Korea Life - day 125 week 18 / (Chuncheon) day 1

Korea Life - 27 June (day 125 week 18)

Even though left with just 3 more days to school re-open, I wasn't intending to waste it. So Qi and I decided to head to Chuncheon to look for our Korean friend (ManYong & JiYeon).

The provincial capital city of Gangwon-do is nestled in the heart of the famous tourist city of Chuncheon. This city is tucked away in a basin with Uiamho Lake to the west, Chuncheonho lake and Soyangho Lake to the north, and Sinyeongang River to the south making this a city surrounded by water. The numerous lakes in the region cause many foggy days. Close proximity to Seoul makes this a popular daytrip destination. But this trip we weren't going to any of the lakes or rivers, Well, truth was I have no clue where the hell we will be going because this trip was fully planned by my Korean friends!!

We knew that the ride is going to take us more than an hours to reach our destination, therefore we left our place early. Took the subway from Hywhwe station to Dongdaemun station, change to subway line 1 to Sangbong station[(720) - line 7, J & G] and change subway line again to the [G line], and finally alighted at Namchuncheon station (P139).

When we arrived at the Sangbong station, the place was like Yongsan station as there were a lot of train tracks that we were so confused that we don't know where to take the normal subway!! So we just board a train that wrote that is headed to Chuncheon and found a comfortable place to stand. Was surprised that the train was as good as KTX.

Half way through the trip, a guy approach us and asking for us ticket, we were shocked (because subway has no ticket, we just need to tap our T-money card (same as ezlink card))! We think that it will be better if we don't speak Korean, so we used English and asked him back isn't this the subway? Turned out it wasn't subway at all, it was ITX*!! But the ticketing guy was nice, knowing that we made a mistake, never collect money from us but asked us to alight at the next stop.

* ITX is a high-speed train that travels along the Gyeongchun line from Yongsan Station to (in Seoul) to Chuncheon Station (in Gangwon-do Province) [Same as KTX but just that it runs shorter route]. Compare to the normal subway, it only take half the time to reach Chuncheon, therefore the price of the ticket is much more expensive. For more information read here - http://www.visitseoul.net/en/article/article.do?_method=view&m=0004007002011&p=07&art_id=53225&lang=en 

We alighted as the ticketing guy told us, and we waited for the next train that came into the station, which looked more like a subway train. If we had taken the normal subway from the beginning, the whole trip will take us 1.5 hrs but because we took ITX (by mistake) it took us half the time only to reach our destination.


Our friends was already waiting for us at the subway station and we drove away to have early dinner.

They drove us to place which is quite desert, they mainly served cold mixed noodle. Not only that, they ordered potatoes pancake and a dishes that I don't know what the hell it was.

Left top - the dishes that I don't know what the hell it is
Left bottom - potato pancake
Right - mix noodle
Bottom - Restaurant 

Like I mentioned because the restaurant is located at quite a desert place, there were plantation just next to the restaurant !! For someone who grow up in city of Singapore, all these are interesting things we want to see more. So after we finished out meal, we were to into one of the small corn farm and took lot of pictures.

Next stop was to have a drink at a resort as they have very nice night view. We were there pretty early (before the night fall) so was also able to see the nice view of Chuncheon first. While waiting for night fall, I tried to use the Korean that I had learned here in Korea, however it was still too difficult for me to strike a conversation with them, since I had studied for 4 months only!

They drove us to Emart said that they need to get something before going back. Bought some coffee can, drinks and snack. I just wanted to fast go back and rest, feel so tired after taking the subway for so long. Beginning, I thought that we will be sleeping in ManYong's house with ManYong & JiYeon (all 4 of us). But because the room turned out to be too small, so JiYeon decided to go back home to sleep while ManYong going to his friend's hse (who is living nearby)

They left the snacks and drink that they bought at Emart before leaving. They went Emart to buy for us, afraid that there is nothing for us to eat in their house. I was  so tired that I just change to my sleep wear and went to sleep  

Yahoo article - Burpple - Best Korean Restaurants in Singapore

After staying 9 months in Korea, I believe when I'm back in Singapore, I will miss Korean food alot. Below this article caught my attention and I hope that I got the chance to try it one day after I go back to Singapore !! (just by thinking, my saliva can't stop dripping !!)

Cut and paste from - https://sg.entertainment.yahoo.com/news/burpple-best-korean-restaurants-singapore-022601403.html

Burpple - Best Korean Restaurants in Singapore

Burpple.com – 11 hours ago

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We love Korean cuisine for its wide variety - think spicy, fiery red stews to bibimbap to barbecued meat wrapped in lettuce leaves. If we've got you drooling, this will be your (almost) definitive list for the best Korean food on our shore!. This article was originally published on burpple.com.

1. 1. K.COOK Korean BBQ Buffet

   
   Photo by Seth Lui
   For Super Affordable Korean BBQ
   The BBQ buffet here might well be the most affordable buffet around. At only $14.90++ for lunch on weekdays and $24.90++ for dinner, K.COOK makes a great place for dining in groups and eating till you drop without burning a hole in your pocket. The meats are well-marinated and come in a good variety. With great value and a good selection, they're really bringing in the crowds - so be prepared to queue!

2. 2. Doong Ji Korean Restaurant

   
   Photo by shauneeie p
   For Superb Korean in the East
   Hidden amongst the stretch of eateries along Katong, you might miss Doong Ji if you don't look out for it. Offering really affordable set lunches, consider this a good lunch option if you're in the area. The food here is authentic, generous, and generally remarkable. The Seafood Stew is robust and spicy, packed with crab, prawns, octopus, clams, tofu, ramen and rice cakes, good for sharing among 3-4. Also share a Seafood Pancake; they're generous with prawns, squid and spring onions.

3. 3. Yoogane Singapore

   
   Photo by ThumbsForFood 
   For Awesome Chicken Galbi
   The snaking queue at this famous dakgalbi restaurant from Korea is testament to its popularity. For the uninitiated, Galbi is basically meat marinated in a ganjang-based sauce that is grilled at the table. The star here is none other than Yoogane's Chicken Galbi - spicy marinated chicken cooked with rice cakes and vegetables. Also go for the Galbi Fried Rice, that gooey mozzarella cheese fried with rice and bulgogi chicken is oh-so-satisfying. Kimchi-lovers rejoice, the salad bar is free-flow!

4. 4. Togi Korean Restaurant

   Chinatown 
   Photo by Katheryn Teo
   For Consistently Good Food
   It's pretty hard to go wrong at Togi, even though they boast an extensive menu. Special mention goes to the individual servings of porridge that come with the rest of the banchan; it's simple, comforting, and flavourful. Get the Seafood Pancake to share - crisp on the outside and loaded with seafood and spring onions, paired with a dipping sauce that adds that extra kick. The Japchae is chewy, sweet, savoury, and extremely addictive. If you're there in a group, order the Army Stew to share! It's a massive spicy hotpot loaded with ramen, sausages, luncheon meat, tofu, and vegetables.

5. 5. BigMama Korean Restaurant

   Tiong Bahru 
   Photo by Joshua Ng
   For Home-style Dishes
   The food here may not be fancy, but it's clearly prepared with heart. Start off with the Suyuk Boiled Pork Belly served with vegetables and sauces, you'll be taught how to eat it 3 different ways. Also go for the Dakgalbi, spicy marinated chicken with vegetables and Korean rice cakes. Don't polish off all the dakgalbi! Leave some and request for the leftovers to be fried with rice for an additional charge, it's worth it. Because of limited seating, be sure to make reservations!

6. 6. Kim Dae Mun

   Orchard 
   Photo by Andy Xu
   For Cheap & Good, No-Frills Korean
   This hidden gem preivously located at the basement of Concorde Hotel's food court has relocated a few floors up and expanded to accommodate the large following they have built. Do not dismiss this humble eatery, it dishes out superbly executed dishes like Kimchi Fried Rice, Bulgogi and Korean Rice Cakes. Go for the Spicy Chicken Soup Set, a fiery red soup filled with loads of ingredients and sweet potato noodles. Complete the meal by sharing a potato pancake. With nothing above $10, you won't have to worry about breaking the bank!

7. 7. 꼬꼬나라 Kko Kko Na Ra

   Tanjong Pagar 
   Photo by Andy Xu
   For Korean Fried Chicken
   Hailed as one of the best places for Korean Fried Chicken (KFC) in town, it requires lots of patience to nab a table during peak hours. The fried chicken here comes in three flavours: original, sweet and special garlic soy sauce. Go for the Combo Chicken Set to try them all. The chicken is pretty addictive with its crunchy exterior and juicy meat, and the coating of sauce completes the experience. Besides KFC, they serve dishes like buckwheat noodles, stews, and oden. However, your best bet is sticking to what they're known for. Don't expect a huge variety of banchan as they keep it simple!

8. 8. Bibigo Hot Stone

   
   Photo by belle ong
   For Customizable Bibimbap
   Originating from Korea, Bibigo builds on the popular Bibimbap and provides a unique, healthy option. Customize your bibimbap by choosing the type of rice (they even have black rice!), protein, and sauce, and is served with assorted vegetables. Also serving typical Korean fare such as bulgogi and stews, this is place has something for everyone. End your meal with the Sweet Potato Mattang, caramel coated sweet potato fries with rice crackers and candied walnuts.

9. 9. Kimchi Korean Restaurant

   
   Photo by Phoebe MQ
   For Healthier Korean Meals
   Kimchi Korean Restaurant serves relatively smaller portions to cut down on food wastage and to leave you feeling just satisfied - not overly stuffed. With smaller portions, you can also expect more affordable prices! Serving standard dishes like Japchae and Kimchi Ramen, they also have unique offerings like Seaweed Beef Porridge and Seafood Dolsot Bap. A must-try is the Andong Jjimdak, steamed pieces of chicken thigh marinated in a soy-based sauce - gloriously spicy and full of umami. You can overlook the fact that they do not serve banchan here, because that means more stomach space for dessert.
10. 
    

Korea Life - day 121 week 18 / (Seoul) Watching World Cup at Gwanghwamun

Korea life - 23 June 2014 (Day 121 week 18)

Coming from a small country myself, I never thinks that Singapore will ever has a chance with World cup (at least in the near future, there won't be a chance, even though personally I do hope that one day we would have a chance in World Cup too).  That is why this time since that I'm in Korea and Korea is going to be playing in the World Cup 2014, I would like to know what is the feeling to see more than 10,000 people watching soccer together.

And there was a match this morning 4 am, Korea VS Algeria. I'm not too sure how are strong were they (truth is I don't follow the matches at all, I only know the Japanese team only >_<). Met up with Qi first at her aunt's hotel first (her cousin and aunt was in town visiting her.), took a cab over to Gwanghwamun at around 2 am

Was shocked with the amount of people !! 

Before heading over, we believed that there would be full of people but we should be able to find a place for us to sit down and watch. But when we arrived, the places were full of people that we can't even find a place to stand !! After half an hour of walking here and there, we finally found a spot where we could sit down and wait (as the match still has 1.5 hrs more before it start)

While waiting for the match to start, we saw that there were people standing there shouting fried chicken for sale !! Just now we were still thinking to order, now don't even need to call, we could just buy from them. We didn't even wait for the match the start, we already started eating. There was really nothing to do, so we decided to eat as we wait.

Finally the match had started !! Once again, We could see how Korean love their country. Cheering was going on and on, everyone were watching nervously however first half match , the score was already 0-4 !! Even before the first half end, the Korean knows that there is no chance of wining, many started to pack up and leave ...  We started to feel bored too, so we headed back too 

Korea life - day 117 week 17 - (Seoul) Visa Extension

Korea Life - 19 June 2014 (Day 117 week 17)

Went to do visa extension for the first time. To be honest, the document that were needed actually were not very different to do but slightly different to collect (if you don't have friend around to help).

Things that the immgration officer need were
- Immgration form
- Receipt of school fees (get from the school)
- Certificate from school (get from the school)
- Bank statement of 5 million won (within 3 days of issuing) [I borrowed some money from friends!]
- a copy of your living contract (a proof of where are you staying)
- Fee of 60 thousand won 
- Need to bring along ARC card (passport not needed)

I don't know what do I need to do, so I just handed all the document I had in hand to the officer when I was my turn. She told me to us the 60 thousand won to purchase stamps at another counter (I was thinking maybe is because they are not allow to handle cash so they use this way to proof that we had pay). Came back with the stamps and the officer sticked to the immgration form that I had submitted in. Then they took my ARC card away and asked me to wait for a while at the front (at counter 1).

Maybe is was due to the summer vacation period, there wasn't many people at the immgration office therefore I only waited for less than 10 min and I gotten my ARC card with the new updated expired date. Gotten everything settle within an hours.

Korea Life - day 118 week 17 / (Seoul) Bye Bye class 2C

Korea life - 20 June 2014 (Day 118 week 17)

So soon, exam were over and it's time to say goodbye again. This term was shorter than before as we were more busy with assignment and presentation. Sad was that not all of us would be doing level 3, some chose to change to different school, some was heading back to their hometown.

Just as before, there were games waiting for us to play for the first two hours (Which I really had zero interest in it) then teachers gave out award to the top first (of each class).  It only after that our form teacher would lead us to other places to give up the result to the rest of us. Result was not as good as I thought but has no problem to get proceed up to level 3.

We had our last lunch with class 2C before really saying good bye to each other at a restaurant near Hyehwa station exit 1. Had western food (as we had a classmate that was vegetarian). Chit-chat all the way while eating, before most of us left, we took one last picture by the street before leaving the rest to go and sleep (didn't had enough sleep the night before, my eyes couldn't keep it out throughout lunch time!!)

Heard from the rest that, some of them went of to have fun and ended while late. To be honest, I don't have the feeling of best friend like I had with my classmate of level 1. I felt more closer to my level 1 classmate than this class. Is not that they are not close, just that the feeling is different. Even though that was how I felt, I still hope that in the near future, I will still have the chance to meet up with them once more!

Yahoo article - We don't wash the sheets and other confessions of a hostel worker

Sometime when travelling on budget, we will normally tend to look for hostel or guesthouse instead of hotel to save some cash of other thing. Of course not everyone will be like them, but this article make me think again if I should still look for hostel to stay for my next oversea trip ?


Cut and paste from - https://sg.news.yahoo.com/we-don-t-wash-the-sheets-and-other-confessions-of-a-hostel-worker-214721509.html

When you’re young and broke, staying in a hostel overseas seems like the best and most exciting way to go. A place to sleep and bathe is a good deal when all you brought with you is your backpack and best friend. It’s all fun and games, right? Well, John, an American working at a popular youth hostel in Paris, anonymously confesses to what really goes on at that cool party hostel in the center of the City of Light.

1. Most hostels double-book. Think you and your friends are about to settle into a quaint, private room where you can walk around in your undies and relax in peace and quiet after a long day of sightseeing? Think again. “We welcomed drop-ins and we pack them in, so you should be prepared to share a room with strangers,” says John. Sometimes they even welcome travelers to “just crash on the floor” for a discounted price. “Watch your step!”

Pro Tip: “Keep valuables on you at all times if there’s strangers in your room,” says John. “But for the most part, enjoy your new friends.”

[Related: We Think You’re Stupid and Other Confessions of a B&B Owner ]

2. It’s cheap for a reason. Guests complain to John about everything, like scratchy towels the size of washcloths, instant coffee, and lack of water pressure in the shower. John says his favorite story is when he overheard one girl complaining she couldn’t get the conditioner out of her hair because the water pressure was too low. “You’re paying 10 bucks a night. You’re getting 10 bucks a night … of plumbing,” John says.

Your worst nightmare (Getty Images)

3. They don’t wash the sheets. John admits that his boss would tell him to just shake the sheets out the window, spray some disinfectant on the mattress and make up the bed like everything had been freshly washed and dried. “Turn-around time was sometimes too fast for us to get linens into the laundry. There have been plenty of times I was told to ‘quick-change’ a room.” John says the comforters were never washed. Ever.

Pro Tip:  Never use the comforter.

(Photo: filipe brandão/Flickr)

4. Employees understand English. “One of the reasons I got hired was to help with translation and tutor French employees in English,” says John. He confessed that no matter how good his French-speaking fellow employees got at English, they chose to pretend they didn’t understand it. “It’s funny watching guests speak “French-lish!”

Related: Confessions of a Fed-Up Flight Attendant—Attack of the Ambien Zombies

Your McDonald’s habit will not go unnoticed (Robin Lee/Flickr)

5. They think your taste in food is gross. “Kids came back to the hostel with McDonald’s all the time,” says John. “I get it. It’s cheap and familiar.” His bosses didn’t feel the same way. “They couldn’t understand why they would eat greasy food when the cafe next door served fresh ham and cheese and steak frites at around the same price.” He says there were definitely some “french fry” jokes circulating around the hostel. “They called one kid ‘Micky D’ behind his back all week because a day didn’t go by he didn’t return with something from the fast food chain.

Related: Confessions of a Divemaster—Your Scuba Instructor Wants to Drown You

You’re better off exploring on your own rather than paying for a hostel tour (Ian Sampaio/Flickr)

6. Most tours are scams. “It’s an easy way for the hostel to make more money,” says John. “You stick a local with a bunch of kids and take them on a walk around the city.” John says that when travelers check in they are often wheeled and dealed into signing on to at least one tour before they get the keys to their rooms. 

Free white wine is never a problem (Melissa Wang/Flickr)

7. You’re not special. The bartender gives all the girls free wine. “We had a guy working the bar that always wooed the girls with stories of himself making his way through Paris with a little change in his pocket and a big dream of becoming a screenwriter in his head,” says John. “He was full of it, and the staff made bets on whether or not he’d get the girl to actually make out with him.

Yahoo article - Why are S'pore youths supporting this rant ?

Recently, many were posting this (below) video on Facebook and now even Yahoo did a article on it. It was from Singapore's Channel 8's drama <<118>>, where a part of a young guy talking about what were the worries that they are facing when living in Singapore. After I saw the video myself, I really do think that the guy is spot-on, too hush but is 100% true... 

<Cut and paste from - https://sg.news.yahoo.com/tv-clip-went-viral-080115822.html?linkId=10521173>

So many people have been talking about the Channel 8 show 118 that I had to go and find out for myself what the fuss was about. It’s actually over a 90 second rant by a young man about the cost or standard of living. His parents were chiding him for some underhand methods he had doing business – and he just let it go. In Mandarin. This is my very loose translation.

“You think I’m the only one anxious to make money? Go ask other young people, who’s not anxious? By the time I finish serving the nation and graduate from university, I’ll be 23, 24 years old. In a blink of an eye, I’ll be 30. In these few years, I need to get married; buy a house, start a family with kids; how is that possible without money? A flat now costs at least $300,000 to $400,000. Let’s talk about basic daily expenses…For someone working in the CBD, who takes two or three train trips, sometimes when you’re in a hurry; you take a cab, just transportation fees itself will cost $6-$7. Even the cheapest lunch cost up to $5-$6, a cup of coffee cost $6-$7 at a cafe! Never mind that, the government wants us to get married and set up a family early, but I’ve to get girlfriend first right? If I don’t bring her out for meals, movies, overseas trips once in a while and buy her branded items occasionally, nobody would want me even if I look as good as a celebrity. Some people have to go to university, take loans and even give the family an allowance. A wedding banquet cost $1000 and above for a table. A wedding photo shoot is $3000 to $4000. All this costs money, money, money! Our generation don’t ask for a luxurious lifestyle. Just to maintain our basic expenses, we have to go out and earn more money. I’m sure you don’t want your son to end up asking you for money to throw a wedding banquet or to buy a flat when he is starting a family. Yes, I agree my methods may be extreme and I’m in the wrong. But the fault is not in me, it is caused by the society.”

Apparently, the video clip resounded so much with people that it went viral. It touched a chord – or is it a raw nerve? So many people weighed in, applauding MediaCorp for the script. They said it represented reality – that everything was getting too expensive. I was thinking to myself that it was very odd for MCS to be so politically incorrect. I mean, where’s the balance? I mean, you can use your CPF money with bits contributed by employer for housing – and don’t forget all the grants you can get for staying with parents or near them. I mean, do you have to have coffee at Starbucks? You can still get coffee at less than $1. You don’t have to throw a $1,000 per table wedding banquet do you? Why not ditch that expensive girlfriend? And how dare you blame society for everything!

At least, I can hear these answers from authoritative sources and old fogies which will balance out his rant. Much like Tan Pin Pin’s movie To Singapore With Love, right? No balance. I doubt that her movie will make communists out of the people or make them resort to subversive action. But, hey, this MCS clip is really, really subversive. And it’s free-to-air!

So I was interested to see what MCS has to say about the clip going viral. TODAY obliged today.

The show’s scriptwriter Ang Eng Tee (of The Little Nyonya fame) said he had written the monologue to represent the views of a certain type of young person.

“The character is focused on branded goods and flashy cars. He represents that sort of young person’s values,” Ang said. “He feels life is stressful because a cup of coffee from a popular chain costs S$6 and he needs to buy his girlfriends branded gifts.” The 54-year-old writer said when he was writing the character of Shun Shui, he spoke to many young people, including friends of his 23-year-old daughter, to get their views. “I know a lot of young people feel a lot of stress and can relate,” he said. “(But) the clip that was uploaded to Facebook probably provoked a bigger reaction because it was an isolated 90-second bit of dialogue.”

Oh dear! So this is said to be representative of a sort of young person’s values. I hope it’s a small minority. (I hope it’s not like the beautiful young people featured in Sunday Times Lifestyle pages who don’t mind splurging several thousand dollars on a designer handbag not even a year into their foray into the workplace because it is a “statement’’ about their identity. In fact, I have no clue what that article was trying to prove – that there are such young people? Sorry, I digress)

Now, the scriptwriter said that if the clip was viewed in context, the character’s parents were chiding him about his credit card debt, “but this young person didn’t care’’. “I think he represents some of the people in Singapore. I don’t think there are a lot of them.’’ He said that there were other characters in the show who are “more grounded’’, like a 30-something who would rather drink $1 coffee at the kopitiam.

So revealing. The under-30s who play free and loose with money and an above-30 who is more frugal. Maybe, the younger character will age and be landed with house and family, forcing him to drink coffee at the kopitiam.

What is interesting is how so many people saw the clip and cheered it. It’s like taking someone’s quote out of context. What has happened to living within your means? And is it so important to maintain a certain lifestyle that you would break the bank, have three months worth of credit card arrears or do something underhanded?

I know this is just a drama series, but it is worrying to me that to some, it sounds true to life – when in fact, the truth is, most spending is within our control.