Seoul trip part 5: Gyeongbukgung Palace and Snow

GYEONGBUKGUNG PALACE

So the 3^rd day trip was another challenging one. We took subway to station near Gyeongbukgung to rent hanbok. We arrived just a bit later at 10.30am and we have to que like other normal people (supposed we already booked the rent in advanced) I guess it was partly my fault, I was idling, BECAUSE I HAD MY 1^ST SNOW! 첫 눈! It was a light snow, and Yuri said we’re lucky because it didn’t happened everyday.

We arrived at OneDay Hanbok for the hanbok renting. It took a long time before we finally get to choose any hanbok we want, and put it on. After less thought and trying to find ones fit our height, we went to subway station again wearing our hanbok. As expected we get many eyes. But honestly it’s welcoming for me. I love wearing the hanbok, even in subway station and train.

By the time we reach Gyeongbukgung Palace, the snow had already falling so hard. My mum and Aya bought umbrella, but Aya’s didn’t work very well. I had the 1^st real hand-frozen moment I thought I shed some tears. My hand was getting cramped since I gave 1 of my sarung tangan to mum (she wet her’s at subway station), and that same hand to hold umbrella up for my mum.

We entered Gyeongbukgung Palace for free since we were wearing hanbok (though I initially thought it was free for everyone since it’s Seollal). We immediately went to the part of palace with roof since it wasn’t exposed to the snow and we had our photo session there.

But at one time, we (except mum) decided we want to take picture at the middle, on the walkaway, so me, Yuri and Nurin run through the snow without our jacket. I enjoyed it so much, I was spinning and jumping around with my hanbok in the middle of the snow. I love letting the snow hit my face ㅎㅎㅎㅎ

Aya followed us soon, as our camerawoman. You can say it’s almost like a suicide mission to take photo like that since it’s really REALLY cold. After few shots, we run back to where the roof is, not feeling our hands hahaha. We managed to reach the part of place where they usually bow to the king, or had ceremony, or the scholar taking their exam (if I referred to dramas). 

But not beyond that. It’s way too freezing and I assumed we couldn’t take it much longer. So Aya said we should go into the museum nearby where it should be hot inside.

Indeed it was hot. Mum and Nurin took seat while Yuri, Aya and me taking stroll inside the museum. We realized wifi was present, Yuri and me did Instagram live but we had no views, only 1 or two hahaha. I only used it to ask Yuri “oii kat mana tu!” when I lost Aya and Yuri lol the uses of Instagram when you can’t call. I did my Instagram live too, but only few joined me and the wifi disappeared. We had to go back since we were already hungry. I suggested to Aya for Itaewon since we’re thinking of where to pray, and eat (reminds my mum).

So we give back our hanbok around 4pm, and took train to Itaewon. It was still very cold and raining of snow. The journey to the mosque wasn’t easy at all (I didn’t expect it to be easy, but I also didn’t expect it to be on top of somewhere that high. Oh the slippery climb!) My mum had it tough, I had to hold her tight. And the place for ablution (wudhu) isn’t same as the praying hall. So for women, take off your shoes (not very fun on winter), take wudhu on 1^st floor, and run back into the masjid, take the stairs to the 3^rd floor. May Allah granted many pahala for all the cold steps.

I was busy hot-pack-ing my feet because the more I stay without my socks, the more I can’t feel my feet. Aya was busy with contacting her friend, so I let her went disappear. Aya came up once again to say she’ll meet her friend 1^st and let Yuri take us to the restaurant since Yuri knows the place. The climb wasn’t easy, and going down was harder, because all of the ice on street. Later we reached the restaurant Aya and her friend were.

And honestly I didn’t expect her friend to be namja. Aya had told about how she met her Korean friend before, and (unexpectedly) another one friend on the train –like some drama encounter- but i just assumed it was a woman. A guy rupanya. So we greet each other and we had our dinner (FINALLY) together. I had the clear noodle, japchae, my mum had the kimchi fried rice I think. Soup for Yuri, and spicy thing for Aya. 

Aya talked a lot with her friend since she can Korean, me and Yuri just laugh when it comes to part we understand (I think Yuri and mine’s level of Korean are the same. We understand but we can’t reply back in Korean) Some things I took note, Moon(Aya’s friend) explained that as korean, they are taught few things like swimming, piano, taekwando, etc since they were kid, to see which area they are good at (fascinating~) Moon and me talked quite a lot on drama topic (I’m a Korean drama devil you see. Goblin 도깨비 and Moon Drawn by Cloud was ones I mentioned. I had hard time recalling Moon Drawn by Cloud’s Korean title. I had to mentioned Park Bogum and Kim Yoojung’s names first haha) though I also mentioned about 2 days 1 night and Gag Concert. Moon: things which are funny to us, do you find it funny too? In your country? Me: yea..h? it’s not exactly the same but yes, we laugh on it. I was trying to tell Moon it’s not all of it but oh well..my Korean not good to tell him that.

My mum said she can't find her t-money and i just said we should just redha of it (though i obviously looked sad since i top-up alot in it). Suddenly Nurin scream "situ!!! situ situ!!!" pointing at below of table. THE T-MONEY WAS THERE!! dropped from mum's jacket i think. The reaction was funny we all laugh loud.

Moon also asked which artist do you take interest in. I can’t answer him, apparently. I guess my kpop addiction has already dies? Aya answered for me though, Mamamoo, and I suddenly turned bright lol YES MAMAMOO. Moon find it amusing that we know Mamamoo too (Moon likes Mamamoo too. Kekeke of course of course). p/s: is jtbc channel aired in our country? –the fighting topic of Aya and me haha

Moon properly tell his name to me after we had done eating. And guess what? I forgot to tell him mine (이 바보야 *yes my trademark song whenever I become stupid). Yuri acted like a chaebol and tried to pay for all using card, but it’s not working ahahaha but Yuri paid for us 1^st anyway. Moon: You want me to pay you now? Yuri: I pay for you. Moon: I pay you back now or you have to come next year so I can pay for you next time? Yuri: ok (for coming next year). Kekeke Yuri and her poker face. Moon feel bad for Yuri paying for him. We all: 괜찮아~!

Moon made us promised to come again next year and meet him again (me:I think I won’t be until next year hahaha side-eye Aya). We all wave goodbye to Moon in the train and get back to homestay. I planned to video-call my family when I stand on the post-lamp near our apartment but I didn’t get wifi there. Cont- SEOUL-BUS TOUR 

Seoul trip Part 4: Nami Island

NAMI ISLAND

We went out quite late, we reached Nami Island around noon? The weather was nice! -There's incident in the train where my mum being stuck with korean ahjussi who insist on talking with her. I'm not sure where were Aya during this time so i can't understand the situation. I just said "my mum can't korean" in korean language la. Ahjussi don't care about that haha! Or maybe he's a haraboji. He offered me to sit (which i always feel guilty because it's seats for elders+pregnant women etc. But i sat anyway. So haraboji talked to me of where i'm going, Nami i said. He said "ahh Gapyeong!" He is from Gapyeong. He asked where i'm from, assuming i'm Indonesian. I said i'm from Malaysia. And haraboji keep being nice, updating how many station more until we reach Gapyeong. So before leaving, i greet haraboji with Happy New Year and off we go.

I saw the flying fox 1N2D use to fly across to Nami Island. I said to mum "that would be so exciting!" Mum disagree with me. Hahaha as expected. So we pay 800won for ferry to Nami Island, me and Aya excitedly goes up to 2nd level of ferry, we took pictures and enjoyed the wind.

And we could see beautiful ice sculpture not long after that. My announcement after getting off from the ferry: I lost my mum~ *not my mum lost a kid haha it's the other way around* Nami is so beautiful. And white. And so winter-sonata feeling haha! This part should be explained by pictures.

Things memorable at Nami Island
1. I almost stepped on a performer kids' hat-tail

2. My mum's pose are very good

3. I got excited over eating a whole octopus where i cut it small using scissors, although mum said it feel like plastic (but mum~ it's so fun to eat!!
4. I managed to video call kakcik & ayah & kakngah and showed them snow. I feel like crying of happiness
5. Me and Aya felt so awkward trying to do the love pose of Winter Sonata. We end up doing hate pose

6. Aya played with a korean aegi and the mum is being so nice we end up taking group picture with him

7. We witness embarrassing moment of a guy with his group of namchin, suddenly slipped on the ice and fall down. Sounds quite normal, but he was being loud with his friend before and he fall down with loud thump, infront of lots of people eating and queuing up for hotteok. Me Aya Yuri all were actually looking at him (because he was loud) and we saw him fall. Funny part is, we don't know how to react. I saw Aya with mouth-drop, Yuri with her poker face. I..froze and had to run my eyes elsewhere. More funny because we 3 understand what he said afterward. Chingu: 아뻐? Does it hurt? The guy: 안아뻐 내 가슴 아뻐 너무 붂으러워 didn't hurt but my heart is. So embarrassing. We all had run away because we understand what he said and we have to prevent ourselves from laughing. 너무 웃겨~ the part where we had to restrain from laughing IS the funny part.
8. Hetteok is good! Though i almost burn my tongue because i didn't know it had hot jam at the centre.

Ok the journey back was what makes the Nami trip challenging. It was around 6.30pm when we reach the taxi/bus station to go back to Gapyeong subway station. (We took taxi when we came, and it's quite lucky for us the driver let us all 5 inside the taxi). But the waiting for taxi back isn't as smooth. We thought we want to take bus, so we ran to the other side, but it's wrong side of the bus. So we came back to line up for taxi, and the line already become long. The weather has turned very cold too.

Thing that made us so mad was the tourist from c country keep cutting our line from in front, like they're bunch of them and it never ends. Bawak satu kerabat kot,,tapi tak penuhkan taxi. Ingat bagi la peluang sebab ada budak kecik, last2 mak budak tinggal je anak kat dalam troli, dia masuk taxi dulu. Apa la iniiii. More than half an hour in cold and so many bahasa Melayu came out from us, means we're fed up. "Tumpang lori pakcik ni pun boleh kot" macam2 la keluaq. Utagha ka, selatan ka semua kluaq. I pity my mum especially. So when it's FINALLY our turn we let Yuri Nurin and mum go 1st. Me and Aya even determined to WALK to the subway station. But suddenly taxi doors open again, Yuri said taxi driver can take all 5 of us in. Cepat2 masuk dalam taxi. Korean at the back 뭐야??!! Lol your confused state in understandable.

And comes another waiting period at the cold train station. We become the crazy bunch, especially me and Yuri (capitalized at Me). The Yana square. All the running and dance came out, there were 2 guys near us already laughing at me but i couldn't care less. Then suddenly a train at other side came, it says 'chungchun' and i was reminded of chungchun music. Then i shouted "Aya..chungchun! Chungchun chungchunnnn" while jumping,dancing and pointing at the train.. I FORGOT THERE WERE PEOPLE INSIDE! So i immediately bow "죄성합니다" to the train. Yuri said they were laughing, especially when i was wearing minion hat WHATT??!! I DIDN'T TAKE IT OFF?  oh well I'm good at having fun by myself.

We reached home and automatically searching for the floor heat lol. Continue-Gyeongbukgung Palace Day

Seoul trip part 3: Arirang Radio- Inside

ARIRANG RADIO-INSIDE

Well i finally witnessed the bromance of Sam & Paul, thing i only listened every Friday (i watch the video only few times. I often just listen). After the -introduced the food/food recipe- part, pd-nim said it's time for us to go in.

We greet Sam again Me: this feels like a dream «more like talking this to Sam because i was behind him when i speak this. I let Aya sits in front of Paul because i'm a nice friend haha! So i sit in front of Sam.

THERE ARE SO MANY THINGS WE TALKED ABOUT ON & OFF-AIR so i might jumbled things up, and seriously i don't remember which goes on air, and which discussed off air.

Me: finally meeting Sam again for 2nd time and Paul for 1st time. Paul: you've been in here 2 times? Sam: no.no, i've been to Malaysia with Lunafly. Me: we met him in Malaysia few years ago. Paul: ah~~ you've been to Malaysia..

Sam asked us to introduced ourselves, i let Aya do it 1st, Aya greet and tell listeners her name. I did the same, and Sam was amazed by our korean. Paul has to agree because he had talked to us earlier outside so he knows how good actually Aya in Korean, and me in understanding korean lol. Sam: wow i think i'm the least good out of us 4. I don't agree Sam, that's my place. Of course you're better than me. I just said 아니애요 out-loud.

Sam asked about food we like. I said tteokbokki. Aya what did u answer? I don't remember. But Sam commented how we like spicy food. He asked where we stayed, places we have gone to. We said: Incheon. Sam & Paul: O.O that's far! Aya said about place she went. Me:i just arrived this morning. Sam:Really? You're not tired? Me: no. I'm ok. Sam: Seoul gives you energy right? You don't fell tired being here. Me:-nodded- of course of course.

Off-air, Paul said to Sam how good our korean are. And they continue talking in korean. Aya mentioned: oh you guys talked in korean off-air! Sam: yeah.. hmm actually we mixed. Paul: i talked to him in korean, he talked to me in English. Me: as long as u guys understand each other.

There's the -understand the lyrics segment- where they use the JYP song. Talking about body shape. Sam: lets keep it clean. I know how dirty you can be Sam hahaha.

Paul asked where do you learn korean language? (I think this is off-air since i remember Paul asked it in korean). Aya said she learned by herself. And i said Aya is my teacher. And i told them i am a real teacher. Sam: wow really. So what do you do if..ok i'm the naughty student. What do you do to me? Me: i gives you lots of love Sam. Paul: Love is what he needs (Aya is proud of my answer lol) What subject do you teach (ini 1st time orang tanya dalam english & aku jawab dalam english. Selalu aku jawab 'agama teacher' je) so my answer..religion..teacher? That's awkward.

Sam asked which place in Korea do we like? Me&Aya:-both looking at each other at the same time- Sam:they are looking at each other! (Sam, that's because the question is too general and we both went blank) Aya didn't answer (she still 멍 ) so i answered Hangang. I love han river. Sam: hangang is beautiful. You can do activities there.

Sam:New Year celebration. Sam listed the things they do & eat. Paul mentioned about bowing. Aya mentioned about money-receiving (in korean), Paul: yes!! and suddenly que Paul, Aya and me holding out our hand asking money from Sam (he's the eldest among us? I thought Paul is older? He's born in February. Sam is born later, isn't he? But since earlier of that day broadcast, Sam has been pointed as having older face than Paul so..yeah haha). And i said in Malaysia we called the money packet:angpow. Sam: you celebrate it too? Aya: no, the Chinese in our country. Sam: later we should bow to pd-nim hahahaha. Sam: do you know how to say Happy New Year in korean? Aya & me:-in the same tone and speed and at the same time "새해복 많이 받 으세요~" Sam: they are pro!!! Aya and me are both proud at this part hahaha.

Pd-nim asked us if we want to stay inside me"can we stay? Can we?" (We were supposed to go out) but Sam: Stay. STAY. There are a lots of thing we talked about, i might edit later (i have to mention Aya told she is getting sick and Paul gave her advice to don't drink coffee and drink tea instead, in such a caring manner).

Sam asked about what's our plan (this is off air) so Aya said Namisom. Nami Island for tomorrow. Then i said:yup bring my mum there, give her Winter Sonata feeling. Sam asked me if the korean drama has been popular since then. I said yes~ then Paul brought up the drama part. And that waken up the drama-devil in me. Suddenly I'm discussing about Goblin 도까비 with Paul. He said he has yet to watch it. I said he MUST watch it. I haven't finish but i was already on episode 12/13. Paul had downloaded all episode though ㅋㅋㅋ

Off-air: Paul mentioned about the Malay song he knows. He starts beating on the table to the beat and humming and i can follow his beat, but couldn't remember what song it is. Before i could traced down my memory, Aya already cut it with: actually i don't listen to Malay song. Eventhough my brother is a singer. Sam: is it normally like this (of not listening to own language song)? -Sam pandang aku masa ni- Me: NO~~~ I was not siding with Aya on this haha. Aya: i listen to chinese song though. Paul: really?? Pd-nim HAS to give signal to Sam to shoo us out NOOOOOOooo Sam:we'll talk more later ok. *aku banyak tenung Sam sebab dia depan aku and could see Sam has very pretty eyes*

It's so sad to leave the conti. And after the show ended, writer-nim asked us to take picture with Paul & Sam later, memorable shot. I want to ask Paul for selca but it didn't came out from my mouth. We did took picture, of us 4. Again i gave Aya opportunity to choose where to stand (Sam naturally let us be at the center of course). Then suddenly it ends. We went out feeling the withdrawal of missing Paul & Sam so hard we're about to cry.

We ends our day with going to Myeongdong to eat at Busan-jib. Sedap betul makanan dia! I ate bibimbap, and i love the seaweed banchan so much!!! Ahjumma complaining when 1st we only order 1 when they're two of us (ahjumma ingat kitorang tak faham korean kot) tapi last2 aya order gak untuk dia sendiri. I bought strawberry at 1 stall (i got it for 9000won Mahal!!! but the costumer after me been offered 10000won, heol lagi mahal. Suka2 dia je letak harga.

P/s: one time a salesman offered me a face-mask, i rejected but suddenly tempted because of parkbogum face on the package hahaha but then i didn't go into the store, so i didn't get the mask hahaha. Continue part 3-Nami Island trip

Seoul trip Part 2: Arirang radio-Outside

ARIRANG RADIO

We're late and we have no idea which part of the building we supposed to go (it looked so empty! Maybe people already gone back hometown for Seollal). Writer-nim finally pick us up around 4.15pm. We are so nervous in the lift haha!

Then HELLO SAM CARTER!! SO LONG NO SEE YOU!!!! I must looked like some kind of seal excitedly waving to Sam HAHA he can't see us well from inside though. Then we introduced ourselves to Super Kpop (SKP) staffs which one of us is Hidayah & Liyana. When i said Liyana, pd-nim immediately remember me (must be because i wrote alot on message board). Pd-nim talks in korean because..yeah, everyone does it because Aya speaks korean well hehe dengan aku pun diorang consider pandai korean. Padahal tahap 1 pun tak lepas kot.

Writer-nim gave me Paul & Jessica albums which i won and told them to hold them since i'll be coming to radio station. And the next great thing...enter a figure we don't know of, into the place. Tall and tough. Which Aya & me consider as one of staff. Then suddenly a guy behind him greet us. OMG PAUL KIM!!! KIM TAEHYUNG. PAUL OF OUR EVERY FRIDAY SKP!!! Aya dah pukul2 aku sebut 'comel giler!!!' merujuk pada Paul. I didn't expected Paul to come as early as 4.20pm into the conti.

So we introduced ourselves to Paul and Paul remember me (because of message board too). Then he traced his memory of Aya's name. Then i said 'my friend Hidayah', Paul goes Ahhhh.. yes because Aya is known for her real name on SKP.

We talked ALOT with the cute Paul Kim. Paul asked where do we come from, Malaysia of course, then he asked which part of Malaysia (rare question) because i know Aya also thought the same as me: would you know if we tell you which part of Malaysia?. Then Paul goes to his thinking-hard mode (siap tekup tangan kat muka) of where his friend stayed. (Aya mis-remember this as Paul thinking hard of Malay song he knows) Apparently he has Malaysian friend. Paul was amazed by our Korean (Aya is too pro i tell you) while me, i can understand his korean but hard for me to reply back in korean. He told us he will go back to his hometown Gwangju(?) that evening. Took 2 hours by ktx, i don't remember how many hours by bus.

I showed Paul his album and thanked him, then Aya said she wants one too. Paul gave Aya one!!! He said it's supposed to be for other person, but he still didn't write anything on it, so he can give Aya and bring another album later for that other person. So nice Paul! I offered him a pen since he can't find one but my pen didn't work lol maybe it's stuck because it's too cold. (Paul tanya,pen baru ke, aku mengiyakan. Pastu Paul cakap, rasanya tak boleh guna bahaha sorry Paul).

Then writer-nim called Paul so he can prepared for the broadcast. Later pd-nim asked if we want to go in during broadcast, Paul asked the same question. I waited for Aya to answer (because i know i would say yes). Aya hesitated. I said to Paul "she's too shy" Paul gelakkan je. But before the opportunity runs away, i said "yes. Sure. We will go in" so Paul nodded. Gila neves kau. Dia bagi Paul skrip,kat kitorang tak bagi apa2.

Sam. Yes Sam. Sori lupa pulak nak cerita pasal hang. So the sentence to translate for Sam that day is: 엄마 아빠 사랑해요 so i gave to Sam: Mak Ayah saya sayang kamu. Sam: am i right? So i gave thumbs up to him. Sam:My Malay language is still good! Hahahaha Sam. Sam read Aya and mine's message so quickly when we two have hard time typing because of shaking & coldness haha. Sam also told the listener we were there in studio. When it's song time, Sam went out (to toilet?) and greet "hello guys!!!" to Aya and me. Very English-type of greeting there lol unlike Paul.

Sam read 2 of my messages (those i remember). 1st was about the translation, 2nd about how i received a box of oranges for Chinese New Year, Sam: is it like an orange box or actually a box of fruit? *i thumbs up when he read the 2nd one* Sam: ah the real fruit great! I've been receiving lots of thumbs up today! -this one Paul already sat besides him in conti- also Sam getting so estatic when pd-nim approved his Italian sentences. Sam:for the 1st time pd-nim gave me approval!!! *two hands in the air* so cute of you Sam!

Continue: Arirang Radio: inside the conti

Seoul trip part 1:Beginning

My Seoul trip began when i decided to follow Aya to Korea, when i realized the date matched my school holiday, and it slipped my mouth to suddenly invited my mum to join me.

So on D-Day, i was so nervous i thought i was gonna break down, while mum was relaxed as ever. My sister said that's because mum trust me. There goes my anxiety level up. The flight didn't take off until 1.40am (which is 40minutes late) and i can't sleep till then. After it took off, i tried to sleep but failed many times. 2am, 3am, 4am i keep waking up. 4.30am, a baby cried and i gave up sleep.

I look through window and i saw beautiful yellow lights like spider web from towns i don't know of. Next thing i realized the sun already up, and i saw the white-covered city. Almost reaching Korea! I got excited like a kid showing mum the frost formed on the window. It's Winter in Korea! But mum was sleepy i thought i'm the only one getting excited haha oh well~

DAY 1

We reached airport, 1st thing i did after i passed through the gate:let mum sit and i went to buy t-money card for mum and me. Top up 10,000won for each. The counter girl works very fast (which later i found all of them who work at the counter in Seoul, are fast).

Then i met Aya. We took subway to our apartment near samgeogogeori station. Took about 1 hour. I already pity my mum because it's going to be a LOT of walking. When we reach the coldness was bearable, 4˚C. I let my mum stay at home since she looked tired.

Nurin & Yuri, me and Aya we went to subway and split at some point because they were heading to Myeongdong while Aya and me heading to Seollung station. To find Chungchun Music company as i want to passed present to Honey G and AhnJungjae.

It was very tiring because we run uphills and we're not very sure of where the company located (it's amazing i can run in cold and uphill after i just touchdown in morning). Lari lari lari, then Aya asked me to confirm the address. We found the building matched the address but we didn't see the company logo or anything. Since Aya got the wifi, she line-ed the staff, and just as awe feel like giving up and just leave the stuff, the Chungchun Music staff came out (hensem weyh~~~ dahla tinggi). He writes very well in English, but apparently doesn't speak as well. Or maybe I'm just explaining too fast. So i gave him present to Honey G and Jungjae, as well as for company. (Honey G showed my present on vlive which i will update on other part of this writing). Aya helped explaining in korean. No picture or anything, we just bid him goodbye and run our life AGAIN.

Reason we are rushing? We have schedule with Arirang Radio!! It was already 4pm (we supposed to be there 3.45pm) when we leave company. So I said to Aya we should just take taxi to arirang instead of taking subway (which is Seocho station, only 3 stations away but that would take times). We suspect the ahjussi to take a detour during the trip, but whatever. We still gave ahjussi Malaysian sweets and he looked 감동 touched). Continue-Part 2: Arirang Radio