Prior to departure I had little doubt about Malaysia as place for Honeymoon, but I am really thankful to Dirk, Marc and Xander (UnitedStyles) who not only recommended but also sponsored out trip.

Since we were getting sick of city life, we planned to stay in island for one full week, just living in nature. We chose Langkawi, 30 km off the mainland coast of northwestern Malaysia, duty-free island. Moment we landed in Langkawi, we fell in love in first sight start from the airport. Both of us have never seen palm trees forest matching with beautiful light blue sky. Moreover resort was even better than we expected that gave impression no need to leave the resort for rest of the staying.

@ Mutiara Resort

Our original plan for this holiday was to EAT, SLEEP, SWIM and READ. However on the First day, 3 hours of lying under the sun and reading few chapters of the book we already started to feel uncomfortable. We realized that we are too active couple to just lie under the sun. At least one activity was carried every day such as Mangrove tour, snorkeling, riding cable car, visiting night market and drive around the island.

Snorkeling @ Coral Island 'Thank God I am alive!!'

Mangrove Tour: Eagle feeding, bet cave, fish farm e.t.c

people are very kind and easy going, loved that they always smile and greet to us. Every night we enjoyed nice cocktail on the beach bar then waiter would dance with live music with guests. It was very relaxing time in Langkawi. It could not been better than this.

@Seashell Bar

Religion culture was bit shock for me in Malaysia. About 60% of the population has Islam as religion in Malaysia. Especially in Langkawi, people seem to be more serious on their religion than capital, Kuala Lampur. In the Average temperature of 32 degrees Celsius with sunny, hot and humid tropical climate, I was just amazed to see women wearing black burqa covering whole of their body except eyes. Even at beach people would wear it and one time when my husband was taking photo of me with bikini, they hurriedly left the place with little dirty look. At some point, I felt I should cover up little bit for the respect but it was way too hot plus it way my honeymoon! Another interesting part of culture here was that, they like trends in western part of the world yet would filter or mute the sound in radio or TV.

Whenever I heard some people would work hard for 6 months and spend it all on their holiday, I never understood why. Not that we spent all the money on this trip (that would be problematic!) but I finally understood the concept of real holiday. After one week of relaxing and treating myself, I feel charged fully and can be burnt till next holiday.

Some Tips of LANGKAWI~

1. Car renting: Renting a car is really cheap (also Petrol)! We got small car 250RM for 7days

2. Wild Animal : 10min later we arrived in Langkawi we immediately saw monkey and buffalo on the road. Resort manager told us not to leave room door open. Otherwise Monkeys will eat all of mini bar food!!! @ Langkawi also Snake, Lizard, Gekko, Wild pig you name it OH! Do bring anti-mosquito spray!

So I decided to go to flower market, perfect place to feel spring. Plus last Christmas I got mustard & watercress and tulip bulbs from Holland as presents. So I had to find pot and soil.

Hongqiao Flower Market

718 Hongjing Lu, near Hongsong Lu -虹井路718号, 近红松路

So I head to Hongqiao flower market, which was about 20 min cycle distance from my house. Last time we went there too that could not see much, so today I decided to take my time to look around.

Flower market was busy as valentines day is coming, lots of roses in different colors, little teddy bears for decorations and colorful wrapping papers were being prepared in the market. I guess these flowers will be delivered all over the Shanghai, ready to make lucky girls in Shanghai smile and happy.

‘Who will be my owner?’

Surprisingly, this place was more than a flower market. There was also place to  sell fish and handicrafts behind the flower market. All the nice tea pots, antique furniture, western kitchen supplies and Arts & paintings  can be found here. Actually this place had more foreigners shopping than Chinese people.

Found typical dutch pot in China. Cheaper in China of course!

Can find lots of house decoration stuff here!

Bit pricey but still cheaper than western standard

After wondering around, I finally bought soil, pot and little spade. I find it bit ridiculous to buy bag of soil for 10RMB, but had no choice, since it’s easy to find asphalt road than soil road.

On my way out, beautiful flowers caught my eyes. ‘Oh! Spring has arrived!’ And just like that, I bought 6 new flowers, hoping that this time, flower would survive.  To be honest, I have minus hand when it comes to plant but since my husband have plus hand, I am hanging on to him. And what the heck, it makes me happy and smile just by looking at it.

Our little spring garden

‘Why not? It would make nice soybean soup’

Soybean soup and Kimchi soup is Korean’s most loved and basic soup.

The key of Soybean soup is definitely soybean paste. Of course house made soybean paste would be great ones at the supermarket is also good enough looks like —–>

Ingredients: Water, Soybean Paste (Doenjang-된장) 1 spoon, 1 Potato, half green (young) pumpkin, half onion, little bit of crushed garlic , Tofu, palmful of  clam, mushrooms.

1. Put water in the pot. I used water from washing rice since it would add more taste. (for avoid impurities, wash rice 2 times and use 3^rd washed water)

If you do not want to use rice water, just use clean water. Add kelp (다시마 Dashima) and Dry anchovy (국물용 멸치)and boil then take them out.

2. Boil water and add palmful of calm.

Tip: before cooking, for about 3 hours at least put clam in water with lots of salt. After few hour calm would spit out all the impurities and sands. Then clean the shell with brush hard.

3. Once it’s boiling skim off the foam and adds one spoon of soybean paste. Gently melt the soybean paste.

4. Then add rest of the vegetables and crushed garlic.

Start with hard vegetable like potato and slowly add soft ones. Tofu and Enokitake mushroom should get in the pot in the last (FYI: my order was Potato-> pumpkin -> Onion -> mushroom -> Tofu)

Since Soybean is salty, usually salt is not necessary to add but if you still want more taste, you can add little tea spoon of beef seasoning (Korean MSG) ‘다시다-Dashida’

5. Done!! Enjoy eating!!

There are lots of ways to make soybean paste soup. basically what you want to put in will be your master piece.

To celebrate out reunion, we went to Boudin to eat sourdough bread, also called Original San Francisco Sourdough French Bread. It was established in 1849 by Isidore Boudin from France. I always loved cream soup in bread, and one of local told me this is original place for this specific food.

At the store, you can watch how does bread being made as well as buy it. (There are also bread that have sea animal figure!) 1^st floor you can buy Sourdough bread with cream soup with $8 but if you go to 2^nd level (restaurant) it is almost double price ($13) but comes with good service.

Once again, the bread looked small, so I ordered one  for myself, but quantity was too much. I could only finish the soup and brought bread back home. (I really think American have big stomach) From now on, i am going to buy one food and share with my mom in order to save some food waste as well as money

Anyway as you can guess form the name, Sourdough bread, taste little sour as if bread went bit bad, but they explained that it has strong taste of yeast. Food is great and I strongly recommend to try this.

Since we have a car, we decided to see Golden Gate Bridge. Of course it is possible to go to Golden Gate Bridge either by walking or biking but if want to see real fantastic view, car is necessary. Vista point was nice but Marin Headlands wasn even more super nicer to see the view of San Francisco and Bridge together.

@ Vista Point

@Marin Headlands

It was so impressed that this bridge was built in 1937, and just two pillars are holding the whole road with a rope. Not only the architecture it self was amazing but also the fact that already people in America could build this gigantic bridge in 1930s was super impressive.

On our way back, we also visited Lombard Street “Crookedest Street in the world”

Comment from my mom: “They probably made this road, just to make cars to slow down with such a high hill, don’t understand why this is attraction place, but it surely looks funny.”

Once again, I thank a lot to Yeon Kim, came all the way to SF for me and Mom. I had great time and was very happy ,  hopefully to see him soon!

On arrival of Nanjing Station, first happy surprise was that taxi in Nanjing is SUPER CHEAP!! Normal cost of taxi in Shanghai is 12RMB while Nanjing cost 9RMB. This was the moment I realized that living in Shanghai is expensive.

First destination was to Ji Ming Temple, where almost all the chinese person that we know recommended.  Temple is located @ central Nanjing, originally built in 557 during Liang Dynasty but over times, it was destroyed many times and rebuilt it around 1387.

Combination of architecture of Temple and blossom trees on the way was very impressive and beautiful. Somehow you need to pay entrance fees two times  in this temple (very cleaver strategy- one for general entrance the other for main temple) but fees are cheap that did not really mind (around 5 RMB per person each entrance)

Ok Temple is done. Before heading to lunch, we were thinking weather should go to Purple golden mountain or Nanjing bridge. We decided to go to Nanjing bridge (Nanjing Yangzi Da Qiao) expecting to be little romantic, but turned out to be, it was highway bridge bit dangerous to walk due to lots of scooters and bikes passing by on pedestrian road in full speed hunking from behind! Bridge was super long with unique status in the middle of the bridge. It is very historical bridge, but I would not recommend, unless you have car that can pass by.

To forget all the traffic and tiresome experience, we went to downtown to have great lunch. We had nice Chinese food. (do not remember the names but fried chicken with pepper, fried rise and veggies with ginkgo) While eating we found out that purple golden mountain (Zijin Shan) have cable cart all the way up to summit so we head our way to Zijin Shan. (Not that we are lazy but we had wrong dress code to hike )

Cable cart was really awesome. Cable cart is one that you see at sky resort and it continues literally all the way to top of the mountain. There is no protection net underneath and machine looked really old. Little bit scary and actually cable stopped while we were in the middle of the mountain, made us think which place will be safer to jump. Apart from that it was fun ride, really felt like hiking while feet are resting.  Mountain was not yet to be covered with blossom but I could still see bit of yellow and purple. (was trying to figure out why mountain is called purple and golden) I think in one month, Mountain will be really beautiful.

Thanks to the cable, we had some time left before head to Shanghai, we could also visit Zong tong fu (Presidential Palace). Inside palace, there were several pictures and exhibition rooms display it’s history. But most impressive part was the garden. Some people were having picnic at the garden playing cards, chatting and of course couples were having romantic times.

I really like Nanjing, not too much people and nature and city has arranged with balance. Whoever city planner is, he/she did great job in Nanjing. Even for the location of train station was so nice and beautiful. Station was not only located in the middle of the center, but also had big square with lake next to it. While waiting for train we could watch sunset, calming down the whole trip instead of waiting in the crowded train station.

J: “What did you say to her?”

G: “say what?”

J: “I mean, how did you ask girl to be girlfriend?”

G: “Nothing, it just happened.”

J: “But you don’t say anything?”

G: “No, you just click and it just happened.”

Then there was awkward pause. It was  so clear that they have no idea what they are each talking about. I noticed what’s going on and told them bit of my love story.

When I first dated Joop, after few days I asked him whether what kind of our relationship was. I wanted to be clear if we are just close friend or lovers. But his respond was “I don’t know, we will see.” I interpreted it as ‘he is not confident enough to know whether he likes me –> no willing to have serious relationship’ and thought he is just messing up my mind. Later I figured out there was cultural difference on this matter. A few months later, when I brought this subject up, he told me he just did not know what to answer at that time.

Then what is different?

When Asian and European starts dating together, cultural difference occurs already starting from the beginning or even before. Before start dating or when starting a relationship, Asians usually ask for confirmation/ verbal commitment. Such as:

“Do you want to go out with me?”

“Do you want to be my girlfriend?”

“We are now boyfriend and girlfriend!”

When person hits age for marriage (Average :women start from 27, men starts from 30) they even say they are dating under consideration of getting marry.

I guess by making verbal commitment, other person would  knows which stage exactly they are or know the intention of the person. (If he/she is just interested in me as a friend or lover?)

On the other hand, European people do not say such things. Rather keep it as flow and natural. They do not say things for commitment but think that  time will tell if they are in relationship or not. So if couple gets along well then eventually both side would know they are in serious relationship.

So if you are about to start dating Asian girl/guy or European girl/guy, be aware that such a thing might happen to you and know in advance what to do.  :)

Written form of conversation and vocabulary can be found at official website.

Our first episode is Syaing Hello in Korean

We are very welcome for your interest and any comment for further improvement.

You can follow us via Twitter (@weeklykorean)

Website: http://www.weeklykorean.com/

When we got there, we were surprised to see such a diverse people in terms of age and nationality. Provided food was pretty good that I started to doubt if this was trap for brain worship seminar or something Later I was relieved that it was about attending as audience in a talk show.

Anyway big surprise was that we met Shanghai Shopping girl. We’ve been reading her blog since we came to Shanghai. She also came as audience. We had nice chat and felt that world is really small.

Coincidently first guest was South Korean singer & Actress, Lee Jung-Hyun. (Also Known as Ava) She performed her songs (WA & Crazy) and when she was on the stage, all of sudden boys from the front low start screaming and waving fans. (When she debut she carried fan and I guess that became her symbol)

It was interesting to see fan boys I was surprised that screaming boys were the one I sat together while I was enjoying free food. I would have never guessed that quiet boys were the noisy fan boys. I am sure Lee felt supported and loved.

Performance was good, but what really annoyed me was her English capacity. She really tried hard not to get help from translator but I thought it would have been better if she had used translator instead of looked silly. All she spoke was ‘I love Lady gaga’, ‘ I love Madonna’ and ‘Sorry’. At some point presenter kinda made fun of her but she just smiled and even said ‘Thanks you’.

(I was not suppose to take a photo, but i just wanted to prove that i was there! hehe girl in the yellow circle is Lee Jung hyun)

I guess Lee is trying to expose herself into Asian market other than Korea. I highly respect her effort but I wish she would have made careful choice on program that she will participate. Due to her shortage of English, she only stayed in the show about 10 minutes which was including her singing performance and movie clips. On the other hand, other guests stayed more than 20 minutes each.

If Lee could speak English, she could have had better chance to advertise herself by sharing her thoughts and opinion. After all it was a talk show!!! Anyway once again I felt how English is important as a communication tool.

Rest of guests was ok though they were not that interesting people to me. Show of AsiaUncut was generally nice. It was my first time being audience at TV studio and it was fun to see how back stage of TV program looks like and how it filmed. AsiaUncut does not air in mainland China although they record in Shanghai, anyway aired in 30 different countries.

지금 막 깜지를 묻어주고 오는 길이다. 먼저 간 언니 코나이쪄 건너편에 잘 묻어주고 왔다. (사실 옆에 묻어주고 싶었지만 혹 여나 땅을 파다 코나이쪄를 보게 될까 두려워져 하지 못했다)

집 근처 공원 대나무 숲에 묻어주었는데, 사람들이 너무 많이 지나 다녀 땅을 깊게 파진 못했다. 혹 여나 사람들이 알아채면 못 묻게 할까 봐 걱정이 되어 거의 흙으로 덮어주다시피 하고 왔다. 너무나도 미안하지만 이곳 지리도 제대로 모르는 나에게 이곳조차 안 된다면, 깜지를 어떻게 해야 할지 막막했기 때문이다. 그래도 천으로 잘 덮고 흙도 잘 덮어줘서 별 문제는 없을 것 같다. 코나이쪄도 별탈 없이 잘 있는걸 보면..

어젯밤에 죽은 것을 확인했지만, 묻기 전에 다시 한번 확인하고 싶었다. 혹시라도 살아 있을 까봐. 하지만 천을 열어보진 못했다. 왠지 모를 두려움이 엄습해왔기 때문이다. 천을 통한 촉감으로 전해지는 깜지의 늘어진 몸의 상태만으로 나는 깜지의 죽음을 확인했다.

집으로 돌아오니 텅 빈 깜지의 집이 나를 더 슬프게 한다. 이 집을 치워야 하는데 손이 가질 않는다.

엊그제까지만 해도 잘 놀던 나의 깜지는 어제 퇴근하고 오니 너무 지친 기색이었다. 제대로 먹지도 걷지도 못하길래 급히 근처 동물병원으로 데려갔지만 병원에서는 토끼는 취급하지 않는다며 다른 곳으로 가보라고 권했다. 하지만 이미 그때부터 깜지는 늘어지기 시작했고 울며불며 되지도 않는 중국어로 ‘토즈! 워더 토즈 스라!’ (토끼! 내 토끼 죽어요!) 외쳐댔다. 보다 못한 의사가 토끼를 만져보았지만 그들도 어쩔 방법이 없었나 보다. 근처 동물가게에 가서 토끼를 잘 아는 사람이 있을까 하여 찾아보았지만 헛탕이었다.

나의 무능함에 화가났다. 그리곤 내가 얼마나 이기적인지, 무책임한지 새삼 느꼈다. 지리도, 언어도 잘 모르는 나라에서, 이렇게 탈이나면 어느 병원으로 데려가야 하는지 미리 알아놓지도 않고, 그저 나의 외로움을 달래기 위해 무작정 깜지를 데려온 내자신에게 화가났다.

옆에서 나를 도와주던 언니가 안락사를 시키는건 어떻겠냐고 물었다. 안락사를 시키면 깜지가 편하게 갈 수 있을 거라는 생각은 들었지만 나는 그럴 수 없었다. 혹시라도 깜지가 잠깐 아픈 거라면 (그런 것 같아 보이진 않았지만 그렇게 믿고 싶었다) 내가 섣불리 죽이는 것이 될까봐, 그리고 깜지의 생명은 내가 거두는게 아니라 자연의 이치대로 하느님이 거두어 가야 한다는 생각이 들었다. 그래서 정중히 거절하고 집으로 오는 택시를 탔다.

돌아오는 택시 안에서 주체할 수 없는 눈물이 하염없이 흘렀다. 불쌍한 나의 깜지.. 일주일도 버티지 못하고..그래도 죽기 전에 함께 곁에 있어줄 수 있다는 것에 너무 다행이라고 느꼈다. 전의 코나이쪄 경우는 아침에 죽은 상태로 발견 됐기 때문에 혼자 죽었을 때 얼마나 무서웠을까, 같이 있어주지 못한 미안함에 펑펑 울었던 기억이 난다. 혼자 깜지의 죽음을 보기가 무서워 친구를 부를까도 생각했지만 밤이 늦어지기도 하고 오늘은 깜지와 나만 보내는 것이 좋을 것 같아서 핸드폰을 놓았다.

죽어가는 생명을 바라보는 것이 이토록 힘들고 잔인한지 미쳐 몰랐다. 힘들어서 바둥거리는 깜지를 보며 어찌할 줄 몰라 눈물만 게속 흐른다. 바둥거리다 몸이 축 쳐지고 후엔 다리를 부르르 떤다. 마치 신경 하나하나가 꺼져가는  것 같았다.

죽음으로 가는 길목은 정말 길었다. 기다리는 나도 지치게 했지만 죽음을 맞이하는 깜지는 얼마나 더 힘들고 무서울까 라는 생각이 들었다. 이렇게 힘들 거면 안락사 시킬걸 그랬나 살짝 후회가 되기도 하였다. 게다가 집에 와서 깜지를 위해 초를 켰는데 혹시나 이 초 때문에 깜지가 가지 못하는 건 아닐까 하는 말도 안 되는 생각까지 들기도 했다. (혹 여나 이 초가 꺼지기를 기다리는 것은 아닐까 하고. 하지만 차마 초는 끄지 못했다. 왠지 초를 끄면 정말 가버릴 것 같아서…)

깜지는 4시간 동안을 움직이지 않은 채 숨만 쉬었다. 그 때문에 몇 번이나 숨을 쉬는지 않는지 확인을 해야 했다. 이 상황에도 배가 고픈 내가 미웠다. 저녁을 건너 뛴데다 하도 울어서 지치고 머리도 아프다. 마음은 슬픈데 배는 고프다고 난리를 쳤다. 멀찌감치 서서  늦은 저녁을 먹었다.

펑펑 울며 엄마에게 전화를 걸었다. 엄마의 ‘우리 수나가 너무 맘이 아프겠구나, 엄마가 함께 있어주지 못해 어떻 하니’ 라는 소리가 너무 고마웠다. 사실 위로 받아야 하는 것은 깜지인데 되려 내가 위로 받고, 그 위로에 마음을 가다듬는다.

저녁 11시경 깜지가 소변을 보더니 한 시간 후 그대로 멈추어 버렸다. 죽을 땐 무언가 신호를 주고 죽을 줄 알았는데 그렇게 조용히 조용히 이 세상을 떠났다.

깜지는 갔지만, 나를 떠났지만 좋은 곳 갔을 거란 생각으로 나를 위로한다. 그나마 먼저간 코나이쪄 언니가 기다리고 있어서 오히려 둘에겐 더 잘 된 일일지도 모르겠다.

일주일이었지만 정말 많이 사랑했고, 사랑한다고 말해주었다. 하지만 역시 더 사랑해줄걸 이라는 생각은 어쩔 수 없나 보다.

동물뿐 아니라 죽음 앞에선 사람도 어찌할 수 없겠구나 라는 생각이 들었다. 그래서 나는 지금 이순간에 내가 사랑하는 사람들을 후회 없이 사랑하고  향상 사랑한다는 표현을 해야 겠단 생각이 들었다.

“안녕 나의 깜지.. 정말 많이 사랑했다…. 그리고 사랑해!!!”

It took two days to finish the book. (Thought i would able to finish in the plane ) When I closed the the last page, I realised  that I was wrong. I can never throw this book, in fact I was even more thirst for more detailed description of the book. (Turned out to be my book was simplified version for middle school level).

As a whole story, it describes how America’s capitalism has initiated gap between rich and poor. The story itself was very interesting but I was more impressed with parts by parts and dialogue by dialogue. No wonder writer (John Steinbeck) was awarded Pulitzer Prize in 1940 and the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1962.

So here, I want to share some of quotes that I was deeply moved.

“You been a good guy. But look, when you been in stir a little while, you can smell a question comin’ from hell to breakfast. You telegraphed you’re the first time you opened your trap.”

The story starts from where a protagonist (Joad) hitchhike a truck in order to go back to his home town after being parole. Truck driver try to figure out where Joad come from or what he’s been doing by asking all sorts of questions and Joad sense that he is being examined. Joad get offended and get out of the truck. It could be ‘A guilty conscience needs no accuser’ situation, but I think author pointed out well on how people are curious on each other. Curiosity is good, but Instead of asking directly, we have habit of asking indirect questions and try to link with our curiosity, thinking that is polite.
“There ain’t nobody gonna push me of my land! My grandpa took up this land 70 years ago, my pa was born here, we were all born on it. And some of of us was killed on it! …and some of us died on it. That’s what make it our’n, bein’ born on it,…and workin’ on it,…and and dying’ on it! And not no piece of paper with the writin’ on it!”

This quotation moved me the most. I think it is true. God created this land so it should be owned by every creature that living in this planet not by particular human. Furthermore, I think having a border and passport between countries is also another ridiculous thing that human have. Instead of share the earth and live in harmony, we divided it in to continent, country and control each other, fearing each other. How sad…

The book also had some interesting comments on bank.

“The bank is something more than men, I tell you. It’s the monster. Men made it, but they can’t control it.”

“They breathe profits; they eat the interest on money. If they don’t get it, they die the way you die without air, without side-meat.”

It is funny that after all, it was us, people that made all this life and  society complex and unfair. Have we come too far to go back or even make simple and fair?