Beautiful Korea

For our (belated) honeymoon, the missus wanted to go to South Korea. When I asked a few of my friends who had been there, the general consensus was 'Its ok, so so, at least go once in your lifetime.' I wasn't expecting much when I left for Korea last week, but the tour guide said during the beginning of the trip 'Korea has more to offer than you think.' After having spent 1 week there, I agree.

Autumn leaves on Nami Island

First of all, autumn in Korea is really very beautiful. There is a 2 week window in which the leaves turn color to prepare for the coming winter and this is Korea at its best (in my opinion). I've always preferred fall/winter to spring/summer...but hey, to each his own.

Small clay figures found on Nami Island

Perhaps the one thing that has made Korea very unique is its neighbor, North Korea. The North and South are still theoretically at war with each other, held apart by a ceasefire agreement signed in 1953.

A South Korean military outpost at Imjingak

Prayers and wishes for the unification of Korea

Binoculars granting you a view into North Korea

Very enterprising Koreans.. DMZ chocolates!

A destroyer at the Gangneung Unification Park where the North Korean spies infiltrated the South

A typical street in Korea lined with ginkgo trees

You can see many of these structures in Korea, be it temples or palaces

A closeup of the roof

Our time in Korea not only taught us about the history and culture behind Korea's past, but also brought us to experience the modern and urban city life of Seoul.

At the Drawing Show, a combo of painting and performance

T-Express, the hair changing experience which is the worlds steepest 'wooden' rollercoaster

Walker-Hill Casino

Skyscrapers in Seoul

A view from my hotel room in Seoul *heheheh*

BMW police bikes

Will I return to Korea again? Definitely, but maybe after 15 years or so. If anything, this tour has made me want to go to Japan instead, because in almost all of Korea's undertakings in Asia, they are second only to Japan. To anyone who is considering going to Korea for a holiday, I highly recommend it! Or at least go to Korea before you go to Japan... those who have gone to Japan before going to Korea expressed that it was like taking a step backwards...a very small step though. With the way Korea is advancing now, it may catch up to Japan sometime later...maybe, just maybe.

I'm Turning Green

Don't make me angry... you wouldn't like me when I'm angry! I'll feed you with cili padi till your skin melts. Yes I'm really turning green. Or red... Last weekend I decided that I've had enough of looking at weeds/grass only every time I look out of my window.

Honestly I don't know why I got this chili plant. My wife and I aren't chili masochists and we don't eat chilis on a regular basis. I do know that my mom loves them though and she will probably get lots from us in the near future.

We also got ourselves a mini christmas tree... heheh. Small in size but has the potential to be a giant one day. This little fella will provide our garage with shade from the morning sun...oh well, in a few years time.

For those of you who are familiar with where I live, please be informed that there is enough space under that christmas tree for a PS3 or a Wii gaming console should you decide to be generous this coming..oh I don't know, say the night of 24th December? *winks*

And some good news, my two-faced plant is doing very well and even sprouting new flowers! There was a drastic change when we replanted the pot in a more nutrient rich soil and a bigger pot (since it was outgrowing the old one).

Next on the list will be to get a fruit bearing tree... I'm thinking maybe a papaya tree and a durian tree. I was told to look for a hybrid durian tree that doesn't need 10 years to bear fruit and will come with easy plucking abilities... anybody can shed some light on this?

Forsaken Ones

Customer : Do you have any creams that can make me grow a beard or a moustache at least?

I looked upon the customer with the boyish looks devoid of any ruggedness in his face and I instantly empathised with him... Some people are just blessed with such good facial hair and some of us seem to have pissed off the God of Facial Hair at some point in our lives. After my encounter with this particular customer, I told my wife that I'm trying to grow a goatee. She didn't even bat an eyelid and went back to whatever she was doing. Fast forward 2 weeks and the grass in the garden is outgrowing the hair on my chin. There are a few stubbles, but nothing remotely close to what Johnny Depp has on his chin.

Its honestly depressing. There is something about having a well groomed goatee or moustache that kind of adds to your character. You can shave it clean and then you have your boyish looks back. Its an option thats nice to have. Then again there are some people who are pushing the definition of 'well groomed'...like this fella here.

There are some who recommend taking testosterone and many internet searches will tell you to use testosterone cream (which is not available here) but having a higher level of testosterone doesn't guarantee that the hair will grow on your face specifically. It could be an Amazon in some places and still a Sahara in others...if you know what I mean.

Some also mention that facial hair may come later in life, something that I am really hoping for. I may just be a late bloomer after all you know...heheh. Hopefully...