Sinking of Japan

The movie "Sinking of Japan" is only so so, but it's original sound track, Keep Holding U, is entirely different story all together. The song was played twice in the movie and was sang by Sun Min and Toshinobu Kubota.

Another pleasant surprise is that Keep Holding U has a Korea version which is also sang by Sun Min and the male vocalist is Shin Hye Sung from Shinhwa.

Personally, I prefer the later even though the music video of the Japan version is nicer. It is not because of the Korean factor but because of the collaboration between Sun Min and Hye Sung is almost perfect.

(The two music videos are from YouTube courtersy of Sarbat37 and ilime)

청주 백화점

청주 백화점 indirectly means the downtown of Cheongju. Similar to Myeongdong, it consists of few blocks of shops. Even a small town like Cheongju can provide aesthetic shopping experience.

[This is the view around bus stop. It takes less than 15 minutes bus ride from here to Cheongju downtown. This was taken in winter]

[Cheongju has major brand names. Due to some limited edition goods only available in Korea, cousin always has order from Fila]

[Some shops' layout are colourful like this, it gives you viewing pleasure. These two are inner wear shops]

[This is the music store I always patronise whenever I am there. I think it is also the only music store available]

[This is the night scene of Cheongju downtown, isn't it beautiful?]

한국 vs 일본

여러분 나라하고 같아요?

During one of our Korean lessons, teacher asked us to make comparison between Singapore and Korea in terms of culture difference in our daily life. And right now I can highlight one of the differences between, not Singapore and Korea, but Korea and Japan.

Most of us who have visited Korea definitely encounter this during shopping time. We have to pay for our shopping bag! Even when we buy books and magazines in Kyobo, no free bag will be provided. If we can manage the weight, they simply use string to tide the books and there you go. Korea is a country which not only having environmental awareness but they also put it into action.

One lady (a Chinese tour guide who stays in Korea) told me that she needs about half an hour just to throw her gabbage in the gabbage bin because she needs to "categorise" them before disposing them.

Japan is very proud of their service standard. Service qualities include packaging. They provide beautiful carrier for your purchase. I feel good when I shop in Japan and they will provide you more small bags if you tell them you buy it as a present or souvenir. However, I did not expect them to wrap my shopping bag with another transparent plastic bag because of rain! Shops which do that definitely score high to their customer but not to their environment.

청주

청주 (清州) is a dear town to me. I have visited her more than Seoul and probably more familiar her over Seoul. She is located approximately two and a half hours bus ride from Incheon International Airport.

청주 is really a small and quite town. She is sometimes confused with 전주(全州) where 비빔밤 is famous when I mentioned her to other people who asked me where I went. I think my pronounciation was the source of confusion.

Life in 청주 is rather simple, people are friendly and full of curiosity. One year ago, with the limitation in my Korean language, I could not communicate with them even they tried to speak slowly. Sometimes, I resolved to just simply nodding my head and smiled or letting my friend who is the local did all the talking.

Land of The Morning Calm

Korea ~ Land of the Morning Calm
Japan ~ Land of the Rising Sun
Sabah, Malaysia ~ Land beneath the Wind
Oklahoma, USA ~ The Soonest State

Perhaps "Nickname" is more approriate for today's blog title. Nonethelss it is interesting to find out that there is another description for a country or a state, for example Korea is also known as the Land of the Morning Calm. Even my hometown state, Sabah, has a romantic elaboration, that is the Land beneath the Wind.

If Oklahoma is also known as The Soonest State, there should be a long list for the rest of the forty nine states in the USA.

Is Singapore known as The Garden City? Sadly to say I don't really know the answer.

공항

After two and half years, I stepped on the "Land of the Rising Sun”again. Before all the sight-seeing, shopping or feasting have even started, airport security has definitely created an unforgettable memory.

I have taken one of the American airlines and I understood the term of homeland security or whatever security measure term they used, but I did not expect an informal interview by a security officer before the check-in. Luggage was tested with some kind of chemical before opened. Laptop was required to switch on for inspection. Security officer has also informed that no liquid and gel is allowed onboard and don't ask why as I got no answer.

Two more rounds of checks were conducted before I was finally onboard.

I have asked the airline ground crew about all the actions during check-in and she simply answered that it has started after September 11th, 2001.