Annyeong haseyo! =P That's the Korean language for saying 'how are you'.

Just came back from Korea yesterday night..close to midnight. Gosh it was such a fun time for the past 7days!! I really don't want to come back de ehz..

So what's so nice about the Korea trip? One of the factors must be the weather! They have temperatures ranging from -2 to 9deg celsius. Imagine yourself staying in a resort located on the mountain. When you open the window, a gust of wind blows into your face =) Michelle and my mum brought thick clothing and were less afraid of the cold (because they have more fats..bleah >.<)..so I was the only one there complaining about the cold weather =) But it's really cool and refreshing..and you get to cover yourself from head to toe like an Egyptian mummy. My father said that both of us look fairer now..hahaz!

Our tour guides are just the best man! We have Jane the tour leader..Tina the main tour guide..Xiao2 Li3 the intern..and Xiao3 Zheng4 the photographer + porter + waiter + the only male tour guide. Hahaz he practically does everything. Cos Korea is a funny place..they don't have waiters or people in the hotels to serve us..so every tour grp to Korea has a guy who does all these work. And we so happened to get a yandao =) Hey I'm clear headed when I say this k..cos Michelle and Mummy said so too!!

They took care of us very well..especially Tina and Xiao Zheng. I felt protected and secure under their care. Tina would always ask us how was our day..whether the temperature in the coach or room was ok..and made sure she didn't miss anyone out as we moved from one location to another. Xiao Zheng would help all 25 of us load our luggage into the bus and unload it later (all by himself)..take photographs with his camera..help us start the fire or cook food during meal times. I felt like a queen or something =P

I have a new nickname now! During the trip I was always the last to turn in (cos I'd be writing my journel) and the last to wake up. So Michelle called me a slow coach and I so cleverly translated it myself..man4 jiao4 lian4 =) Yah so she and my mum started calling me man jiao lian..so stupid right I gave myself that nickname indirectly =P

The 3 of us enjoyed ourselves alot. Visited theme parks (Everland & Lotte World). Michelle and I sat the scariest rides of our entire lives! There was this boat ride in Lotte World which travels at 72km/h! We took 40min to queue and the ride only lasted for 2min..haha. It's like ZOOM all the way..AHH all the way..and the next second you're back to the starting point =) But it was so thrilling!!

We went to climb mountains too..ahax. I remembered right after we got out of the bus I pointed to one of the mountains and asked Michelle if we were going to climb that. She immediately replied "No lah..so high..of course not!" but the next second Tina pointed to that very same mountain and said we would be up there in a few minutes time. hAhaz both of us screamed k!! It was so high!!! Had to take the cable-car to reach half of it before climbing the next half. But I love the scenery..the cool wind blowing into your face......

Of course they brought us to try out their spa. Korea (and Japan) is famous for it. Mummy wanted to try the ginseng pool (whatever you call that)..Tina said it helps to improve the skin and stuff. Michelle and I went swimming instead..and the lifeguard actually blew his whistle at us when we wanted to get to the deeper end >.<

And there was skiing! We didn't exactly see snow..but they was fake snow on the ground..and ice. Everybody in the group except one didn't know how to ski..so Tina became our instructor =P I didn't fall k!..only fell once when I wanted to help Michelle up..hahaz! Those who were gd enough could rely on the cable car to bring them all the way up the slope..but of course we didn't lah..stayed at the bottom only. Otherwise I wouldn't be typing here now! Had ice war with the three kids in our tour group, Tina and Xiao Zheng. Michelle and I built our very own snowman!! I would prefer to call it iceman.

We even visited the Nami Island..the place where they filmed Winter Sonata. Took a 5min boat ride to the island. The place is filled with an air of romance..took many pictures there. All of us strolled from one end to the other without complaints..cos the atmosphere is just too good. However, it was the coldest day of the year..I was practically shivering..but who cares =) Tina bought chinese chesnuts..my favourite. Korea's chinese chesnuts are so big and sweet..yummy =) Oh yah and you can see squirrels running around.

Stopped at the museum..ginseng showroom..Blue house..Kyongbuk palace and amethyst factory. Michelle and my mother found it boring arh..but to me it was enriching..learnt alot about the Korean culture and heard many stories from Tina. Of course there was shopping. Saw many interesting things but we didn't spend alot..after all the things sold are 'Korean fashion' not 'Singapore fashion'.

I hate to admit this..but Korean food is really bad. Worse than my maid's cooking. They just have one big wok or pot..then you throw all the ingredients in and cook on the spot. There was one meal where we had all the different kinds of mushroom thrown into a pot of water..and that was it. Lazy way of cooking..we call it. Every day was rice with food cooked in soup..except on certain days. Go watch the korean drama serials and you'll get what I mean.

There're so many more things I haven't shared..but I can't possibly name all of it in my blog. Hahaz hope you had a fun time reading though =P You can log on to friendster and check out the 3pictures I've uploaded..and you can see all my tour guides =) Love them loads.

Aww I really miss Korea alot. The weather..the people..the places..the atmosphere. If there was a time machine I would turn it back to 1st december.

Annyeonghi gaseyo! (goodbye)~