Korea Seoul - 3 days

今年三月的時候, 因舊同事的，於是一個人的飛到首爾，參加了她的婚禮。有好幾年沒去過韓國了，雖然只是短短的三日，發現這幾年來，首爾都巳經改變了不少。

1. 普遍英語都進步了很多, 普通話/國語更不用說了，居然還可以跟的士司機，小店咖啡廳staff 以簡單中，英文交談！
2. pre-paid 電話咭都巳很流行, 聽起來好像很奇怪，但真的，差不多十年前還是必須要有地址證明才可以開通電話。幾年後，才有了WIFI EGG, 但只在機場有售. 但現在是pre-paid 電話咭都在便利店購買，雖然價錢相比在香港預先訂購還要貴。
3. 以咖啡價格對比數年前好像都上漲了大約20-30%
4. 更多外國旅客或expat ，我想是因為對比以前容易了很多，所以也多了外國人來旅遊或是工幹。

可能下次再去，又會有一些改變了。　

When will be the next time to Korea?

自入了這間公司以後，一年總有兩，三次機會到韓國公幹。

總算下來，原來，我也到過韓國十數次了，有時只留三天，最長一次的是三個星期。

說來好笑，雖然一直是語言不通，但即使英語也好，國語也好，身體語言也好，總可以張羅到要吃的東西，要去的地方。

一直都和數個韓國同事頗傾得來，即使他們離開了公司另有發展，感謝現今科技發達，我們還時常在網上聊天，當我到韓國公幹時，也會相約出來，談談近況，還有幸參加到其中一個舊同事的婚宴，拜會他的家人，漸漸感覺韓國好像另一家似的。

最近公司宣報架構重組，韓國分公司將會在八月尾關門，和我合作的大部份同事巳於今日離，今日下午，和他們作了開了最後一次會，算是和他們說一聲再見，我相信我們還會保持聯絡。

我沒有藉口去韓國公幹，再去應該是自費旅遊，我的這個家，我會何時回去？

Korean Business Trip - the Nth time to Korea

七點四十五分到達機場, 一切順利, 八點十五巳坐在lounge 吃著早餐, 沒有加XO 醬的魚蛋河, 無甚特別, 但勝在水準平穩. 腸粉很乾, 西蘭花更令人失望.

九點上機, 人還未齊, 睡著了, 卻給機長的廣播叫醒, 好像是要等兩個人, 要延遲起機. 又再陷入睡狀態.

又不知過了多久, 午餐時間, 空姐只道是雞, 卻原來是deep fried sweet and sour chicken, 很油膩, 所以只吃了幾口, 便轉了到生果和甜品.

一邊吃飯, 一邊看電影, 是我近期很喜愛的 Natalie Portman, Love and Other Impossible Pursuits. 很平淡, 但又很感人的一套電影.

午飯過, 再看了一會書, 兩點多再落機, 關口都很多人, 還排了一會才可過關, 三點到達巴士站.

四時四十五分到了酒店, 比我想像早了不少.

開會過後, 又打電話回家報平安, 巳經六點半, 肚在打鼓.  原來巳有七, 八小時沒吃東西和喝水.

出發到明洞, 同事推介的一間餃子店 , 幸好不用排隊, 菜牌的選擇不多, 又不覺得十分出色. 可能我還是喜歡中式的餃子, 感覺比較充實.

Planning for the trip, Spain

九月會去西班牙, 是萬分期待的一次, 巳經有十年沒有歐遊了...

為了好好準備, 特別買了

- Spainish for dummy
- 15 mins Spain
- Lonely Planet - Spain
- Net Life - 西班牙

還打算再買一本
- The rough guide to Spain
在書展找不到, 好像只有在 page 1 才見到, HK$250 大元, 太貴了, 會再上網找找...

:)

Back from Japan - Seidan and Tokyo

the five days trip finally end.

not really a excited trip, no many place to hang around, not many good sight seeing place... but just a time for me to escape from Hong Kong.

It is my first time to tokyo, and finally saw the scene in shinjuku. It is even more crazy than in MongKok, at mid-night, still tons of youngsters hang around, many drunk sat around, and with smell of pee. :(

Cambodia, I am coming ~

上年因為機票太貴去唔到, 今年再接再厲. 不過柬埔寨都真係幾熱門, CX 11 月個price list 8 月7 日先出, 我地8月9 日去check, 巳經full 左... -___-

多謝I 生, 好努力咁去call agents. 終於搵到機票... :)

期待!

Japan - Osaka & Kyoto

學了日文多年, 但一直都無去過日本, 因為... 貴囉... 今年年頭, 終於同 E 及J 去左大阪及京都五日.
我地三個人, 識左幾廿年, 都未試過一齊去旅行, 今次算係一個大突破.

去到, 順利成章我做左translator, 但我既日文, 其實好流既.. 講好多次人地先明. 不過都叫做講到下咁囉.

京都同大阪比較, 我比較喜歡京都, 因為不論人和景有一種好古雅既感覺, 很有日本既古典風味. 在那裏的街頭走著很容易會發現日本人既優雅. 大阪嘛.. 都只是一個血拼既地方, 就像香港的銅鑼灣.

my trip to South Vietnam - after

一年多沒有出遊, 想不到今次出遊的心情竟和一年多前差不多, 都是悶悶不樂的. 本來是三人行家庭遊, 沒料到因反應熱列, 最後變了十人耆英團.

同家人去旅行, 最怕的是, 他們永遠要比別人約的時間早到, 本來是12:15 集合, 他們硬要11:30 到步, 然後再等到14:45 分上機. 呆在機場3 小時, 真的是耐性大考驗.

另外, 由於是跟團, 領隊會直接影響去旅行的心情和進度, 而我們的領隊小姐, 看上去很年青, 也即是很不夠經驗. 話說 aunt law 寄行李時, 地勤小姐說她巳經寄了行李, 原來領隊小姐搞錯了broading pass. 將另一位團友的行李以aunt law 的名義寄了. 起初地勤小時不願改回, 更老沒好氣的對著領隊說, 你給我什麼我便替你辦, 現在錯了也不沒辦法了. 我站在櫃台前, , 堅持要改, 她沒我奈何, 唯有更改了寄倉記錄. 不過其實最後真的有沒有改我也不知道. 後來安全地到達了越南, 所以我也不加追究了.

整個旅程, 只能說是早睡早起, 匆匆而行的, 我不知道是真的因為景點距離問題還是坐排問題. 坐車的時間很多, 參觀的時間卻不多.

好像到耶穌山只有一個小時, 我走到了山上, 還來不及走上耶穌像的肩上, 便要回程了.

不過, 算了吧, 今敞的出遊, 目的都只在陪家人和散散心.

第一個目的達到了, 第二個目的, 還是要靠自己多努力.

my trip to South Vietnam - Schedule

第一日
12:15 機場集合
14:45 起飛
15:xx 到步, 大約兩小時, 但越南比香港慢一小時.
16:xx 百年大教堂及郵政局
17:xx Free time - Diamond Store
18:xx 古董街
19:xx Dinner on Saigon River

第二日
08:xx 華人廟
09:xx 華人區
10:xx 尾拖 - 棷子島 - 棷子道人
12:xx 遊河
13:xx 風味菜
14:xx War Crime Museum

第三日
08:xx 古芝地道
12:xx 牛肉河
13:xx 統一府
14:xx 頭頓 - 3hrs bus route
17:xx 頭頓酒店
18:xx Dinner - 海鮮餐
20:xx Free time - Shopping mall

第四日
08:xx 鯨魚廟
09:xx 五幫華人廟
10:xx 耶穌山
11:xx Free Time - Breach
12:xx Lunch
13:xx 返回胡志明市
14:xx 中途站
16:xx 漆器工廠
18:xx Dinner
20:xx Free Time - Bar at 9/F of hotel

第五日
07:xx Ahead to airport
10:xx Flight to HK
14:xx HK

my trip to South Vietnam - Photo

The day we were in tibet

呢個POST 係舊年開始寫, 寫左幾句, 就停左. 今日做做下野, 搵返出黎. 寫埋佢先.

2007 11 13 夜晚, 無聊果陣.
===================================================================

剛看完新聞話事人，其中方東昇談及他在內的沙漠迷途的經歷。回想起自己在TIBET 亞里的路上壞車, 推車推左個幾鐘, 最後有好心人路過救左我一命.

本來, 只係去個湖度食午飯, 跟住返酒店, 我地諗住都只係三,四個小時的行程, 咩都無帶. 點知, 就係回程的路上, 架車壞左. 當時, 無電話網絡, 無人. 無車, 無水, 無食物. 其實都幾危險. 雖然果度都算係景點. 但就無乜人. 起碼, 我地等左幾個鐘. 等到天黑. 只有幾架車經過. 我地一見有車經過, 就叫HELP. 但願意停係度既, 只有一架. 吉位得一個. 就咁, 我一個人上左架車, 諗住到左亞里, 再班架車返黎接返其他人. 車主成家人, 有老有嬾, 但係都極速咁開車. 希望我快到市區可以搵到救兵, 仲送左雞髀同綠茶俾我添.

去到亞里, 入左間公安所, 道明來意, 我唔知佢地係唔想幫我定點. 講左一輪, 佢地都只係寫左我個人資料. 搞左三十分鐘, 我唔想再等, 因為巳經十點幾. 最後我俾左幾佰蚊, 叫左架的士去接人. 未去到, 路上見到有間貨車. 諗住問下佢地見唔見有車壞左停係路邊, 點知原來佢地就係車上面... 我地再返去接返我地個司機, 唔知係唔係我心急, 我覺得架的士行左好耐. 又無街燈, 真係只係靠星光引路. 可惜果時個心只係諗住接人, 無閒情去細味. 搵到架車, 司機堅持話要留係架車度.. 咁我只好留低左我既食物同水俾佢. 返到酒店, 三點幾. 個人散晒.

每次諗返, 其實都幾驚. 一個人上左架車, 仲要無錢係身. 俾人溶左或者推左落山就係咁先.

好彩, 就好似方東昇咁, 家陣無事. 仲可以係度寫BLOG 同大家講返呢件事. 都算係出路遇貴人.

2008 May 16 - Seoul

睡了一覺, 感覺好了一點, 但開始流鼻水和間歇性頭痛. 同事Hyunjung 給了我感冒藥. 我拿著那排藥到了藥房買藥. 整盒藥除了單位 mg 及vitamin C. 一個英文也沒有. 真的不知有沒有買錯.

吃了藥之後, 渴睡得要死. 還是要和 seungin 開會. -___-

2008 May 15 - Seoul

可能是昨天太勞累, 今天差不多九點半才起床, 回到公司十點半. 跟著十一點便開會, 一直到六點.

首爾溫差很大, 早上有陽光差不多二十度, 下午及晚上只有十度. 下午開始, 喉嚨很乾, 有點痛. 希望不是發病了.

晚飯過後回公司再工作直到差不多十點. 回到apartment , 一洗完澡便倒頭大睡. >_<

2008 May 14 - Seoul

第二次去韓國首爾, 也是因為工作. 今次一個去去, 算是第一次一個人出門. 我八點到達機場, 坐九點三十分的飛機. 順利地下午二點半到達首爾的仁川機場. 今次因為住服務式住宅, 沒有酒店巴士. 要自己找巴士, 不過服務員很友善, 即使有點語言不通, 也很熱心的替我找我要坐的巴士. 我也預先準備好了住處的地址, 不過五分鐘, 我便找那巴士站.

聽服務員說大約要個半小時, 所以我坐了一個小時後, 便問坐在隔鄰的先生, 還有多少個站才到, 怎料他也是第一次坐這條巴士線. 但他也替我問司機, 但不知是溝通問題還是怎樣, 居然搞錯了站名. 他著我在下個站下車, 到站後我正準備下車, 他急急從車尾跑出來, 說不是這個站. 原來這個站是palace station 而不是我要到的 samjeong station.

再坐了一個小時, 終於到了 samjeong station, 又找不到那 Service apartment, 原來那大廈被收購後改了名, 但大廈外牆上的名稱卻沒有改. 害我來回數次也找不到.

終於到達, 巳經是晚六時了.

房內是傢俱都很新, 只是走廊有點賓館的感覺.

再到了公司找 Hyunil 吃晚飯, 我走錯了路, 害他等了我差不多四十分鐘.

晚飯過後, 買了洗頭水, 牙刷等日用品, 回到apartment , 真的疲得眼也睜不開. 匆匆沖了涼, 便睡覺了.

my new toy - Ricoh GX100

bought before went to Korea. Found it is not good in indoor, but the shot in outdoor is excellent.

my life in korea - day 7

Went to the Korean house, a village that specially for tourist, displayed several traditional korean style houses.

3:30 pm. Took the airport bus to aiport. Back to HK!

my life in korea - day 6

Woke up at 11:00! Shower and then went out to the most famour palace in Seoul, Gyeongbokgung. I was very lucky to catch the tour visit at 1:00 pm. The scenes in the palace is very nice. ^_^

Left at around 3:00, ahead to watch JUMP, a non-verbal performance in Korea, the show has the elements of korean culture, tae kwon do and acrobatics. A very interesting show.

After the show, I found my wallet is lost. Not sure whether I dropped it or being stolen. >_<>

my life in korea - day 5

arrived office at 09:50 am, switched on the laptop, started to work for while, waited for other colleagues. Well, it is not a working mood day, everybody get ready, and left office at 10:15 a.m.. Today is the wedding banquet of two colleagues, SJ and L. They knew each other in office and dated for 2 years, only few colleagues discovered that. haha ..

The wedding was hold in function hall in University, most people dressed in formal, but i was wearing jean! The photographer even asked me to stand at the last row. :P

The wedding ceremony is in western style, not much different with HK, something interest is, the bride has her own room for photo taking, she just sited on the sofa. Much more comfortable than in HK.

After the wedding, everybody went back to office and prepare for another event. Annual Dinner! The dinner was in Japanese style. Nice food, nice soju. And there is snow outside. It is my first time to see snowing. We even played snow fight outside the restaurant.

After dinner, we even went to Karaoke, but, u know me well, I don't know any Korean songs. So, I just acted as photographer, to picture down the dance in Karaoke.

The snow became more and more heavy, when i just enter the hotel, snow on my shoulder melted cause of the warmer. The water even dropped to floor, what a shame.

my life in korea - day 4

woke up late again, but luckily, I am not the latest one. K has to check out from hotel. So, i waited him lobby.

Arrive office at 10:30, meeting and meeting, and working. What a busy life. Went to have Japanese food with colleagues, yummy!

Still busy after lunch, K went back to Hong Kong at 7:45, A is not free tonight, so, I went to have dinner with Korean Colleagues alone. The restaurant is a localized place, very Korean style. The food is good.

Went to Dongdaemon with CH and HK, my Korean colleagues, they are so nice, picked me to there, and taught me how to take Subway, subway in Seoul is a very complicated system, over 200 subway stations. I guess i will be messed up if I go alone. -___-

So cold outside, -5 I guess, but many Korean ladies wore short pant, brave! Dongdaemon is a crowding place like Mong Kok or even more energetic, those shops opened for 24 hrs!

Ate some korean local street foods, I dont know what is that, but all tasted good, cause all are hot! So marvelous.

my life in korea - day 3

Cant woke up on time, rush for shower, then left hotel at 9:35.

Another meeting at 10:00, lated for 10 mins, what a shame.

Went to have ginseng chicken soup with soju, taste good, I started to love that.

Kept busy after lunch, then, forgot what I did actually, then time for dinner.

Went to have dinner with Korean development team, i found that Korean like soup very much, they have soup in every dish. The funny thing is, they put rice in soup after finished the dishes.

Went to Gangnam with K and A, many people are there, just hang around and ate some street food. Good taste.