Merry Christmas 2010

Yes, I keep listening to the Christmas songs, because I wanna get Christmas feeling. It looks beautiful everywhere, Christmas songs, the beautifully decorated shopping mall, with the big Christmas trees and the toys, with the lights, OMG~! It’s Christmas!!! 

But, those Christmas things can only be seen in crowded places such as Myeongdong, Gwanghwamun square, Sinchon, etc. 

Seriously, I feel so happy. Christmas time is always a magical time of the year for me. I always have different things to do on Christmas, and spend Christmas with different peoples in different place too. Well, just a week left, then this year is gonna end. Hope for the new things, set new goals for the coming year, plus I am gonna be old (This is sad L). 

Christmas this year was my favorite one, because it was SNOWING!!! I mean, the weather wouldn't cold whenever it is snowing, that's why I like it. Not so windy like the last year. So, I could go out and stayed outside for the whole night LOL :D.

Merry Christmas!!!

White Christmas @ Namsam Tower 

On Saturday December 24^th, I woke up late at 3pm. Yeah, no wonder I always get up late when I am on vacation time J. I took the shower and prepared myself went out with my boyfriend. We spent our Christmas around Incheon. Actually, he had a test on Monday 26 December, but he stole his time to spend Christmas with me. Aw, he is so sweet. Anyway, the weather was cold, but not that cold hehehe, and there, in Incheon, before 24 December, it was snowing more than in Seoul. On the way to Incheon I could not see the rest of snowing, but when I arrived at Juan station, I could see everywhere was covering with snow. 

He and I went to a simple restaurant near Inha University and had dinner there. Even though the restaurant is simple, but the menus at the restaurant are OK. The food that I ordered was delicious and it wasn't expensive. I had pork barbecue and my boyfriend had chicken tongkase (I don't understand why he likes tongkase?). 

When dinner was finished, finally, we then went to a shopping center for shopping. But, just after 15 minutes I started to feel hungry, so I persuaded my boyfriend to got me hot odeng soup. I swear the odeng that I had was the best odeng that I have tried in my life in Korea. 

That time, I could not hear any Christmas song. I don't understand why they didn't play any Christmas song even in the shopping center in that place. So crispy and weird!!! GOD, it just made me wanna go back home and spent my favorite holiday there. However, I was with my boyfriend so I felt a little OK spending Christmas with him.  

수제햄부대 대박 맛있었당^^

On the next day, Sunday December 25^th we had 수제햄부대 for lunch. Well, this is my favorite Korean food after Samgyopsal and Kalmaegi. WHEW 넘 맛있었당 ^^!!! By the way, my boyfriend had to go to the reading room, preparing for the test tomorrow, so we parted in Juan Station.

I had a wonderful Christmas and had the pleasure spend time with my boyfriend. I hope you guys out there had wonderful Christmas too.   

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!!!

My Personal Achievement

In this world, most people work hard to achieve their dreams. That's why they study hard to get a high academic degree in school, or even compete with others to achieve what they want in their career life. However, some people give up easily when they fail something in their first trial. I am kind of person who never gives up easily when I cope with something difficult in my life, because I know that failure gives me a good lesson to move forward. I have achieved several things since I graduated from Saint Joseph High School: getting a scholarship, improving Korean language skill, and getting acquainted with Korean culture. 

First of all, I got a scholarship from Korean government. When I was in elementary school, I dreamed of traveling abroad and wanted to see the modern world which was portrayed in movies and books. After several years, finally I graduated from high school. At that time my teacher made my dream come true. He recommended me to take a test for Korean scholarship. Finally, I passed the test. I considered this one as my greatest achievement in my life, and I am thankful to my teacher for his support. 

Secondly, I improved Korean language skill. After I came to Korea, I had a lot of work to do. Adapting to a new place and circumstance is not that easy as I thought before, especially when we learned that country's language for the first time. Everything seemed new to me. I learned Korean language for 6 months, and I think that was not enough time for me to be fluent in Korean language. However, I was quite happy because after 6 months of intensive Korean course I was able to communicate with Korean people, even though just in simple worlds. I did work hard on it though.

Lastly, I got acquainted with Korean culture. Korean culture is very different from my country's culture, from simple courtesy to how to treat each other. As I mentioned above, it is hard to adapt to another country's culture. Sometimes we do not understand the local people because of the difference culture that we have. However, there are things that I did to adapt well to his new circumstances, I need to learn their native language, meet new people and places. The very first difference that I noticed was the ways people great other people, and their food which taste different from food in our home country.

It always happens that when you have achieved your goal for the first time, you want to try another dream that you have. However, some things are impossible, but the only way you find out is do your best. I think it is important to dream and hope for the best. It is extremely important to try to make those dreams come true. We shouldn't be afraid to try because of failure. Failure is a part of life and unfortunately it is also a way to learn and understand who you are. One's said that if you never fail in your life, it means that you never try. Therefore, try first before you recognize that you will fail, because with that experiences there will be less failure in the next trial.

My Low-Tech Life Style

As the unveiling of the devices every time these days, people become more attracted to these products. They never mind whether these are expensive or not because of the flawless advertisement through TV and other medias. People become influenced and finally they want to have those things. We all recognized that high-tech devices progress rapidly and make people's lives more convenient. However, some people still stick to their low-tech lifestyle. I also prefer to live a low-tech life because of some reasons.

The first reason is the newest devices are always expensive. A company always gains more profits from their first launch of their new product because they know that their new product will be accessible by more people, for instance IPod, Smartphone, Ipad, etc. I know that these devices are not the primary necessity for me. I prefer to use what I have before and not to buy the newest devices. My mom used to tell me to spend money for something that I really need. Once, when I was a high school student, I persuaded my mom to get me a digital camera. However, she said to me, "If you use that camera until everlasting, then I will get you one". That time I realized that I can use my phone for taking pictures instead spending money just for getting a digital camera.

The second reason is that I am the one who can only spend money for something that I really need, or for my basic need. For me, having the latest and greatest, the coolest and hottest, the most bells, whistles and flashing lights are never that important. In many ways replaced hours we would have spent with others. Today, as in fact many teenagers sit in front of their computer screen and contact others by via Facebook, Twitter, Hi5, and whatever the next big new thing in social media will be. There is almost no time to just hang out with friends. I would rather pick up the phone and talk, or actually hang out with friends. It seems like computer screen and LCD occupies a big space in these days.

The third reason is I am happy with my present devices: a cellphone and a laptop. I do not need to get brand new things. Imagine I have my laptop and I buy again the new brand one. Where will I put the other? How inconvenient it is to have two laptops with the new brand and the old brand! I do not want to replace my cell phone with the newest one, when I know that my cellphone is still working as usual, unless it is no longer to use.

Because of these three reasons above, I prefer to live my low-tech life, no matter how many jokes my friend crack and how shocked people are when I tell them that I don't have an mp4 or mp3. I'm sure I'll eventually own all these tecthy stuffs someday when the things I have now become dinosaurs as they will. That may appear to put me behind the curve, but it is okay. I know what's hot and new, but I simply choose not to have it.

Naksan Beach

It was on 25 July 2010, on Saturday noon, we left hotel in Sokcho and headed to Naksan as the continuation of our summer trip to Ganwong-do. Naksan is a small city close to Sokcho and it takes about 15 minutes to get there. We took bus no.9 as we were informed by tourist information center.

Gangwon-do Naksan Beach 

Gangwon-do Naksan Beach 

Otw to the beach 

On the way to the Beach 

During our journey, my boyfriend intended to chat with the bus driver by asking him how long it takes to get to Naksan, even though we were informed that it will take 15 to 20 minutes. I wondered whether he wanted to get the bus driver's attention or he wanted to practice his Korean. Because in Korea when you speak Korean to native people they will praise you like, "Wow your Korean is really good", and it makes you want to talk more. However, I asked him to stop, he said he didn't expect for people to praise him like that. He just wanted to get more information from them.

During our way to Naksan I could notice that everywhere were green hills when I looked at the right side and blue sea when I looked at the left side. After about 20 minutes then we arrived in Naksan, we immediately went to a hotel to make reservation, and as we were allowed to stay in. We went to the bedroom and took a rest for several minutes before went to Naksan beach. At 2 pm we went to the beach, but before that we already packed our belongings that we were going to use for swimming such as beach ball, sunglasses, beach pants, towel, and our camera.

On our way to the beach we had some photos. As we arrived at the beach it was crowded, and we rented a beach umbrella and a yellow Swim Ring. We swam for several hours and then had sun bath, and played with the sand just for fun. At 4 pm, we felt tired we backed to our hotel. All the energy had gone during 2 hours swimming, we then decided to have a rest for a couple of hours before going out to have our great dinner. 

Heart shape 

We woke up at glance at our clock it showed 8:30 pm we then took shower and went out breathing the fresh air of Naksan. As we walk we could hear the sound of music, we approached the music and it was close to a simple restaurant. We ordered our favorite menu and they served the fresh pork that I ever enjoy since my arrival in Korea. I ate all the food that they served excluded some dishes because till now I am not get accustomed to some dishes. As we all full we went to play some games and finally I won the games, so I got two fireworks, a pink little heart and other stuffs. We went to the beach shot the fireworks that I got and then stroll on the beach side for two hours. After that we backed to our hotel and had a rest.

Sokcho Beach

THE BEST  SUMMER  VACATION EVER 

I first decided going to Busan (Haeundae Beach), because it's famous beach in South Korea. But I went there last summer with my boyfriend. Then my boyfriend tried seeking some nice place in South Korea to explore. The, he asked me whether I wanna go to Gangwon-do or not. Of course I said yes for that. I never say NO for this kind of plan specially travel. I was So excited.

Otw to Gangwondo
The weather was super cool and clear

Saturday morning, we took a bus from Seoul to Sokcho in Express Bus Terminal. It took four hours to get there. It's far but I was happy, I didn't feel tired because my boyfriend was sitting next to me ....

After arrived in Sokcho terminal, with a suitcase, we went to Hotel. Then we went out getting something that we need for Beach outing. In order to have "Beach feel", we decided to buy beach pants, towel and a ball.

My stuffs that I had with me during my trip

When we reach the beach, we were completely stunned by the crowd. There was full of big umbrellas. Sooooo.... crowded from Young to Old!!!! Uhhh…Too exticed!!! Can't wait to jump into the sea. 

The little girl is so cute in her bikini

People were enjoying their day

The funny thing is that, the weather is too HOT but the water is to COLD like ice water. Unlike in East Timor, the sea water is warm throughout the year. Also, the coarse sand was a bit hard on the feet, so we brought a pair of sand shoes or sandals.

He was trying hard to get the doll for me ㅋㅋㅋ

After dinner (We had chicken), we chucking again to the beach. The view was so damn amazing. Lots of people displayed fireworks, so wonderful at night.

Night at Gangwon-do Sokcho beach
Playing a game around the beach and stuff
I really had a lot of FUN there

For you guys who want to visit that place, click out the link below for getting more information:

http://visitkorea.or.kr/enu/SI/SI_EN_3_1_1_1.jsp?cid=264130