Frankly for the average wage-earners Malaysians everything in Japan or Korea is expensive. That lies true for food, produce, products and transportation as well as accommodation.
While I agree that Korean fashion can be rather trendy (ahem, taste is subjective) & chic and not just frills and lace (though there were plenty of that as well), it was by no means cheap or affordable.
Like every traveler I learnt and discover about its ingrained culture in every country that I set foot upon. Korea is no different. While Seoul the ever popular tourist destination gets the limelight with its grand palaces and iconic shopping districts, Busan the 2nd largest city in Korea has its own charms and notable landmarks.
Since it was a media familiarisation trip, we had to cover some touristy destinations but it was easy to see why they are an attraction.
First is the Haedong Yonggungsa Temple right at the cliffs of beach. Half of its charm and mystic lies in its location, a serene and scholarly temple perched on top of jutting rocks facing the merciless strong waves.
From Asakusa area (where I started my Japan adventure), I picked up some bearings of Japan along the way as I mixed with my friends in my Sakura Hostel.
As you know, my first and second day were quite alright as I had Thomas and Chong to show me around. Though still a bit lost, I eventually got a hang of the subways and areas in Tokyo.
By the 5th day, I had to move out of Asakusa to Ikebukuro since I managed to get myself a discounted ticket on the famous overnight bus; the Willer Express to Osaka. As usual the bus ticket booking was last minute, but it turned out well as it got me qualified for a discounted ticket to Osaka 🙂
The bus station at Sunshine City is nearby, so I figured that I might as well uproot myself from the Asakusa area and force myself to explore other areas of Tokyo.
My train ride from Asaskusa to Ikebukuro cost me 230 Yen – RM9.20.
Lugging around my huge heavy 15kg luggage in the subway is no joke. Well, that’s solo travel for you.
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Today I’m feeling pensive as I sit here starting on another post of my experience of Busan, Korea. Today my countrymen turned out in full force and in high hopes of change and for a better country.
Change.
Just 2 weeks before I stood facing the Korea’s largest canola flower fields along the Nakdong River in Changnyeong, South Gyeongsang.
“The blooming of the canola flowers signals the arrival of spring and a new season. A season of change“, says my Korean friend.
*Panorama shot of the rapeseed flower field.
A fan of Ploy since its early inception as pla dib @ The Heritage Village, Seri Kembangan, I have visited a few times for events at its current outlet in Damansara. 
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Did you remember my post and my cry for help on my FB after my hair colouring session earlier this year? Remember how I regretted the red streaks on the surface of my hair? Yes, I loved the multi-layered colours, but it was the eye-hurting red streaks at the very top that was so “ah-lian” that I had to hide my hair by tying it up for weeks after that!
Just today I dropped in at the Blackberry Q10 media briefing and launch and laid both my eyes and hands on the Q10, the first Blackberry 10 smartphone with QWERTY keyboard.
Savour 2013, World Gourmet Summit 2013 & now Gourmet Japan 2013! Singapore has so many cool gourmet events!
Heck, I might consider moving down to Singapore soon. 🙂
