Weekly Travel Photo

Myeongdong, South Korea

SHOPPING. SHOPPING. SHOPPING.
That is what Myeondong is famous for :)
As a main shopping district in Seoul, find yourself marvelling (and lost) at the endless rows of shop from middle priced to designer labels. 
If you're not into splurging, this place is also great for people watching. It's like watching K-fashion show on a runway. 



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Greeting from Nami Island!

It took almost 3 weeks for this piece to reach my home address.

It's not a self-address postcard but from someone who went to Seoul recently. Someone I lent Korean phrasebook to. And it was from this blog I gotta know her. Thanks Nana :D

I was touched when she made an effort to send one to me from Nami Island as she couldn't find post office in Seoul. And with that, I got a Naminara Republic stamps on my postcard! U see, although Naminara Republic is an imaginary country but it has its own national flag, anthem, passport, postage stamps, currency etc like other republics have. The stamps usually have national flag and the famous Nami Island image (I got both!). Its flag could be mistaken to some Islamic countries with crescent and star-like but they actually potray the oriental sentiment and environmentally-friendly image of Nami Island. Read more here.

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People I Met In (South) Korea

I noticed that my verdict towards places I went was greatly affected by people I met. When there are sense of belonging and being warmly welcomed, nothing can discourage me from revisiting. Not even the language barrier.

Two different person can have real opposite opinion on a same place. What makes the different? It's definitely came from the people they met and how they react to them. Me for an instance like to socialize with local and try to be part of their community to know extended knowledge about a country than any guide book offered. Take some time to know the place than 'been there, seen that'. Ah, the reason why I like independent travel. The time is at my hand, not the tour agent ;) Always start with a smile and a simple "hi", you'll do fine.

When I visited Korea for 10 days, it was an experience of a lifetime. The places I went undoubtedly amazing but the short conversation I had with strangers somehow was the the most memorable one. People below, they offered a simple help, they changed my perception on some things, made me think over some issues throughly, made me appreciate things I take for granted before, gave words of encouragement and I even get inspiration from them. Amazing people are everywhere!

Met Yani at KLIA who was on the same flight to Korea for her conference. It's good to know that our government do send their people abroad frequently for such event.

 

If u have been reading my previous entry, u must recognize this guy, David. A Canadian citizen who is originally from Trinidad & Tobago. A language teacher and also a great companion. Will be meeting him and his wife in Brunei this year, insyaAllah.

 

Don't u agree that Korean kid is so adorable? This was during our way to Nami Island.

We got stopped by these school girls on our way to Gapyeong train station. And we were mistaken with Indonesian. That sign, is an 'A' sign. I just don't get it why. Been told to do so.

Our un-official translators in Jeju Island. Both were students at Virginia Tech, USA and a beautiful lady with cap behind us is their mother. I swear she has the most beautiful skin ever!

Our tour member in Jeju Trolley, a very friendly Korean uncle trying to converse with us in Korean language. Nice try uncle, that phrase book has put into great use :) 

Oh, another uncle. In Seogwipo. We do looked like tourist right? He offered his help to take our photo and shared a little bit about himself. Kind old man.

At Soingook Theme Park with Korean kids. They have great parents.

Another school girls. Again got mistaken with Indonesian. It must be the hijab we were wearing. Even in their school uniform, they were fashionable. Just look at them, all wearing glasses.

Sayra liked his sincerity. A Korean boy who helped us taking photo.

This is Hisham, Morrocan guy working in US Embassy and married a Japanese girl. Been taking his leave for a year to travel alone. How complicated can that be? This picture was taken when we bid him goodbye as he had to go back to US for some urgent work matters. We were surprised when he asked whether we are Malaysian. It was a correct guess for the 1st time after receiving so many Indonesia answers from others. How did he knows? He has a brother who is doing Quranic frames business in Shah Alam. What a coincident!

Sabiqa, a Thailand girl who knows how to speak Malay and been following her dad for berdakwah in Korea. We met her in mosque compound and it was very kind of her to invite us to her house.

It was not difficult for us to know that this girl is from Malaysia by looking at her look right? She was on student exchange program for few months and showed us the best place to shop :') 

And it was not difficult either to know that girl is from Indonesia. A nursing student, also on exchange program. How I envied them!

While finding our way out from the mosque, found this Bosnian woman with her kids. She was accompanying her husband who was working for that mosque.

This is Salam Restaurant chef. He was the one who prepared us the great food. Managed to call him for a photo session :')

Oh well, this is Jun. He was Beewon counter guy during night time. He also had another job at club nearby and is a great artist. He even gave each of us his art piece. Sis Ernie got the most beautiful piece! It was from him I know that there is a 'Korean age' term. It's something similar like chinese calendar vs gregorian calendar.

I just don't know why uncles like us LOL! These are Japanese uncles we met at DMZ. They enjoyed talking in Japanese with Sis Ernie.

I can't really remember where this guy from. One of the country in Middle East for sure. He was alone in DMZ and later joined us halfway through the course.

These guys were our tour members and students from USA. They travelled to Korea for their semester break. I wish I have a chance to travel since such young age.

Ladies and gentlemen, please don't mess with this guy. He's an army in charge at the first train station towards North Korea. The only army in not-typical uniform u can take picture with. U can put on any expression but he will maintain his heartless face look. 

How strange it is to be talking about nasi lemak, roti canai and teh tarik in Korea? Well not really when these 2 beautiful girls are also from Malaysia. They missed Malaysian food so much and had us to share their craving stories. Both were studying Korean language in Korea. How lucky!

Well, he may looks like an African selling watches and belts from shop to shop. But he is the guy we know on a Hangang river cruise and on vacation with some of his other friends who has a beautiful baby girl.

For some reason, it is stated in our Malaysian passport that the only country we are prohibited to enter is Israel. Well, need not to travel to Israel to meet one, I already met one in Korea. She was on holiday with her sister for a month. Seemed nice to me. Kindness and evil is in the heart, not in the race nor nationality. Enough said.

So, what about u? How u do like strangers?

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Unifying North Korea and South Korea, failed attempt

I wanted to continue Jeju Trolley post but today's news has pushed this post much earlier than it should. I was devastated to know two South Korean soldiers get killed and 20 people injured in the few dozens rounds of artillery firing by North Korea to Yeonpyeong, an island 12km from North Korea coastline. 

Let's hope both countries get unified someday and efforts put worthwhile. Here are some photos around DMZ (Demilitarized Zone), a buffer zone between North and South Korea from my last visit to exhibit their efforts.

PEACE!


 
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Not-so-bizzarre-food in Korea

Muslims have place in Korea, there are more than 5 mosques in Seoul itself and many restaurants in Itaewon serve halal food as well. U can easily meet and be greeted by other muslims around Itaewon area (and sometimes to be mistaken as Indonesian), a place where many expats live and enjoy their western life in this asian country (there are lots of western bars and resto here than any part of Seoul). 

Oh I personally think I should say eating is a little bit problem to me when I was travelling in Korea through that 10 days. We didn't have the time luxury to commute to Itaewon daily just so our tummies are happy with rice although it is reachable by subway. It will be like get into a LRT from Kelana Jaya to maybe KL Sentral for lunch. Big NO for us. We have many OTHER places to cover then. That's when I appreciate staying in a hostel/guesthouse because many facilitate their guests with kitchen area where u can cook (or heat) simple dish. My survival kit then included Maggi cup (curry flavour with Mawi pic on it LOL), Brahim's rendang daging and ayam masak merah, tuna, cereal, biscuits and lots of chocolate bar. Those were also the major weight contributor to my luggage! I made sure everything finished before fly back to Malaysia and make the room for new clothes bought :D

But I didn't fly 2829miles to Seoul just to eat all those foods I bought at Giant u guys, the local flavour was what I looked for. Let's see what I managed to get myself while I was there.



1. Tteokbokki (Stir Fried Rice Cake)

It was the first Korean street food I tasted on my first night of arrival. Got one bowl while roaming the streets at Myeongdong and shared it with Sis Ernie and Sayra. There were many other street foods available but this was one I found edible. I doubt the rest. It's a rice cake with finger shape (and super chewy) cooked with spicy sauce. The pepper used for making its sauce had some kind of spiciness I couldn't eat more than 2 pieces. But it's a popular snack among Korean like how we like our goreng pisang for tea break.



2. Smallwillow basket of Korea

Practically the food wasn't served in basket but in this tin instead. 

What? U wouldn't eat this?
Fine, it's not ready yet anyway.

Underneath the rice is sauce to give some taste and u have to actually mix those ingredients before putting some in your mouth and taste a spoonful of Korea's smallwillow (no!).  


Now, how do u like it when its ready?

Honestly although it looks like nasi goreng telur mata, it tasted nothing like it. Again, the Korean pepper has weird spicy taste and I just have to brace up and swallow down, SLOWLY.

The special thing about this food was after paying at the counter, u were given a set of heat resistant glove. It was for holding the heated tin firmly and shake it as hard as u can to well mixed the ingredients. That was the best part, not the taste :')

I had it in Nami Island, and it's the only halal restaurant there.
Drama Cafe.

3. Vegetarian Bibimbap

My sister told me bibimbap literally means 'mixed rice'.

The ingredients minus meat (usually beef).



Mixed and ready to eat.

It was like no other. I don't know how they do what they did, it was beyond delicious. The taste is at my tougue end now, can someone suggest a good one to me now? I had tasted many here and always ended up in frustration.
The one I had was in Jeju and I couldn't go there in instance when my craving for bibimbap come.



4. Smoked octopus/squid

U recognize those aight?
That is tentacles, from very enormous octopus.

That lady is cutting into smaller pieces and smoking the octopus before rolled it with special hand operated machine into super thin layer snack like dried squid we usually buy at Pulau Pangkor. Bought them on my way to Everland.


And this is similar snack from smaller size squid I bought in Jeju. 

5. Ssambap (Korean lettuce wrap)

This probably my most enjoyable lunch time while in Korea as I enjoyed wrapping the seasoned seafood in leaf called kaenip.

In Korean, ssam means wrap and bap means rice. However there are many variation of filling to choose from in making ssambap than just rice. The restaurant I went only serve seafood ssambap, no other meat.

To eat ssambap, place the leaf on your palm and add some amount of seafood, rice and finish with other option of condiments. Wrap them neatly about a size that can fit into your mouth and enjoy every bit of it.

6. Kimchi

Kimchi is a famous Korean dish made from fermented vegetables with varied seasonings usually eaten as side dishes. It has soury taste and sometimes spicy. I tasted my first kimchi at Kimchi Museum in Coex Mall :D


That are all my food adventure in Korea. There are in fact many other I tempted to try but hindered by the halal status. Someone who enjoy Korean food, let's have them together. I miss Korea :')

 
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