Australian middle-aged man who had just returned from a two-week vacation in Seoul. He could not explain how amazing the city was. From the sheer size of the city, despite it being located in a very small country, to the amount of people who lived there, he was fascinated by everything. He's become so motivated to move there some day and work there, that he's taking Korean classes in the same class as me. So when you hear people and their countless stories of the fascinating and lively city that is Seoul, you get goosebumps and exhilarated at the fact that you will be there in two months. There are many things I have to prepare for this trip though. Obviously, language is the first and most important barrier to get rid of. Second, is getting a right foothold on all the places you want to go. I should make sure that most if not all the places I want to go to have been well-researched on. It's always good to be prepared, but not too much. It's always nice to leave space for spontaneity.

If Seoul, and on the whole South Korea, is as amazing as I expect it to be, I think I will be having a hard time putting myself back on that airplane back home. I leave you with inspiring photos of one of those great cities of Asia. Seoul.

Digital capital, indeed.

Mysterious Korean treat

At the moment, I cannot for the life of me remember what these interesting korean treats are called. They taste like nougat that's been wrapped in silk. It was a pretty interesting and generally enjoyable taste. ^^

Steve Jobs

I'm having trouble thinking of what title can capture the sad news about Steve Jobs' passing. But, I decided on leaving the title as it is - only his name.

It always takes some time before it hits you on how a great man has died, leaving behind his amazing work. In this case, Steve Jobs revolutionised the entire mobile and music world. He did amazing things that saw technology at its finest hour. He was a brilliant genius at his work. It's sad to see those kinds of people pass away, but it warms your heart knowing that he has left behind something that will keep his name in every tech-savvy person's name for a long, long time. Rest in peace, Steve Jobs.

Pre-winter anxiety

Many of my Korean friends have warned me regarding South Korea's bitter cold winter season. The more I think about it, I feel anxious on how I might be able to handle it. After all, I don't enjoy the cold as much as I enjoy summer. But I hope that being in a new country and busy with wanting to go to many sites and attractions around will keep my mind off the frigid cold.

I found a phrase from someone's blog regarding the best thing about winter in Korea. It's made me all the more optimistic and ready to take on whatever Korea throws at me!

Kimchi jjigae 김치찌개

"To be sure, what I enjoy most about winters in Korea is that Korean food just seems to taste better-at least many of the chigae or stew dishes that comprise a substantial portion of the Korean cuisine. There’s probably nothing better than a steaming, spicy bowl of kimchi chigae to warm you up on a cold day."

(Read more: http://authspot.com/journals/winter-in-korea/#ixzz1ZzDLUNjh)

눈 내리는게 좋아해

와~ 미인 이시네요.

^^

Cherry Blossoms 벚꽃

Cherry blossoms are my favourite kind of flower. They capture the idea of ephemeral nature. Even though cherry blossoms can be found in many parts of the world, I believe cherry blossoms exude that oriental symbolism of nature and tranquility. They are absolutely beautiful when they are in full bloom.

Himeji Castle, Japan

During my exchange, the university I studied at had a very famous quad where cherry blossoms bloomed during spring. It brings many tourists even from interstate! I count myself extremely lucky to have had the pleasure to walk through these cherry blossoms every day to get to class. I always relaxed on the grass beneath a cherry blossom with my friends, and we always took time to appreciate the amazing array of cherry blossoms surrounding us.

I hope to continue enjoying my fondness and love of cherry blossoms when I travel to South Korea this Christmas. From what I've read, it seems that there are cherry blossoms blooming during the winter season, particularly around February.


I've found a blog by two English teachers in Daegu who talk about cherry blossoms - but this is during March! Oh no....
Blog: http://prglobal.org/ROK/march-march-marc/2011/

More snow 눈을!

I have found a beautiful array of pictures of various locations during winter in Korea.

They are beautiful and it inspires me to practice my photography skills so that I may be able to capture pictures as beautiful as those I see on the internet.

Bon appetit!

I had the opportunity to experience seeing and feeling snow for the first time in Mount Rainier, Seattle, when I did my exchange program. It was an amazing feeling. I wonder to myself if, based on these pictures, the snow in Korea is really that beautiful and so pure-like.

It's astounding how beautiful a view these cameras have captured.

Source: http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/AK/AK_EN_1_6_6_1.jsp?sel=1&num=10