Dash: Cheoncheonhi malssuemhae juseyo (Korea 2012)

In case you’re wondering what the title of this post means, it’s this: Please speak more slowly 천천히 말씀해 주세요 (I have the tendency to speak really fast especially when I’m thinking of way too many things simultaneously. Well I speak really fast or not at all 😄).

And yes, this is the start (hopefully, if I actually find the time) of a series of posts all about our Korea 2012 trip.

So Anna and I have always wanted to go to Korea for these top 3 reasons:

1. The 2012 Yeosu Expo – Ever since we saw the ad for it at the Shanghai World Expo 2010. We told ourselves that we have to visit Korea come 2012 because we loved our whole Shanghai Expo experience.

 2. Boys over Flowers – the Korean version of Meteor Garden that Anna and I both loved. We’ve been to Macau before where they filmed some scenes. We knew we just had to go to Korea to experience more of the BOF phenomenon (even if it has been years after its first showing).

3. Vacation – We are both severely overworked and stressed on so many levels that yes, we really needed to take a few days off. But even in Korea, and even in planning any travel really of ours, work still comes as priority – we brought cameras and took picture after picture of detail after detail: architecture, interiors, landscape, environmental graphics, anything design really, you name it. From the moment we left, to the moment we went back, design (and culture and

food) has always been our top priority. Yes, this is the way to go for a relaxing break. More work in the guise of a vacation. But we have always been like that and most probably will always will be because that’s just the way it is. We love and appreciate our work so much that even on vacation we have to keep on searching for ways to improve our craft. Haha so there. Back to the post.

Now we never really definitely plan for any of our travels, it has always been a push and pull kind of thing. We have this general list of where we want to go and every now and then we talk about going on a trip but like I said, push and pull. So when we finally decided to go to Korea, Ron and Ariel also joined in the booking even though Ariel wasn’t able to push through with the trip due to work. Ariel, Anna and I have been to Macau and HK before so that travel party was tried and tested. They get along well which gives me enough space to sulk in my moment. Haha. I have also traveled with Ron and Ariel before and the two of them also get along (they should be they were thesis mates after all) quite well which gives me enough space again to sulk alone. Double haha. Yes, I actually travel and indulge in being with myself. There was actually a time in the trip that Anna asked me to smile because I was being all quiet. But that’s getting ahead of the story.

The Korea Travel Team

So the travel party of Katsy, Anna, and Ron have never been tested before but they were officemates and really, they are so much alike. (Anna will kill me upon reading this. Ron will probably as well. LOL.) But seriously, they should end up together. (Now, I’m definitely dead as of this writing. Cla save me! Hahaha. They have matching cameras for crying out loud! I actually tuned them out once they started talking about photography at the airport before departure. Hahaha. Yes, the iPad was my official companion.) *edited after publishing – I realized they wore matching outfits for their travel attire! Hahahaha the laughter!*

I’ve discovered though that in adventures such as this, every person takes on a role for the trip.

Anna, as always, is the ever dependable one. She’s like that in all our travels. (Ariel has always been the comedic relief.) Ron is another dependable one (See? So much alike hahaha). Whilst I, well, I don’t really know what my role is in all these. I get everyone together? I don’t know honestly. Maybe I’ll ask them what I do in these trips aside from decide most times on where we eat and provide the conflict. Hahaha. Seriously though, when traveling, I like to just go with the flow. And being surrounded by so much seriousness can stress me out. Come on, we can sing “Call Me Maybe” while in the train!

The Korea Itinerary
Simply put – we didn’t have one! Except of course for the Yeosu Expo. The rest just fell into place along the way. We were booked and bound for Korea from August 1-8, 2012. Ang tagal! Hahaha. It was supposed to be August 1-7 but Anna accidentally booked us until 8. It all worked well actually as we were able to cram as much sights as we wanted to see without the stress of feeling too rushed because we were running out of time. Here is how our itinerary went through the days (somehow we managed to live day by day with the perpetual question of ‘Where do we want to go tomorrow?):

Day 1 (August 1)
Arrival at Incheon Airport early AM, transfer to Seoul, KTX all the way to Yeosu, brunch finally, rest a bit, check out Expo site.
Day 2 (August 2)
Expo site for the entire day, after hours outside the Expo
Day 3 (August 3)
Rest finally for the morning, lunch (this was one of my favorites), bus all the way to Boseung for the National Tea Museum (we love tea that much!), and our first McDo meal back at Yeosu
Day 4 (August 4)
Back to Seoul we went, tiring, lugging the luggage all around and up those stairs, checking out Myeongdong shopping (plenty!!!! Oh noes!!!)
Day 5 (August 5)
Myeongdong Cathedral, Seoul Tower, Teddy Bear Museum, Namsangol Traditional Garden, Namsangol Hanok Village, this shopping district that I forgot the name of, as well as this river where they featured performances (I should remember their names!!)
Day 6 (August 6)
National Palace Museum of Korea, Shinsegae Shopping, Paris Baguette (we wanted to try this out since we got there), Myeongdong shopping time!
Day 7 (August 7)
Heyri Artists’ Village (an entire day on its own), packing for home time
Day 8 (August 8)
National Museum of Korea, Samsung Museum of Art, last minute Myeongdong shopping, airport-bound, and home-bound finally

Yup, there it was, a crazy 8-day Korean adventure. Work disguised as a vacation disguised as work. At every moment though, especially during those times where we pause to stare at a design detail we really like, Anna and I look at each other and smile in disbelief and gratitude. I know she’s thinking exactly what I’m thinking during those moments because sometimes we say it out loud – we are extremely lucky and incredibly blessed to have even been there, to have ever lived, to have been in that moment, in this life.

Yes, there are plenty of those moments in life but sometimes when times get tough and dreams get broken, we tend to forget the little things that we are actually grateful for. Sometimes it takes for us to step back, step outside, to be in step with God once again.

God loves me and He is holding my hand through this crazy adventure called life. So bear with me, I just may have to find the time to write about those 8 days of Korean adventure. More posts on Korea 2012, hopefully, definitely.

The Traveling Fedora: Korea 2012

Still crappy at taking pictures.

Korea 2012

(Katsy)

 

Nowhere to go but up.

National Tea Museum at Boseung, South Korea

Freebies Galore

They say that the best things in life are free. Well here are a few material things I've picked up for free these past few days. Mostly just feel good everyday stuff.

one. LG SUNBLOCK.

This I picked up from the LG Pavilion. I didn't know that LG made anything else but electronics but apparently they did. They had cosmetics and even building materials. I think I'll go research more into their production and products as they had an impressive display at the Expo.

LG Sunblock. I haven't tried it out though.

two. BANILA CO. SAMPLES AND BEACH TOWEL.

Banila Co. is this Korean cosmetics and skincare company that Anna and I tried out while we were there. The BB Cream looks absolutely great on her and they give out these free samples which made me buy their sorbet-like make-up remover and cleanser, Clean It Zero, in a larger size. My Mother asked me though how I'm going to repurchase the tub once it runs out but that's food for thought later. I haven't even opened it yet or used up the free samples (I have three). I'm all for soap and water actually. I did pick up a few other essentials (namely, brushes) that made them give me a larger freebie in the form of a cute pink summer beach towel.

Clean it Zero. Tried it once and felt nice enough to warrant a full size.

Cute packaging.

Nice shade of pink. Reminds me of Anna's luggage.

three. HED KANDI DISCO HEAVEN STEREO HEADPHONES.

Yes, Digital Walker at Trinoma is having a buy one take one sale on their earphones, headphones (Hed Kandi amongst other brands) and even Canon digital cameras. Head on over if you're buying anyway as the buy one take one thing is a pretty sweet deal. I got my sister the black one for her birthday while I get to keep the pink and blue one. Which may or may not clash with the rest of my gadgets. Thankfully I'm all for black nylon bags in terms of utility. Plus I really don't believe in matching everything. I appreciate a good contrast and advocate eccentricity.

Great sounds. Not that I'm one to accurately judge. I love them though. :-)

four. PANCAKE HOUSE BLUEBERRY CHEESECAKE GURTS.

Thanks to my first job's free lunch. I just had to have dessert.

Just look at that. MAJOR YUM.

I really, really love yogurt. I always have to have stock at home.

five. HAPPY LEMON.

Finally met up with Cla and got to use the free Happy Lemon GCs I got a while back. Alex and I have been raring to use them but every time we get to Trinoma I always forget to bring them along. Now they're in my wallet and Cla and I have used up two. I don't know how many are left though but I'm pretty sure I still have more than two for Alex. 

Happy Lemon. Rock. Salt. Cheese. (Wait I think that's wrong?! Haha. Lex, correct me!!)

Pointing, Shooting, and Everything in Between

A few months back, I was seriously contemplating getting an Olympus Pen Mini in White. I almost convinced myself that I was going to study photography and went as far as reading about the different lenses of the micro-four thirds kind and comparing prices. At the end of the day though, budget won over the desire to get into photography. Turns out that was one of my best purchase decisions ever!

I rediscovered how utterly impatient I am from the moment we set foot at the airport with Ron giving Anna a crash course on their matching Pentax DSLRs - I immediately tuned them out because 1.) I couldn't understand a thing and 2.) I was quite silently thankful for not having to carry the big camera bags they had. I had my iPad filling up my bag quite enough already. I focused instead on tinkering with the iPad and contemplating how sad it was that we didn't have free wifi at the airport still.

Anyway, I went for the point and shoot kind - waterproof, shockproof, and PINK! Which reflects me quite nicely - completely functional and full-featured, effortless, practical while being impractical at the same time, and fun. That is, if you know how to get through to the filters. I love the fact that it's waterproof - there was a slight drizzle one day and both Anna and Ron were clamoring for their DSLRs to be protected while I just waltzed through and walked in the rain. I love how I never read the manual but still got to use it quite easily. I still have to test it under water though.

Meet my Olympus Tough TG-620.

Pink.

Accessories - iPad camera connector and free pouch

I found out though that the battery doesn't last an entire day of pointing and shooting even without flash. I may need to buy an extra battery or two. I bought the iPad camera connector kit just before our trip instead of an additional SD card. I liked having my photos immediately backed up on the iPad. (And yes, the iCloud.) Plus, seeing the pictures in a larger screen is really nice instead of just viewing them on the little camera display.

Anyway, I keep it simple when taking pictures and just follow these 5 simple rules:

one. POINT.

If I see something I like to document, I just point and capture. No framing, no composition - just pure instinct. Sometimes not thinking works. (But honestly, not most of the time. Just sometimes.)

Airport - passing through.

two. VERTICAL LINES SHOULD BE VERTICAL.

As much as I promote my diagonal shots, there are instances when the vertical lines just have to be vertical. 

Display - I forgot which country though

three. TRY AND TRY AGAIN.
If at first you get a blurred photo, it's okay to take another one. Just don't take too long especially if there are people waiting to take a picture at the exact same spot you're shooting.

Blurred.

I think I have to soft press my camera button first for auto-focus.

four. FILTER AWAY.

When I'm feeling really, really lazy in taking pictures, I switch to the Magic Filters mode of my Olympus Tough and click away. Instant anti-boredom.

Fish eye gelato

Anna and Ron - Punk

five. SHOOT.

Just enjoy. Cameras are really useful things to document the experience and details of every moment. I am yet to discover my eidetic memory so in the meantime, I'll be using my TG-620 to remind me.

Samsung pavilion - waited for 4 hours standing in line, in the heat of the midday sun