Unknown: Is it still safe to travel to South Korea??

It's been so long since my last post! I guess all of you knows what happen right? Yes as Malaysian I was affected by that incident.ㅠㅠ Even though I didn't know any passengers or crews boarding personally, but I shared the grief like any of you. This incident is a rare case and its was unexpectedly. ㅠㅠ

Even aviation experts have no idea how this could happen! Many countries give their hands in order to search for it yet still cannot be found. No clue, nothing at all, its just vanished in thin air!ㅠㅠ Regarding to this incident there are many speculations arise as well the safety aspect turn up. 

Lots of people have questions on their mind whether is it still safe to travel abroad at this time?? No ones can't give a concrete answers about it. This is because we simply didn't know what could happen! Even one minutes after this we don't know what heading us. 

For going abroad, most of us need to take airplane UNLESS if you living in Europe, because in certain part of Europe, you can take train from one countries to another. Yet the safety issues still arise! No matter which option you take for travel, it is still insecure. However don't get me wrong! I am NOT telling that all of us shouldn't travel at this time. We still can travel to anywhere we wanna, just pray that we will arrive to the destination safely! :) 

Some people asking me is it safe to travel to South Korea at this time? I asked them why this questioned arise? They told me since for heading to Korea we going to use the same airspace path. Well about this I'm not sure though, but I believe every airlines have  their own pathway, and it was confirm by air traffic that it still safe. All airlines still running their operations as usual. 

No need to worry!! However please bear in mind that this incident can happen to any airlines! Doesn't mean it happen to Malaysia Airlines System (MAS) so its insecure to take MAS! It's unfair to says so as it was unexpectedly and rare case. For whatever reasons it is, only God know whats happening and I believe there are wisdom behind this incident. Even if any country had most powerful technology, remember NOTHING CAN'T defeat God as God create us and everything!

For those who plan to travel to South Korea, no need to worry as far as I'm concern South Korea is one of most safest country. I've been there twice and looking forward to go there again or should I call as return home sweet home?? ㅋㅋㅋ Whatever it is, make sure to take care of your passport and your belonging while you abroad even if you at most safest country! ^^

p/s: Dear MH 370, please come back! Whole world were praying and waiting for you. Any runaway were ready for you. ^^  Lets' us give our best for praying the aircraft safe returns. Don't give up! and believe in God. God know whats the best for all of us!.  

Photo Credit: Facebook
Video Credit:   

Tradition/ Food: 미역국 (Seaweed Soup)

Owh its March 5!! Big day for me!! Wee ^^ What does it mean big day for me? Some people might think "big day" can be engagement day or wedding day?? ㅋㅋㅋWell I'm NOT talking about those!ㅋㅋ It's my birthday!! Thank God that I'm still alive! ^^ I'm happy for that however yes I'm little bit unhappy too as I'm getting older. ㅠㅠ

Compared to my boyfriend, I'm way out older than him!ㅠㅠ However he always told me that he sees me younger than himself!ㅋㅋ. I guess you guys must feel little bit annoyed by that statement??ㅋㅋㅋ When I was in Korea, supposedly I should look after him as I'm older but we changed our roles!ㅋㅋ He's the one that always look after me!!ㅋㅋㅋ

Lets' back to our topic, what is the relation between seaweed soup and my birthday??O-o We always hear about having a cake during birthday is a MUST right? However for Korean, there is other special tradition for them. During birthday, they will eat 미역국(miyeokguk) (seaweed soup). I'm curious about this so I make some research.ㅋㅋ

Why Korean eat seaweed soup during their birthday?? According to their tradition, long time ago pregnant women will eat seaweed soup for about a month as preparatory for giving birth. This is because seaweed is high in iodine and calcium, beneficial for uterine contraction as well in milk production. Due to this, having seaweed soup during birthday is kind of significant or a reminder to children not to forget the pain of childbirth as well to appreciate how their mother taking care of themselves.

Apart from eating seaweed soup before giving birth, mothers normally will eat it after giving birth too as it is believe that seaweed soup will help to nourish blood production. As seaweed soup is the first meal for mothers it is also first meal to children as they get it through breast feeding.

Since my boyfriend is not here, I will NOT get 미역국 from him.ㅠㅠ Maybe in future??ㅋㅋ Honestly I'm NOT a fan of seaweed though ㅋㅋ. This is because we were not use to eat seaweed here so I'm not into it. However while I'm in Korea, I still remember one of my Korean friend told me to finish my 미역국 as its good for me. Even I'm showing him my cheeky face for NOT having it I was failed!! I just eat half of it! ㅋㅋ

With my boyfriend I managed to escape! ㅋㅋㅋ Whenever there is seaweed he will finish it for me! ㅋㅋThere is one case where an owner of the shop were extremely happy to see us together (me and my boyfriend), she put dried seaweed on my plate! I was like!!! @_@!!! At last my boyfriend took that rice portion (rice that already with seaweed on top) ㅋㅋㅋ

p/s: For this birthday, my wish are about health and having stronger relationship with my love and family! ^^

Sources: http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/AK/AK_EN_1_4_9_2.jsp
             http://morningcalmadness.blogspot.com/2011/03/birthday-seaweed-soup.html

Photo Credit: hiddenboston.com

Unknown: My Star! It's over ㅠㅠ

Finally it's over! ㅠㅠ Owh I'm so sad ㅠㅠ!! I wish I can stop the time!!!ㅠㅠ
I believe some of you might wonder what am I talking about right??? ㅋㅋㅋ No worries, this statement have NOTHING to do with my relationship!! We were still doing great! ^^ Thanks that we were living in this modern era! Even we live 4502 kilometers away, internet connection makes it possible for us. ^^ ㅋㅋ

Then what am I talking about?? Anyone wanna make a wild guess??Anyone??? ㅋㅋㅋ Ok let me give you guys some clue. ㅋㅋ It has related with the topic! ㅋㅋ!! These days Kim Soo Hyun have been popular world wide! His latest drama "My Love From Another Star" really captured people heart!! This is not his first drama that make my heart melted though!ㅋㅋ I've been his fans since I first saw him in Dream High few years ago. ㅋㅋㅋ However his latest drama just over ! Owhh I miss him!! ㅠㅠ

At first my cousin asking me, who is this guy?? He seems new actor and not really famous. I told her, even he's not popular, his acting skills is the best than any popular actor at that time!People might think that I'm bias since I like him??? ㅋㅋBut I was right!! ㅋㅋ Ok, why don't you guys just surf his name?? He is "King of CF" in South Korea!! ㅋㅋ. He even get casting offers from Singapore and Indonesia these days?? ㅋㅋㅋ  After seeing how his passion in his drama, movie he deserved what he gets now! ^^ I hope he will get new drama soon so that I can see him again!!ㅋㅋㅋ

Back to my topic, is he's my star?? Hahah! Of course not!I guess when my boy friend read this, he might faint?? get very jealous! LOL!! I can imagine how his face! ㅋㅋ. Well, Yes I like him but in reality its impossible for me to get to know him close!ㅋㅋㅋ  so my dear boy friend don't worry I'm just a fan of Kim Soo Hyun, but YOU are my star!^ㅅ^ You put your name in my heart! ㅋㅋㅋ

p/s: Thank God! that You just live in another country not in another star! ㅋㅋㅋ. Everyday when I see the sky I kept saying to myself  " we were distance but we were living in the same sky". ^ㅅ^ Owh for those who didn't watch the drama, 빨리(hurry up)! watch it online!! ㅋㅋㅋA very Nice drama! ^^

Photo Credit: dramaload.ch

Places: Songdo Park

For those who keen about sports, I believe some of you already aware of Asian 2014 Games isn't it?? Asian Games is one of the biggest and most well known international sporting events in the world! This 17th event will be held soon at South Korea.

Most of you might wonder why I brought up this event in my entry right?? ㅋㅋㅋAm I one of the athlete?? Hahha! Of course NO!!ㅋㅋ This event will be held at Incheon and what is the relation between Incheon and Songdo Park??O_o Songdo Park is a new city under Incheon Metropolitan City. Songdo Park were build as an inspired of NYC central park. This city were build as international city.

For upcoming 17th Asian Games, Songdo Park will be the hub for media and broadcasting center. This city had its opening on August 2009. However not many people know about this place even locals!ㅋㅋㅋ Perhaps after Gangnam Style been popular world wide, people start recognized this place?? ㅋㅋㅋ. Psy shoot some of his music video at Songdo Park but don't ask me which area of Songdo Park! It is because this place is HUGE!!!!ㅋㅋㅋ

I've been to Songdo Park with my Seoul friend during my last trip. Since its his first time, we were kind of lost!! ㅋㅋㅋ We kept snap pictures there and our stomach starts sing a song!ㅋㅋ My friend searched about seafood restaurant before we went here however we can't find it!! We kept walking back and forth! ㅋㅋ We try to use naver map, google map but still can't find it!ㅋㅋㅋ

After 1 hour, we about to gave up! Starving, tired and have no idea where to go! At last we decided to look for last time! If we can't find it, that's it! We going to eat somewhere around Seoul!Grr.. Finally we found a Fish restaurant! Phewww! Its not seafood restaurant we were looking for but at least its Fish house?? Meaning I can eat it! ㅋㅋㅋ

We had our lunch or can should I call it dinner?? ㅋㅋ. You can refer to this entry for the pictures of our meals (lunch).  Anyway Songdo Park is a nice place to be with your love one. Strolling around can be tired however the environment is more relaxing and its not crowded. ^^ Here below are some of photos we took while we were there. ^^

p/s:  A day trip here would be nice! ^^ I wonder how does its looks like during winter?? ㅋㅋㅋ I went here during autumn, should I coming back??? O-o Songdo Park can be reached by subway, INCHEON LINE 1, get off at Central Park station. ^^

Sources: http://www.incheon2014ag.org/en/Promote/News/Detail/149
              http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Incheon
              http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Songdo_Central_Park

Guesthouse: Gwangju

On my last visit , some of my Korean friends asking me, why I choose to visit Gwangju instead of any other provinces?? I wonder why they asked me like that, so in return I asked them back, why I can't visit Gwangju??Surprisingly they told me that Gwangju is one of black area or literally known as "dangerous area in Korea"!

I read a lot about it including the history of Gwangju. Gwangju is a place where First Peace movement happens against the newly installed military government of Chun Doo-hwan. This demonstration lead to Gwangju Massacre. Due to this incident, Gwangju people have been mistook as bad people and a dangerous place.

However when I reach Gwangju, I feel Gwangju people are more friendly than Seoul society. Of course people stared at me since I'm wearing hijab, ㅋㅋㅋ. I understand Korean were curious about people who looks different than themselves especially when you were in rural area in Korea.ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

Since Gwangju is my first outskirt of Seoul area I've been to in Korea, there are a lot of differences! They are more relax and they have strong dialect! ㅋㅋ It's quite hard to understand what they talking about!ㅋㅋㅋ. A day before I went to Gwangju, my Seoul friend help me to book for a room. I did search for it earlier but I just book it a day before I went there.ㅋㅋㅋ

The journey from Seoul to Gwangju took around 3 hours via KTX. When I reach there it almost evening. Inside the KTX, next to me is a soldier and his hometown is Gwangju. He didn't speak English well but he helped me a lot. ^^ When we reached at Sejong Station, he and his girlfriend teach me to buy Gwangju subway ticket and let me know which station I should get off.

At Gwangju, I stayed at Namdo Hostel. This hostel were located at Seo-gu.The nearest subway station is Ssaangchon. This hostel also very near to U- Square, which is the transportation hub terminal for South Jeolla-do. While my stayed at Gwangju, I feel Namdo hostel is like my own home!! ㅋㅋㅋ A very cozy place, with convenient store right down of hostel!^^

Namdo hostel provide us many accommodation too! We also can make our own breakfast! ^^ The owner provide eggs, fruit, free of charge! Normally at other guesthouse in Korea, they will just provide bread, jam or butter and coffee but this hostel is different!! ^^ Besides that, the owner is very friendly, he speak English and Mandarin fluently!! What about Korean?? LOL of course he speak Korean fluently too as he is native speaker! ㅋㅋㅋ. For more information about this hostel you can refer here. They also can be reach via facebook.

p/s: The owner of this hostel is Mr. Park. Anyway Namdo Hostel will always be in my heart as here I met my boyfriend! ㅋㅋㅋ ^^

Sources: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gwangju_massacre
             http://blog.naver.com/dewpark
             https://www.facebook.com/namdohostel

Guesthouse: Hongdae

Before my Korea 2013 trip, I am so stressful as I need to figure out all information by myself!. Slowly I making new Korean friends from Interpal. At first they were teaching Korean to me, and from there we start develop friendship. ^^ I have few Korean friends who really help me a lot for my trip. ^^

Some were searching for a guesthouse for me, as well helping me to figure out about transportation system, and etc. For Seoul there are too many guesthouses, it makes me @_@!! I don't know how to choose it!!ㅋㅋㅋ As I'm travel alone, I need to find a very safe place! As when travel, normally I will going out early and going back very late at night!

After looking for a good guesthouse with nice accommodation, reasonable price and near to subway station. Finally I make a decision! My friend suggest to me to stay at May Guesthouse. This guesthouse were really near to subway station and not really crowded with pub or bar. I refused to stay around those area because relatively there are lots of people but when people get drunk we can't predict what will happen right??

May guesthouse were located in Mapo-gu. The nearest subway station is Hapjeong Station. At first its quite hard to find the guesthouse as it's already dark and the map I have is quite simple. ㅋㅋㅋ I got lost for a first time! LOL Luckily I kept asking people and at last guesthouse staff pick me up after a call from ajushhi. ㅋㅋㅋ

The guesthouse were cozy and it also provide breakfast everyday. ^^ The staffs were very friendly even though at that time all staffs were guys. ㅋㅋㅋ I heard one of the staff resign and his replacement is a girl.Recently, I have contact the owner of the guesthouse, he said they just moved!! Their guesthouse were no longer at Hapjeong area instead in between Hongdae. The subway station for their new location is Sangsu Station (LINE 6)  For more information you may refer it here here. You also can contact them through Facebook by visiting this. For those who has kakaotalk or LINE, you can add them MAY guesthouse.

p/s: I enjoyed my staying at May Guesthouse and would like to recommend it to travelers. ^^ A very safe and fun place! I get a chance to know many new friends too here and we still kept in touch! ^^

Sources: http://www.mayguesthouse.com/

              https://www.facebook.com/mayguesthouse5

Photo Credit: May Guesthouse Owner

Dating Tips: Baek-il?? 100 Days Celebration??

Time flies so fast! October, November, December, January and now February??!!Owh its 100 days!! Wee!!^^ All of you must be curious what 100 days I'm talking about isn't it??ㅋㅋㅋ :P For anyone who ever in relationship with Korean, they might know about this. ㅋㅋㅋ

Still wondering about it?? ㅋㅋㅋ. Let me tell you then.  For Korean, 100 days or known as Baek-il 
(백일) is important event whether for babies or for adult ,(whose in relationship). However I will not talking about Baek-il for babies here. ㅋㅋ

I will talk about 100 days in relationship. ^^ Most of couple in the world celebrate their anniversary by month or once its turn to 1 year isn't it?? While Korean were different! They celebrate it when it turn to 100,200 and so on. 

For this special occasion, normally Korean guys will spend a lot for their girlfriend. Some might giving a bouquet of roses, teddy bears, cake,candles, chocolates or even branded stuff!! For girls, they prefer to do something for their boyfriend. Handmade stuff?? ㅋㅋㅋ

Well if I said I didn't expect anything from my boyfriend, it would be a lie!! ㅋㅋㅋ Yes I wish for some of surprise however due to our distance I don't think its possible for us now, I mean to celebrate it..ㅠㅠ Anyway that's doesn't mean we can simply let it go. ㅋㅋㅋ

I read a lot and thinking on how can we celebrate it despite our long distance barrier.Hmm,  perhaps we just celebrate it with minimum scale event?? ㅋㅋ How come?? We live far from each other!!?? Owh I cannot tell the detail here. ㅋㅋㅋ Whatever it is,thinking about each other every single days and always make some time for each other is more than enough! ^^

p/s: Both of us know how deep is our love and how to maintain it. That's most important! ^^ 

Sources: http://korcan50years.com/2013/08/13/what-to-expect-when-dating-a-korean-guy/
              http://jaclyna.com/2011/10/07/100-day-anniversary/

Photo Credit: stickyjesus.com
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