Korea Trip Day 2

Sunday 5th May 2013

• Explore/ Shoppping at Hongdae area
• Hope Market at Hongdae
• Random shopping area at Express Bus Terminal Station!!!
• LOTTE MART!!!

Good Morning from Seoul~ Haha! This is the view of Hongdae from our guesthouse! =D Quite vast and nice somehow right? Lol!

It was our 2nd day in Seoul but the first day we actually explored the place. =D Woke up at around 9am and had toast for breakfast! They gave us a full loaf of awesome bread with jam and butter!!! Damn awesome. =D

Below our guesthouse, there is Dunkin' Donuts. Hehe. Seriously love our guesthouse's location. =D

So we had donuts for breakfast in addition to the toast. =D And ya!! The designs are super cute. I wanted to but it actually but decided that it's too cute to be eaten. Lol!

My donut! It's this green tea thing. I forgot what it was called but it's good. Haha!

 Grumps Mad. =D

The streets are really nice lar. Haha! The trees are pretty all. We went in the right season I think? It's not too cold and not too hot. Just that we kinda missed the spring season with the pretty blossom tree but nevermind lar. Haha! These tress are pretty enough.

YESSSS We were all crazy excited when we saw this huge H&M branch. Haha! Like damn awesome right!!! =D But we didn't go in first 'cause we thought of leaving it for the last day. Haha!

We continued walking and we realised that the Hongdae area isn't quite happening in the morning. Lol! Most of the shops in Hongdae open in the aftnoon until super late at night. Like around 11pm to 12am? Super awesome for late night shopping right!! But in the morning, it was quite an empty area. Haha! So we just walked around and see see first. Haha!

 

Sharon acting as Elvis and Mad as Mao Zedong. HAHA!

And they insisted that I look like that spy guy. LOL! I forgot what's his name but yes. Just because of my camera. Haha! This photo is damn retarded.

The streets are really nice to explore. Haha! Got a lot of cute and pretty looking shop designs!

Notebook heaven~ =DDD

And we became angels~ Haha! Super cute wings at this random shop that wasn't open.

LOMO SHOP! But it will only open in June or something. =(

I LOVE THIS HOUSE. HAHA! Because it reminds me of some Korean drama rich people's house. HAHA! Yes, me in my drama land.

Alfresco at the rooftop! Haha! Korea has a lot of such cafes. Super nice to just sit and chill.

We got kinda hungry and wanted to sit down so we went to Cafe Ice Berry! Supposed to eat ice cream there but we ended up eating sandwiches. Haha! Which ok, none of us took photo of. Lol! I think we were just hungry so we heck. Haha! But yes!! There were quite good!

I was trying out the zoom-out effect on Mad and it turned out quite nice. HAHA! Eun one was distorted. =D

Display food at Cafe Ice Berry!

 

 We found this super cute dog in this shop!! Haha! And we all started taking photos and playing with it. Lol! 

But I really love the layout of the shop!! Got a lot of super cool stuffs. Though not for sale but still.

HAHA! All the random photos I made them smile for. =D

It's always nice to see Starbucks when you are overseas somehow. Haha! Like you aren't that far away from home in a way. LOL! Strange way to say it but it's kinda true.

Yes!! I found my fellow robot friend in Hongdae. =D All big and tall. HAHA!

Super pretty house!! Haha! Lung had to take photo with it so she dragged Mad along. =D

This whole area is super artsy that I'm really crazy loving it. GAHHH I'M MISSING SEOUL NOW AS I POST ABOUT ALL THESE AND LOOKING AT ALL THE PHOTOS!! =(((((

Harry Potter me. =D I don't know why the green umbrella. Substitution for a wand I guess. Haha!

Hair whipping~~ =D

YESSSS MY PURPLE HAIR CAN BE SEEN UNDER THE SUNLIGHT IN SEOUL!! So happy. Haha! =D

After walking around the streets of Hongdae, we decided to go the this Hope Market at their playground area. I don't know why I didn't take any photos but I seriously love the market!! It sells all the super artsy stuffs. Handmade things and gahhhh it's damn awesome lar. Lol! I really have a thing for all these artsy, handmade things. So tempted to buy stuffs but they were quite ex. I realise should have bought though. =\ Oh well. I WILL GO THERE AGAIN. =D

And I think Hongdae area is quite artsy 'cause Honggik University is some art school apparently? That's why all so cool and nice. Haha!

Eun, Mad, and I also met this woman who knew how to write calligraphy! She wrote super well and wrote out name in Hangul! I still have the card but I lazy take photo and post it now but it's really pretty. We talked with her and she can converse in English! And she learned it by herself!!! So pro!! Haha! Then she's saying how Eun's and Mad's Korean were quite accurate. Haha! Mine not really lar but it's ok. They really sound like Koreans. It's true. Haha! But yes, the lady really very nice and friendly. =D

We walked on down and saw this old couple making this candy thing. It's super sweet though. But we tried anyway. Haha! They will make this shape for us to cut out using toothpick. If we can cut out the shape without breaking the candy, they will give us the candy for free! So no harm trying it out. =D

These 3 kids. =D

 These old couple is super sweet! Haha! It's always nice to see old couples who are still so loving. =D

They failed though. Haha! But ok lar, it's really try for fun one anyway~ The sweet was super sweet though. Lol! Can eat only a few small pieces and that's it. Haha! It's made of sugar and something. Like you fry the sugar mix. LOL! I also not very sure. I think it's sugar plus water then you fry it.

Soft Ice Cream!! We were all supposed to buy it but then they back out. Tsk tsk. Haha! But ok, it doesn't really taste super awesome so it's ok. Lol! But yep, it's not bad lar. How can ice cream ever be bad. =D

Strawberry filled cake shop!!

YESSSS THIS THING IS SUPER AWESOME!! I forgot what's it called but yes it's awesome. It's egg plus bread. And the bread is the sweet kind of bread. Lol! But yes, it tastes damn good. =D We only bought one to share at first then we went to get more. Haha! Too good already. =D

After shopping around Hongdae in the aftnoon, when all the shops open and it became quite crazy crowded, we went back to our guesthouse to unload our goods! Haha! But yes!! The shopping was awesome lar. You can find considerably cheap clothes that are of good quality!!! Super happy shopping there. Just that we still control a bit since it was only the first day. Haha! Many more days to go~

Bright sun from our guesthouse!!

HAHA! LINGLI LOOK LIKE SOME SUSPICIOUS CHARACTER HERE. =D

The initial plan was to go to the Banpo Bridge that night to see this super pretty light show by the Han River. But then, lol, we found a super amazing place when we reached the subway station near the Banpo Bridge which is the Express Bus Terminal Station. HAHA! It's honestly like heaven sia!! And never ending one!! It's super crazy big underground shopping mall. And sells really quite cheap clothes!! Best part is that the quality really not bad one.

We didn't know about this at first. We went inside this underground place to look for dinner. Which ok, the dinner wasn't that good. Haha! Eun and I had this quite spicy thing that we really cannot tank towards the end. Lol! And it's a vegetarian place so no meat. Haha! Ok lar, that part not that bad just that the food isn't that awesome to be true.

So after dinner, we wanted to go to the toilet first before we head for the Banpo Bridge. As we were walking to the toilet, Sharon and I, our eyes kept looking towards both sides because we passed by a lot of shops selling a lot of nice clothes and bags!!!!!! Then we missed the toilet. LOL! Quite joke ar. 'Cause we really walked super far away from the toilet. Lol! Then we back tracked and found the other 3 and went to the toilet. After we came out, we decided to shop at the area first then catch the last light show. Lol!

That was the plan. But of course, 5 women in a super nice place to shop like crazy and really like crazy, we  decided to just shop and go to the Banpo Bridge the next day. HAHA! We suck but that place is really heaven I tell you!!! It's the best find out of the whole trip. LOL! As in best random unplanned find! =D Like we really didn't know about this place at all and just randomly chance upon it! We stayed until most of the shops started to close. Haha! We really damn crazy but yes!!!!! IT'S REALLY AN AWESOME PLACE. =D totally will go back there when I go Seoul again. Heh.

Our happy happy faces. =D

We head off to Lotte Mart at Seoul Station!! =D That place is really heaven I tell you. Ok heaven for all the food lovers. Haha! People who like to go to NTUC, Cold Storage or whatever supermarket in Singapore just for the fun of it. HAHA! Because yes, LOTTE Mart is damn huge and gahhhh all the food!!! I wanted to buy so many things but I controlled since yes, many more days to go. Haha! But ya!!! IT'S DAMN AWESOME LAR. LOL!  I want to go back. =(

 And the trolley has Song Joong Ki on it. Hehe. =D Yes, I'm happy just seeing his face. HAHA! I was looking out for Song Joong Ki, Lee Seung Gi and Eunhyuk's faces the whole day lar. So finally I can see Joongki's face. HAHA! Yes, such things make me happy too. =D

So we head back to our guesthouse with our food and cooked ramen for supper~~ Haha!

Chef Eunice. =D

All happy with our ramen. =D Healthy Lingli decided not to join us. Lol! But she gave in on our last day in the guesthouse. =D

We decided to video call Feli Sim that night! Haha!

And then we started a series of childish nonsense Instagram game where we post all our unglam photos. Haha! Ok, it's actually just us against Eun. Then we dragged Feli along. Haha! Yes, we have no life but it's still fun. =D

 My posts. Haha! Seriously love the first one 'cause Eun just gah, she is seriously too retarded. =D

I wanted to screenshot when her face was ugly but I was too late. Lol!

After awhile, we ended the call and all head to bed~ So that's it for our 2nd day in Korea!! Haha! Gah, I really miss it sia.And there are still so many days I haven't post about yet. =(

OHYA! All the photos are credited to Eunice, Sharon, Lingli, Yuk Ling and Me. Haha! Just a disclaimer here for the sake of it. =D

Korea Trip Day 1

I shall attempt to blog about my 6 days in Korea~~~ (8 if you count the day we reach and the day we left. Haha!)

Saturday 4th May 2013

• Flight to Incheon Airport
• Incheon Airport to Honggik University Station
• Check in to our guesthouse - Hongdae Guesthouse

My sister fetched me to the airport with Feli~ Haha! She sent all of us off at the airport since she couldn't join us on the trip. Had simple lunch at Xin Wang with the rest of them and YL's family! Her cousin is super cute lar. Haha! Her whole family damn funny also.

 Mandate shot outside the Departure Hall! =D

This annoying woman who couldn't go for the trip. Tsk tsk. But ok, technically, she's the one losing out a lot. Haha!

Our passports~ Haha! And air tickets!! SQ~~~ =D

Had to wait for our flight until 2.30pm! We were like a bunch of super high and excited kids at the airport. Haha! And the airport is quite empty at that time. I think pple usually don't take day flight. So we were really running around and all. Haha! 

All our cool shoes with Lingli's sports shoes. HAHA! This girl is damn funny lar. She really rather comfort than anything else so she just wore sports shoes. Haha!

Final photo on the plane before we took off to Incheon Airport!!! =DD

I was so excited and happy to sit on the flight because there were a billion of movies and shows to watch lar!!! I wanted to die. Lol! Because there was really a lot of movies but limited time to watch. Haha! And and, the seat beside me was empty!!! HAHAHA! Damn shiok lar. My legs just went up and all comfortable naturally. Haha! And I had two pillows and two blankets. Heh. Yes, I really enjoyed my flight. =D And the last time I took SQ was to Japan in 2008. So that was about 6-7 years ago? Haha! So yes, I was very very excited. =D

And the food was good also!!! HAHA! I'm feeling all excited now while I recount about it. =D It was really an awesome flight. Haha! I watched Gangster Squad and 3 episodes of Modern Family. I think I watched one more movie but I forgot already. Lol! And watched a bit of Friends. I wanted to watch Sliverlining Playbook but I want to watch that movie with super good quality so I decided not to. Haha! Yes, I'm really an excited kid on the plane. Haha!

The view from the plane was awesome!! Because our flight was aftnoon flight, we managed to catch the sunset in the plane. =D Super pretty.

 

The sky always looks awesome when you are in the plane. =D

Haha! We tried to take a photo inside while it was around night time but it looked quite horrible. Haha! YL asked the air steward for a deck of cards and we played dai di! We were super restless all 'cause we were super excited. Haha! And ohya!! You can see the stars!!! Damn pretty!!! =D It's really super awesome lar. Haha! I like flights that has transition from day to night or night to day.

So at around 10plus PM, WE REACHED INCHEON INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT!!! =DDD

We look so happy~ Haha! And lol, we became all retarded and ran towards the immigration counter. And all the people there were staring straight down at us when we reached and all laughing and out of breath. HAHA! Yes, we kinda made a crazy fool out of ourselves but we were in another country where no one knew us so it's fine. =D

Hoodie!! And Mad jumping at the back. She is always jumping, that little kid. =D

Since Eun took this photo, I shall upload it. Haha! Me collecting my luggage. Haha! She wanted to take everyone taking their luggage but she only managed to take mine. Lol!

The subway station where our guesthouse is located near to!! And my hand. =D It's super convenient lar!! From the airport, we took a direct subway to the station straight! Just that it took about 30mins to 1 hour but it's fine. Haha! We saved so much money. =D Haha!

We really super budget for this trip. We travelled everywhere by the subway because it's really super convenient and the only time we took the cab was the last day from our guesthouse to the airport because we really had too many things to carry to the airport. Haha!

 T-Money! It works like Ezlink card so we all knew how to use it well. =D And it's so much nicer looking than our Ezlink card!!!

Us on the train~ It was really quite empty so lucky for us. Haha! And we can eat on the train!!! Lol! This I'm really happy about because we can't eat in the MRT in Singapore. Haha! I know it's something small but it feels nice to be able to eat when you want to. HAHA!

Us and our luggage~

Because Eun wanted to be special, so she sat opposite us.

She's really the most glam woman I have ever encounter. =D

We finally reached Honggik University Station!! I forgot what time we reached but I think it was really quite late? 1am plus I think. So from the station we had to walk quite a long way underground to reach our guesthouse!

Eun and Mad were competing with each other to see who runs faster with their luggage. Lol! Yes, the things they do. =D

We braved the cold outside and finally reached our guesthouse!! Hongdae Guesthouse!

Sharon, YL and I stayed outside while Eun and Lingli went to get the code and stuffs. Yes, we don't use keys! Haha! It's really the Korean kind of apartment where you type in the code to enter. HAHA! YESS I'm loving all these 'cause it's like coming into a Korean drama. HAHA!

And we went into our guesthouse!! Haha! It has two levsls!!! =DD I have a fetish for two levels stuffs. Haha! The photo above is the bottom floor and the photo below is the stairs leading up to the 2nd floor. HAHA! I think my excitement shows on my face. LOL!

I think we never really take a proper photo inside our guesthouse. Lol! Ok, more photos of it will show in the later posts I guess. Haha! But it was really a very comfortable place. We didn't make use of the 2nd floor though 'cause we figured that we should all sleep together and the first floor is more convenient.

Our heater! Haha! It looks super cute. =D

So that's about it for the first day. Lol! Even though this isn't official the first day but oh well. There is really too much to post already!!! So 2nd day shall be the official day when we got out to the streets of Korea~ Haha!

when old age catches up on you

From ages 7 to 11, almost every other Saturday of the week, I would go to my grandparents' house in the aftnoon for lunch and stayed all the way to the night with my grandparents cousins or just with my grandparents only. I would bring over my homework to do if I had, or a book to read. Times when my cousins were around, we would play together and stuffs.

At around 5pm, my grandfather would come into our playroom to find us and asked us to go to the park to stroll. The park near my grandparents' house just built up when I was in primary school so it was all new and exciting to all of us. Back then, scooter was the most "in" thing. Haha! So funny how scooter was really the most "in" thing then and we would all fight for the scooter. But yes, we are nice kids who take turns. Anyway, so yep, every Saturday evening, we would go to the park to stroll with our grandfather. Then we'll stop by at the playground to play while he continued to walk a bit further down.

There was once when I went out to the park with my grandfather alone. I think I was in 9 years old? I was on the scooter, so I rode quite a distance then rode back to find my grandfather as he continued walking. He walked quite far ahead while I turned back and then went back to find him again. Scooter was really like cycling. Lol! Back then, I was a loser who didn't know how to cycle so scooter was the best thing. Haha! Anyway, so there was this slope. And usually, I could scoot down the slope at fast speed without falling off the scooter. But that time, I think I lost control of it and I fell down when I reached the end of the slope. There is still a scar on my knee. So at that moment, all I can kinda do was cry. Lol! I know, 9 years old isn't that young anymore but you were alone and injured, and can't really get up and move. So the only thing you can think of was to cry 'cause it was painful too. Lol! My grandfather was pretty far ahead by then. And usually he won't look back because he knew that I would catch up to him soon and he didn't have to worry. So yes, I sat there and cry and this kind man came up to me and helped me. I kinda forgot what exactly happened but he helped me up and I think I told him which direction my grandfather was at or something. Lol! 10 years ago this happened so spare my memory.

So as I walked towards the direction my grandfather was at, I saw him from a distance and his face was pretty worried. And he saw me and hurried over. After that I just remembered him bringing me to the doctor straight. Lol! The rest were kinda a blur but yea, there's this scar on my right knee to remind me not to scooter down a steep slope. Which ok, obviously after a while, you aren't scared anymore. Lol!

But yea, this was a  memory I suddenly thought of when I saw my grandfather today. He was lying on the hospital bed, greatly weaken and he looks really frail. And he seems to be in a lot of pain. Seeing him like that breaks my heart. He used to be a healthy retired man, going to parks for walks and strolls with his grandchildren just a few years ago. As we grew older, we stop having time to go to our grandparents' house every Saturday. We only go once in a while and usually, we only go for lunch and either go out or go home. We won't stay at our grandparents' house until night and we won't go to the park to stroll with my grandfather in the evening. This, I pretty much regret. After awhile, my grandfather got bored of retirement and went back to work as a driver for those big trucks. I think that was when he started to have knee problems. So after he retired from that, he couldn't walk much because his knee was giving him problems. Strolling in the park was of course hard for him also.

This grandfather, he was really a healthy man. Now, he doesn't even have much strength to sit up properly. And it made me realise how as you grow older, even if you don't want to, your body slowly fails you. As much as you want to keep fit and healthy, somewhere, if you aren't careful, your body will fail you.

One thing I'm pretty thankful for is my grandmother because she is hell of a strong woman. I honestly believe that she is stronger than me. She will make it a point to keep herself healthy and occupied. She is really one woman who is leading the right healthy lifestyle as a senior citizen. I'm greatly thankful for. But today, when I saw her sitting by my grandfather's hospital bed, I can't help feeling heartache for her too. She really wasn't smiling for the longest time when I first came in. After awhile, she managed to break into small smiles as we talked. But really, it hurts me to see her looking so sad and worried. Because she is one woman who is strong like crazy. One woman who almost never get beaten down.

Tomorrow is the day when the report is out. The whole family kinda know what's happening to my grandfather except for my grandfather and grandmother. I don't know how they will both react to it. I really don't. I just hope that they will both have faith and keep the fight. I know my grandmother will but I'm not too sure about my grandfather. But I really really really do hope that he will keep the fight. Whatever he needs to fight against. He needs to fight for all of us. All his children, his grandchildren and his wife. He needs to fight for himself. Honestly, I don't know what's going to happen after. After the report comes out. I don't know what they will have to do and stuffs. But I really pray that whatever it is, it will be alright. Because, I really really want my grandfather to be around when I get married. It's a funny thing to wish for, but it's still something that I really want to, because this means that he will be around for a longer time.