I only had less than 2 hours to tour Seoul before leaving for airport via their KAL Limousine Bus, and well, you can't do much with that kind of timing.
The thing was, Grand InterContinental and CoEx InterContinental are within the same grounds as their World Trade Center which the area is known as CoEx. They have a basement mall which spreads across this ground area, with links with the CoEx plaza, ASEM Tower, the 2 hotels and a Oakwood Premier Hotel; which is the CoEx Mall. This mall has lots of shops, along with a 16 cinemas cineplex (basement as well) and a CoEx Aquarium; other than that they also holds the Kimchi Field Museum (which was at Basement 2)
Since there was not much time left and I had to buy kimchi for my mum and aunt, decided to spend the time at the aquarium, at least I could take some photos while I am there; without much walking!!!
it was an interesting trip with payment of 15000won entrance fees (I think, around that figure anyway); with lots of different fishes to see, kind of remind you of the Underwater World in Sentosa. In fact, they had the same underwater tank thingy where there is a slow moving escalator that goes round the tank and the fishes can swim above you. I guess I have no idea which came first, the one at Sentosa or CoEx, but whatever it is, I guess most Underwater World or Aquariums are of the same, there isn't much to you can add to it, except may be the variety of fishes that you can hold....
After that, it was a trip to the Kimchi Museum to buy kimchi for my mum. Just, due to timing, there was not enough time to go round the Museum. I have to say, buying stuff for people, epecially when youhave no idea what to get, is a trying experience. Just that I tend to face that every time I travel. It's always "Remember to buy this", "Remember to buy that", etc, etc, etc.... Simple? Ah... You forget the 2 clauses for it - "Must be cheap!!" & "Must be good!!". Now, how can you get something that is cheap but yet good? Oh well... Whatever, I am still trying to learn how to do that!
So.... Below are some of the pictures that I took while I was in the Aquarium (oh and it's taken with ISO of 800! So, there will be some noise in it)....
Heh.... Another travel trip. This time to Korea. Hmmm... Maybe I should change the title of the blog to Travel trips instead!!
Well, it has been, what, 6 days since my arrival at Seoul on Sunday. It's my final night before flying back home again. Actually, it's like morning now... Nevermind; whatever it is... I'm typing from teh desk in the Executive Level room of Grand InterContinental Hotel. This would be the 2nd time where I got a free upgrade from the normal room that I usually stayed in. Nice... Either the Korean and Japanese culture have some common ancestors or they are just using the Japanese style kind of interior design... Nice wooden design, like I am staying in the wooden house, despite the fact that it's about 31 floor up from the actual ground.
The reason for that comment was... Well, there are some similarities between them. Take for example, their normal style of sitting during lunch/dinner. If you go to most restaurants, they would have low tables where you have to sit either cross legged or stretch totally in front under the table (that's my style of sitting as I get pins and needles very, very easily on my legs) - same with Japanese. Not sure if Japanese has these, but the seat that you are sitting on, has a backing, so it's almost like you are sitting on a chair except that it has not legs!
Then look at the dishes that they have... The side dishes, they have almost similar taste, take the vinegared gourd or was it radish (you know, the crunchy one in yellow colour) for example, that's another dish that you will find in Japanese food. Of course, both countries, if I recall correctly have their own version of kimchi; but the Korean ones are more famous. Which reminds me - have to make a trip to the Kimchi Museum tomorrow, since I won't have much time (approximately around 2 hours) before needing to get to airport. Mother did mention about getting some back for her and aunt. Hmmm... Wonder if I can take pictures there... If there is anything worthwhile to take... Then again... Ignore what I just said
The other noticeble similarity is that they tend to bow a lot! When you enter the place, there is a greeter who bow and greets you, when they show you to the seat, they also bow before they leave you alone with the menu, when you foot your bill, when you leave the place, etc, etc, etc. You know, even at the supermarket, they have stalls that set up for tasting, those manning those stalls also bow when you walk by and look at the products or after tasting it, and also when they pass you the item that you request for... Even the car park traffic person/attendants will bow when you drive into the car park! Oh, and if they see someone of high position in the office at the lift or outside the office, they will bow to them as well. I would say, this is the same for the Japanese.
Oh, don't ask me about the touristy places. I have not stepped into anyone of them. I was in GwangJu, about 3 to 4 hours drive, south of Seoul. In fact, I only stepped into the hotel for rest after 12 midnight after that long drive from GwangJu back to Seoul. Left the project site late today, despite the fact that we wanted to leave by 3pm. We were delayed by 5 hours! So by the time we got back to Seoul, it's past midnight... Sad, but true. I have not seen the sun, other than when we were driving toward the project site and during lunch time. Other than that, I was holed up in this room with the servers' humming as companion.
Oh the last thing that I think they have in common - they work till very, very late.
That's it... time to sleep... Cannot endure any further....
Till the next time.....
Oh... yeah... Guess what, I am getting static shocks everywhere!!! Somehow I seems to be a magnet for statics... They just love me. I get static even from the laptop, must be some materials that tend to hold static and rubbing that off my hands.... Sigh... That's one thing that I hate about this weather/humidity.
Yup, it's another travel trip... Flew over to Penang on Thursday, attended a "needless" meeting on Friday, and spent the rest of the weekend there. It's difficult to imagine why I need to fly all the way there just to attend a meeting where you sit in the background, and do your own work. If you are not there, they will complain that you are not co-operative. If you are there, there is nothing there for you to be involved in, so then you do your own stuff, only at time (once or twice) to be called upon to answer some questions. Of course, the "nice" part was to see this person blunder very badly during that meeting. The funny part of it all, someone tried to "rescue" him, but he, unwisely, refused to shut up and insist that he is right.... till he realised that he blunders.... and then tried to gloss over and move on... Wonder what's the impression he gave to them.... Yes, I know I should not gloat over this.... But, sorry, he play dirty when it is not necessary; insisted on having his say in every and anything despite not knowing what it may mean (and change everything back to what we suggested on another day); and refuses to listen to people's advice.
Anyway, enough about this.. this....
Penang... Yes, it has been my holidays destination since I was young, not due to the fact that it's enchanting... But it's because most of my relatives are there - My mother's side anyway. In fact, I have to say I hated that place. It's not like you are on holiday and get to go around the island. In fact it's home away from home. I get to stay at my relative's house, my mum gets to go out (without me!). So I am still "trapped" at home, bored to death, only difference is that it's not home, but Penang.
Of course when I was older, things changes, I get to go out as well... Also I get to like the food there. The assam laska, their version of char kuay teow, their version of rojak - which includes fruits like sour mangos, guava, etc; their wanton noodles; even their zhu chang fen is different! Of course there are other favourites like Chendol, even the ice kacang is different, etc, etc, etc.... So, now when ever I am there.... It's food time - any time of the day.... Which leads to weight gain by the time I get home....
The other thing that I took away from there in this trip is the feeling that married couple's life is arranged around their children. I was staying with a cousin of mine, married with 2 young schooling kids. Their weekends is always surrounding the children. One kid needs to go tution at this time/place, the other at another time/place. Then after that, it's drawing class/ballet class/music class/etc. So what do they do during weekend? Ferrying their children from one class to the other... Funny part.. While visiting another, married with kids, cousin, the same thing happens as well... Their kids were send to this class and then another.... Best of all, they exchange notes on which teacher is better, etc!!!! Hmmm......
Anyway... Got only chance to take photos of my cousin's dog... A boxer. Can't remember it's name, IIRC it's Boxy!
