What's in the bag of a girl?

Men probably get to think, " what the heck is in their bag? and why do girls always carry them?"

In mine, there are usually

A diary for daily plan, a bankbook wallet, a card wallet, a pen, two lipsticks, a Gallexy Tab, and Time magazine to read on way to work.  

So ready to start on my journey!

For some light reading  during the flight, a Diana Camera, a book that analyzes the social and political aspects of China in depth, a couple of TIME magazines, and Samsung Galaxy Tab.

CAN'T WAIT TO LEAVE FOR TAIWAN!

여행중독자

The questions I get asked most about Korea

The questions I get asked most about Korea

The questions I get asked most about Korea. 

Recently, I’ve noticed the questions about Korea can be categorized by whether the person asking is an Asian or Westerner. Hope you enjoy reading the following:

1. Asians

 (1) “How do you like Girls Generation?” or “Have you ever watched this K-drama before?”

 Although sometimes I watch TV, around two or three times a week and of course know who they

 are, it doesn’t mean that I have to join in the craze sweeping a number of Asian countries.

 

< Girls Generation and Super Junior from the same agency on the joint stage>

Surprisingly, since late 90s, as a result of the Korean pop craze sweeping through Asian countries, a number of Asians, not just Chinese or Southern Asians, but Japanese who just became fans, have also been interested in Korea culture and want to come visit.  

 To be honest, I don’t enjoy the conversation this topic, but I kind of take advantage of their

 fondness of Korean culture to keep friendly conversations running. Especially to maintain a positive first impressions.
The reality is I am not really interested in Korean TV series, mainly because their storyline are uniformly identical; either Cinderella or secrets about a leading role character’s birth.    

 (2) Do girls really get plastic surgeries without hesitation?

A popular misconception about Koreans believed by many is that we get the most plastic surgery per capita in the world. Most Asians tend to ask me that question, well here are the evidence...

< Among Asian countries, Japan is  raked the top, followed by Taiwan  and Korea >

To answer that question, my answer is usually: "Yes, some of us do."
The Korean society can be judgmental based on one's appearance, as it can for example affect one's chances of getting a promotion or finding a job.
The other example I can mention is: Have you ever seen an obese person walking in the streets of Seoul?

The truth is plastic surgery has been accepted into the Korean culture without any resistance. Korean mindset tend to be on the lines of: "Natural beauty with the help of artificial tweaking can be a lot better than natural plainness."

The interesting aspect is, due to this common misconception about Koreans, we have actually obtained a reputation as a country with top-notch plastic surgeons which attracts a high number of medical tourists.

Lasting memories of Vietnam

      Feb. 2011 Hanoi(Vietnam) trip

      Unforgetable  things in Hanoi.

2011년 2월 하노이 여행
하노이에서 잊을수 없는 3가지.

1. Halong bay

하롱 베이

Hạ Long Bay (literally: "Descending Dragon Bay"; Vietnamese: Vịnh Hạ Long) is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and a popular travel destination, located in Quảng Ninh province, Vietnam. The bay features thousands of limestone karsts and isles in various sizes and shapes( from Wikipedia)

<Our names engraved in the sands;

Mandy, Thao, Winston and Sam.>

모래위 새겨져 있는 우리 이름들;
맨디, 타오, 윈스턴, 샘

<A deserted island in Halong bay, where we visited cave expedition.>

선상 투어에 포함되어 있었던 동굴 프로그램을 하기 위해 내린

한 무인도.  하롱베이엔 이런 섬들이 3천개가 넘는다고 한다.

<On the boat in Halong bay, every morning  you literally wake up in a fog-shrouded heaven glittered with beams of warm sunshine.>

매일 아침 안개가 자욱한 천국에서 일어나는 느낌.

아직도 잊을수 없는 그 감동.

<

< When it comes to the weather in Vietnam, getting a tan in Feb is one of the most awesome things to do.>

한겨울인 2월 중순에 저렇게 배 선상에서 선탠하는 것은 하롱 베이 투어만의 특권!

<Wow! cool view! Took the pic while riding a bike in countryside, Tamkok >

탐콕 자전거 투어중 찍은 사진 한장.

2.  Food.

Vietnamese food has been popular around the world since the spread of the Vietnamese diaspora in the 70s. However, the Vietnamese food in Korea is quite Koreanized; using many spices where it is not traditionally used in Vietnam.

My most fond memory of Vietnamese food is phở ( rice noodle with many herbs and vegetables in broth), which I ate on the first day. It felt very different from the ones in Korea. There were many ingredients for customers to choose, and I chose chicken broth with many vegetables.

70년 많은 베트남인들이 전쟁을 피해 전 세계 곳곳으로 퍼진 덕택에 베트남 음식도 세계인의 입맛을 사로잡게 되었다. 한국에선 맵고 짠 맛으로 꽤 한국화되어 그 고유의 맛을 느끼긴 어렵겠지만, 나도 베트남음식을 꽤 좋아라 하는 편이다.

첫 날 길거리 음식점에서 사먹었던 베트남 Pho가 기억에 가장 남는데, 일반적으로 주문하면 서빙하는 것이 아니라, 여러가지 재료들을 펼쳐 놓고 손님이 고르게 하는 시스템이었다.

(꽤나 합리적이다.) 내가 먹었던 것은 치킨 포였는데, 한국에서 먹었던 쌀국수와는 너무 달라서 생소했지만 확실히 외국음식은 현지맛을 못따라 온다는 것을 느꼈다.

          < We had Vietnamese Hot Pot on the last day in Hanoi>
I was surprised that hot pots are eaten in many eastern Asian countries. They are known as Shabu Shabu in both Korea and Japan, and huo guo in Chinese.
한국과 일본에선 샤브샤브, 중국에선 슈안 양류라고 불리는 핫 팟 음식이 베트남에서도
일반적으로 보급되어 있다니 놀랐다.

  < Vietnamese ice cream?>

베트남 아이스크림?

3. Hanoi Backpackers Hostel.

하노이 백패커스 호스텔

< The lobby of the hostel turns into a pub and for backpackers from all over the world.>

저렇게 호스텔 로비는 자연스럽게 전세계 각지에서 온 배낭여행객들과의 만남과 파티 장소로 변한다.

Recommended by a Singaporean who talked with me on Twitter once, I booked the hostel, without searching for more hotel or hostels in Hanoi, since the offered price was quite nice, 40 bucks for a single room with a double-bed and a perfectly neat bathroom. 

They also provide backpackers with many tours to Halong bay and other tourism attractions around Hanoi, which I don't recommend you go, because it's roughly 20~30 bucks more expensive than those of other local tour agencies, where can be found so easily once you go outside the hostel.

우연히 트위터에서 한 싱가포르 사람에게 추천을 받아서 더 알아려보려고 노력도 하지않고 저 호스텔로 결정해서 무턱대고 예약해버렸다. 방은 꽤나 좋았는데, 하루에 퀸사이즈 베드 40달러였으니 한국돈으로 5만원 정도? 베트남이란걸 감안했을때 싼 편은 아니지만 굉장히 깨끗해서 특히 샤워부스나 화장실시설이 좋아서 만족했던 기억이 난다.

호스텔 자체적으로 하롱베이나 다른 투어들을 제공하지만 호스텔 밖으로 나가면 바로 현지 여행사들에서 제공하는 더 싸고 좋은 투어 프로그램들이 있으니까  굳이 추천하고 싶지는 않다.