Despite the risk

Wow it's already a NEW YEAR 2012, finally I come back to write! So this winter I've missed, and I miss my last winter, my last last winter as well. I remember the freezing weather, chilling wind, snowing night, snowman, snow fight, slippery road, shiny white scene everywhere. The most unforgettable is downhill skiing! Why? It's so.. wonderful, great, cool, awesome~! Okay I'm not describing specifically, please try it yourself. IMAGINE that you ski down from mountain top, the wind, the speed, the view, and not forgetting some falling. It was 2 years ago, my first time skiing, I didn't think but...

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Screaming 'Wait' at the 'No Wait Mountain'

It seems I have missed a November post.. realizing I really had nothing to write whenever I tried to squeeze my brain to at least start some words.. It was really a final month to actually put an end on something. Looking back to my November, I recall about 'No Wait Mountain' translated from 無等山 (무등산, 'Mudeng-san'). I took a local bus from the first station to the last station early in the morning to meet a few quite important people I ever met here. We do Aikido 合气道 together including my beloved teacher, and we challenged the 'No Wait Mountain'. It was my first time to do hiking in my 2 years...

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Skiing: the dreamed and the reality..

..finally had experienced skiing since my home country has no winter, and it was awesome! As a first timer, I got to have some short lessons on the spot by an assigned coach from High1 Resort before stepping in the slope that lead to the bottom of the mountain (well, not all the way down). Basically, I already knew and quite confident that I can ski down the slope (of course unpredictably low survival rate), however, I needed very much to learn the most useful technique, how to brake and the most effective learning path to become an expert, to FALL! After gaining enough skills.. how well I can...

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A moment as king of Joseon Dynasty..

This was the number one interesting experience during the 3 days in Seoul.. After a cultural backpack tour to historical palaces, national museum and traditional market street, on the last day, our last destination was Namsan Hanok Village, a must-visit traditional village of the last dynasty (1392 – 1910) here! A memorable photo was taken.. Apparently, from the photo, the guy wearing king hanbok 한복 (traditional clothing), has no fate as king, because where on earth the king smile this much! Handsome, by the way... Okay, temporary king only.. Well, have to say the girl in Queen hanbok has...

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Took a walk in the Silla Kingdom

Love the feeling of historical places.. Perhaps, I’m getting old nowadays (slightly), or maybe having intention to go back to the past to fix something up (if I could go back, I would just say let it be).. or probably due to the one critical decision that I ever made, which withdrew myself from my comfort zone at that time and took up a short term hard time and then now here I’m! If not the decision, where will I be? Anyway, work on today before it becomes the past.. Last weekend, visited Gyeongju city, the capital of Silla Kingdom during 57BC-953AD, which for the first time united another...

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Visit Taiwan 2008! 005 - Hot spring and sea-side

Another place I visited, which has been developed as a hot spring resort since the Japanese era (1895-1945) - new Beitou 北投. (referred wikipedia). I went for hot spring bath (initially), however I did manage to bath my legs in the drain-like small river, running with hot spring water from Geothermal valley 地熱谷, where water temperature can reach 100°C and you can see steam! I can feel the water that was bathing my legs, was about 80°C I guess, its (tolerantly) HOT! Tamsui 淡水, a sea-side town, which is a popular site to see sun-setting into the Taiwan strait. I appreciated sunset very much…...

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Visit Taiwan 2008! 004 - Tradition and mountains

During weekend, there are two renowned suburb in Taipei that most tourists would go and experience mountains, tradition, riverside, and hot spring. During Japanese colonization, Jioufen 九份 was in the peak time due to gold mining activity since 1893 but went into decline in 1971 after WWII and was forgotten. In 1989, Hou Hsiao-hsien's A City of Sadness, the firm to reflects 228 Incident (a taboo subject in Taiwan) revived Jioufen and attracted many people to visit sentiment scenery of Jioufen as in the film. Thus, we can see cafes, tea houses, and stores of Chinese traditional style as well as...

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Visit Taiwan 2008! 003 - Modern city

Taipei 101 台北101 is the world Tallest skyscraper since 2004, and Malaysia Twin Tower became No.2. A 101 floors (509m) landmark tower that can withstand typhoons and earthquakes, which holds grand celebration every New Year (1-01)! (referred wikipedia). On the observatory, I saw the Taipei city from top, and then came down to take photos of the tower and around the commercial district. After all, it is a luxury shopping mall, and more malls nearby too.. In Taiwan, I felt the people there are WARM and are showing good attitudes like hardworking, and responsible (though there is very rare exception,...

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Visit Taiwan 2008! 002 - History

It was INFORMATIVE to visit National Palace Museum 故宮博物院 (though I almost fell sleep, when tried to study deeper about).. says to be one of the world largest that housed 10% of important ancient artifacts and artworks collected by Chinese Emperors (others in the Forbidden City 紫禁城 and indeed CKS people brought out to Taiwan). Anyway, I did glance through the chronology of Chinese ~4000 years history (all Dynasties from 1600BC Ancient era to Qing Dynasty 1911), not including pre-history (Neolithic age since 10000BC). The most commonly known (through novel, or movie) are Qin Dynasty 221BC-206CE...

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Visit Taiwan 2008! 001 - My first backpack Travel

At last… successfully finished my very first time! ..a little worry at the beginning until on board and took off, even though quite well-prepared (I guess). Anyway, first step usually needs a little adaptation; however, if you want me to go for second time... piece of cake! The DIY backpack trip took a month of preparation and some time for pre-decision making period (yes, no, yes, no..) for first timer like me and also my tight budget. Well, after made my mind, things started right away! The core (basic) factors for a successful travel I think are: flight booking (12fly.com.my), hostel booking...

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