Sleepless Travels

You can take your hat off

2006-01-17T21:54:00.000+08:00

Do I look like Bi?
Originally uploaded by tr[n]ty.

I'm going to stop using my blogspot blog, as a friend very kindly offered to host a Wordpress blog for me!

It's been a good ride though. Blogspot is a pretty good blogging service for those without their own servers. They even allow you to upload images to their servers, and you get pretty much full control over your template (even javascript is allowed~).

I'm also pretty attached to this template right now. I'll be sure to take a few screen shots for myself XD.

This blog will be up until Blogspot decides to trash it I suppose >.<. Not to worry though, Wordpress has this handy plugin where you can import in all your Blogger entries!! That played a major role in my decision to go with Wordpress.

Anyway, the new blog is located at: http://evanelam.photo-log.com

New RSS feed: Feed

See you there!

Buhaha! no posts!

2006-01-13T18:18:00.000+08:00

White with splashes of orange
Originally uploaded by tr[n]ty.

Actually I was going to write up a post a few days ago, but D Tran very kindly offered to host a wordpress blog on his server for me!!

So I'm currently in the process of moving over, dusting stuff off, doing a bit of interior decorating, etc.

Well it means I've got to learn a bit more of CSS and PHP now too >.<

Oh! My ignorance!

Anyway, with a Wordpress system, I'll be able to maintain the site more efficiently, at least in terms of categories. It's also basically impossible to move over my old template, so I've decided to pick another WP template and go from there. The hard thing is that most themes are too narrow to accomodate my text and photos. Oh well, gotta learn more about divs, spans and all that floating jazz.

Eating in Seoul

2006-01-06T01:29:00.000+08:00

Traditional Korean Restaurant

Pudu Chige

UPDATE: I added in a line detailing how much pudu chige will cost you. Because I am a price nerd and I love remembering how much stuff cost me...

Boy, has it been a long time since I've blogged about Seoul! The memories are really fading, which is why I'm really worried about how much detail I can provide about China when I finally get around to blogging about that >_<

Anyway, one of the highlights of the trip is the Korean food! I was pleased that I was *never* left hungry after a meal. They are always so generous with kimchi and there is always food left behind, which I think is a great waste. Coming from a family that doesn't even leave one grain of rice behind, it really breaks my heart, all that kimchi going to waste. We'd have easily thrown away A$100+ of kimchi (if you had to buy that same amount in Australia).

I already blogged heaps about the Korean BBQ, etc, so these 2 photos are the only ones left.

Pudu chige is also known as "army-base" stew. It's so-called because it was developed near the american army bases. It contains sliced luncheon meat and sausages as well as CHEESE (Kraft singles) in a hot red pepper broth. These items, obviously not being traditional Korean foods, were at first only available near the American bases.

It is relatively modern style fusion Korean food. But it is surprisingly nice and tasty. After boiling, the cheese isn't obvious in the stew, and dissolves into the liquid to form a nice creamy flavour.

This restaurant is in Sinchon, a very 'student' area (3 univerisities are in close proximity). And because it's a student area, the food is relatively cheap - 19,000 won for 4 people.

In other news, when I was in Melbourne I made sure to check out every Japanese/Korean grocery store I came across. There were lots, and the variety was very good. I actually found chige claypots (and they were relatively cheap too) but I didn't buy them because I didn't want to lug them around >_<

Hmm, I need to make some Korean friends here in Australia who can show me exactly how to make a chige :/

Oh and Blessed Christmas and a Happy New Year everyone!~

Graduation day + general update (away in melb).

2005-12-24T22:56:00.001+08:00

In front of commerce faculty building

With parents

Hijacked professional photo with family

Hijacked professional photo, individual

Well, well. It has been a disgustingly long time since I've updated this blog. I'm sure my audience of 1 has even given up checking on this blog.

Anyway, in the interim, it appears that I have graduated. So here are the photos. Sorry for the self-grandoisement, but it's a graduation after all! Surely a bit of self-indulgence is in order.

The ceremony itself was remarkeably swift - 45 minutes. Oh yeah, and I actually forgot to bring along my guest tickets for family or my receipt to get the graduation gown. Still arrived in the nick of time.

After the ceremony, waited a terribly long time to get those professional photos taken. The photos you see here have been taken by my dad/Ray at the same time the professional guy was taking the real photo.

So now I have a very pretty piece of parchment in an overpriced frame sitting in its original plastic bag, still behind my door. Haven't thought of what to do with it yet.

======================
In other news, I am now in Melbourne for about a week for Christmas. I'm staying at my aunt's, which is jolly generous of her, I think. I mean she even took in our washing and *ironed* it! My immediate family is positively allergic to ironing so this means a lot to us. I mean, she even ironed my jeans and my pyjama top!! It's the first time they've ever seen the iron...

My aunt is incredibly efficient at housework, and she's really nice and quite generous too, so kudos to her!

So far I've probably spent more on shopping than my entire family, combined (not including food bills). Credit cards are evil.

I packed light to Melbourne - only a few sets of clothes, laptop, chargers, mobile, iPod. And yet I would never get bored, no! Because my aunt now has a wireless network with cable internet (which incidentally is not secured at all, and my cousin suspects the neighbour is leeching their 'net...)! Oh, the sheer joy! Anyway, that just goes to prove how much of a nerd I am.

I've also been spending a lot of time watching Black Adder. I love British humour. And Rowan Atkinson actually looks rather...dashing...in series 3. Isn't that weird? as Mr Bean or in Blackadder 1, he is a digusting-looking fool, but in BA3 he plays a butler who isn't actually a fool (no, it's his master who's a fool). Rather interesting how they used exactly the same 3 main characters, just rotated around the guy who got to play the "clever" person. Anyway, I may have a thing for butlers. Probably all started with PG Wodehouse's Jeeves character.

Ah well. I'm starting to drool all over my keyboard - a sure sign that I'm getting a tad sleepy. Toodle-loo.

Megane-ko MO�?!! I'm a glasses girl

2005-12-13T21:29:00.000+08:00

Frame #1

Frame #2

Nerdy Ray

My insurance policy allows me to make a new pair of glasses every year for a negligible sum. Last year I went with frameless glasses.

Unfortunately, the inexperienced store assistant didn't give me glasses with a high enough density index, so if you look at my glasses from the side, it REALLY LOOKS LIKE I'M WEARING COKE BOTTLES. Which I was not happy about.

So! This year I thought I'd go with the whole Hongkie acrylic frame look. I also made sure the lenses were appropriately thin :/

Which pair is better? I think #1 looks better in the photo, but IRL, it looks a bit weird and large. The purple colour doesn't really stand out too. #2's failing is the arms, which are too thin. Thicker would be nicer, but they didn't have that option. #2 is actually blue on the front, backed by black plastic. But somehow it just comes through as black (oh wait, maybe I wasn't wearing the right colour frame o.o).

Actually it would have been nice to have a deep red colour XD
I wanted a more...outstanding colour? Black is just too Hongkie :/
I like the colour Janice had...

But those colours weren't available, so oh well.

I also noticed my hair doesn't look quite black in the photos. Is my hair black or dark brown? Or is the camera's colour settings really screwed up, considering how the colour of the frames turned up...

I included a photo of Ray in glasses for good measure. Given the right frames, I think he'd look quite good in glasses. Guys always look more intelligent in glasses XD. He should wear dummy glasses to job interviews. But I guess he doesn't have to worry about that anymore...

Onitsuka Chihiro - Sugar High

2005-12-12T23:04:00.000+08:00

Double chocolate torte
Originally uploaded by tr[n]ty.

Sometimes I get massive urges to eat cake. I've been having this one for about a month now, since about the middle of the exam period.

Favourite sort of cake: sponge with whipped cream and lots of fruit. I like them light, not thick and dense. I don't want to actually feel stuffed after, like with a chocolate mud cake.

My dad got this cake from the Cheesecake Shopped, a chain of shops around Adelaide specialising in, surprise surprise, cheesecakes. But their cakes are also not too bad.

This double chocolate torte cake has chocolate cream and a lick of raspberry jam in between layers of chocolate sponge cake. It's topped with more chocolate cream and a criss-cross design in choclate on top (doesn't really come out in the photo though).

I wouldn't normally eat a slice of cake this big, but the strawberry dictates the size I have to cut at :/

The first few mouthfuls were heavenly. About halfway through I started to realise there was a bit of coffee flavour in the cake somewhere o.o

I hate coffee >.<

The last few mouthfuls were really hard to get through. I had to run off for some water and milk (no, not in the same cup) to try to dilute the chocolatiness...

Anyway, now I'm feeling a bit dizzy, so let me just lie back in haze of sugar-induced stupor.

Rsstroom reader�?�

2005-12-11T13:56:00.000+08:00

Click image for enlarged view
Originally uploaded by tr[n]ty.

This weird gadget from Yi Tien in Taiwan prints your RSS feeds onto toilet paper o.o. [Is this even a travel blog anymore...]

Complete with wireless connectivity, it can use both RSS 2.0 and Atom feeds and is configurable through a web browser.

The rsstroom reader deluxe package included a *biometric seat* which allows for customized feed output based on your weight! It also allows for tracking & printing the progress of your weight-loss regime.

Yi Tien Electronics also announced the future availability of a commercial version of the rsstroom reader, a more robust model intended for installation in public restrooms. The commercial model allows advertisers to place customized messages targeted to a specific audience through Yi Tien Electronics' online subscription service.

News source: Slashdot, Dj Spyhunter.

Note: This is actually just a conceptual product by Dj Spyhunter. But it was an intriguing idea while it lasted eh XD

Sleepy Evane

2005-12-06T23:55:00.000+08:00

Sleepy Cat
Originally uploaded by 9600baudROCKET.

Just started work this week. It's great. I wonder if I can really live up to expectations though. The learning curve is extremely steep. But I am learning heaps. My goodness, for the first time in a long time, law is *enjoyable*.

I enjoy work so much, I even get there *early* to more work done. Yes, me of the vampiric nature who hates HATES HATES waking up early!

Work waking up time 7am. Then shower to wake myself up, pack bag, remember to grab lunch from fridge, and don the power suit.

Anyway, all that makes me pretty much a zombie at home =_=.

I chose this cat photo because that's pretty much the exact same posture I have as I laze on my couch using the internet XD

And even then I can't be stuffed doin any of this Web 2.0 shebang. I'm too tired to blog. Once exams stop, I just slide into an awesome funk of laziness. Anyway, I don't want to blog about Korea or my travels in this sort of mood, it wouldn't do the subject matter justice! That's why today it's a random update XD

I need more stuff to read on the net so I can feel drowsy enough to sleep =.=

Holidays at long last!

2005-12-02T03:02:00.000+08:00

Fire hydrant on King Willie St
Originally uploaded by tr[n]ty.

Just had my last exam this morning. Yesterday I thought I'd fail it. I even entertained thoughts of not even going to the exam, or just sleeping instead. Well, nevertheless I'm glad I went. I think I have a not-impossible chance of passing. Hopefully.

Because if I don't pass, I won't be able to graduate with my bachelors on the 16th of December. I know I'm cutting it a bit fine >.<

Anyway, hmm, had like...8 minutes of sleep before the exam, so I was so sleepy I couldn't even do last minute cramming V.V.

Anyway, no more exams, (for real now). Hurrah!

Okay, tomorrow I'll call work up and see when I can start (noooo wooooorkkkk). I'm also going to call up this casting company. They need some asians for this local movie, and are holding open auditions. I know I have absolutely no chance of getting it (will I even have time for it anyway :/) but it seems like fun. I haven't been to an audition before XD

I'll drag along another Chinese to "cham ga" XD

Happy drive edit

2005-11-29T14:15:00.000+08:00

Previous post edited. Please join in the tagging fun ^_^

10 reasons why I'm happy - ureshi na~

2005-11-29T03:11:00.000+08:00

happiness
Originally uploaded by evilcabeza.

I got tagged. Well, unless there are 2 Evangeline's who read Sufen's blog? o.o

From what I gathered, I think being tagged (ooh, first time I got tagged for anything btw) entails making a list of 10 reasons to be happy. So here goes (in no particular order):

My exam results - well i've got back the results for 2 subjects out of 4. I did surprisingly well considering the amount of work I put in (that is, I pretty much ignored them until exam week)! Which just goes to show, you don't have to read cases to do well in law...
DSL connection - true, I could be happier if I had a super fast broadband connection like you lucky Singaporeans/Hongkies/Japs, but at least I'm not on dialup anymore, and at least my connection is working at full speed! (Stupid back to base alarm infering with my DSL signal). I also contributed out of my own pocket to increase the download limit. Yes, so now my limit is a whopping 30 gigs! /sarcasm.
Mass file transfer methods. Bittorrent - how else can I acquire so much? Clubbox is good too, just fiddley to navigate around since it's all in Korean. But it would be good to learn how to use Winny.
Jpopsuki and D-addicts. Various other tracker sites such as Animesuki and Baka-updates.
anime/asian dramas - I don't watch any TV, so this is the only sort of visual entertainment I get. They are really very entertaining.

Top anime of the moment - Karin, a vampire girl. It's actually a light hearted and cute anime. Actually, she annoys me a bit, but it's still funny.
Top drama - Hana yori dango! The heroine has the best glare, and you can literally see the smoke rising from her head when she's fuming. I think there are alot of scenes that don't have to be that long. I don't mean they talked too much, or moved around too much. The camera literally rests on a particular object/character's face for waaaay too long. It's almost like a stillshot. So boring. But other than that, it rocks.
Drama that I most want to acquire - Densha otoko:

Adapted from the best selling book "Train Man," this is the true life story of a geeky young man's romance with a beautiful young lady. The book is based on actual messages posted on a huge internet discussion board in Japan. A million internet users followed the Train Man's romance, giving him advices on how to impress the girl and take her out on dates. Train Man belongs in the so-called "Akiba-kei" category: a term that describes nerdy looking men who hang out at Akihabara (the famous electronics area in Tokyo) all day, who are obsessed with video games and computers.

6. RSS feeds and the Opera browser
7. My room. Would have been more comfortable if it was twice as big and had another wardrobe, but compared to my room at St John's in Hong Kong, this is pretty much heaven.
8. My new job, a barrister's assistant!
9. Ray and friends
10. God, because nothing else would be possible without Him. I surely do not deserve all this, There's many more people out there who work harder and are better people than me.

=====
EDIT

I forgot that I had to tag other people as well. So I nominate...people that read this blog and are also regular bloggers? I guess that would be Ray, David, Janice and Chr0n0.

So write an entry on your blog listing the top 10 things that make you happy. After that, post a comment on this entry, with a link back to your relevant blog entry ^_^.

(Come on, do it do it~~~~~Ray, if you don't do it, you're awfully lazy!)

Seoul Subways

2005-11-28T02:01:00.000+08:00

Flash subway map

Anguk - Subway signs

Train arrival

Subway interior

T-money

The Korean subway system is really quite complicated. Well to be exact, the routes are very complicated. Just look at the route map, the lines snake everywhere! It is not uncommon to have to change lines 3+ times to get to your destination. It makes it a bit impossible to doze off on the Seoul subway. Well, unless you want to miss your stop I guess. One has to be reeeeaally alert on the subway. Well, at least the subway goes pretty much *everywhere*.

Sometimes the station layout may seem a bit complicated too; even Mokeun got a bit confused at one stage :> (remember that time we accidentally exited the station and had to pay twice to get back in? XD)

YeonJung mentioned one time that one of the reasons why the routes were so complicated is because certain powerful people wanted the subway lines to come close to their properties, even at the expense of having a kinked route, so that the value of the properties would increase. Tsk! Power certainly corrupts.

The Seoul Metropolitan Subway is one of the most heavily used subway systems in the world, with over 8 million trips daily on the system's nine lines. The system serves Seoul and the surrounding Gyeonggi Province, with a connection to the Incheon subway system. Current total length of the subway system is about 287 km (not including Korea National Rail lines).

The metropolitan subway system began operation in 1974, with more lines added in the late 1970s and 1980s. More lines are still being added and extended today.

A station typically has a few platforms on different levels. But unlike Hong Kong's MTR, THERE ARE NO ESCALATORS. Walking up 2 flights of stairs when you're dead tired carrying luggage is no joke. It can also take up to 10 minutes to walk to a different platform, particularly when you're changing lines at a station that services more than 2 lines.

I guess the reason why there are no escalators is because these stations were built so long ago. HK's MTR system definitely looks newer and shinier. Hmm, perhaps the Seoul Metropolitan Rapid Transit Corporation should think about a bit of renovation. The stations, though clean, do look a bit dated, very 80's.

Ticket prices start at 900 won for a trip up to 12 km, with 100 won added for each 6 km after that. People may use a debit card called T-Money (similar to Hong Kong's Octopus or Singapore's EzyLink) to pay for fares. I love these tap debit cards! I've blogged about them before (scroll down to last paragraph in that post for relevant commentary).

As alot of credit cards in Korea also have the same chip used in T-money, many Koreans simply used their credit cards instead. Ahhh so useful~~

I heard that Melbourne was actually going to have these cards too! It's going to be rolled out in 2007 though, as they have to wait for the present ticketing contract to expire *_*. Oh well, by the time I move there after I graduate, it should be in place.

I look forward to going to "chat zhai"* in Melbourne to buy Calbee Okonomiyaki-flavoured potato chips, finding I don't have enough change, and using my new Victorian Smartcard to pay instead. (whoah, mega segue there!)

--------
References
Seoul Metropolitan Subway [wiki]

* �?�?, Hongkie slang for 7-eleven, lit. "seven kid". Incidentally, did you know 40% of today's 7-eleven stores are in Japan, and that a Japanese-based company bought a majority interest in the Texas-based company in 1991? Makes sense, really.

More USB goodness

2005-11-27T02:00:00.000+08:00

USB Smoke Extractor

I couldn't help putting this up too XD
This is a USB-powered cigarette smoke extractor. Double whammy! I never thought a cigarette smoke extractor could exist, and look, it's powered by USB too! Double points!

It costs ¥2,980, available from thanko.jp

Korean BBQ - YUM

2005-11-26T02:48:00.000+08:00

09/07/05 - BBQ #1

11/07/05 - BBQ #2

12/07/05 - BBQ #3

BBQ #3 - different cuts of meat

Kkaetyip

Well, of course being in Korea, we HAD to have the famous Korean BBQ!

We had it twice in Hong Kong, but it was always on the expensive side (HKD$100+), and the amount of salad provided was not free flowing. As I've mentioned before, kkaetyip (but the shopkeepers didn't understand me when I said that. But saying "kaenyip" works) is the best tasting leaf out there! When I heard I could have as much of it as I wanted in Korea, I was so happy. Game plan: ignore the boring lettuce, just chow down on the kaenyip!

So, during our 7 days in Seoul, we went for Korean BBQ three times! I still didn't think it was enough though :<

The first time we went was after going to Unhyeongung. This place was a short walk away from our Anguk lodgings, not more than a 15 minute walk away from the main Insadon street. It's near Jogno-Sam Ga station, in Jogno.

Normally two sauce are provided, one is a dwaenjjang (fermented bean paste)-based sauce. It's not bad. But the other sauce is incredible, especially considering how simple it is to make. Yes, it's that sesame oil sauce I'm so fond of! 4 parts sesame oil, 1 part salt and LOTS of ground white pepper too! Arrggh how can something so simple be so good! Now whenever I go for Korean BBQ in Adelaide, I ask for it. The manager (actually he'd from Hong Kong) always thinks I'm weird, but oh well XD.

For meat, we had 3-layered pork: a thick layer of fat, meat, and then fat again. So tasty. But oh so unhealthy...

The store was rather large, and the dining area was just one big square. When you go in, there are lots of little round tables set up with grillplates in the middle. Actually there is not much table space. If I remember correctly, they used actual charcoal here, but it was also gas-fired. What a good idea! Not only do you have the charcoal flavour, but you also avoid the long waiting times needed for the charcoal to start burning!

It was already pretty busy when we went there, and with all the sizzling going on, our clothes really stunk after that. We were pretty much the only customers actually eating rice and not drinking beer.

It ended up being 7,000 won per person. A bit more expensive than your average cheapo meal in Seoul, but hey, it's meat! Unfortunately, the store that day had already run out of kaenyip! I was bitterly disappointed, so I had to have BBQ again!

Barbeque #2 was the best we had. This place was a bit of a dive in one of the narrow alleys off the end of the main Myeondong shopping street. That's the end that's across the main road from the Lotte department store buildings. We met Rob after his work and had dinner in this place after a day of random window shopping.

The store had only 3 tables on the first level, but I think there was a seating area on the second floor too. Because it wasn't busy at all, the managress came out to cook a bit for us! I remember (I think) a bunch of Japanese tourists came in. Seemed to be a tour group, anyway they all tramped up to the second floor. After awhile, some other Japanese women came in too, but they were on their own an sat down at the table next to us. The Korean manager guy came out and talked to them in Japanese. Hmm, his Japanese was pretty good! Linguistical skills are so important!

Our meal came with some enoki mushrooms. I don't know if they charged us extra for that, but it was very yummy. Upon being told by Rob that we were foreigners, the manageress quite amusingly taught us how to eat Korean BBQ with all the sauces. She seemed pretty nice. Piping hot barbequed enoki mushrooms go soooooooo nicely with that sesame oil sauce -droooooool-

This time round, we had beef ribs and beef neck, if I remember correctly. These cuts were more expensive, but it was definitely worth it! The beef neck was the more expensive cut and boy was it good. So tender, so tasty~~~

Conclusion: there was kaenyip , there was the sesame seed oil sauce. I was so happy.

Dinner was 9,000 won per person, although Rob said it was an expensive area and that it would have been cheaper around Sinchon >_<

Barbeque #3 was just a lunch time thing, a few hours before we had to go to the airport. It was probably the most disappointing of the lot. We went to Sinchon to try to find a cheap Korean BBQ store, but somehow they all disappeared. We had to go down side streets and stuff. So yeah, we picked this very randomly.

On the manager's advice, we picked the mixed meat combination. It wasn't that good though, he should have recommended more expensive cuts *_*. The meat was at times a bit tough and tasteless. There was not enough tasty fat XD

There also was no sesame sauce, for some inexplicable reason. That soy sauce-based sauce just doesn't cut it. There was kaenyip though, so I forgave them.

The manager was actually pretty friendly. He knew a bit of English. Apparently when he was a much younger man, he actually went to Adelaide! He even went to one of those native animal parks; perhaps it was Cleveland Wildlife Park, because he mentioned patting a Koala and that's the only native animal park I know of in SA that has that.

I remember being chuffed at being able to practice some of my Korean there.
"Chogio!" - excuse me!
"chanmul?" - cold water. Of course I don't know how to say "can I have some cold water please", so I just sort of said it with a question mark to minimise the rudeness.

The guy also served us a bowl of chige which we couldn't finish because 1. we were already pretty full and 2. gahhh they are all so hot!

I thought it was on the house at first, but on checking the bill, which came up to 15,000 won for two people, I wasn't so pleased. I think it added at least 2,500 won to the bill. May not seem like much (about US$2.50) but we were really down to our very last won there. I had to give up a few purchases because of lack of cash >_<

Okonomiyaki!

2005-11-25T02:44:00.000+08:00

Okonomiyaki with chicken breast

Okonomiyaki with bits of smoked salmon

I love okonomiyaki. I've had it about 5 times this week already, and I'm still not completely sick of it! I think the secret is not to eat too much. As long as you don't feel full at the end of your meal, you will always crave more ^_^.

My okonomiyaki is a bit weird though. I don't use cabbage, but shredded carrots. I've always found cabbage very fiddley. It's hard to wash (and then it ends up all wet too!) and very fiddley to cut. Carrots are so much easier to handle, and then I normally just chuck them into the food processor to grate them. Easy! I think carrots are tastier too...

The okonomiyaki ends up looking rather orange, but oh well, small price to pay.

Normally, I also prefer it Kansai instead of Hiroshima style. Mixing it all into one batter is just easier. With Hiroshima style, yakisoba noodles are normally put inside as well. But that's just weird! Noodles (starchy stuff) inside a pancake (even more starchy stuff)?!

Favourite fillings: Kimchi and prawns. Yeah, fusion!

Style of eating: So much okonomiyaki sauce and QP mayonnaise that you can't see the okonomiyaki base anymore. Then, so much bonito flakes, aonori and sesame seeds that you can't see the sauce and mayonnaise anymore. It's very bad to eat a well-dressed okonomiyaki in a drafty room - all my bonito flakes and aonori will go flying everywhere!

e-flo loves useless usb devices

2005-11-24T14:37:00.000+08:00

iSharpener

Actually, ever since I saw the electric pencil sharpener in my elementary school (Wildwood Elementary, Massachusettes), I've harboured a secret love for electrified normally-mechanical devices. The electric stapler gun is another example. And the auto shredder...

Ahem.

So anyway, not only does this device sharpen your pencils, there are actually built-in flashing LED lights too! Bookworm cool? "People still use pencils?".

The iSharpener can also be powered by normal AA batteries and costs ¥1,980.

iShaver

Another product in the iSharpener family is the iShaver.

"The iShaver is a men's [sic] shaver that charges through the USB port. Thankfully yes, once it is charged up you can use it independently from the computer, so all of you who envisaged standing at your bathroom mirror whilst your laptop dangles from your chin repeatedly hitting you in the balls, can breathe a sigh of relief."
--[Gizmodo].

The iShaver will set you back ¥2,980.

USB Nail Care System

The slightly less Apple-rific "USB Nail Care System" is an electrical nail buffer thingy. It also costs ¥2,980.

Family 3 Item Set
�??�??�?� [For Papa] ~�??�??�?� [For Mama] ~ �??�?��?� [For Me]

All three items are available as a bundled family pack, all for the low, low price of ¥3,980. How could one resist?

Amusingly, the site states that all three items can run under both Windows and Macintosh.

Well you know, it may not be such a bad idea after all. If you travel alot, getting the right power adaptor can be annoying. What if you need the adaptor to charge up both your laptop *and* shaver? See with all these USB-powered devices, you only need that one power adaptor ^_^"

Let's take this further, let's have *all* electrical appliances run off USB! Instead of power points, we'll have USB ports, yeah! Not only can you power your devices, you can control them through the central home system computer server USB hub thingy! Now how cool would that be...I should try that! Maybe my house would get a design award like "Home of the Future" (or more likely it will be made fun off on sites like Gizmodo and Slashdot XD). I'd probably just run heaps of USB cables through the walls, then they will all plug into a scalable USB hub that is hidden away in some wardrobe. The USB hub will be powered with a suitable power pack, and perhaps a small form factor computer can be used to control the devices.

I, for one, welcome the day when I can power my USB-enabled iFridge through my laptop.

Disappointment

2005-11-22T19:24:00.000+08:00

Disappointed panda
Originally uploaded by Rock hopper.

Dear Evangeline,

I regret to inform you that your application for the Australia-KoreaInternship Program for 2005-6 has been unsuccessful. We received anoverwhelming response to the internship program, and due to the qualityof applicants, we were not able to find a place for you this year.Subject to the continued success of this program there may be a thirdprogram next year, and I would encourage you to consider re-applying forthat.
To keep in contact with RIAP's events, please sign up for furtherupdates at www.riap.usyd.edu.au/ypp.

=================

I feel like a hole has opened up.

Vodafone V604SH mobile - Watch TV on your phone!

2005-11-21T18:56:00.000+08:00

V604SH from Vodafone

Why does Vodafone Japan have such cool phones? >_< it's not fair~~~~~
The lack of variety in Australia is really quite disheartening.

This phone was released on the 19th of November. It has a clamshell design with a 2.4" 240 x 320 pixel display. It comes with a 3.2MP camera with 2x optical zoom as well as auto focus. Other colours it comes in are turquoise & black, white & silver and black & red.

It also comes with a 32mb mini SD card and weighs 144g. It hasa built-in FM tuner and get this, it has a analog TV tuner!!! #%^@%#$^%$^%$^

No more missing Iron Chef when I'm out on the weekend!

[Info from phoneyworld.]

It's not the best looking phone out there. It looks like a rather thick rectangular brick. But hey, considering all the features it has, I guess it's not too bad. The front looks a bit like a retro camera hey?

Some may say a TV tuner is really not necesary; if you're out, you should be enjoying yourself, right? I disagree though, you can never have too many cool functions on your phone XD. Iron Chef on the go! I wonder what the battery life would be though. These Japanese phones that do everything kill their batteries in a day. Compare that to those trusty Nokia bricks that last for days and days...

Oh and remember that Korean Internship thing? Still no word yet :/
Apparently they got so many applications that they said they couldn't decide until mid-week this week >_<. So much competition...can I get it? I am prepared to be disappointed!

E-flo loves HanguK ~Taste your summer~

2005-11-15T17:59:00.000+08:00

Summer Blue Sky
Originally uploaded by ibukuros.

My exams are (pretty much) over! Okay I have an Auditing exam on Dec 1 but that's far away, soooo...

It's hotting up to be summertime in Australia. I can really smell it on the breeze! Summertime music, lazy days on the beach (what? since when does Evane go outside in the fresh air, let alone in the DAYTIME and in the SUN??)~~

Hmm, I applied for this internship in Korea. You work as an intern in some business in Korea for 2 months (returning back to Australia in time for the next uni semester). They do provide a small allowance but that's it.

Anyway, the date for the announcement of successful applicants is the 18th, this Friday >.<

I really really hope I get it...
But if I do, that means I'll miss yet another Australian summer. Is this turning out to be a habit?

Of course, that will mean my holidays will be wiped out again. It's been ages since I've had a proper holiday. By "proper", I mean lazy days just doing nothing. I want to be bored out of my mind. I'm a bit like Rincewind I suppose: I don't want an interesting holiday!

I've been working or travelling for the past few years. And while it's all well and good (money + travel, yeah!), it is also quite tiring. Weird huh, I just want to be bored?

Speaking of not being bored, even though I have a temporary relief from schoolwork, I still have to mark exam scripts! Gah. One subject has 500 students, the other probably has at least 450 too. Management accounting isn't too bad to mark, because it's just a calculation question, but Accounting Method is a theory question and most students have totally missed the point. It can't be helped, seems like I have to fail most of them on that question >:D

Unhyeon-gung 09/07/05

2005-11-06T01:43:00.000+08:00

Unhyongung - Youngjung,
Rob, Ray

Unhyongung - Guesthouse

Unhyongung -
Guesthouse exterior

Unhyongung - Official Tree

Unhyeongung - Performance

On the 9th of July, we moved lodgings to Anguk Guesthouse in the Insadon/Anguk district. After checking in, we said good goodbye to Mokeun, who had to go back to his home town ;_;

After that, Rob and his girlfriend Youngjung took us to the nearby Unhyeon Palace (or Unhyeongung)

Gung means palace, as in Gyeongbokgung, Gyeongbok Palace. This is similar to the pronounciation for 'palace' in Mandarin too ('gong'). It's actually quite small, about the size of a rather large mansion. I like this palace. It was actually bustling with activity. There were dance troupes practicing in the halls, and some women doing traditional Korean craftwork. There was also a lot of work going on in preparation for the concert later that evening.

Contrast that to the dead musty halls of the Forbidden City. An empty palace feels sad; it illustrates the fact that every age will pass away, even something as powerful as the Chinese emperors once were (watch out CCP!).

Anyway, this palace was for the king's father, a very powerful former royal regent of the second last king, I think. At any rate, I'm pretty sure he was the father in law of Queen Min who was assasinated by the Japanese. He was her political enemy (he sides with the Japanese, Min with the Chinese), so he probably wanted this meddling woman put away. Jeez, royal politics. I don't think it was a good idea siding with the Japanese.

-Mentally points to Japanese repeated destruction, of Korean palaces and culture. Also, don't forget the Japanese ocupation (awww...who *wasn't* occupied by the Japanese in WWII...)-

He practically invited them into the country! Well siding with the Chinese probably wouldn't have been too good either. Oh well. It's a problem when you're a weak country...

Hmm, I get the impression he was a bit power-hungry, and possibly corrupt too. Well, when you've been the regent and basically control the whole country...I guess the power goes to your head. I guess even after handing over the reigns to the rightful king after he comes of age, and then having a meddlesome queen...he just couldn't help himself? Maybe I'm totally defaming him XD
-too lazy to actually go and look up the historical accounts-

Side note: The Japanese were horrible and cruel in World War II. Lots of old people still hate the Japanese. Yet the young people are completely entranced by Japanese culture (ahahahah.....
-sheepish-). I don't know what it is about them, if their culture wasn't so mysteriously attractive I'd probably still dislike the Japanese 'just because'. Yes, the Japanese we know now aren't the same as the ones back then, but it happened before, and history has a tendency to repeat itself. Especially if the current generation don't know what really happened.

SO, my point is, enough with the dodgy Japanese history textbooks! Enough with visiting Yasukuni Shrine. Yeah it doesn't *do* anything, just visiting it, but there is an implication that the government still hasn't faced up to its past. Apologise, correct the textbooks, and face up to it. Nobody's perfect, we don't expect you to be too. A loss of face is only temporary. Just get over it already.

Anyway, there was a cute little guesthouse. It is in a house detached from the main compound. Apparently only the most favoured got to stay here.

Rob's sitting on the porch just outside the guesthouse. I imagine it's in the same posture and style as many a visiting official would have sat, perhaps relaxing while on official business. Ghost from the past!

One hot day, the regent sat here under the tree. The regent loved the shade the tree gave so much he bestowed official status to the 3rd level (if I recall correctly). So it is an official tree. Not as in it is officially a tree, which would have been lame, but it is a tree with official status. Practically a yangban huh?

Well, I have nothing to say. But it is a very nice tree.

Again, we seemed to have very good timing. The event that evening is actually only an annual one! There was alot of traditional Korean dances, a storyteller, musical performances and traditional singing. The most entertaining part seemed to be the storytelling, pity it was in Korean. I wanted to pick up some information about the event, but all the English pamphlets were gone by the time I looked. Which is odd because I didn't see any obviously English speakers there. I bet some of those Koreans picked up the English one by accident and then just chucked it out :@ :@

Well, there was one billingual information sheet about Unhyeongung in general, but the English was rather dodgy. Rob commented that the Korean was very good though XD

The dances got a big boring after awhile, so we left halfway through. Swish here and there, repeat ad nauseum. See, the dancers weren't even very pretty, they were matron-shaped cakes of make-up...They really need to train up some young girls =_=.

But a really stand-out performance was the, literally, "3 things playing" (I think). It's called sanmul...something. It's an odd name, as there were more than 3 instruments playing. Even if you're only counting the front row drums. It's mainly an EXTREMELY energetic drum performance. Women can't play it because it requires too much muscle, apprently. But they can join in with the string instrument accompaniments in the second row. I suppose the occasional melodies in between furious drumming gives the drummers a chance to rest a bit. The guy with the cymbal (just to the left of the pole) was awesome.

How much is your blog worth?

2005-11-03T15:16:00.000+08:00

My blog is worth $564.54.
How much is your blog worth?

If you want to find out the numbers for your own blog, check it out here.

How do they figure it out? It's really just a rough estimation.

For comparison, yongfook's blog is worth $89,000.

=_=

Weird toilet observations

2005-11-03T02:04:00.000+08:00

Imjingang train station -
Soap onna stick

Inchon Airport -
Women's toilet in main
departures area

I've had assignments coming out of my ears these past couple of days (gaaaaarrr auditing sucks!! I never want to be an auditor!! >_<). So here's just a quick post.

Toilets are very important, and can really make or break a stay in a foreign country, particularly when you're female. I guess guys just use the toilets and run away. Consider: the toilets in Beijing are terrible, so you walk around all day with a bursting bladder, only willing to go to a toilet in a decent place (ie only hotels). Well, you're not going to really enjoy your stay. It's either a bursting bladder or walk around extremely thirsty as you try to ration yourself so you don't have to go to the toilet so often XD. At least while we were in China it was summer and terribly hot. I cut down on water, so I think all my consumed water came out in my sweat, hardly had to go to the toilet, no bad toilet experiences (except for the train >_<)

Okay, on with the observations. First toilet observation: You know how it's disgusting using bar soap at public toilets because normally it's all water-logged and mushy? Well I guess soap-onnna-stick (TM) would solve this (the soap is the blue thing). I've seen this at a few toilets, so it's not just one weird toilet. I didn't use it though. I have a prejudice against bar soap. You don't know who else has touched that soap >_<.

Second toilet observation: Some Korean toilets are so cool. I'm guessing they just imported the weird toilet technology from Japan. The first guesthouse we stayed in in Seoul had a really complicated toilet, but hmm, they actually switched the advanced electronics all off, so you still had to just flush normally. Bit of a pity, really.

Anyway, here's the toilet in the departure/arrivals terminal in Inchon International Airport. It's not high-level oh-I-can't-even-figure-out-how-to-flush-this-#%^$#%^$@%-thing complicated, but it did have some nice touches catered to public toilet usage.

The first feature is the automatic seat protector. You press a button, and the plastic sheet covering on the toilet seat changes. It slides from left to right, ensuring that you have a nice, clean, hygenic visit.

I actually I studied the instructions on the wall carefully before pressing anything. You don't want anything untoward happening in a locked toilet cubicle XD

There is also an etiquette bell that emits an extremely LOUD flushing sound, thus masking any unpleasant noises you may make while going about your business. I don't think I would care what random strangers in the toilet may think of the sounds I may make, but hey, a service is a service.

Eh, this entry ended up being decently long...

Chabudai-gaeshi! - A Sylvanian Photostory (I have too much time on my hands...)

2005-10-30T23:03:00.000+08:00

I love miniatures, especially the ones produced by Re-ment. Re-ment's Puchi Sample series is most famous for its food miniatures. However, it has also produced a few miniature supermarket series, cleaning products and medicines, cookware, electrical appliances and a mini kitchen (where else to cook your mini food!?) with a stove top and oven. Oh yes, and there are also kitchen cabinets, a refrigerator and also one of those supermarket vegetable chillers.

I love miniatures so much I plan to make my own miniature furniture too XD
I recently got a DIY dollhouse book on eBay. Well, more accurately, "it is a reference book for miniture accessories for a Japanese-style dollhouse. It also reproduces a typical Showa Era street and introduces 22 scenes of nostalgic (natsukashiii na~~~~~) Japanese scenery." That's the blurb on the eBay page. I don't really know what I'm getting, but I really want to make that sushi bar they have on the book scan there! I hope it's not just something that tells me how to make the sushi alone >_<. I want to make a whole building and furniture!! That will give me the perfect backdrop for my lovely miniature food ^_^.

Chabudai-gaeshi (�?��??�?��?��?�??) is when someone overturns the little tables the Japanese sit at. This page gives some amusing information on it. Also, if you want to try out chabudai-gaeshi yourself, without the mess, download this (175kb, from YSI, expires in a week). After you download it, rename the extension from .zip to .exe and away you go. 2 seconds of fun.

Anyway, because I can't obsess over making a dollhouse RIGHT NOW (got to wait till the book arrives >_<), I decided to play around with my miniature food a bit. For those unfamiliar with the Re-ment catalogue, I've really mixed and matched the food sets up to make it more interesting. But they're kind of boring on their own still, so I decided to dig up my ancient Sylvanians to be the actors of this half-assed storyline! Yes, I actually own Sylvanians! I didn't know that that's what they were called until my friend got temporarily obsessed with them though. I got this pig family set years ago when I was maybe 6? Before 1990, anyway (because I'm pretty sure I got them before I went to America). o.O that makes them 15 years old!! If you look closely at them, you'll see they're actually in very bad condition. The clothes are frayed, the bodies of the toys themselves are dark with dirt and the fur has been scraped off in some places...but I was a kid then! What do you expect a kid to do to them >_<

So, without further ado, I present: "Chabudai-gaeshi!"
(Beware: EXTREME half-assedness in the storyline)

1: Just about to have a bite of dinner
Sylvanian Pig Family Mom and Pops are enjoying a nice okonomiyaki dinner out, away from the kids. After what feels like a long wait, the okonomiyaki has just been cooked and Mom is just about to start eating.

2: Something's staring at my butt
Mom: Hmm, something's staring at my butt.
Neko-chan: Ji~~~~~~~

3: Chabudai-gaeshi!!
Pops: What?! The waiter's staring at your butt? GRRRRRRR!! Super power... CHABUDAI GAESHI!

4: @#%@$%$$%#^$%&@%@$%@!&&*)(&??!
Mom: You...you.... PIG! I was so looking forward to eating this! Oh, and...this is HOT!

5: Cat toss
Mom: My vintage gingham apron is ruined now! Super power...NEKO THROW!

6: WANNA DIE?!
Mom: You're DEAD!
Pops: Oops, Ineedtogotothetoilet,BYE!
Neko-chan: My tail!
Mom: I don't care if I squash your tail, why were you staring at my butt anyway?!

7: The Trip and Victory!
Mom: Victory! You shall now buy me WHATEVER and HOWEVER much I want to eat to compensate for the lost okonomiyaki!
Pops: Ooof! Tripped on the container of bonito flakes and aonori >_<

8: Victory compensation
Mom: BUHAHAHA! First course: ikura, uni and amaebi don!
(does that dish even exist?)
Mom:...and a side serving of freshly cracked UNI!

9: Second course - zaru soba
Pops: -tummy grumbling- I'm really eyeing that last bit of soba!!
Mom: Muhahaha! None for you! Get your own!

10: Last course
Mom: Aaaaah...tai sashimi~~~ iinaa~~~ All this yummy chilled sake helps too!
Pops: Boohoo. You're such a pig! I can only afford a fast food hamburger now >_<

Insadon

2005-10-30T03:00:00.000+08:00

Anguk Guesthouse

Anguk Guesthouse - detail

Insadon - traditional house

Insadon - courtyard interior

Insadon street

On 17 July, which was a Sunday, we moved our lodging from some hostel to a nice guesthouse in a traditional Korean house near Insadon. Insadon is the traditional, cultural part of Seoul, there are alot of shops selling Korean souvenirs, like paintings, tea ware, etc etc. The main shopping street is surrounded with traditional-style Korean buildings. Alot seem to be restaurants and some are private dwellings. I passed by a tea school as well.

It's a lovely area, I really wish I had more time to walk around it slowly. Really wish I had the time to take more photographs of the place. In fact, I always think that. This year whenever I travelled, I always had this feeling that we were rushing around to see everything we could. But I guess that is unavoidable, it would be a waste not to see everything we could have. It just means I'LL BE BACK to take a more leisurely stroll this time :>

The place we stayed at is called "Anguk Guesthouse". This place was one of the sets for a very popular Korean drama on TV. One of the characters supposedly "lived" here. It is a very nice house, it feels very warm. I like how there's so much wood. I also like how these traditional houses always have a courtyard in the middle. Gives everyone some breathing space, I suppose. But boy does it echo alot. All that hollow wood really should be filled up with padding so you don't hear everyone's footsteps. And paper doors aren't very good at stopping sound transmission >.>

I remember the drunk ~~American~~ British girls coming back at 5am and talking (no screaming excitedly) on the phone.

The rates were pretty reasonable too, I thought. It came down to about 25,000 won per person per night. But there was a private bathroom and a computer with internet broadband connection in each room. There is also breakfast (cook your own) and the fridge is well-stocked. It's basically like a normal house, with a kitchen that you can use whenever. The fridge was packed with milk, juices, sausages, bacon and so on. And there was bread and fresh fruit too. The owner said that instead of paying exorbitant credit card fees, he preferred to spend the money ono providing more fruit and food. Yes, only cash is accepted.

We had to hoard our money, just in case we ran out of cash XD. I just left what I had to pay locked up and stashed in my luggage in the inn, in case I accidentally spent the money...

I had the same feeling I had in Beijing, I wish I had more cash with me...

Thank goodness I had my "credit card" though.

At the end of the trip, I did get hit with alot of credit card international exchange fees though >_<. I guess it can't be helped though.

Nore bangs and hofs

2005-10-24T00:07:00.000+08:00

Traditional Korean Drinking
Hole

After Soundday, we met up with Mokeun's friends from his cafe. It was actually the going-away party for one of the guys. He was supposed to fly to Japan the next day for some sort of language course, for a few months.

We met them at a nore bang (I've blogged about this before, which is a good thing because I had forgotten alot of details!). It was pretty interesting, it was the more traditional type, I suppose, since you had to sit on the floor and take off your shoes (but most karaoke places are not like this). The singing was really loud and the echo was .... must have been set to max!

After that, they decided to go to a traditional Korean type drinking hole/pub (hof). They managed to persuade the guy who was leaving to come along, even though he had an early morning flight the next day XD

The hof was designed in a very rustic style, with paper walls and mud clay walls. The seating areas were raised off the floor on platforms and covered with straw rope mats. You had to take off you shoes to get to the seating areas. We sat on thin cushions at low tables.

The Korean cloudy rice wine is really interesting and quite drinkable. It's pretty sweet. It was served in a large clay pot, and then it was served out into individual earthenware cups with a gourd ladle. But what I really liked about it was the food that came along with it XD

They had large strips of 'new' kimchi (only seasoned for a few days, not really fermented yet) you actually had to cut into bits yourself with scissors. There were alse leaves of chinese cabbage that you could dip into a spicy dwaenjjang paste, a simple clam soup, and they also ordered a kimchi pancake. The kimchi pancake was great!! I need to eat more of that!

It was still rather drizzly when we left. We took a cab back home and slept, we were so tired, and we were going to move lodgings the next day.