Korean Folk Village

Lazy start in the morning shifted to higher gear when I realized that it was 10:15am. 15 minutes to end of breakfast buffet. :-) After a hurried breakfast, I set off for Suwon. This time changing train at Guro. But you know what. They have two platforms for Suwon and I waited on the wrong one for 30 minutes in vain. Then I went to ask the tea-stall lady and she told me to go to no.3. By the time I arrived at Suwon, I had finished the Digital Fortress. With that all 4 books by Dan B. He is coming out with another Robert Langdon sequel, this time set in USA around June '05. So wait until then. The free shuttle bus ride to the Korean Folk Village was around 30 minutes from Suwon subway station. A hurried look at the souvenir and a trial hot soup later I was at the village gate. There I found a rock where everybody was tying a paper wish on the ropes that were tied around it. I wished for world peace..just joking. Wished something for everyone. No ask, no tell. Korean villages are very like Indian villages. In fact I think all villages look the same. But it was interesting to see the village residents at work. Some were repairing the thatched huts. Some busy gardening. Some preparing silk threads. Some preparing Kimchi. Oh yes..even here. Blacksmith, fortune-teller, etc...The food in the village was Korean. No. After last night's adventures I decided to keep myself out of it. On the way back to the entrance, I watched performers doing acrobatics and some traditional dance, games. Which reminds me of the rope-walk performers that used to roam the streets of Cuttack when we were kids. They would just put up the poles and rope and perform wherever they saw a crowd. Even little girls..more like gypsies. Indian gypsies.The soup girl was still around. And I thought I should grab another one to keep the cold out. I said thanks. And she said - you are welcome. And burst out laughing to cover her embarrassment, not sure if that was the right response. I just smiled and walked on to the shuttle bus stop.Back at Suwon, I took a ticket for Itaewon. Just to get the phone card. I could not find that particular one in Myung dong. I called up a colleague and we decided to try out spicy chicken tonight. Tonight, the chicken was less hot than the rice cakes. The rice cakes were covered with chili sauce...or rather paste. After having low fat yogurt at Red Mango I came back home...cooling down on the way. :-)
You can view the Korean village and other snaps by clicking on the SEOUL link on the left panel.

Labels: seoul

Red Hot Chili

We decided to try some spicy chicken today. After finally managing to locate the outlet in Myungdong (whatever spelling), we were turned back. They reported a problem in their kitchen. Wow. The area was packed today. PACKED. In CWB, on friday or saturday nights you can still squeeze through because HK people are slim. Here, with a laptop, difficult.
We decided to try some Korean food as an alternative. Dumpling rounds were fine.
But when they brought in a harmless-looking rice with beef, mushroom and octopus dish topped with kimchi, I had no idea of what lay beneath. Chili Paste! JHC. Sorry. But JHC. And the smoke was full of chili. I am regarded as the weakest link back at home. I cannot handle a chili straight. But in HK, I fair ok. But today, I was sweating and my nose was running and my eyes were watering and the local people were enjoying the scene. Until I finally decided to throw in the towel. I could not torture my burnt tongue any more. Now, you know why the Koreans do not use toilet paper that much. IT WOULD CATCH FIRE!!!
Cold it was outside, but I could move around without a jacket until my body temperature cooled down enough. I decided to go shop some Korean DVDs. The latest ones are priced at 28000Won. Expensive. I think the originals sell much lower in HMV back in HK. Strange! I saw a DVD sign and went up to the shop. 3/F up, I came up to a counter where an old lady sat. There were a few movies on display - dvd, vcd and tapes. I patiently enquired the rates, thinking of buying some dvd. But it turned out that they had a few rooms in the back where you can actually watch them for 7000 Won (they are called DVD bang - Korean word). Hmmm. Interesting. Just when I realized that the stock was not a good one and turned to leave, she (the old lady!) tried to coax me into watching some korean ero stuff. Chi Sin! I ran away.

Labels: seoul

Its now Snow in Seoul

What a painful start to a lovely day
It was 10mins after getting out of bed when I realized muscular spasms in the middle of my back. They turned worse and I decided to lie down on my bed.It was raining outside. Dull, dark. Sun doesn't rise until well after 7am.I tried to stretch back and lie still for a few minutes. It was after that. When I tried to get up again. I just could not. The pain was too much to handle. I could not even turn sides.
Busy and snowing
I was busy with work when WS sent me an email saying that I was lucky.It was snowing. Normally, he says it snows 2-3 times a year in Seoul.Wow, but you know what. I had missed it. After a few minutes I looked out the window.And there it was, like a wide twister of snowflakes...on a slope surrounded by buildings on all sides.It was spectacular. But I had not taken my camera with me. To carry less weight on a bad back.Of all the luck. CK offered her camera...but by the time we finished our meeting, it had stopped.And then there was bright sunshine...what a lovely day...and I was stuck with back pain in office.With lots to do before the telecon.
Freezing with the dogs
I stepped out of the office late in the evening. It was very chilly. With temperature dipping just below zero, tears that flew down my cheeks, felt icy.And I had to be careful not to step on any water on the ground. With the M&S I wear, I could end up with a broken back. Around Lotte, it was so romantic. Cold weather, warm couples..and singles..hehehe..I walked around. Some Korean guys were holding up advt. boards high above their head. Standing in the cold weather with frozen tears. Red in the face. Pain in the face. So bad. I walked on. Then, there was this guy selling puppies on the street. All the little ones paired up inside small cardboard boxes, with confetti for paddingand a small electric bulb to keep them warm. In a wire-cage, two bigger puppies tried their best to sit down at the same time. If one sat, the other could not.Not enough space. I could not read for how much he was selling them.I have always wanted to have another dog, but with the type of job I do, I cannot. :-( I walked around some more and then returned to the hotel.Its decorated beautifully in the lobby. A Harry Potter tree setting. I do want to take a lot of pictures to send you. Probably carry the camera with me tomorrow. Need to go back to work. How sad.

Labels: seoul

The Jaldi - 5 Quiz Series

2005

Questions for Round 6

1. The Italian for this word is "slave", However off late this word has been hogging headlines all over the US for other reasons. What is the word ?

2. What is a Perkins Brailler ?

3. If the Red Ribbon is used as a symol for AIDS awareness, what does a Yellow ribbon symbolize ?

4. Seeking truth from facts’ is the motto of which political party?

5. Who are said to be belonging to the Sandwich generation ?

Answers for Round 5:

1. What is the claim to fame of a company called Scaled Composites ?
Answer: They recently developed the Global Flyer used by Steve Fossett for his record breaking flight. They also developed Spaceship One

2. Connect 55170-054,Camp Cupcake,Martha Helen Kostyra .
Answer: Martha Stewart (55170-054 was her Prison number, Camp Cupcake is how the Alderson Federal Prison Camp is referred to (where she was housed). The last is her maiden name)

3. Which electric supply company recently came out with an Electricity Bill in Braille ?
Answer: Reliance Energy

4. Sanjay Dutt's recently launched company is called SON. What does SON stand for ?
Answer: Son of Nargis

5. In computer storage media, what does WORM stand for ?
Answer: Write Once Read Many Times

6th question:
Why is March 14th celebrated as the Official Pi (the mathematical Pi) day ?
Answer: March 14, written 3-14 in the USA date format, is the official day for Pi Day derived from the common three-digit approximation for the number i.e. 3.14.

Answers for Round 4::

1. The Currency of this country had to be revalued recently since the many zeroes in the former currency was causing technical difficulties in accounting, statistic records,and data processing programs, as well as in various payment systems.Therefore, the international payment and exchange systems, which are shown by a maximum of 14-digit figures failed to recognize this currency. Name the country and the currency.
Turkey

2. Which television channel is jointly owned by Microsoft and General Electric ?
MSNBC

3. Charlie Lubin, a bakery entrepreneur, decided to name his new line of cheesecakes after his daughter. His company was purchased in 1956 by Consolidated Foods, where Mr. Lubin continued to serve as a senior executive for many years. In 1985, Consolidated Foods changed its name to the present name. Although the daughter has never had a management role at the corporation, she has appeared in some television advertisements for the bakery products. Today she is a philanthropist who spends most of her time supporting the education and advancement of women and girls in science. Name the daughter.
Sara Lee

4. The letters 'T' and 'G' will shortly lose their present meaning to traders on the New York Stock Exchange. What do they stand for?
T for ATT (to be taken over by SBC), G for Gillette (to be taken over by Proctor and Gamble)

5. Why were artists Christo and Jeanne-Claude in the news recently ?
The Gates in Central Park, New York.

Answers for Round 3:

1. If John Doe:USA, then ___:Internet.

B1FF (B1FF as the most famous pseudonym on the Internet. The comparison has been drawn taking into account the anonymity associated with both the names).

2. Which newspaper in its first edition said ""We publish today the first issue of the ____, and we intend to issue it every morning (Sundays excepted) for an indefinite number of years to come.".

New York Times

3. The Duleep Trophy this year has teams from the 5 zones in India and the Bangladesh Cricket Board. Which was the 6th team to participate in the tournament last year ?
England A.

4. Oscar Trivia - Cate Blanchett nominated for Best Actress in a Supporting role this year for Aviator is playing the role of an actress who herself was an Oscar Award winner. Who ?
Katherine Hepburn.

5. Awards again, Amitabh Bachchan has won two National Awards. One was the Best Actor for Agneepath. Which was the other one?
Most Promising newcomer for Saat Hindustani.

The 6th question: Which place in New York Citywas known as Longacre till 1904 ? Hint: Gangs of New York.
Times Square.

Answers for Round 2:

1. In Australia he is called Fred Nurk. In China, he is called Chan Siu Ming and in France, he is called Jean Dupont. How is he known in the USA ?
John Doe

2. The NHL (National Hockey League) in the US will not be played this year due to a strike after 86 years. What was the reason the NHL was not played in 1919 ?
Flu Epidemic

3. A patent application is lying in the US Patent and Trademark Office for the title of "The World's Second Home". Who has applied for this title ?
The City of New York

4. Of the Top 25 innovations in the technical world according to CNN, the Internet, Cell Phone, Personal Computers and Fiber Optics come at 1,2,3, and 4. Which innovation occupies the 5th position ?
Email

5. What did the HOLLYWOOD Sign on Mount Lee in California originally read (until 1945) ?
Hollywoodland

Answers for Round 1:

1. What is common to Pooler Jones, Lazy Plate, Jayne Hill, Untorn Ribbon, Buckthorn, Barber Perfect, and Underwood Tack?
Answer - They are types of barbed wires.

2. In Latin, this word means a female animal used for breeding. It was first used in English in the 16th century to refer to the uterus or womb. In biology, it is the intercellular substance of a tissue, and in geology it is the natural material surrounding a metal or gem or fossil embedded in the earth. Commonest use is however in mathematics.
Answer - Matrix

3. If an egg is candled, what is being done?
Answer - Held up to a strong light to check the freshness and quality.

4. A Sleeve and a Tray are the principal components of which everyday object?
Answer - Matchbox

5. This famous doctor, after graduating, commemorated the occasion with a cartoon bearing the caption "Licensed to Kill". Who?
Answer - Arthur Conan Doyle.

Current Events:

1. The Jet Airways IPO is on its way. Name the only airline company to be listed in India so far ?
Answer - Royal Airlines Ltd.

2. Apple dislodged Google to be the Brand of the Year for 2004. Which Asian company figures in the Top five list ?
Answer - Al Jazeera (Sony was No. 1 in the Asian segment)

3. Name the people behind the company Plan B Entertainment ?
Answer - Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston.

4. Formula 1 - Jaguar made its exit for F-1 last season. Under what name is it going to make an entry this year ?
Answer - Red Bull.

5. Connect Aishwarya Rai with WorldWise Pants Limited.
Answer - Worldwide Pants Inc. produces David Letterman's Show on CBS and Aishwarya was interviewed on this show yesterday (8th Jan,2005)

Aniruddha Dutta
Email: aniruddhadutta@gmail.com

In case you missed the rest of the series...scroll down and have fun...
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2004
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Hi All,

Jaldi Quiz – 8 Answers

1. Connect “gamekeeper”, “village leader” and “country dweller” to the Name searches in England.(on telephone directories and websites).
Answer: They are the literal meaning of the surnames: Parker, Patel and Paine.

2. What is the Hanuman Tekdi area in Vadodara, Gujarat famous or infamous for off late ?
Answer: The Best Bakery (infamous for the Best Bakery case involving Zaheera Sheikh)

3. Sterling Investment Pvt. Ltd. Are the producers of the evergreen “Mughal – e- Azam”. Who owns the company ?
Answer: Shapoorji Pallonji Mistry

4. One of the first wholly made Indian commercial was for Dalda. Who sang the jingle ?
Answer: Talat Mehmood

5. What is the claim to fame of Mehnga Ram and the company “Beat-All Sports” ?
Answer: He works for the company Beat All Sports (BAS) that manufactures cricket bats for the likes of Sachin Tendulkar.

Jaldi Quiz – 7 Answers

1. With which electronics company would you associate the Digital Natural Image enhancement technology?

Answer: Samsung

2. This is the story of a very famous Socrates quote. Which one?

Socrates had such a cross wife, that her name, Xan-thip´pe, is still used to describe a scolding and bad-tempered woman. Whenever Xanthippe was angry, she used to scold poor Socrates roundly. He always listened without flying into a passion, or even answering her; and when her temper was too unbearable, he quietly left the house, and went about his business elsewhere. This gentleness and meekness only angered Xanthippe the more; and one day, when he was escaping as usual, she caught up a jug full of water and poured it over his head. Socrates good-naturedly shook off the water, smiled, and merely remarked to his companions,---------------.

Answer: After thunder comes rain

3. Of Chinese descent, why was US citizen Leroy Chiao become the first person to do recently?

Answer: He became the first person to vote in the American Presidential elections from space.

4. Why is Fremantle Media in the news recently?

Answer: They own the format for Indian Idol. The original program the “Idols” which premiered as “Pop Idol” on UK’s ITV in 2001.

5. Sahara and Star went to court recently with regards to the "One" controversy. What change would Star do in the next three months after having agreed to the court's decision?

Answer: Star will change the logo. Star was advised by the Delhi High Court to use the word Star along with One in the logo.

6. A lady in the news controversially also edits the magazine "Communalism Combat". Who?

Answer: Teesta Setalvad.


Jaldi Quiz – 6 Answers

1. The Mumbai-based BackOps is said to be a call centre-like service, providing engineering detail and structural planning services to overseas civil engineering firms. Who is said to own 83 per cent of the company's shares. (Hint: Juanita)

Answer: Rahul Gandhi

2. This company was established during 1937 by the then ruler Nalwadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar. It was converted into public sector undertaking during 1947.H N Nagaraja Murthy is the current chairman and M V Hemantha Kumar the current managing director. The company was in the news recently. Which company is being referred here.

Answer: Mysore Varnishes and Paints Limited (MVPL)

3. Which countries are referred to as the BRIC countries ?

Answer: Brazil, Russia, India and China

4. What is referred to as “literally selling India’s ancient ayurvedic civilization in a jar to the world” ?

Answer: Shahnaz Hussain’s age defying Diamond Collection

5. Why was Lemon Communications in the news recently?

Answer: They would handle all creative duties for Times’ channel Zoom.

Jaldi Quiz – 5 Answers

1. He was born Lawrence Harvey Ziegler and his numerous failed marriages is somewhat legendary. He is also credited with hosting the first worldwide phone-in television talk show. Who?

Answer: Larry King

2. This TV personality's comedy is heavily influenced by comedians Ernie Kovacs and Johnny Carson. His production company is called Worldwide Pants Incorporated . It has produced the popular TV series Everybody Loves Raymond.

Answer: David Letterman

3. This main promoters of this television company's IPO hold 32.6% each of its shares. The company has three subsidiaries ---- Media Ltd ,---- World Ltd. and --- News Ltd. The company was founded in 1988 and its Board of Directors include NR Narayana Murthy and KVL Narayan Rao. Name the company and its promoters.

Answer: New Delhi Television Ltd. (Parannoy and Radhika Roy)

4. This company’s website’s traffic jumped eight fold with close to 250,000 hits following a television event which received lots of media attention. The product in question costs $28,000 and 276 people received it for free during the television event. This product now also features on the reality series “Survivor”. Name the product and the television event?

Answer: Pontiac’s G6 Sedan / Oprah Winfrey Show 19th season

5. What would you be doing if you have "MillionaireIM" in your AOL Buddy list?
Answer: In the 2004-2005 season of the programme (Who Wants to be a Millionaire) , the format of the game will change. (Note that some of these changes only apply to certain versions) .Also, after reaching the 25,000 level, contestants are given a new lifeline, "Switch the Question". It allows them to dismiss the current question and to play a new one. However, they will not have any lifelines used on the discarded question returned to them. Finally, the "Ask the Audience" lifeline has been expanded. Instead of just the studio audience giving answers, users of the AOL Instant Messenger (sometimes referred to as IM) can participate too. If they have the name "MillionaireIM" in their buddy list, then they will receive an instant message if a contestant uses his or her "Ask the Audience" lifeline. The message will contain the question, and four possible answers, and they will send their answer back. This is the first time in history that the public has been able to interact with a game show while it is being taped. When the tape is shown, the results of the poll will first show the studio audience's response, then the IM users' response. This has been done as an effort to get everyone more involved with the program, and to interest the producers in the show once again.
I don’t know whether KBC when it resumes would have these changes as well.

Jaldi Quiz – 4 Answers

What shouldn’t one do while queuing to see Lenin's corpse in the gruesome mausoleum on Moscow's Red Square?

Answer: Put your hands in your pockets.

2. This product is based on a software developed at the National Center for Supercomputing Applications at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. It is distributed under a licensing agreement with Spyglass, Inc. Portions of this software are based in part on the work of the Independent JPEG Group. Its Unix version contains software licensed from Mainsoft Corporation. Which product?

Answer: Internet Explorer (Click About Internet Explorer on the Help menu).

3.What is the claim to fame of the companies - Lernout and Hauspie Speech Products N.V., Bloomsbury Publishing Plc., SYNAPSE Developpement,Toulose(France) and SIGNUM Cia,Ltda,Quito,Ecuador ?

Answer: Lernout and Hauspie Speech Products N.V’s International CorrectSpell is used by Microsoft for its spelling correction system in its Microsoft Office products. Bloomsbury Publishing Plc. Has developed the English thesaurus content. SYNAPSE Developpement,Toulose(France) has developed the Frech Spelling checker, hyphenator tool, dictionaries and spelling checker whereas SIGNUM Cia,Ltda,Quito,Ecuador has developed the Spanish Hypenation engine, Spelling engine and Thesaurus Engine. (Click About Microsoft Office Word on the Help menu).

4.This man who briefly worked as the finance manager of a company called Bell Equipments (manufacturers of heavy earth moving equipment) before his death, was famous and infamous for other reasons. Name him.

Answer: Hansie Cronje.

5.Which instrument literally means " made of clay " and is made out of a scooped out single block of wood , usually a neem tree or coconut ?

Answer: Mridangam.

Jaldi Quiz – 3 Answers

1. What is defined thus in music - 'To sing by rapidly alternating between natural voice and falsetto'?

Answer: Yodelling

2. This is about an organization’s symbol. X’s tree is alright but the tiger looks like some species of dog and I am afraid that the design ofa dog and a tree would arouse derision among the irreverent. X’s tiger is distinctly good but the tree has spoiled it. The stem is too long and the branches too spidery.’ On February 23, 1935, in the board meeting of X, it was decided to replace the lion in East India Company’s Lion & Palm seal by a tiger which is more Indian. Several design’s were submitted. The above was the comment of Sir James Taylor on examining various designs. Finally East India Company’s seal was decided to be
continued as X's seal. Which organization ?

Answer: Reserve Bank of India

3. This term was first used in cricket early eighteenth century. It is an old middle English word and has a French origin, meaning ‘not equal’. Which term ?

Answer: Umpire

4. The following excerpts are from the April 26th 1996 edition of the New York Times: "Bill Gates gets the credit but somebody else did most of the work'.'For the first time in this decade something from Microsoft has been shipped on time'. 'Regardless of the problems with this one calling Microsoft Support won't help'.
'For at least another year it'll suck." What was the topic of this article?

Answer: Birth of Bill and Melinda Gates’ daughter

5. If you would hear these words what would be happening - "Close the book, quench the candle, ring the bell" ?

Answer: Excommunication from the church.

Jaldi Quiz – 2 Answers

1. What is the difference between a "gorilla" and a "guerilla" brand?

Answer: Gorilla – The no. 1 brand in the category.
Guerilla – This brand niches the gorilla brand.

2. I would have been a biscuit-maker," he said, when asked in an interview what he would have been had it not been for his current job! Biscuit manufacturing wouldn't have been a problem for him, as his father has been running Luckyland Biscuits for the past three decades? Whose quote?

Answer: Muttiah Muralitharan

3. What is the claim to fame of Mr. SC Malhotra and Mr. P. Kulashekharan in the Indian Parliament ?

Answer: They are the officers responsible for the supply of the information for Wit and Humoir, Poetry and Couplets in the Lok Sabha.

4. What is the significance of the languages – Bhutani, English (UK), Nauru and Sangho in terms of the Google search Engine ?

Answer: Well all these languages had 0% progress under the Google in your Language translation status report. That was at the time of framing the question. Since then English (UK) has seen 7% progress. The rest are still at 0%.

5. Who owns the Bangalore based company ATTS – (Aviation Technology And Turbine Services)

Answer: Maqsood Ali (better known as Lucky Ali)

Jaldi Quiz – 1 Answers

1. Connect the phrase “The razor-toothed piranhas of the genera Serrasalmus and Pygocentrus are the most ferocious freshwater fish in the world. In reality they seldom attack a human” to a 23 year old student from Singapore Kimberly Yeo.

Answer: Kimberly Yeo typed this phrase in 43.24 seconds to win the SMS contest (SingTel SMS Shootout) organized by SingTel. (This record is set to feature in the Guinness Book of World Records soon). – (http://home.singtel.com/news_centre/news_releases/2004_06_27.asp)

2. Which term coined by Nima Namchu and Nitin Berry of Leo Burnett in the lead up to a Reebok campaign in 1996-97 is now synonymous with Indian Cricket?

Answer: The Wall (Rahul Dravid)

3. After finishing his B.Com, he began his career with Filix India, where he worked as a sales executive. Following a brief stint with a guest house, he took up employment in Saudi Arabia. Returning to India, he set up a manpower consultancy service. But his big opportunity to run a multi-crore business'came when he bagged a licence from the Government in '94. Who is the person referred here?

Answer: Abdul Kareem Telgi

4. Fernanda Gaitam Salom’s name is a regular on Indian television (especially the couch potatoes would never miss this one). What is her/his claim to fame?

Answer: The original story for the popular soap “Jassi Jaisi Koi Nahin” on Sony is by this person.

5. A TCS Question to round this one – Question from the TCS IPO Bid-Cum Application form – Why does the address: Sagardarshan 8,Worli Seaface,Mumbai feature in the form?

Answer: The address is Mr. S. Ramadorai’s. (MD,TCS) The reason it features is because he is on of the Board of Directors and SEBI requires the information about the Board of Directors on the Red Herring Prospectus.

-----------That's all, folks--------------

Mr. and Mrs. - ThEy DiD iT !!

More Snaps Here

2 weddings and a villain

Two of my very good friends are getting married. They were KOOL KIDS @ college. No. Not to each other. Though I still have that Bhopali snap at the Taj Mahal. Thanks guys for that fantastic trip. I do have that snap JK jahaan tum zameen pe laite huye ho, kisi disco mein khel rahe ho, ek aur mama ke saath. Hahaha. No don't worry. Main dikhaoonga nahi kisiko. Tumhara future secure hai.
Yaar, tum dono ne ek hi din kaise pick kiya? Yeh koi K ya B speciality hai kya ke community wale ek hi time pe shaadi...you know what I mean. MRB, tum ne JK ko dhokha de diya aakhir...JK jyada uchlo mat. Tumne MRB ko dhokha diya hai. Ek doosre ke shaadi mein nahi aakar. You know, main aa nahi sakta. Ek tarah se achchhi baat hai. Pucchho kyon? I do not need to choose between two - which one to attend. Seriously, meri watt lagti naa...Anyways, yaar, is blog pe toh tumhein pata chal hi gaya hoga ke main kahaan boora phansaa hua hoon. Seoul mein. Lagta hai is baar tumhe original Hrithik Roshan ko bulana padega...:-)
Doston, dil ki yeh dua hai ke tumhe life mein woh sab kuchh hassil ho jiski tumhe tamanna hai. Bade dinon baad Hinglish likh raha hoon. Bahut mazaa aa raha hai. Kuch galatiyaan hongi zaroor. Maaf kar dena..hamesha ke tarah...

Kind and friendly

Korean people in general are very kind to foreigners. And very friendly too. I revisited one of the restaurants and the family that runs the business was actually having dinner. But they were so kind to take me in and I had those wontons again. And God knows how many eggs I have consumed today. I am going to die of heart attack! Scrambled eggs in breakfast, boiled eggs in lunch and fried eggs in dinner. Someone was so impatient that they went ahead without waiting for me to return to HK. They had advance knowledge of my coming back for a few days the coming weekend, but they simply could not wait 6 days more. So much for important occasions on the friendship calendar :-p Alright, you shall not find any special reaction from my side anyways. Especially since (see below) hahaha...
Its slightly warmer today. And though I wanna icq, I am going to go back and bury myself in that novel again. I want to wrap it up by thursday.
Headout had his birthday yesterday. I offered him the role of Arafat in one of my future productions. He has got the nose for the job, if you know what I mean. Especially, with the Hrithik looks. His latest hobby is to find out if there are any books with tabs/staff notes for hindi songs. And he is already writing his first book. Hey, you know what? I forgot the name of that song you used to play every afternoon that summer. Scorching heat, wasn't it. And those trips to the dhaba and railway station for aloo parathas. And the superman costume. hahaha. And all that shopping before you flew to your little Limasol? That was the name wasn't it? What about bumping into a sleepy Lara right after the competition, out of all places, on a plane to Germany. And the dam, I forgot the name of the place, the one in which you could not sink even if you tried to. Which reminds me. Were you not the one with Barron on the boat in the middle of Kaliasote that stormy afternoon. Hahaha. Stand by you always.

Labels: seoul

Best wishes to my friends

Dear Friends,

It is hard to express how I feel. I am more than happy after the confirmation. You know what, you two are blessed. I give my best wishes to you from my heart. I am so excited~!

Cool F.K. you made it! I had predicted this one. hahaha :-p

Cold and the Bush game

Its very cold. Feel like staying bed this evening. Went to Seoul Station (good view of the area from there). And tried a local Pizza at Pizza Hut with WSY. I thought there was sweet potato as a topping. And it tasted good! :-)
Spend some time playing the funny game, you all. HCY, please do not pick up this language. Give Bush A Brain Game. I got an 8 by the 3rd game. That's when the repeat starts. So until then, worth the fun. ;-)

What a lazy day!

Woke up late (had slept around 4am) missed the breakfast buffet. Anyways, could do with a little dieting...hehehe. Today I planned to go to a Korean folk village - a 2 hour journey by subway and bus from the hotel. And I did start it, but I was so deeply engrossed in reading Deception Point, that I missed the station where I was supposed to change lines and it took me 1.5 hours more to reach the destination station, Suwon. And then there was not enough time to catch a bus and go to the village (gets dark early, these days). So I just spent the whole afternoon reading novel on the subway, standing, sitting, standing...and observing Korean people. I happened to see twin girls again, similarly dressed. Didn't I tell you before that I chance upon twins all the time. So, I shall spend the evening resting in the hotel and reading the novel. The week ahead is very hectic.

Labels: seoul

DMZ - Half Day Tour

Birds, Rivers, Breeze – no border stops them.
Borders are meant for humans.
Then again what have we achieved as humans?

7:30am on the bus doing rounds of various hotels. Picking up sleepy, cold and hungry tourists like me. Yawn!
The DMZ tour started with the first stop at Imjin-gak tourist resort. This resort is right next to the Freedom Bridge on the Imjin river that roughly divides South from North Korea. It was pretty cold in the morning but temperature started climbing up to around 8deg. After taking a few pics there, we changed bus and headed for the 3rd Infiltration tunnel. This one was discovered in 1978. Highly commercialized! Everybody was disappointed by it. The entrance to the tunnel was some 71 m below ground level…so we took another tunnel (built recently) to the entrance and walked into it. Too low to stand straight – some insulation on the floor, dynamite and coal marks on the walls and water dripping from the roof…there was a basin with spring water too for Japanese tourists who drank from it. Damp and cold in there until the end which of the NK side, where the tunnel was made to collapse using dynamite to build walls. And it is under constant surveillance. Which reminds me, some of the soldiers were kids. SK guys have to do 2 years military training and the NK – 7 years! Hmmm.
The length of the new tunnel is 350 at an angle of 30 deg to the horizontal roughly.
Next stop was Dora Observatory where a soldier explained the landscape to us. Too bad, no photography is allowed from near the edge of the viewing platform. Using the binoculars, I could see the Gaeseong city in North Korea and the Propaganda ghost village (where nobody lives – just a town built by NK troops to fool SK troops – how imaginative!).
Dorasan Station made famous by Bush’s visit in 2002, is going to be part of history when the reunification comes through. Got a stamp on my passport there.
That was it. Half-day DMZ tour. I have tried to include links wherever possible so that you can read more about the places.
I got off the bus at Itaewon which is declared a special tourist zone. Prices are high and the stalls are packed with fake goods and souvenir. Interesting thing is the number of shops selling and advertising hip-hop clothes and the number of people wearing them. ;-))
From there I took my first subway ride in Seoul to the City Hall station. The design of the network is similar to that of Beijing, concentric circles intersected by straight lines. Don’t need that in HK. Too small in area. Not worth it. There were some demonstrators holding meeting in front of the city hall. The streets on either side were lined with white police buses, the ones with wired mesh all over the windows as protection. The policemen were everywhere - even coordinating traffic. Several plain-clothes policemen moved around with walkie-talkies.
I walked up to the Westin Chosun through a garden. I thought I would catch a short nap but slept off a couple of hours! Snaps!

Labels: seoul

-2 deg on Diwali Night

More Current Conditions
Feels Like: -2° Dewpoint: -4°
Barometer: Wind: N 14 kph
Humidity: 65% Sunrise: 7:09 am
Visibility: 9.99 km Sunset: 5:24 pm

I watched a lady arranging golf balls on the mini-golf course on a terrace in tee-shirt and skirt. So I headed downstairs happily. Defying warnings. When I stepped out to get into a cab, my eyes were watering (under 2 seconds) and cold biting through my shirt. Today was different. Winter has arrived in Korea.

Cancer June 21 - July 21
The message from the planets is clear.
This is all I got from the scmp website in the name of a western horroscope.

And today is Diwali (also known as Deepavali) the Indian festival of lights. A time to share time and gifts with your friends and family, wear new clothes and eat sweets. Not to forget burn fire-crackers. Almost all homes in India do this. We do not have designated areas to go and watch fireworks. We do it at home. Yes, there are restrictions but there is nothing one can do about the pollution - noise and smoke, accidents - fire. Well, there is actually, I have not lit a fire-cracker for years!
What is this festival, you may ask. It is a declared holiday in Singapore and celebrated in the White House too. Where did it all begin?

The date for Diwali is set by the Hindu calendar and so it varies in the Western calendar. It usually falls in October or November. Diwali is a New Year festival in the Vikrama calendar, where it falls on the night of the new moon in the month of Kartika.

The festival celebrates the victory of good over evil, light over darkness, and knowledge over ignorance, although the actual legends that go with the festival are different in different parts of India.
Two of them show the triumph of Good over Evil, and tell of the destruction of two monsters that preyed on humanity.

First one from the Ramayana (remember the story depicted in the wall-paintings?). Legend has it that Lord Prince Rama returned home with his wife Sita after winning a big battle against the king of demons Ravana (in the process of rescuing his kidnapped wife), signalling the end of their 14-year exile in the forests. The road was very dark and the people in his kingdom lit his path with lamps. They followed it up with big celebrations when he was made king.

Second one features Lord Krishna's rescue of 16,000 girls and Aditi's (she was the mother of the Gods) ear-rings from the clutches of Narakasura (the greatest demon ever). This also gave birth to the legend that Krishna had 16,000 wives....Rich man! And very free.

Diwali is known as the 'festival of lights' because houses, shops, and public places are decorated with small earthenware oil lamps called Diyas or deepas. These lamps, which are traditionally fueled by mustard oil, are placed in rows in windows, doors and outside buildings to decorate them. In the cities, most of the lamps are replaced by electric lights.

Some people try to float oil lamps across the river Ganga - it is regarded as a good omen if the lamp manages to get all the way across. :-)

Businessmen regard it as a favourable day to start a new accounting year because of the festival's association with the Goddess of wealth and prosperity, Lakshmi.
Normally, people will be busy spring cleaning a week in advance. They know that Lakshmi would visit clean and cheerful homes only. Most Hindus will leave the windows and doors of their houses open for her to come in.
Rangoli (coloured powder) are drawn on the floors in patterns - the most popular subject beiing the lotus flower. Images of Lakshmi traditionally show her either holding a lotus or sitting on one.

Many Indians see it as an occasion to gamble. This comes from a legend that the that Goddess Parvati played dice with her husband on this day and she said that anyone who gambled on Diwali night would do well. No, she was not Chinese.

Like Christmas, Diwali is also a time for buying and exchanging gifts.
Traditional sweets and dried fruit are very common gifts.

Diwali is also used to celebrate a successful harvest.

But how does my family celebrate it at my home? We worship Goddess Kali(+) on that day. Usually, someone in my family, an elder, would fast through the day and eat with us only after the puja is over (usually late in the evening). In the dining area we light a small fire, in front of the Goddess, into which ghee (clarified butter) is poured. All of us sit cross-legged on the floor in new clothes full of respect. The puja has been conducted by a very well-known Hindu priest (from my area) over the years. I have seen him ever since I can remember the puja. :-) Once the worship is over, and we have paid our respect to the Goddess and the priest, we would all join in to have special food prepared by my mother and aunty. Still remember the times when my Grandma used to cook for us. Yummy. I miss it so much...:-(

In a recent editorial, the Times of India summed up the modern meaning of Diwali:
"Regardless of the mythological explanation one prefers, what the festival of lights really stands for today is a reaffirmation of hope, a renewed committment to friendship and goodwill, and a religiously sanctioned celebration of the simple and some not so simple joys of life."


+ Goddess Kali is the destroyer of time or Kala, she too is the goddess of death and destruction having her abode in the cremation grounds. But to the Shaktas she is Parambrahma swarupjni (identical with the Supreme Brahman), creator of the universe, its sustainer and ultimately its detroyer The Markandeya Purana, Devi Bhagavata, Kalika Purana and other books describe her as the ultimate Mystery of the Universe. If she is the desroyer of Mahisasura (as Durga), Shumbha, Nishumbha, Chanda, Munda, Raklavirya, she is also the compassionate Mother. The two mudras in her right hands, abhaya (protection from fear) and vara (granting of boons) and the raised blood-smeared sword in one her left hands with the freshly severed head of a demon dangling from the other hand, with three eyes standing for the sun, the moon and fire (Agni) make her a most complex symbol of love, compassion and terror.

Labels: seoul

All you wanted to know about - Hinglish

Indian English appears very funny to most foreigners and some Indians. And very often, the way we speak is the butt of many a joke (even in movies - The Party). Yet some people do realize that English spoken by Indians sounds different from one Indian to another. It is easier to understand some but not the others. Why?
We are a vast country. With 14 nationally recognized languages (each with a different script to read and write) in addition to Hindi and English. Hindi is spoken by about 30% of the population and English is the most important language for national, political, and commercial communication. The other 14 are Oriya, Bengali, Telugu, Marathi, Tamil, Urdu, Gujarati, Malayalam, Kannada, Punjabi, Assamese, Kashmiri, Sindhi, and Sanskrit (visit on another day). Hindustani is a popular variant of Hindi/Urdu spoken widely throughout northern India but is not an official language.And to make it more simple, we have 1300-1600 dialects (cannot pin point a figure, needs more research). This means that what you hear changes every 20 miles or so. And trust me, if I went to my Dad's village, I would not be able to make out much of what is being said. I am sure he would though. ;-) Same goes for a person who comes to my city and speaks to me.
So how did it all happen?The Chinese were made to stick to one written form by their powerful emperors. India was exposed to foreign invaders and rulers (read dynasties) who were overthrown one after the other and no centralized force to unite them. And hence, the British who came under the pretext of establishing trade relations with south Asia managed stay in India and rule over her for centuries.When some of the English officers introduced English to the Indian intellectuals, it was done with a purpose. Indians would be able to read and understand the western culture and appreciate their literature. And it would be easier still for them to follow instructions.Soon the better off Indians, picked it up. Zip...zip...zip. Fast forward to Indian independence (visit on another day) from the British rule, and the Indian government finding it very difficult to establish a common language for the masses. Each region wrote, spoke and read separately. Democracy. So, Hindi (30%) got the nod ahead of other languages. But the people from south India refused to accept the dominance of Hindi over their languages which originated from Sanskrit, the oldest language. So they chose the next popular alternative - English. And hence, until this day, we have both as major languages. Enough of this. Lets get back on track.
Now people from each region spoke a bit differently. And they went to schools in their localities. Schools in which English was also a medium of instruction. They were taught by Indian teachers. Indians who spoke English in the way, their teachers had taught them. Thus ensuring that accents were formed. And if today, you can understand what I am saying, it is not because I studied abroad. Hahaha. No I did not. I went to a modest English medium public school too and was taught by very Indian teachers. It's just that when people are exposed to other cultures they are bound to pick something up. Just like you find me speaking 'lah' (not the Singaporean one). And don't forget the impact of BBC, CNN and MTV on the minds of people. Lets not get into that horror story today. So now the accented Indians were picking up different phrases from different cultures. And at the same time communicating with each other in English (because though north Indians can pick up English, south Indians refuse to). They let in a few words from their own mother tongue into their conversations with others face to face, on paper and over internet. And hence, phrases crept into their daily conversations. And the heavy old British effect is still there. You have in short a big collections of phrases from different Indian languages being used in English. And some of them are date back to the days of the British, when the British had picked them up! Don't trust me? Read about it - Hobson-Jobson.
So what Indian English is must be clear to you now. Indian English has many dialects - Hinglish, Tanglish and Benglish are more popular. We focus on Hinglish (Hindi+English) since it is the most popular one. And the best part is that you can type it in English letters and not miss anything.
You have it everywhere now. Yahoo Greetings .
News articles have announced the arrival of Hinglish as the next global language.This is claimed by David Crystal. Due to the IT boom, outsourcing and impact of Bollywood movies, more and more are joining the party. It is also based on the fact that about 350 million Indians speak English as a second language, exceeding the number in Britain and the US who speak it as their first language.
And whats more, there is a new edition to the Indian English guide book called Hanklyn-Janklin.

Binoo John is writing a book on the evolution of Indian English and says that it tends to be more formal than British English because Indians tend to be very respectful towards strangers and there is a strong literary tradition. eg., perfectly ordinary people can quote Shakespeare and so you tend to have longer words and more complex syntax. The way Indians use nouns as verbs - just as Shakespeare does - shows they are tapping into the core creativity of the language.

Did you know that international companies have had to bow before the power of Hinglish.
Pepsi changed its slogan 5 years back from 'Ask for More' to 'Dil Maange More' (The heart wants more) and now it is 'Yeh Pyaas Hai Badi' (This thirst is big). Ford still sells the Ford Ikon by the name Josh (Exciting and powerful) car.

Every country has its own dialect of English :-) Hong Kong's Chinglish and Singapore's Singlish. But Hinglish is far ahead owing to the ever-growing size of the Indian population.
YeH DiL MaAnGe MoRe!

Labels: seoul

Getting Colder As We Speak

The temperature has dropped. Tonight you could feel it. With predictions of touching zero on saturday-sunday. When I am hopefully back from the DMZ.
It was great hearing your voice after so many years (around 14). Wait. 1 day 3 autumns, right! :-p LCK has been kind enough not to comment on the blog. Shy?! Hahaha.
I ignored the warning from God of Hiking and dared to go back into a Chinese restaurant to try some Chinese food. Fried meat dumplings = deep fried hard meat dumplings. 8-@
I miss leafy green vegetables. I love vegetables. I love you.
In the morning, I had a chance of going round the City Hall, there is a palace nearby. But all sight-seeing is for weekends. This was on the way to work. Also happened to spot a few people preparing for some kind of demonstration. Wait and see, if it is mentioned in the papers tomorrow...if I still remember.
I have a friend who is Quizard. Wonder if I can use this word. Well, basically, he is pretty good at them and we have always thought of participating together..but never worked out..for his good. ;-) Well, he wants me to host his quizzes on my blog and I have agreed. So you may be finding a quiz every week. Trust me, it is good stuff. May not be much trivia though. But good enough for professionals. So come up Q. Show some stuff.
I have been pulling your leg about Hinglish. So what is it? Read on.

Labels: seoul

Happy Birthday To You!

Hope you like your present. And this brings you another year closer to my age. Hahaha.
Have a great day!

Its rain in Seoul

Ok, so it is a dorm. Hmm. Too bad. Its a special time tonight...and I cannot be there to spend it with you. I was thinking today, is this going to be like this forever. This global thing? I hope not.
The morning was cloudy and warmer than yesterday. I spotted the yellow and red leaves. Its autumn. And Seoul looks beautiful. Natural beauty...reminds me of Ash and Sush and their double glory in 1994. (Ashwariya Rai - Miss World 1994 and Sushmita Sen - Miss Universe 1994). And the time I bumped into Yukta Mookhey (Miss World 1999) at Planet M, VT, Mumbai. Not quite the same stuff though. Sorry, Yukta.
Skipped lunch today and worked until after 9pm. Too bad. Seoul, you need to hang on until weekend, I guess. Worse. My colleagues invited me for dinner but I had to take a raincheck. The God of Soccer had worked too late last night and today I had decided to stay back and help him as much as I could.
As I stepped out onto the street, rain, breeze and falling leaves greeted me. Like the scenes from Turn Left Turn Right. But that was Taipei. Another time another place another story.
Do you still remember that rainy night, we had bought an umbrella just to cross the road...and I had told you about Pyar Hua Ikraar Hua. Read about Nargis the lead actress today.
Always asked myself how can people fall in love in a city like HK, always on the move, too fast, too full of energy. Where is the time to sit and relax and enjoy and run around trees singing romantic songs...remember the changing of clothes every stanza...Bollywood ishtyle.
Tomorrow...Hinglish. What it is all about...Don't miss.

Labels: seoul

Walk back through shopping district

What on earth are you doing at an I-cafe? I thought you were on holiday! :-) Miss me big time, huh? Me too!
Walked back from office today. Needed the exercise. And the subway, in one area, had people (who looked poor) lining up to get meals and then sitting down along the world and eating it. With their backs to the corridor, facing the wall. I do not know if this is a cultural thing or was just charity. But it pained me. No, I did not photograph this. I did not want to offend any one. Up and down and in and out through the subways, I walked through the Namdaemun market (passing the Sangnyemun - South Gate) on the way. Seoul's answer to the Mongkok market. Only that this one is not a night market. By 8 pm almost everybody closes shop. I found a row of shops catering to anglers. Another thing I found is that, here, people love to drink...or so it appears. By 8pm they are heading home (I assume), red in the face (not from cold because I was sweating today) and very drunk. You could tell that from the way they walked. Shabba Shabba Hai Rabba Hone Lagaa Hai Nasha...which reminds me, I got a page of cool dog and cat pictures today.
I saw a few guys wearing hip-hop clothes in the Lotte shopping area. And one thing is sure, they all look alike. Doesn't matter which city or country. Yo, maan! Hip-Hop is here to stay for sometime. Six, are you still listening, maan? Another one - the kids. They are the same everywhere. Just look a bit different in the face but having fun all the same and enjoying themselves. Hmmm. Reminds me of the messages G suk suk sent me in the morning. Chiew, as someone else would say. I miss that Chiew too. Don't kill me when I tell you that I was very lazy today and just popped into MacDonalds and tried out my favourite - Big Mac. And supersizing myself,,,well. Its the exercise that is missing...weight is still the same...the shape that is changing...my life is so complicated... <(*<*)> Still no email!! I hope everything is all right. I appreciate your coming over that day. Thanks!
Hmm. Guys, do you know India's greatest romantic movie ever (not only in terms of money, but also in terms of class)? Its the Mughal-E-Azam. The original black & white print has been converted into colour and the soundtrack - digitally remastered. Slotted for Diwali night dual premiere on Nov 12 (I shall explain Diwali later). Not something you HK kids are exposed to...may be my generation would appreciate it more. Another such movie, that missed the Oscar and surprised so many people was Lagaan. And India did a Lagaan to Australia in the last test match too. Hinglish, folks, Hinglish. I wonder about Infernal Affairs' showing. A friend told me that the story line is the same as that of an older south Indian movie. Now, I have not watched it and cannot confirm it. And do not remember its name either. IA is a good movie.
Leave you now. Dan Brown's beckons, mate.

Labels: Movie Review, seoul

Tiring Day @ Office

Hmm. The plane touched down and you are out on your own in foreign territory. Only one way contact for the next few days. How do I feel?
Such a tiring and unproductive first day @ work in Seoul. Worked right through lunch and after it until dinner and still no result. Poor, hungry, tired, lonely, dissatisfied...come on AD there's still tomorrow. Cheer up, buddy. hahaha...no I have not gone crazy.
Well, I finally had a chance to look at Seoul in daylight during that 5 min cab ride to the office. Beijing-Mumbai. Well, to be frank, any big city with wide roads. Dry. And not so cold. I wonder why I put so much money into that ski-jacket. I might as well put some more in and spend a day out there...gotta be this month...or never.
My next look at Seoul was around 8pm when I was walking down towards the hotel...2 km and I could have done it...but I decided to give myself a cab ride home. Chiu! You would say. Well, I did get a chance to take pictures...but I didn't want to flash the camera on my face. So you have to wait until daytime and then your wish will be granted. Night time, there was not much to capture. May be from the Seoul tower, yes. But this is no Hong Kong. God, do I love that city.
I ventured out to buy some water, biscuits (ration - hahaha) and food. Just being the Oriya I am, rice was what I was looking for...and after scanning through tens of photographs of kimchi, I chanced upon Chinese characters...the shop's name was in Chinese. So, up I went the red steps and through the glass door. Expecting to practise my Cantonese/Mandarin or the lack of it...Unfortunately, everybody looked Korean...So I ended up with more eggs, shrimp, fried rice, black pepper sauce, some soup and green tea (the one made from powder at the Sushi bars). With a gentleman having to help me out with the bill, stomach somewhat full, I went out again to brave the cold...Ya, I know. Its pretty warm and my wind-cheater keeps me warm enough. Its not that cold yet...hear that it snows twice a year in december...If luck would have it, I wouldn't be here, right, in the first place!! Oh, come on, AD. Ok.Ok. I love snow, though I have never seen it fall. You will fall all right. On the snowy slopes - again if you do manage to go there. Luck does play a big role in one's life, me thinks. Then I spotted a KFC and could not stop myself from having a twister. Know what , mates, the Korean one tastes much better than the ones we have in Hong Kong. I reckon, that has to do something with the sauce being used. Or may be it appeals more to my Indian tongue. I love my tongue, it's Indian. I love India. I love India. I love India. There. That's making me feel better already. Hahaha. Lalala. You know what? I found some poor people sleeping under cardboard boxes in the subways. Not on the trains...I am yet to see one. But the city actually has miles of corridors underground - connecting stations and buildings. You can find many underground markets too. And I am not talking about the mafia ones. Anyways la. Back at the hotel, I found that there are no music channels on TV. AAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH. But there is some audio system playing soft music all the time. And when the alarm went off in the morning it was actually the music - imagine my surprise to find music filling my room at 7am...automatically...well, I had set the alarm but not the music. Tomorrow (oops , today) I may just continue sleeping. Ok, enough said. I should go to bed now. Don't want to be the lord of the dark rings under the eyes any more. Tomorrow should be a brighter day. All the best! Yes, I love you and I miss you too.

Labels: seoul

Love in Korean

너 나를 사랑해

Would you believe me if I told you that I typed it in and it actually means - "I love you".
Anybody interested in "I Love You" in different languages can take a look at the following.
http://www.faqs.org/faqs/romance-faq/part3/section-1.html
http://www.omniglot.com/language/phrases/iloveyou.htm

Labels: seoul

A DMZ Tour advt

Our tour company is exclusive group tour for foreigners.If members are not enough, the tour may be not start.in that case, you can apply for individul tour in special tour
Tour Condition
- All the tours Include the guide, transportation, admission fee. - Child fares: 30% DC under 11years of age.- If you cancell your reservation on tour day. We will charge 50% cancellation fee to you.- Some morning tours will be dropped off at Itaewon or city hall.- We notice that We have no responsiblity for your personal incidents and losses during all the tours.- We are stuck in a traffic jam the pick up service will be delayed.- It is possible to pay all the tour fees by credit card.

Where's my Hinglish, dude?!

Labels: seoul

Kung Fu Hustler

This a movie to watch out for - all kung fu fans.
Click the first link.

Labels: movie

Seoul - The first night

Well, I am here on a business trip. Challenging one. The business, I mean.
Took off slightly later than scheduled time for departure but arrival was on time.
People are very polite so far. Bowing regularly and I like it and try to return. I know that there is a social status thing involved, so need to keep it under control..hahaha.
Staying at the Westin Chosun. First impression is very good. One of the top 100 hotels in the world - according to some rating. Too tired to find it on the google but yeah I read it somewhere.
The bus journey from the Inchion airport to hotel was in a deluxe limo - great seats and view. Unfortunately, too dark. But I am beginning to like this place already. Looks like out of the Korean movies....wow...when was the last time I said that!
Don't miss me much. I shall be back with some snaps next time.
And by the way, it was great listening to Hindi, English, Mandarin and Cantonese songs on the way - ipod mini - zindabad. In case you didn't know what that last word meant - Hinglish is something you should really learn, mate.

Labels: seoul