Trip to Korea by Vago, LeX Paradise Contest Winner

A guest post share by Vago, LeX Paradise Contest winner with his experience about journey to South Korea.


Getting My Kimchi On

When I signed up for Lex Paradise contest, I didn't expect to win. That's why I was so surprised when I did. Still, what a cool thing to win a free flight from Malaysia to South Korea. Never mind that I was in Turkey...

So, I bought a flight on Malaysia Airlines to Kuala Lumpur and booked my ticket from KL to Seoul and back. I've been writing about many of the places I saw on my mini-Asia trip on http://www.vagobond.com/ but I wanted to just write a short guest post for Lex Paradise about my flight with Air Asia X and my impressions of South Korea as a whole.

First of all, Air Asia X. Without a doubt those flight attendants are the sexiest flight attendants I've ever come across. Those tight mini skirt uniforms and the bright red color. Wow. I've often regretted living in an age when flight attendants all seem to be over 50, gay, or appearance challenged – Air Asia X has said “Never mind the complaints about equality” and done something wonderful. They've made flight attendants glamorous again. This alone makes air travel more bearable.

On board, the flight attendants were courteous, friendly, and even flirty. The service was great and the onboard meals were actually tasty and regionally oriented. The airport in KL is the LCCT or Low Cost Carrier Terminal and a bus can get you there from KL Sentral for about 10 Ringgits. Inside the terminal were plenty of places to have coffee or lunch and the check-in process was easy and enjoyable to the eye, thanks to the very cute employees they also have working at the desks.My only complaint with Air Asia X was that I wasn't in business class since the seats looked incredibly comfortable but that's my own fault for not upgrading.

Korea Beach

Arriving in South Korea, I was astounded by how beautiful and filled with activities the airport at Incheon was. As I said in my video, I wanted to eat Kimchi, so I decided to go straight to it by booking a room at the Kimchi Hostel in the party center of the city, Hongdae. The Kimchi Hostel is quiet but well connected with the Hong Guesthouse and the owner invited me to go out, drink shoju, and party with the guests and staff within minutes of my arrival. First though, I asked where a good Korean BBQ place was and I sat down with an Italian guest to have a feast of Korean deliciousness. BBQ beef (kelbi), three types of kimchi (pickled cabbage and vegetables), a miso soup, salad, and a bunch of things I didn't know. It was sooo delicious.

Korean Palace

Over the next few days in Seoul, I toured palaces, visited museums, and seriously explored the underground world that is connected by subterranean shopping centers, the metro, and even underground museums. Seoul is vibrant both above and below the surface. In the nearby traditional village (reachable by the subway) I watched farmers dance and learned how to weave a straw rug.

Vago and Korean Friends

I wanted to see more of South Korea so I headed out of Seoul to visit the town of Sokcho and take a short trip up to the DeMilitarized Zone (DMZ). With two new Korean friends, I gazed out at desolate North Korea and toured the DMZ Museum. One thing I found for certain is that Korean people are polite, kind, and generous. They are almost always in a hurry though so don't get offended if they shove you out of the way.

Korean Traditional Dance

From Sokcho, I headed south to Samceok (you can read about the Penis Park at Vagobond since it might be a little much for Lex Paradise). From there a visit to Andong and then on to the coastal city of Busan where I had a lovely walk on the beach, ate more and more and more Kimchi, and finally took the bullet train back to Seoul. Back in Seoul I did some amazing shopping and of course, I ate more Kimchi with my friends at the Kimchi hostel. I was sad when my time was up, but happy that the ride to Incheon was as simple as a subway ride. To be honest, I scheduled a whole day to explore Incheon International Airport with its shopping, starlight gardens, bars, pubs, and massage.

Back in Kuala Lumpur, I was unable to find the time to go meet Lex in person in Penang, but to be sure, I am grateful for the opportunity to visit South Korea and hope to go back again sometime in the future. 


Thanks Lex! You Rock!

If you have any though to share, please do not hesitate to share it here! 


Cheer!

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A Visit to International Buddhist Temple in South Korea !!

I always wonder and curious about how is the temple and Korean Buddhism tradition look like? Same like Malaysia or China? One day I decided to go with my ASEAN friends to take a visit at International Buddhist Temple near Daejeon. All of us wake up early in the Sunday morning and take several buses to a temple call Mu Sang Sa International Buddhist Temple! It took about an hour for us to be there. 

Finally the bus stop! but we still need to spent some time to climb up the hill in order to get to the temple. Started to feel good about the surrounding, fresh air, the sound of nature and some rain drops! 

Few minutes later, we finally can see the temple! The picture above was my first glanced of the temple with very special architecture and design! Awesome! Right? So, I took quite some of the pictures of the temple!  ^_^ 

After look around the temple, we decided to go inside one of the building and make a wish and pray for peace! : D   The architecture and design of the Korea Buddhist Temple is somehow a little bit different from Malaysia Buddhist Temple especially the colors as well as the roof design! Very interesting!

Then now is the time for our picture! ^_^

Later one we greeted by a monk and we started to introduce ourself as well as him too. After that, I was too shock! Very Shock! He speak hokkien (one of the chinese dialect) to me! My God! Korean do learn Hokkien? I was totally out of my mind! Well! later on he told us that he is a Malaysian!! A Malaysian Monk from Melaka! I am really surprise about it! Then we continue talk more about ourself and shared some experiences that we had go through in our life and we are in Korea. After talk about half an hour, we start our vegetarian lunch with others monks and international visitors. 

Somehow, I get really surprise again because this is my first time I saw westerner monk in my life. Wow! I feel that Buddhism is very international as well. ^_^ 

Now what? then what we going to do in the temple after this? Well! after all the visitors get their stomach full, then we going to practice Zen Meditation! It is a simple meditation to relax ourself with very simple steps. The meditation take about one and half an hour in the room. It was my first time to meditated in that time of period!

After some hard work on the meditation practice, we continue with a talk from Buddhist Teacher  by the Malaysian Monk, Myong An Sunim (his name)  and a westerner Monk from Europe. The talk mainly about the Zen Meditation that we went through and some life time experiences sharing from the teachers! 

All of us were really attracted by their speech and explanation! I can say that it was a very inspirational talk and somehow I understand more about myself! Both of them had went through many hardship and difficulties. I am impress!

After the talk, before we going back to University, we luckily have a chance to take picture with the Buddhist Teachers. It was a very memorable experience for me! 

Dear readers, if you have a chance to visit Korea or you currently in Korea, I strongly recommend you to take a visit here " The Mu Sang Sa International Buddhist Temple". They will organize a retreat in this coming winter. Do not miss it! ^_^

How to get there?

By Train: 

From Seoul, Yongsan Station take about 2 and half hours to Gye-Ryong Train Station. From Gye-Ryong, you can take a short taxi ride to Mu Sang Sa International Buddhist Temple about 20 minutes time with 6000 to 7000won. 

By Bus: 

Take an Express Bus from Seoul Nambu Express Bus Terminal to Shindo-an Bus Stop near Omsa-ri about 2 hours and 10 minute. Then take a short taxi about 20minute to Mu Sang Sa International Buddhist Temple with around 8000won.

If you have any questions, please leave comments or you can email me (Email is in my profile).

Thank you! 

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Pottery I made in Ceramic Village, Korea

Hi guys, had you browse through my previous post about Ceramic Village in Korea ? If you not yet, feel free to take a look how I manage to produce my own poetry with all my writing on the surface. I believe you see my nick name "LeX", chinese name "陈奕良" on the poetry. My hand writing somehow not that neat, but kind of artistic, Hahaha ! 

As for this photo is the another side of the pottery with my full name "Tan Yih Liang" Korean name "랙스" and at the bottom "soju" (Korean famous traditional alcohol drink). Actually this is the soju bottle, I slowly liking to drink soju with all my friends in Korea because is cheap and with high concentration of alcohol @_@. 

So, drop by at Korea to visit some exciting festival ( you can check it here ) , take a break to drink soju and make your own soju bottle  in Ceramic Village.  

If you do plan to make one for your-self too while you in Korea, please visit Icheon Ceramics Village 

Feel free to leave some comments. ; ) 

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Korea Supermarket

The Blogsherpa Travel Carnival #3: Foreign Food Finds

After I was few weeks staying in Daejeon, everyday taking the meals in the cafeteria, I think me and my friends should try to cook something by ourself and learning some Korean recipe. However, where should we go to shop for grocery? where is the best place to shop? 

HOME PLUS is one of the best Korea Supermarket to shop for grocery. As for the nearest Homeplus from Daejeon University is Tambang-dong. So, firstly we take a bus to Dae-dong subway station and take the subway to the Tambang station. After we arrive we can see the building of HOMEPLUS.  

Well, inside the homeplus have varieties of grocery to shop.

Apples

Bananas

Grapes

Different kind Vegetables too.

Chillis

Mushrooms

Meat Section : 

Beef

Big Squids

Shell Fish

This is special, it is cut squid with sweet and a little spicy source.  Customer allow to freely taste it before decided to buy. What a good service!  

As for us, we taste non-stop because it is delicious! yummy! There also different kind of side dishes can be taste before any purchase. 

The Chef is making the side dishes, they seem really expert.  

Haha! this is noodle with sup! But is cold x_x This was my 1st time to taste the cold noodles. It taste really weird for me. But at least we get to know this noodles for cold style cook. 

Breads

Snacks

This one are some of our favourite, soju!! The Korean alcohol drink. It selling cheap in Homeplus!   

Finally, Ice-cream ; )

By comparing the Korea Supermarket to Malaysia Supermarket, some of the grocery is more expensive and some are more cheaper. Especially, Banana in Korea is very expensive ; alcohol drink in Malaysia is very expensive. Korea Supermarket is more bigger as for the grocery section, its also offer more choice. Particularly, more taste testing for Korea supermarket. 

Anyway if you interested about the Homeplus Korea Supermarket  please browse it ; ) 

For more interesting stuff about Foreign Grocery Market,
Please visit Jennifer Lo Prete at OrangePolkaDot.com   

The Blogsherpa Travel Carnival #3: Foreign Food Finds


Please stay tune with LeX Paradise .

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The horrible experience end up nicely in South Korea !

The Blogsherpa Travel Carnival: 
Travel Safely

One night, I am so desperately going with my ASEAN friends to taste the best Indonesian cuisine in Daejeon downtown. My feeling was so happy and exciting because I love to taste various kinds of delicious dishes. We went there by bus overwhelmingly and walk fast to the restaurant!

The name of the restaurant call "CINTAKU" mean "my love" and we step into the place then order the Indonesian dishes! SUDDENLY! I feel there is something missing at my back of my pant pocket!!! What! My wallet is gone!! @#$%^& My friends were shock with the drastic change of my expression!!

That time I have no ideas what to do, my mind went blank and only the words of "Search for it now!!" pop up in my mind! I went out the restaurant and search along the route I passed by, my friends help me as well... we went to bus stop ask people around with sign language (that time Korean not really good), but no one saw it. I am so scared! Then I realize it might drop in the bus, then my Korean friends call the bus station officers to check for my wallet when the bus off service. 

After few hours, the officer calls and told that nothing has been found. I am so sad... Because all the important documents inside my wallet are important, not only Korean ID card and others Korean documents but the Malaysian documents as well, it included Malaysian ID card, driving license, bank card, medical card, membership card and some others important stuff. I am totally freaky out! I can't really sleep well all night long and keep worrying! 

Well... next day after has report to international office, all of my Korean friends said " LeX, please don't expect your wallet will be back, almost impossible it will happen, cheer up man!" some said " LeX, I lost my wallet too, but as an advice please don't expect to be back!", my best buddy said " LeX, stay calm, you still have passport and the documents can be apply back! don't worry". So, it seem like I have to forget about my wallet, it will never return! It made me cannot really sleep well for a week. Is was horrible! !@#$^&*() 

Few days later I apply back my Korean ID card, bank card and others as well. As for Malaysian document, it needed to wait until I back to Malaysia and reapply again, so lame. Every night, I keep thinking how I drop my important item! Then I realize my wallet too thick due to too many documents inside it and not really fit into my pocket! Ah! Stupid mistake. 

My advices are, when you travel anywhere please!!  

- Keep your wallet as thin as possible.

- Put all un-relevant items out of your wallet or hand bag such as, (as of my case) Malaysian  
   cards or others  card which is not applicable in Korea.

- Put your wallet in zip pocket or zip hand bag. 

- Please don't expect to get it back if you lost your wallet! 

It was really terrible experience, and sad! However it ends very soon!

After one month, international relation officer call me “LeX, I have good news for you! An uncle found your wallet! You will receive it by next week!" then my responses is "Oh My God!! Oh My God!! My wallet is coming back!" it really surprises me! But I hope all the documents remain, as for the cash I don't mind if the he take all of it. 

When the week comes, I receive my wallet in a neat package. I quickly open it and check everything! You know what!!? Everything still there, even all the cash!! Oh my oh my! is miracle!! So, now I know why Korea recognizes as one of the safest country in the world. 

Anyway, this horrible experience end up with a nice memory and it was a lesson for me! Because this is the first time I lost my wallet!! and is last time!! So, anyone out there please take my advices! ^_^

The Blogsherpa Travel Carnival: Travel Safely

Please continue stay tune with LeX Paradise

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World Travel with Lonely Planet Blogger !!

Are you plan to travel around the world? Searching for some world travel advice, experience and guide? Then you came to the right place!

Lonely Planet's best world travel blogger provide precious advices, experience and guides for you to travel the world. Almost 100 members of them are working together as to make the best travel blogger group in the world.

All of them are expert in world travel. So, what are you waiting for? please make a cup of coffee, relax your mind and start to browse us in world travel.


LeX Paradise also one of the travel blog listed in the group and very proud to be one of them. In case, if you go to this page http://www.lonelyplanet.com/south-korea/chungcheongnam-do/daejeon , on the left hand side of the page you can see is the lonely planet favourite post from LeX Paradise.

So, let see what we can do to make you satisfied.

" World Travel with Lonely Planet Blogger !! "

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Coming up event in Korea !! 11th Jeonju International Film Festival 2010!!

Jeonju International Film Festival

The 11th Jeonju International Film Festival will be held from 29th April to 7th May, 2010 in Jeonju, the most beautiful and traditional city of Korea. 

Not just an ordinary event, but features with a press conference after each movie screening and probably you will meet the Actors, Actress and Director of the movie! Hopefully All movie screening provided the press conference. 

Grab the ticket now! 

Is easy to grab, just register an account on its homepage and purchase through online. 

Don't wait more, click here to register.

Price list of the Screening movies: 

Opening Ceremony / Closing Ceremony 10,000Won Midnight Obsession (All-night screenings) Master Class General Screening 5,000Won Special Screening: Youth Voice Free Admission Outdoor Screening

- With the exception of the Opening and Closing Ceremonies, 15% of the total number of seats for all  screenings are sold at the on-site box office. -Special Screening: Youth Voice is free, and tickets can be obtained online or on-site as with regular screenings.

International and Korean Film screening list can be find here .

Besides Movies, there are many activities going to happen there. So, when you are waiting for the movie, you can take a walk around and enjoy some concert, street activities and much more. Below are the event timetable, please take a look:

DATE	JIFF SPACE	JIFF SQUARE	CINEMA STREET	JIFF VISITORS LOUNGE
30 April(Fri)	19:00 W&Whale	13:30 Crossover Music Troupe MASIL	14:30 Kanin Bong Bong	15:30 Cosmos Hippie, 10cm
1 May (Sat)	19:00 CYON B BOY CHAMPIONSHIP 2010	13:00 Egypt Ahmed Belly Dance	17:00 ROYA-fi, Chook Chook Band	15:30 Cryim & Lazy Afternoon
				22:10 Blue an aiR
2 May(Sun)	19:00 Clazziquai	13:00 Bubble Show	17:00 Total Art	15:30 Siwa & Dalmoon
				21:30 Blue an aiR
3 May(Mon)	19:00 lice in Neverland	13:30 MaryJane , Dawn Clover		15:30 Soulites
4 May(Tue)	19:00 Rocktigers			15:30 Dry Flower
5 May(Wed)	19:00 Kang Huh Dallim Band	13:00 IRIS Flute Ensemble		15:30 Nabi
6 May(Thu)	19:00 La Ventana			15:30 Egypt Ahmed Belly Dance

Again please grab the ticket here ^_^


As for more information please log to JIFF homepage here. 

Please leave any comments and I will response  within 24 hour.

PM: please skip the AD. 

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Coming up event !! Gyeongju Liquor and Rice Cake Festival 2010 !!

This year marks the 13th anniversary of the ever-popular ‘Gyeongju Liquor and Rice Cake Festival,’ held in the Gyeongju region at Hwangseong Park and the nearby region in Gyeongju-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do. 

The festival (held this year from April 17th to 22nd) draws large numbers of tourists each year with its diversity of high quality programs. It has been so popular in previous years, that this year the ‘Gyeongju Liquor and Rice Cake Festival 2010’ earned a spot on the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism’s official list of ‘2010 Culture &Tour Festivals.’ 

During the festival period, the exhibition centers will present displays on the production method of traditional liquors, traditional rice cake vs. rice cake variations, and the liquors of the 

Three Kingdoms – Goguryeo (37 BC - 668 AD), Baekje (18 BC - 660 AD) and Silla (57 BC - 935 AD). Visitors can even make their own rice cakes, pound large slabs of rice cake with a mallet, or grill Garae Tteok (가래떡, a white, long plain rice cake). 

There are endless programs available for visitors while they are exploring the area’s exciting culinary traditions, including: a liquor car shaped like a huge traditional liquor bottle, a photo festival, OX Quiz Show based on the narrative legends of the Gyeongju region, and more. Throughout the festival period, visitors can also stop by open-run events such as Gilnori (street performances), and other stage performances. 

This year, the list of scheduled events has been expanded to include the Queen Seondeok Beauty Pageant and an even bigger showcase of Korean traditional liquor, including those from other regions in addition to Gyeongju’s specialties. There will even be a ‘sampling corner,’ where visitors can taste some of the side dishes/snacks (for example, Korean beef) that are traditionally served alongside these famous liquors. While you’re sipping your drink, take a look at the traditional market and its amazing array of quality folk items. Don’t forget to pick up a copy of the pamphlet titled ‘Liquor and Rice Cakes: 100 Times the Fun,’ handed out free to visitors of the festival.

As for more information please check here or about previous year summary here .

Feel free to leave some comments and it will be answer within 24 hour.

Thank you. ^_^

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My Comfortable Room in Korea, Daejeon University.

Hi! guys!
sorry for the such a late post. It is busy than I expected.
This can be consider my 1st day in Korea but this all about the room only.
The experienced of 1st day will be the next post, hopefully.

Here are the picture of my Korea Room!! what a wonderful room that i gonna stay for 9 months!!This is the door entrance of my room.

Inside there are two room,a wash room (leftest door)and small kitchen. my room is the room with door open.

Kitchen with a micro oven, Refrigerator and cupboard. There is a Window in rectangular shape ( a special window) !!
Wash room.

Actually it is quite a luxury wash room for me!! WOW!!

The room is fantastic!! i have my own room, with a high standard office chair ,fair desk size, some snacks & drinks for us on the table!! see it?very huge cupboard!! 3 Column!! wow!comfortable Bed with tight Blanket !!

Have quite a good view as well.. haha.
Air conditional too!!
The left side switch is light switch, the middle 1 is heater switch-we can adjust any temperature we want-the heater is all around the floor of the room- and the floor is made from wood and the right side is the air conditional switch. SO HIGH TECH!! In Malaysia we call it Hostel ( the place we live in campus) but in Korea they call it dormitory. The dormitory that i live is the brown colour building.

Thanks you for you reading. please stay tune for up coming post.
Feel free to leave comments.

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