Monday 24 November 2008

Misnomer

Sudden recall of Malaysian food, and reminds me of the unexplainable naming of some of the food. For example:

  • 燒雞 - Chicken is actually 炸 not 燒
  • 鹵肉 - Again, it is 炸 not 鹵
  • 白咖啡 - Not white at all
  • 白咖喱 - Also it is not white like 魚頭米粉
  • 海底椰 - Nope, the plant does not originate from the sea

I wonder who came up with these misnomer...

Friday 21 November 2008

Where was I? (4) - Seoul

It was a quick trip to 서울 (Seoul) on a Monday 25 Aug, because I need to get some document signed at the embassy. Since it was not my first time to Seoul, I did not prepare much on sightseeing, as I expected to return to Busan on the day. Took an early morning KTX to Seoul, which cost me a bomb. I headed straight to the embassy once I reached Seoul station by taking the subway. Two 아줌마 asked me on separate times how to get to their destination. I just simply answer, as if I'm very familiar with Seoul. Lucky my guesses are correct.

Going to the embassy was actually quite a hassle, as the nearest train station is Hannam (한남 漢南) on the Central Line (중앙선 中央線). The station has only a single exit, and the embassy was on a slope, and require walking 15-20 minutes from the station, depending on how busy is the Hannam junction. When I finally was there, the staff (nice Korean lady who can speak fluent Malay and English) by the counter told me the person-in-charge was not available and told me I should have made an appointment before I come. I was stunted for awhile, but she was kind enough to get my number and try to schedule it as soon as possible.

I met a friend of a friend in Soongsil University to get Singapore mooncake from him. There, I had lunch at the university canteen. I did some sightseeing on my own, since it's not that hard to navigate around Seoul, since I was there just a year ago. Too bad that Monday a lot of museum and palace were closed. My focus of sightseeing this time was historic building, especially those of Japanese colonial building which I have missed last year. Here are some of the random scenes I took.

After my short sightseeing, I was about to head back to Busan, the embassy called to inform that I can drop by the next day to get my document signed. I was lost for a moment since I did not want to do another trip up from Busan again, I need to get a place to spend a night. I was so lucky that Jimmy (a friend of a friend mentioned above) managed to find me a place to rest for a night at Dr. Andrew's place at Ramada hotel near to City Hall. Great place to stay. And for the first time I saw Korean drama (식객 食客) on HDTV, super clear. So clear until it lost the drama feel to it, as the images looks like those shot with a news camera.

I spent my birthday in Seoul, which the staff by the embassy noticed as well. Anyhow, here are some of the scene I took, especially around Gangnam (강남 江南).

Thursday 13 November 2008

Korea Map & Busan Map

There are so many maps available online from Korea. It is really amazing on the details of such map, and some of them can even roughly detect your current location. If the following map is not detail enough, always check out the city or county government website, where they have even more detail map available, such as the land contour and elevation. Here are some of the example, and take note that as with a lot of Korean website, they are IE only.

For Busan specific, I like to use the 부산시 시내버스 노선개편 안내 시스템 Busan Bus Line Information, which link the bus line to the map. Also, the Busan City Hall has a rather detail map of Busan in PDF for download, made available here.

A general idea of how Busan is administered: Busan has 15 districts (Gu 구 區) and 1 county (Gun 군 郡). Read this if you are not sure what is it all about. Here is the breakdown of each districts, extremely useful if you were to take a bus in Busan.

중구 中區 Jung-gu

  • 중앙동 中央洞 Jungang-dong
  • 동광동 東光洞 Donggwang-dong
  • 대청동 大廳洞 Daecheong-dong
  • 보수동 寶水洞 Bosu-dong
  • 부평동 富平洞 Bupyeong-dong
  • 광복동 光復洞 Gwangbok-dong
  • 남포동 南浦洞 Nampo-dong
  • 영주동 瀛州洞 Yeongju-dong

동구 東區 Dong-gu

  • 초량동 草梁洞 Choryang-dong
  • 수정동 水晶洞 Sujeong-dong
  • 좌천동 佐川洞 Jwacheon-dong
  • 범일동 凡一洞 Beomil-dong

부산진구 釜山鎭區 Busanjin-gu

  • 부전동 釜田洞 Bujeon-dong
  • 범전동 凡田洞 Beomjeon-dong
  • 연지동 蓮池洞 Yeonji-dong
  • 초읍동 草邑洞 Choeup-dong
  • 양정동 楊亭洞 Yangjeong-dong
  • 전포동 田浦洞 Jeonpo-dong
  • 부암동 釜岩洞 Buam-dong
  • 당감동 堂甘洞 Danggam-dong
  • 가야동 伽倻洞 Gaya-dong
  • 개금동 開琴洞 Gageum-dong
  • 범천동 凡川洞 Beomcheon-dong

남구 南區 Nam-gu

  • 대연동 大淵洞 Daeyeon-dong
  • 용호동 龍湖洞 Yongho-dong
  • 용당동 龍塘洞 Yongdang-dong
  • 감만동 戡蠻洞 Gamman-dong
  • 우암동 牛岩洞 Uam-dong
  • 문현동 門峴洞 Munhyeon-dong

해운대구 海雲臺區 Haeundae-gu

  • 우동 佑洞 U-dong
  • 중동 中洞 Jung-dong
  • 좌동 佐洞 Jwa-dong
  • 송정동 松亭洞 Songjeong-dong
  • 반여동 盤如洞 Banyeo-dong
  • 반송동 盤松洞 Bansong-dong
  • 재송동 栽松洞 Jaesong-dong

금정구 金井區 Geumjeong-gu

  • 서동 書洞 Seo-dong
  • 금사동 錦絲洞 Geumsa-dong
  • 회동동 回東洞 Hoedong-dong
  • 부곡동 釜谷洞 Bugok-dong
  • 오륜동 五倫洞 Oryun-dong
  • 장전동 長箭洞 Jangjeon-dong
  • 선동 仙洞 Seon-dong
  • 두구동 杜邱洞 Dugu-dong
  • 노포동 老圃洞 Nopo-dong
  • 청룡동 靑龍洞 Cheongnyong-dong
  • 남산동 南山洞 Namsan-dong
  • 구서동 久瑞洞 Guseo-dong
  • 금성동 金城洞 Geumseong-dong

연제구 蓮堤區 Yeonje-gu

  • 거제동 巨堤洞 Geoje-dong
  • 연산동 蓮山洞 Yeonsan-dong

사상구 沙上區 Sasang-gu

  • 삼락동 三樂洞 Samnak-dong
  • 모라동 毛羅洞 Mora-dong
  • 덕포동 德浦洞 Deokpo-dong
  • 괘법동 掛法洞 Gwaebeop-dong
  • 감전동 甘田洞 Gamjeon-dong
  • 주례동 周禮洞 Jurye-dong
  • 학장동 鶴章洞 Hakjang-dong
  • 엄궁동 嚴弓洞 Eomgung-dong

서구 西區 Seo-gu

  • 동대신동 東大新洞 Dongdaesin-dong
  • 서대신동 西大新洞 Seodaesin-dong
  • 부민동 富民洞 Bumin-dong
  • 부용동 芙蓉洞 Buyong-dong
  • 충무동 忠武洞 Chungmu-dong
  • 토성동 土城洞 Toseong-dong
  • 아미동 峨嵋洞 Ami-dong
  • 초장동 草場洞 Chojang-dong
  • 남부민동 南富民洞 Nambumin-dong
  • 암남동 岩南洞 Amnam-dong

영도구 影島區 Yeongdo-gu

  • 남항동 南港洞 Namhang-dong
  • 영선동 瀛仙洞 Yeongseon-dong
  • 봉래동 蓬萊洞 Bongnae-dong
  • 신선동 新仙洞 Sinseon-dong
  • 청학동 靑鶴洞 Cheonghak-dong
  • 동삼동 東三洞 Dongsam-dong

동래구 東萊區 Dongnae-gu

  • 수민동 壽民洞 Sumin-dong
  • 복산동 福山洞 Boksan-dong
  • 명륜동 明倫洞 Myeongnyun-dong
  • 온천동 溫泉洞 Oncheon-dong
  • 사직동 社稷洞 Sajik-dong
  • 안락동 安樂洞 Allak-dong
  • 명장동 鳴藏洞 Myeongjang-dong

북구 北區 Buk-gu

  • 구포동 龜浦洞 Gupo-dong
  • 금곡동 金谷洞 Geumgok-dong
  • 화명동 華明洞 Hwamyeong-dong
  • 덕천동 德川洞 Deokcheon-dong
  • 만덕동 萬德洞 Mandeok-dong

사하구 沙下區 Saha-gu

  • 괴정동 槐亭洞 Goejeong-dong
  • 당리동 當里洞 Dangni-dong
  • 하단동 下端洞 Hadan-dong
  • 신평동 新平洞 Sinpyeong-dong
  • 장림동 長林洞 Jangnim-dong
  • 다대동 多大洞 Dadae-dong
  • 구평동 舊平洞 Gupyeong-dong
  • 감천동 甘川洞 Gamcheon-dong

강서구 江西區 Gangseo-gu

  • 대저동 大渚洞 Dajeo-dong
  • 강동동 江東洞 Gangdong-dong
  • 명지동 鳴旨洞 Myeongji-dong
  • 가락동 駕洛洞 Garak-dong
  • 녹산동 菉山洞 Noksan-dong
  • 천가동 天加洞 Cheonga-dong

수영구 水營區 Suyeong-gu

  • 남천동 南川洞 Namcheon-dong
  • 수영동 水營洞 Suyeong-dong
  • 망미동 望美洞 Mangmi-dong
  • 광안동 廣安洞 Gwangan-dong
  • 민락동 民樂洞 Millak-dong

기장군 機張郡 Gijang-gun

  • 기장읍 機張邑 Gijang-eup
  • 장안읍 長安邑 Jangan-eup
  • 일광면 日光面 Ilgwang-myeon
  • 정관면 鼎冠面 Jeonggwan-myeon
  • 철마면 鐵馬面 Cheolma-myeon

Thursday 6 November 2008

Where was I? (3) - Bongnaesan

Another one of those hiking trip, this time was to Bongnaesan (봉래산 蓬萊山 395m), which is located to Yeongdo (영도 影島), an island on the southern side of Busan, which is famous for Taejongdae (태종대 太宗臺). Apparently the current showing Korean TV drama Beethoven Virus has scene shot at Taejongdae.

We were there just next day after the Korea won the Olympics gold medal, thus you can see this at the top.

This particular mountain is quite accessible, not too high, but the view is stunning. You can see various Busan ports and piers from here by the Busan bay. Also, Nampodong (남포동 南浦洞) area, Jagalchi (자갈치) with Busan tower can be clearly seen as well. Another of Busan symbol, the 5-6 Island Oryukdo (오륙도 五六島) is within clear visible range. View of Korea Maritime University (국립 한국해양대학교 國立 韓國海洋大學校) looks rather cute as well.

Where was I? (2) - Jangsan

One of my many mountain hiking in the previous months. One of them is none other than Jangsan (장산 萇山 634m), my first trip with then newcomer Jiun Hau. If you are staying in Busan, probably you are familiar with the name Jangsan due to the terminus stop of subway line 2. If you were looking for the shortest path to the summit, do not attempt from terminus, it's really far away, which to me it is a misnomer.

Where was I? (1) - PIFF

It's now or never. That is what I have in mind. I decided to do short post instead of long, so that I can update on my progress here in Korea. Most likely be more picture and short caption, and order might not follow actual timeline of event.

First up, I was at Pusan International Film Festival. I have chose to watch World Premiere of Japanese film Happy Flight (ハッピーフライト) at Busan Yachting Centre on 6 Oct 2008. The director, leading actor and actress were there as well. Dual subtitles with English on the bottom horizontally, Korean on the right vertically. It was an entertaining film, much of our delight that it was showing way ahead of Japan. Ticket cost ₩5000.

Film was about an eventful flight from Japan to Hawaii. Director 矢口史靖 Yaguchi Shinobu (standing on the left on the following picture), is famous for films like Swing Girls and Waterboys. Also present was actor 田辺誠一 Tanabe Seiichi (in suit), and actress 綾瀬はるか Ayase Haruka (in 韓服).