Hotspring in Korea

It's another sleepless night.. Not sure if it's the stress.. Or the date.. Or too much on my mind.. Or the ginseng tea is working so well I'm getting over-hyper haha..
Since I can't get to sleep.. Might as well do another blog entry..

Since someone requested that I blog about my hotspring experience in Korea.. I'll accede to it and write about my experience.. But just to set the record STRAIGHT.. There's NO adventure with Melvin!!! Haha.. Don't make it sound so weird!..

The Hot Spring in Korea (or at least the one we went to).. everybody has to go in naked.. yes.. naked.. even the ladies.. but of course the males and females are seperated (but I hear there are other hot springs that have common ones for both males and females!)..

The "fun" began way before we reached the Hot Spring.. Because the ladies, especially the aunts and Indonesian ladies that joined our tour group.. Were like giggling and laughing so hard as they contemplated whether to go to the hot springs.. and whether exceptions can be made etc etc.. It was pretty hilarious actually haha..
For the guys, there wasn't anything of that sort.. I think army has trained us well..

The hot spring was a great experience.. my first time ever.. there were different hot springs available.. with various temperatures (some cold, some hot).. and with various herbs, mints, ginseng etc.. It was a great experience.. But I don't think I'm a very big fan of it haha.. People who know me will know that I like to try everything (or at least most things.. ) at least ONCE.. So usually I'm game for most things..

I'm not that big a fan because.. I don't find enjoyment in letting my body go through temperatures that are not THAT comfortable.. It was either too hot or too cold!.. and being in the ginseng hot spring.. makes me feel like a chicken.. being boiled to make chicken ginseng soup! haha..

-- Ginseng Tonic Maker -- Boiled Ginseng Chicken..

Back View of the "Earth God"

Any resemblance? Haha..

Jeju Island

Finally blogging about Korea..
Hope this entry goes through without problem coz I was typing when don't know what happened everything was deleted.. Argh nevermind..

Here's a pic from Korea's Jeju Island..
I'm between statues of 2 "earth gods".. You'll see plenty in Jeju island.. The reason why they have them is to boost up their "yang qi".. Coz in Jeju island.. The females outnumber the males.. Because it being an island.. They fish for a living (not sure abt now though).. So as fishing for a living goes.. Not everybody make it back.. So naturally over time.. the females outnumber the males.. so the "ying qi" stronger...

The statues are meant to balance the qi.. Something very interesting is that.. the back of the statues.. they shape it to look like the male sexual organ haha.. we were happily taking pics of the statues when the tour guide shocked us with this revelation haha..

Was trying to upload the pic.. but it gave me some problems.. so I'll try to upload it next time then..

-- Ginseng Tonic Maker --

Always Look on the Bright Side of Life!

Had wanted to write and post some pics about my korea trip..
But I think this entry is a lot more important..
It's for all my friends out there!!.. (and anybody else who's reading haha..)

Been hearing about.. or reading from blogs.. or observing..
That things haven't exactly been very smooth sailing for some..

Is it the age?.. coz now like most around 25yrs old..
Quarter-life crisis ah? haha..
Feeling lost.. relationship problems etc etc..

Well Cheer Up pple.. Hang in there!!...
Everything happens for a reason..
And things will turn out well once the rough ride is over..

I KNOW!

-- Ginseng Tonic Maker -- Ginseng for you?

Home Sweet Home

Holidays are always over way toooooo fast..
Well.. It was an OK trip..
It's not those WOW trips where you get excited and start "selling" the country to your friends..
Mainly because it's a group tour i guess..
I hate group tours.. Long bus rides.. Rushed itenary..
Partly because it was mostly a scenic trip.. which I'm not totally crazy over.. thank goodness there were theme parks.. and most importantly..
Luckily there were great company of colleagues!..

Will try to blog abt the trip (or whatever i can remember!) over e next few days..
Stay tuned for the pics.. Will upload some when i get them.. or check out my friendster alternatively...

Way too sleepy already.. That's all for now..

-- Ginseng Tonic Maker -- Sipping Ginseng Tea as i blog =)

Seoul Far, (Not) Seoul Good?!

Flying off to Korea on Monday for a 8-days holiday with my colleagues..
I should be over the moon and feeling excited because I love to travel and I've never been to Korea right??

But somehow it isn't so.. And I can't really pin-point why..

Is it because of the stress I'm feeling? With the year coming to an end, at the moment this feels more like a distraction to my work than a celebration or holiday..
Is it because unlike our trip to Koh Samui last year, we have to fork out every single cent because we didn't meet the challenge set out by our manager?
Is it because unlike my past holidays, I fear I will be feeling lonely this year?
Is it because the Hong Kong trip has left such a bitter taste in my mouth, it's like the nightmare that doesn't go away?

I wish I know why.. It could actually be a combination of all the reasons listed above..
Or maybe I'm thinking way too much again..
Who knows.. I just have to wait for Monday to come.. When I reach the airport.. And with work out of my mind.. I'm sure I'll feel excited about the trip.. I'm sure I'll enjoy the trip.. and it'll be a case of..

Seoul Far, Seoul VERY Good..

(Hmm.. Time to buy a digi cam?)

-- Ginseng Tonic Maker -- Land of Ginseng.. Here I come..

Arty Farty Fun

Never thought I would enjoy what I would term Arty Farty in the past.. But hey, Singapore is so small.. There's nothing much to do anyway..
And sooner or later we will all get tired of shopping, movies and clubbing haha..
So ya.. going to blog a little abt the 2 Arty Farty Fun I had recently..

WOMAD last night was fun. Good friends with a cousin.
It was a good experience on the whole.
Lots of sweating (it's at Fort Canning what do you think?).. Lots of Ang Mohs (told you it's Arty Farty Haha..).. Lots of dancing and swaying..
In short.. It's all about letting your hair down and sweating it out..
WOMAD stands for World Music, Arts and Dance (I think..)..
It's some festival thingy with performances, screening of artistic films etc..
But next year must be better prepared.. Will go fully equipped with mat, basket of finger food and drinks/wine etc..
Picnic under the stars as we enjoy the performances!..

Broadway Beng was entertaining.. More so than perhaps Grease that I caught earlier this year.. Think it's just different..
Coz Ben was very entertaining coz it's like a dance, musical, songs, stand-up comedy all-in-one.. and also coz it was very localised.. Lotz of Hokkien!
Whereas Grease was more of just a dance and music show.. And having watched the movie.. Maybe having to squeeze everything into the musical left the plot a bit thin..

I better watch my spending.. coz it's not cheap if i keep catching such shows!.. But I am watching my spending.. otherwise I would have given in to my temptation to catch Forbidden City too haha.. So I'm trying hard to resist..

But hmm.. Dim Sum Dollies anybody?

--Ginseng Tonic Maker-- Bitten by the Arty Farty Buggy..