Day 2 Korea : Mount Sorak

I woke up fairly early this morning, but feeling much better as compare to the groggy me yesterday. Surprisingly the room was very warm, not due to the non existent heater but the heated floor. Our beds were warmed all night long with this centralized floor heating. The ducting actually runs along all the commonly walked path within the room.

I then opened up the glass door facing outside to find out what's outside. That is really the usual thing I do. What place is better to observe the surrounding up above than being in a multi story high hotel?

Dawn slowly brightens up the sky. From far, this whole place is actually situated between mountainous region. The mountains afar seemed so barren and unfriendly.

Nearby hills with trees are covered with dotted snow. I guess it didn't snow last night.

After having breakfast from hotel, we continue our journey to the Soraksan National Park.

I can't say I like this place. Especially during the cold unwelcoming winter times where all the trees were bald and boring. Since that it was so cold in the morning, the number of people seen walking around here were less as well.

We took all the pictures we need near the entrance, then quickly walked to the cable car station to take a ride up to the highest point. It was not that high actually, but due to the harsh weather all year round, the surrounding mountains are all very steeps and rocky. Looking kinda scary to me!

Apparently after approaching the top station, the journey didn't end here!

We've got to walk like 10 mins more up hill on rubber covered pathway. Along the walk, can see that the slopes were iced up, all together with soil and dried leaves and grass. Can't imagine if I have got to walk on this without any protection!

Not sure what this means here, but I guess must something like "Don't play football here"

The scariest part of this whole place was when I arrived the highest point!

The ravine looks too deep but walking on top of this non slippery big rocky platform, no handles were offered! No grill around as well. I always know myself have fear of heights, but it is only here I found myself truly shivering all over. Erm, not till the point I shit on my pants, but you get the idea...

Some of us here are totally comfortable of being on top the world though!

Next was strolling around the Soraksan Temple nearby the vicinity.

Not much here really. A big copper Buddha statue looking so aged with the green rust on it, and nearby the temples building. The scenery around here as you might already know, are the rocky mountains around. So it can be quite a beautiful view to some of us.

No food, no cafe, but with a small souvenir kiosk. There are some roadside stalls selling tidbits, and the local women sitting on the floor offering stuffs from the mountain.

We then went down the mountain back to the town.

Day 1 Korea : Saying Hi to Jewel of Palace

Brrr.... cold...

That was the first impression when we stepped out from the Incheon Airport in Korea. There were even traces of snow on the road, cum with slippery water all around.

Winter is not fun in reality I thought myself. All these slippery water will get iced up tonight, and it shall then be very dangerous to walked on. Didn't that Dr. Atkins died from concausion, coz he slipped from walking the iced pavement?

Anyways, enough of that...

YES, I am finally here at Seoul alas.

All groggy as usual, due to the midnight flight

First thing first, we were all whisked to the MBC Studio where the drama -- Jewel of the Palace was filmed. The studio was like 1 hour or more on bus journey from the Airport. So it was quite fortunate for us all to catch 40 winks along the way. Kinda unusual that we didn't get to see the City first but instead go outskirt.

This place really mean little to anyone that doesn't watch the show really. In actual fact, the studio look very small compare to what I had in mind. Guess the director and the producer were excellent in trying to squeeze as many scenes as possible by filming from different angle!

The kitchen still looks well equipped, and comes with props as well as sample dish... heh.

Guess what's the King having tonight?

Got to admit, photos taken in cold climate on a sunny day seemed to look better. Me think it is due to the excess UV presence in the sky minus out the humidity.

The studio office is not far from sight, most likely that's where all the actors and actresses shake legs on day not their part to work on.

So, what issit like to be in the mid winter in Korea? Well... for starter, the scenery mostly look boring, with browned grumpy looking bushes, miserable bald trees...

And SNOW OF COURSE!

They are everywhere, traces of them...

I have seen snow before, but I still feel a little excite seeing it again. That is the symptom of staying in tropical country for too long!!

Next... we moved on to northern part where the mountainous region lies. Had a very good beef bulgogi lunch (no pics) on the way there. We were all thinking we could survived with such good meal treats like this the next few days, but we were wrong! I will narrate that on another time with long grandmother story when I have time that is...

We arrived at the Mt. Sorak (Mount Sorak, Sorak san) Daemyoung Resort that late evening.

We quickly fed ourselves with dinner and we were all given a treat to the Hot Spring at the resort! No pics here, but I can tell you it was well worth the USD9 ticket paid for us to get in!

There were a few big pools inside piped in with sulfur rich water from the source. All with different temperature ranging from ice cold to ultra hot, and some of them even have water jet sprays acting like a spa and jacuzzi. A genuine treat for a tire soul like me!

Was sad that we didn't get to take pictures while feeding ourselves to the Dr. Fish at a special area. Had to pay like USD2 extra to get into the pool with small carnivorous fishes. These fishes loves to nibble on dead cells on our body. It didn't take that long before my feet were covered with hundreds of them. It feels very very ticklish, kinda like small electric jolts, erm... even like static shock per se. Haha...

But I do have pics to show you a typical Korean style resort where family of six can stay comfortably.

With a kitchen to cook instant noodles (Gosh they do love that... me too :-D)

In actual fact, I think this unit can easily sleep 20 people as there was any specific bed present. All we have to do is pull the futon-like mattress from the cabinet and viola -- you get your bed.

I didn't like sleeping on hard floor, but unfortunately is that for the next few days of my trip here we were sleeping on floor every night.

I tried putting more layers underneath but so far such attempt proved to be futile. I only got to roll on the real spring mattress when we went back to Seoul and check into Novotel. I do know some of my colleagues was still put to sleep on the floor while in Novotel and I am very glad it wasn't me. Ouch! Poor me on my back...

Next : Day 2 Korea - Mount Sorak, Seeing MORE MORE SNOW !!!

Life on fast lane

At blink of eye, it is already approaching February. Looking back at month of January, I realized I still have not finish a lot of things and there are even more coming before CNY.

It seems just days ago I came back from Korea at end of December. Just got my bonus, and already quite a large part been deducted from it for this trip. Company is merely sponsoring RM2000 for the trip, thus we all have to fork out RM1400 something to top it up. I guess it wasn't so bad, considering we all had a lot of fun while we were there for the whole 5 days 4 nights.

Anyway, still don't have the inspiration to blog yet. Perhaps I should since that I would be going to Hangzhou, Suzhou and Shanghai soon. Gosh, I am trill to think about the possibility to the complex canal in Suzhou and WuZhen. Though I might end up being coaxed into buying low quality made-in-chine souvenirs, but the thought of being in the metropolitan of Song Dynasty really brings a lot of romanticism feel all over me. Heh...

Trips will need $$ and that really bring the thoughts back to where am I gonna get $$ for all these short term enjoyment. Although my bonus really ain't bad this year, but there were all these prior commitments that I have promised upon myself. It is just another blink of eyes, and there aren't that much to play around after all. I am pretty sure that the Internal Revenue Board is going to be happier knowing that I start to contribute to our country a lil more serious this year. Gosh, I just hate that thought... especially seeing how our $$ are being spent ridiculously on all kinds of projects. Sigh...

Enough of rambling about, I guess I will just go play some reflexive game -- Farm Frenzy to make all these silly thoughts go away. Call it running away from reality, but I am gonna spent some time on this for the whole evening.

How Did I Celebrated The Arrival of 2008

While everyone was all up around the Bukit Bintang Area, hmmm... KLCC, Putrajaya (?), Mark and I decided that it is best to stay away from these areas as we would like a rather quiet but enjoyable night out.

At first, we thought just to massage away the tiredness by going to a real real Thai Massage at South City Plaza. But as we were about to finish, the girls suddenly fled away without even saying goodbyes. To our surprise, the massage place was being raided by police. The policemen detained us back by taking our IC with them for inspection purpose.

I find the whole episode rather ridiculous, as it is the first time having my identity card being inspected on like some suspicious-looking customer that come to look for sex as if. Coupled to the fact that we were being treated disrespectfully during the whole process. I was lucky to have my clothes on when one of the policemen just flip over the curtain to see what's goin on inside.

So much for the police raiding. Mark swears that he is definitely not going to that shop again, and I totally agree to that.

We then feel hungry and quickly drove to Asia Cafe for a quick bite. Even at the Asia Cafe, the cafe operators were busy blowing horns awaiting the arrival of a whole new year. What an interesting place to be at! There were people came distributing confetti gift set, then later on followed by ice cream. I really enjoyed the new year eve mood there, and perhaps forgetting the whole police episode as well. Too bad there wasn't this one person shouting to count down with the customer. Haha!!!

Kaya Toast at quiet Kampung Cina, Kuala Terengganu - Mingstar Hotel

Came to Kuala Terengganu when the whole of East Coast was submerge in water as if!! The rain never seemed to stop at all for the whole two days.

George the engineer was suppose to fix a machine in Universiti Darul Iman in Terengganu, so I had to wait for him. Since his wife happens to be in Terengganu, George promised me a very nice breakfast the next day. Heh.

As for the night, his wife recommended this nice cozy little hotel call Mingstar. I was almost going to stay at the run down Permai Inn that charge RM160++ a night but felt luckly to check into this one instead.

Mingstar is very new but does not lack of the routine facilities. I paid RM138 nett a night for a Deluxe Room that actually fit a family of 4! It has got lift service too although just a mere 5-story shoplot.

Card Access Door

CCTV

Wooden floor finishing

Ultra spacious, sparkling clean toilet with hot shower

Apart from there, there's free broadband internet in the room. Just ask for the ethernet cable from the front desk for free. Later on I also found 4 tin cans of drinks and two small bags of peanuts complimentary. What a treat really!

Mingstar Hotel can be rearched here: http://mingstarhotel.com/

Next morning, George and wife came pick me up for breakfast. We drove to Kampung Cina and stopped at the wife's father coffee shop.

They ordered me a standard Kaya Toast with Half Boiled Eggs and Coffee.

Apparently their Small Buns with Kaya is very famous in Kuala Terengganu! The Malay macik toasted 4 small bun at a go on the charcoal stove, and then laid on the plate with loads of kaya and margerine spread. The customer help themselves with however much of Kaya and margerine they like.

George says that even the half boiled eggs were requested as takeaway! How hard issit to make half boiled eggs really?

After that I ordered myself a bowl of meehoon with shredded chicken in black looking herbal soup. It is quite tasty, not too much salt. The herbal tasting isn't bitter at all, somewhat reminded me the mild version of Bah Kut Teh. Go figure yourself!

How to get there: I also dunno how to direct you there, but... Go into the main entrance of the Kampung Cina (One way street I think), pass by the Golden Dragon restaurant on your right and the T-junction. Then you will see this small little looking coffee shop right next to another small little junction on your right.

It opens only till about 11am everyday. Lunch time then followed by this auntie that fried fairly good noodle, as blogged by this other guy I found on the net.

http://eatingasia.typepad.com/eatingasia/2006/01/marvelous_mee_i.html