天下无不散之宴席

Though I know it is inevitable that you get colleagues leaving every now and then but I couldn't help but feel affected by Lynne's departure from our company.

It was an unexpected move and I was caught off guard.

Ok, not really off guard since I knew she would leave if a good offer comes along but never knew 1 would come so fast.

Anyways yesterday was her last day with us. Over the past week we have various farewell parties with her. Farewell parties here meant having big feast. Haha. Man I need to do a month of zumba and endless running to get rid of the extra food.

Lynne was like an older sister to me. 10yrs of age difference didn't stop us from being friends. We had alot of topics to talk. Husband, in laws, make ups, skin care, family woes, fashion and so on. We were zumba mates, morning gossip kakis and she's my fruit and snacks supplier. Seeing her leave is like having a big void in my office life.

After zumba class

I couldn't help but feel a tinge of sadness when I walked past her empty table this morning.  The 1 that I will go to every morning when coming to work and every evening after work.

Still when it is time to part, I did not shed tears. For I knew I have gained a friend in her and with her moving on to another company would auto upgrade her status to a friend but not just a colleague anymore.

D&D last year

All the best to your future endeavours Lynne. I hope your new job will be good for you. Looking forward to our zumba sessions and hopefully some makan sessions in between. 

At her farewell tea break

Korea Late Winter Sonata 2015 - Seoul -Sindang Tteokbokki Town (新堂年糕街）

 Since our accommodation is at Sindang (Line 2,6 ) I decided to grab lunch at the nearby Sindang Tteokbokki town. There was a famous restaurant featured in my guide book and we decided to visit it.

The correct directions should exit from Line 6 exit but since we are at Line 2 exit 3, we tried to find our way there.


Directions

1). From Exit 3 of Line 2, turn left facing the street and walk straight till you hit big intersection. There should be a police station if you cross the road straight.

2). Cross over to diagonally across.

3). Walk straight for 200m and you will see a fire station.

4). Turn left onto the street and you will hit Tteokbokki town after 200m.

The 1st shop you will see is Mabongnim as shown below. This is also the shop that was recommended by my guide book.

Shop front

 There was a queue outside the shop and you gotta join it to wait for the staff to find a seat for you. Like most of the eateries we been to in Korea, this shop only sells 1 kind of main dish -tteokbokki and there are different prices based on number of pax.

Gave us a pot of water

 We were lucky to get a seat soon and the eatery was very crowded and tables are cramped together leaving little space to walk. It was still winter time and therefore even there is a big crowd, the heat was still manageable.

Wore an apron to avoid dirtying my shirt

 Because there is only 1 main dish, the staff will only need to know how big the portion you intend to order and the food was served minutes later. However, it was not cook. Muhaha. So you gotta wait for it to be cooked.

We ordered for a 2 pax portion at 11,000 KRW. There are also drinks here but we opt to drink the plain water that comes free.

Food served

 Prices are as below:

2 pax - KRW 11,000
3 pax - KRW 14,000
4 pax - KRW 20,000
5 pax - KRW 24,000

But I think for 4 and 5 pax portions there are extra ingredients though I cannot understand what was written on it.

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Prices on the wall

Mr Love stirring the food

Interior of the shop

 A bit of what is in the wok :

1). Tteok otherwise known as rice cakes. Rice flour kneaded and steamed. They are soft and chewy in texture.

2). Gochujang- Red chilli pepper paste.

3). Jjolmyeon - Thick, chewy noodles

4). Eomuk - Fish cakes

5). Boiled eggs

6). Fried Mandu -Fried dumplings.

7). Spring onions and onions

8). Cabbage and carrots

Finally ready

 Seriously it tastes heavenly. Even more so in this cold weather and when we are super famished at 2pm. We let it boil for a while before turning the fire down as we didn't want the soup to dry up fast and also over cook the food.

The portion was big enough or rather more than enough for 2 pax. Even in our famished state, we struggled to finish the food towards the end.

Left the shop happy that we found good and cheap food here. Didn't venture into the town to check out other shops since we are super full already.

Fire station along the way

Perhaps the next time when we visit Seoul, we will come here to try other shops to compare if there is any difference.

Of figures and sizes

I read with interest an entry of a younger girl who complained that her mum criticise her body to much while growing up and results in her feeling inferior to others, got eating disorder  blah blah blah.

While eating disorder among young girls are not new but it is the mentality that we have to change to tackle the root cause.

Seriously whoever died and declared that being slim is the best body a woman can have? We as women will have to embrace our curves, love the love handles that threaten to spill out of the low waist jeans that you are wearing.

I was never a slim girl. Not when I was young, not when in my teens, not when I was dating and heck even prior to my wedding I didn't slim down.

Was also known for being fleshy and later on bigger size when I grew taller than average. People always commented I look slim in old photos but even during back then I was considered bigger size than my surrounding girl friends. In a nutshell, I'm always known to be fatter than average.

Because of this, I'm usually butt of the joke with my relatives calling me dinosaur. It is hurtful but not enough to hurt me. I didn't develop eating disorder despite being criticise for being bigger and growing fatter constantly by either mummy or relatives. I didn't even once attempt diet since I couldn't stand the feeling of feeling hungry.

Also I believed that God love me well enough to let me be born in this part of the world during better times. I need not  suffer from poverty. Food was always on the table. Why waste God's good will and waste the food in order to chase after the so call perfect body? This will be so sinful.

But just how many girls can be as nonchalant as me? I dunno. But it takes quite a lot of self confidence and you must be a big glutton like me to start with. These are the basic requirements.

Granted I lost some weight during the past few months but it is due to doctor's instruction to keep my BMI in check to increase my chances of conceiving. That being said, I didn't resort to dieting too. The only thing I do is to do brisk walking during weekends when time permits and also try to cut down on fatty food intake.

Just how should we be able to break away from the society's stereotype of being small size is beautiful?

When will be my turn?

Lately my surroundings have been blessed by happy news. One by one, friends got preggies successfully.

While I am happy for them, I couldn't help to be reminded that we are still waiting for ours since lost of Xiao Bao 3 years ago.

Frankly speaking, the pain is still raw.

These 3 years, we did all we can to try conceive. I ate countless of Chinese medication, went for endless tests and scanning. Even took to praying.

Nothing seems to work.

Month after month we were disappointed.

Especially me who felt more upset since baby was within my body.

I questioned myself on where went wrong. Even doctors couldn't give me a definite answer.

Sometimes, I am on the verge of giving up. I really don't know when we will be blessed again though a lot around me keep telling me that there are still chances.

Many a times, I had to depend on sheer determination to get through, banking on the thoughts that if I follow doctor's instruction diligently my turn will come eventually.

But there are days where I would slip into minor depression and wonder when will be the day.

Just who can tell me when will be my turn?

Korea Late Winter Sonata 2015 - Gangneung- Sunrise Cruise Resort/Lunch in Jeongdongjin

We actually wanted to stop our tour at Jeongdongjin station but the driver suggested us to make a trip to Sunrise cruise resort as this is 1 of the iconic landmark here.

It was a uphill drive and ajusshi wanted 10,000KRW more for the trip and we were to walk down on our own. Since there is still time, we decided to take the trip.

The entrance

A photo of us in front of the resort

Entrance fee is 5,000 KRW each but with our valid train tickets we paid half price to go in. I read that a nigh here does not come cheap and there is buffet served here too but Mr Love is not willing to spend more monies since we had spent a bomb on the transport today.

Close up view of the hotel

The hotel itself is shaped like ship built on a cliff. The surrounding are decorated in posh style. I find some of the places familiar and later then we came across some boards near the entrance and realised this is the place where they filmed Prime Minster and I starring Yoona. No wonder I find it familiar.

The hands that sun will rest on

There is this park to the right of the resort that boasts a nice sea view and we sat there eating chips and sipping wheat green tea. Ahh what a treat. Luckily I brought snacks along since there is no convenience store in sight here.

We got cold after sitting here for 20mins and decided to go check out the resort. There is a nice bakery at ground level and I brought pastries here for our train ride back to Seoul. 

The empty pool

There are also 2 pools over looking the clear waters, how nice it would be to take a dip in the pools during summer.

Love the waters here

View of resort from afar

We took a stroll outside the resort and took some photos before decided to descend from the hill to find lunch. It's gonna be a long walk down judging from the drive up just now.

Doggie guarding yatches

It was a long walk down alright, around 15min downhill. Luckily it is not uphill else I would have give up half way. Once down hill, we turned right and walk along the street and came to Jeongdongjin beach (It is a long stretch of beach). From here, we are able to see the place where we sat earlier to view the sun rise.

The big sign of the resort

There is also a sandglass park here which features a huge sandglass with a diameter of 8.06m with width 3.2m and holds 8tons of sand. The sand glass will be reset once a year on New Year's day signifying start of a New Year.

Sand Glass

There is also rail bike which have tracks running along the beach that offers scenic views of the sea as you peddle along the track. Total length is 5.1 km with starting point from Jeongdongjin station to Sandglass park and back. It have 2seaters and 4seaters bikes.

Prices are KRW 20,000 for 2seaters and KRW30,000 for 4seaters.

I am very tempted to try it but Mr Love is not very keen, so end up we stood by the beach and watch people peddle past us.

Jeongdongjin Time Story

Another attraction here is the Jeongdongjin Time Story was created using 7 cars of a steam locomotive train. The first car is a cafe and souvenir shop and others are diverse exhibitions relating to time.

But while we were there, it seems like the cafe was not open for business. Then again, we didn't go too near to check it out.

Water so clear here

We walked along the beach to want try back to the station. Didn't know another way to go back. The sand was really fine and soft and we had trouble to walk properly.

It's like you are going to sink into the sand anytime. But I have never seen sand that soft and fine in and also such clear waters.

There are also seagulls sun bathing on the sunny but windy beach at this time. Mr Love was very excited to see seagulls so up close.

Seagulls so upclose

The happy Mr Love

Mr Love tried going near the seagulls but they keep running away from him and he got frustrated. He played catching with the seagulls for nearly 20mins before giving it up and move on for lunch.

Trying to get near the seagulls

Selfie since I'm bored

We wanted to find a place for lunch but the whole town is crowded with seafood restaurants. It's not surprising since it's a seaside town but we are not in the mood for heavy lunch and besides we spoke no Korean. It's not easy to communicate well here in this small town.

There is no small cafe in side as we circled around the station area and end up, decided to get lunch from 7-11 to the right side of the station.

Brought sandwich, dumplings and Korean wrapped rice as lunch. Mr Love commented that we are so pitiful to settle lunch this way but I find it refreshing to eat lunch this way. Hehe.

Roasted chicken sanwich

Dumplings

Korean wrapped rice

The 7-11 ajusshi was kind enough to help heat up our lunch for us and we stood by the window to eat.

And then I noticed something. A estimated sunrise timing of the Sunrise of Jeongdongjin!!

No wonder many of them knew the timing today and avoided the beach till 10min before the sunrise. Ahh Had we stumbled across this earlier, we would not have to stay in the cold windy beach for nearly an hour!!

Timing of sunrise here

We went back to the train station to wait for our returning train after lunch. Its a fulfilling trip today and I'm glad we came here despite the long travelling time needed.

Nice peach drink found in 7-11

Permanently Hungry

For no apparent reasons, my gums got swollen and also the lymph nodes got affected along with it.

It started with a little pain in my mouth and escalate to something so big that I couldn't open my mouth properly and the left side of my face till neck is always in pain.

I tried tolerating the pain but it got so bad that I developed fever in the middle of the night and I decided to go consult doctor for medication.

Turns out, there is inflammation in my gums and in turn it affects the left side of my nervous system. It must have been bad since doc prescribed antibiotics to me to ease the inflammation and also anti swelling medicine as well as muscle relaxants.

The most torturing thing about this whole episode is not the pain but the hungry pangs I am feeling.

Mr Love is in a good mood on Sunday and he made my favourite pancake for breakie and customised all chicken and mushrooms pizza for dinner.

It was delicious alright but I only managed to eat little both time since the pain got worse when I chewed. Because of this, I didn't eat much and therefore keep feeling hungry. Gotta resort to drinking milk to fill up my stomach.

This is the worst feeling of all- feeling permanently hungry and I prayed that the inflammation will go away soon and I can resumed to my normal diet instead of drinking porridge now and keep feeling hungry.

Arrivals and departures

Personally, I love going to the airport since most of the time going there means I will be going on a holiday. Hehe

But airport holds some of the most happy memories of my childhood and dating days.

When we were very young, my parents would occasionally bring us to Changi airport and have Swensens ice cream in T1 where its right beside the viewing gallery. We would all share 2 banana splits and then stay there to watch the planes land or take off.

Sad to say, it's the only memories I have of the very limited family outings and therefore this place holds a special place in my heart. Though Swensens have moved, I always like to have ice cream there every time we visit the airport. It's like I can literally see the happy times of my childhood ")

The other day while sending my parents and piggy bro off for their China trip, we went to have ice cream upon my request though it's already 9pm. Though the little brat was not present, I still find comfort in having the chance to have ice cream here again with my family. It's like the old days where we will share an ice cream and sit there for a long time to talk. My parents look older but nevertheless happier than when it used to be.

Airport is also 1 of our dating places since there is a straight bus service from my area to here and we can take a long free ride (both using bus concessions). We would sit at the viewing gallery to chit chat for hrs before going off. The air con is nice and its not as noisy as the malls. Most of all, we do not have to spend much here and can kill alot of time. Haha

I love the feeling of welcoming a love one home at the airport. I believe everyone loves a welcoming person at the airport on your arrival. Just see how my dad lights up at the sight of me yesterday  confirmed my theory haha.

And of course lastly is I usually get gifts when I fetch my mummy or bro when they are back from overseas. Hehe

To prove my point, this is what I got yesterday from piggy bro. I actually asked him to help buy but he decided to give me since he still owed me a birthday pressie. Yay..

Korea Late Winter Sonata 2015 - Gangneung- Gangneung Unification Park /Tongil Park

Besides watching Sunrise @ Jeongdongjin Beach, the other attraction that draws my attention is the Tongil park or otherwise known as Gangneung Unification Park.

This park features a decommissioned US warship that defends the Korean waters afer being gifted by US in 1972. This is also the venue where a North Korean submarine got stranded on the rocks while trying to spy the South, the submarine is also displayed here too.

Lastly there was a wooden boat where North Korea defectors took to the South showcased here too.

We were pretty interested by them and I was excited to realise this park is near Jeongdongjin station.

The ajusshi told us to flash our train tickets to get discount for the entrance fee and he did not pay since he is not going to visit. Haha

I think many attractions in Gangneung gives discount if you produced your arriving train tickets of the same day.

Deck of the warship

Mr Love was an army guy and so he had never been on a warship before and me? The only ship I went up is a drillship because of work. Haha But they are totally different.

We went up a long stairs to the deck and followed Ajusshi's instruction to follow the signs on the floor for the tour. There was no one else here and we got the whole ship to ourselves. Ajusshi told me that he will sit somewhere to wait for us.

Big guns

Don't know what weapon is this

Everything seems to be interesting for us. Though you can see this ship had seen better days but how often do you get to see one? I don't even go for our Navy open house back home.

Mr Love trying out 1 of the equipment

Some missile firing equipment if I am not wrong

We finsished the deck and went into the interior of the ship. Most of the rooms were locked but there were some you could peep in. They did keep most of the original furnishing or equipment I think.

Communications room

Captain's uniform

Captain's room

There was a group of Hong Kong tourists who came up for about 20mins before moving off. Not sure whether it because they don't find it interesting or they are given a time frame to tour the ship.

Was telling Mr Love that this is the downside of joining a tour group. You don't get enough time at some attractions that you are interested in. We are here for nearly half an hour and is still touring the same ship.

View from the deck. Too hazy to see anything

Side view

Big Big rocks by the coast

Another weapon on the other end of the ship

Check out the clear waters!

There are more exhibitions of uniforms, items used by the crews and also a introduction of Korean war and timeline of the developments in the 1 of the level. Only downside is, its all in Korean and we couldn't understand. So we went throught the display and left the warship.

Wooden boat the defectors took from North to South

 I think Ajusshi was chatting with the locals there while we were touring the warship. When he saw is descending, he immediately came up to us and motioned us to sit at one of the bench and took Mr Love's phone from him. Turns out, he wanna us to take a picture of the warship and the defector's boat as background. Haha Mr Love was still puzzled by his sudden excitment.

Warship & defector's boat behind us.

He then walked us to the Submarine which and told us to take a hard hat each. He also tried explaining a little to us on the submarine but seeing our puzzled looks, he gave up. Haha.

1 photo before going in

1 with us wearing the hard hats

I was a little curious why we would need the hard hats since going on to the warship doesn't have the same requirements. But being Singaporeans, we complied with no problems. It is later then I realised the importance of the hats.

Ok, I am going in

The first portion is still ok, but very soon we came to the middle section where I couldn't figure out how to sqeeuze myself through the very narrow walking path!!

To think 26 of the North Koreans stayed in this submarine for days while spying on the South. I couldn't even stand up staight as I tried to walk through the pathways, not to mentioned have to knock my head agains the very low pipes above me.

I reckon either they are super small size or I am an elephant.

Could's stand up straight from here on

If not for the hard hat, I think my head would have a lot of bumps. Really no matter how careful I am, I keep getting hit on the head. Damn.

Going lower

Interior

Equipments

There is this lingering burning smell in the middle section. This is because when the North Koreans realised that they are being found, they tried burning all the important documents and the equipments here. Not sure why after so many years, we can still smell the burning smell. Or it is me only?

Towards the end

See the narrow pathway

Really, I could't comprehend how they managed to survive during the days onboard. But then I am no army train though, so this is beyond my comprehension.

It was an interesting visit though, try to understand what has happen during the Korean war and of course the threats that are still very visible even in this modern world.

I am not trying to judge and will not judge what has happen. But hopefully nothing eventful will break out ever in this divided land.

Finally out

View from submarine rear