BLACK PARADISE

“life's about taking chances”

I'm missing the freezing weather

Monday, December 27, 2010 || 11:33 PM

I've been waiting so long for the day to Korea and so, it had ended now.
So fast.
I'm back to my normal life once again.

It's winter and snowing in Korea. Everything was perfect except for the fact that we didn't get to watch the snow falling right from the sky. That's luck, i know. I love the greenish scenery & view of the mountains, their wide, blue ocean, mist trapping in the air and the blur view from the bus. It's just so cooling and amazing! Posters of popular artists can be seen along their streets, markets, shopping complex, roadside, sign boards, railway station and etc. Putting on the winter coat the moment we left our bus and take off when we returned to bus. That's kind of troublesome, yet this is what you do when you visit a cold country. Bear in mind if you do not follow the instruction, you would easily get sick and suffer for the whole trip. Luckily, it happened to me on the last day.

We reached KLIA around 9pm and checked in at 11.55pm. I was sms-ing with karyin all the way to the airport. We met each other a few times in the airport before we flew to Korea. Although we were under different tour, we were in the same plane though. It took us 6 hours to reach Korea and i spent the whole night in the plane, doing nothing. I was certain that there is a small tv on every seats, but i was wrong this time. There wasn't any screen behind the seats, so it left us nothing to do with but sleep. Yea. I guess i slept for about 3 to 4 hours only.

All of us rushed into the toilets when we arrived in Incheon airport, Korea. Everyone wore as many shirts as they can before we headed to the first destination. So, there are two tour guide overall, first - our local tour guide (Rachel) , second - korea tour guide (Xiao Mei), who is borned as a taiwanese and had migrated to korea, so that's why she can speak fluent mandarin.

Our bus drove into a huge ship or ferry and we came down from the bus to feed the doves. It was so windy, cooling and refreshing that i felt the need to put on more layers although i had wore three.

I like the trees a lot. Trees with no leaves, only brown branches. Especially when you see them in winter, white snow covering the branches, oh, that's just beautiful!

I love this too. There's snow all over the place, covering the ground.

We were taught on how to make kimchi with the ingredients prepared. Those kimchi are going to be sent to some sort of old folks home. So, we were supposed to wear gloves in order to keep it clean for consume. After explaining the origin and some info about kimchi, it's our show time.

Proudly presenting my self-made kimchi. Honestly, i'm not good in that.

Oh, and i forgot to introduce our new-joined-photographer, Jimmy, a korean guy.
He took this for us and also for the others. So, why he is with us? He's working part time as a photographer and claimed money for the photos he took. Well, you wouldn't believe how 'cheap' it is. One photo costs RM15. Piza, sotong (in korean). We bought 26 photos in total. I don't dare to count.

The cold season in Korea causes the water in the river to be frozen. My brother tried to step on it, and he managed to walk a few steps on top of the frozen ice-water. Not in this river though, in other place.

One of the cutest toilet found in Korea. It's like an igloo, white ice-cream cake or whatsoever.

Three BEST FRIENDS-FAMILIES.

We were given a not-so-tough task to complete in the morning --- the MAZE

The Biggest, Sweetest, Tastiest Strawberry i've ever seen. It's even better than that in Cameron. It's simply just so SWEET, we bought another four boxes of strawberry.

Snow can be seen everywhere.

One of the must-do stuff in Korea --- try on their traditional costumes.

Snow, Snow, and Snow!
I remember this place. None other than cold to describe. I can even feel the coldness in my glove. Well, this is NAMI ISLAND, one of the best scene in Winter Sonata. According to our tour guide, this island was once not known by anyone. The director of the movie came and liked this place, so he chose to film here. After the release of this drama, this island became so popular and tourists started to visit here.

I love this! It's awesome, told you i like the trees.

Teddy Bear Museum

I want nobody nobody but you!

This is the only TVXQ i saw in Korea, besides the albums and some posters. Where the hell do you keep the rest?!

AKTF!

Stayed in YongPyong Resort the day before we were about to ski.
Let me talk something about what i've done here :)))

When we first reach this resort to put our luggage, i saw this poster that attract me the most. T-ara, SM the ballad were on the poster and underneath it was all kinds of korean words. I couldn't understand except for the date stated there. M-Wave Concert, 17-18 / 12. And that day was 18/12. I knew something was going on and i had to really find out before it's too late. I rushed to Xiao Mei when i see her doing nothing there. I asked if she knows anything about the concert but she called me to wait. I did what she said but i'm really nervous. I wanted to know so badly that i can't wait any longer. I saw her dealing with her stuff at the counter so i waited and waited. Eventually, she called us to return our things to the resort and meet her again in the lobby. She left, we left and i missed the chance to ask her. It was around 7pm. We took the bus and went out for dinner and to borrow ski things for the next day. We returned to the resort before 10pm. This time, i asked our local tour guide for help and she told me the concert was over. It ended at 10pm. What the?! Sadly, i dragged myself back to our room. At this very moment, i heard something familiar along the corridor. It was loud and clear enough. I recognized F.cuz's song --- Midnight Sun. I screamed and i told my parents the concert is still on. I can see flashlights and heard fans screaming down on the stage. So, my aunt and my youngest brother accompanied me all the way to the place. Thanks to the guy at the counter who assisted me the way to the stage. It was free of charge. Unfortunately, I didn't see them but three hosts on the stage. Well, i knew i missed it and we waited for the next group, hopefully someone i know, someone i adore. We were freezing under the temperature of -9 celsius.

The next was T-ara. I remember they sang two of their new songs, one of it is YA YA YA, i can't remember the second one.

Apparently, T-ara was the last group to perform and i was like... urgh! I mean if she doesn't know anything, she shouldn't have tell me when it ends. I could have at least ask the people at the counter and can at least watch F.cuz. I. Felt. So. So. So. Terribly. Bad. Thinking. Of. It. Over. Again. Anyway, forget about it, SM Ballad performed on the 17th. Shinee's first concert was on 18th.

The BEST activity of all --- SKIIIII

After Xiao Mei taught me once, I began to ski around. I tried from the top with Chermane, well, she wanted to go higher but i stopped her half way. Haha. We were all having a fun time skiing on the whitish ground. I started off well, but due to the steepness of the slope, it went faster and faster down until i can't stop myself, so i forced myself to fall before i knock into anybody. I fell side way as what the tour guide taught us, it makes us look more elegant.

On a random note, i heard BEAUTIFUL when i was skiing. It's even more refreshing! and 2AM's You Wouldn't Answer My Calls, SNSD's HOOT.

It's fun falling onto the snow too, but once you fall, it's really difficult to climb up again. I had a hard time dealing with myself to climb up. I poked the two sticks into the snow, lifted my butt, slided, tripped, and fell back into the same position. I gave up and took off my shoes. That's the real way to go. Oh ya, the shoes are like metal boots, hard and heavy.

In total, i fell four times and one of it was terribly awful! Do i have to say it here? Well, it goes like this. I skied from the top, and i saw this two groups of people standing at each of the opposite end. So, i was trying to avoid them and to ski pass the middle of their way. But, i couldn't changed my direction. I knew myself was going to knock onto either one of the group, so i stopped myself by falling again. I guess the slope was a bit steep and the ground was slippery, i continued sliding down until i knocked a boy from his back. He fell back, started to cry and kicked my head using his metal shoes like a horse, non-stop until his parents pulled him away. Ouch!

Lotte World Star Avenue.
I thought i was able to see tvxq inside, but now what, no more?
They also said there should be some artists' statue, but it was currently under repairing. Sad.

I rode on four different games in Lotte World.
Merry-go-round, Desperado, 4D shows and pirate ship. The most thrilling ride was the pirate ship. It went all the way up till 90 degree. I decided to choose the bottom most seat. It still went quite high though, almost like the third floor of a building.

I've no idea why people likes to write/draw/conteng on the walls. This happened everywhere. Some of them even wrote B2ST, 2PM, SJ, 2AM, TVXQ...
Well, look carefully into this wall i snapped.
AKTF!

That was all in the indoor of Lotte World. We went to the outdoor for a walk, and take a look of it. Didn't try on any ride outside as we were short of time.

I stayed in this shop for quite some time, maybe about one hour, searching up and down, in and out for something nice, affordable to buy. The albums are really cheap, simply around 30 to 40 ringgit. But other posters, cups are like also 30 each? Kills. Not much choice though, i left after i bought one SNSD's file for J.

Nanta Show.
Oh my, i can tell you it's the BEST show ever. I love it very much, i mean everyone do. It started off a bit creepy when the four of them walked in. Oh well, it became really funny when the exciting part begins. I can't describe much, maybe you should just type it in youtube and you'll find out. But i still think self-experience is much more wonderful. The mood, the extremely amazing environment and the interaction between the actors and the audiences really makes a difference. BRAVO!

Random picture in the bus

Now, lets talk about the food in Korea. Our meal (lunch & dinner) were always full of this small dishes on the table. According to the tour guide, the emperor of Korea once ate something like this. He was used to being served with many small dishes for every meal. Well, i ate a lot of pork in Korea this time and also with vege wrapping pork & chicken. I love their rice and the spoon, chopsticks they use in Korea. Besides eating pork everyday, we tried on some of the famous dishes, the ginseng chicken and stone rice.

There was this night when my parents and other aunties uncles went to the casino. My aunt brought me and my two brothers out for a walk. I tried on one of the new flavour of dunkin doughnuts --- banana and the green tea mocha. Great taste in such night! We also happened to eat some of the food sold in the stall by the road side. It's just something like what we see in korean drama.

The first hotel we stayed in. I still prefer this hotel than the others. It's so comfortable, lucky we sleep here for two days. We gained some new experience too, such as sleeping on the mat on the floor with heater underneath. It's so cool, sleeping in a cold night, with the warm feel under.

& The TV program in Korea. Okay. I can't really watch the shows cause there isn't any subtitle. Oh well, why should they put subtitle? They are all koreans and they are supposed to understand. But there was so many shows i wanted to watch! I came across Strong Heart, Hello Baby, We're Married... Still, i stayed up and watched Hello Baby. My brother and I were laughing our heads off, as if we know what they are talking about.

& I bought this 'rabbit' shirt. I've seen many artists wearing the same too, so is Nichkhun :)))

All in all, Korea is really a nice place to visit. So wonderful especially during winter time. Snow is never out of sight. White everywhere, but i missed the white christmas. Should have celebrate here. Well, i bought two shirts, purple crystal necklace, two albums --- MASTERMIND and LIGHTS GO ON AGAIN, another five albums for YEN, some souvenirs and some cosmetics. The facial masks are really cheap. That's why we bought 60 packs.

Korea.
My dreamland, somewhere i've been wishing to go. At last, i shared the same air as my idols. A wonderful place. I thought it would be until i experienced the 8 days 6 nights there. I'm not trying to pinpoint anybody, but some of them are really rude, especially when they are walking down on the streets. Can u imagine, even their local tour guide claimed the artists as 'gao ji ji nu'. I can't believe what i've heard. I always thought that's only stated in the net, but now, it was told by the local people, so lets think of how true it is. Well, luckily, she didn't mention a single thing about the male artists. If ever she says something bad on tvxq, i'll be really piss off. Despite blaming her for ignoring my questions, telling me the wrong info and made me missed f.cuz live performance, i still consider them as a good and responsible tour guides.

I gained loads of experience this time, i'd tried those i didn't try before, and had a whole new view towards Korea & Koreans nowadays. Still, i would like to voice out my disappointment here --- i didn't visit Time Out! From the first day of the trip, i've been asking for that. Oh well, there's more, such as music bank, sm, jyp, yg and cube. I just wish i could see them!

I'm gonna end this here.
I love this awesome Korea trip! \^-^/b

Labels: Precious moment and memories