30Jun Jongno Market

Jongno Market. It is a traditional South Korean Ladies Clothing area. There are beautiful and elegant. I believe I look elegant in the pink dress. However as I am rather slender and sexy, the dress may be loose for me. But I love to admire myself in the pink dress and feel beautiful.

Traditional beads and hats

shoes for a friend who had trouble finding her size in Korea

To be bought for wedding.

There's a long queue for the fried cake. It's not surprising why. It's filling, the ahjumas are fierce but and protective... "You will be eating it on the spot so you have to wait to eat the freshly cooked ones" the one cooking said this to me after I have been waiting there for half an hour T.T Me, the korean looking foreigner.

I ate this yummy filling pizza pan sized pancake. It is delicious and I love to try out the South Korean delicacies and street food.

Euljiro Station. Looks like industrial district. When I saw young people working there, I wondered whether they were helping their parents or is this really what they want to do for life. 

Who will buy these watches?

Lights, bling bling, blink, blink

Mum would have wanted one.. Damn, should have checked the price to see whether worth it to fly it back

The pancake.. I can't finish it!! Wow that must be a lot.

View of the city hall garden

Lessons Learnt from 2003 Taegu Station Fire This time, it's not trust that killed them. It's someone who did not want to die alone that killed them. "initially many calls were made to the fire station. Then everything stopped suddenly" Was the death quick? The fire and toxic fumes for sure spread fast.

Clams are cheap here. Sharing of food must be quite common here. Each of us is given a small empty bowl and we were wondering how to eat.

28Jun Glasses Made To Order

28Jun

Went out with a friend to explore Dongdaemun. I had a pair of 40 000 krw glasses made, it was incredibly cheap compared to Singapore. However, I think in Korea, they adjust the each lens accurately to your degree while in Singapore and Malaysia, they adjust the both lens to your highest degree such that there isn't any inequality, it feels more comfortable this way. But I'm used to the lens by now.

Blueberry Shake

Went on another cafe trip with a friend. I spent a lot on cafe, the only places to hide from the scorching hot sun in korea.

Bingsoo with malt and nuts

Underground movie theatres.

This is a uber cute girl I love to cuddle and kiss. The yellow star on her left head is so cute. I think the killer innocent looks and her tiny hand holding the camera is so adorable. I took a picture of this cute one for remembrance. 

A unique gift shop name Ten By Ten. It is the first time I ever come across a shop name that repeats its name twice. Sometimes I feel uniqueness comes from being different from the norm. I felt I should be different from the norm and stand out too.

Rubbish bins are rare in Korea. It's common to "follow the crowd".. Just that I pity the shop owner. 

Naengmyeon (cold noodles) with pork as side dish. I only like the pork. 1 thing special in Korea is they will put 2 portion of food onto 1 plate. They won't tell you as it is a norm for them to do that. So if you are the "keep everything inside" kind of person, you may be wondering where's your pork for the whole dinner.

Noraebang (Karaoke) Flashy disco feel

Teacup Desert at yet another cafe!!

26June Starting of School

26Jun The opening ceremony.

The girl in the middle had a sad look on her face from the start of the song to the end. She would look quite pretty if she smile, but this is what we mean by immersing oneself in the sad music.

The weather in Korea is dry and scorching hot during summer. a bag of water can be found hanging around the trunk of each big trees to make sure they stay hydrated. 

The Seoul Fortress Wall Exhibition My goodness, I love War movies. This brings me back to the memories of me watching the historical war documentaries and movies. I like this "feel". I have tried Ninjutsu before and I am interested to explore more about martial arts, the values and lessons learnt as one practise the moves or breathing, the preparation and the ending of each session.  So I just feel happy to be there and experience the "feel".

26 July
I went to the school early in the morning to explore.

These yellow ribbons are for commemoration of the victims of the recent sinking of the Suwon ferry. Many of the children died for being "good" kids who listened to their teachers and higher authorities, they died for thinking and believing that the adults know best. After this accident, I wonder how the children that survived or the children in Korea would change, would they still be able to trust someone else with their lives? Would they become rebellious towards their parents and teachers, saying that "my friends trusted the adults but look what happened?" "Are you really sure it's for my own good? Is it because the government say so?" "Do you know why I survived? Because I believed in my own judgement. But the rest thought they were right too, that it's safer to stay in  the cabins"

"Who can I trust?"

This would be a difficult generation to educate. A generation that no longer trust the government, teachers nor themselves.

An Uphill battle. The slopes are so steep!

I love the large open spaces here

This reminds me of Singapore Polytechnic where there are tables and benches spread out in different areas and not just crammed together in the North Spine or South Spine of NTU

The hill in SKKU

Which path should I take?

A platform for meditation?

Lunch time Bibimbap 

Cultural Exploration. I'm not really a museum type of person. 

25 June: After a "good" night's Sleep at the Incheon Airport

Day 1 yay. I was sleeping on the benches at the airport last night because our plane landed in the evening so I didn't feel safe hunting for my hostel in the middle of the night. It was an ok place to sleep in, with internet access, toilets, patrolling security guards, extremely efficient cleaners. I bought my T money card from GS 25 convenience store at the airport. As for the food, hmm, the convenience stores have a relatively cheap and good selection of food and drinks. It's funny how they have instant noodles for sale yet they do not have hot water anywhere in the airport. Maybe that's because there is winter in Korea so they don't want people running to the airport for warmth? Luckily it is summer time, but a cold night without hot drinks and interesting things to explore isn't the best experience. 

Changi Airport in my opinion is still the best for resting. There is an open area for sleeping, literally with your body lying flat on the carpet or long chairs for sleeping. The security guards will check the passport of people whom they suspect are staying at the area for too long.   

Since I am starting off from the airport which is located at the west side of Korea, I might as well explore some cities there. Tugging my bags along, I got onto the subway that has cushioned chairs!  

Many shops are only opening ar 11pm so there isn't much things to see.

Tips for hunting for a place in Korea

1) Look sweet and innocent

2) Flash your brightest smile at the aunties

3) Sound tired and desperate  

4) Write out the Korean Names in BIG letters

5) Get a phone and call

Beautiful wall painting that I admire. Rainbow And Sunshine comes after the rain. I like the red cat who is sleeping soundly.

My 6 bed hostel to be populated by interesting people. 2 Russian ladies, 1 American, 1 Taiwanese girl, and 1 German student staying for the long term

The bed I chose: The place where I have an overall view of my surroundings 

(except the bed below mine)

Feeling sick...