Shopping (?)

Today I go shopping with three of my friends, Djeh, Ahok and Brewok.  We are looking for a gift for Siska, our classmate.  She has final graduation test on this afternoon, so we want to give her a little surprise. Actually, we don't know what kind of gift that she likes, thus maybe we will randomly choose the gift. But at last, Ahok has an idea to buy her a dress, Brewok wants to give her a piece of bikini (he wants to buy it for real) while I and Jeh still don't have any idea. But the biggest problem is.. we don’t have enough budget to get all of those things #lol.

On 11.00 AM we go to the Karita Moslem Square which located in Ngagel. Karita is a clothes shop in Surabaya who offers both male and female branded clothes and other things related with Moslem. It also has many souvenirs with a good price. Plus, you can wrap your items right on the spot without additional fee. After an hours, we decide to buy two gifts, one from them (Ahok, Djeh, and Brewok) and another one from me.

I buy this book, hope she likes it

Why I like Reading

Reading a book is one of my hobbies. I like reading because I‘m looking for a new vocabulary and I want to learn about the writing style from any different authors. I like to study English literature and I always admire it. Started from the simple books like non-fictional books ‘till the tricky one like fictional books. 

My favorite genre is Old Plays (fictional). I like Old Plays because it can teach me about live, how people used to be, and how was society in the past. Although I often can’t fully understand what it means, I always looking for it. Now I had read a lot of plays written by Oscar Wilde and William Shakespeare. I read all of his books for free through online library ‘cause I don't want to buy any books from the local bookstore. You know, it’s kinda expensive here, especially for any foreign language literature. 

My favorite author is J.R.R. Tolkien, a man who writes fantasy novel The Lord of The Rings in 1954.  I only read three of his books, Tree and Leaf (1964), The Return of The King (1955), and Bilbo’s Last Song (1990). I adore him because he is so genius with his high-fantasy mind, he can bring the readers into his world with such an incredible details. Moreover, Tolkien also has an insane talent on creating beautiful language. When you read his book you will understand how Tolkiens use such a weird complex phrases and sentences that you may never heard before. Here I show you one of the paragraphs in his 5^th book, The Return of The King 

“A light kindled in the sky, a blaze of yellow fire behind dark barriers Pippin cowered back, afraid for a moment, wondering into what dreadful country Gandalf was bearing him. He rubbed his eyes, and then he saw that it was the moon rising above the eastern shadows, now almost at the full. So the night was not yet old and for hours the dark journey would go on. He stirred and spoke.”

(Return of the King, Chapter 1 : Minas Tirith)

In last 3 months i had been reading 10 books, 8 of it is had been done yesterday while the rest is still ongoing. Here is the list of the books :

1. Plays of Oscar Wilde – Lady Windermere’s Fan (1892) by Oscar Wilde

2. Return of The King (1955) by Tolkien

3. Woman in White (1859) by Wilkie Collins

4. Tree and Leaf (1964) by Tolkien

5. The Importance of Being Earnest (1896) by Oscar Wilde

6. Vera or, The Nihilists (1880) by Oscar Wilde

7. Bilbo’s Last Song (1990) by Tolkien

[Ongoing]

8. The Writings of Abraham Lincoln (1905) by Arthur Brooks Lapsley

9. The Comedy of Errors (1954) by William Shakespeare

10. A Treatise of Human Nature (1738) by David Hume

What You Can Do and You Can't Do In Korea

Korea is a super power country which still maintain its cultures and manners. Korean always preserve their good manners, from the youngers to the elders. It seems like a general positive stereotype which had to know by every individual in society. In spite of the different mindset between the elders and the youngers, they can still gather each other. The reason why they have good communication is because the younger always respect the elders while the elders always appreciate the youngers. This is the list of korean etiquette and manners which i had learned when i was there :

Do 
1. When meeting someone for the first time, a little bow, put a smile, and say hello in korean is needed to make a good impression.
2. Whoever you talk to, always use the formal sentence to introduce yourself.
3. Wherever you are, always wear an appropriate dress.
4. When an older person gives a something to you, receive it with both of your hands
5. When the older person asks for handshakes, it would be better to use both of our hands.

Don’t
1. Don’t bid for the price to any kind of shop, including to the street vendors
2. Don’t  smile to a stranger
3. Don’t eat or drink in the subway
4. Don’t throw away the rubbish 
5. Don’t mention North Korea’s president name in public area
6. Don’t talk aloud
7. Don’t use informal language to talk with elders
8. When you visit to the sacred place such as temple, don’t talk unless the tour guide allows you

If you want to add more manners on the list just submit your comment below

Our Captain

Dear Captain.

Our ship is lost.

The wind blows strongly.

Giant waves are coming.

Huge iceberg waiting for us.

Captain, open your eyes.

We need you to take control.

Captain, oh my captain.

Our crew 's run away.

Leave the wheelhouse empty and abandoned.

Sun has gone while the bell is ringing. 

Pierce deeply in our trembling heart.

Here lies our honorable captain.

He's silent in a cold dark coffin.

Now Captain, we let you go.

It's not your ship anymore.

But our fearful trip is never done.

Our memories will stay long last forever.

(Hilman, 2016)

Naminara Island

Here we go, another wonderful place called Nami island. Nami island is a small island located in Gangwon. Nami's local people also call themselves as Naminara Republic. My friend said that it's the grave of General Nami, one of the greatest general of Joseon Dynasty. It’s well known for its lined beautiful trees and panoramas. There are no wires along the island because all electric wires were built underground to keep the natural of the landscape. Nami also popular because of Winter sonata, a korean drama starred by Choi Ji Woo and Bae Yong Joonwhich which has filmed in this gorgeous island in 2002. 

Nami island located far enough to the east of Seoul. Take the subway will be a good idea, although it will takes our time almost 1,5 hours. Then we can continue with bus for 15 minutes and ferry for 20 minutes. Here are the details of my experience :

I started my journey from Hyehwa at 06.30 AM. First, I need to go to Sangbong station. So I have to pass 9 stations from Hyehwa, which means I have to pay 1250 won by using the transit card. The trip takes 40 minutes and I have to transfer at Dongdaemun station and Wangsimni station. Such a tiring journey 'cause the distance is more than 32 Km.

After that, I take the other line started from Sangbong to Gapyeong. It takes longer time, around 1 hours. I think it's long enough to watch 1 episode of Korean drama. By passing 12 station i have to pay 2150 won, it's more expensive since the distance is so much further but no transfer needed along this trip.

Voila ! I have reached Gapyeong station ! 

Gapyeong station looks cool, widely open, quiet enough and very clean. I want to stay any longer but I need to reach the dock before afternoon, so let's forget about it. Actually, I can go to the dock on foot. But it will takes 30 minutes, just wasting my time. So I think it would be better if I take the bus. Therefore, I'm looking for a station staff and ask about the shuttle bus schedule. After I get what I want, I go outside and I just realize that this station is located in rural country. It's awesome, this is my first time visit rural country in Korea. I can see beautiful hills around me, ancient statues, many trees, and beautiful Korean ladies.  

The bus randomly arrives between 8:00 AM and 8:30 AM, But in fact, i still wait for more than 40 minutes. I spend my time to take a selfie, listening to the music, talking with my friend, and geez seriously, it takes my time so long, I wonder why the bus comes late on that day.

I arrive at the dock at 09.00 by bus, then I buy 9 tickets for me and my friends. We take the second ferry which will operate 30 minutes later (09.30). While we wait for it, we walk around to take some pictures (again)

FYI, there are 3 ways to get to Naminara island

1.     Using zip wires (I can die for this)

2.    By Ferry (wise choice)

3.    Swimming by yourself (if you want to look manly)

Waiting for the ferry at Gapyeong dock

Some store near the dock

The parking lot

Zip Wires in Gapyeong (Chloe's Blog, 2016)

Finally, i got here.
All i have to do now is show my passport and pay an entrance fee for 8000 won

Nami island open at 09.00 AM and close at 20.00 PM. So I suggest taking 06.30 subway from Seoul if you want to be the first person who comes in this wonderful island. I also suggest visiting Nami during fall or winter. The entrance fee is 10000 won but if you have a discount it will be 8000 won. For your under 3 years old kid, it will cost 4000 won. Discount only supposed to middle or high school student, persons with disability, elders up to 70 years old, and foreigners. Besides the beautiful landscape. Nami island also has some facilities such as listed below : 

Culture Experiences
Picture Book Playground, Handicraft Studio, Nami Eco-school, Nami Island Glass Workshop

Exhibits

Drama Gallery, Junghwa Art Gallery, Hoban Gallery, Nami Gallery, Yanggu White Porcelain Gallery, Pyeonghwarang, UNICEF Hall, Ryu Hongjuin World Folk Instrument Exhibit Hall, Yu Qing Chung Sculpture Park Happy Garden.

Performance Halls
Outdoor Music Stage, UNICEF Sharing Stage, Youth Stage of Belgrade, Manner Square Outdoor Stage, Water Stage, Song Museum Magic Hall, Under-stage Amphitheater.

Small Theme Gardens
Baekpungmilwon Garden, Sujaewon Garden, Hampyeong Garden, Changpyeongwon Garden, Hwaseokwon Garden, Sequoia Family Garden, Namipungwon Garden, Nami Dodamsambong, White Birch Forest, Dew Garden, Tomb of the General, Lover’s Woods, Cheongyeongwon Garden, Changgyeongwon Garden, Unchi Garden, Nakusong Royal Garden, Cheongpungwon Garden, Pitowon Garden, YMCA LiPia Garden

Restaurants
Bamnamu Tteokbokki, Nami Island Hua Jia Won, Huyusona, Peace Room, Café Amuse, Di Matteo, Gomok, Seomhyanggi, Yeonga, General’s Rest Area, Coffee Gongbang, Eco Café Hobansae, Sun and Moon Live Café

      Seminar Rooms
      Andersen Hall, Gongsimwon, Myeonggang Hall, Imaginary Star Paradise

      Others
      Moslem prayer room, Nursing room, ATM, money changer