Life is...

[crazyjourney]

[kaysunset]

[crazyjourney]

Happy Chinese New Year!

Its 설날 in Korea at the moment and i'm not back in Singapore like i usually am. So thought i'd share what i know Koreans do during 설날. 

During 설날, everyone heads back to the hometowns to visit their families for a reunion. They all gather at the oldest person's house and catching up with what they have been up to for the past year.

세뱃돈: You get this from elders after bowing twice as a formality. Also known as new year's money they are put in colorful bags.  

한복: Traditional Korean clothing. It used to be a custom to wear a Hanbok during the new year's, but now formal styled western clothes are also worn now.

Traditional games are also played. Check it out here! http://korea.prkorea.com/wordpress/english/2012/03/23/traditional-korean-games/

Singaporeans celebrate Chinese New Year too, just slightly differently. Here are some of the highlights 

A must have during Chinese New Year for a Singaporean Yu Sheng or Lou Hei. It is a salad with many different toppings representing different things that brings you luck and prosperity. There are many variations of Yu Sheng and it is topped with raw salmon or abalone. You can find this in literally any Chinese restaurant in Singapore.  

Here's a tip! When tossing Yu Sheng lift it as high as you can before dropping it. The higher it goes the more prosperity you have in the year ahead.

Mandarin oranges and Ang pow(Red packets)

These are 2 things that Chinese New Year is never without.

Ang pow is something like the Korean 세뱃돈 but in a red packet which represents prosperity.

Mandarin oranges are exchanged as a formality or a custom. Exchange in a pairs! You would probably have quite a bit at the end of the new year, so i would suggest finding a good recipe mandarin orange jam or something you can make with mandarin oranges.

Visting

During Chinese New Year, we visit or get visited by our relatives and close friends. Many titbits, snacks and cookies are sold for you to have at home, this is so you can be a great host. Check out the most popular snacks below!

Bak Kwa (Kinda like pork jerky)

A must have during Chinese New Year, the price of Bak Kwa really goes up during Chinese New Year. It has a sweet and barbequed flavour, really nice to eat warm. If you are health conscious, then here's a heads up. 1 slice of Bak Kwa = a 30mins jog...

Pineapple tarts

It is a butter cookie with sweet candied pineapple. Delicious but beware 3 of those have the calories that are equal to a bowl of rice! 

Hope you guys got to know a little bit more Chinese New Year!

CrazyJourney

[crazyjourney]

When looking for accommodation, my Korean teacher said that she wouldn't recommend the Guemsan Insam Hotel since it was built quite a while ago and she couldn't guarantee the quality of the hotel. So instead, we decided to stay in a hotel in Daejeon. It takes about 30 minutes from Guemsan to Daejeon, so it wasn't too far away.Booked the Sunshine Hotel Daejeon, since i got good reviews when i booked it for a friend. http://www.hotelsunshine.kr/?mid=Contactus

It was quite a convinient area, as it was located right across the bus terminal. So if you are taking a domestic bus, you would arrive just opposite the hotel. The bus terminal building is practically a shopping mall. It has a supermarket, cinema, food court and loads of cafes.

We booked the Grand Deluxe Room which was for a night i asked them to add an extra bed. The extra bed cost $20USD a night or 20,000Won

They kinda messed up my booking for my second night stay so they had me move to another room. They gave us the Deluxe Room which had one double bed and a single so i had them put in an extra bed. It didn't have as much space as the Grand Deluxe Room but it was big enough for us just for one night. 

CrazyJourney

[crazyjourney]

Got to visit an Insam or ginseng festival this month and it was truly an interesting experience! The festival is held every year around September in the town of Guemsan the ginseng and traditional medicine hub. The town thrives on their ginseng crop since it grows 80% of the Korean ginseng.

The ginseng festival offers many interesting activities such as ginseng harvesting, how to clean fresh ginseng, growing a ginseng plant at No charge. You can also try various ginseng dishes such as deep fried ginseng or ginseng bibimbap(mixed rice). Another thing i really enjoyed..making my own pottery! I have always wanted to try using the potter's wheel and finally got the chance~! Had so much fun!

If you were ever in Korea during this period i would highly recommend this festival!

Will post my accommodations on the next post!

CrazyJourney

[crazyjourney]

I love how capturing a picture at the right moment, can evoke so much emotions within.. It also shows you what an Amazing world God has made, and how much it never ceases to amaze us humans.

[crazyjourney]

Okinawa Part 2~!

[crazyjourney]

Okinawa part 1!

[crazyjourney]

The aim is not to be first but to be the BEST

[crazyjourney]

Wow..Haven’t here in a while. Summer is usually the busiest time of my year, running camps in different parts of East Asia. This year, I got a chance to go for Director’s Training in LA to help kids from foster homes and social services by running a summer camp. All I can say?.. Pure Awesomeness! During the week at camp, i learned so much just exchanging ideas with people that had come from all over the states just to go for training. So I was being trained with another 18-19 other people and it was like we became family for the next 5 days. Then in july, I went to Taiwan to go for a Father’s Heart conference which I enjoyed thoroughly. I also got to visit my Japanese teacher and her daughter in Okinawa. If you haven’t been to Okinawa before, you have to check it out! It has some of the best beaches, the aquarium is amazing and I heard that diving is quite good too. Will post the pictures soon~! CrazyJourney

[crazyjourney]

Jeju Island Day 2 (Teddy Bear Museum)

One of the highlights for this trip...The TEDDY BEAR MUSEUM!!! I have wanted to come here ever since i saw it on Princess Hours. The exhibition has many bears from all over the world, but the highlight has to be the bears featured in Princess Hours! The Teddy Bear Museum also has a hotel called 'Teddy Valley Jeju' but its about a 10 mins drive away. 

The telephone number for the Teddy Bear Museum... [phone]

The teddy-s on sale there are very expensive so be prepared to spend or face the wrath of their cuteness! LOLs ^_^

[crazyjourney]

Jeju Day 1 (Accomodation)

Went on a short holiday to Jeju Island for my sister's birthday and we decided to stay at Lotte Hotel Jeju just cause we couldn't get any other hotel seeing that she made her decision at very late notice. Nevertheless, it was a blessing. The hotel is 5 mins walk to the Teddy Bear Museum, Riley's Believe It or Not Museum and Choco Land.

Heard that they filmed scenes from the Korean drama 'Scent of a woman' 'Secret Garden' and many more. The restaurants are generally pricey so if you are looking for food, head out of the hotel and go to the Believe it or not museum there is a Kraze Burgers or a Korean restaurant near by.

We stayed in a family suite, i think which consist of 1 double bed and 1 single bed. I was spacious and had a clear view of the laser show at night. The camping space looks really luxurious...they have chef's that prepare your bbq! Lols. They also have the Villa Suites, or if you have kids they have Hello Kitty rooms available for reservation. Check for hotel packages, they offer great plans or packages that come with the room!

http://www.lottehotel.com/kr/

가보세요!!

(Car Rental)

We rented a car from AJ Rent a Car. http://www.ajrentacar.co.kr

I got it off the web in Korean, if you can't speak korean call the reservation hotline and the people will get someone who can speak English to call you back. Remember to speak slowly!

We rent a Sonata @LPG for 158,000 Won for 2days and an hour including a Super Insurance and tax i think... They included a GPS free of charge but it in Korean. Its was ok with the little Korean i could understand, but if not you can always refer to the picture instructions they give you when you get the car.

The process is quite simple if you have made a reservation in advance.. when you get to the airport just look for the counter give them your name or reservation number they will confirm your car type and then tell you where to take the bus to the rental car office. When you get on the bus, check out your name on the tv screen it should tell you a alphabet and a number- thats where your car is. When you get off you need to go to the office to check your pickup and return and of course pay. Then after all that they will give you a paper and you are supposed to look for your car. An assistant will then help you check that everything is in working order and they will need your signature. Remember to keep the paper they give you, you will need it when you return the car!

CrazyJourney

[crazyjourney]

Trying new food 술빵! One of the teachers bought this and shared it at the 학원. 술빵 (alcohol bread) is made with makgolli and is sold at the local markets. Its slighty sweet and fluffy sprinkled with red beans.

[crazyjourney]

Life is... Trying to be understanding

After living in Korea close to 3 months. I have had many experiences interacting with the locals. There were times when you can be misunderstood, and yet times when the locals just give you favor. The first thing that you will realise when you get to Busan…most people here dont have the confidence to speak english. So when i got here i spoke in my broken korean. Bits and pieces from the dramas i’ve watched and classes i have taken. Most koreans find it really fascinating that i look korean but i speak english which means i am a foreigner. So many times i have had people ask me for directions cause i look korean. I guess thats the plus and minus of looking Asian. Just this morning on the train, an ajusshi asked me why my english is so good cause he thought i was Korean.. When i told him i was a foreigner he was shocked. Then he went to say i looked like a korean teacher and started to explain how many koreans make mistakes with their english grammar… Lols not everyone is that friendly but there are people that like foreigners and are actually friendly…or maybe i’m just lucky!!!! The one thing that i’ve heard that gets on most foreigners nerves…pushing and shoving on the train. People in Busan love to do things fast, which then sometimes comes of as being rude. At first i got quite irritated but then i realized that its just a culture they have and not take it to heart. Some of the foreigners i know here actually makes it a point to bump or shove the person before they get out of the train. I think each country has their own cultures that is somewhat different one to another and there will be times when ys foreigners will have to try to understand them. I have had friends that lived or migrated to another country, and some have come back bitter because they got offended by the culture and people. So after much thought i think i’ll just embrace the culture and learn as much as i can. CrazyJourney

[crazyjourney]

LIFE IS..Getting Fishy

Heard that there was a festival going on at Gwangan Beach in April called 광안리어방축제(Gwanganli Eobang Festival) every year. This year it was held on April 27-29.The main highlight of the festival was 'catching live fish with your hands'. It cost 5,000Won per person and they give you a plastic bag and a towel, you can buy it at the tent next to the inflatable pool. It only happens at a certain time, so be sure to check out the schedule before going down.

Me and my friends decided to try catching fish, the first thing I have to say… getting in the pool is no easy feat the base of the 'pool' they use to contain the fish is made of canvas so it quite slippery. The floor isn’t even either so be careful when running around trying to catch little fish that are really fast and slippery, you can easy fall and drench yourself in very very salty water and then feel like you just got included into the fishy family. Hahahas! Trust me, i totally drench myself before i got out...just because i'm such a klutz. At first i think we tried running after the fishes, but it was really difficult to catch one. Also being the first time i was trying to catch live fish with my hands, every time i caught it i would just let it go. Well, in the end I didn’t manage to catch anything…the locals on the other hand would just get in and catch 2-3 fish at a time. After catching your fish you can head on to a tent near by and they will clean and slice your fish(sashimi style) for no charge at all. 

Along the beach there are other stalls with face painting, popcorn, cotton candy the cotton candy was free but i'm not sure about the others. One of the stalls this year allowed you to make styro-foam fish hats. It was really cute! It cost 5,000Won each and there were about 6 different fish designs for you to choose from and when they get it for you, the staff would make the fish fight with each other before they 'kill' the fish. You get to make the eyes of the fish and glue on the fins. It was super fun wearing it around the festival with people casting jealous stares. LOLS

After lunch, we went to a small amusement park just behind the gwanganli beach. It was small and kinda looked like a 1980’s carnival. We paid 8,000Won for 3 rides. One ride we were eager to try was a ride that would spin and toss you at the same time. After waiting for a loooooong time we finally got to ride it. It was 20mins of pure agony…It practically made you hold on for dear life and you were just a rag doll being thrown. At the end of the 20 mins your arms would have turned to jelly! I was holding on so tight that I had a huge bruise the next day on my arm cause I seriously thought that I could totally be flung off. >.< Anyways this is one thing I would not do on a date…

CrazyJourney

[crazyjourney]

LIFE IS...Appreciating Parents

Found out that today was 어버이날 (Parent's day). Parent's day is every year on the 8th of May. It is a day to appreciate parents and for children to show filial piety. The tradition in Korea is to present your parents with carnations especially red ones that represent filial piety. Just yesterday i was wondering why people were selling carnations at the side of the road....i guess now i know why. Heard from a Korean friend that even though carnations are the tradition gift given to parents on Parent's day, carnations are the one thing that parents do not want to get... Hahahas but i still got my parents a carnation basket :D ㅋㅋㅋ

CrazyJourney

[crazyjourney]

Well, last month it was cherry blossom season, so my family decided to go down to Gwanganli to check it out. It seems that the most famous place in Korea to go to admire the cherry blossom is in JinHae, but its way to crowded to drive or take the train since literally everybody from around korea will be heading there to check out the flowers. So unless you are going with a tour, it will be crazy. I heard that the roads are so crowded you can’t even walk and there is no space to park or go to the toilet…..o.o”

Another thing that I thought was really different in terms of culture… Having been to Japan many times due to my parents work there, I remember there was once when we got to go　花見 (Hanami) or cherry blossom viewing. My friends told me that Japanese culture was to have picnics and gatherings in parks that were covered with cherry blossoms. So my family and I bought Onigiri and some sandwiches from the コンビ二(Convinience Store) and headed to the park. When I asked my Korean teacher if Koreans do the same thing, she said that Koreans just go and literally look at the cherry blossom. I guess its these little differences that make different cultures so interesting!

Despite not being able to go down to JinHae, the flowers here were just as nice. All the roads seemed to be lined with rows and rows of fully bloomed cherry blossoms, it was truly a beautiful sight! The best places in Busan for cherry blossoms are Dalmaji or Gwanganli beach. The cherry blossoms only bloom for 2 weeks and then its bye bye until next year. According to the locals, the end of the cherry blossoms is usually marked by heavy rain. It was really true because it wasn't one of those light drizzles it was like the works. Heavy rain and wind....think typhoon.. No umbrellas will survive! You could literally look like a fool fighting with your umbrella because it blew the wrong way and you're getting wet. 

Anyways the cherry blossoms were really beautiful~! Come by and check it out next year!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!