Korea life - Day 72 week 11 - (Seoul & Incheon) short trip with my Korean friends

5 May 2014 - Day 72 week 11

IT'S A PUBLIC HOLIDAY IN KOREA !! No need to go to school, so we (PQ & I) met up with our Korean friend, MY and JY. We planned to go on a short trip to Incheon as we thought that they were from there but in the end actually they were from Chuncheon, so we just took this as a short trip to have fun.

They came over to Seoul to meet us to have lunch. We had the BBQ buffet around our place and had ice-cream before we leave. Thought that we will be heading over to Incheon straight but MY and JY took us to an ice museum near Gyeongbokgung palace.

ICE MUSEUM 

Ice Gallery 

How to go : Anguk station (subway line 3); exit 1. Take your second right and head straight.
Fee : Ice Gallery 7,000 won / Experience hall 5,000won
Open hours : 10am - 7pm
More information = http://www.exploringkorea.com/ice-gallery-seoul/

subway station of Nam-incheon station 

Took the subway to Incheon (which took us 2 hours -_- !! ). By the time we arrive at Incheon, we were actually still reach earlier than planned, so we went to have a cup of coffee first then heading to the traditional market to take a look and to try out some of the food.

We tried some of the food while waiting for MY queue up for a popular store that they wanted us to have for dinner. When we were eating, PQ forgot the fact that she can't eat mustard, which cause her to keep running to the toilet !! We were quite behind time because of that. She felt very sorry but we were more worry about her tummy more than feeling angry. Since we were quite behind time, we decided to take the cab instead of the bus to motel. And it was a small motel that is just location in front of the Wolmido theme park

The most popular ride in Wolmido Theme park 

We went to check in first then head to the theme park for some rides. As it was semi-outdoor, we were to buy ticket for every ride (not like disneyland kind, where you buy a entrance fee and you can play everything.) Just after a few ride, I started to feel sick and wanted to vomit. The rest of them seeing me feeling so uncomfortable, they decided that we should go back and have some rest. I didn't bother to change, just went to sleep after we reached the room.

Korea life - Day 64 week 9 / (Seoul) Lantern festival

27 Apr 2014 - day 64 week 9

School holiday starts and just ended like that!! Only have 2 days of holiday before school start on monday, not going to waste this short period of time.

So on Saturday went to met up with PQ's friend who had came to seoul for holiday. PQ had planned to bring them to eat ginseng chicken soup, so me and LJ tagged along. Is a quite a popular store in Korea that many tourist are willing to Q up to eat here. Of course we will do the same since we are Singaporean !!

popular ginseng chicken soup shop 

After the lunch, headed to insadong as LJ had not been there before. As there was nothing much that we could do there, we went to Jong-no to wait for the lantern parade that will be walking later. PQ register online so we were able to sit down and wait the parade. We waited till the sunset then we saw the first lantern.  

Due to the ferry accident, they change some of the colorful lantern to white and yellow, so it's not that interesting.  We wanted to leave earlier but then they opened up to the public to join them. Before the parade began, they passed out lanterns and we were still wonder what are these for, it was for us to carry it when we join them. Walked all the way to insadong them take the bus home. Need enough rest as there is part 2 to this lanterns festival next day too.

 lantern parade  

On Sunday, we met early in the morning to attend a making lanterns program that is specially organize for foreigners to try. Yesterday heard from my classmate that is very easy to do but we were shock when we were told how it should be do. 

It was a different kind of lanterns as the one my classmate did yesterday. This lanterns took us 2 hrs sticking and pasting, really was a test of patience . we didn't stay for the lanterns making competition (as we know we won't win ) but we still sign in for our lanterns. 

the lantern that I made .. 

Headed to my favorite restaurant in insadong for early dinner. Chat and eat and drink till is time to go back and get ready for level 2  (this term don't have holiday , only weekend holiday!!! So sad)

나는 자기소개

안녕하세요.

제 이름은 린입니다. 싱가포르에서온 27세 여자입니다. 나는 처음으로 K-pop 이 좋아서, 한국어를 배우기 시각했는데 가장좋아하는 밴드는 씨엔블루 (CN Blue) 입니다.

저는 외국어 공부를 해서 5개 국어를 할줄입니다 - 영어, 중국어, 대만어, 일본어 와 한국어. 저도여행은 너무좋아해서 10개국가나 가봤어요, 하기만 가장좋아는나라가 한국입니다.

그래서 한국에서 한국회사에 취직 하려고 지금 한국어도 열심히 배우고있습니다. 한국오기전에 고객서비스해서 한국에서도 고객서비스하는 회사에 취직하고 싶습니다.

Korea life - day 61 (week 9) /(Seoul) window shopping

Korea Life - 24 apr 2014 (day 61 week 9)

This term there is no holiday at all, only the weekend and we are going to start level 2 Korean language. Because there is only the weekend, I can't go any where far, so only did window shopping these few days

Yesterday after school went shopping at Ewha as LJ hadn't been there for shopping before. hELPED LJ to choose clothes and bring her around, introduce the place to here. And actually in order to control myself not to any more spend, I brought $30 dollar out with me. But it's useless, I spent all the money in less than 30 min !! I even need LJ to treat me dinner as I have no more money with me.  OMG I really can't go Ewha, every time I go, I confirm spend money there.  

Today headed to gangnam underground shopping street as my classmate looking for pants and shoes to buy. So I introduce them to go there. But turn out there are not many store for guys (yes, my classmate is a guy), since I was the one intro them to come of course I will have to leave with them so I didn't got to shop at all (need to come back here again !!)

Went to myeongdong instead, helped him to choose and accompany him to go. Maybe because he is a Chinese, they don't really need to worry about money and parent will just give them. So price of the clothes, some are pretty expensive and they are all right with it. At least he treat me dinner as a thanks for accompany him for the whole afternoon.

Korea life - day 60 (week 9) / (Seoul) exam period

Korea Life - 23 apr 2014 (day 60 week 9)

So fast, it's already the final exam for level 1 Korean language. This 2 month feels so short and now is already time to see how much we learn. This final exam is slightly different from the mid term exam, it is spilt into 2 days. We had our written exam yesterday and oral exam today.

The written exam is the same method as mid exam but there are some changes on the oral. The final exam is much more difficult compare to mid term so I don't think that I did well for the paper , I just hope that I'm able to go to level 2. Still had to wait till Friday then able to see the full result. Tomorrow will only be able to check and see the result of the written exam.

Then is time to say good bye to my class and classmate as we will be going to spilt class. So sad !! I don't want to split class !! I love my classmate and teacher !! 1A (spring) ARE THE BEST !!!

Korea life - day 57 (week 9) / (Seoul) CN Blue concert !!!

Korea Life - 20 apr 2014 (Day 57 week 9)

Although final exam is just around the corner, it can't stop me from wanting to go the this concert !!! Totally regret that I didn't go to their Singapore concert last year, this year nothing can stop me from not going !! And I'm talking about CN BLUE's connect !!!

I was too slow by the time I decided if I should go and was actually sad that I didn't got to buy the ticket. Luckily there was a second concert in Seoul (since the first concert ticket sold out so fast !!). So this time I didn't waste time, went straight to the website to buy. Although was still slow with the good seats, but there are still seat available. As this was my first time buying concert ticket in Korea, I faced some difficulties when buying the tickets.

First was the website are only available in Korean (luckily I had PQ with me, although was difficult for her too, but her standand is still higher than me). Then it was that they can't accept our credit card (OMG !! got money also can't buy, really piss me off !!). Since we have problem buying online, we thought of heading down to the ticket box to buy, went all the way over, turn out that they don't sell via ticket box, the only way to buy the ticket was to buy online !! We really can't think of our ways, in the end we asked our gosiwon owner to help us to use his (Korean) credit card to buy for us and we transfer money to him. Finally after 2 week of trying, we bought to tickets !!

On the actual day, because we went there before (tried to buy ticket via the ticket box, but failed) so we knew where should we go. Many people were already there when we reached, believed that there were there for the standing zone (queuing up). Totally pass those ages, nowadays concerts I will get sitting seat rather than standing zone.

Before the concert starts, went to looked at the concert merchandise selling, actually told myself not to waste money on those things, but after seeing them, is really very hard not to buy!! So in the end, bought a shopping eco bag and a t-shirt (at least those things I will and can use often). Knew that the food selling there would be expensive, we packed our own dinner and bought snack there to eat while waiting for the show to start.

We even bought our notebook to study while waiting, but we were too excited, I don't think we really got studied anything. Finally long time of waiting, is time for us to head in. We followed the crowds and was able to find our seat easily. The seat that we chose was not that bad too, has a full view of the stage and the screen. The crews were very strict on the rules that we are not allow to take picture, if we get caught, they could get us to delete the picture on the spot and send us out of the concert hall. In Singapore, we do have this rule too, but normally they will just warn and that's it. The crew here really want you to delete the picture in front of them then they let you go.

The show started on time, and everyone was very high !! So glad that I decided to go, NEVER am I going to regret this concert. Hope to go to one more concert before ending my Korea stay.

Korea life - day 53 (week 8) / (Seoul) hanbok @ Korea organisation board

Korea life -16 apr 2014

Classmate introduced to try hanbok for free at somewhere near myeong-dong. As we end class quite early, we decided to head over after class instead of weekend. As my classmate was leading us there, then I know that the final destination was the Korea Organization tourism board

[At Korea organisation board, there are more than just taking picture, For more information, read here - http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/GK/GK_EN_2_7_2_1.jsp]

How to go -
Take subway to Jonggak station (subway line 1; exit 5)
Go straight for 3 min and cross the street above Cheonggyecheon stream
Turn right and continue down the street that runs parallel to Cheonggycheon
The KTO building is the second building on the left
[there are more information on how to go KTO from other station in the website above ]

We were amuse by the kpop stand board by the entrance of the korea organisation board. As there was a tour group in front of us trying,  after we registered,  we spent some time taking picture with 'them' and trying out the free tea.  

Had fun trying the hanbok. There are people there helping us to wear. Due to size, we can't really choose which one to wear. We took too much time taking individual picture that we forget too took picture as a group !! 

After all the trying, some decided to head to Myeong-dong,  but the weather was very bad for me and pq to handle so we headed back straight home.