KOREAN SPRING

A couple of months ago, a dear Singaporean friend sent me a whole box of goodies from Singapore. The story behind how we met and became friends is a whole other post so I won't get into it, but basically the box contained a bunch of childhood snacks, including some that I got to try when I was in Singapore myself last year and have some fond memories of (oh gosh, already a year ago). Too bad I wasn't blogging back then, because it would have been awesome to have kept a record of all the goodies instead of just devouring them on the spot. :-P Anyway, the last ones left were these instant noodles, which I never really got around to because I just don't eat noodles that often at home. I actually prefer the cup noodles, which are of lower quality but yummier for some bizarre reason. So I'd been keeping them for a while, and one day I just felt like eating it - I wasn't hungry, but I wanted something chewy and savory and moderately spicy and noodley. And something not

So on Monday I met up with an old friend to take a day trip and leave Seoul for a change. It was a big step for me because my lazy ass never likes to leave home (how on earth I managed to backpack through Europe is actually a mystery), but I wanted a change in scenery to clear my head. We boarded a train to Chuncheon, but decided it was way too far for a day trip and got off at Cheongpyeong instead. We took the bus to Sangbong station... coolest thing: you don't need to buy a separate ticket or anything! You can use your regular metro pass (credit card in my case) because the line is treated the same as a subway. You just need to pay a few extra hundred won when you get off. How cheap and convenient is that?! Cheongpyeong Station was not too long of a ride. When we got off the rain had thankfully stopped, but the skies were a dark ominous gray and not the best for taking pictures. Nevertheless, my spirits were lifted just from the mere fact that I had actually trav

...can be one of the craziest parts of my day. I suppose I'm used to it by now, since I've been taking the subway in the morning since middle school, and I don't really think much about it. But when I start talking to people who really aren't used to this part of Seoul life, I get reminded on just how crazy my morning commute actually is. During rush hour, the train comes about every two minutes. So if you miss one, it's really not a big deal and you can always take the next one. Normally, I arrive at the platform at around 7:57 and first check how many people are waiting in line before me. Then when the train arrives, I have to see how many people get off, and do a mental calculation on whether I would be able to squeeze myself in. If the people already on the train seem pretty uncomfortable, I'll just wait for the next one. That way, I'll be first to get on for the next train which guarantees me a spot, because the people behind me are bound to push me i

I wouldn't say I am a fan of classical music, although I certainly don't hate it. I like to appreciate it at times whether it be on the computer or at a concert hall, though I don't know much about all the theoretical stuff, nor do I know much of the language or history of music. I wish I did, of course, and sometimes I regret not choosing a career in music composition or theory. But for the time being I'm content with singing in a choir, and occasionally searching for some songs on YouTube to listen to. I happen to come across a few pieces from time to time that strike me for some reason, just like any other contemporary pop song, and I get hooked onto it, playing it on repeat until I nearly get sick of it. One such particular piece is Petite messe solennelle - Kyrie  by Rossini. My dad was preparing this mass for his church choir for Christmas a few years ago, which is when I first had the chance to hear it. I must give him props for selecting this; as a musici

There's a matchmaking company ad I run across almost daily on my way to and from work. It's by a company called Duo, and they've got a lot of cute Korean puns going on involving their name that make me chuckle or fractionally impress me. They also use nice looking models that seem like the ideal husband/wife. I remember thinking a few times that these businesses make interesting ads, though I would never dream of using their services myself. It wasn't until today that I realized these subway advertisements for matchmaking companies are freaking everywhere. Not just Duo, but most other large-scale matchmakers. There's at least one HUGE advertisement in just about every subway station, and inside the trains too. Ad after ad, of the same company. I found the most overwhelming one of all, today at Dongdaemun History & Culture Park station. I only took two shots because it would look strange for someone to take picture after picture of something so use

"I Knew I Loved You" Maybe it's intuition But some things you just don't question Like in your eyes I see my future in an instant and there it goes I think I've found my best friend I know that it might sound more than a little crazy but I believe I knew I loved you before I met you I think I dreamed you into life I knew I loved you before I met you I have been waiting all my life There's just no rhyme or reason only this sense of completion and in your eyes I see the missing pieces I'm searching for I think I found my way home I know that it might sound more than a little crazy but I believe I knew I loved you before I met you I think I dreamed you into life I knew I loved you before I met you I have been waiting all my life A thousand angels dance around you I am complete now that I found you  So I have been hooked on this song for days, ever since I heard it on the radio one random afternoon. It was definitely

I have a close Chinese friend who is also a colleague of mine. Yesterday, I slept over at her tiny studio apartment since I had to be up early in the morning and make my way over to Gangnam to pick up some clients for work (on a goddamn Sunday), and her place just happened to be much more convenient than mine.  Well, I had to work on the Saturday before as well, and when I arrived at her place around 9, she had an authentic Chinese dinner waiting for me! She'd tidied up the place a bit as well, which for such a messy person as herself, was a pretty big feat. Noodles with egg, tomato and soy sauce. She didn't give me a name for this. Cooked bok choy and mushrooms! I think bok choy is the Cantonese way of saying it?! Because Fangyin, who is from Beijing, calls it something else. This one isn't Chinese food, just some leftover chicken :P Along with some nice sparkling white wine, I had a perfect dinner. Dessert was cookies from Jenny Bakery, a hard-to-o