Planning Itinerary Headache

As I was planning my route based on the festivals and events in Korea from 24Jun to 28Jul, I got more and more greedy as I tried to squeeze as many desired destinations as possible into my itinerary in the cheapest and least time wasting manner.

Visit Korea Events page(http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/SI/SI_EN_3_2_2.jsp) is an easy to use web resource to seek interesting events and venues that few blogged about.

The Traditional Markets page (http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/SH/SH_EN_7_1_6_2.jsp) also shows where locals look for bargains in groceries, especially fresh produce like fruits and vegetables. However, do factor in the cost and time of travelling to determine whether it's worth it to save that dollar. There is one Gwangjang Market that is just 17 minutes ride/ walk from SKKU :). Well, walking is good for the body before one indulges in all kinds of food :p. Luckily I don't get fat easily, heehee, it's almost impossible. I'm nursing a flu now so I will have a strong immune system from day 1 of my Korea Tip!

Hmm, back to the topic of why it is such a headache. Korea is big, Singapore is small. There are some flower festivals and gardens that I want to go to in Korea to find a place similar to the forest in this drama...

绿光森林 (2005)

However, the lowest transportation cost for a 2 way bus ride from Seoul to Jinju / Busan region is at least 40000krw (http://www.frommers.com/destinations/jinju/618956) , I could have opt to fly to Busan instead of ICN from Singapore and it would have been much more worth it since it's cheaper. Luckily this consideration came up and it made me reassess my goal for this Korea trip. 

You can pack everything you want in the luggage and be on constant fear of not getting the best value out of the money spent, or you can let go, take a small bag of necessities with you and enjoy the wind and freedom as you skip up the slopes and stairs.

This trip is special not because I'm going overseas alone, not because it is Korea the home of K-pop stars, not because it's a makeup and fashion paradise, but because for the first time in my life, I have the opportunity to just grab a small bag and leave everything else behind. 

I believe that I can find certain places in Korea that will draw me back repeatedly with new experiences and insights. Yes, I will miss out some gorgeous gardens and cliffs as seen from Google, I can go in the future, but there will never be another 5 full free weeks to uncover the even more gorgeous scenery inside me.

If your mind is always moving, 

how to get your heart up off the ground?

Safety training and Tying up loose ends

After recent "accidents" in Korea and plane crashes, they were like wake up calls for me. Nothing is guaranteed, or certain. Who should you trust?

Preparation Work

• Safety precautions 
• Emergency drills
• Possible emergencies may include fire in subway (2003 Daegu subway fire), flooding, landslides, typhoon

Call me paranoid but I am responsible for my own well being. When even locals didn't stand a chance to live in certain disasters, the minimum I a foreigner can do is to know as much as I can about the place I am going to.

I've decided to put aside time to settle some ... still unfinished... business, to tie up loose ends, to heck care that fear and just do it, to say whatever I need to, to settle the past, to meet up with the present (friends), to clarify things before I go. Never will I get another chance again to come home with such a new beginning, this $2700 will be worth it :)

I will come home to a new room, ready for my 5 months internship :)

Update
It is good to be careful and be prepared. Prevention is better than cure is saying I always remind myself. When I arrived in South Korea, there was a serious big fire a the Subway station. I mean our lives are precious. To make a effort to be careful and take precautions is important. I think I became more alert and conscious of dangers and hazards around me.

There are natural disasters in South Korea. In Singapore, it is safe with none of them. I was worried I may not be able to react correctly and appropriately. That Year I was in Korean was also the Siwon sinking ship accident. Watching the hundreds who died and perish in the water, I feel sad for their parents and themselves too. If only one of the students had a alertness for danger and peril, they would just follow their instincts and live to tell the tale. Condolences to them sincerely with love.

Add ons for Plane tickets

I am flying naked! ... that's a chinese saying for not purchasing any add ons

Food
I will be bringing my own fruits :) Plane food hmm... of course, who wouldn't like to have a hot 'home cooked' meal when you are 11000 feet off the ground and from home? But I would rather use that money to savor real local food after I have landed. Maybe I will prepare my own salad or sandwich.

1. Bring fruits with a lot of moisture to keep yourself hydrated and pretty :)

Orange

Papaya

Pear

Mangoes

Pineapples

Watermelon

or even Singapore's prized

Durian (if you don't mind being kicked out of the plane at 11000feet 

... with your durians)

2. Maybe I will also bring my favourite cooked flowers as finger food 

Broccoli

Cauliflower

3. And my veggies :)

Xiao Bai Cai

Potato

4. Will be bringing some packets of dry snacks

Salted Crackers, Gummy Bears (chew on them to ease discomfort in ears)

5. And food that I don't really like but I can still eat when I have no more food left. Food I have to eat to reduce my appetite to save the money for the nice food later...

Lemon Biscuits 

Plain Bread

Entertainment

• MP3
• Scrutinize Korea itinerary
• Scrutinize my bucket list
• Practise Korean language
• Imagination and Doodling

Sleep

• Pillow (will make another post about this)
• Cap
• Tissue
• Scarf

Luggage

• Big Backpack < 7kg
• Smaller side bag (food and electronics and things needed for sleep)
• Waist bag 
• Cargo Pants with many pockets

Although it's a 5 weeks trip, I don't think I will need any bags to be checked in (save $65 one way). Also, I will be walking with my bags for quite a long distance and through many stairs so it is more convenient to travel light.

Cheap Air Tickets

I'm rather pleased with the bargain I got from Air Asia :) 372 sgd including online transaction fee. I booked about 6 months in advance, during my exam period, after researching for weeks on how and where to get cheap flight tickets instead of ahem.. revision. Surprisingly, I did rather well for that exam, mainly because most of them are open book exams :p.

When you have to book so early in advance, here are the few considerations:

1)    What is the probability of getting cheaper plane tickets at future promotions

(For the late June flight, I booked in early December and saw cheaper air tickets in Feburary promotions (by about $20 per flight))

2)    Are the ticket prices inelastic because of the dates involved? If yes, prices will tend to go up instead of down.

(In my case, yes. I had to return to Singapore just before Hari Raya and I have to leave Singapore at the end of June, it felt like these were the days with the highest flight traffic)

3)    What if you can’t get the school you want for your summer studies in Korea? Are your dates flexible enough?

(After thorough research on the past program schedules of different schools’ summer studies program, I left a few days’ leeway for free and easy travel before and after the program. Considering the extra cost of food and accommodation to be incurred before and after the end of the program, and comparing it to the difference in air ticket price on different days, I had in total a week to explore and do my own stuff.)

4)    Budget airline or Commercial airline?

(Since I’m on a budget, budget airline is the best method to fly. However, sometimes, the price of the tickets may be comparable between these 2 so it depends on the experience you want. Luckily I’m small in size so I don’t need extra leg space that commercial airline will provide. I’m of low maintenance so I don’t need the extra service. I have never flown commercial before ... well, only once when I don’t even have to pay… but budget airline isn’t that bad. In terms of safety, neither seem to have any obvious advantage)

5)    Buy one way promotion tickets or both to and return tickets?

(It’s exam time, so I didn’t think so much… it also depends on the timing and dates)

6)    Have you checked websites like skyscanner to compare prices?

(Yes, but do take note that the price listed may not include taxes or administration fees. I bought directly from the official site in the end because I didn’t want to miss a connecting flight and I will be in a better bargaining position if something goes wrong with the flights)

Yesterday, I dreamt that I missed my flight and I was so devastated that I didn’t stop to check whether I was dreaming. If I knew I was dreaming, I would  have stopped beating myself up and looked for the Spa at Changi Airport and PAID to get a massage :p

Current Expenses for NTU student on Budget

All in SGD singapore dollar

1.     Accommodation: ~$507 (exchange rate is unfavourable now :( )

2.     Insurance: $74.10

3.     To and Return Air Ticket: $372

4.     Mandatory School fees plus Korean class: $1037.40

(Tuition fee for each module is actually half of that listed on http://summer.skku.edu/  yay!! maybe it's because I applied through NTU)

Travel Expenses: Limiting myself to $600

Total: ~$2600 for 5 weeks trip in Korea

In the past, I have never felt comfortable sharing stories about my life. But now, I realise that since everyone has the power to influence each other, since many have helped me in my life, why not pay it forward. For travelers on a budget. For rich people who finds it interesting to see how peasants travel on a budget (inspired by Ouran High Host Club :p)  For people who can’t visualise how a trip is going to change their lives, I will show you how it is going to change mine for the better J

Disclaimer: I have the time, money and sanity to go for this trip. At the end of the day, there’s no right or wrong choice, there’s only: What choice did you make? 

Update

At the end of the trip, after I tallied my expenses, I realise that I have exceeded my budget  for food. I have been hopping from cafes to cafes, trying out different coffees and cakes and Bingsu (Korean ice shavings aka Singapore Ice Kachang).

However, I value the experience more than the budget. How often would I get a chance to go to Korea on my own for 1 month without any responsibilities? After graduation, I would be working 9am to 5pm jobs, probably administrative job, or 9am to 9pm engineering job. I don’t think I will ever get the chance to travel like this again, where I don’t have to report to anyone about where I am going to, when I am leaving. It was just so free and easy that halfway through the trip, I forgot that I am a student, I have parents, I have a family to go back to, I have to continue my studies in Singapore, haha.

However, at the last week in Korea, I was actually looking forward to going back to Singapore and be with my friends and family and share with them what I have experienced in Korea, in my Life Changing SKKU Trip. This is why I created this blog.

The purpose of this blog is to allow me to go through the experiences I have in Korea, so that people can appreciate the Korean culture and how a Singaporean shy introvert girl break out in Korea.

My Decision making process (To fork out the money)

Since young (Primary school), I've always dreamt of going overseas for studies (Refer to this post for more info). However, being brought up in an extremely thrifty family, whenever there are opportunities to do so, I will always resist because : I’m going to save up for a trip in the future that really matter and I will have the maturity to get the best value out of it.

Finally, last year, when I was about to apply for the summer studies in NTU, there was no more income at home. I was like: Alright, the trip is not that important. Bread and butter is more important. However, throughout that year when there was no income, I realised a lot, I woke up to a lot of things.

Money is important, without extra money, things would have become much uglier at home. However, regardless of whether money is in excess or lacking, money couldn’t buy things like happiness and time. It’s a cliché but it’s only when I experienced it, with it smacking full force onto my face did I then realise that time and happiness cannot be bought by money solely, it requires opportunities too. 

The opportunity for you to buy time and happiness with money.

I am very lucky that I have the time, money and sanity to go for this trip, to fulfill my dream. I don’t know how much time I have left to travel but I know it’s limited, so I bought my air tickets 6 months in advance (Exams can reduce the one’s sanity) to prevent myself from backing out of this upcoming Korea summer studies trip.

I am determined to change my life. To create huge changes, you need to make decisions that are big enough.

Tristan Prettyman "Say Anything"