Special Event: Chuseok Day??

I guess for those who were curious about Korean culture might know that Chuseok day is around the corner right?? However do you know what its all about? I did ask some of my Korean friends and I got various answers for it.The most funny answer I got is getting fat days?? LOL!! Just kidding! ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

Chuseok is referred to Hangawi which is big (Han) (한) and ides of autumn (gawi)( 가위). According to the lunar calendar its when full harvest moon appears. Chuseok also known as Korean Thanksgiving day. This celebration is one of the most important event in Korean culture. During Chuseok, family members from near and far will gather together and sharing their food, stories as well to thanks their ancestors for abundant harvest.

For this year, Chuseok will fall on 19 September. At Korea, Chuseok holiday will start right before Chuseok celebration, on Chuseok day itself and after the celebration day which means 3 days off. As this year it fall on Wednesday, so most of them get 5 days leave! Wee ^^ Plenty time to spend time with family and their love one! :D

What did they do during Chuseok day?? O_o On Chuseok day, one of the activities is holding a memorial service or known as Charye (차례), this activity basically  to worship their ancestor. Memorial service were held twice a year, which is during Seollal and Chuseok. However the item for memorial service for both event were different. As for Chuseok, the item for memorial service are freshly harvested rice, Korean native alcohol (makgeolli or soju) and songpyeon (rice cake).

Apart from that, they will also visiting ancestral grave (Seongmyo)(성묘) and clearing weeds around the grave or known as Beolcho (벌초). This practice were to show their devotion, respect and familial duty towards their ancestors.  What about dressing during Chuseok?? I asked some of my Korean friends,their answers are "normally old people, baby or young boys/girls will wearing hanbok during Chuseok but its depend on the family itself because some of Korean family were Christian.

As Chuseok day is a family gathering activities, some of them also love to play Korean traditional game such as Go Stop and ssireum. There is a traditional dance too during Chuseok called ganggangsullae but this traditional dance mostly perform at Jeollanam-do province.Another activity during Chuseok day is exchanging gift, however this activity were practically came up during modern Korean society. Now this celebration were some sort like Christmas isn't it?? ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ. 

Memorial Service ceremony

Go Stop cards

Ganggangsullae

Ssireum

Chuseok Gift Set

p/s: Usually during any celebration, kids will be the most happiest! Same as well during Chuseok day, kids normally get allowance from adult. ^^ As Muslim, I didn't celebrate Chuseok day, however our picture was taken as we learn how to bow in Korean culture. :) Happy Chuseok to all Korean readers! ^^

Sources:

http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/SI/SI_EN_3_6.jsp?cid=811650

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Makgeolli

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soju

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Songpyeon

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Go-Stop

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ssireum

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ganggangsullae

http://asiasociety.org/korea/chuseok-korean-thanksgiving-day

Photo Credited:  twssg.blogspot.com

                          blog.investkorea.org

                          raincookie.deviantart.com

                          ssireum.sports.or.kr

                          discoverkorea.co.kr

Guideline: Seoul City Tour Bus

Last time, when I'm asking my Korean friend, is there any way to enjoy Seoul without well planned?? Their answer is simple just go free and easy via subway. That's seems easy as ABC! However if you were first time at Seoul, I think looking at those subway map will make you @_@!!ㅋㅋㅋ Well I have a same expression when I seen their subway routes for the first time!ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ On my mind was "Owh My!!! How am I able to go around with these crazy subway routes?? There are so many!! 16 of it?? What if I ended somewhere far from Seoul?? O_o

After some research, I found out one of easiest way to mingle around Seoul!! I did ask my Korean friend about it. They knew about it too but since most of them were born and living in Seoul, they didn't bother about it much. 하 하 하 하 Of course if you were born and living at cities like Seoul, you won't bother about it much! Just like me! I was living in rural area, I knew that there is easiest way to mingle around Kuala Lumpur but I also haven't try it before  until one day, when my adopted mother (she Singaporean) came over and ask me where should we go at Kuala Lumpur! :P 

Lets back to our topic! ^^ What is the easiest way to mingle around Seoul then??? Have you guys ever heard about Seoul City Tour Bus??? Like any other metropolitan cities, normally there is a shuttle bus service where it will bring people to those attraction places around cities. Seoul city tour bus operate every day except on Monday. However if Monday falls on holiday, normal operation is provided or during the summer vacation (4th week of July- August 15) normal operation is provided too.

There are four courses for Seoul city tour bus. Every admission fees is different according to the courses. The courses are downtown tour, palace Cheonggye tour, night tour 1, and night tour 2. For downtown tour it may take around 2 hours course and Palace Cheonggye tour will normally take around 1 hour 30 minutes course. These two tours were during day. For night tour 1 and 2 it may take around 1 hour 30 minutes each and the routes are different. For more information about it, click here. We went to Namsan Tower using this city tour bus service. ^^ If you see the attraction places in downtown courses, you can plan your trip for whole day at Seoul without bothering so much for public transport. If you wanna plan your trip using this service visit here.

Seoul city bus tour guide pamphlet 

Bus ticket

We ride on this ^^

Another bus version

One of stop over

P/s: We really enjoy during this tour, we didn't stop at every attractions though as we start the tour quite late ㅠㅠ and at one point we kind of lost! :P Hahha! Due to miss-communication!! However we kindly suggest for any traveler to try this during your trip at Seoul! Fun and worth experience! ^^ The last picture, that little angel kept playing hide and seek with me even though she didn't know how to speak English neither I'm not knowing Hangeul well during that trip! ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

Sources: 

http://www.seoulstopover.com/program/citytour.asp?code=W

http://www.visitseoul.net/en/statics.do_method=includeHtml&category=/&fname=seoulcitytourbus&m=0004014004006&p=04

Photo Credit: flickr.com

Places: MUST Visit: Namsan Tower!

My trip is coming soon so I'm quite busy finalized my planning for it ^^. After thinking about so many things I decided to go to Seoul and some other provinces :D. I've been to Seoul last time and visit some nice places yet there are so many places around Seoul that I haven't able to go last time! T.T so for this time, I will visit places around Seoul that not many touristic know about, I guess?? Hahha!!! However all of you must wait for those places entry once I'm back from Korea!! :D

For today I will write about throwback to Namsan Tower and Teddy Bear Museum though! :D At a first glance, I thought this tower seems familiar, where did I saw it? Then I realized! Ahhhh its seems similar with KL Tower! LOL!! The differences is the path you choose, to go to Namsan Tower, you can choose either walking, via bus or via cable car! However at KL Tower, you just can go on foot or bus.

Namsan Tower also known as Seoul Tower located on Namsan mountain in central of Seoul. It is 479.7 m above sea level. Namsan Tower consist of 4 observation deck where you can see almost whole side of Seoul from different angle!!! Besides that there are few interesting site around Namsan Tower which is Locks of Love and Teddy Bear Museum. :D

What is Locks of Love Park?? Actually I didn't know what they call this place but all I can see there are lock chain so I just simply put park after it!ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ . Lots of lovers or friends come here and put a chain together as if hoping that their love will blossom together forever! Well honestly I didn't believe it as we never know whats future hold. :P I didn't put any chain love there during my visit but yes I did enjoy the surrounding and captured some pictures there! ^^ For K-drama lovers, some drama did their shooting here such as the latest one, "Expect Dating"  which is BOA, Choi Daniel and Siwan (ZE:A) were the main lead.

Then we headed to the Teddy Bear Museum. This teddy bear museum were divided by two part, one is traditional teddy bear museum and the other one is modern teddy bear museum. Some of you might wonder what is the significant of teddy bear to Korean right?? Well there is a story behind it but I will put it in different entry someday as I need to study and get the correct fact first! ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ. At this museum, you can see so many teddy bears wearing different costumes according to certain event. I record some videos for all of you! ^^ Enjoy it!  For more information about admission fees and operation hours of Namsan Tower, visit here. If you wanna know how to get there, click here.

Namsan Tower at Night

Namsan Tower during sunny day

Ticket Admission

Scenery from Observation deck

Traditional Teddy Bear Museum

Modern Teddy Bear Museum

Lock of Love

Expect Dating  feature Siwan (ZE:A)

Traditional Bear

Modern Bear

p/s: If you plan to go to Seoul, Make sure to check this place! Bring your love one and create beautiful moment! <3

Sources:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/N_Seoul_Tower

http://www.dkpopnews.net/2013/07/zeas-siwan-to-join-boa-in-kbs-drama.html

http://visitkorea.or.kr/enu/SI/SI_EN_3_1_1_1.jsp?cid=264550

http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/SI/SI_EN_3_6.jsp?gotoPage=1&cid=1197589&out_service=

Photo Sources:     jalan2korea.com

                                     fellfromtheskies.wordpress.com

                            soompi.com

Guideline: What should I bring to my Korean friends???

It's September already ! Owh I am nervous, excited everything in between!! My trip will be soon! Can't wait! Weeee ^^~~ My trip planning were almost 80% done, it just some small stuff I haven't figure out yet. While gathered all information, somehow I find out that I miss out on something!! Oh My!! >_<

As I plan to meet my Korean friends, it would be nice for me to bring them something. However I don't know what exactly stuff that I should bring to them! As that concerned me so much, I did search about this topic on the internet and ask some of my Korean friend randomly. ^^

Since I do some research on this gift giving topic, I'm surprising to found out a very different culture they have compare to any other countries I guess! :D This is because I ask to some of my other foreigner friends about gift giving etiquette and most of them gave quite similar answer compared to Korean!

What is the differences?? For birthday, wedding or funeral, the gift is quite similar to any other countries. However for moving to a new place (house) the gift were different! In my country if my friend moving to a new house and making house warming party, normally we will bring food such as cake, fruit or traditional cuisine. 

What about Korean then?? Guess what would they bring if a friend move in to a new place. I ask around and they told me its basic necessities such as toilet roll, waste paper, candle or detergent! This is my first time hearing it! My mind was like @_@! Why??? I kept find the reasons behind this practice! The answer I get is it means that "all be good" (잘풀 린다) or hoping them to be happy and clean family.

Then I ask them if a foreigner friend coming for the first time, what should they bring? They told me nothing. However simple gift like chocolate,imported coffee, flowers or fruits are acceptable. For being extra ordinary, why not bring something that represent your own country, specialty about your country or any stuff that expensive or hard to get in Korea. Hearing that give me so many ideas!! Hahaha!! My Korean friends must be curious about it :P, It's secret though! LOL :P

Next gift giving etiquette is the way you present your gift. Some Korean may think that the item or gift is not really important but wrapper is a Must!! Gift must be wrapped nicely before giving to them. There are some proper colors wrapper for them as it have meaning between it. Yellow or red wrapper significant as royal colors. You may also wrap your gift in pink or yellow as it denotes happiness.

As blue is considered as lucky color in South Korea, blue gift or blue wrappers would be good too! ^^ People who give the gift should be handed over the gift using both hands as well the recipient. Apart from that normally once the gift were hand out, do not expect them to open it right away. For them its kind of impolitely to open the gift in the presence of the giver.  

Last but not least are never write your gift card in red ink as it significantly to cut ties of relationship. Beside that avoid using green, white or black wrapper when you wrap your gift. Scissors and knife should not be given to them as a gift as it shows termination of relationship. Gift also should not be given in set of four or multiple four. For them number 4 is considered as unlucky number as it denotes death.

p/s: Before choosing gift to any Korean, you must consider recipient economic, rank, status or class, do not give expensive gift to any one because if she or he cannot reciprocate, it will hurt their kibun (pride) and cause losing face. 

Sources:

http://www.korea4expats.com/article-gift-giving.html

http://www.giftypedia.com/South_Korea_Gift_Giving_Customs

http://www.ediplomat.com/np/cultural_etiquette/ce_kr.htm

Photo Credit: businessnewsmacau.com

                     telegraph.co.uk

                     wallpapersweb.com

                     yooneunhye.net

                     uofiparentprograms.illinois.edu

  
     

Guideline:6 Special stuff you need to get at KOREA! ^^

Did you guys still remember about my previous entry?? 5 worth stuff to buy at Korea? I told all of you that I will write separate entry about special stuff to get at Korea isn't it? so here it is :D If you get any chance to travel to Korea, make sure you will take a note of these things in your souvenir list! The reasons why I am saying this is those stuff that I will list down soon;  you won't get the original taste or quality at any other countries except Korea! 

I know these days people telling me this, hey! we were living in technology savvy era, we can buy it online! I agree but somehow seeing it for real at their home country with lots of choices is better right?? ^^* Where you can hold it and ask about it from the native speakers, as well you can check the quality too! :D Sometimes when we buying online, the stuff that we get is not up to our expectation!!

Lets move on to the list then!!

1- Jeokkarak (Korean Chopstick)

2- Hanbok

3- Hanji doll

4- Kimchi

5- Gochujang

6- Seaweed (김)

If you wanna know more about Jeokkarak. You may read it here. Korean chopstick were different from any other Asian chopstick so make sure to get at least one set for yourself!! ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

While hanbok is a traditional clothes for Korean. They wearing it during some special occasion. Men and women wearing hanbok with different design. You may check it here.

Any of you know what is Hanji doll?? In order to make hanji doll, it require a particular skills and precisely. Not every one can do it well! Hanji doll were made traditionally using a high quality paper (from mulberry tree) produced in Korea.For more information about it, click here.

Next stuff to get at Korea is Kimchi. I know that you can get Kimchi at your own country as there are a lot of Korean restaurant these days. However sometimes for original taste you can't get the best of it unless at their mother country!! ^^

Gochujang is the next stuff! Well for having these you might need to consider about airport regulation first! O_o Some countries they did not permit some amount of liquidation to bring in. Yes gochujang is only available at Korea though!ㅠㅠ Or may be you can find it at Korean town at your home country??^^*

Last but not least is 김 (seaweed). Laver and seaweed is the same things, it is well known as best diet food in Korea!If you can see, most of Korean eat seaweed anytime as their snack! ^^ However I'm not really into it as I don't like fishy smell. ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋTechnically, having seaweed is a tradition for Korean as well Japanese but Korean seaweed drying method is different from Japanese. So I guess that's why you must get it at Korea plus the price is more reasonable! :P

Korean chopstick @Jeokkarak

Traditional Hanbok

Hanji dolls

Dried Kimchi

Wet Kimchi

Gochujang

Laver

p/s: For certain of special item above, you need to pack it very well before boarding so that it still will be good when you reach home!

Sources:

http://www.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/CU/CU_EN_8_1_4.jsp

http://www.korea-experience.com/hanji-doll.html

http://kanakoskitchen.com/whatyouneed/seaweed/

Photo Credit:  macaulay.cuny.edu
                       inisajamostory.blogspot.com
                       gobizkorea.com
                       koreanforniancooking.com
                       thekitch.com
                       tradekorea.com

   

     

      

Guideline: 5 Worth stuff to buy at KOREA

Since its going to be my second time visit to Korea soon, I am thinking of what I should buy when I'm there. Is it too early?? O_o Well I guess I'm just too excited!! ^^ Whenever I heard any of my friends going to South Korea, I feel if only I can be invisible and come along with them!! :P

Since I love to write about Korea, sometimes I got bunch of questions asking me about where to go around Seoul? Is it easy to go around using public transport? Is language is a huge barrier? What stuff should I buy to bring home?

After thinking a lot about it, I think I should write about those questions!! However today I would like to focus on 5 worth stuff to buy at Korea. ^^ Why I choose 5 worth stuff to buy rather than souvenir or special stuff to buy at Korea?? Anyone wanna try to make a wild guess??

First is, I will write about special stuff or souvenir to buy at South Korea in other entry. ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ. Second is, worth stuff meaning that you can get these stuff back home however it might be slightly expensive or the quality is not very good compare you getting one in Korea. ^^

The most worth buy stuff at Korea is face mask sheet. I know that you can get it at your own country, but at Korea the price for face mask sheet is really cheap! You can get 30 face mask sheet at cost of 30,000 won!! Plus the package is well-known branded and establish! Just name it, Innisfree, THEFACESHOP, Nature Republic, Etude House, and lots more!

For the second worth stuff to buy at Korea is CC Cream, before this may be you are aware of BB cream right? What is CC cream and what is the different between CC cream and BB cream. Find it out on New trend at Korea. Choose which one is the best for you! ^^*

Third must worth stuff to buy is cosmetics. Well may be some you might think that this article is mainly for women or girl?? Hahha! You were wrong!! These days there are many men more concern about their skin and appearance as much as girl! Perhaps its because influence by Korean too?? ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ You can check it out here. :)

Lets move to the fourth worth stuff! Ahhh again about women or girls??? Sorry I can't help it because all of these stuff were really cute!!! ^^~ The fourth worth stuff is girly accessory! Perhaps men readers can buy it for their girlfriends, mom, and sisters?? LOL. Owhhh I wish someone buy for me! T.T

The last worth stuff to buy at Korea is phone accessory. Phone accessories includes phone casing, phone strap,glitters stickers on phone, phone screen and so on! I guess if you see it, you might be like @_@!!! Hahhah! My first impression seeing those! ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

Face Mask Sheet

CC Cream

Cosmetics

Accessory  (Bracelet) 

Accessory (Hair Band)

Phone Strap

Phone Casing

Ear cap dock dust plug

p/s: These stuff all were small stuff so it will be easy to fit in your luggage, if you buy too many you can send it home via post! ^^ Their post system is reliable and cheap! ^^. I will write about it in other entry! ^^*

Sources: 

http://en.koreadepart.com/cosmetics-brand/innisfree/

http://international.thefaceshop.com/english/product/product_allList.jsp?prdctgr=44

http://www.naturerepublic.co.kr/eng/nature/brand-concept.jsp

http://www.etudehouse.com/eng/brand/brand.jsp#wrap

http://www.tgiwholesale.com/new-korean-best-cc-cream-color-change-cream-korean- cosmetics- tgiwholesale.html

Photo Credit: tjmakeup

                     english.visitkorea.or.kr

                     weheartit.com

                     jollieandbelle.com

                     iaddit.com

                     dhgate.com

                     strapyaworld.com

Special Event: 15 August O_o??

What is so special about 15 August? For those who are not really keen about Korea might not know anything about it, let's ask to any Korean or people who interested about Korea then! What happen on 15 August annually at South Korea? Anyone know the answer?

15 August is a special day in South Korea as it was a day where they were FREE from Japanese imperialism. After been colonized from Japan since 1910, finally they got their FREEDOM BACK on 15 August 1945. This special day were known as Gwangbokjeol (광복절) or literally known as Restoration of Light Day. This day were gazette as public holiday on 1949.

During this special day, normally there are some event going on like official ceremony at Independent Hall of Korea or at Sejong Center for the Performing Arts. There is even a comedy movie that take Gwangbokjeol as their subject, the title of that movie is Gwangbokjeol Teuksa (Jail Breakers). If you free check it out! ^^

Apart from that, premises and home were encourage to display Taegukki (Korean flag) to show their proud and deep appreciation of being free after 40 years suffering in Japanese imperialism. Not only premises and home were encourage to display Korean flag, people were also gather at one place and shout 대한 독립만세 meaning  Hurray the independent day!!

Another  interesting fact is most public museum and places are open for free of charge, as well they can ride on public transport and intercity trains for free!! What a bless!! ^^ For more information you may check it here.

p/s: Happy Gwangbokjeol for Korean!!May Korea be blessed with eternal light forever on!!

Sources:  
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gwangbokjeol
http://www.officeholidays.com/countries/south_korea/liberation_day.php
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jail_Breakers
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taegukki
http://www.i815.or.kr/html/en/

Photo Sources: Koreabridge.net
                        ilpost.it