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Thank you for visiting. However, kindly refrain from asking questions through my chatbox, which is dedicated for personal friends ONLY. Any questions, please post it on the relevant blog posts, or at the following link. I'll definitely try my best to help answer your questions ^^
http://musical-bell.blogspot.com/2012/01/faq-everything-and-anything-about-korea.html
Oh, maybe...
I did a lot of researches on the hotels around Seoul the week before
and made a conclusion:
ACCOMMODATION IN SEOUL IS REALLY NOT CHEAP!!!
yes...
* * *
And, maybe...
I traveled to Gwangjang Market again on 7th (Tue)
helped friend order the Korean Traditional Cloth (Hanbok)
it's really very beautiful~~~
and then
traveled to Sinchon and Yidae area
nostalgia...had the urge to hop on the Yonsei shuttle bus when it stopped by
T.T
anyway, brought home a new friend with me ^^
and finally visit Yihwa Women University (aka Yidae) on the way...
hmm i think i once said that Korea University and Kyunghee University had lots of "castles"
well...Yidae as well!!
Korea Uni's are more like German old castles
Kyunghee Uni's are more like Catholic churches
whereas Yidae's are like the lovely English cottage!!!
See the comparison:
Well...my phone decided to die at the moment i stepped in Yidae, so no photos taken. [Disclaimer: Photo origin]
Kyunghee Uni
Korea Uni
* * *
Why was the week so boring?
Because the following week is exam week
FINALS!!!!
time to mug and mug and mugggggg~~~~
* * *
Did I say I'll share my Korean Art essay if I got an A?
Haha...
I REALLY GOT AN A!!!
Click "Read More" below if you're interested:
23rd - 26th May (Mon-Thu)
Nothing exciting
except that on 23rd May...
F.T. ISLAND COMEBACK TO KOREA!!!! 3rd Mini Album [Return] <MV> Hello Hello:
and well... I've fallen in love into Kuk'ak
the instruments as well as the people there
Got treated with great dinner, again ^^
Each of us had one serving of marinated pork;
but our two presidents (會長 and 樂長) had had more than 3 servings each >.<
* * *
27th May (Fri)
Finally accumulated enough courage to go to Jjimjilbang 찜질방
it's Korean Spa+Sauna
similar to Japanese one
which means
you can't wear anything while going to the spa
>.<
Went there with 2 Koreans and 1 Japanese
knew them in KUBA but not close at all
and just because I'm not that close with them, I joined them for Jjimjilbang
less embarrassment, i think (and my theory was proven correct)
We went to the famous Dragon Hill Spa at Yongsan [disclaimer: i do not own this photo]
Waist-band, for entrance, food, drinks and all other services inside the 5-storeyed building.
Entrance fee is KRW10,000 by the way.
Then, we were given sauna clothes and towels
went to our "assigned" locker
and changed cloth
Hmm....2nd floor is ladies' floor...
as soon as we stepped out of the elevator
the culture shock began
>.<
yes...
before reaching our lockers
we need to walk through the "lounge" and a long corridor
there
we see ladies of all ages
cloth-less~
(or naked or nuke or whatever vocab, but i prefer to say "cloth-less")
*ahem...no photo description, yes, no photos*
So after changing into the given clothes
we first went to the cafeteria there for dinner
had Jjajangmyeon (black sauced noodles)
then
to the main hall
You can watch TV there, eat, drink, and even sleep. Yes, you can sleep overnight there...
Budget "accommodation" for backpackers actually...
Time to try out some sauna~~~ they have 30+deg, 80+deg and even near-100deg which we failed to even step in.
Note the towel-hat... ya, it's typically Korean.
Btw that's where we had some girls' HTHT hahahah...
There're arcade, karaoke rooms and other entertainment facilities as well
Also, massage service and fitness centre on other floors...
And playground
And outdoor swimming pool
(pardon me for not taking picture directly towards the pool, not polite you know, ha)
After sweating aaaaaaalot in sauna
it's time to bath
yes
cloth-less-ly
the hardest part of this was that...
you got to take off your clothes and kept them in your locker
then with only a small towel
you need to walk through the long corridor
to the lounge
then walk down the stairs
to the spa area
you can't jump into the spa pool straightaway
but wash your feet and hands and face first (strictly speaking, one should take a shower first)
and then only can emerge yourself into the pool
and peace~~~~
...hehe...
...again...no photos...
After all those culture shock
I realised, or rather learnt, something:
"humans are simply too obsessed with clothings"
When everyone around you are cloth-less
you don't really "need" to feel embarrassed at all
there's really nothing to be shy of or ashamed of
it's simply "back to nature"
it's "freedom"
hahahahah~~~
After coming out of water,
we had shower
and walked back to lockers area, still cloth-lessly
but this time
everything seemed so nature and carefree
i've gotten used to the Jjimjilbang culture too fast!!!!!
:PPP
** Friends, if you have chance to go Korea (or Japan)
you must at least try to go Jjimjilbang (Spa and sauna) once
the experience is priceless
* * *
28th May (Sat)
Besides Jjimjilbamg,
another thing one must not miss out in Korea
is their baseball game
like what i said in my previous post for ipsilenti:
"KOREANS ARE CRAZY!"
I can't understand the rules of the baseball games at all
and i don't know how to appreciate the games
but yeah
it's still fascinating to watch the live game in a stadium
Jamsil Baseball Stadium; entrance fee was KRW8,000, free seating/standing (i.e you're not guaranteed a seat)
They're not super-famous teams, but it's full house, and we ended up standing throughout the games.
White vs Orange
P.S.
Went to the baseball games with roomie and her classmates (Koreans)
one conclusion i had drawn from the trip was:
"DO NO PLAY WITH YOUR PHONE OR MP3 WHILE GOING WITH FRIENDS"
In the subway, they just kept staring at their phones,
texting some one else, listening to music etc etc
and i ended up staring at them and being amused by the situation
yes
friends,
do not play with your phone or any kind of "toy" when you're with your friends or family
pay respect to those you're going out with
treasure the time when you're together
if you want to play with your phone or "toy" so much
* this post will surface to the top of this blog from time to time
and the playlist will continue to autoplay (i'm trying to loop it infinitely)
till i get sick of them
which i think
will take some time :PP
Oh yes, I bought it...
The last original CD I bought was ENERGY's Final Fantasy in year...2005???
16th - 19th May (Mon - Thu)
Again, school routine...
except final exam for "Mind and Brain" on 18th~
haha...ya...final exam~~
* * *
20th May (Fri)
The long awaited Korea University IPSILENTI !!!!!!
This month is a "festival month" for most universities around Korea
students are setting up booths and stages for events and activities
even tents along the roadside just for gatherings
and last but not least
usually end with "Concert"
whereby students gather in a stadium or field,
doing cheering, dancing, singing,
and enjoying stage performances by celebrities
yes
KOREAN CELEBRITIES!!!!!
Celebrities who came to Korea University IPSILENTI were:
Girl's Day
UV
Kim Jang Hoon
4Minute
(I might miss out some more)
One sentence to conclude the festival:
"KOREANS ARE CRAZY!!!!!"
Examples of cheerings:
(note those cheerleaders on stage)
(beware: might cause headache; couldn't hold camera firm esp when i was part of the craziness)
Fireworks, the climax:
Static photos:
It's raining; it's a sea of red, when all were wearing red raincoats
Some in blue, they are the rivals from Yonsei University
9th - 12th May (Mon - Thu)
Back to the usual school routine
except that Tue was Buddha's Birthday (in Korea)
부처님 오신 날
it's a public holiday
no school
and finally met my Buddy for lunch
reason?
to pay ipsilenti ticket money to her
and well...chatting as well~~~
* * *
13th - 14th May (Fri - Sat)
I slowly know the purpose of my SEP trip
(i know it's slow, but better than i never find it out right)
Firstly, I come Korea not for academic purposes
honestly speaking, KU is not that strong in Life Sciences or Biomed
Secondly, I'm not here for travelling solely
the world is so big, it's not possible to visit all the places
So
I'm actually here to experience
to experience the Korean students' life, the local people life
to experience their tradition, their culture, as well as their habits
all through interactions with Koreans
That's why I join Kuk'ak~
and that's why I went for their M.T. 엠티
What's MT?
it stands for "Membership Training"
What they do?
well... BBQ, games, drinking
with drinking as the main agenda hahaha...
I was the only foreigner there
you might think that I was very lonely
since I can't understand their language fully
but I wasn't isolated nor left alone at all
the people were super kind and friendly
kept calling me Ling Unni (I'm the oldest among the girls >.<)
and chatting with me from time to time
I can't drink
but they were lenient to me
I don't understand those Korean games
but they were patient to me
it's really lucky to know this group of friends in Kuk'ak
=)
