2014 SEOUL INTERNATIONAL FIREWORKS FESTIVAL

Me right after the show

Seoul International Firework festival is one of the biggest events in South Korea which is held every year. World-famous professional fireworks teams set the sky ablaze with spectacular fireworks, accompanied by lighting displays, laser shows, and a range of superb performances and events. 

In this year, the show was scheduled in October 4th, on Saturday. Just the same as last year, the location for the show is Yeouido Hangang River Park, one of the city's business and media epicenters. The fireworks festival takes place in front of the 63 building, and was sponsored by Hanwha Group. 

I know that I mind a BIG crowd. However, I didn't want to miss the effect of the music, noise, smells, etc. The feeling might be different I believe if I stay in between those millions people I believe. So, I decided just to go there and sit nearby the river. 

I went there 3 hours before the show, but OMG I couldn't even step on since the place was full of people. It was super duper crowded. Three hours before the show, the place was already full. Even though the place around the river was outrageously crowded, but it has the best views for the show. 

Another thing, when we got out of the subway, it took us over 20 minutes before we could emerge from the crowd and breathe some air. I have never seen so many people in one place. @.@ I felt dizzy and surprise at the same time.

Anyway, I really enjoyed watching the fireworks that exploded over Seoul sky. And specially watching the show with my beloved one. I know that individual might feel different thing of watching fireworks show, but me personally, it is just awesome to watch real time fireworks show while having beer and chicken nearby the Han River with somebody who I love.  

SUMMER BREAK WITH FRIENDS - "MT"

Most of the people (specially students) might say vacation is the best part of the year because they can have a couple of months entirely to themselves. And, of course the best part would be unbothered by books and examinations.

Unlike me, during the 18 years back then when I was still dependent I wasn’t that happy when it came to vacation. It sounds insane that I disliked vacation, but I had reasons for saying it. I still can remember well that I usually always spent my whole vacation by either staying at home helping my parents or going to Gramma’s house at the village. To be honest, my mom and dad are kinda conservative so they didn’t (maybe still do not) let their kids to go on trip with their friends or go to a sleepover. (Only if the kids have a great ability of lying would be pass =.= hihihihihi)

But, everything is changed when I started to step on this Kimchi land. I can do whatever I like and go wherever I please. I admit that staying away for home for many years somewhat hurt but I got my freedom. And I always thank for the opportunity that I get ^^. 

During my college years, I usually enjoyed my vacation by travelling around the cities in the country, doing some fun activities and eating good food. Since I have already visited almost all the popular cities I had no idea where else I need to go. I found it uninterested whenever I see people's excited expression of visiting the place that I am familiar with. I was like “oh…no…”, like you know the expression of no money no fun. 

So, one day I started to think why am I the only person who feel the same way straight whenever I heard about travelling to places I have been to. Later on, I found that it was because I always spent my time travelling with my BF mostly and I feel sick of repeating the same thing. So, I guess I need upgrading my program. 

Then, some days before my graduation day, I finally made it. I went to a road trip with two of my friends and my bf. It was such a great opportunity of recording a quality time with them. I paid a visit to the same place I have visited but the feeling that I got was totally different. Another one was spending time with my lab mates on winter vacation. We went to a resort and had a lot of fun together for 1 night & 2 days. 

And yeah, in this year go shortly "I HAD A FANTASTIC TRIP" with awesome individuals from the same center as me. Finally another great opportunity knocked my door (Feeling blessed and excited) to go on a trip for 1 night & 2 days. 

I thought that we were lucky enough to get a day off on Friday, which was Korean Independence Day. So, we came up with a plan to leave the big and bustling city (Seoul) on that time to a silence yet attractive place and come back to the city on Saturday. 

Where did we go then?!? 

We were thinking to do some activities such as summer sports, thus if there was ever a place perfectly suited for water sport, it’s Gapyeong. And, this was our destination for the trip. Gapyeong is well known for its natural beauty. It borders the mountainous province of Gangwon on the east. The north branch of the Han River flows through the area.

At around 10 am on Friday, every one gathered up at KIST and we left Seoul around 11 am. We were divided into two groups, a group with my friend Yoong Shik's car and another with my senior Junhee's car. 

As has been notified the day before that there will be traffic jam we expected that it would only about 3 hours to take us to Gapyeong. But, Oh M to the G, it was more than that. There was a huge traffic jam. Everything didn't work the way we want. We were stuck in the car for almost 6 hours. It supposed only take us 1 and half hour to get to the destination, but no complain because it was a holiday and it was a day where Pope Francis visited South Korea anyway. 

During the traffic jam, on the car that I was on with other four friends of mine, we playing some fun games while listening to some catchy songs to get rid of the boredom. I have no idea what's going on in other car. Ow~ I forget to mention that we also recorded a funny selfie video too for a mission that was given by the boss (our senior). And yes, we WON.

Regardless, why was this shit happened????? Why??? Arrggghhh....We experienced a little disaster a couple minutes before getting to the pension. But, fortunately we got help from an insurance company. Let just the picture explain it out. 

So, this is what happen a couple minutes when we were almost to the pension.
What a bad day! and POOR the car!

While waiting for the insurance help, this is what we did.
Photo time. LOL

But, Thanks GOD we got help ^^

Since, our group arrived super late to the pension, we could not make it to the water sport whilst the other group already enjoyed their time at the river. 

What we did after arriving is that hitting the swimming pool that pension has. Four of the group members, minus me were super excited once they saw the swimming pool. I actually have a water phobia but I just tried to join with them because I couldn't tell the truth.

After getting out from the pool, the other members arrived for some minutes. An hour later everything was already prepared and we started the PARTY~~~~ 

The FACES after the PIGGING OUT time

So....so SILLY!!! Tell me about it~

The fire works party at the bridge after dinner

I guess I have talked way too much. Hence, here is the right decision to avoid the boredom. I will give a time to photos that were taking to give a storytelling right here to avoid the boredom (Right?) 

Incomplete members.
Pose together in front of the pension before chucking back to the bustling city 

So, here we are at the River Palace Gapyeong (리버팰리스 가평)
We are still around here for doing the water sport
that we skipped the day before

Oh yeah! WE.US.THE MEMORY
Although we were tired after riding water toys
But still keeping smile :)

During the two days, we really enjoyed the brief summer break to our fill. It was a great and an enjoyable opportunity. We didn't notice and couldn't even believe the quick passing of time. It was with a heavy heart that we had to leave Gapyeong. Hopefully, the same opportunity will come. Thanks GOD and thanks individual for making this trip as a memorable one.

Membership Training (MT)

The First MT with lab mates in my Graduate school

Going to Ski resort is the first thing that I wanna do so bad on the first half of the year 2014, and with the help of my lab mates finally I made it. Only a day and half I went out of Seoul city with lab mates, but it seems like a week stayed away from home. It has been a while I feel that way and think it was probably because I had so much fun and enjoyed my trip with awesome individuals that I met.

So, I just got home from Konjiam Ski resort and I feel tired and happy at the same time right now. Once I turned my laptop on, the first thing came to my mind was updating my blog with what I have done yesterday till a couple minutes ago. So, here are the scenarios. 

Yesterday afternoon, after lunch, I and my lab mates went for MT (Membership Training). As we discussed earlier, we went to Konjiam Ski resort and stayed there for almost two days. 

The resort is only one hour of driving from Seoul. We left Seoul (KIST) around 2:30 pm with private car and got to the destination around 4:00 pm.

After we reached the place, we brought all of our stuffs to the room. We really liked the room that one of my lab mates (윤식) booked for. Why? Because we could see the perfect view from the living room. Hm~Perfect interior design with a reasonable price! What a nice room!!!   

The view from the living room at the 12^th floor

I could say that the place we stayed is luxury. It feels like we went overseas for trip or something like that.

Lucy is introducing the girls room

After several minutes, Lucy and I went down to the first floor to look around and take some photos. These are some photos that we took on our first arrival.

The back side of the hotel

We then went up to our room which is located on the 12^th floor. Andrew, our lab mate, already prepared dinner for us. It supposed to be me and Lucy to do that, but since we both are not that good at cooking, he took our place.  Instead of doing nothing, we helped him to put all the stuffs for late dinner into the refrigerator.

Silly time with these two

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After having (simple) dinner, every one of us prepared ourselves to go for what we have chosen to do. As I am not that good at skiing, I chose to do sledding with 3 of my seniors. We were lucky enough that there were not so many people, especially KIDS (You know what I mean? LOL). 6 times doing that weren't enough for us, but we collected some moments of that. Only 40 minutes we rode (5 times + 1 time service) and it cost us 15.000 won each person.

The boss ㅋㅋㅋㅋ

We went to the room after that, earlier than those who did other activities (skiing/slopes/snowboarding). We got to the room and set dinner while waiting those people to come back.

It was already 12:00 am, but none of them showed off. I was hungry, so did the seniors. Hence, we decided to start doing BBQ but then two of them showed off.

Nothing much we did rather than drank alcohol while ate Samgyopsal in the living room together. And, what I impressed more about was the sharing session. With numerous of Soju’s and unlimited meat we shot the breeze until 5:00 am.

I went to bed for a while and then woke up again after one hour to join the free sharing. I learned a bit of each person’s personality. It was fun as well watching drunk people talked.

Aside from enjoying the whole day with the awesome people, I felt a bit strange when the drinking time started. A couple hours later I finally noticed that it was because I noticed there are differences between colleges' MT and Graduates' MT. I could say that undergraduates' MT is mostly having fun by drinking and playing diverse games whereas Graduates' MT is mostly sharing  about  the life (perhaps because people are getting older!?!? Not sure~)

The next morning, after meals, we went back to Seoul at 1:00 pm.

On the way coming back home, we talked about random stuffs, laughed while listening to the songs. Overall, we really had a ball during the MT.