31 5 / 2012
Anonymous asked: Hi ! I'm from Singapore & I would like to ask about your working visa process. Did it take very long? Understand that your company has to apply visa in Korea first, and you have to apply it in Singapore after that? Thanks in advance ^^
The company applied Visa Issuance Number for me in Korea. It usually takes about 7-10 days. In my case it was pretty fast: 7 days. After they got Visa Issuance Number, I went to Korean Embassy in Singapore bringing my passport, application form and Visa Issuance Number. It took 3 days to get the working visa stamped in my passport. So, the total day of visa process was 10 days.
30 5 / 2012
Day 287: Samseong Walks
[30 May 2012]
Usually the closer places are not yet being explored than the further ones. There are some interesting sites to see in Samseong area, which is quite near to my house and office, but I’d never been there. Kimchi Museum and Bongeunsa Temple.
Two weeks ago, I tried to visit Kimchi Museum, but it was closed. Today I had a chance to go there again. It was located in B2 floor of COEX. The entrance fee was 3,000 KRW, which was not worth it at all haha. The museum was too small. It explained Kimchi variations from Three Kingdoms period (Goguryeo, Baekje and Silla), to Goryo dynasty, to Joseon dynasty, and finally Kimchi consumed by Korean people today. Kimchi for Royal families, for monks in the temples and for elderly are also different. They also have different type of Kimchi in each season: Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter. It also explained how ancient Koreans keep the Kimchi fermented, before fridge and other current technology. Well, basically everything you need to know about Kimchi was there in this museum. There is also one tasting room for visitors to try variants of Kimchi.
This is a big complex of Buddhist temple located in the middle of business district. This temple was one of places to celebrate Lotus Lantern Festival last week. There were some events going on in the temple in Buddha’s Birthday last Monday. I didn’t have a chance to go there on that day, but I was glad that the lanterns were still there today. They hadn’t remove it. It was so beautiful. Cclorful lanterns were hanged between the main gate and the main praying hall. Sea of red and white lanterns were hanged between the praying halls. There were also 4 big lantern Kings, 1 dragon, 2 lotus flowers and some other animals near Bell Pavilion. All of them were lighting at night. Other than that, the Great Statue of Maitreya Buddha looked so strong and powerful. Many people came to this temple after work to find peace.
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Direction to Bongeunsa
Samseong Station (Seoul Subway Line 2), exit 6. Walk straight about 10 minutes until Asem Tower, turn left and walk until zebra cross, cross the street to the temple.
29 5 / 2012
Day 286: Random Day
[29 May 2012]
Finished my itinerary for Japan trip which will start next 2 days. I went to my favorite printing store to print some booking confirmation stuff. At night, I went to Myeongdong to meet my friends. We had dinner in Kimchi Restaurant, where its ‘Rendang’ is really nice! I went there last time with my other friend. Now I remember the name of this dish: So galbi jjim (소갈비찜), spicy beef ribs. the price is not so cheap: 32,000 KRW ($30) for 2 persons. But the portion is big. Three of us couldn’t even finish the 2-persons-set.
After dinner, we went to PC Bang. My friends helped me to book a flight ticket in interpark website. This website offers cheaper price than travel agents or flight websites, but unfortunately it’s full in Korean. I don’t understand how to book it. That is one thing I hate living here, there are many discounted stuff in Korean shopping websites (gmarket, wemakeprice, interpark, etc), but I cannot do online shopping by myself. I’m really thankful for my friends who always helped me. Sometimes I felt guilty to bother them a lot.
From PC Bang, we walked around Myeongdong a little bit, and I bought some clothes, aarghh I shouldn’t buy stuff anymore!
