Belated birthday post.

It's been a while....
susah betul nk update blog. Ceritera Korea pn x abes lg & cerita Japan xtau la mampu ker x nk update.

This is my birthday month! thanks for all the wishes and prezie.. rasanya this year plg bnyk dpt prezie so far.. this week mmg pamper myself abes2, pegi massage yg sgt best, pegi facial yg so so not so bad & the best part, finally change from IP 4 to IP 7 - jet black! haha... last month ditch my dslr, this month change my phone. mmg duit melayang mcm kertas A4 jer but nk wat mcm mna, i used my phone lots and IP4 bleh update till IOS 7 ja & lots of new apps yg x applicable including Skype for Business which very2 much important for me to communicate with my team. nk blk kepada Android mmg x dh la, lgpn kalu Android mesti Sony which x menjadi pilihan org sgt & normally limited accessories; used it before and knew how hard to get accessories & jgn harap la murah.

Next year plan dh ada in mind for March & Dec, in the middle still looking. :D

Oh! He getting married! T_T sedih? ofcourse la but well we never officially so sndr tahu la kan. we just friend. dat's it! but now, which way should i choose to move on from him. after almost 3 years I knew him, the day he open up that he is getting married is the first time I saw he so stress.. I guess that was a very last time i meet him. Goodbye chinggu! be a good hubby to your wifey and wish you the best in your future. will miss u lots!

Finally I ditch my DSLR!

Woohaaaaaa!!! Finally, I ditch my DSLR together with both lenses that I had. It's a big decision for me actually but well, people need change right. It's kind of heartbreaking to let go my camera after few years it been with me, travelling together and share the picturesque moments together. So, what replace it?! Since i'm used to DSLR function even not as pro as some of my Wedding photographer friend but I can't totally change to just point and shot. Hence, I decide for a camera that have function as similar as DSLR but in a compact mode. Sound impossible? nope, i found one. Samsung NX Mini smart camera and it's actually better than my-already-sold-DSLR because i can connect to WiFi and also to both my Android and IPhone as a viewfinder. It's a mirrorless camera but it's come with detachable lens, just like DSLR. it's also have menu function where you can choose either you want to use Auto-mode or manual mode; again like DSLR. Let me introduce my new right man & it's in PINK!!! gosh, i had no choice on the color because that is the only color for the new edition when i went to bought it. too bad but i can buy case later so not a a big deal.

Tadaaaaa.......

Samsung NX Mini with 9-27mm kits lens.

The price for this little light gadget is actually more expensive that my previous camera. If online price, i can get around RM 1400 with 9mm lens which I will not be able to change the focus and its will be similar like normal point & shoot camera. If i want with 9-27mm kits lens, its will cost me around RM 2k and above. I'm quite lucky because I trade in my DSLR and at the same time they have promo so I just pay a bit of sum to get everything together with a case. I'll find another case later i guess during my trip. 

Test it before few time and get familiar with all the functions before i bring it with me on the next trip and really satisfied. what the cons is it come with single strap; too bad but not a big issue since it's very light even when i attach the lens. I might get additional long distance lens for this new baby but lets save it for later. :D

Seoul - Part 3 : Date & Shopping

Homai!!! My last post was on Sept and i'm still haven't complete the South Korea review. It's not easy to commit to this blog; seriously. too many things happen all this while. Don't have perfect time to add on the post and etc. Well... Let me continue Part 3 - Still in Seoul

After the cycling trip Seoul - Chuncheon; i'm back to Jo's house and having dinner with her and her husband.

Day 4 - Dongdaemun | DDP

DDP (Dongdaemun Design Plaza) is one of the landmark of the Korean design industry. It located at the center of the Dongdaemun area, it serve as a key venue for design-related shows and conferences, exhibitions and other event. I've been there for Photo and Travel Conference before and this time went there again to meet MR. D. He working somewhere around there and that is the only time and day for us to have a date; gosh! i'm seriously crying inside when he told that he will be busy when i'm around and he was helpless because he can't free his schedule. i'm seriously like it when we were in UK. busy but still have time for each other over the weekend or after finish hibernate doing assignments, classes, labs & test even most of our date was in library. LoL... T_T

How to go to DDP

By Subway
• Near Exit #14, Dongdaemun History & Culture Park Station, Subway Line 2, 4, & 5
• Near Exit #8 or #9, Dongdaemun Station, Subway Line 1, & 4

Myeong-dong 

This is one the busiest places in Seoul and it's one of the most premier shopping location. This area also famous among tourist; because its places lots of skin care shop, fashion, and all. Seriously, i'm not a shoperholics and this is absolutely not my have-to-go place during my trip but since i'm here why not right. Sometimes u hv to do something out of norm. >_<

How to go to Myeong-dong

By Subway
• 230m from Exit #6, Euljiro 1-ga Station, Subway Line 2 (4 minutes)
• Exit #6, Myeongdong Station, Subway Line 4

Seoul - Part 2

This is really waaayyy throw back post. Seoul - Part 2 free and easy itinerary.

Day 1
Arrived at Incheon - 3:20 pm; Clear immigration and heads up to my couchsurfing house.
Dinner - Seafood Tteokbokki;

The spiciness level 0.5

Since i'm too tired and its suddenly rain heavily once we finish dinner, so i just head back to my host house.
Haven't met my host, Jo-anna yet because she had to family matter to attend so i just met her cutie cat.

Day 2

Start my day with coffee and bread at Twosome. yummyyyy...
Lost in Seoul.

I arrived in Gyeongbokgung Palace just in time for Royal Guard changing ceremony.

Royal Guard ceremony at 2 pm

The Royal Guard ceremony held at 10 am and 2 pm so if you are plan to see it, just make sure u were there for that. It's take around 20 minutes to complete.

During that day, they also held a Royal Fashion show at 3 pm so I just wait and can see clearly the Royal costume. Gosh! it's looks heavy.

How to go to Gyeongbokgung Palace by Subway

Gyeongbokgung Palace Station (Seoul Subway Line 3), Exit 5 

Gwanghwamun Station (Seoul Subway Line 5), Exit 2

Details here - http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/ATR/SI_EN_3_1_1_1.jsp?cid=264337

From palace main gate, you can see Statues of King Sejong and Yi Sun-Sin near the Gwanghwamun Square. I walk a bit from the square area and head up to Cheonggyecheon stream. It's really a nice place to rest your feet after long steps or just take a stroll here. There are many cafe near here. I grab another cuppa of coffee at Angel in Us cafe and just sit near the stream. Thank to the nice weather, i'm seriously enjoying my "Me" time here.  

Day 3

Cycling trip to Chuncheon, Gangwon Province with my host and her friends. We leave the house around 9 am. Our original plan was to cycle from Seoul to Chuncheon and stay a night there but since her friend want to join and their bike is not for long cycle, so we ride our bike till Yongsan ITX train station and its take 73 minutes to arrived Chuncheon Station.

We arrived at Chuncheon Station around 11am if i'm not mistaken and waiting for another friend here. She stay in Chuncheon with her husband but working in Seoul. We head up to our cycling route after looking the whole town for bicycle shop to change one of the riders bike tire. Since it's public holiday in South Korea so its kind of hard to find an open shop.  

Chuncheon is famous with dak galbi; a popular Korean dish generally made by stir-frying marinated diced chicken in a gochujang (chili pepper paste) based sauce, and sliced cabbage, sweet potato, scallions, onions, perilla leaves, and tteok (rice cake) together on a hot plate. It is a local specialty food for the city of Chuncheon, Gangwon Province, where dak galbi originates. Because of its origin, the dish is also called Chunchŏn dak galbi.

In chuncheon, you can find halal dakgalbi. Here is the address if you want to try out original Chuncheon Dak Galbi;

Seoul - Part 1

It's been a while after my trip to Korea and i'm supposed to update what happen for that 2-weeks but i was occupied with work and family matter once I reach Malaysia. Now, i'm at work and yet trying to update my blog. I going to divide the entry about this trip into several part; and will complete everything a.s.a.p.

Let me talk about the budget for this trip, in my previous entry; i set my budget to RM 2000 only to cover this 2 weeks but i'm to ambitious; i spend a bit more than that. T_T it's not because of the travel but it all because of my shopping spreeeeeee.... I spend almost 50% of the total spending just for shopping which cover the souvenir, things that I bought to sell back home, and other shopping items. I guess if i can limit my shopping, i will not pass my budget. LOL! women.

Here is how much I spend; I'm using an app called Trip Expenses Manager; and seriously, it's really great to have it. That how i know I spend lots in shopping. Check out my spending on the table below; hope this can help others who want to go for budget trip to Korea, just bear in mind I cover Seoul, Jeju and Busan for 2 weeks time. :D

Transport - AOR - KUL - Incheon - Jeju - Busan - Incheon - KUL - AOR

From	To	Ticket Price (RM)	Paid Ticket Price (KRW)
Anak Bukit KTM Station	KL Sentral	25	-
KL Sentral	KLIA2	55
KLIA2	Incheon Airport	301.04
Incheon Airport	Seoul Station		4,250
Seoul Station	Gimpo Airport		4,250
Gimpo (Seoul)	Jeju	72.93
Jeju	Busan	157.67
Busan	Seoul Station		28,600
Seoul Station	Incheon Airport		4,250
Incheon Airport	KLIA2	301.04
KLIA2	Alor Star	53.24
		1054.68	282926

Budget breakdown by %

Overall spending for 2 weeks!!!! 

Well, i do lots of shopping, walk a lots, and coffee. From the budget, i guess it's shows that I don't really do what tourist normally do; well, maybe a bit but overall trip is about hiking, cycling and walking. I do visit few palace in Seoul but it's free admission if you wear Hanbok.
I'm so lucky because i joined couchsurfing and have host for a week in Seoul, 2 nights in Jeju and 2 nights in Busan. I'm only stay at the hostel for 2 nights when I was in Jeju and that's all.
My host in Seoul also bring me to a shop where you can rent Hanbok for cheaper price; it's on KRW 13000 for 4 hours and you can walk around Seoul and take lots of photos. If you rent Hanbok near the palace, it's will be more expensive and you can walk around the area only. I will explain details in next part.

me. lonely time.

I'm suppose to continue next part of my previous trip but i don't have heart to write about it. It's probably will just gone like that. haha...
Currently its really hard to write; nope really hard to find "me time"! I'm occupied with so many things; important and not so matter thingy that take lots of my time, my energy, my money & myself. I guess i'm having lonely syndrome right now! It's really break my hard, i start to search for things I don't even need, at least for now. Hahaha... what the heck am I searching for wedding gown dowh! oh my! it's really struck me hard this time. LOL! i guess i need another trip. T_T but i need to figure out my other schedule as well.

Okay... this is just mumbling. ignore it if you want. :D

a bit of nervous but let's go!

Despite my crazy schedule, i manage to make sure I clear everything before I went for long leave tho. Make sure all the bills are paid is one of the most important thing. Put advert for the single room and have someone to replace the old tenant is one of the things. At least i can go for leave in a peace of mind; i hope so.
Its a long weekend because of labor day public holiday and I supposed to work till Monday, my train tix to KL will be on Monday afternoon. But then, this is bittersweet of working on this kind of schedule. Since I have another team mate working on the same time with me; I manage to get an additional leave; thanks to my family who suddenly have last minutes plan because almost everyone home!
Lucky me it's a quiet weekend or else i will just dream about asking for additional leave. So i will be back on Sunday morning instead of Monday. Clear almost all my work list and i'm ready to go.
Despite being travel alone for so many times, I felt its kind of different this time. I don't have confident like before. Am I wishing for something impossible? Why i keep dreaming of things? What ever it is I hope everything will went smooth and i will make sure that I stick to my budget.

Wish me luck!!!

kind of space. kind of...

Emotionally sensitive. overly sensitive. my gym session is on and off. crazy schedule make it harder to stay in put. i'll survive, i know!

This time i'm carefully plan my trip; which i never done it before; well not a proper plan. Normally i just go with the flow. Set some budget, do some research on places that I want to go & off I go. Not this time dear, not this time. I just don't know why but for this trip I felt like I want to do something different than my usual off to go trip. I felt like something will happen which I hope it's a good things. hahahaha... My 6th sense almost correct all the time; well at least that's what my friends told me. I can sense when things happen either in good way or opposite.

I always avoid this country when I'm decide where to go in Asia before. Seriouslly, no kidding. Eventhough the ticket is way cheaper years back but its never across my mind. Even when few of my FB friends upload nice photo from some places here. Even when I always come across many blog with a very nicely written and photos of the fantastic view. Well.... where is it???? It's South Korea baby! Hahaha.......

I already almost running out the place to go in Asia when AirAsia doing their promo fare. Oh my! too bad. I don't want to repeat same travel again because I'm want to complete my RTW first. Now; saving for US continent. Wish me luck tho!
Let see what will happen for this trip. Wish for the best and good things to happen. LOL. i'll update the budget and everything about this trip in next post; which not sure when. :P

Beautiful Spring night view of Han River from Google Image.

Next challenge? Next trip!

I'm up for next challenge. hoho... where to go peps?
i'm normally don't plan few months before my trip; i'm kind of person who just bought the tix and fly away normally a weeks before my trip. But this time, well, i'm doing not so proper plan but atleast i have some kind of itinerary with a tight budget.
What is my challenge this time? ----------->

I'm going to South Korea for 2 weeks on May; basically will be in Seoul  for 8 days, Jeju for 5 days & Busan for 2 days. This time my budget will be RM 2000 all inclusive! flight tix, train tix, airport shuttle, connecting flight, etc2. Am i going to make it? I'm not sure yet but I hope I can do it. Let me share a lil bit about the budget that I had spend so far.

As to date, i'm already spend RM 861/2000 (Approx: KRW 241, 576) for the below tickets;

1. One way train (AOR to KUL)
2. Return ticket (KUL - INC)
3. One way flight (Gimpo - Jeju)
4. One way flight (Jeju - Busan)
5. One way flight (KUL - AOR)

So as of now till I complete my trip, I'll have another RM 1139 (Approx: KRW 338, 574.34) to spend!

Am I going to make it? Will let you know if it's possible. I'll update the entire itinerary + budget once I complete my trip. Wish me luck!!!!! oh gosh! can't wait. a bit nervous and excited at the same time. LOL.

Seoul in Spring

travel. solo. female. backpacker.

I received many questions since I start my solo backpacking trip years ago.

Don't you felt afraid?
Don't you will felt lonely?
How do you survive?
How do you travel?
What happen if something bad happen?
Who can you count on during bad day?
How, What, Where, When, Why. and so many more....

To be honest it's not easy to start when I so use to travel with my family and everything is prepared! I just need to bring myself in and go.
I start my 1st solo trip on the age of 18, finish high school & its during my college semester break. Read so many blogs, google so many things and this and that, I pack my bag to Singapore; I know, it's just next to my home country but this is my 1st time travelling alone and I choose somewhere that I need to bring my red book (passport) together.
The trip is a bit ad-hoc; I open the AA website and there is where everything started. The return flight tix is so cheap at that time and I have everything i need so I just bought the tix straight away without thinking twice!
Since I never go anywhere alone; without my family members, it's give me some kind of weird feeling but what I can say is, I love it. the whole trip is nice even though there are few mishap but hell, who cares! It what we called experience.
Since then, I always travel alone. It's give me so much space and convenient. I don't have to wait for anyone, I can go anywhere I want without any specific plan and I'm happy enjoying my time alone. I met new friends, exchange words with other backpackers and local, being more independent and the list go on. Don't worry about have to eat alone, have to plan everything by yourself, the knowledge and experience that you will have is way much fun.

Be safe and stick to "DO & DON'T"; you are ready to go!

Can't wait for my next trip in May after been hibernate for about a year; pause myself from travel on 2015 and now I'm back on my feet.