It has been quite some times since I last blog. Was really busy these few days because I have to wake up at 730am for GO training and I reach home at 11pm almost everyday. I even have to do my laundry in the middle of the night. My ns life is definitely better than this, hahaha.

There was snow few days ago which lasted only 1 night but it was enough to cover the whole yongin (the place I live) with snow. It was a bad experience during the snowing night because the bus was late for half an hour due to the unexpected snow and we have to stand in open area for the bus. What make things worst is that the wind was blowing the snow into my face and eyes.

I think most people in Singapore never seen black snow before. They look like black sesame ice cream and are everywhere on the road. Not a very pleasant sight though.

Got back all my results and my efforts were paid off for one of the module because I was studying like mad for that module. Was surprise to get a B for my bible study, I can only say that the teacher is really kind but still I want to burn that boring book which I wasted so much time reading and writing the summary.

Today is Cindy last day in school. Is sad to see her leave because there wont be any more weekend gathering, no one to gossip with during class time and i will miss the noise made by her and shuan when they are at home. Now i only hear evil laughter from my korean neighbour.

Lunch in school. The "beehoon" taste average but the small side dish dumpling is the highlight, haha.

Last meal in cindy's house and she cooked korean style pancake. I think she is secretly hoping that we get kidney failure because the black sauce in the middle taste super salty, haha. Anyway the pancake is nice.

This is real life spot the difference. One cost 9,000won and the other cost 12,000won. And I ordered the more expensive one..... The chef must be laughing out loud in the kitchen.

My first pair of winter shoe. Despite wearing for the second time today, my feet still feel very cold. Cant imagine what will happen in end dec.

My best friend!! HEATER!! My place is like a fridge at night and this heater is damm helpful.

Met up with alvin and gang near my place for dinner on monday. Is good to see familiar face especially in Korea. But they all look so sick.. I should be wearing mask the next time i meet them.

Tomorrow is the day! The day that it will snow for the first time in dec this year (i hope). According to my new best friend (yahoo weather, the first thing i see when i wake up everyday) and rumors among korean, it will be snowing tmr! Weather is so cold that i have to wear 4 layers everyday plus thick scarf covering my face like some terrorist. And is not even deep winter yet, muhahahahaha!

Took this pic last week. It became really foggy that day and it look like one of the scene in twilight.


It was the last lesson in Fuseki/Joseki class and the teacher treat us lunch by ordering pizza and chicken. That day was also the first day of Samsung cup final so we watched it live on the big screen. The atmosphere is good :)

Even though this semester is much relax than the previous one, I have more assignment to do for my finals. Statistic research, memorizing 36 games, review a book for bible study(nightmare!)

Today a korean told cindy "you speak too informal to me" Muhahahahaha, i thought is quite common sense for korean to know that we are quite noob in this formal/informal language part. Maybe Cindy speak too much Korean to him. Moral of the story: Speak english to korean you dont really know well. haha

Today is a very very very super tiring day.

Kim Sung Ryong 9p(金成龙), the korean pro who came singapore last year invited me, cindy and shuan to a lunch. I thought is just LUNCH nothing else because the meeting time was 12pm so I didnt get breakfast and wanted to eat as much as possible.

When we reach korea baduk association, he suddenly wanted to play teaching game with us and of course there is no way we can reject him. After the game we have to walk 20mins to the restaurant he suggested. Well, lunch is ok, no mood to describe now...

Then here comes our biggest nightmare. Just as we were about to part ways, he ask where we were going and we told him we were planning to go Myeongdong. And he asked the question of the day in korean. " you guys have time?" It must be the food we just ate that made us dumb to reply "YES". Then he said" ok, lets walk to myeongdong, is only an hour"

Seriously I think the 3 of us were in shocked when he said that. Before we can reply anything, he has already started walking towards our trekking trip of the day... During the whole trip we were behind him cursing and swearing and we almost lost sight of him a few times cause he walk so fast like no one's business.

He stopped randomly and told us that taking train to myeongdong is around 25 mins, walking is only 1hour, of course choose walking because we can save the SGD1 plus fare. When I heard him say that I really have an urge to push him into the river which was just beside us and shout "I DONT MIND PAYING SGD1 PLUS FARE!!. I really think he is playing prank on us..... In the end it took more than 1 hour to reach myeongdong.

When we reach myeongdong, we were half dead and thought that the nightmare was over..BUT he started showing us myeongdong as if it was our first time there. If he was a tour guide i think all his tourist would have landed in hospital after a day.

This is the most unforgettable day in my 9months here.

Morale of the story: After a free meal, never say yes when asked if you have any time.

After GO lesson on sat, the teacher invite us to his house for dinner. This is the biggest korean house I have been so far. Is like a 6-room HDB flat in Singapore and the balcony is really big, I suppose is for Kimchi fermentation purpose. Is not surprise to see that there are no bed only mattress , korean culture.

The teacher's wife cook dinner or us. Home cook food look indeed different from outside food. There are pork, korean pancake, kimchi (of course), potato, veg etc...

Autumn is gone and here comes winter, my worst nightmare. Is 1 degrees now and I just caught a flu due to the sudden change in temperature. I think the temperature is still ok but if there is wind, OMG... u should start to wear a hoodie or hide behind a tree.

Was going home and I saw this in school. Is suppose to be some election campaign for student president and they will shout stuff out randomly. Not sure what they are saying but I hope they are shouting stuff like "vote me and i will improve your canteen food". You will never get to see this scene in Singapore because before they even get to this particular spot, they will get arrested for illegal gathering, hahaha.

Dinner with Cindy and Shuan. This is where I have my first meal 9months ago when I first came korea. Cindy was telling me excitingly that this place have something like the bak kut teh we have in SG. When I saw the "bak kut teh" they serve me, i look at Cindy and the first thing that came to my mind is "YOU LIAR!!" haha.

This is like the bigger version of what I have 9 months ago. The reason I dont like to eat this is because the bone is bloody big and the meat is little and sometimes hard to find so you have to like fight with pig during the whole meal just to get the few meat.

Presenting korean's favorite food, ramen aka instant noodle. I have to say that the 2 kimchi bowl look like ash urns.... korea culture.

The season that every ahjuma in korea is waiting for is finally here!! The kimchi making season!! Suddenly E-mart have this section for kimchi making and they have all different kind of equipment including pail which is big enough to drown someone's baby.

Whenever I see these gloves I will think of my mum because before I came to korea we were watching a korean channel and they suddenly show this ahjuma making kimchi and she was wearing these pink gloves. And my mum was like " AIYO!! Y they use toilet gloves to make kimchi!!"

3 singapore kids are now in korea learning GO and sunday is the rest day so I brought them to myeongdong to shop. It has been quite a while since i last went myeongdong and the first thing I notice is that a lot of people are carrying this particular shop's paper bag.

UNIQLO!!! This is the biggest store in Korea which opens on 11/11/11, a global flagship store. I wanted to see what they have but the queue is unbelievable, worst than the queue for disney land rides...

Dinner with the kids. Yue heng change so much suddenly. When I saw him in Singapore he was still a chubby kid but now he look so different. The power of puberty.... The other 2 kids still look the same though, haha.

Chinese food for lunch. I think this pic can receive the "Most Appealing Lunch" award among my blog pictures. The taste is not bad, shall eat this once a week.

I still cant find a way to lighten up my mood after I lose a game. I will start to feel depress and sad like the end of the world and I really hate that feeling, is very 痛苦.Yes, I know is unhealthy. Really admire players who can smile and talk cock even after losing their games. I need some tips on this.

The downtown in my area. I used to complain that my area is ulu and nothing much but after going to gimpo and pohang, I think yongin is consider paradise, haha.There are a lot of cafes, cinema, facial shops, restaurants, McDonalds and many other shops including......

DOG MEAT SHOP!!!!! They should seriously close down these kind of shops.

This shop is also in my area. I thought they were selling ice cream but at a closer look, is a shop that sells pork. I think this is the most high class pork shop I have ever seen in wet market.

Went to a cafe with Cindy and Shuan today which is also near my school. I think the theme for this cafe is fruits cause there are lots of fruit desserts. But I personally think that the theme should be "old folks home"

This definitely looks like a wheelchair but is actually a rocking chair. Yes, like those chairs that old people like. If I bring my granny to this cafe I think I will get beaten by her because she will think that I am trying to curse her to get onto a wheelchair.

And if you are a person who get dizzy easily, you should never come to this cafe. The seats here are either rocking chair or swing...

But at least the desserts are good.

Went to Mr Pizza for dinner. This should be the best pizza I have ever eaten. They also have a salad buffet which I think is really good. Shall bring my SG friends to try if there is a chance in dec.

Few days back we went to a Brazil restaurant recommended by Cindy. Is quite a special restaurant because is buffet style steak so after you finish 1 piece they will "refill" the steak until you feel like vomiting.


The restaurant is kind of "jian" because they serve a lot of side dishes to let you eat while they take their time to cook the steak and if u are tempted to try all the side dishes, u will realize the boss is smiling behind the cashier. So Cindy was advising us not to eat too much and focus all energy on the steak buffet instead. Experience sia....

I am not a steak fan so it taste average to me. Xingwei, Alvin, if u guys love steak I can bring u guys here in dec.

Went to a food court for lunch today and when they serve me my food, it look so different from the picture!! The actual thing look as if the chef accidentally pour the whole bottle of chilli powder into the soup. Despite being here for 9months, i still find all these "red soup" spicy. Cant wait to go back sg to eat curry puff, chicken rice, satay, fried noodles and of course the food in my parents's stall.

Woke up early today for my bible study class which I have to attend on alternate weeks. It may sound good but when Cindy had her bible study class, her teacher told her that she dont have to attend, just have to submit some summary at the end of the semester. I am just too lucky to pick this particular timeslot :(

My teacher who apparently thinks that I am really into christianity (thanks to my english name Daniel) gives me handout to summarize every alternate weeks and I have to take a test regarding the handout. The latest one I got is about Baptism. The worst part is that I have to summarize a book she recommend (is not harry potter) and it is super duper boring!! I can still remember how enthusiastic she look when she told me about that book. Haiz, is like me talking about hikaru no go to my non GO friend. Must be retribution.....

Back to today.... even though i woke up early, i underestimated my ability to stone on my bed. When I look at the clock again I only had half an hour to lesson time, haha. So i have to practically run up the bukit timah hill slope (my adventure route to school) and somehow manage to reach the class just on time which I am still amazed how I did it. Then the teacher came to me, "oh Daniel, how are you, I thought we are meeting next week?" I was like what the *****!!

Today 2 person from my department ask me the same question "where are you from?" I totally stunned for a few seconds because we all met since I entered the school 9 months ago and they still dunno where I am from? I need to make more friends......

Was eating in the chinese restaurant near my place and it took me a while to realise that they have put the heater out. I remember seeing these stuff everywhere when I first reach korea 9 months ago.

I saw a Hongkong restaurant near my GO school and I was so excited thinking that they will sell HK food so i went in to get a seat without looking at the menu. But when I saw the type of food they sell I almost faint. Is a shop thats sells only korean style spicy noodles (one of the korean food that I really hate!!!). In the end I order fried dumpling and white rice....

Finally ate baskins robins Halloween ice cream cake. It looks really nice but it taste normal. Very disappointed :(

Many leaves lying around the pavement and I cant imagine how headache the Banglad sweepers will be if we have Autumn in SG

There was a GO event in one of the train station after the Korea Prime Minister Cup. Is a team knockout tournament between the Asia, Europe and World team.

Is a live broadcast so they have all these fancy equipment. The guy look so shocked when I took a pic of their equipment, haha.

Zhang Xiang is on TV!!! He was one of the representative for Asia team. I suddenly realise that I never manage to have a conversation with zx that lasted for more than 20secs before.

The weather is getting cold and I have to start wearing cotton socks when I sleep. Cindy has been telling me that winter will be hell but actually i am quite looking forward to see how crazy the weather will be.

Leaves turning yellow everywhere and when there is strong wind you can see them flying around.

Road to school. The sun is really bright but it doesnt help in the temperature at all. Ok, maybe it does but i dun feel the difference, haha.

Had lunch with a few korean friends and they ordered korean version of Economic Rice where you choose a few side dishes and rice. It doesnt look as happening as sg version but it taste good.

Cindy with a LV bag!!! Man...look at how korea has transform cindy..

The theme for this blog entry: Moral of the story

Went to my favourite chinese restaurant few days ago to try a dish recommended by the chinese gang. I tried it once but it taste too burned but I decided to give it a second chance.

This is call Gan Zha Jiang Mian. When I first saw others eating this i thought it was quite silly. Because it cost more than the normal Zha Jiang Mian and the only difference is that the black sauce is separated and you have to pour in yourself. I am like HUH... does it cost more because the washing lady have to wash 1 extra bowl?? haha. Then people explain to me that they fry the black sauce in this dish and not for the normal one. Verdict after eating... Is Good!

Moral of the story: Everything deserves a second chance.

Lunch today in school canteen. If there is a title for this dish it will be:

Mr Beef Fried Rice and his pathetic side dish friends.

As usual it doesnt look very appealing. But the rice taste really good. I have to say is one of the best canteen food I have ever eaten.

Moral of the story: Never judge beef fried rice from its color.

Among the side dish this is one food I never understand why Korean and sooooo many of my Singapore friends love eating it. This is the famous RICECAKE!!! They say that the chewing "feel" is good but to me is like eating chewing gum and the worst part, IT IS TASTELESS!!!!!!!!!!!!

Moral of the story: Friends may not have the same taste as you.

One of the chinese guy will be leaving our department cause he got an job offer in TOM, the chinese weiqi website. Even though he is halfway through this sem and he still got another sem next year to graduate however the GO department was really kind to let him graduate early using the job as internship as an excuse. So we have a farewell dinner for him and yes is BBQ PORK (the best and fastest way to get cancer).

Moral of the story: We need to choose healthier food for farewell.

Went to a cafe street 45mins away from my place last week with cindy and shuan. I have never seen Cindy so excited before, she must really love coffee and cafe a lot.

The cafe street. The atmosphere is really good and too bad sg doesnt have this kind of place. But even if there is, it will be filled with students studying. Come to think of it i have not seen the "study-in-restaurant" culture in Korea. I wonder how sg got this trend of studying in McDonalds or cafe.

Cindy bought us to this cafe for brunch because it was highly recommended in the net. Look at all the cars around the cafe, looks like the net review was right!

We ordered 2 set and share. Is around 30SGD for both dish. To my disappointment it look better than it taste. Is just average, nothing special.

Sheep theme cafe. I have not seen people eating mutton in Korea yet. Maybe sheep is too cute for them...but y they eat dog huh...

Not sure what is the theme for this cafe. Maybe is books because there is a huge and tall shelf filled with books.

This cafe may sound good in Korea but if is in SG, it will sound like a joke. hahaha

Went out with the chinese gang to myeongdong to do some visa stuff and shopping. During lunch we went to this chinese restaurant and had Zha Jiang Mian. If korean ask what is my favourite korean food, i will say is this. Not because it look like shit but it taste like shit. Just kidding.. Is really nice, even my sis and her friends love it. SG should sell this, it will be a big hit!

I have been in Korea for more than 8 months and this is the first time I ate this kind of vegetable! Have not seen such green veg for a long time..haha

Saw this women practicing FALUN GONG outside the chinese embassy and she changes pose every few minute. If this happen in Sg, I think before she even finish setting up the 2 board beside her, she would be surrounded by cameras and of course hardcore STOMP fans.

Went to a restaurant for brunch today and the waiter lay these items in front of me. I almost thought i was "toa beh gong"

This is korean-western style food. Cream sauce and rice. Taste better than i thought.

Last but not least, one of my blog reader say i put too much food and she hope to see Autumn leaves. But these 2 pics are not really good, hahaha shall take more in future.