Throwback#Places: Hwaseong Fortress

Hey guys, HOW are you doing??I bet you guys have a WONDERFUL Christmas isn't it??ME?O-o Well I'm NOT celebrate it ㅋㅋㅋ. It's HARD to explain the reasons though. Anyway HAPPY BELATED CHRISTMAS to you guys.ㅋㅋ HOLIDAY mood is still on ^^ and since I have NOTHING much to do, I just looking back my TRAVEL photos again and again~ I'm MISSING traveling but at this MOMENT I CANNOT go prior to my COMMITMENT.ㅠㅠ Too BAD~ These days so MANY things happening and I'm getting TIRED each day. That's ONE of the reasons why I COULDN'T write as USUAL on this blog, NOT because I DON'T want to but I have NO idea, my mind and heart EMPTY.. 

Looking BACK my travelling photos MAYBE can bring back some IDEAS to write or perhaps its actually a SIGN for me to take a BREAK for a while.. Lets' SEE if I get the ANSWER from it.ㅋㅋㅋ As I looking back my PHOTOS, I feel WOW! There are many PLACES I've WENT in these short 5 YEARS and I've been to some UNESCO site. I DON'T know since when I grow a FOND of visiting UNESCO site ㅋㅋ. I'm sure you guys KNOWS what UNESCO is all about isn't it?? Aha maybe I SHOULD give a link here? lol    

For TODAY, I will share with all of you, a PLACE that I've visited in KOREA, and it had been LISTED as ONE of UNESCO site since 1997. For those who had VISITED Korea, Im sure you probably get USED with SEOUL isn't it?? However have you heard about SUWON?? This area is very CLOSE to Seoul, 30 km from SEOUL plus it's take approximately 1 hour to REACH there by SUBWAY. The UNESCO site that I'm talking about is HWASEONG FORTRESS, located at Suwon si, Gyeonggi-do. 

It's been said that Hwaseong Fortress had been BUILD to DISPLAY the King FILIAL piety towards his FATHER, Jangheonseja. This fortress also been build as a NEW pioneer city of its ECONOMIC power during the REIGN of King JEONGJO. Total length of 5.74 kilometer of this FORTRESS been point out as ONE of the GREAT military defensive for that PERIOD as it cover both FLAT and HILLY land. HWASEONG Fortress also DIFFERS from Fortress in CHINA or JAPAN.

HWASEONG fortress been bind by FOUR gates. These FOUR gates FACE each cardinal directions which is NORTH, SOUTH, EAST and WEST. Each gates have their OWN special FUNCTIONS and differs from ONE to another. EAST gates known as CHANGNYONGMUN, while WEST gate known as HWASEOMUN, and these TWO gates are SINGLE-STOREY structure. For NORTH and SOUTH gates, BOTH are made by WOODEN structures on STONE bases and both LINK to the MAIN road. NORTH gate known as JANGANMUN and PALDALMUN is the SOUTH gate. For more INFORMATION about this FORTRESS you may read it here.

During my VISIT, it was AUTUMN and as its CHILLING, ME and my FRIEND COULDN'T finish to explore each AREAS.ㅋㅋㅋ We walk HALF way then we STOPPED as we were too TIRED! lol Perhaps because we are NOT fit enough to walk through HILLY areaㅋㅋㅋ. Owh this fortress also FAMOUS as one of SPOT where few HISTORICAL Korean drama shooting LOCATION, for example JEWEL IN THE PALACE and  LATEST drama of LOVE IN THE MOONLIGHT. Variety program of 2 DAYS 1 NIGHT also spot been FILMING here.

To ENTER Hwaseong Fortress, you need to PAY for TICKET, located at EACH gate area. At that time we ENTERED it at SOUTH gate I guess. ㅋㅋㅋ Hwaseong Fortress also held few ACTIVITIES during autumn such as SUWON HWASEONG CULTURAL FESTIVAL. I tried ONE of their TRADITIONAL games when I was THERE. ^^  

p/s: For PARK BOGUM fans, thinking of snap some COOL PHOTOS where he's used to SHOOT?           you should COME over!ㅋㅋㅋㅋ I think this ENTRY might be the LAST entry for 2016. See           you in 2017! ^^ HAPPY HOLIDAYS and ADVANCED HAPPY NEW YEAR OF 2017.

Sources: http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/817
               http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/ATR/SI_EN_3_1_1_1.jsp?cid=264204
               https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hwaseong_Fortress
               http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/ATR/SI_EN_3_6.jsp?cid=2435174

Seasons: Winter is CALLING!~ First SNOW Seoul~

Finally WINTER seasons officially STARTS in SEOUL!! Wee ^^ YESTERDAY, snowy start FALLING and its was SATURDAY, many people went OUT. ㅋㅋㅋ I CHANGED my PROFILE and COVER photos at my SNS since WINTER mood is ON!ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ Some of my FRIENDS been asking WHERE I am now!ㅋㅋㅋ Of course I'm NOT there!ㅋㅋㅋ However I guess I'm LUCKY enough to get a VIDEO of FIRST snow falling for this seasons from a GOOD friend who LIVE there.~~ ㅋㅋㅋ SEEN it REMIND me of my FIRST time TOUCHING snow and let it SHOWER on my face!~Even though it was NOT in KOREA, that FIRST SNOW experience finally makes my DREAM come TRUE!ㅋㅋㅋ I'm LIVING in a very HOT country, where we DON'T have 4 SEASONS. Since I was a KID I love WATCHING movie or drama around CHRISTMAS as most of it will show SNOWY scene and WONDERED myself  "WHEN will I get a CHANCE to hold those SNOW with my bare HANDS, NOT only watching from TV?"ㅋㅋㅋ Finally that DAY came to ME!~~ㅋㅋ DON'T dare to DREAM HIGH and make sure that ONE day you will TURN your DREAM into REALITY!! If you CANNOT enjoy it for a LONG period, SHORT time is enough I guess!ㅋㅋ If you asking me HOW was it?? Well it's VERY cold, since I'm NOT used to it!ㅋㅋ Anyway this ENTRY just to share FIRST SNOW with you and makes you DARE to DREAM like me! DREAM HIGH, it's NOTHING wrong! SOMEDAY you will FIND a WAY to make it into REALITY! (For those who HAVEN'T seen SNOW in their LIFE yet)!~~ 

P/s:  READERS,I hope you guys ENJOY this SPECIAL GIFT from me!~ ^^ For a GOOD Friend of this VIDEO, THANK YOU so much!~~ You know who YOU are!~~  

Video Credit: My Friend

Event: 2016 Seoul Lantern Festival

I've been so BUSY these DAYS perhaps because towards the END of the YEAR so everybody been BUSY. ㅠㅠ I am ENVY with my FRIENDS who are busy TRAVELLING around to COMPLETE their ANNUAL leave, yet I'm still having 5 DAYS off to be FINISHED by 31 December.ㅠㅠ Somehow my SNS page feed been BOMB by their traveling PHOTOS.ㅋㅋㅋ

For those who WILL travel to Korea TODAY or perhaps ALREADY reach there, you might WONDER, "what can I ENJOY this WEEKEND for FREE?" How about ATTENDING festival?? During AUTUMN, there are many FESTIVALS happening within KOREA. Didn't have ENOUGH budget to go OUTSIDE of Seoul??O-o 

GOOD news is you DON'T have to!!ㅋㅋ You still can ENJOY it for FREE, simply just ATTEND one of the BIGGEST festival in SEOUL either TODAY, TOMORROW or NEXT day! Wee ^^  I know this WEEKEND is the LAST week for the festival, some might CONCERN about CROWDED isn't it? No WORRIES, even if crowded, the place is HUGE. It's from CHEONGYECHEON PLAZA to SUPYOGYO BRIDGE, about 1.2 KM! Didn't KNOW where this place is??ㅋㅋㅋ its CHEONGYECHEON Stream~ 

Owh I HAVEN'T tell the NAME of the festival isn't it??ㅋㅋㅋ The NAME of the FESTIVAL is 2016 SEOUL LANTERN FESTIVAL. This festival START at 5 pm to 11 pm EVERYDAY from 4 NOVEMBER to 20 NOVEMBER 2016. The event TITLE for this YEAR is "LIGHTENED HANGGANG RIVER WHERE HISTORY FLOWS." 

For this YEAR there are 5 THEMES for this event. The FIRST theme is "HAN RIVER LANTERN THEME." The SECOND theme is "LANTERN of MUNICIPAN GOVERNMENT and FOREIGN  COUNTRIES." The THIRD theme is "PARTICIPATING CORPORATIONS' LANTERN." "ARTIST LANTERN" is the FOURTH theme for this year event following by "CHARACTERS LANTERN", the FIFTH theme. For those bringing KIDS, don't WORRY for sure kids will ENJOY the characters lantern! 

p/s: Here are some PHOTOS of the event, of course I DIDN'T go there ㅋㅋㅋ but a GOOD friend of mine went to the FESTIVAL!~ For those who INTERESTED to join the event and looking for more INFORMATION, you CAN visit here. 

Sources: http://www.seoullantern.com/en/
               https://www.facebook.com/seoullanternfestival/?__mref=message_bubble

Photo Credit: My Friend

Event: Gwangju World Kimchi Festival

As WINTER approaching, it's been COLD in Korea LATELY. Some of my Korean friends said its UNPREDICTABLE these days, the temperature can DROP a lot and the next day is fine CHILLING day~As I NEVER been living in 4 SEASONS countries I wonder HOW they manage to the sudden CHANGE weather. Aha, now I got it, weather FORECAST plays important ROLE to them~ㅋㅋㅋ

These days I saw few of my FRIENDS traveling to KOREA somehow I'm NOT that pleased with them. ㅋㅋㅋ NOT much EXCITED like I used to be.ㅋㅋㅋ Anyway back to our TOPIC for today, whole WORLD knows that going to Korea WITHOUT tasting KIMCHI is like "are you SURE you been to KOREA? Perhaps you went to DIFFERENT countries?? lol O-o

KIMCHI known all over the WORLD as ONE of the BEST healthiest food. Even though, some PEOPLE will think TWICE before having it DUE to the SMELL or TASTE. (For those who HATE garlic). Honestly I'm NOT a big fan of it especially CABBAGE kimchi. Yes I know there are not MORE than 100 types of KIMCHI according to PROVINCE, but still I CANNOT make it as my favorite.ㅋㅋㅋ Like I mentioned earlier there are not MORE than 100 of Kimchi types but I PREFER RADISH kimchi or known as kkakdugi (깍두기) be it DRY version or NORMAL one, I can easily FINISH 1 small bowl alone by MYSELF.ㅋㅋㅋ

In Korea, the BEST season for making KIMCHI is during AUTUMN. Most of Koreans will GATHER with their FAMILY members during AUTUMN for making kimchi TOGETHER. You might think it just for a WEEK stock? You are WRONG!ㅋㅋㅋ The STOCK can last for a SEASONS.ㅋㅋㅋ No KIDDING! You ll see how BIG the container is and how many KILOGRAM they make EACH time!ㅋㅋ I CAN'T imagine MYSELF washing those cabbage ALONE for making KIMCHI.ㅋㅋㅋ

Long time ago, making KIMCHI activities only FAMOUS within FAMILY/LOCAL but these days they make such CLASS for FOREIGNERS too. This hands on EXPERIENCE not only BENEFICIAL to FOREIGNERS but showing how IMPORTANT is for KOREAN to PROTECT their CULTURAL/custom. Honestly I NEVER attend these CLASSES but if I'm GOING there again in the FUTURE, why not.~ Good NEWS is for those who PLAN or even have a TICKET to Korea now, they can JOIN this EVENT for hands on experience.

The event will be HELD at GWANGJU from 18 NOVEMBER to 22 NOVEMBER 2016. The event will take place at GWANGJU KIMCHI TOWN. This event is FREE admission but for PARTICIPATE it there will be participant FEES. For more INFORMATION about it, visit here.   

p/s: If you are big FAN of KIMCHI, you can buy it and brought home. DRY version or NORMAL one, are AVAILABLE at some AIRPORT DUTY FREE store. For those in Korea why not JOIN the event! I'm sure it going to be AWESOME experience!~~~

Source: http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/ATR/SI_EN_3_2_1.jsp?cid=697371

Photo Credit: nerdygaga.com 
                      dokdoisours.blogspot.com

Coffee Addicted: Angel in Us Coffee

It's been CHILLING these days at KOREA, when my Korean FRIENDS told me that, I've always SUGGEST them to grab HOT COFFEE. ㅋㅋ I think if I LIVE in KOREA, I probably BROKE since I'm ADDICTED to COFFEES!ㅋㅋㅋ I still REMEMBER while wandering at JAPAN (during WINTER) I'm looking FORWARD for COFFEE house to make myself WARM but too bad, they DON'T drink COFFEE much! JAPANESE are more FAMILIAR with TEA. UNLIKE Korea, its really HARD to find COFFEE house in JAPAN and this SURPRISING me!ㅋㅋㅋ They are NEIGHBORING countries yet full of DIFFERENCES.ㅋㅋㅋ

Back to my TOPIC.You guys knows right when I was in KOREA, I simply can make COFFEE TOUR if I DON'T have MOOD to go around much~ㅋㅋㅋ Of course its COST me a lot, since a cup of COFFEE normally COSTING about 3000 won, depend on Coffee CHAIN and the FLAVORS. For today I will share about ANGEL IN US coffee. During my 2013 trip, I MISSED a chance to TRY it since I was too BUSY running around from one PROVINCE to the other!ㅋㅋ I'm NOT saying this coffee chain ONLY available at Seoul, but I TRIED few LOCAL coffees at DIFFERENT province. At the end I REALIZED, it's time to BOARDING!ㅠㅠ

For sure, during TRAVELING most of US cannot FINISH whole PLACES in particular COUNTRIES at ONCE! Even LIVING there I'm SURE there always NEW places to EXPLORE! ㅋㅋㅋ I've only MANAGE to TRY Angel in Us coffee during my 2014 TRIP. Basically Angel in Us coffee OWNED by LOTTE Group. This BRAND was established on 2006. UNLIKE other coffee chain, the NAME of this coffee seems a bit OLD school isn't it?? I'm NOT sure WHY they choose this name, but all I know is this BRAND implies that Coffee is a GIFT from GOD and delivered by ANGELS. 

EVERY coffee chain have their own SECRET as WEAPON to sell their BRAND isn't it?O-o. For Angel in Us coffee, the SECRET is they use PURE roasting system which means coffee BEANS been roasting INSIDE and OUTSIDE EQUALLY so that the coffee have a FRESH taste and RICH flavor. Beside that, the THEME for this cafe is ethereal, cherubic symbol engraved on all of its furniture as well cutlery. Based on their SUCCESSFUL market within KOREA, they finally EXPAND their business ABROAD by opening cafes in CHINA on 2008 followed in INDONESIA on November 2011. NOT a FAN of COFFEE?? Don't WORRY!! They also have other selection of beverages! TEA, and JUICES, as well yummy DESSERT!

                       Cafe that I miss a chance on 2013

p/s: For those who will VISIT Korea on upcoming CHRISTMAS, you might NOT wanna miss a CHANCE to stop by at this CAFE! This is because during CHRISTMAS seasons, they have their OWN SPECIAL menu, CAKES and coffee beverage! Anyone who VISIT during Christmas seasons, why NOT sharing their SPECIAL menu with us~ ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

Sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angel-in-us
              https://www.angelinus.com/eng/OurCoffee/perfection.asp

Trend: Minion Bottle Milk

안녕 하세요!!Hi!~ Time flies so FAST, we almost at the END of SEPTEMBER~ Wee ^^ My most FAVORITE seasons OFFICIALLY starts in KOREA.How I WISH I can HOLD those spectacular LEAVES with my hands! Again this YEAR I only can SEE it through PHOTOS that my Korean friends SENDING me~ They said its been CHILLING these days. FOLIAGE will start changing their COLORS soon and BEAUTIFUL scenery will be expected to COME! For those who had FLIGHT ticket to Korea, I'm sure you guys are EXCITED and counting your BOARDING date isn't it? ㅋㅋㅋ I know that SENSATION feeling!ㅋㅋ When you got a TICKET to overseas and counting DAYS!ㅋㅋ

BEFORE traveling, you guys must make some LIST places you wanna VISIT in Korea or ACTIVITIES that you might wanna TRY while you are there. For me, since I've BEEN to Korea for few TIMES, if I got a CHANCE again to go there, I just simply wanna ENJOY it like LOCAL!~ㅋㅋㅋ Heading to MARKET looking for INGREDIENT I can cook, or maybe just wanna experience how they are rushing to WORK every morning!~ lol Then making myself RELAXING sipping my favorite BEVERAGE as well dug in delicious SNACK or CUTE dessert! Nyum!ㅋㅋㅋ 

Speaking about CUTE dessert, most of us knows that in Korea, super CUTE stuff is COMMON and almost EVERYWHERE. Just NAME the item, be it FANCY meal at cafe or CUTE stationery/household product. Or it can be your READY TO DRINK beverages at CONVENIENT store to quench your thirsty! ㅋㅋㅋ When I was in KOREA, whenever I went to convenient store, my eyes SCANNING those beverage! Owh how CUTE the packaging are but I CANNOT buy some of it due to the "HALAL" status. For Muslim, like ordinary people we LOVE cute stuff, but BEFORE buying make sure to CHECK it Halal status first! (BEVERAGE/SNACK)

Recently, in Korea, there are a TREND of CUTE bottle/packaging for ready to drink milk in convenient store!Fans of MINION character, I guess you guys might DELIGHTED to hear this! At Korea, these days, they started SELLING a milk in MINION Character bottle. This bottle COME in 3 DESIGN which also DISTINGUISH of 3 FLAVORS. The flavors are COFFEE, CORN and CHOCOLATE. However, this beverage ONLY available at GS25 convenient store.  Wonder what was the BRAND?? Well there is NO brand for this item but like I said earlier its ONLY AVAILABLE at that convenient store, perhaps LIMITED edition?? I'm NOT sure about it.ㅋㅋㅋ My friend said the COST per bottle is 2000 won, but when there is DISCOUNT, it would be 1600 won ~

P/s: For me let say I CANNOT drink it, perhaps I will BUY and ask my Korean friends to DRINK it and I will KEEP the bottles!~ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ My friend said, GS25 also SELLING 2 types of bread/SNACK of MINION character. The snack is CUTE too with Minion SHAPE and seem like inside are CUSTARD filling~냠 냠! Nyum Nyum!!~

Photo Credit: kdaily.presslogic.com
                      airfrov.com

Source: http://naver.me/Gsq4HC36
             http://blog.naver.com/PostView.nhn?blogId=rinto0916&logNo=220810563891
             My Korean Friends

Throwback#Places: Haneul Park/Sky Park

Hey it's already SEPTEMBER!! Been wondering what did I DO for the past few MONTHS? I'm getting SLOWER writing from MONTH to MONTH, did I LOOSE focus on this BLOG?? Well I CAN'T answer it.. There is a TIME where I'm STRUGGLING  myself to think about what should I WRITE?? No IDEA, O-o so I STOP for a while, but when I GOT an IDEA I DON'T have TIME to WRITE it~ I felt BAD about it. Deep down I'm so SORRY for NOT able to keep up my PROMISE guys..

These DAYS, I will just WRITE when I CAN, maybe in a MONTH there is ENTRY or maybe NOT. Whatever it is, I HOPE you GUYS will still READ my BLOG and FOLLOW it~ㅋㅋㅋ Since AUTUMN expected to be EARLY this YEAR at KOREA, it blows back my MEMORIES too! It's been 2 YEARS since my LAST visiting Korea. For AUTUMN, it's been 3 YEARS ago, I was THERE!ㅋㅋ Even 3 years, the MEMORIES is still FOND on my BLACK BOX~ㅋㅋㅋ

There are many PLACES within SEOUL itself that you can stop by when VISITING Korea. One of the HOT SPOTS that you should GO during AUTUMN is SKY PARK. For LOCAL it more known as HANEUL PARK. Haneul Park LOCATED somewhere at MAPO-GU. To REACH this place you have to take SUBWAY to World Cup Park.If you TAKING subway LINE 6, and stop at 619, you have to WALK a bit. NOT taking much TIME though just around 10 MINUTES on FOOT. ㅋㅋㅋ

Back to our TOPIC, when I first ARRIVED at the park I ASKED my Korean friend, WHY they call it as SKY PARK?? He DIDN'T answer me INSTEAD we kept WALKING around. ㅋㅋ While we STROLLING together we reached at a PLACE where it does LOOKS like SKY on earth?? I CAN'T remember the name of it, but its within Haneul Park! ㅋㅋ Then my FRIEND said this is WHY we call this park as SKY PARK~ The view is so NICE!~ ^^

HOWEVER did you KNOW that BEFORE they make it as Haneul Park, that AREA is actually a LANDFILL with poor SOIL!. Due to the STRATEGIC area, GOVERNMENT take an initiative to make a WASTELAND recovery project. The SUCCESSFUL of their EFFORT turn the place to be one of BEAUTIFUL place around SEOUL and one of MUST visit SIGHTSEEING if visiting SEOUL~ This park also FAMOUS as local LOVE to go there for EXERCISING or just to REDUCE their STRESS living in METROPOLITAN city.~    

p/s: Above are some PHOTOS of HANEUL PARK but NOT all was TAKEN by me~ Some are my KOREAN friends PHOTOS~~ HOPE you guys ENJOY it!

Sources: http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/ATR/SI_EN_3_1_1_1.jsp?cid=1751100

Photo Credit: My Korean Friends