4July Part 1 - Windroad Guest House

In Korea, I wake up at about 5.30am most of the time even when I have slept at about 2am the previous night, I mean the day is already this bright at 6am in korea. The rest of my roommates usually sleep until 12pm in the afternoon. Culture shock, even when I'm in Singapore, I would have woken up before 9.30am even if I have slept at 4am the previous night. I have to shake one of them up for school and it's not easy, haha. My sleeping hours are horrendous but I do take naps so it's not really that bad.

Hostel Bunk Bed. This is how it looks in the morning. I wish everyday could be like this and I am so free and happy. This free spirited kind of days must last forever and eternally. I wake up early sleep less and literally "watch" my friends in their sleep. Its like a day watch on their cute and adorable expressions in their beauty sleep. And mind you, there lady sleeping beauties I protect. Haha.

The corridor which looks very different from the ones I see in Singapore. There is a comfy soft light colored purple sofa that one can literally sleep, rest overnight and spill coffee on it accidentally and get away. I know the hostel owner well so it is okay.

Popular bean curd type of food in Korea streets.Salty and not something i will buy again at this price.

fried rice plus.. chicken?

The delicious side dish lettuce plus cereal :p

The uphill battle. Luckily my hostel is at the front gate of school so it is not so bad and I don't have to leave my room very early. Some stayed in the school hostels that are further down the road in Hyehwa so they would rather take the shuttle bus that cost dunno how much. There's pros and cons. Staying in a school hostel will make it easier for you to make friends but for me, I think what I want to see in Korea isn't what they want so, I'm happy with my current hostel. I can put down my bags and leave for wherever I want after school and my 5 room mates... we keep receiving complaints that we are too noisy.. sorry mdm. 

2July ChunCheon Trip

2July ChunCheon Trip

It was an hasty decision to come to visit ChunCheon. Firstly, the weather didn’t look nice enough to hike, secondly, I wasn’t sure what the lowest fare ticket to ChunCheon was, and thirdly, I wasn’t sure where to go, because of the first reason and there wasn’t enough time! I went after school without lunch L.

I wanted to go to cheongpyeong initially to take the buses to the waterfall and forest but the first train available is only at 4 plus in the afternoon so I gave up that idea and chose to go to Chuncheon, which I didn’t do any research at all.

Luckily, I met a girl from Busan, on her first trip to ChunCheon and graduating next year. She helped me with the tickets and here I am, in ITX. I thought ITX was the only available train… I have confused the Gyeongchun Line with the ITX train that also goes to Chuncheon and it’s about 3000krw more for each trip L. Lesson learnt : Ask Ask Ask.

It was an hour long ride. ITX was beautiful and it’s a great experience for me. 12000 krw of to and fro 1 hour ride was worth it because of the beautiful scenery and breakthrough in myself :) 

Napkins on the seat

Shades to hide from the bright sun

Digital Screens to inform us of our destination

The railway tracks

The fully equipped train with vending machine and toilet

The very helpful Tourist Information Centre

Traditional family clothing

A beautiful park in the housing estate

They have exercising stations too!

ChunCheon Underground shopping mall

A full 7000krw meal. I couldn't finish it. I didn't know how to eat at first. you have to wrap the veggie with the dishes.

The flowers along the road back to the station

It was actually drizzling as i was on my way back to the train station. However, the combination of the drizzle, wind and musky smell created a memorable mental picture and it made the flowers much more beautiful than what is seen here.

The puddles of water that i skipped over to get to the rabbits

The wooden pellets on the soil made it easy to walk despite the rain

These flowers were actually quite scary due to their distinct features and bright colours and large numbers together. They looked too colourful and bright, as if they were trying to lure some unexpecting passerby to touch them and god knows what will happen in the end.

Another beautiful mental picture captured in my mind

Puddles that I hopped past and it was so cool and quiet with no one around so i was singing and talking to myself as i walked back to civilization.

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!!