…Because Everyone Does This on New Year

“…Brown paper packages!
Tied up with strings!
These are a few of my favorite things!”

Definitely not my favorite things, lest some heavy bucks of cash is innit!
Let Julie Andrews sings her heart out in the classic song, also currently nailing the top of Christmas 2013 chart thanks to Kelly Clarkson wide range octave, but I have some of my own favorite things in 2013.

Fully realizing that I did not share that much in 2013, I would like to do it now.
Why? Because it is the high season for all the “oh-2013-was-such-a-great-year-and-2014-will-be-even-more-so”.
Let’s say that for 364 days you were this zombie with a routine sleep-wake cycle and on this one special day you feel that your life is meant to serve a greater purpose. New resolutions should be made. Shed the weight! Quit the mundane job! Shoot the irritating boss! Start a revolution!

But what the heck, I am not that mechanical organism whose days just pass by meaninglessly. 2013 was a great year for me and here is why.

1. I kidnapped someone whom I have always had a big crush on
And I also forced that someone to lay beside me every single night to infinity, listening to my endless bed-time grumpy story, cleaning my bathroom (like squeaky-clean) with a perfect mixture of chlorine and cleaning agent, confessing his undying love to me in every chance possible, and all other possible torments imaginable. All started with a hot damp day on July 7th, 2013 when we exchanged vows. He missed the part when he is supposed to promise to always be faithful to me. I missed the part of smiling graciously in front of cameras throughout the day. The pastor nearly dropped our rings (much to the superstitious sentiment my mother cautioned many days earlier: “Do not drop the ring!”); the marriage certificate drama; the turned-out-to-be splendid Beatles-themed candy-corner; the overexposure photobooth; the never-coming wedding album. Also thy shall not forget the epic battle of the wedding date.
One word: AWESOME.
I surely can not comprehend how we managed to survive all the dramas alive and still loving each other so. But we did. Moreover, we are utterly blessed with the coming of one additional personnel. Now that I have two confidantes, I become so invincible. Bring it on 2014!

2. Precious lessons are never free of charge
I always believe that what molds us into a sound human-being are experiences. To go even more extreme, I like the idea of punishment-reward mechanism: you get reward, you may not always remember why; but when you get punishment, the “why” will etch your brain until alzheimer shoo it away. As for me, I always get punished for my hot-temper, an-eye-for-an-eye attitude. That almost cost me my wedding. Even though the universe decided not to punish me in the most severe way possible, damages still occurred. Words that could never be retrieved, scars that could never be excised with the most advanced plastic surgery procedure.
What good comes from inflicting pain on others? Sure it gives a pure devilish satisfaction, also superb movies to watch (Hence comes my favorite Revenge Trilogy by Park Chan-wook). But the truth is, one burnt bridge is one too many. Especially when that person is someone dear to our heart. This leads to another interesting thought: why is it so easy to hurt people who loves us? When things are not going our way and our mood turns sour, it is so damn easy to fire the bullets to our family or close friends, knowing that they are the most unlikely to hurt us back. And of course, since we have their hearts, we can crush it too easily.
Let’s just say, I wish 2013 to be my last year of getting this kind of lesson. Period.

3. Counting my blessings instead of sheep
Counting sheep is so old-fashioned. I never take a liking to this kind of insomnia-battling method since Mr. Bean proved in one of his endearing short episodes that it is such a dull one. I instead reminisce the lighthearted conversation I have with my husband, the sweet things I manage to clam my jaws to, the small thuds of our junior’s fist inside my belly, the new bad work in Russia that I recently learned just to annoy my Russian/Ukrainian friends, the newly conquered level of Candy Crush, the Christmas tune that I am so fond of lately, the photograph of my little brother smiling from ear-to-ear, unexpected help from unexpected people, and so on.
These put me to sleep without fail, especially on days when my baby claimed most part of my belly to herself and squeezed my internal organs in the process.
So, yes, I am going to keep counting my blessings in 2014.

October 2013 — enjoying last autumn breeze in 2013

Erudite Table Manner of Korean

Nothing impresses me as much as how Koreans behave during their meal time. There is a possibility that this is common culture also shared by their dearest neighbour: Japanese. (Foot note: these two countries, Korea and Japan, share bittersweet history from ancient era until now). However, I cannot tell for sure since I have never stepped on Sakura land.

 

In Korea, it is quite common for professors to take out the whole team (can be up to ten persons) for an informal dinner after an industrious day. Despite the full-of-respect attitude towards elder person, in this kind of gathering, you may talk and discuss freely almost as if without boundaries. (Well, I think that alcohol also helps in some ways to overstep the unspoken social norms).

Their first choice of restaurant is always a Korean restaurant. No matter how hip the newly opened Pasta bar around the neighbourhood, they would not even share a glimpse. Korean food is and will always be their priority. And they take extended measure to make sure that foreigner like me would savour their original culinary, while always being anxious about whether I fancy it or not. (So far, I gulp them all, portraying embarassing gluttony). My favourit so far is the “nakkji” or octopus. Freshly-eaten octopus, to be exact. (Now that I think about it, is there any PARASITES EGG inside those juicy tender tentacles???????)

Once we all sit down, the culture clash begins. Culture clash between Koreans and Indonesians (like me, ehemm) I mean. Everyone will directly race to be the first one serving the whole group. Pouring water into each glass; preparing spoons and chopsticks; preparing to burn the meat (if we are eating “Samgyeopsal” or Korean pork bbq). Anything! Everyone races to be the first one to serve, not the first one to be served. And the last one left behind would be left with indecent feeling towards ownself (that is usually me). The most embarassing moment so far, is when I got so wind up and accidentally let my professor served for me. That is such a great humiliating moment, I assure you.

And then eating begins. The professors start to transfer the food from the communal plate to his private plate. If at that time there is professor’s guest, he would be given the privilege to open the feast. Anyhow, I think this is common manner everywhere so, for this step, I excel (ehemm) in not being the first to greedily excavate the food. The first brother (do not be surprised about how we have that kind of nickname just like in Shaolin Temple, it just so happens that hierarchy rules) commence opening botles of happiness and warm feeling a.k.a. mekju and soju (both area Korean alcoholic beverages widely consumed, and which scent emanates from subway trains every early morning on weekends). His Highness First Brother carefully measure amount of soju poured into small glass in order to create precise ratio of soju and mekju needed to create the bombastic somek, mixture of soju and mekju. Pay attention that these all need to be done in a very meticulous manner. And then, everyone gets their glasses,do the toast, and has to finish it in one gulp. Everyone must do this, otherwise be considered as mannerless. First time in Korea, I could handle it, but as time goes by, even the scent tingling my nose is already enough to stimulate nauseous center in my brain. Once I almost vomit in the middle of the feast (not fake prevomiting action), thus they spare me from the habit. Please, I prefer hot chocolate!

Feast goes on, parallel with conversation. Do not think that they only speak about work. In fact, the professors simply show genuine interest towards the juniors personal life, their hopes and their aspirations. It is not uncommon that these kind of events become a somewhat informal motivating moment for the juniors. Assisted by alcohol, juniors would sometimes admit their worload, while the professors strengthen the juniors, remind them of their own private goals, and basically just try to build a positive atmosphere. Unfortunately for me, this is mostly done in Koreans. And what should a poor lost soul like me do amidst explosion of peculiar unfamiliar words? There was a time when I consoled myself by pulling out my phone. First, check my chatting app (no messages sent, hmmph crazy workaholic boyfriend), instagram (nobody uploaded new pictures), so finally I landed on my newest favourite simulation game: Tiny Castle. I need to plant some apples on my farms in order to feed my cute creatures. As I was busy with my game, suddenly my Korean friend besides me snatched my phone. “It is not polite. Remember the principle of togetherness. We are all being together here and noone should distract him or herself into private business.” And so I went speechless. I remember the supercommon view in Indonesian restaurants where every single person on the same table is busy with their own smartphones. And they are usually not some random people sitting on the same table; they are familiar with each other. Togetherness versus smartphones; smartphones, you might win the battle in Indonesia, but never in Korea.

새해 복 많이 받으세요!

AHHA! How fancy is that!

Me! Saying “happy new year”! With the number one most difficult language in the world! (according to a brief survey among international students in my Korean class).

Recently reading an article about how certain people rejects any “happy new year” greeting, I encounter some intriguing ideas. Rejection comes from a belief that “new year” event is highly associated with ancient hocus pocus magical non-Theological beliefs. Never being one that gets influenced by other people’s thoughts, I have my own beliefs, my own thoughts about “new year”.

For many people, here is the common formula for new year:

New year = new hopes = new resolutions = new dreams = new days = new sunrises = new shopping lists = new wanted items = …..

My roommate has her own story about new year. She believes that bad luck shalt come to thou who embrace new year with unclean possessions. In other words: filthy room, three-months-worth-unwashed bed sheet, white-turned-to-brown muddy shoes, stench in bathroom, and so on and so on. And thus, my dear brothers and sisters, I spend my waking hours in the last days of 2012 between laundry room, bathroom, and bedroom. I was a chlorine (disinfectant)-maniac. I was the woman with broom in left hand and rug in right hand. I was an enemy of Korean housewives for snatching the last piece of on-sale detergent in the rack. 

As for me, I don’t put my faith in the “bad luck” section, but in the “bacteria’s luck” section. I seldom wash my possessions. Not that I am proud of it, I just want to make my point, so please stop the judgement. Also for the new year. I think of it as a good way to infuse new spirit to this old tired body of mine. Once in 365 days, you get a slap on your cheek that reignites the prefrontal area of that squiggly jelly in your brain. It makes you think again. Wakes you up from your usual autopilot-mode: wake up-work-lunch-work-home-dinner-sleep. “Oh yeah, I do this boring routine because I want to achieve this and that.”

Anyhow, I had fun during my old and new session (hopping from 2012 to 2013). Savouring Mexican cuisine with 19 other foreigners, deflating all anger by hitting pinatas (Mexican game: blindfolded person trying to break open a ball containing candies by using a stick), and watching a very flexible Egyptian guy doing moon-walk dance. Ooow-somee…

Not to mention, I also had my first birthday in Korea. Started with a surprise gift from my roommate (Guylian chocolate!), surprise cake from fellow Indonesians (hardcore cake: cake with ice cream topping and oreo, all self-made), and birthday party initiated by my Korean sonsengnim (I made a failed attempt on having a duet with my Indonesian friend who is already widely acclaimed as KIST singing master).

 

A collage of my birthday tales in 2012

Well, I wish everyone a fueled year of 2013, stuffed with blessings!

(Also for me, one new chapter of my life to be written this year 🙂 )

No, Mr. Charles Dickens. Not you anymore. Or ever.

Anyone who knows me well enough know how crazy I am with books. Back when I was a kid, my basic fashion item is the book that always got stuck several inches from my nose (Grandma: “Don’t read that close; you will damage your eyes!”). I would be seen everywhere with Agatha Christie or Alfred Hitchcock’s masterpiece, including dining room (Father: “Don’t read while eating!”), family holiday like road-trip on Java island (tried to suppress the motion-sickness for the sake of solving the puzzle earlier than Hercule Poirot), or any other occasions.

That is why I found sort of paradise here in Korea. Unlike bookstores in my homecountry that greet customers with arrays of cheap romance/comedy/horror books, bookstores here provide sensible space of English section for my favourite kind of books: classic and modern classic. There is one most recommended bookstore in Korea which I frequented the most: Kyobo bookstore. On weekend, you can find kids, teenagers, adults, even seniles clogging up the aisles of Kyobo, flipping through pages furiously (surprisingly, it was not comic books that get harrassed the most, but the kind of books which writing dominates over pictures). The English section was also generous with its variety of books. Two grand shelves were dedicated to house world-renowned masterpiece: Nabokov, Dostoyevsky, Orwell, Camus, Chekhov, Salinger, Marquez, Woolf, Steinbeck. Not to mention centuries-age masterpieces like Shakespeare, Austen, Bronte sisters, Homer, and of course my least favourite, Dickens. Hahaa, I will explain later why mr. Dickens (may he rest in peace) had the bad luck of inspiring my title post.

And once again, imaginary world kidnapped me, as it so oftenly did when I was a kid. From Murakami to Marquez, it was a back-to-back reading once I arrive at my dorm when the clock strikes at 11. (By the way, pardon me for single-handedly pointing Murakami as one of the best writer in the past decade.) As much as I was captivated by the web of magic realism woven neatly through Gabriel Garcia Marquez’s One Hundred Years of Solitude, I was deeply enchanted by dystopian world in George Orwell’s 1984. Accidentally bumping into a youtube link about Indonesian famous dangdut singer who aspired to candidate himself in 2014 election, I can not help thinking that Orwell prediction may not be too far-fetched. It sent me goosebumps.

One corner of my desk

Please have the pleasure of peeking into my dorm private desk. As you can see, my book collection is still only a handful. I can not bear the expense of expanding the number too much, that is: the problem of bringing it back to Indonesia and the food-fasting that I determinedly do in order to fit book budget in my monthly stipend. Nevertheless, books are the staple food for my mind that got frozen daily from the winter wind and math practice. All books, except the ones by Mr. Dickens (again, may he rest in peace).

While despising some lacking-of-education group of people who blindly idolize a persona non grata and endorse him to be a leader of one big nation, I squarely refuse to be categorized as pseudointellectual. That is my own term of people who enjoy litterature for the sake of being labeled as intelligent people. Well, I was one actually. I once read Dickens’s Great Expectations and no matter how I got bloated of its wordiness, I kept on reading. I did not want to be judge as ignorant or uneducated for my weak mind in dealing with Great Expectations, much-acclaimed litterature piece throughout human history. However, I can say proudly now that the book is not my taste. I think the characters are weak-minded, no moral story taken, while the passages are overloaded with words. BLAH! (A reviewer in goodreads.com coined a suggestion that Dickens at that time was paid for every words produced, that’s why he took the leisure of using 20 words in the place of one simple word). And I loathe how it once shut my curiosity from reading other classic masterpieces.

Nevertheless, I retrieved the long-lost warm embrace of imaginary world again here, inside the gigantic bookstores in Korea. I feel so contended that I decided to give mr. Dickens another chance at the end of this month, once I am done with my final exam.

PS. Happy to announce that I already prepared  a litterature souvenir for my dearest youngest brother who shares with me the same passion in reading and perusing the most trivial historical facts.

Autumn: Everything about Falling

Back when I was head of decoration committee for my undergrad school’s graduation, I did a polling to decide the main theme for our graduation party. I made a sort of inspiration board for each suggested theme and presented it to my fellows. However, I could not be 100% objective in making the presentation. There was one theme which I fell in love with. I browsed for the most exqusite pictures from the internet and made the other themes looked like bummers. Of course we ended up having that theme: autumn. Basic colors were maroon, copper, terracotta, with slight hint of gold. I never knew then, that the real autumn would be far far more beautiful.

KIST Autumn Leaves (Courtesy of Huynh Trung Nam’s Galaxy Note)

In my humble opinion, KIST (my current campus) is not a scientific institution like many acknowledges. It is beyond that. The view is amazing and the feeling you get while roaming around the campus is superb. Every morning, I take 10 minutes walk from my dormitory to my lab. Anyhow, I usually take the leisure of spending more than 15 minutes walking in order to be able to absorb the autumn atmosphere better. I feel like getting trapped in some Korean drama, with rows of multicolored trees bowing from both sides as I stride (Car horn, telling me to move out of the way and get back to pedestrian, always destroys the mood! Errr).

My Everyday Path (Oh no! Again I am using Nam’s picture)

Not only falling trees, we also have falling temperature. And it is not merely falling, the temperature was doing bungee jumping! My new electric blue Zara autumn coat is no longer wearable. I could only enjoy the fashionista sensation of donning it for a mere three weeks, thank you very much. At this very moment, the jacket already enjoyed the comfort within my suitcase and it is replaced by a bulky grey coat. This grey coat is superwarm (it is from my dearest labmate Ji Eun :)). However I will go through extrameasures of not letting any cameras catch me with it, thank you very much.

Daily dilemma: style or warmth?

The whole universe also seems to conspire to put me down right now, pushing my ego from the cliff. I got a superawful grade for one of my midterm exam. I am not going to say much about this. In the end, however bitter the pill is, life must go on. Sun will still rise tomorrow, temperature will steadily decline and final exam will still maliciously wait around the corner. GGGAHHHH!

Anyhow, I spent my weekend at Daegu, having superawesome time with the coolest lady hand surgeon. The word “lady’ is a little bit overrated since she looks no older than a third year medical student. However, I got to witness her operation result and had some thought-provoking medical discussion. And, man, ain’t this lady got talent! On the other side, I felt a gnawing sensation starts emerging at the back side of my head. Old dream that was being shoved to the bottom of my agenda starts haunting again once I stepped inside an operation room. Hm… I sorely miss the surgeries and anything medical-related. Nothing could ever replace the thrill of holding scalpel.

…

It is already late now. And tomorrow I will be going back to reality: math class.

With dr. HyunJoo at Daegu National Movement Monument

A little note about National Movement Monument. Many years ago when Korea was not as developed as now, they owe a large sum of money to Japan. Holding their heads up high, many Koreans refused to be indebted in any way to Japan. They sold their properties, including wedding rings, and saved small pennies by quitting smoking in order to release themselves from Japan’s pity. The story ended sadly because somehow the movement was stopped. Despite of how it ended, the Movement was fruitful, in the form of inherited dignity and nation’s pride among Koreans young generation. (As told by dr. Hyunjoo)

The Great Believer of Luck

Imagine doing a marathon. Your calves are burning, your breath shortens, fog starts floating in your head. Still, half of the distance is not whatsoever pounded yet and quitting is not an option. You know you must touch the finish line. Dead or alive.

Well, the opening line subtly indicates that this will not be my usual cheery-kind posting. However, it is not also supposedly to be a very weighty one (am considering it for a nicer publication, not in my tralala blog, I guess…). I kinda bumped into the mood to write this post thanks to the ghost of upcoming midterm exam.

A little background: I am currently studying a quite heavy-loaded mathematics engineering course for graduate students. No engineering background possessed and the closest thing to math I ever did in the past seven years is basic addition, multiplication operation.

Hence, I have lurked in my lab for the past few days, enduring every single problems and formulas. Neither excuses like “This is not my field of interest” or “Impossible to master those concepts in a very short time” is valid. Just go to the class obediently every week, do the bloody homework and submit it punctually, while study the basic lessons yourself. And when the time comes, join the other engineers for the examination.

Similar problems seem to be encountered by fellow foreign friends in our Korean class. Basically we must attend an intensive language course 2 hours per day, Monday to Friday. All beginners in the same class. However, soon there is a wide gap in terms of learning progress between the once-mutual-beginners. And the ones who get left behind began shrieking for help: “We are done chasing you. No more running, let us have slower pace and some peace.” Just like in the marathon, you are so done with all the excruciating physical stress and sick of seeing people passing you.

Then I accidentally passed this quote that soon became my favorite. It is from Thomas Jefferson (late president of USA):

“I’m a great believer in luck, and I find the harder I work, the more I have of it.”

Some people say that luck is the number one ingredient in succeeding exam. Well, now I have something nearly adequate as a response to that statement. I observe that luck tends to come abundantly to me in the form of recognizable mathematics problem pattern and formulas popping out of nowhere, if AND ONLY if, I have packed them nice and neat in my head. Reading and solving problems over and over and over again.

There are surely some ugly voices regarding persistence to keep striding forward. For example, I have been suggested one day to study less and rest more, since lack of rest will surely damage my health sooner or later. Despite of many researches concerning that subject, I still believe that I can be the “deviating data” in the curve of relationship between sleeping hours and health. Rest, for me, is when I feel contended of having done what I do, seizing the day, and basically just making everyone whom I love proud of me.

I am going to close this post soon. Just bear with me a little more, since I am going to launch the punchline pretty soon. Well, I told the friend in Korean class (the one who aspires to have one special class in accordance to some special students’ needs) that many other students had experienced the same difficulties and also started from zero. They coped with the class by studying in their own free time, communicating frequently with native speakers, and also maximizing time in the class by asking questions. The friend cut me short by saying, “I don’t need to hear any successful stories.”

Everland Amusing Amusement Park

Happy Chuseok!

I am getting nervous by this long holiday. It is because people say that such a long holiday rarely exists in Korea. The second reason is that this week’s classes are all cancelled. Thus, I am kinda torn between taking advantage of this seldom-existing holiday with increasing red alert of my course’s difficulties. Should I have the luxury of wandering around Seoul? Or should I sink myself in the midst of algebra problems?? Or should I be memorizing every single anatomical terms of every single spot in human brain?? Will Powerpuff Girls save the day today???????

What do I have to do???

…

No answer emerged, so I just slept and lazed around for the last 24 hours. La la laa~

Anyhow, on Saturday I went to Everland with Indonesian friends. Amusement park is amusement park, so you should get amused, right? Well, the rides are so-so (please acknowledge that I use Jakarta’s Dunia Fantasi alias Dufan as benchmark), except for the T-express roller coaster. They were not exaggerating when they gave warning to do some neck and back stretching before enjoying the ride. Trust me, it is NEEDED. The roller coaster dropped itself from a significant height that you felt your inner was left up there while your body was already down under. Woohoo! *This section is consciously meant to make my dearest sisters jealous and make them come quick quick to Seoul HAHA!*

The rest of Everland is simply breathtaking due to its vastness and lavish assorted selections of flowers.  With its generous amount of colors and varieties, it is one of the most beautiful garden I have ever seen. Not to mention the amazing Halloween decoration; pumpkins; skulls; cute phantoms. It is art in every single spot!

 

Amusing Everland

Note for my little brother: Reno! Kaka lihat beruang dan singa lhooo!!! Dari dekat lhoooooo!!! Reno mau ngga? Jalan keliling-keliling naik beruang dan singa? Hahahahahh…

 

As a truly madly deeply shopaholic, the one place that attracts my attention the most is the souvenir store. They offer the most brilliant shiny cute things with some jaw-dropping prices that would make me prefer fasting a week rather than not collecting them all. Look at those cute flowers and sushi imitation atop ballpoints. I mean, everyone needs those adorable ballpoints to conjure up some creative innovative ideas that could probably save the world. Look at Isaac Newton! He found gravity law thanks to some juicy red apples!

Note for my annoying boyfriend: this is exactly why I bought those cute ballpoints. They will help my left brain reveals its true potentials! At the very least, I could use them to do my algebra homework. SEE?

 

Happy family of KIST members 2012

 

C’est tout pour aujourd’hui!

Good night to my parents, sisters and brother. I wish we could enjoy this amusement park together in the nearest future :))

Papa BEAR

Not the actual bear.

Just a big person with a big heart.

He was the only person who ever share me the experience of harvesting a leg vein for CABG (Coronary Artery Bypass Graft) procedure. He is also responsible of endorsing my ambition to be “4th group surgeon”. Well, there are 4 groups of surgeon (according to him): those who do surgery slowly with ugly result, slow with fine result, fast with ugly result, and fast with fine result. The only acceptable criterion for him is the last one: fast with fine result. The rest are literally incompetent surgeons.

He said that he was coming for a medical conference. However, we spent whole Saturday and Sunday roaming around Seoul. Four Indonesian doctors on the loose; exploring every corner of Seoul in search of the best Korean traditional food. My favorite is still bibimbap. Rice with assorted vegetables and non-fried salmon meat; plus.. do not forget the sour spicy sauce. It was in a small hub in Myeongdong.

 

Clockwise; from upper left corner: bibimbap (at Doota); pork stew (at Dongdaemun); dr. Dudy, dr. Dicky, dr. Livia, dr. Lydia; choco churrasco (!!! LOVE it !!! at Myeongdong); salmon bibimbap (at Myeongdong)

 

Before departing, he again offered me the opportunity of becoming a heart surgeon. An opportunity that (as he said) I waived so many many times. Not because it is not appealing or lame or anything; I am just feeling more attracted by some other surgical specialties. One that I can (almost) say my calling of life. However, it is utterly heart-warming to hear someone is very much being appreciative of your professional competency. Thank you for visiting Seoul, dr. Dudy!

 

 

Livia bersama Kepala SMF Bedah Jantung Dewasa di salah satu rumah sakit khusus jantung terkenal di Indonesia dan sosis berlemak plus berminyak meleleh leleh oh sedap sekali.

Gwanghamun

Sunday!

After several enforcement, I grudgingly found a way to transfer pictures from my new iPhone to my computer. (Oh this technology nowadays, very tricky and complicated.. What should an old ignorant lady like me going to do to cope in this 21st century! Oh my, oh my..)

Well yeah, without further ado, I paid visit to the Great King Sejong! Hail King Sejong! He was the one who created Hangeul (Korean alphabet). At the moment he is sitting so comfortably in the middle of one of the busiest street in Seoul. Well, I wonder what he might be thinking (especially when tourists like us so eagerly try to take his picture from below his skirt or something, if you know what I mean).

Up above is the road that we must cross to reach King Sejong.

Before getting to King Sejong, we must pay a visit to Admiral Yi first. Those who love City Hunter (Korean drama starred by Lee Min Ho) must have this place engraved in their memory. Admiral Yi has his own fountains lining at his front and hind. Now, the most interesting thing for me here is the Korean government’s great instinct in keeping those mountains behind to be seen so easily even in downtown area. Somehow the scenery occurs surreal to me… What do you think?

Finally! King Sejong!

It is written there: “The Great King Sejong”

Now, as requested by my dearest boyfriend who keeps nudging me to post something on my blog, TADAAAA!

“The Great Queen Livia” says hello from Seoul.

Missing the usual fight

 Okay. I made my first blog mistake. I put the content of my post in “tag” column.

Well, so be it.

Anyway, I want to talk about black hole. No, no, not the one which originates from stars collision and blah blah blah; or the astronomy thingy that sucks everything into its hole due to its blah blah blah. I am talking about the one that is settling inside my heart now.

Ten months is a forever when your special person is 8-hour-flight away.