Today, my friend and big sister is leaving Korea for good (maybe). When I wanted to say goodbye, suddenly a memory of my first day in Korea came to my mind . That day, just arriving at my dormitory, I have to swallow the bad news, no room was available.

No one could help me, I was devastated, tired, and confused. Then, someone suggested to stay with another Indonesian student for a while. And she was that person who took me into her room, particularly the first person since I’ve arrived who asked me “how are you?” and let me sleep on her bed. I was so touched, that this lady, without knowing me personally, just met me for several minutes, could be without hesitation told me to sleep on her bed, and take a rest. She was doing it without nothing in return, as I know her more, she just always cares for other people…

For a new student, just arrived in nowhere, finding someone who really cares is just so wonderfully memorable. Maybe we had a lot of laughs, hang outs, and many things we did together, but one simple action of affection which touched my heart is just so much more precious to me.

Also tomorrow is the day of another farewell, she is technically the first female Indonesian student in Korea I knew. During my preparation day, she had helped me a lot, and answered all my annoying questions, while she had her 3 months old baby to take care of. Basically she is a very inspiring woman; a mother, a Phd student, a wife, a big sister to us all, and doing all of those jobs amazingly well. But, for me, there was a certain moment where I feel really grateful that she was there, that she was willing to spend her 20 minutes time with me.

During my first month in Korea, I had a very big problem that made me had to go back to Indonesia. At that time, I felt like I am such a disgrace to all the Indonesian students, I felt like they were all judging me as a-spoiled-new-student-who-come-home-during-her-first-month. I hesitated to tell anyone about my problem. But she asked me, she asked me softly like a mother, “what happened?” Then I told her about all my problems, and she listened… Just another simple act of affection, she listened. It all happened one year ago, and my problems are solved, but I never forget how she listened and just encouraging me, without making any judgement.

I think, these two ladies have a great role in my life to form how I became like I am now. As I grow up and becoming more mature than now, I would always remember their simple acts of affection.

Somehow, to touch someone’s heart is simple, sometimes it’ll cost you nothing, but become a precious gift for the other person.
And don’t forget, some says, you will be remembered to one person, as how you touch his/her heart.

But soon, we will realized that snow is not necessary to enjoy this heavenly festival.

After gathering some friends who are “eager” to see this festival, we went there sometime in mid-january. Getting there from Seoul is a little complicated. After getting to Sangbong station at line 7, transfer to Gyeongchun line that goes to chuncheon, get off at cheongpyong station,exit 1.
right outside gate exit 1, there is a map that shows where the bus terminal is. Take the left to the T, then turn right, at the first intersection take left, go straight until the end where there is a big road , and turn right at that big road. walk about 50m and on our right side we can see the bus terminal (full of buses, won’t miss it). At the terminal, we don’t need ticket ,we just pay on the bus instead, but we need to ask for the bus that goes to sumogkwon (korean name of this garden is 아침고요수목원), the bus departed every 30 minutes, we can ask for the schedule at the ticket box.

Finally, after a bumpy ride inside a fully loaded bus, we arrived at the garden, took about 20 minutes to arrive, with some obstacles like the construction and traffic jam. Along the way, I noticed there were many small cottages for rent, cutely designed…^^ soon after we arrived at the garden, the temperature started to chill us all… it was around 5 pm when we got there. We pay 6000won each person, and got inside the garden.

During the day, nothing is really extraordinary, particularly because of the lack of snow upon the ground. But the brochure has provided us with a map completed with the “main spots” of the light festival. But when the light is all on, all we have to do is just “follow the light….” ^^

The audiences were shouting “ooohhh” when the light shone at the same time, then that garden changed spectacularly.

Some details were also interesting and catchy, although it was full of people, but I managed to have some pictures without them :p

Then in the middle was the “wonderland” of lights ^^ some of my pictures are overexposed, but I still feel satisfied because it need a little effort to hide or climb where the lights were not shadowed by the people.

After staying there for about three hours, we were literally cold feet… ==’ I mean, the wind started to crawl between our boots and feet, that I can’t barely move my foot-thumb. And so, we waited in line for the last bus to arrive…

It was cold, freezing, and full of people, but still it is a recommended place. This festival is held every year, and I think it’s worth to just watch this millions and millions of tiny colourful lights fill your sights.. for a moment, I was lost in space, like I’m not even on earth…just somewhere far away ^^

Ibaratnya, kucing liar kalo diambil, dikasi makan, tempat tidur bagus, tetep aja bakal kabur dan nyolong ikan asin. “Nyaman” untuk tiap orang itu berbeda-beda, that’s why, menurutku jangan pernah menyamakan diri dengan orang lain untuk urusan nyaman, kecuali setelah benar-benar mengenali orang tsb.

Tapi, rasa-rasanya tiap orang pasti mengalami yang namanya keluar dari kerajaan nyamannya. Yaitu saat kita punya tempat tinggal baru, atau pekerjaan baru, atau Ibu baru, atau teman sekamar baru, dsb yang baru- baru lainnya. Dan apakah yang biasanya dirasakan orang-orang ini? Depresi, sedih, galau berat bo. (T :pengalaman pribadi ya? J: Yaiyalah…) Kemana perasaan bahagiaku ini hilang?kenapa rasanya memandang dinding kosong lebih menyenangkan daripada pergi dan bergerak? Haish, ati- ati kalo bengong terus nanti cepet miskin. ==’

Perasaan excited yang kita rasakan waktu menuju sesuatu yang baru, dengan mudah bisa terhisap saat kita sampai. Selalu ada keluhan dan resahan yang ingin dikeluarkan, selalu ada yang salah, selalu ada yang menyebalkan, selalu ada yang ga sesuai…

Well luckily, di tempatku sekarang aku mengenal banyak wanita-wanita perkasa yang memperlakukanku bagai adik perempuan mereka. Tidak lama setelah kedatanganku di kampus ini, seorang kakak berkata “ Bukan pinter yang diperluin disini, tapi ketahanan mental” sesaat aku ngga mengerti apa yang dia bicarakan. Bukankah untuk belajar tentunya pakai otak? Tapi, setelah aku mengalami yang namanya mid-depression syndrome, alias air mata mengalir tanpa sebab di kamar remang-remang (sedih bener, emang) , padahal tidak ada masalah dengan akademisku, aku pun mulai mengerti maksudnya.

Seorang kakak lainnya menasihatiku mengenai hal yang bernama “adaptasi”. Saat bertemu hal yang baru, beradaptasilah, jangan mencari sesuatu yang tidak ada. Saat kita berada di tempat baru misalnya, bukan hanya badan kita yang pindah, tapi jiwa kita juga harus. Dalam artian, sesuaikanlah semuanya, gaya bicara, penampilan, makanan, tingkah laku, pemikiran,di mana kita berpijak. Dia menegaskan sekali lagi “bukan berarti kita kacang lupa kulit, kita pegang semua pendirian kita erat2, tapi pemikiran kita harus sesuai dengan dimana kita berada”

Banyak sekali keluh kesahku yang berputar2 sekitar “koq begini ya, koq gak begitu ya” dan aku tersadar, bahwa itu semua karena aku tidak beradaptasi dengan sekitarku. Benar dan salah itu relative, apa yg menurut kita benar belum tentu benar bagi orang lain, belum tentu benar di tempat kita berdiri sekarang.

Aku pun mengingat quote dari Darwin yang sangat terkenal “’It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change”

Perbedaan antara yang baru dan yang lama, dijadikan bahan obrolan yang menyenangkan saja, tapi jangan dijadikan bahan berkeluh kesah. ^^ Manusia adalah makhluk yang sangat mudah beradaptasi, tentu butuh proses, tapi kalau ada usaha, pasti ada jalan. Being adapted, life is so much easier. ^^

With my sony alpha camera companion, and T-money in my pocket, I am always being fascinated by these parks around Seoul.

They are free to enter, beautifully arranged and easily reach from the subway stations. These are some of the parks I’ve been and what I liked about each.

1. Seoul forest
- ttukseom station line 2 exit 8, about 15 minutes walk.
I visited this park in early summer, when the rain was pouring everyday. I visited this place to escape the gloom of my room as the result of the cloudy sky that day. There were a lot of sights in this place, because it’s quite big and I think it would be an enjoyable walk with someone, holding hands and just talks along the way… ^^ (I held hand with my camera all the time ㅠㅠ). there were the deers, flowers, path, the mirror lake, musical fountain, but I like my encounter with the spider:

It would be nice to come back here on autumn, and taking pictures of that beautiful foliage…^^

2. Children’s Grand Park
- Children’s Grand Park station line 7, exit 1
first thing to be sure, I like this park because you don’t even have to walk when you got out of the station’s exit. ^^ This is another huge park in Seoul. It has an amusement park, several gardens, a big musical fountain, a parrot village, the small river, a zoo, and I felt tired to walk around this park… :p This is the beautiful musical fountain.

I brought my fixed manual lens, so maybe it’s not suitable to shoot the view, but the music and the water were just magical. ^^

Inside the parrot village, you can feed the little parrots from your hand. The children find it amusing and I was there as a total disturbance. “The silly girl with the camera is always on my way, moooom”

I went there at the end of spring, so there weren’t many flowers to see, but I’m curious how the lotus garden will look like when it is on it’s full bloom.. maybe fantastic! ^^

3. Independence Park
-Dongnimmun station line 3 exit 5
Actually this park was just beside the Seodaemun Prison history museum, which was our main destination. But anyway, this small park worth seeing especially because it was in the mid-autumn! ^^

4. Dream forest
-Dolgoji station line 6 exit 3, take bus #147
and when you take the bus, there were no stop for dream forest, but search for “dream land” because dream forest is a new park, built on the land which previously was dream land. nobody inform us about this before, so we were confused to search for the “dream forest” . Walking through the wind at the end of autumn is not NICE. not NICE.
anyway, this new park is big, and still look a little “empty”, but in the middle of the park is an artificial lake, a museum, a cafe and a restaurant.
When I got there, it was already sunset, so what I get was the beautiful sparkling lights.^^ It was nice and when it’s not too cold, I think it would be nice to just sit in the cafe and lay back…

5. Seonyudo Park
-Dangsan Station line 2 exit 1 , Take bus #605, 6623, 6631, 6632, 6633 and get off at Hanshin Apt. Cross over Seonyudo Bridge
This is a small park in the middle of hangang, old, but I like how they arranged it with the little pool, line of trees, the walls with leaves spreading upon them, but most of all, I like the rainbow bridge.

When we got here, there were like groups of photographers, so I was assured this park consists of attractive objects in Seoul, especially the bridge, and the spectacular night view from the side of the bridge.

Besides these parks, I went to the world cup stadium’s park (one of them, Haneul Park) when it’s time for the Eulalia festival… it was beautiful and recommended for everyone who happens to be in Seoul around the time of this festival (usually October to November). The colorful laser falls upon the silver grass… ^^ it was wonderful.

There are still so many parks around Seoul, I am so addicted to this kind of place, even when we had a conference in Incheon, I visited one of the nearest park to the conference building. still, the search continues… ^^

Damn. I am a person who gives other people what I like, not what they like, or what they need. But then I also start to remember that I received several presents from people, which I never like, not even suit me. So I just wonder, whether most people actually tend to give something that they like? But not what the receiver’s need?

Well, maybe if I am in my positive side and try to defend the giver, it is because they just give what they think is best. Some quotes or self-motivated book usually say that It is satisfying when we are giving, the true happiness lays in giving… blabla. Yeah, I don’t think that is wrong. But isn’t it the happy faces of the people we give to that makes us happy? Personally, I don’t want they just pretend that they happy because they don’t want to hurt my feelings.

You know what? I think the reason that I could grow up so happily, is because my parents always give me what I NEED, not what they like. When I was 10, they presented me with video game, SEGA at that time. This is, of course, not something they like me to do, but they know that I need to be responsible for everything. By giving me the game, they made me happy and in other side, taught me to be responsible. They didn’t lock the game, no rules, I can play anytime. But I paid them back, I stayed at top 5 of my elementary class until I graduated.

Yeah I need to grow up, and stop giving people things they nor need neither like, If I ever going to write a card “dear….” I just have to make sure that this is something that will make them smile, full heartedly.
Then I suggest to my friend to give the friend of hers a self-motivated book, because maybe that what he likes as a present, since he gave her one. 

We never had snow in Indonesia, neither we can decorate outside of our home like in movies, or doing some Christmas shopping, no Santa Claus in front of shops, no amazing lights and big Christmas trees. It has been in my mind forever, that Christmas SHOULD BE celebrated in one of the four-season country, where snow falls and I can put on my winter coat and boots. But, just this Christmas I felt it, that all those things don’t matter for me…

Every year, I decorate our home with the 25 years old Christmas Tree, put the lights and cotton to make it looks like snowing. In my childhood days, me and my sister would put our shoes filled with grass under our beds, and in the morning the grass will be gone, exchange with a present. Present from Santa Claus.
Then on Christmas eve we will cook the ‘special’ dinner. sometimes it’s Chinese food, Japanese food, nothing really related to Christmas actually.
Then these few years, the big family always go on vacation together, mostly to the resorts where we can just sit down, chatting, eating, and singing our voice out. And most of all, laughing and laughing.

When I came to think about those things, what really matters for me on Christmas day is my beloved ones. How we spent our time together, laughing, although we are nowhere near snows and big Christmas trees.

A few days ago, I was really sick and couldn’t get off my bed, although I feel really hungry. I had a severe stomachache. But then, A package arrive, like a very big present covered with Christmas wrapping. It was Christmas present from my family. I opened and every piece of present make my heart felt warmer and warmer. It was a combination of my favorite snacks, food, medicine, a little wooden tree, and handmade scarf. For a moment I felt like I’m back in my home, decorating my old Christmas tree…

I am going to spend this Christmas without my family. No doubt. At least I already realized, that all these years, I have been wrong. The Christmas I spent with my family is nowhere near ‘ordinary’ or ‘boring’, in fact, it was a really extraordinary Christmas. Because it is not the snow, nor the lights from Christmas tree which make Christmas special, but it’s who you are with.

So I would like to say to my beloved ones, An extraordinary Merry Christmas!! ^^

Outstanding and praised for it’s natural beauty of autumn, Seoraksan (Mt. Seorak) is definitely our first choice. Getting there from Seoul is quite easy actually, what is hard was to find companions who are willing to travel for approximately 4 hrs, back and forth in one day. in total it was around 7 hours on the road. well was it worth? you never know until you try. Never judge anything by other people’s experience, a Japanese Idol named Imai Tsubasa once said during his interview, “An art and a rubbish could only be distinguish by your own eye.”

And SO, I have to say, I agree with those people. Seoraksan was a mountain so beautiful, gold and red and full of autumn spirit that I have never experienced before.

Seoraksan is located in Sokcho-si, So we have to take bus from Dong Seoul Station, located just in front of Gangbyeon Station line 2-exit 4. We can either reserved or buy the ticket directly, we bought it directly. the first bus depart at 6:25, which we managed to ride. the cost was 16100 won and it takes only 2 and a half hour to get to Sokcho. Then we took the bus #7, got off at the last stop, where the crowd is moving one direction, to the mountain.

I traveled along with three powerful and cheerful girls, we smiled and laughed and talked all the way. We enter in such a crowd at Singheunsa temple, pay 2500 won to enter and the open field with mapple trees after the entrance is like paying for everything. At first, we wanted to take the cable car but we have to wait for 5 hours, so we cancelled. This is so regretful, since we know that actually the track could be completed in around 4-5 hours, so actually we can buy the ticket, going trekking and go back to the cable car station to ride. When you already buy the ticket, you don’t have to line up. But anyway, we didn’t buy it. >.<

There were 3 roads that we could take, one leads to Biryong falls, one to Biseondae and Cave, another one to Ulsanbawi. They have a very accurate map for these tracks, showing the difficulty of every road. We were lack of confidence, hence, we chose track to Biryong Falls. This is a very easy track, we were going inside a valley instead of going up on a mountain. But the view was still outstanding.
Seeing that many infants were there, and some hard-core aunties are running instead of walking, we know and we feel ashamed of ourself to take this easiest road. However, the way back could be quite slippery so after all we have to be careful, still.

I ate bibimbap on one of the shop at the track, it costs 7000, without any meat, but the taste was superb! the mushroom tasted really fresh. ^^ And then along the road we found that there were more and more beautiful scenery. and also more and more ahjumma(Korean aunties).

Once we reach the valley, the scenery began to be pinky orange, red, and yellow… and it was the most beautiful trees I ever seen, the colour was really new to my eyes, since I grew up in tropical country where the tree are mostly green. Then beside us along the way is the small river which eventually turns bigger and the top of it is the Biryong falls.

And we went back at 3:30 pm to the sokcho station by taxi, since the line for bus was terribly long. Then, to our most horror is that there were no seats in bus to Seoul until 7:30 pm. Ye ye, we forgot to buy our tickets back home earlier. Supposedly, we already bought the tickets to Seoul when we first reach the Sokcho station. Although almost cried, but we bought that 7:30 tickets and went for a walk down the Sokcho town.

Sokcho town was very quiet and small, it was near the beach. We headed to the sea in order to find some beautiful scenery, and soon, we smiled happily again after we found these grilled fish. Ate it fresh, beside the harbour sea..

Then we wandered around the harbour, found some nice places and heading back to Seoul.

For me who has never experienced autumn before, this journey was fascinating, and I slept all the way to Seoul…

My roommate suggested us to go to Namiseom, Nami Island, located in Chuncheon, a city just near to Seoul. Then this place turns out to be my recommended place to see if you ever been in Seoul. Maybe not everyone agreed, but with my everyday routine and empty hearted loneliness in Seoul, this place kinda warm me up. LOL.

We went by subway, easy enough to get there. Transfer to Line 7 , and transfer again in Sangbong Station, and get on the train which headed to Chuncheon, Gyeongchun line (around 4000 won), and within 50 minutes, we have arrived at Gapyeong Station, But this ride was very enjoyable because of the beatiful scenery surrounding the railway. ^^ On Gapyeong station, we have to take a taxi, it was a little bit rain and cold when we get there. But I supposed maybe it’s colder than Seoul, since it was on the countryside.
The taxi driver is very ‘knowledgable’ about namiseom, he started speeding the car just right after we spoke the word “nami-” (-.-). only 3 minutes of fast and furious ride to get there. (3000 won rides)

First get off, in the parking line we can see the “gigantic” flying fox which will take us directly to the nami island, crossing the lake. but unfortunately the price was really high, and I decided just to take the ferry…
Costs 8000 won, and we got our visa into the island. The ferry rides for about 10 minutes, and we arrived, followed by a small rain.

Nami Island or Namihara Republic, is the island famous for being the setting place for “winter sonata” drama, around 10 years ago. But Eventhough I didn’t watch any episode fully, I still can feel the heartwarming paths of Namiseom. ^^

After walking through beautiful paths, the we arrived at the infamous namiseom’s line of trees. ^^ then we took so many pictures, since this place is so beatiful and memorable. We also ate our lunch box that we brought from home, it was tasted really good, eating good food in the side of the line of trees…

Actually we can rent bikes, or somewhat couple-bycycle thing, but we decided just to walk and enjoy the scenery. There are also a lot of restaurant in this island, do not need to worry about food. snacks, ice cream in reasonable price also sold here. They even have one restaurant which has a ‘halal’ certificate. ^^

When we got out of Namiseom, it was raining a little heavy, and we cancelled our plan to go to petite france, actually just around namiseom and only take 1 bus ride (costs around 2000won). Because of the long line waited for the taxi, we took a bus to Gapyeong station, actually cost the same with the taxi, but it was faster because we don’t have to wait.

We got home very tired, but happy and we still wanted to visit there again in autumn, or maybe winter, to gain different feel of this beautiful island.

At Chonggyechon, Seoul, Summer 2011
Hey boys, kenapa ya kalian susah sekali untuk memulai obrolan dengan ayah kalian?^.~ sementara si anak cewek bisa bergosip berjam-jam dengan ibu mereka… mungkin saat beranjak dewasa, seorang anak laki-laki menjadi laki-laki yang menanggap atau dianggap “setara” dengan ayah mereka. Lalu mereka mulai malas bicara satu sama lain karena tidak ada yang mau mengalah. Ahh.. whatever, laki-laki itu complicated kalau soal bicara. Tinggal omong aja, gampang kan? sebagai seorang cewek aku bisa bilang begitu. ^o^

Tapi saat melihat anak laki-laki kecil digendong, dipangku, dan digandeng oleh ayah mereka, betapa senang keduanya dan betapa mengalahnya keduanya pada satu sama lain.
Si Ayah: “Kamu kangen Ayah kan? Ayah juga kangen kamu”
Si anak :” Ayah kenapa kerjanya lama… AKu udah gak sabar main sama Ayah”
…20 tahun kemudian..
Si Ayah :” Pulang jam segini lagi”
Si anak :” Ayah ribut banget… Aku udah gak sabar mau punya rumah sendiri”
….. time changes, but I’m sure the love is still the same… ^.~

He’s The Second Elephant, always try to look ahead.
Pernah dengar di suatu film, perumpamaan tentang anjing-anjing penarik kereta salju, jenis siberian huskey ini biasanya menarik kereta salju dalam bentuk suatu barisan. Kemudian seseorang mengumpamakan mereka ” Got to look at another dog’s ass unless you are the lead dog”. bebas diartikan.
Kita hidup pun mungkin juga begitu, terus setia dalam barisan… tapi aku pribadi, menyatakan bahwa tidak ada yang salah menjadi si gajah kedua. Kadang sangat menyebalkan melihat orang-orang yang terlalu ambisius untuk menjadi yang “terdepan”, “pemimpin”, buatku kita semua adalah pemimpin bagi diri kita sendiri. Menjadi si gajah terdepan memang berarti punya pandangan yang lebih luas, tapi sebagai gajah kedua, aku bisa mengintip ke depan, sambil membisiki gajah pertama apa yang dikatakan gajah ketiga dan keempat, supaya selain memimpin jalannya barisan, gajah pertama juga bisa tahu apa yang dirasakan pengikutnya.

Well, gajah-gajah pertama, memang betul bahwa mencapai tujuan dengan membawa barisanmu adalah tanggung jawabmu, tapi jangan lupa buka kuping lebar-lebar untuk mendengarkan bisikan si gajah di belakangmu.