1130, 5 May 2006 :: The Weirdest Body ScrubOn every product of Skinfood, it says:
FOOD THERAPY
Special food for the skin to eat.
Contains lots of nutritive and energetic
ingredients such as fresh plants,
fruits and etc. to maintain our bodies
healthy and lively.Skinfood has the weirdest products ever!! I just had a shower with a sample of their 'Coffee Body Scrub' and it has left me smelling like a mug of mocha. It's so weird...the scrub had like granules of coffee beans which felt extremely rough on the skin. However, apparently
"This body scrub combines natural exfoliating agents such as coffee, sugar, salt that remove dry skin, increase circulatio and leave your body soft and smooth."The Verdict: It actually does what it says! My skin felt smooth and soft after the shower. Interesting. However, a consequence is that you'd attract coffeeholics!
Other samples I've tried is the 'Black Sugar Mask',
a nourishing mask with an intense conditioning action, delivering the perfecting properties of real black sugar. It revitalises and firms up tired, dull, dehydrated skin.The Verdict: I can't remember that it does all that. All I remember was that it felt extremely sticky and rough on my face because of all the black sugar crystals, I couldn't wait to wash it off.
Another sample I quite like is their 'Black Sesame Hot Mask' which
opens up pores with a warm heat of salt and sugar power and eliminates waste matierial in a rough skin affected by the accumulated keratin. (Uh-huh whatever.)
It provides an amazing silkiness to skin with nourishing black sesame extract.The Verdict: Our of all the wash-off face masks I've tried, this one feels rather good. It's not rough and it feels refreshing after.
Another sample I've been given that I've yet to try is the 'Hop Beer Hair Wash'. The WHAT? BEER? Uh huh. The 'Hop Beer Hair Wash'.
Good for all hair types, this new shampoo rids hair of product buildup environmental impurities. Hop Beer Hair Wash clears and clarifies the hair while Beer, Copper peptide, Vitamin-H and Herbal Extracts nourish and protect it.Who knew Beer would be good for you!
0430, 6 May 2006 :: My many 'Firsts'Today is my first time for many first times. And I have to report about it at this ghastly hour.
The day started out at around 12.30pm when I met Irene and Lydia at the bottom of my apartment. It was the FIRST time I wore my black and white poker dotted tie that I bought a couple of days ago. I had on my black, rather dressy yet funky skirt, dressed it down with a plain white T and threw on my tie for added effect.
We went to Sinchon and met 2 new students who just joined WorldLink Education this month - Misada and Jae. It's my FIRST time meeting them. Misada is a Japanese woman in her 50s who loves Korean dramas. Jae is from America, he's mixed with Mexican and Korean blood and has relatives here in Korea. Jae is claustrophobic and doesn't like small spaces like the subway or a small room. It's also my FIRST time meeting a person who suffers from claustrobia.
We had lunch, met Muji and then headed over to Ab Gu Jung - another big city in Seoul where the rich hangs out. It's my FIRST time going to Ab Gu Jung and it was rather interesting. Muji and Irene didn't join us though, spilting from us to watch a movie and do some shopping. But Lydiya from Bulgaria joined us instead. We walked down through this area called Rodeo - I think they are trying to copy America's Rodeo Drive which serves the rich. However, it is not entire upmarket shops. Yes, there was the BMW Lifestyle shop which sold everything for BMW lovers from toy cars for their toddlers to BMW branded mountain bikes for those who doesn't like driving?? There was also a 2 storey high
D&G store with another 2 storey high
Toni & Guy store above it. However, there were also many other less classy shops so it wasn't entirely Rodeo Drive like.
Oh and I also saw my FIRST rotating car park!!
After that, we walked past this famous gym called
California Wow where many famous celebrities (Korean actors and singers) go for their work out. We didn't see any famous people walk out of the gym, but we were told not to take photos when though we were only taking photos from the outside. That was my FIRST time being told not to take photos.
Then, we went to The Coffee Bean and relaxed while we graded the many Korean guys who entered and exited the bar. Ab Gu Jung's general public are much more well dressed than the other cities in Seoul. You can actually tell the difference. More people dress up to go out and most of them look rather stylish and classy - or rather they try to be. I actually like it. It's my FIRST time in Korea to see so many well dressed pleasant to good looking Korean guys - usually that's seldom seen on the streets but in Ab Gu Jung, in that cafe beside the gym, there were plent of 'eye candy'.
After that, we headed back through Rodeo to Galleria, where the most expensive shops are located. This is the FIRST time I've seen 'MANOLA BLANHCs' and touched 'JIMMY CHOOs'. Here's a pic of Jae, Me in my new tie, Lydiya and Misada in front of Galleria.
However, I prefer Galleria at night, it's so much prettier and here's why:
The entire building lights up in multicolours with ever-changing patterns on the walls. It's beautiful! This is a FIRST for me too.
After that, we headed back to City Hall, stopping by the HiSeoul Festival to join in the crowd for a song performance on stage before heading for dinner.
We had fish for dinner. It's not my FIRST to have that sort of fish since my host mum cooks it often in the mornings, but it's my FIRST eating at that particular restaurant. Honey joined us at the restaurant as well. Honey is a new student with Worldlink. She's mixed with German and Korean, but she looks a lot more European than Asian. It's also my FIRST to meet her.
Lydiya and Misada left after dinner while the 4 of us headed back to HungDae and found ourselves at the Ho Bar while we waited for Irene and Muji.
I had a non-alcoholic cocktail called 'Cinderella Complex' and I reckon it should be called 'Sweet Cinderella' instead. It's definitely a princess drink, but it's so sweet, I had to drown it with some water.
Honey's cousin, a DJ at a club in HungDae met us at the bar, taking Honey and Jae to his club. Lydia and I stayed to wait for Irene and Muji who didn't arrive too long later with Sean.
When they arrived, we headed straight to Q.Vo, Irene's favourite club. Yes, I went clubbing again. However, this time I made sure I enjoyed myself - i.e. no aimless self-conscious dancing involved. Plus, I had company. While Irene and Muji went to join the dance crowd, Lydia, Sean and I stood by the bar. That was definitely more fun! Sean loosened up after several glasses of Gin and Tonic - according to Muji, he had several bottles of Sake during dinner just before they met us - and he started bobbing a little and chatting a little more. He told me he liked my tie and I took it off and let him try it on. I didn't know how to tie my tie right (it was obviously wrong) and he showed me how it's done, and I never got my tie back...he wore it the whole whlie. When he loosened up, he joined Irene on the dance floor while Lydia and I stood by the bar. I only drank Ice Tea (see dad, I'm laying off on the alcohol).
They rejoined us after a dance or two and rested for a while. Irene headed back onto the dance floor while Sean stayed to chat with us. He was getting quite chatty - definitely getting quite high and it was kinda fun coz he wasn't so serious anymore.
At 2.30am, we left the bar. Time didn't seem to drag as long as the last time I was in the club. Probably coz this time around, I'm not doing something I feel uncomfortably with - dancing. Apparently after drinking or clubbing, it's Korean tradition to have another round of soju and some pork bones spicy soup so we headed to a nearby restaurant.
I didn't like the soju so I only sipped on it when we did the cheers. Sean was definitely getting a high on alcohol as he was talking quite loudly in English. However, something happened. The shop owner came over to tell us (namely Sean) to lower his volume, saying another customer at the other table said he was too noisey. Sean, being high, wasn't very pleased and started saying something loudly in Korean, which I think if I'm not wrong, it's saying, "Who said that? I'm too noisey?"
When 2 guys look at each other across the restaurant and get up from their seats, you know it's NOT GOOD! This felt like my FIRST soon to be fight. Irene, Muji and I were sitting in suspense while Lydia seemed perfectly fine, reassuring us as we watched both guys walk towards each other in the middle of the restaurant. They started talking. The girlfriend of the other guy tried to call her 'Oppa' to calm down but both guys were clearly not listening. After talking for a while inside the restaurant, they took the conversation outside. This was when we started to fear. Lydia reassured us that Sean knows what he's doing. We were skeptical. Both guys stood outside the restaurant at the door and talked...and talked...and talked. Hand movements were seen, typical body conversing language, but they were still talking. Nothing seemed to happen. Lydia reassured that Sean wouldn't get into a fight. The longer they seemed to talk, the more uneasy I felt. Finally, I saw a little nod from Sean to the other guy, perhaps a 'Okay', perhaps a 'Sorry' but from Sean, I doubt it'll be a 'Sorry' since even Lydia thinks it's not our mistake to talk loudly. The girlfriend of the other guy, perhaps getting as anxious as us got up and went out to tell them to quit it. They were breaking up anyway so everyone returned to their seats. A fight avoided. That was my FIRST close encounter to a near fight and it was scary and exciting at the same time.
When Sean came back to sit, he wasn't too happy and despite our 'SHHH' and 'Softer' warnings, he went on about how he could kick that guy's arse, saying that he can beat anyone smaller than him (the guy was only centimeters shorter than Sean). Lydia poured another glass of soju for Sean (!!!!) and they drank up, refilled their glasses and drank up again. My goodness! You'd think Lydia would slow down the alcohol intake!! Irene, Muji and I could only watch in suspense - a fight could happen anytime if Sean gets any drunker and louder.
Lydia's sister and friend (who were out drinking and getting drunk in Sinchon) joined us in HungDae for another round of drinks. This was disastrous. Lydia assured us that with her sister around, she feels safer coz her sister is one of the best fighters around. Apparently she's got some 4th level belt in Taekwondo or something like that. That's not good! Then Lydia said that one thing about her sister is that she gets angry easily as well. OH NO NO NO! Lydia filled her sister in on what almost happened and her sister reacted like Sean did and we had to SHHH her down. Lydia's sister and friend were quite high to begin with and now with more alcohol, they were talking loudly and we had to tell them several times to lower their volume. Lydia started hitting her sis and her sis' friend on the head (like you see in Korean dramas) because apparently they were not being respectful to Sean. And when Lydia's sis made too much noise, she'd hit her as well. Lydia was getting a little high as well, we could clearly see! Irene, Muji and I felt like an audience to a Korean drama.
We knew Sean was definitely drunk when he turned to me and started babbling in Korean. When I told him to speak in English, he couldn't even explain himself!!! GOODNESS. He was that drunk!! He couldn't even hold his cup upright, dripping soju on his pants and getting it onto his sleves. This is the point where Irene and I can't stand about Korean guys. When they are still high and know they are getting drunk, they don't know when it is to exert some self control and lay off for a while. They keep drinking.
Finally, Lydia's brother finished work and came to pick us in the car. Here's the 3 silblings at the restaurant having a discussion as to who should go home first because the car isn't big enough to fit everyone in. It's my FIRST time seeing the 3 of them together and I couldnt' resist a photo moment.
When it was all settled and the bill was paid, we had to literally drag Sean out of the restaurant because when we all left the restaurant thinking he'd follow, he went back to sit down with Lydia's sis and friend who were going to find their own way home. Finally, everyone was in the car and Brian drove off. We actually feel bad for Brian because we had to trouble him to send all these drunkards home. Brian was the most sober one that night and the most responsible one. And that's also the FIRST I've seen of him being so responsible. Hee hee.
I was the FIRST to reach home. And probably the LAST to sleep since I'm still awake blogging when Mr Sunshine has awaken. Good morning and good night everyone!
P.S. Sean still has my tie!! I guess that was the FIRST and LAST time I'm ever going to see it! SOB!
3.45pm, 6 May 2006 :: What did we eat wrong?My tummy is feeling bad again. These past few days, my tummy hasn't been to well. And I found out, it wasn't only my tummy. Irene's as well. We've narrowed it down to the oysters we had last Sunday night at the restaurant where I saw two rats. Ever since that day, both our tummies have been playing up.
Just the other day - I think it was Thursday, I was feeling so tired, I didn't wake till 11.30am, and went for only one class from 3 to 5pm. For that couple of hours I was out of bed, I just felt so weak and very faintish, like I could collaspe anytime. My body just felt very very weird. I can't explain it. I didn't even join Min Hee and the others after class for the Hi Seoul Festival just because I felt so weak. I went straight home and slept the evening away.
The weirdest thing...for the entire day, my right eye had a double eye lid that wouldn't go away. It was weird. I usually have single eye lid and sometimes, I can call my double eye lids on demand but that's only for seconds and then it'd disappear. But that Thursday, for the entire day I was up and about, my right eye had a double eye lid! On top of feeling weird, I looked weird - one eye was prettier and bigger than the other!
0000, 7 May 2006 :: Before MidnightWow...this is the first time in quite a while that I'm home before midnight! Yikes...when I got home at around 11.40pm just now, my host mum said I was home early. HAHA. (Oops - I shouldn't be laughing)
Anyway...reporting on today, I walked in the rain and wind to catch a bus to Sinchon this morning at around 12.30pm. I was meeting Irene at Sinchon and together, we'd go check into her Holiday Inn hotel. She's moving out of her host family's place because her husband was flying into Seoul today.
On my walk to the bus stop, I went into Krispy Kreme and treated myself to two donuts - one free, the other not.
Irene's host family gave us a lift to the hotel. I got to meet her adorable host siblings aged 6 and 9. They were adorable. They would really miss her company, though Irene wouldn't miss her host dad's company at all. He's a typical Korean man, always wanting to dominate.
I helped Irene with her bags and we headed to the front desk to check in. The lady at the front desk double checked that we wanted a double bed instead of a twin. Then another guy came along to help and reconfirmed that we wanted a double bed, and when we said yes, he had this sort of funny look, like semi-laughing at us.
I realised what they could have been thinking - lesbians sleeping together! WHAT A JOKE!!! Irene and I had a good laugh when we got to the room.
After getting settled, Irene and I went down to the hotel cafe for lunch. Because our tummies still weren't up to it, we had soup and bread. Then Irene split from me to go to the airport to pick her husband up and I went home, writing a short blog entry. Not long after, Lydia rang me and asked me if I wanted to join her mother, sister and her shopping and I said yes since I didn't have anything to do.
We initially wanted to go to E-Mart, this big megamart, but the queue to the carpark was so long, we decided to go elsewhere, and we ended up taking a long drive. I was too tired and fell asleep in the car. We finally arrived at Lotte Mart which was, in the end, quite near our place. We went on a big detour just to return to a place near our house. They did some grocery shopping because Lydia's sister was returning to Dubai (she's a flight attendent living in Dubai) tonight and wanted to buy Kim Chi and the lot.
We also had a mini sushi dinner before heading home. I got home before 8pm but I was too tired to meet Irene, her husband, and Muji for dinner at 8pm, so I told them I'd meet them later and went to sleep for an hour, waking up at 9pm by Irene's message to meet in half an hour. I got dressed and went out to meet them. I finally got to meet Andy - Irene's husband. She kept talking about him in the past month (actually, complaining is a more appropriate term but I think she just missed him) and so its good to finally put a face to the famous name. And he was so not what she described. She said he was short and fat and it turns out he's none of that. I guess she just said that so we'd get a 'short and fat' impression so when we see the real deal, he would look 'slim'. Haha.
Anyway...we went to Ho Bar (again - second night in a row) and had drinks and some food there since I was a little hungry and now, I'm back home. We decided to get some beauty sleep instead of another late night of clubbing. But this time, I held firm, saying that if they went clubbing, I wouldn't join them.
Oh...news flash...last night, apparently Lydia and Sean went back to join her sister and her friend at the restaurant for more drinks and guess what? They got so drunk, they didn't even know how they got kicked down to the basement table and chairs where no other customers was coz they were making so much noise. I'm so glad I wasn't with them - it would have been so embarrassing.
2330, 7 May 2006 :: Today's Weather ReportToday weather was beautiful! It was so warm, perhaps too warm but it was gorgeous. I met Irene and Andy at Sinchon and we went for lunch, followed by a nice cold ice cream to cool us down. We walked around before heading back to Irene's hotel. She needed to drop more luggages off at Lydia's so we went back to pick up her luggage before catching a cab to Lydia's.
We chilled at Lydia's place for a while before going back out to the Ginseng Chicken place for dinner. I had this spicy fish this time around.
After dinner, we walked to City Hall for the Hi Seoul Festival Concert. Along the way, we walked past a street side art gallery...
Joined other Koreans sitting on the steps who looked like they didn't have anything to do...
And we walked past somebody's house...
We watched a little bit of the Hi Seoul Festival Concert but it wasn't impressive so we left for Myeong Dong.
Along the way, Bae Yung Jun (I don't even know how to spell his name but he's the lead actor from Winter Sonata) proposed to me...
And we lost ourselves in someone's garden...
We finally got to Myeong Dong for drinks and cakes at this nice cafe. Irene wanted this particular 'Green Tea Chocolate Banana Cake' from O'Sulloc Tea House.
Here's me with our GREEN drinks:
The shop specialises in green tea drinks and cakes. I'm not a big fan of green tea so I ordered one that looked like it didn't have as much green tea in it - an Ice Green Orange for drinks and Green Fresh Chocolates which is brown chocolate cubes dusted with some green tea flakes on top.
After that, we left for home. It's parents day tomorrow as well so I bought some snacks for my host parents. Usually, they buy red carnations but I'll leave that up to Hee Jin or Nam Shik to get his parents flowers.
0001, 8 May 2006 :: I'm good at thatDon't you hate a person who double book appointments and cancel on you at the last minute?
Yep, I hate myself for being that. I find in Korea, I'm so busy, I have to cancel on people sometimes, but the worse part is when I have 2 appointments that I have promised to go and want to go and have to cancel on one. I hate being caught in the middle. I hate having to make such a decision. And I hate making that phone call.
My Side Of The Story:
2 weeks ago when I went out with Victoria and her friends, she mentioned her university's festival and asked if I want to go. Naturally, I agreed - it would be cool because some celebrities would be there as well to perform some songs. So she said she would buy the ticket for me and casually mentioned the date of the festival: 8th May.
Over this last weekend, Muji and I made plans to go to Everland, this big theme park an hours drive out of Seoul. Being busy on Tuesday and possibly on Wednesday as well, I made plans to go Everland on Monday (tomorrow) with Muji and Brian, our driver.
I completely forgot about the appointment with Victoria since it was 2 weeks ago that she mentioned it and I wasn't reminded of it, until she messaged me a couple of hours ago to arrange a meeting time. And then she rang me. Having not heard my phone's incoming message tone, I didn't get a chance to read the message and answered the call.
On the spot, I had to make the decision. I thought, perhaps I can make it to both so I agreed to meet victoria, telling her I'd leave Everland early and make it to Sinchon. When I told Lydia about my situation, Lydia said I would have to leave at around 4.30pm but she was a little worried about me because Everland is not in Seoul so transportation isn't as easy. I have searched the net before and I thought it wasn't too difficult to get to and from Everland, but Lydia explained that travelling at that time isn't good because of the unpredictable traffic. Plus, we'd be arriving at around noon so staying here for only 4 and a half hours wasn't worth it because if there's a queue to each ride, I'd probably only get to go on 4 rides. I was okay with that but it would be rush for me. Thinking hard and considering the situation...I would be very very busy the next few weeks because private lessons start this week so this is really my only time to go to Everland. Victoria would definitely be going with other friends so she wouldn't be alone. I'd just pay her for the ticket and treat her to a good dinner. Though it would be cool to meet Victoria's friends, it could end up weird like the last time I went out with that big bunch of strangers. But I didn't want to break my promise to her. I didn't want to be the bad guy. But then cancelling on Muji would also make me be a bad guy, plus we've already arranged with Brian and he's free on Monday to take us there. Lydia did suggest that Brian could be free on Wednesday so perhaps I can reschedule with Muji, but the problem was Muji's phone was turned off so I couldn't reach her.
WHY AM I SO BUSY??!!
Finally, I made my decision and made the call.
