I meant it when I used the word "Free & Easy". My friend and I didn't even go through any tour agency; all information and booking was done ONLINE. We decided to do this a few months back as we wanted to go on a trip to somewhere faraway on our own, and yet affordable. Since my friend have friends from Korea, so it was our choice.

Just like my previous blog about Taipei & Hong Kong, I shall share my thoughts about the trip instead of what we do and blah blah blah...

1) Free and easy means you need to do your homework before the trip. Therefore, I did some research and even draw up an itinerary. I also visited the Korea Tourism booth at the Travel Fair at Expo a few months ago. The free brochures, guide books & maps which I collected proved to be of great help too. 

2) This is the 1st time I went to a place with Real Winter. I didn't know how much cold my body can tolerate, and so, ended up bringing stuff which I didn't use at all. The following list is created based on me, so it may not apply to you...

• Clothes: Since you won't sweat much / at all during winter, just bring enough to mix & match. 1 good down jacket is enough for a 1 week trip; you just need to air it every night.
• Accessories: I used plastic ear sticks only as I put on ear muffs most of the time. The most important acessory is gloves. I do well without scarf and hat since I can just pull up the hood of my down jacket. There is also no point to wear a necklace what so ever unless you decide to expose your neck and risk getting frost bite.
• Socks/Shoes: Normal cotton socks (not ankle socks!) works for me, even when the temperature went down to -6 degrees celsius. (Not sure if it works for skiing too...) A pair of covered shoes is what you need. For me, I wore my Reebok Sports shoes (for running). You can opt for boots if you are the fashion sensitive type.
• Heat packs / warmers: I didn't use it at all. When I'm really cold, I opt for a hot drink instead. (Cafes are almost everywhere!)
• Electronic devices: You'll need a adaptor as the voltage is different from Singapore. As for handphones, only 3G phones work. Even if you are carrying a 2G phone with autoroam (which I did), it is useless there.
• Skin care: Moisturizer for the face, body and lips it a MUST. I kept reapplying lip balm & gloss to keep my lips from cracking. Basic makeup (all in one foundation, eyebrown pencil & lip gloss) was all I neeeded.

3) The standard of living there is way higher than singapore. Taxi fare starts at 1900 won (SGD3) & jumps 100 won (SGD0.15) each time. You'll need a considerable amount of cash when travelling free & easy. I started off with 255,000 won and had to look for a money changer by the 3rd day. I was lucky to have my VISA, which was my saver during the last day there. 

4) The subway system is much more complicated than our MRT system since there's 8 different lines. To start taking the subway, 1st find out the station and its line of your starting point. Next, find out your destination station and the last station of the line it falls on. (Eg. You are at Tampines station and you are going to Bugis station. The last station in the correct travelling line will be Boon Lay, and you'll be on the East-West line.) Find out the ticket price from the pricing board before buying a one-way ticket at the ticketing booth. After that, follow the signboard carefully to get to the correct platform. You'll need to change lines most of the time, so get off at the correct interchange station.

5) The people there are generally a friendly bunch. However, you may find them just a little rude sometimes as it is not in their culture to apologise for that accidental bump etc. Korean is their main language and if you don't speak even simple pharases, it'll be pretty tough. English & Chinese is more or less useless unless you are lucky enough. Body language is useful. (Eg. showing numbers with your fingers)

6) Shopping and haggering can come together only at certain places. (Eg. Dongdaemon) When the boss offered a price, think of a lower but reasonable price and counter offer just once. If the boss is unwilling to compromise, walk away and the boss will ask you back if he or she wants business. Being a girl, I also found it easier to hagger with young male bosses. *laughs*

7) Street food is another must try. I like egg kimbap the best.  Some Korean food can be found in singapore, but you can still eat them there for a more authentic flavour? Kimchi is provided for free in the eateries and restaurants all the time. Be daring and open to try something new.

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My Korea Trip photos are available here:
http://www.flickr.com/gp/13442933@N06/8Z3vy6    

I welcome all questions and will try to answer them if I could.

Ok, the title is pretty self explanatory since I have not blog for the passed 3 months (again...) But then again, who cares right? *evil laugh* Anyway, back to title, someone was bored on a public holiday afternoon and thus, decide to photograph what she bought recently. The photos can be divided onto 2 categories - Local & Overseas. For those of you who are still clueless, I went to South Korea for 6 days earlier on in the month. I shall divulge more when I get my hands on the complete set of photos! (Wileen, are you reading this?)

...K.O.R.E.A...

I'm a foodie, so that explain the snacks. By the way, this is only PART of what I bought. The rest have ended up in the various stomachs.

As it is now winter in Korea, I could not find clothes that I can wear here. Instead, I found many cute little accessories. I even put my skill of bargaining to the test.  My best bargain was the American Eagles sling bag which I got for 30,000 won (OP: 54,000).

Lollipop: Courtesy of street side stall owner in Myeong-dong 

 
The 14,000 won earring I bought from this arty building where only original, designer items are sold. The ring costs only half the amount of the earring. Besides piggy, I bought another ring which was of the musical note design. (Somebody will get it for Christmas!)

...L.O.C.A.L...

 
Hand-wound musical box I bought from inQbox at Suntec. This lovely little piece of instrument comes in various music. Leanne and me have so much fun turning everyone of them in the shop and I got myself the one which plays the chorus of "My Favourite Things" (Sound of Music). How nice, but intricate things like this do not come cheap... 

Mature fashion is in for me since I can wear it to work & for casual purpose too (if I mix it differently). Care to guess the clothes which I'll wear for Chinese New Year? (No prize even for a correct answer, ok?) 

 
I finally got my 1st set of Ettusais skin care from BHG, Bugis yesterday. Great!! I wanted to try their products since forever, but I didn't have the $$$ to get it last time anyway. One of the perks of working is this! Please ignore my 2nd photo if you wish. However, you may be interested to know how many Watsons I went to before I bought this wet wipes. The original one which I was using is OUT OF STOCK...  

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A long post as compensation. More photos should be coming, besides our Korean trip... There's also our Girl's Outing to Vivo, Leanne's Potluck Party as well as the up coming Christmas celebration!

那英 《白天不懂夜的黑》

我们之间没有延伸的关系

(There is no extended relationship between us)

没有相互占有的权利

(Don’t have the right of having each other)

只在黎明混着夜色时

(Only when the dawn is mixed with the dark)

才有浅浅重叠的片刻

(There’ll be a moment of little intersection)

*白天和黑夜只交替没交换

(The day and night only interchange, not exchange)

无法想像对方的世界

(Cannot imagine what the other’s world is like)

我们仍坚持各自等在原地

(We still insisted on waiting at our own original spot)

把彼此站成两个世界*

(Seperating us into two worlds)

Chorus:

你永远不懂我伤悲

(You will never understand my sadness)

像白天不懂夜的黑

(Just like the day will not understand the darkness of the night)

像永恒燃烧的太阳

(Like the eternal burning sun)

不懂那月亮的盈缺

(Will not understand the changes of the moon)

你永远不懂我伤悲

(You will never understand my sadness)

像白天不懂夜的黑

(Just like the day will not understand the darkness of the night)

不懂那星星为何会坠跌

(Don’t understand why the stars fell)

Repeat **

Chorus

Chorus

不懂我伤悲就好像白天不懂夜的黑

(Don’t understand my sadness is just like the day will not understand the darkness of the night)

In case you are wondering about the title, it's not me who got married. It's my 2nd sis... Finally, a wedding in my family. I'll just give a quick timeline of the wedding. Refer to the photos & captions for more!

(Pre-wedding: Getting our nails ready & pretty for the day...)

Wedding Day - 23/06/07 (Sat)
5am The Bride & Bridesmaid, as well as the rest of the family (beside me), got up before the makeup artist comes.
6.30am Arrival of makeup artist with her helper, to get the Bride & Bridesmaid ready for the start of the wedding.
7am I only woke up now...


(The makeup artist resembles the taiwan artist, Xiao Qiao by the way...)

8.40am Our relatives who came for the morning Tea Ceremony started to arrive at our house.


(Relatives)

9.30am The Groom came to pick up his wife-to-be, but of course, there'll be some hurdles to overcome before he got into the house.


(Photos for memories)

10.30am Tea Ceremony at the Groom's House
12pm Tea Ceremony & Refreshments at the Bride's House
2.15pm Church Wedding & High Tea Reception


(My father walked my sister down the aisle; church choir singing hymns; the super lovely flower boy & flower girl...)

5pm Back home, everyone "fought" for the make-up artist to get ready for the wedding dinner.


(Shots of myself , showing that I can be a little "zi-lian"...)

7.10pm Me helping out at the reception while guest started to come in.
8.30pm - 10.30pm Wedding dinner
11.30pm End / Home sweet home

The above pics were all that I have. Only the photographer attached to the wedding has the complete collection, which hopefully I'll be able to post again. We received alot of help that day, like the bridesmaid, best man, friends, neighbours, relatives, make-up artist, photographer, drivers... A BIG thanks to all of them for making the wedding Great!

I can't really remember this blog recorded how many of my birthday celebrations. But 21, is a special number. To me, it means you are a adult. You can go anywhere, watch all the R21 shows, get married without your parents consent etc etc. However, it also means you are totally responsible for yourself. Whatever you do, no excuse at all... No wonder I was feeling the anxiety a few days before my birthday.

******

Since I was having seperate celebration, I met up with Leanne on friday (15/6) & collected my birthday cake along the way. We wanted to watch Spider Lilies (starring Rainie Yeung) but there were no suitable timeslot. We shopped around and had dinner at Crystal Jade instead. It was a simple evening, but it was a important eve for me.

16/06/2007 is the big day where I started the day with my "cake cutting ceremony". Only 3 of my friends managed to eat my marvellous cheese cake (from N.Y.D.C) with me. But thankfully, I still have my family with me. Afternoon was spent singing at KBox & the highlight of the day was done in the late evening. The Food Game A.K.A Shi Zi Lu Kou was played at Marina Square, in which my team lost as we couldn't find 1 of the food items... Turns out I have a taste of my own forfeit, the super sour Honey Lemon juice... And the day ended with more eating, chit chatting & photo taking at a restaurant in City Link.

Overall, the whole affair was simple yet close to heart. No big gatherings, no chalet or what so ever. Maybe you may feel that it's nothing special. But to me, quality is definitely more important than quantity...  Photos coming up soon!