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

Camera Frenzy

Portability packed with all the accessories that a DSLR has, the trend with camera nowadays is to be as small as possible but with just as much juice as that of its heavier brother, the DSLR's. Indeed, I really enjoy this new concept of cameras. Being a frequent traveller and having all these other things to carry, a heavy DSLR would certainly not be a big help. When I had the chance to upgrade my camera, I opted for my Canon Powershot SX210 IS. At that time (and to an extent, it still is) as powerful as the newer cameras being released today. My camera can take pictures up to 14 megapixels, has a 14 zoom lens (although not interchangeable), and has extremely useful manual controls for when you want to take control of the camera. I really love how this compact camera gives you the ability to manipulate images to your liking via its manual controls. As I gradually became familiar with my camera and was able to travel frequently, I did find some downsides to it. First, some of the functions were slow, such as when flipping from viewing mode to shooting mode. It took several long seconds to switch to each function. It's especially frustrating when you are in those situations where timing is crucial. Another thing is the fact that this camera does not have the option of shooting RAW images. But I think this latter issue is understandable, because the latest superzoom/interchangeable-lens compact cameras have only just started coming out with RAW image-processing capabilities. The good thing with RAW images, as most may know, is the ability to process and edit your images after shooting. And, it captures images in its most highest, clearest, and best format.

There are lot of new cameras coming out, each one an upgrade of its previous models. Some may have much better functions that address the flaws of the previous models. That said, investing in the right one is important as buying a new camera means that you should stick to it for some time. Upgrading cameras frequently can be very costly, despite the aims of camera manufacturers making cameras as powerful and small but also easy on the wallets.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2

Nikon 1 V1

Korea and Multiculturalism

The Hallyu wave has spread throughout the world, and it's obvious that Korea are enjoying the limelight. However, this contradicts with their still restrictive policies that make it hard for foreigners who want to begin a new life in Korea. Only under the exception that you are married to a Korean and have gained citizenship or a similar path, will you be given your basic rights, according to this article.
In some aspects, it is saddening to hear this. Even if there is a rising number of immigrants in South Korea today, from temporary workers to students, can and will multiculturalism really be embraced in Korea?

http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/biz/2011/11/123_97657.html

http://www.theepochtimes.com/n2/opinion/south-korea-struggles-with-multiculturism-57853.html