When In Seoul part 2.1

thank you for coming back!

Hi guys.

I'm guessing you came back to follow up on previous story. So, let's get crackin'!

So, by 8pm of Day 2 in Seoul, I thought of going to the Cheonggyecheon Stream. 
It was actually set for visit on our final full day in Seoul but I thought, "we could squeeze it in tonight" and that was what we do.

This is when the first incident happened.

We exited the stairs from the station. Stopped for a moment, wondering which way to go next coz even with my 'thorough' planning, I missed out the part on how to get to the stream. 

Lesson no. 1: No matter how well you think you prepared, things can still go wrong.

So, we went to the right first. coz, you know, the 'right' way. but it doesn't seem right, so we go back to where we started and began Googling the place. and from where we stood, the Stream was on the left side. Thus, trust in Google, we went to the left.

As we were stopping at a pedestrian red light, a couple approached us. Being friendly. I thought, maybe they just wanted to help. They said they were college students and were studying Korean Culture. Our responses to these two were pretty limited, like, Yeah? Ok. Right. The guy's English was better than the girl. So, when she couldn't speak, the guy would assist. Which made me think, "oh, maybe they're practicing English".
and then, the guy began talking about, Korean Culture and wondered if we were interested in wearing hanbok. I excitedly answered, "Yes! we're going to wear them tomorrow" and I don't remember what else the guy said but the girl continue with this talk about 'tea ceremony' and even showing me traditional style picture of a lady in front of a 'shrine' pouring tea. She was explaining how that ceremony works and the moment she said "you know bow? like sholat?" I froze. Like, I froze.
I quickly said, "oh. no thank you" and quickly linked arm with my friend. The guys asked "where you guys going? maybe we can help you"
but I insisted, "Oh its okay"
AS IF LISTENING TO MY SILENT PRAYERS the pedestrian light turned green and I literally dragged my friend with me and crossed the road. Like, literally!

When we get to the other side, I STARTED FREAKIN OUT. AND LITERALLY KEEP TRYING TO DRAG MY FRIEND TO MOVE FASTER. 
I was so scared!
You wanna know why?
Becoz it took me a while to CLICK in my head but the moment she said "like sholat?" I was like, "this is that viral cult members targeting tourist"
I actually watched videos of these incidents to prepare myself!

Lesson no.2: No matter how you prepared yourself, sometimes, you forget.

OMG! what scared the fuck out of me is the fact that kami bedua yoh! bukan aku sorang2. KAMI BEDUA! they still approached you even though you're not alone. They probably thought we weren't aware of their 'projects'. Well, I was aware but my friend wasn't.

Lesson no. 3: Share important information like this one with your travel buddies. Don't assume they know. Even after you share the information with them prior to the trip, remind them again before you arrived at destination.

As my heart raced, we still continue on towards the Stream which we somewhat found easily after that. and enjoyed our strolled. The stroll was partly to calm my nerve and figured out an alternative route to go back to our hostel so that we don't have to go back to where we came from.

Lain lagi story nya time kami jalan2 di bawah atu. The Stream area is like in the middle of the city and is like, a dent. Refer picture to understand my meaning. LOL

not my picture

as mentioned in the previous post, down there, it was quiet coz when we arrived we were the only ones. After a few miles, I suggested we go up. At least up there, there would be people.
But bad move. When we walked a mile up there, it felt far less save? if that even make sense. So, we went back down. and when we went back down, we see more and more people strolling like us. some even do their jogging. we felt a lot better. Me mostly. coz I was still shaken.
We were not sure how long the stream go but we decided to turned back around.

There were a lot of mural on the walls. One part was dedicated to the ancient story about a King's procession. again. no picture for this one.

We climbed back up where we came down from and I decided to take picture of this siput coz I don't think they knew what siput is.

and this was when second incident happened. 

As I took out my phone to take picture, I already noticed this 'uncle' holding a paper cup. He was cheery and I think I smiled his way. COZ THATS JUST WHO I AM! I AM SO GENEROUS WITH MY SMILE! FUCK! and after taking the picture of the siput, the 'uncle' was speaking full on Korean to us. I only understand the word 'picture' and I assumed he wanted to take picture of us as he gestured to my phone. Again, I freaked out and quickly said 'No thank you' and dragged my friend away.
The uncle actually insisted to take our picture but when he saw another group of females he went their way and I dragged my friend even more.
Yes, the uncle was drunk.

Lesson no. 4: DON'T BE SO GENEROUS WITH YOUR SMILE AZNUUR!?! ARE YOU NOT LEARNING ANYTHING?!

We went to the same station we came from and got to our hostel in peace. EXCEPT FOR MY INNER TURMOIL!

ARGH! 

I even continuously mimic the girl 'you know like sholat' with "No bitch. that is not like sholat" LOL

Have you ever feel like that? Takut jua, marah jua, frustrated jua, embarass jua, kan nangis jua. all of that at once. 

AND IT WAS ONLY OUR DAY 2 IN SEOUL!

MY GOAT!

WHY CAN WE FEMALE TRAVEL IN PEACE!?

Ok.

Obviously the next day we were ok. Even I was at ease. but from then on, I was super paranoid whenever we were around a quiet area but at that point, we avoid quiet area completely.

. . .

Please tell me this doesn't only happened to me? coz before Seoul, there was one more incident like this when I went to KL. that time pun I wasn't on my own! I was with my cousin! argh

Every time I think about going back to KL or planning to visit Seoul again, I'm having mini anxiety attack. Like I'm not even joking guys.


. . . 

Anyway, that is the end of Part 2.1

Tomorrow I'll be posting Part 3 of When in Seoul. a far more vibrant post than this one, I promised.

See you on tomorrow's post.

. . .

When in Seoul part 2

Yes! Saya rajin.

Hi guys.

So, continuing on~

Day 2, Namsan Tower and Chenggyecheon Stream/River.


After Coex Mall, we went straight to our next destination on my itinerary, Namsan Tower.

Not my picture

the route we took was a bit steep. lots of climbing. I'm sure there are other easier ways to get to the Cable Car (that will bring you to the Tower. You can walk. but I don't think I could. So, using Cable Car it is). but since I saw a lot of people going the same way, I thought, lets get on with it.

there were lots of interesting walls/buildings of which you could take picture at. but this is the only one I could salvage.

why.is.my.face.like.that.

We didn't get onto the tower so we just went around the area taking pictures.

this is actually taken by me. Like, dam girlie. You had it in you. 

oh. that Love Keylock thingy, was super real and overwhelming. They make good background but, yeah, I remember feeling overwhelmed. almost Cleisiophobia like.

A/N: doing this is so painful. I remember taking so many scenery pictures but most of them are gone now. Sigh~

It wasn't that crowded when we get there so it was fairly calm. Plus it was late afternoon and it was cold. Maybe that was why not many people. OR we simply avoided crowded area. LOL

aren't I awkward?

coz. you gotta.

After some souvenir shopping, we went back down.

We went back down to have late lunch at this restaurant we came across on our route to Namsan Tour, KampungKu. the food was delicious!

Not my picture

After that we went back to our hostel to rest.

I know this statues. My nephews and niece watched them a lot. I don't know the name tho. LOL

they greeted us as we walked out from the station. I think.

I just realized that this was actually a picture I took on the Exit stairs to our hostel. it was that close. Building on the right is where our hostel at.

by 8pm, as tired as we were, I thought it'd be a waste to not make full use of our time exploring, so I suggested to Cheonggyecheon Stream.

It looked beautiful in the pictures.


I thought to just have a look.

Again, these are the only picture I have left.

It was pretty quiet. At first we were the only ones but after a while more people came, doing jogging, doing night stroll like us as well. I guess we came at the wrong time. it would've been very pretty to come there during a festival or something.

After about an hour of strolling, we decided to call it a night and went back to our hostel.


Now, two things happened on our night 'adventure'.

Wanna know apa?

Come again tomorrow for that story.

annyeong~

. . .

Disclaimer: Obviously when you see me in the picture, that picture does not belong to me.

When In Seoul

possibly, this is part 1 of 5? Possibly. Let's hope I don't get lazy by the end of this post. 😆

Hi guys.

I finally gather enough energy to make post about the time when I went to Seoul in Feb 2019.
I really can't explain why I keep proscrastinating to post. But in all honesty, it's probably only becoz I was lazy LOL
Here I am tho, not being lazy and ready to share memories of my first ever trip to Seoul.

Let's start.

. . .

Knowing me, I would want to visit anything SHINee related place as soon as I land in Seoul! but of course, our flight landed in the afternoon of 11th Feb 2019 and even on my itinerary, I gave ample time to rest. thus, SHINee can only happen the next day, 12th Feb 2019.

So, Day 2 in Seoul.

I went with my friend by the way. I was not on a solo trip. I wish. but no. for good reason. (confirm buat few more parts for this LOL) anyway,
based on my itinerary, we left our hotel, at around 10am to go to SMTown Coex Atrium at Coex Mall in Gangnam. and we arrived there at around 11am

View this post on Instagram

We’re living in the SMTown!

A post shared by AJ Awang (@vengeanceawg) on Feb 11, 2019 at 8:24pm PST

but as excited as I was, the SMTown Atrium actually opened at 11:30am, so now we wait.

It was so cold by the way! I forgot how cold but it was so cold! like! I don't remember it being that cold when I went to London back in 2009. 
Point of me telling you about this is becoz, my phone died on me (later on I found out that my battery life depleted and needed to be changed). Lucky my friend was there to take picture and lucky I brought my sony digi-cam along too.

anyway, I held hand with Onew.

There was a wall of brass plagues right on the side of the entrance. Its the hand mold of SM artists.

look at my tiny digi-cam

While still waiting, among the pillars, a few more people arrived. 

crossword: find SHINee

One of them approached me asking, "are you a Shawol?"
Me being the scardy cat that I am, answered hesitantly, "I am"
She explained that she thought I was one becoz of my head scarf color. LOL and proceeded to give me a support gift for Key.

I was so touched, I was speechless. Like, thank u. I didn't expect to meet fellow Shawol on this trip. Let alone to meet one at SMTown Coex!
We get to know each other a little; she was from Malaysia and she was in Seoul for Key's mini fanmeet/concert at the SMTown theatre (I was aware of this event but I didn't bother try and get the ticket of. coz yes, they sold out in minutes. and with my kind of internet, I really don't stand a chance) which was why she was distributing the support gift. She was actually leaving Seoul that night.

I only opened the gift when I get back home in Brunei.

it was a mini banner. 09.23 is Key's bday 23rd Sep. Yes, me and him, September babies. 💕💕

the IG tag was Brenda. well I thought it was IG. but turned out it was Twitter handle Brendaaa1104. So, thank u, Brenda. You made my day!

Onward!

We went inside as soon as the door opened. I was taking picture as soon as I get to the merchandise floor but the worker was like 'No picture'-juseyo~ and her hand like this 🙅 and I was like "Sorry" and proceeded to take picture more discreetly LOL

well, as you well aware by now, my my 2018-2019 got erased, meaning, I don't have that much pictures to share. but I did manage to salvage some. So here they are:

These pictures don't do justice to the place. but that is all you're gonna get. Thank my USB extension being faulty and wiped out my photos. ARGHHHH.

and here are the things I bought:

Onew's monster magnet, SHINee chocolate, SHINee Gangnam doll, NCT U Boss Pen, Taemin Want Album, EXO's Keychain. and that "wanna be" picture with Onew. LOL rasa jua bah ahh~~

We didn't stay long at the Atrium. We went out checked the Starfield Library which is just next wing from SMTown Atrium. 

this is not my photo.

It was part library/part bookshop in the middle of a mall? It was pretty to look at but it was noisy? I saw children actually doing their homework at some parts of that place tho. I was not feeling it.
I went to a Kakao store near by soon after.
Liat2 saja. obviously every thing in that store were cute! but I was on a budget and I already splurged on SM merchandises. so, yeah. *cuci mata

I mean, kid, noona trying to take picture here. Move

and we left soon after that. We went to Namsan Tower next.
which I'm gonna continue on the next post.
See you there
annyeong~

. . .

How I spend my time when My laptop was rusak

hi guys!

to answer: I actually spent my time journaling and reading. like,  ALOT!

Yes, I'm very into journal layout these days. all thanks to Amanda!

actually, lets us all thank internet connection, without which, we won't be expose to many great things to enhance our creativity!
so, THANK U INTERNET! (yes, yes. sometimes I like to sarcastically thank OUR internet but this time, I am sincerely thankful)

So, onwards.



Amanda made this Kpop Journal thing last year and it reminded me of the time when I was doing my own kind of fav boyband 'biodata' thing. 😂
but before we go 👉 'there', let me show you what I did early December 2019.

NCT

 superM

Come to think of it, I did all of these when my laptop was 'faulty'! Changing my title from "Kpop Journaling with AmandaRachLee" to "How I spent my time when My laptop was rusak"

I felt guilty at one point, coz I was doing Jaehyun's spread first before I did Onew's. Like, woman, how could you?? to compensate, I did two spread for Onew.

Jaehyun

Onew

caution: read at your own risk or suffer the cringe. 😂😂


Now, back to the favorite boyband biodata thing.

Obviously, I'm talking about the time when I was fanatically obsessed with Westlife.
there was this one book, I made back in 2000/1. It was entirely dedicated to Westlife.
are you ready to see some cringe worthy 2000s entry?
you.could.never.

I mean, look at this cover.

where did I even get this from?!

Look, I even made my own border.

 aren't I creative?

also, look at fetus me talking about 'first and last boyfriend'

😹😹😹

click to enlarge and to read my 2020 comment. 

my First EVER screenshot!

Twenty points to your Hogwarts house if you can guess the MV name?

first EVER collage! 

I mean, not a cute one but still a collage.

this was me copying interview from friend 'magazine' coz I couldn't afford to buy my own copy.

this one is when the news of Bryan and Kerry of Atomic Kitten dating first came out.

walaupun aku nangis, i still want to have a copy of the news.

guys!

this is how you supposed to react to Kpop idols dating news.

Nangis but still keep the happy news.

🤣🤣🤣

I MEAN!

A FOR EFFORT!

GIVE ME FANGIRL OF THE CENTURY AWARD GUYS!

🤣🤣🤣

eottokae, guys?
cringe worthy enough for you?

HAHAHAHAHAH FLASHBACK GALOREEEEE

I hope you enjoy this post as much as I enjoy digging thru my old stuff. it was worth it! I mean, I'm fucking talented! talented at creating non-important thing! HAHAHAHAHA

sigh. 

I REALLY ENJOY DOING THIS!

I SHALL DO MOREEEEE


. . .