Korea, Here I Come

Finally, another one of my dreams is coming true. I'll be visiting Korea from 5 - 10 May.
 
Am very excited. Was informed of a much cheaper tour package just a few days ago. I was without a traveling partner to share the accommodation cost but the agency found another female solo traveler just in time on Thursday. Hopefully, I'd get along well with this stranger room mate of mine.

The tour itinerary may not include the places that I really wish to go to if I were to travel on my own but it's good enough for my first visit.

For this trip, I'll be visiting:

• Petite France
• Mount Seorak - Shinheung Temple
• Teddy Bear Farm - Phoenix Park
• Gondola & Sheep Farm - Blue Canyon Waterpark
• Suwon - for kimchi-making and hanbok experience
• Everland
• Lotus Lantern Festival (Lantern parade along Dongdaemun to Jogyesa)
• Namsan Hanok Village & Namsan Park
• Dongdaemun Market
• Blue House - Gyeongbok Palace - National Folk Museum
• Namdaemun Market
• Myeongdong

The above are touristy places commonly found in tour packages. I'm not very keen on the water park and Everland. I'd most likely be snapping pics of these places rather than queuing and taking rides.

The highlight I must say is visiting Mount Seorak and viewing the lantern parade. I wish to see beautiful spring scenery and a colourful local traditional celebration.

What I wish is that I'd get to ride the cable car to the top of  Mt. Seorak and get a bird's eyeview of the mountain. Wonder if I'd still get to see some cherry blossoms (if they are still around at this time).

Besides that, I wish to explore the streets of Dongdaemun, Namdaemun and Myeongdong on my own at a leisurely pace (hopefully) without the tour guide on the second half of Days 5, 6 and 7 and savour some local street food that I've read about.

Can't wait! Hope all goes well with good weather, no yellow dust and no rain, please!

Sang Myung Master Choral Concert

I had the opportunity to attend the Sang Myung Master Choral (SMCC) Concert which was held on Jan 19 at the Auditorium of Sabah Theological Seminary. They were invited by the Sabah Council of Churches and it was also their inaugural performance outside of Korea.

Deb picked me up and drove up the lil hill to the STS hostel. From there we walked up the steps to the new auditorium.

It was my first time there and the spanking new auditorium was impressive!

 

The 25-member choir were led by Chang Eun Im, the conductor, and accompanied by three pianists. The SMMC was founded in 2004 and is composed of vocal major students from the college of music of Sang Myung University.

One of my favourite songs, Nella Fantasia, was sung that night since it is all the rage now in Korea. It is due to a KBS World variety show, The Qualification of Men, which had featured the process of an assembled choir practicing for and participating in a choir competition.

I enjoyed myself so much that night! It was indeed a world class performance of beautiful voices in harmony.

Dalja's Spring

There's always a first time and Sophie was driven enough to go and search for her favourite Korean drama at a few music stores on a Saturday until she found what she was looking for at RM79.90.

Actually, I'm not someone who will reread a book or re-watch a movie and neither do I waste my money on DVD movies or series knowing full well that I'd never watch them again.

But yes, I like this series too much and would like to get a copy for keepsake and view some parts that I've missed.

That night itself, Sophie followed up on the missing episodes and re-watched some poignant scenes.

Oh Dal Ja

Kang Tae Bong

Sophie was kept awake until 5.30 a.m. and continued the series later on Sunday till the wee hours of Monday morning!

Obsessed? Yes.

But she's satisfied now that she has got it out of the way once and for all.

The whole set is now lying idle. Anyone keen to borrow it?

Cross Stitch

When I went out to get lunch for Ma and I, something caught my eyes as I passed by a tiny, corner shop.

I saw a display of cross stitch materials.

Browsing through them made my fingers itch so I decided to get a simple set which includes the cloth, thread and needles. I shall make this my post-exam project.

I used to love cross stitch during my teenage years because I had a friend who was very good in sewing. Seeing all her creative works made me want to pursue it too. However, it cost too much and is very time-consuming and my Ma only allowed me to pursue it after my Form 3 public exam.

Hence, after the exam, I went to some arts and crafts shops in Segama and got myself a very beautiful yet complicated set, bought all the material and thus began my stitching.

Alas, it was too complicated a piece and I gave up within one week. I was also distracted by other more interesting post-exam outdoor activities with my friends.

It was more than one decade later after I'd started working that I continued with my abandoned project during one December holiday. My first cross stitch was completed within two weeks of continuous labour and is now sitting prettily on a chest of drawers in my room.

 My first cross stitch

April 10: Bedroom

I hope this time round I will be disciplined enough to complete my second cross stitch without any delay.

Doughnuts? Yes, please

A kindred spirit has just moved apartment and needed to stock up her brand new fridge. We went for a major grocery shopping spree at Giant, City Mall before ending up at Old Town to have dinner.

I had my usual White Coffee Gao and tried the Hainanese Chicken Chop.

Walking by Big Apple as we made our way to the car park, I just could not resist the temptation of walking into the outlet.

Feasting my eyes on those creamy and colourful doughnuts behind the glass panel just won't do it. I ended up buying half a dozen to be shared with Ma and Kenny. Besides, it has been more than half a year since I last had these sinful treats.

Upon reaching home, I gobbled up two of them. Ma didn't want any and Kenny is not at home so there are another four left.

Can you hear them calling out to you to eat them all? I can...