Saturday 9 August 2008
6.30am I arrived at Seoul Incheon International Airport. It's drizzling outside. But it doesnt affect me at all. =) We took the airport limo-bus to our motel. Pleasant ride,I fell asleep. After checking in,the first place I dashed to is the bathroom. I need a nice warm bath to clean myself.
So at 1pm,we set off exploring Korea. But the weather was really bad that day,it keeps raining non stop. *sigh*.We shop around Dong Dae Mun in the afternoon. And I saw a very cute shop in Cerestar which the theme is a Bear. I fell in love with the Big Bear standing by the door and when I looked inside the shop,I saw a cuter guy standing inside. WOW! How nice! A cute shop with a cute guy! =) I was grinning at myself. Hahaha.But I didnt went in and explore,I decided to come back another day. We are shopping at Myeong Dong on the first night. It's a nice place to shop but blame that weather,it spolit EVERYTHING! We were drenched. So we decided to find a nice warm place for dinner. And this chicken shop caught our attention,we had Ginseng Chicken for dinner. Yumm-licious! I paid S$14 for that bowl of chicken! Oh well~~ Totally exhuasted on the first day,I slumped on my bed and fall asleep straight away.
Second day,I woke up at 8am. The sun has already risen and the weather is good. Today,we are visiting their Palace or known as "Gung". We passed by Starbucks Coffee, so in we go! I had my breakfast there and took some photos also. After that we continue to find our palace. Well, I have to vent my fustration abit on this. The Palace which we are suppose to visit is just ahead according to the signboard,but my colleagues insist that we should turn right. I disagree,but they wouldnt listen to me. Well,as they are all older than me in age which is 40+,I am the youngest there,so I couldnt say much. In the end we took so many detours and we came back to where we start. And it PROVED that I was R-I-G-H-T from the very beginning!!! Walk STRAIGHT and we wouldnt have wasted so much time on that stewpid Palace. And inside the Palace is totally boring! *Groans!* Nothing much really,inside the Palace. I wouldnt have gone there if my colleagues hasnt insisted on going. We went to a market,I cant remember the name of that street though. It's a long stretch of street that sells lotsa Korea stuffs,basically Korea Cultural street. A nice place to get sourvenirs,but I didnt buy much.Only spend 15000Won there. Nothing much to buy for me. So we went back to our motel for a nice shower before we head for our next location. After a short break at our motel,we decided to go back to Myeong Dong again that night. I went to Hanskin,Face Shop,Skinfood,Tony Moly and Etude House...all the famous skin care shop in Korea. Hehehe, manage to swipe off all kinds of BB Cream off their shelves. I spent 110,000Won that night,which is as good as S$150. XD Had Pizza for dinner that night. I cant really accept Korean food,they taste disgusting to me. *my bad..* I still havent got any shirts for myself yet.
Third day,my colleagues decided to go to another place which sells lotsa local Korea food. Like I say,Korean's food doesnt appeal me alot,so I decide not to join them. Instead I stay in the motel to pack my lugguage abit,then I set off to Dong Dae Mun again. I have to go to that Bear shop again.I just have too... It was 11am when I reach there. It's still very early as Korea shopping centres only open at 10.30am. Straight away,I went to the bear shop,it's known as Teenie Weenie. I bought a shirt there...and the cute guy had a small convo with me. Below is the convo:
Me: "How much is this shirt? "
Guy: "19000W"
Guy: "May I ask you,where are you from?"
Me: "I'm from Singapore."
Guy: "You came here for a tour?"
Me: "Yep! I work in the airline,so I get to fly around for almost free. =)"
He seems a little takenback by the fact that I worked in the airline.Maybe I dont have those kind of pretty looks. Hahaha...So I left the shop. And began strolling around,but nothing else caught my attention,only the bear shop. I went back again. This time though,he is very busy.There were at least 10 people inside now,from China,cause I heard them speaking Chinese,so I know. he saw me again and smile at me. I smile back. And I started shopping again in the shop. I decided to buy a shirt for everyone in my family from this shop. I found another shirt for myself,one for my mummy and another for my daddy,but none for my brother. But the sizes were not right,I need him to get me the right sizes. But he was really really busy. So I passed the clothes that I want to him and told him : "You seems to be very busy now. Help me reserve this and I will come back later. =)" He smile and said sorry.
So I went walking around again. It's boring as I have nothing to look at. But I got a t-shirt from Aden,it's cheap,only 15000Won = S$22. And also a Pink & Sliver Hp pouch for Peishi. * I wonder if she would like it??!!* Anyway I went back to that shop again. He is still busy,but with the last 2 groups of customers only now. They are all paying for their clothes already. He saw me and apologise again. Hahaha...I say no worries,take your time. I saw a chair in the shop and decide to sit down there and play with the chair,by turning left and right. Finally,my turn!
Me: " Can you get me M size for this and L for this?"
He began searching inside his storeroom.
Me: " Why is it only you alone in the shop?"
Guy: "The manager is here,but I not sure where he went."
Me: "You speak pretty good English,are you Korean?"
Guy: "You think so? You think I speak good English?" *I nod my head* And he continues, "I am Korean. But I spend ten years in Hawaii. I just visited my bro in Arizona last few weeks."
How cool!
Well,he got the wrong size of shirt for me.he went into the storeroom again. And somewhere,a phone rang. He thought it was his phone and came running out and ask me if the phone rang. I laughed at him and shake my head...Hahaha...How cute!
So I asked him," Are you still a student?"
Guy: "In Korea,yes,I am a student. I am 22 in Korea age."
I gave him a blur look and asked : "What's Korean age?"What's the different with your normal age?"
Guy: "Korean age,we plus another year."
Me :"Ooohh...so you are 21 this year?" He nods.
Me: "That makes you the same age as me."
Guy: "Izzit?"
I smiled and nod.
I paid 107,000Won = S$ 155 for all 3 shirts and left the shop. He smiled,waved at me and wished me a Sweet Trip. My trip is sweet meeting him. =) But my greatest regret is I didnt ask for his MSN.
That night,we went to C.O.E.X. The largest underground shopping centre in Korea. The whole shopping centre is bulit under ground. Jackie Chan opens a Chinese Resturant there. But I didnt have my dinner there,since it's Chinese food. Not worth trying.
Last day,we went to Dong Dae Mun again for some last minute shopping. I went back to that Teenie Weenie bear shop again. But disappointed,the guy wasnt working that day. It's kinda despressing,as it was my birthday that day. =(
We took the limo-bus back to Incheon Airport and shop around inside the airport. I bought some Korean tibits,everything is in US Dollars. Luckily I brought around US$70 with me. I spend until I was left with only UD$5. But whatever I buy at Incheon airport was entitled with 5% discount as I am an airline employee.Hahaha...
I watched "21" on the plane. And arrived in Changi at 9.01pm. After passport clearance and everything,I was out at around 9.30pm. My parents are already outside waiting for me. I went to the Duty free shop and get 3 cans of Carlsberg for my dad at only S$5! It's actually around S$7 for normal people,I present my Northwest employee card and got discount for it. Hehehe... Getting discount for almost everything... XD
It feels good to be back to Singapore. MacDonalds,KFC,Pizza Hut,all these are easy to find in Sinapore but not in Korea. It seems Korea still prefer their own food. And also,the waiting area at Korea MRT has no air-con! All stations are the same. So it's very very stuffy and hot,to make it worst,they are all underground! Hot like HELL!!!! And to get underground,there are only steps,no escalators for you to get underground or above. You have to climb the stairs! So I am indeed very very relieved to be back in Singapore. All MRT stations have escalators and are air-conditioned. I am not complaining anymore!
Well,I wouldnt mind going back to Korea again to get more shirts from that Teenie Weenie shop. Overall,not bad other than all those climbing and sweating in the MRT.
* Ginseng Chicken *
* The watch!!!! *
* The Palace's Entrance *
* Jumbo Watermelon - Twice the size of a bowling ball!*
* Me & Mother Bear *
* Me - on the limo-bus back *
*NINO-chan KAWAII Desu! *
* Ginseng Chicken *
* The watch!!!! *
* The Palace's Entrance *
* Jumbo Watermelon - Twice the size of a bowling ball!*
* Me & Mother Bear *
* Me - on the limo-bus back *