Back Frm Korea!!!
Friday, December 23, 2005 9:36 AM
Hehe, I'm back! Honestly, i miss Korea! Really, i almost cried on the plane back. I really LOVE Korea! haha. I dunno y, maybe is the feeling i get there. I feel tat Koreans r really nice. The tour guide is really good, jovial, fun, caring, very hospitality. haha... It's good wif him arnd. haha...
The first day i reached, the customs there r REALLY slow! esp the 1 in my queue. I put my passport there in front of him, he did nth, nt even look @ my passport, he den lift his hand to rub his faceplay wif the mouse a bit, den finally take my passport. I'm very fed up. Den he slowly open my passport (n i mean real slow) den look @ it, den keep flipping the pages to find 1 pg to stamp. He flipped 4 several times finally stop @ a pg. Den he slowly pick up his stamp n stamp on my passport. Den he slowly give me back my passport. U noe, all dis process, frm waiting to getting my passport stamped, i waited 4 over 45mins! over 45 mins!! crazy! Den we went to claim our luggage.When we went out, we saw our tour guide. Our grp has no tour leader, so the guide acts as a leader cum guide.When he spoke, i tot his a China guy. Cuz he has the China ppl accent. But den, i realise he's a Korean Chinese. haha... 3rd generation of Korean Chinese residing.
After we got out of the Incheon Int'l Airport, we went straight to Gimpo Airport, where we took a domestic flight to Jeju. Jeju is a very beautiful place!When we reach Jeju, it was already afternoon, so we went to have lunch. We had wild boar meat 4 lunch.The meat is very tender n Q. After tat we went straight 4 sightseeing. First up, we went to see the rocks tat is made by the lava frm valcano eruption thousands of yrs ago. Nxt we went to see the waterfall. It is said to be the beautiest waterfall in Korea. Indeed it is. Althou the weather is very cold, i did manage to touch the water. haha.... it was sooooo cold! The way down is relatively easy, but the way up is nt! U have ot climb all the steps up n those steps r nt smooth. Some r higher dan others n all these stairs r very steep. We were all panting when we got up. haha....
Nxt we went to climb a hill it is called sth i can't remember. The veiw is very beautiful when we reach the top. But it is nt easy to climb. haha.... I'm stopping very few flight of steps. The steps r high n steep. you have to be very careful when climbing. When we finally reach the top, the scene is indeed very beautiful. The ocean below n the rocks, wow..... The sad thing is tat, i only brought 1 camera down, tat is the film cam, i left my digi cam on the bus. haiz.... When we reach half top, the film finish n i didn't bring any xtra. so when we got to the top, i didn't managed to get any pic. On the way down, it's nt tat easy too. cuz yer muscle is already very tired, n sore. So when u climb down the steps, yer muscle tend to nt control, so u muz walk each step very carefully, or else you may roll down the steps instead of walking down. It started to snow when we're halfway down. Jeju is nt well know to snow, But 4 dis 2 yrs, it snow. The guuide said last yr was the 1st time it snowed since 60 yrs ago.
When we came back down, it was a like a little past 5pm, but the sky was already starting to darken. At the shop there, we bought some chocos, which is said to be Jeju's local delights. After dis, we still had 1 more attractions to go, which is Dragon Head's Stone. But by the time we reach there, the sky is already dark n the time is only like 5:45pm. N the sky seem to be like 10pm. The wind is blowing very very strongly. It was so strong tat if u jump up, u may be blown away. It true, i almost lost my footing even when i'm standing. Those shops nearby, the metal door (those metal gates tat's used by those shops) were shuttering, almost being blown away. Only my family n another couple followed the guide to to edge of the landing. The rest of the grp stood way back near the bus. We're suppose to walk down the steps to see the stone, but it was way sooooo cold n windy, none of us dare to risk being blown away into the sea by walking down to steps. Thou i'd love to see, but none wanted to go down, so i couldn't go either.
Den we went to the hotel n check in to put our stuffs, b4 heading 4 dinner. The restaurant is within walking distance frm the hotel, so we walked there. We had seafood steamboat 4 dinner. We sat the Korean traditional way. The table is very low, we sat on a cushion n crossed-legged. The steamboat warm up our body. Tat's the 1st time i eat steamboat without any sweat. haha.... After dinner, it's free time. We're dismissed @ the front door of the restaurant. Some may want to walk arnd, while others may want to go back to hotel. We decided to walk back to the hotel 4 an early rest, but nt b4 we stopped by the minimart to get sth first. We stayed @ the hotel called Oriental Hotel Jeju. The hotel is pretty nice, the room is quite spacious. We fell asleep almost immediately after shower. The nxt morn, we woke up relatively early arnd 6am, to catch the 8:25am flight back to Korea mainland.
Back @ Gimpo Airport, we den hop on the bus to begin another 6 days of tour. By then, a photographer Xiao Di joined us. He's to help us take photos, n serve us, motive is only 4 us to buy his photos. haha.... He's quite ke lian lah, have to help us wif our luggage, den mealtime have to help serve us, like refill our rice, side dish n drinks. Den when we're almost done, he den went to have his meal. From Gimpo Airport, we went to Everland n Caribbean. Everland is the location where Hong Dou Nu Zhi Lian was shooted. 1st we took a cable care down to Animal Kingdom, where we saw the local breed animal, a "Liger" or "Tigon" it is a mix breed of Lion n Tiger. The results of these 2 is an animal tat looks like a Lioness, wif faint tiger strips. N of course, it has the temper of dese 2 animals too. Even more fierce. But dis animal cannot reproduce. So it'll have to die without any heir. If Everland wans to produce dis animal, dey have to put a baby lion n tiger together when dey're juz a cub. So tat dey'll produce feelings.
After which we're on our own. We went to take some rides, but each is limited to only 5 rides. I took a rollercoaster wif 2 1/2 turns. Lunch we ate Pork Cutlet Rice. Frm den, i realise i hate my father. He'd been walking without aim, n without reading the map. I wanted to ride another rollercoaster which rails is on top, instead of below, tat leaves yer feet dangling in mid air. My father den walk her n there, n in the end, he lead us to the main gates. It was almost time so i give up riding tat. I'm so angry wif him tat i didn't talk to him. I went away to shop on my own, knowing tat wif either of my parents, i'll nt be able to get anything. So i walk off on my own. N i bought 3 hp strap. 1 for Jo n Jan each, n 1 for me. When i'm done, i went out to find them, resutting to find em missing. So i walk a while longer to the gates, finding em hiding in a corner eating popcorn. When i walk towards em, dey pretend nt to notice me, my sis didn't even care to offer me popcorn. In a fit, i walk off once more into another shop. Soon my sis come find me. We walked thru a few shops, when we came back to the location, we can't find em. So i went to buy a popcorn and share if wif my sis. She even walk arnd like a fool to try find em. When dey finally came back, we saw my sis had a bag in her hands, wif a bear inside. We complain tat we wan it, i walk in to a shop, trying to find 1, but my sis said she dun wan it anymore. when i found 1 i wanted, my father den say dun wan, he said tat if got use, den buy, if no use, den dun buy. hearing tat, i'm fed up, so i didn't buy. Isn't dis an obvious favourtism?
Actually we're suppose to meet @ 3:30 to go over to Caribbean, but den halfway thru, we rec'd notice tat the Caribbean closes @ 3pm for renovation works. So in the end, we didn't get to go to Caribbean, n we spend 1 more hr in Everland. Juz b4 lunch, we came across a parade. My sis, dunno y she suddenly brought her digi cam down, recorded most of the parade. haha.... As the weather is cold, the batt life is shortened, she managed to only shoot half of it. The parade casts consist mostly ang mos. The guys r all very handsome wor. haha....
After Everland, we headed towards the Ski Resort. B4 tat, we stop over @ a ski rental store to rent our ski attire n goggles. After which, we went to a restaurant 4 dinner. Initially dis dinner is supposed to be on our own, but den the guide suggest to have it together, n eveyone agrees, so we went to a restaurant nearby. We had BBQ pork 4 dinner. The traditional way is take a pc of leaf (i tink is lettuce) den take a pc of BBQ pork, dipped wif a kinda souce, den add a pc of kimchi wrap it up n stuff it into yer mouth in a whole. It yummy thou. hehe.... Another traditional way is tat take a pc of seaweed, n put it on top of yer rice, n use yer chopsticks to wrap the seaweed wif some rice n eat it. After dinner, we went to the Ski Resort. We stayed @ the hotel call Phoenix Park. It's the location where Winter Sonata n Qiu Tian De Tong Hua was filmed. We had an early night, n the nxt day we went to ski! Which i dread it.
After breakfast, we went to rent our ski boots, boards, n sticks. The boots were super super heavy. When we put up the shoes, we had difficulty walking. But still we managed to walk all the way to the snow. The guide teaches us how to wear the boards, n everything we shld noe. Soon, it's time to ski! @ first it was still ok, den after a while, we feel the urge to go to the toilet. So we went n came back. But den i already lose the desire to ski anymore. So i juz walk arnd n help my sis to get her foot on the boards. It was den time 4 lunch. We took our boards n sticks n walk towards indoor. Near the door, i slipped n fell. *looks @ my leg* I can feel my bones twisted. Couldn't move my legs. My father went to find the guide. Nobody there helped. i stay lying on the snow n my mother keep massaging my knee. Wat seems like 30 mins, finally there's a guy who help us inform the patrol car. Soon after he came back n left, the tour guide came. He ask if anyone went to call 4 help, we told him tat there's a guy went to call a patrol car. He said to wait 4 him here n nt to move n went off. Soon after he left, a guard came. Den help came. I was being help to the stretcher when the tour guide came back wif a wheelchair. The partol car drove me to the medical center. At the medical center, a doc (a she doc) came attend me. The tour guide help to translate. She examined my leg n den said it's ji rou la shang, nothing serious. Helped me put a cast to support my leg. After the cast is set, i'm out of the medical center. The Xiao Di came juz b4 the doc help me put cast. He help push me on wheelchair back to hotel. I admit, i'm rather heavy. Up the slope, he's having a little difficulty, the tour guide have to help him. The tour guide even joked tat he'll have tat Xiao Di to carry me 4 the rest of the trip. HAHA....
When we got back to our room, i dun have to key to my room, n my sis r nt in there, so i ended up in my parents room. Dey left me there n Xiao Di brought my father to buy the spray. When he came back, my sis n mom came back. Dey went to buy some instant noodles. After which, i went back to my room n sleep. No one even bother to help me over to my room, i have to limp all the way back myself. No one even bother to ask how is my leg. I stayed there til night, when my mother brought some instant noodles over. Den my father came over n tried to help me wif my injury, but i wouldnn't let him. Of course NT!!! If he did it, who noes wat'll happened to my leg. After a while, my mother come over n wans to help me wif it. Initially i dun wan, i dun wan to move the banage. Dey dun even noe how to bandage back. But in the end, my mother still help me unbandage. She even remove the cast. The nxt morning, the guide ask where is my cast, my mother said she removed it. The guide was surprised and said tat the cast is to help prevent my leg muscle to move tat much, n to protect it. U see how much damage can an inexperience person cause? nothing wil matter if i dun let em touch. Haiz....
From there, we continue our way to Mt Sorak. My father being oversuspicious, requested the tour guide to stop over at a hostpital to get an x ray. Actually the medical center doc said nothing serious le. He still won't believe it. The first stop is a Yun Shan Temple (or sth like tat) i stayed on the bus. Den, after tat, we went 4 lunch. After lunch, the bus stopped over @ a hostpital, n get my leg x-rayed. The tour guide drop me there n said sth to the staffs there, n left, continue wif the tour. i went ahead wif the x-ray, den i'm told to lie on the bed. Dey tried to tell my father sth, but ji tong ya jiang, can't understand each other, so i have to wait. Dey didn't do anything. I only lie on the bed all the time. Finally wat seems like an hr, dey came back frm Mt Sorak to pick me up. The tour guide was surprised n a bit (i mean a bit) angry tat nothing was done. Den the doc there explaine my condition to the tour guide, n he den explain to my father. He ask if i wanted to have a bandage again, my father said dun wan. N in the end, i lied on the bed 4 nothing. The doc said tat he'll prescribe some medicine 4 me. When i got down to wear my shoes, my father is sooo anxious tat he scretch out his hand to take my shoes, which cause his hand to knock on my injured leg. I'm so angry tat i almost cried. I can't believe tat i have dis kinda father. I feel really ashamed of him. After which, we continue wif the tour. B4 dinner, the tour guide feel bad of us nt having a go @ the hot spring, we brought us to a hotel, where it's famous 4 it's hot spring. The bus parked @ the parking lot, n it took us like 3 mins to get to the main door. 4 me it took me like 8 mins to limp there. It was freezing cold. I'm wearing only a long john n long sleeve shirt, didn't bring my coat along cuz i tot is only a few steps. When i got into the lobby, the tour guide saw me and ask if i only wear tat thick. i nod my head n he shake his. Haha....
@ nite, after dinner, b4 gng to hotel, we went to the famous seafood mkt to get some sashimi. I wanted to eat the raw octopus, tat even after u cut it up, it's still moving. haha.... In the end, the octopus is sold out, n my father bought nothing. Haiz.... When we went to the hotel, the room was "tatami" type, mean traditional old way. No bed, only the matress tat u lay out on the floor. Tat nite, the tour guide said those who wanna a good drink can go to his room. In the end, the whole grp went to his room. He didn't care if u noe how to drink. When i went in, he push a cup to me, n pour sake into my cup. Sake nor. The drink is sweet, but oso a bit bitter. haha.... I tried to keep my cup away frm him, but still he force another cup to me. haha.... Den, i had a go on Choya too. The plum is bitter, but the drink is sweet. In the end, my sis n i slipped away to go back to our room. haha.... Dey didn't even realise tat we're gone even until after the party. The tour guide's superior called him to meet up, n the guide invited my father along. Dey went to the hotel where we went 4 hot spring.
Nxt morning we woke up very early in the morning as we need to get to Seoul. After breakfast, we went on a 4 1/2 hrs long journey to Seoul. When we reach Seoul it's already afternoon, so we went 4 lunch. After which, we went to "Jing Fu Gong" a palace left behind by early days. After which, we went to Lotte World. It is an amusement park, with both Outdoor n Indoor. We didn't went outdoor, partly cuz i can't really walk, n partly cuz it wayyyyy too cold outside. So we stayed indoors. We took a monorail to tour the World, outside is very beautiful. With all the lights lighted. Indoors, there's a horse merry-go-round, which is the Stairways to Heaven location. We went 4 dinner, which is oso Pork Cutlet Rice. After which, we went 4 the laser show. Nice but nt really impressive. After which, we went back to hotel. We stayed in Novotel Gungnam. It's @ Jiang Nan, part of Seoul. The nite life there is very busy. A lot of pubs there.
Nxt morning, we woke up n have breakfast, den we went to a place where dey sell Amreicans 2nd hand stock or fake stocks. Den we went to the ginseng specialist store. There, my father bought a few boxes of ginseng powder n essence. Den we went to a store which sells medicine specially 4 liver. Nxt we went to Purple Crystal Specialist store. There's i bought a necklace which cost over US$600, but after discount is US$325. haha... Den we went to the World Cup Stadium. We went 4 lunch nxt. After which, we went to Xin Chun Nu Ren Jie. The stuffs there r mostly clothes, winter clothes. I wanted to buy a few pairs of sports shoes, but den, it's nt really tat cheap down there. N i can't really walk far, so only walk a couple of streets only. After which, we went to another palace, but by the time we got there, it's already close 4 the day. So we carried on to go 4 dinner. It's a candlelight dinner wif Santa Clause on a boat. Haha.... guess wat, the Santa is tat Xiao Di pose one. haha.... It's was yet another Prok Cutlet Rice. HAHA... I'd been eating Pork cutlet Rice 4 3 days. haha.... Den we went back to hotel.
It's the last day of the trip. Our flight is 4:15pm one. Early morning, we're suppose to be free, but den the tour guide added in a lot of trips 4 us, so we have to wake up very early in the morning. First, after breakfast, we went to Ming Dong. It's a place where there's quite a num of branded shops. But we got there the most of the shops still nt open yet. The tour guide says maybe it's cause it's cold out here. Indeed, tat morning, it's snowing rather heavily. The tour guide says tat when he came to the hotel tat morning, it's snowing rather heavy. By the time he got to the hotel, he's soaked. So we ended up sitting in a coffee shop drink coffee. The tour guide soon joined us, followed by another grp of 4. After it's time to gather, we went to the palace tat was closed by when we gt there yesterday. After tat we headed towards the Airport. But b4 tat, we went to the tu chan dian to buy some local delights. I wanted to buy those instant noodles, but den, my mother says dun wan cuz we didn't eat tat much, n dey sell in boxes, nt packets. 1 box 40 pkts. Den we went to the airport. There, the tour guide help us check in, den see us off into the checkpoint. I already starting to miss Korea when i pass the checkpoint. Haiz....
I'd love to go back to Korea when i can, n i'll wan to specify tat tour guide take us again. Haha.... He's really good. Honest I miss him. :P But dun get the wrong idea. He's married wif a daughter. haha.... I miss him like a brother. He's really caring, etc.