5D3N Korea Part I and II.

I foresee this one to be a really long post with photos, so I shall break them to half-half. No energy to post all today also ah. 

Date: 6-10 March 2014.
Total number of people: 59 (including myself)
Airline used: Malaysia Airlines.


Part III
Part IV & V

Day One (6th March 2014)

I went into office and worked for half a day till 3pm. Rushed home and got myself a long clean shower (since it was going to be an overnight flight and nowhere can bathe sumore). Finalized my packing and off we  go!

Arrived at the airport at about 5pm and waited for all the Penang team to come and have their luggage checked in. Then, we had a short briefing by my colleague, Kah Yin who literally helped us book the entire trip. 

The first flight MH1165 was a domestic one and we took off at about 8:35pm, landed at KLIA at about 9:30pm. For the PEN-KUL flight, only drinks and a packet of salted peanuts were given. You can of course ask for more drinks/peanut if you really want to :)

Our second flight to Incheon International Airport, MH 66 took of at 11pm. At this point, I was so tired already. MAS printed two times for the same seating so there was a bit of mess when we were boarding and all, but was finally settled because the man was nice enought to switch seats with us so that our group can all sit nearby each other. MAS system's fault but the MAS man was so rude to me. Tsk tsk.

We each have a mini TV with a lot of movies (old ones and latest ones), music, TV series etc. I think after we all settled down and feel comfortable, they started serving supper. 

Oh! Before that, they gave everyone a headset each, sealed in a plastic bag and no, you can't bring them home. They will collect them back before the plane lands. Also, each seat has a pillow and a blue blanket. 

All plugged in and ready to watch Frozen, then comes the lady with the sandwich. SUPPER TIME! I think it tasted better than it looks. Or maybe it didn't taste that great also. I remembered it was kinda dry but edible la.

After makan and watch Frozen till the Princess Ana got healed of the ice-struck at the heart, I fell asleep. So, I switched off everything and took about 20 minutes to find the comfortable spot. Then, at about 3:30am, they turned on ALL the lights and serve us breakfast. BREAKFAST AT 3:30AM! *faints* 

That's also because we were going to land quite soon. Two kinds of breakfast you can choose!

Number One: Nasi Lemak with anchovies.

Number Two: Omelette with sausage and potato wedges.

It was rather difficult to scoop those food and put inside the mouth. I then decided to continue Frozen while trying to have my breakfast. That took about 10 minutes and then I gave up and went back to sleep. This time, I no longer can find the comfy spot so I just sleep. Woke up with a strained muscle on the right side of my neck. Very good. 

Day Two (7th March 2014)

When we arrived and walked to the airport through the tube thing, we all immediately felt the winter and stopped to put our winter coats on. IT WAS SUPER COLD even in the airport. Then, we were greeted by the airport staff who speaks just-enough-english-for-me-to-understand-them and brought us to the immigration and luggage carousel and then we found our way out and met with our tour guides :)

Needless to say that the moment we stepped foot out from the airport, we were freezing out hands off already. Ran to the bus like mad girls. Too cold guys, too cold! I was mentally not ready for that kind of cold. Not yet.

After discussing with the tour guides, Bob and David, we decided to bring the 58 excited tourist to kimchi making and wear Hanbok session first before we take the 3.5 hours drive to Ski Alpensia Resort. 

There were so many people in that Kimchi School that it's so crowded and to move also susah. Some people went to the bus and waited since not everyone wants to wear the Hanbok. I didn't try because I was supposed to be "working" and there were too many people. Cute lahh this family *points up*

Then, lunchtime! We all had bibimbap with shabu shabu. Winter makes people get hungry very fast, and thirsty too.

After lunch, we went to a very tourist-y place, Gyeongbok Palace and National Folklore Museum. All the historical stories and stuff. I don't know.. I was kinda busy playing with the boys a lil and taking photos and trying to keep my fingers still warm and alive.

Then, the 3.5 hours of journey begins. It was beautiful when we reached Ski Alpensia Resort. The city itself where we stopped for dinner was already so breathtaking. Too bad I didn't have time to take photos because I was handling the rooming and stuff. I didn't really get to eat too, but it's alright. It was fun :)

After resting a while, some of us went outside to the mart to get cup noodles and snacks, and almost died. Yeah, the cold winter wind almost killed us all, except Nathan because he like no feeling eh towards the cold. We ran like we're being chased or something. IT WAS SERIOUSLY COLD! 

Some of them can play snow fight sumore. Not for me. Hahaha. I hid in the lobby till they were done.

This photo taken from inside the glass door. No way I was going outside with him holding snow like that, No way :)

Ahhhh. day one is finally over. Andrew, Leroy and myself spent the night talking and eating our cup noodles in Andrew's room since he has the room all to himself. 

Only on the first day and it's quite a long post already. Wahhhhh. 

Stay tuned guys! More exciting things about Korea! :)

Short and Sweet.

I am finally back to the island! 

It has been such a sweeeeet getaway though it was a really short one. Short but so many things that were so memorable and super fun. All that experience will be blogged later, maybe tomorrow if I have some time to spare.

Getting ready to work at 1pm today was horrible. 

I woke up and played with baby for a little while and I just wanted to remain in my pajamas whole day. Flying is tiring. Very tiring.

Thursday have to fly again, with MAS. 

Please be safe, people of flight MH370. Please.

Okay, for now I have tons of work to do, although my mind is still in Seoul. Still there. 

Really blessed with this trip and people from Dream Catchers. No doubt it's one of my favorite company/brand :)

Packing for Korea 101.

Question: What is the ONE thing that I will never forget to bring in my handbag when I travel?
(Answer at the bottom.. If you answer correctly, you know me better than 70% of people I know.. I think..)

One my biggest concern of going to a winter country is the packing of clothes. 

How to fit so many things if I want to bring the winter coats too, right? Winter coats are like so huge and puffy and fat, and by just putting them into the luggage, 50% covered already.

Then, my colleagues told me about the vacuum bag that I can get at Daiso for RM5 only. The one thing that I think everyone should have is this amazing bag. This vacuum bag that can transform no-space-place to a-lot-of-space-place. I don't know how to put it into words lah.

Anyways, this is like the nest thing ever, especially for people who travels to winter countries or if you have just so many things you want to carry to another place and you only have one luggage. 

You basically put all your puffy winter jackets/coats, jeans, towels etc and seal it. Then, you use a vacuum and suck all the air out until the whole piece of 'thing' is tight and smaller in size. More compact kind.

I'll show you some photos.

Koay digging nose while I carefully handles the winter coat. Loving itt! As in the coat, not Koay digging his gold.. 

I got the large size one because I didn't know how 'small' it was. From the packaging, like super small nia, manatau so big. Haha.

We did two trials. One on the floor and one straight in the luggage. I didn't plan to bring a lot of clothes because I want to keep my luggage half empty to bring back my shopping products! Hahaha.

Then, I put in the vacuum cleaner's tube in it and start sucking the air. You can see I was holding a red clip thing (comes with the vacuum bag) at the side, so when I turn off the vacuum cleaner, I immediately slide through the red clip till the end. It's like a really big ziploc bag.

After a while though, the vacuum bag became like normal again, as in the air fills up from don't know where. Maybe because it was half empty. So this time, I straight put everything into the luggage, filled the bag with more things (that I don't exactly need).

So, now, it's quite full. See at the side of the luggage and you can know that it's already used the whole half area of this luggage.

Same procedure. Use to red clip to slide to the end a bit and allow some space for the tube to go in. 

And hit the 'on' button. And walaaa! Look at the side again! It's like it only takes up one quarter of my luggage. 

After that, I put my boots, my sister's boots, Longchamp handbag, hairdryer, toiletries and makeup stuff, and I still got three quarter of the luggage empty! 

And I thought it was going to be a disaster packing a night before. I thought I was going to eat a lot of chocolate to cure the headache that I was expecting.. Pheww.

I LOVE THIS VACUUM BAG THING! Oh, and if you are getting one, get the one with a hole that's for the vacuum tube there already. It will usually be in the middle of the bag. I should have gotten that one. It's a lot easier and convenient.

Also, going to a winter place doesn't require you to take a lot of clothes, at least that's what I think. I mean, as I was packing I was thinking too. And surprisingly i didn't pack a lot of clothes compared to if I was going to KL for same duration of days.

Winter means no sweat, no sweat means no sweating. No sweating means no need to keep changing clothes. Hahaha.

Oh wellz. Counting the hours till I can leave the office and finalize my packing.

Winter wonderland, here we come okay?

:)

Answer: A toilet roll!

Final Countdown.

It is quite obvious to anyone who reads my tweets, or blog and see my Facebook page to know that I am too excited for the trip to happen tomorrow.

Too excited. In fact, all I think about is that. That and how to pack all the things I want to bring there in a single suitcase. No wonder people/friends who study overseas always complain about packing.

Believe it or not, until now, I haven't start packing anything yet. 

Nothing. 

Zero items in the luggage. 

Err.. Actually the luggage is still in the cupboard somewhere. 

Not even out yet. Hah.

In about 6 minutes, I'll be driving to the airport to get 61 boarding passes. 

Actually 59 boarding passes since last minute two people couldn't make it for the trip. 

WHAT A WASTE. Cannot change name sumore. So, it's literally forfeited ticket. SUCH A WASTE SERIOUSLY! Not that I'm not being sensitive to the reason why they couldn't make it. Oh well. 

There's always next time to explore Korea, backpack style *hints Koay hints*

Speaking of that, he really did took leave on Thursday and Friday. Looks like both of us have our holidays all planned out nicely :)

It'll be a great weekend, guys. A cold one too :)

Two Capital City.

*discussing the details of the Korea trip*

Me: I'm leaving on Thursday night, but have to be at the airport by 5pm d..

Koay: Ohh.. So nice lehhh.. *sad tone voice*

Me: Mien kesi la you. Abo you take leave also la on Thursday and friday. Since I not around, you sure no mood to work d ma *tak tau malu*

Koay: Ehhh. Good idea wei. Then I go KL few nights, can stay with my sister sumore.

Me: Yeah lo.. Sounds good cos you can teman her go shopping all, or you can go somewhere else la. Backpack solo style.

Koay: Don't want la.. I want KL.. You know why ahh?

Me: Why hahhh?

Koay: Cos you going to the capital of Korea, so I go capital of Malaysia. Like that got good connection.

Me: Wuuut? Like that also can.. HAHAHA!

Fast Week.

Well, this weekend goes by really quickly. 

I didn't even have time to blink.

Good and bad.

Good cos Korea is happening in four days time.

Bad cos I need more relaxing time before Monday hits me, in like 12 hours.

Okay bye.

PMS.

Boys, if you can't find anything else to be thankful of for the day, BE GRATEFUL that you don't experience menstrual cramps once every month.

I used to be tortured once every month by this stupid cramps. Not mild one mind you. I would call them severe kind of pain because not only do I need to curl myself up on the bed for a good 30-40 minutes, I had to let out mild screams. Mild painful screams. To one point, I had to put hot boiling water into a glass bottle and put the bottle on my tummy/womb area. 

You know why? 

The pain of the hot water burning my skin is even more tolerable than the cramps itself. Just imagine that. Seriously imagine that. I was also told that giving birth is ten times worse. The cramps only go away after I swallow the bitter melted panadol. That also doesn't work its magic like instantly. By the time the pain is gone, there is absolutely no more energy left in the physical body. Once, I was sweating so much because of the intense pain and constant rolling on the bed, my sweat started dripping to the floor. I ended up having my head hanging by the bed.

Now, it isn't that bad already. I don't have to curl on the bed or burn my skin with hot water just to let the cramps go away. It becomes more bearable now.

So boys, serious. If you really don't know what to be thankful of, bear this in mind. It's probably like the pain you feel when you are kicked right there and having to go through them every month :)

Other than cramps, my mood swings pretty randomly, both in good ways and bad? Oh, and this is the only time I lose my appetite. I can go whole day without eating anything. Of course I will feel hungry but it's like I just force myself to swallow. The only time I lose some fats.

One thing that girls have in common. I have a friend who was born without a womb and the whole biological set that comes with it. So, that means she doesn't have period and she won't be able to have her own baby too. It's quite sad really. 

I'm just going to remain thankful for all this. Plus, Koay is super nice when I have these cramps. Super nice. LOVE IT! :)