A REFLECTION

well, ternyata gw udah bikin blog ini dari tahun 2005 ya ?? ckckck udah 8 tahun ? started in June 2005.. 

read my post on KONFLIK vs DAMAI.. really i am impressed with my younger self hahaha

did I really write that ?? did I ?? 

and look how I am now ? 

life has been quite emotionally roller coaster... and now I'm labelled as anti-social.. 

hahaha.. what a life and what a jerk !! 

yes a JERK !! 

SEOUL with love

If you read my posting about KDrama, you should know I wasn’t only watching Kdrama but then also follow K-Reality Show, Kpop.. and I was really infatuated with a couple from K-reality show We Got Married. So much it influenced me, I learned Korean alphabet, took a Korean language class for about a year (I stopped because I couldn’t  leave work earlier as I used to be) , befriended many new people who as much as infatuated as I am. I also went to Kpop concert and the most crazy of all, I planned and went to Seoul with my Kpop friends. 

So I found Garuda promotion for their online website price is much much lower than other airline (even AirAsia) considering they are full board, with meals, and 20 kg baggage. And to top it all, we can use BCA credit card installment for 12 month 0% interest, the price is Rp 3.5 mill per person. One card can be used for maximum 4 persons. Great isn’t it ? this year the price now is Rp 7 mill. So yeah we got lucky.

For accommodation, we use Claudia Kaunang recommendation : Hongdae Guest House, since trying to compare and compare we feel at least her recommendation is quite valid. 

Day 1

Myeongdong, Gwanghamun Plaza, Cheonggyecheon Stream

The flight supposed to take off at 22.00 pm but it was delayed to 01.00 am. So we have to change our first morning plan, into night. 

Arriving in Incheon, we took the airport limousine bus then directly go to our guest house. One of our friend using the same airline promotion has arrived few days ago and asks to meet us in Myeongdong. So after refreshing ourselves we went to Myeongdong using Subway. She asks to meet us infront of Nature Republic shop but she wasn’t here when we arrived then we did crazy thing : walk around Myeongdong to find another Nature Republic shop, the temperature was around 5 Celcius. Great. Turns out she meant the same Nature Republic shop but she was late. Just that is. 

We went to eat Jjajang myeon and Mandu..had a confusion because we didn’t want to eat a lot but just to try but the shop owner didn’t allow us to order minimally. We must order according number of people. (well, few days later, at different shop, we met the same requirement.. they put low price but we must order according to number of people).

Later on we went to SPAO shop do some picture taking with our beloved Song Qian (Victoria Song) . then visit EverySing (upstair). 

We separated with our friend then as per her recommendation we went to see Gwanghamun Plaza.. few blocks and breath away.. we found that we can go to Gwanghawun through Cheonggyecheon Stream and its night time, and there are still some snow on the river bed and the lighting and … and… 

Thankfully not many couple there with lovey dovey pose hahaha…

We made it to Gwanghamun plaza then went home using MRT from Gwanghamun station. So having experience with Singapore, Hongkong and especially Japan MRT really makes Seoul MRT felt easy hahaha.. but we did a lot of walking.. saving time from transferring lines in MRT.

Day 2

Hongdae, Hello Kitty Café, Khuntoria house, Jamsil Stadium, 

This morning we walk around our neighborhood, found the hongdae area, trick eye museum but its entrance fee is quite expensive, we decided not to enter but just buy some souvenirs.. Found the Hello Kitty café.. took a lot of picture.. 

This day actually we will stay in Khuntoria house. Fortunately my friend got the contact email from winnies friend and voila, we are booked to stay one night in Khuntoria house. Lucky lucky !!  And in the morning we found out through twitter that f(x) is scheduled to perform in Seoul Music Award in the evening at Jamsil Stadium.  We did pay both the house and the guest house but its all worth it. 

Wow so many good things happen ! We decided to meet the Khuntoria house owner first, put our things there, then go to Jamsil, back to the house later at night. The owner is soo nice, they even show us the naver map which exit at Jamsil that we should use.

I should mention that they fill the Khuntoria house with food (bread, jam, butter, instant noodle, eggs) and the house is equipped with cooking facility, a whirpool. Laptop and wifi . We ate a lot. And sleep on Khuntoria Bed !! KHuntoria Bed. The same bed where Nichkhun and Victoria sleep. Even the same bedcover..  crazy.. I am smiling typing this …

Ok lets do the story chronologically. 

So we were picked up by the house owner in front of the guesthouse building, and actually the house area is not far from hongdae !. really!  After explaining to us, how to use the cooker, setting the temperature, explaining the bus to take from the nearest MRT station they deliver us in front MRT station where then we go to Jamsil to see the red carpet event. Soo, the place is packed with Fangirls !! Korean fangirls ! It so much fun!! Some reporters were trying to interview the girls, they always screaming their bias name, but then we the reporter say they will air the segmen afterwards they ask not to, afraid their parents will find out they out there… really it was like watching Reply 1997 live ! hahaha 

To blend in, off course we do our part in screaming whenever we see idol comes in.. especially screaming when f(x) comes.. and..eerr. Jiyoung too hahaha… 

Then we go back to Khuntoria house, before arrive we saw the mini park where KHuntoria record their MV. We tried to replicate the scene hahaha..

Taking pictures of everything in the house, and we also put our Khuntorian Indonesia message on the wall.. we are the first Indonesian Khuntorian !! yay !!

Its quite unbelievable.. you have to be there to feel it.. I hope the owner keep the house like that forever well at least before Khuntoria buy it as museum hahaha..

Day 3

Khuntoria House, Namsan Tower, Myeongdong

Unfortunately it had been raining since early morning and it kept raining until 12.00 when the owner pick us up.  We couldnt do our plan to go to the park where khuntoria did baseball practice, trying some sport facility, badminton and dancing for I’ll be back.  Hiks.  

The owner was so nice, they treated us with Korean style lunch, sitting down, with many side dishes.. I forgot the main menu name, I thought it was tofu soup something..  Then they deliver us on the guest house building. Afterwards we went to Namsan tower, as suggested in some website, we waited for Namsan bus shuttle on Myeongdong MRT exit.  

It was raining all day that day. And Namsan tower was full of cloud and mist, we couldn’t see the tower.  We tried to find Khuntoria locks, but found notes from the tower management that locks will be dispersed once a year. So that’s what happen with Khuntoria lock haha..  we went back to, guess where, Myeongdong offcourse haha…  so many things to buy, so little time and money… 

Day 4

Bukchon Hanok Village, Insadong, Dongdaemun Market

This is quite nice place although we couldn’t find the hanok village in the first place, and had to go around the park before finally  saw it. So when you enter the complex crossing the small stream, look to your left. The Hanok Village is on your left. 

We went to the souvenir shop, trying to find my sister request : the thumb top for sewing. Thankfully we found it, cos I couldn’t find it at myeongdong underground shop. (we did saw again in insadong)

Then we went to insadong. It was nice.  There was a fourstory building, my friend  told me this is actually where the last scene of Dream High was shot (I didn’t watch Dream High, only the last dance).

I wanted to buy some toys from my girl, but couldn’t find it. Only found one store sold Pororo mic in Myeongdong underground.

Then we remember we want to buy Victoria photo book we headed to Dongdaemun market.. funnily, at hongdae, myeongdong

Day 5

Nami Island, JYP- SM office

Early morning we went to Nami island. This island was background for KDrama Winter Sonata.  I didn’t watch it, not yet a fan.. and after reading the synopsis, I don’t think I want to watch it. Its so mellow, ironic, sad etc.  I’m more a happy ending person.. sadness is acceptable in the middle but not at the end. 

The island is quite beautiful especially with the touch of arts everywhere..  Traces of snow still be seen here. Yay !. *when we went back to Seoul, it was snow storming* Yay again!

My friend told me that the land area near Nami Island is famous for its chicken – ddak galbi..  didn’t have chance to try, since we decided to visit JYP n SM Office.  The girls were hesitated to visit JYP office since 2PM is not in Seoul but in Thai (or Japan, somewhere overseas). But then, realized we might regretted if we didn’t visit JYP and/or SM office. 

In the training, snow starts to fall heavily .. after a quite complicated change of subway, we got out the station, and start our walk in the snow rain … quite a long walk.. and its already around 5 pm (?). After some confusion, we finally reached the JYP office !! yay !! went to the famous Dunkin Donut store in front of JYP office and met some fans. Kfans, C-fans, J-fans and I-fans … yoohoo !!  I’m gonna tell you my finding about JYP group fans and SM Group fans later hahaha quite funny. 

After finishing our donuts, we head out to SM. During our stakeout in Dunkin Donuts, one of the fangirl spotted one-two idols (don’t recognize the faces) but she gives a skateboard to the boy. WOW. We learned later that the boy (maybe) is a member of new duo of JYP..

Walking up to SM (new) office, we met SM fangirls, well, they seem to be EXO fans.. from Japan.. ok so here I have to tell you that to be a Kpop fan and get a higher level you must understand / talk a bit in Korean. These girls are Japanese but they fluent in Korean and their English is not bad too. Aaand sooo strangely different than JYP fans, these girls are stalking idols in HIGH HEELS and STYLISH COAT. While the JYP girls are quite haggard, big unattractive jacket, messy hair, and NO SMILE. The SM fangirl even ask if we need help to take picture..  Nice…. 

We did saw one member of EXO coming. And girls are screaming .. woo hoo ..

Later that night, we went back to the guesthouse. The girls went to check the bus stop for airport limo bus.   I was gonna buy fork to eat noodles. I went to the mart by myself…. Walk..walk.. then I fell on the street. The snow has become quite hardened icy and slippery… it is quite an experience hehehe… 

The next day, early very early morning, around 5 am  we head out to the bus stop. Suprisingly there are quite a number of people already waiting for the bus. 5 a.m. !  The snow is very thick around 10 inch deep. Yeah, n the suitcases already twice as heavy compared to when we arrived. 

Then after checking-in, the girls found news that 2PM maybe arrived during the hour. And they DID get see 2PM very close and saw the famous  Auntie “D”. well I would be thrilled to meet Auntie D, although the chance to shake hands with her is almost non-existent for a khuntorian hahaha.. 

So the girls fan level have been move to the highest level !! JJANG !! hahaha …

All in all, there so much we have seen yet so much we haven’t visited and seen…

There is something endearing while you are travelling, the excitement, adventure, landscape…. 

Tasya and Tyas.. thank you girls !! what a memorable Khuntorian trip !! 

Really look forward for another travelling!! …

Japan Trip (part 3)

I tried to put in the text after the itinerary table, but failed so here the part 3.

Day Three

We start off in the morning to go to Kyoto. I had searched www.hyperdia.com for various route for our Japan trip and brought chosen printed routes.  The thing about Japan trains, it is really remarkable how they manage to have punctual time table and even this time table is available in their various route website. Amazing !! 

Arrived at Kyoto station, really recommend to buy lunchboxes here, cause its quite cheap compared to foodstalls we saw around Kiyozumidera and the Nishiki market..  and its taste quite good too. (I forgot the specific location but it’s around the exit and Tourist Information office). 

We got the Kyoto map at the Tourist Information office and took bus to Kiyozumidera Temple.  The climbing walk is quite long. When we arrived, the temple was being renovated. 

I think in winter or spring the view maybe better, but the weather that day was nice enough.

In several location there were wooden spoon, where mistakenly I tried to drank the water at the first spoon I saw. Turns out there is only one place where you can drink the water, it has a ultraviolet disinfection machine. You have to go down the temple through the stairs.

When we left Kiyozumidera Temple, I think its around 2.00 pm something and we don’t have lunch yet, then we settled in a small restaurant in the area. Its quite expensive for our budget but well, we have to sample the real Japanese food, right ?  Afterwards we went to Nishiki market. It was quite a long tunnel-like market.. so many things to see. They have fresh seafood section, crafty section, 100 yen store, arcade games store.. yeah, my boy tried to ask money for this. But we know, he could be hooked and spent more, so we didn’t allow him. (I watched too Japanese movies with bad guys trying to get all the money)

Then we tried to find toilet, and couldn’t find it in the market, then we found one in the Museum near the market. I think it was a Kyoto painting museum. It contains old paintings showing life in Kyoto in maybe 16-17 Century.  It was quite nice.  At this time, I think we forgot about visiting Gion district or decided not to go there.. I forgot but then we decided to go to the Kyoto Imperial Palace.. garden by foot.  Looking at the maps, it seemed the distance to get out from the current street labyrinth to take bus to go to the garden was the same length to go to the garden by foot directly. So the four of us, walked pass Kyoto houses to go to the garden. It was nice walk, the houses mostly still landed houses, and quite traditional with wooden fence.  When we were in Nishiki market, it was raining, so when we arrived in the Palace Garden, the benches are wet.  The park is nice and quiet, and they preserved some old houses.. really really beautiful.  

Getting out from the park, we were quite confused where we can take bus .. so we were quite loss for a while trying to figure out the way. We found the bus stop for bus that goes to the Kyoto station.  So Kyoto is very nice for a city walk. I really recommend getting lost in the labyrinth of streets.  

The next day, we prepared to check out from Osaka hotel and going to Tokyo by Shinkansen.  Our next hotel will be at Disney Tokyo area. Turns out our train lane to the Disney area is the farthest from our arrival platform at Tokyo station.  We walked for 20 minutes, carrying our heavy luggage. This is one of the things that I missed out in planning. The other major thing was I packed too many clothes haha.

From the Shin Urayasu train station we took taxi to the hotel, it was around 10 minutes journey. If we stopped at Maihama station, it maybe around 30 minutes by taxi.

Our hotel is a bed and breakfast Disney style. Comparing between Universal Port and Palm Fountain, in terms of space size and quality, Universal Port is better. But for Tokyo, for the size and price Palm n Fountain is quite OK.  We looked at the map and decided to go to Odaiba but it was raining when we arrived and already around 7 pm so we had dinner at McDonalds, bought some food at the convenience stores for breakfast and head back to hotel.

Our major weakness during holiday is to wake up early. Its such a struggle to go out before 9 am. If we can, it was a miracle. So the next day, we went to Tokyo Metropolitan Govt Building, Harajuku, and Odaiba. Didn’t get to go to Shibuya crossing. We seems to be lagged behind schedule or unable to go to many places  all the time haha.. maybe we were too optimistic ..

We bought  crepes near the entrance of Harajuku and while eating the crepes found that behind Harujuku there is a small temple, a pond and a nice path.. then we spent too much time there. I thought its Yoyogi park, but we were wrong. It’s too small to be Yoyogi park.  Too many people in Harajuku, and funnily many westerners do wear costumes/ cosplay make up … . Strangely the japanese mostly hide if they saw we pointing our camera to their direction…  I don’t know.. maybe they are working there without their parents consents ? (my motherly instinct or detective instinct in action)

We then went to Odaiba, our objective was the Sonyexplora science place.  Then we found out that the Tokyo Bay scenery from Odaiba is quite spectacular so we lost track of time there hehe… and finish off Odaiba with Yoshinoya beef bowl.  

The last two days we went to Disney Land then Disney Sea. Both have their charms so making decision which one first was difficult. Found out that there weren’t any Fireworks at the end of day.  We went to Disney Land first. But then my kids who are now 8 and 13 thought that they are too old for Disney Land attractions.  And I also had enough of Turkey Leg. Uugh.. no more !! We were able to enter most attractions which mostly a translation from Disney story book.

The next day we went to Disney Sea. We really need to watch our timing this time, because we have to go to the Haneda airport around 6 pm. So, we were running around Disney Sea taking fast pass as much as possible. Doing as much attractions as possible. At the end, we were able to try mostly everything that are interesting.  And we also found the food in the Arabian Coast area to be delicious. Try the curry. I like the shrimp curry.  And the shop has better stuff compared to the neighbor Disney Land. Maybe because it targets older kids / teen so fit us better.

Our taxi to Haneda cost around 10,000 yen. We almost had to use two taxi since our luggages are too big. Thankfully, we could fit them all, at the end.  At Haneda, we found KitKat green tea and Tokyo Banana. I wasn’t able to find them before. Bought some, and tried to put them in the bag. So remember don’t check in your bag before you check out the stores in Haneda. Or you might carry a lot of things in the cabin.

Finally, our Japan trip come to an end. I felt we needed more days… We haven’t seen everything but we had everything, quarreled, angry, despair … but I’m glad we stay healthy during the trip and seen most of the places we want to see.

And hopefully, we would be able to see Japan again.. well, at least after Harry Potter attraction opened in 2014 at Universal Studio Osaka !!  yay !!  and hopefully we can use full board airline next time… 

Japan Trip (part 2)

Here is our original trip plan..

04 Juli 2012	Arrive  Osaka. Osaka Aquarium, Osaka Castle, Namba, Dotonbori, Shinsaibashi	Hotel Universal Port 1-1-111, Sakurajima, Konohana-ku, Osaka,Japan TEL:81-6-6463-5000
05 Juli 2012	Universal Studio, Osaka	Same as above
06 Juli 2012	Kyoto : Kiyomizudera Temple, Gion District	Same as above
07 Juli 2012	Osaka – Tokyo with train. Tokyo : Shibuya, Odaiba, Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building	Palm & Fountain Terrace Hotel 7-1-1 Akemi Urayasu-shi, Chiba, 279-8502 Japan   TEL: 047-353-1234   FAX: 047-353-5916
08 Juli 2012	Tokyo :  Ginza, Asakusa Temple, Harajuku, Shinjuku	Same as above
09 Juli 2012	Tokyo Disney Sea	Same as above
10 Juli 2012	Tokyo Disney Land Haneda Airport (for flight back to Jakarta)