Left: Sayur Kacang (AUD14.50), lightly steamed vegetables and tofu generously topped with our peanut satay sauce. It’s expensive and didn’t taste good, those vegetables only cost less than a dollar or so -.-” None of us like it. Even the rice and noodle were cheaper than this dish.

Right: Phad Thai (AUD11.90), Thai fried rice noodle with chicken, shrimp, eggs, tofu bean sprouts with or without fresh chilli. It’s spicy even for the Koreans. They ordered medium spicy. They said it tasted good.

Left: Seafood Nasi Goreng (AUD11.90), seafood, fried with rice, chilli, garlic, ginger, fresh herbs and sprouts. Absolutely different. It’s spicy according to someone who isn’t very good in eating spicy food but I’m not sure how spicy. It was good also.

Right: Those who were with me, I’m behind the camera *lol* Three Korean guys (only one is our program buddy, the other two were his friends) with one Vietnames girl, one Chinese girl, and one Malaysian girl. I’m the oldest of them all ;p

Overall, the price is a bit on the higher end. Food portion is rather small with the price. However, so many people said that it’s good. *SHRUG* I didn’t eat so I don’t know. Will I give this placea second chance? Well… Maybe provided I’m not the one paying.

I’ve been trying to get my hand on nude colour nail polish for ages and finally bought this. Many people complimented it and one of the buddies actually asked me whether she could use it or not. Really love this colour.

Applied at least 2 layers to achieve this effect. One layer isn’t enough. The brush isn’t too big or too small, just right for my small fingernails. It lasted about 3-4 days before it chipped resulted from using a lot of my hand for washing and also waitressing.

Good nail polish, great colour, and affordable. ARG! Should buy more.

Then, half way through the meeting, I got an invitation for Korean dinner from my “long lost” friend. Of course I agreed! I thought I will never hear from him again after what happened 2 months back. In fact, we managed to cooked dinner 3 nights ago at his place. Yummy! Also, it’s great to finally get to cook in a nice, clean, and spacious kitchen with gas stove instead of hotplate.

Anyway, we had problem choosing which Korean restaurant to go near my place. First, we went to check out Koreajung and found that they do serve kimchi jeon. Then, we decided to check out another Korean restaurant before deciding.

We went to the one near the uni and they did not serve kimchi jeon yet my friend’s main aim is to have that. He’s been talking about it since I got back from Korea. Ended up after quite a bit of discussion in this second restaurant after sitting down checking the menu, I told him we better go back to Koreajung at 13 Leigh Street which we checked out earlier on.

The food in Koreajung is quite expensive, the atmosphere suggested that too. Oh well, I’m not the one paying, I’m not complaining ;p

Left: Potato jeon, complimentary by the restaurant. I think I know how to make this, I once accidentally made pancake like this and tasted like this but not with potato *LOL* Anyway, nothing to rave about this. It’s on quite an oily side. There’s also a bottle of complimentary ice tea.

Right: The main reason we came back, kimchi jeon (AUD15). It came out really fast. Not bad, very yummy. It’s spicy but not too spicy. It’s fine with me. However, for those who have low level of spiciness tolerance, it would be rather spicy for them. It was good but AUD15, it’s pretty highly priced but what to expect? It’s located at this high end street.

Left: It took us quite awhile to decide on our meat dish and ended up with spicy fried pork with vegetables (AUD27). The vegetables were just red and green capsicums and lots of onion. Quite spicy, much spicier than the kimchi jeon. It’s sweet as well. Great to go with rice. Not to forget the side dishes that came with it. The steam rice cost AUD2/bowl.

Right: Me! Hahaha… Sitting next to the huge mirror. Can’t help it but camwhored. I forgot my camera, so all these were taken with my phone. I have no habit of bringing my camera out now, I know… It’s bad.

I’m a happy girl last night surrounded by food and friends.

Lastly, well… I personally won’t go back for the reason of the price and slightly smaller portion. Food taste wasn’t bad but not the best. I don’t mind if to go back again if I’m not the one paying ;p

I got no idea Kind Spring Chinese Restaurant actually has hotpot and it’s AUD22/person all you can eat. It’s been there at Hindley Street for ages and I never knew about that, just not far opposite KBox and KFC. However, AUD22 for dinner is considered a luxury for me. I don’t do this always. It’s really expensive.

Overall, it was quite good. You need to order what you want for the hotpot and you can order as much as you can eat. Don’t mind to go back again but it won’t be anytime in near future, too expensive. I’m so broke here.

It wasn’t that far from the city. It’s an award winning playground. Hmm… I don’t see the how it is award-winning. There’s nothing much interesting except some nice sceneries for photography. I went there with those from church. We had BBQ there.

It was cold and wet! I only wore a short sleeves t-shirt with windbreaker -.-” Didn’t expect it to be that cold as it’s not supposed to on that day. I was sick also, it wasn’t a good combination at all.

Finally at aroun 11.30am, the sun came out! YAY!

The playground for young and old. There’s flying fox, spiral slide, giant wave slide, monorail and maze.

The scenery.

The popular pirate ship.

Views from on top of the spiral slide.

The main reason I was there was the BBQ ;p Hehehe… I care more about the food than the playground. These are just some, there’s more such as fried rice, curry, salad, and more. Delicious food!

At around 3pm, we called it a day and went back home. Was so tired. Didn’t sleep much as I went home at around 1.30am the night before and had to wake up so early for 9.30am trip. Was sick also, I went back and straight away went for the bed for a nap. At least I went somewhere during the holiday. I’ve been pretty bored lately.

I was at the airport very early, my flight should be around 9pm but the others at 4pm+. While in the airport, I thought I want to claim the tax back for my purchases but at the end I did not because I need to go to the other terminal and I was feeling very lousy, feeling sick. So I thought I would do it in Incheon International Airport. Since the purchases were exceeding the liquid allowance, I opened my check-in luggage to store them in there. I was extremely tired mentally and physically. I didn’t realize I lost my key.

Once all my friends boared their flight. I was left alone. Goodness! The airport was small, didn’t have much to do. Besides, I thought of just sitting there doing nothing but with so many luggage, they really made me no mood. Finally I saw that I could check-in my luggage already, I quickly went to the check-in counter to check in so that I didn’t need to take care of that big luggage. When I was near the counter, I asked one of the staff there whether I could really check in since my flight was hours away. He joked with me, “check-in? not flying early?”, I just laughed. I went to the counter, the lady checked my ticket and she told me there’s a flight at 5.30pm, it’s quite empty and asked me whether I wanted to change or not. I told her I want to provided no charge and I got on the flight! 4 hours earlier! WEEE! I quickly went to the departure hall. I was lucky, the flight was delayed due to technical problem that’s why I could get on it. Thank God!

Goodbye Busan…

Hello Seoul! Gimpo International Airport… It’s kind of sucks since my luggage could only check-in till here because there’s no code sharing between the airlines I’m flying. The consquences when you just want to get the cheapest flights. Dragged and carried 3 heavy luggage, walked all the way from the airport to the train station. It was not easy with me feeling very sick but I managed to get to Incheon International Airport. I tried to take a nap in the train but didn’t really manage to do so because was quite worried if I missed my stop. Once I reached the Incheon International Airport, I was extremely exhausted. I knew my flight would be next day very early in the morning, at about 6am, so I took the opportunity to sit down and rest as much as I could. So… Now I need to wait for almost 12 hours for my flight to Singapore instead of the initial 6 hours. Crazy! Can you imagine? I took the long waiting time to figure out where to get the tax return. Found it but guess what?!?! I couldn’t find my key! DAMN! I was stressed enough already, now with this?!? Luckily it’s not the main compartment. At the end, I didn’t get my tax returend. Good thing, it’s not much.

Then, a thought hit me, “let’s see if there’s any flight going out tonight?”. Thank God again! The last flight out to Singapore, at 12.10am! I quickly went to the counter with my almost very last bit of energy to ask whether I could change my flight to earlier flight. I was so sick already, I didn’t want to sleep in the airport anymore, Seoul was so cold! I rather sleep on the plane. My voice changed, very obvious, I was sick. The staff was great! They knew I’m not feeling well, they quickly check whether I could change to earlier flight and I got it! Even assign the seats in the middle, one whole row, 4 seats for myself and told me I could lie down to sleep on the flight. Amazing! Then I asked whether I could change my flight from Singapore to Adelaide to an earlier flight since I would be in Singapore for about 17 hours instead of 11 hours. They told me the earlier flight was fully booked! WHAT??! I knew this would going to be a lousy flight back to Adelaide. As for my flight, it was also fully booked! Then it hit on me that Australians were going home after the long Christmas’ break! -.-”

At least when I’m in Singapore, I have friends and relatives there. I could go over to my relative’s house to get my needed shower and rest before embarking on the next flight back to Adelaide. Luckily it’s Singapore for transit. Phew… It was first day of CNY some more! I spent all my new year’s eves in Korea’s airports while my first day of the new years in two different countries.

So… 6 hours flight to Singapore began… Goodbye Korea! I slept throughout the flight, it was a bumpy one but I didn’t bother. I was just too tired.

When I was in Singapore, I went to my cousin’s place to kill my time, showered, lunched, slept. No CNY celebration. Then at 4pm, my friend came to pick me up and we went straight to the airport, they bought CNY goodies for me to eat since I won’t get to eat any in Australia and I didn’t get to go home for it. Thank you so much for everything!

That’s the end of my cultural exchange journey at Busan.

I don’t want to go back so soon is not because I don’t like Kuching, I love it. Just that I’ve been spending almost 3 decades there, I need to experience something different. I still have a lot to discover and learn. There’s no such opportunities if I go back home. Well… You can always say I can always experience different thing in other cities in Malaysia or Singapore but these places are just not where I want to be. It’s either home or here (Australia in general).

The only way for me to stay longer with less money needed is to continue to do PhD. I’m still not very sure I will be able to cope with it or my research interest. All still very vague. Anyway, money is evil! If not because of it, I won’t have to struggle whether to stay or not to stay. It’ll make my decision making so much easier.

Weather here is getting cold and wet. It’s miserable aih… Almost all my friends graduated and go home for good. Used to have many friends here but now everyone has gone home. So sad.

Anyway, life still goes on. Struggling with this silly assignment. Never feel so confused and helpless in my study.

We went for lunch at Lotteria, the McD of Korea. Saw it everywhere but never got the chance. Must have it before going back, else the trip won’t be considered complete.

I ordered the lunch set meal, I think it’s the Giant Double Burger Set,less than KRW6000! So cheap! Since mine had 2 patties, they need to used the cardboard to maintain the shape of the burger. It’s not really that giant though ;p It’s rather small, smalle than Big Mac. Very interesting. The taste wasn’t bad. Compare with McD, hmm… I would go for this.

At night, I went with another roommate to meet up with two of the buddies. We had Korean BBQ. Lovely!

Food was great. The companies were great too! I don’t remember the overall total of the dinner but if I’m not mistaken, I paid about KRW7000-8000. Food here is just great! Big in portion, cheap in price! Of course, I refer to if you are spending AUD or USD ;p

After dinner, we went for coffee. Final night in Busan. Went to this cafe near the uni. Very unique. With Music Box where you can request for songs.
Our coffee, not sure why only 3 hahaha… Should be 4. Anyway, also ordered a basket of snacks.

We wrote a message and pasted it on the window. One day, if I have the chance to go back, I’ll see whether this note will still be there. The notes there actually dated years back! Interesing!

I have no idea what’s the name of the places and the exact locations. It’s all near the uni. What to do? Most things are in Korean, it’s so hard to remember the name of the places and didn’t even bother to find out the names *LOL* Mentally too tired already.

That’s how I spend my final night in Busan.

Each uni has a representative. It’s not volunteered though ;p It’s chosen and some were reluctant to go up but at the end still went up and made a great speech! So touching, made us all so teary.

There were awards also such as the most popular, the most photogenic, the best PPT presentation, the best video presentation and so on. I did not win anything hehehe…

We got to go up the stage to get our certificate. Nice folder! Don’t even have this for my uni.

Group photo! Missing two people as their flights were early in the morning.

Left: After that, we all went to Mr. Pizza for lunch. The uni arranged it. No more cafetaria food. Then after lunch, many people left to pack to go to the train station. More people leaving. We left and to bid farewell to them at the hostel lobby. It’s was crazy! So many tears involved. Gonna miss. At least they’re from Melbourne, I’ll still have the chance to meet them Not those from Ireland though. However, if I get the chance to go to UK, one of my plans if I go back to Malaysia for good, then I’ll meet them.

Right: Impromtu dinner. I was supposed to go to the cafetaria for dinner because I didn’t manage to get back in time after accompany a friend to so last minute shopping. Ended up my buddy had to call up the others to check where they are so that I could join them for dinner. By the time I reached there, they’re almost done. Oh well… Ssambap for dinner. It’s quite expensive though.

The final night at the dorm. Many people were busy packing for the flight early in the morning or later in the afternoon. I was busy packing too so that can check out tomorrow morning (Saturday) to the hotel in the uni as my flight was on Sunday. Many were busy saying goodbye to those leaving early in the morning instead I just stayed in the room packing, shower, and sleep. Was so tired, losing steam already. I didn’t get to say goodbye to many but I’ll be meeting them anyway once I’m back in Australia except those from US and Barcelona.

It was such a big day. 3-week program was over in no time. I’m so glad I was given chance to join this program. Happy to be a part of it.

We were all starving after the long church service and I totally forgot about taking photos of the food -.-” Hence what you see here are the last few things we had and look very unappetising because it’s already eaten ;p. Even forgot to take photos of the place hehehe…

What to expect with such price? The salmon was so thinly sliced and presentation was very not appetising. We ordered salmon salad and there’s only pathetically 2-3 small pieces of salmon. So if you want to make sure you eat enough to cover the cost you are paying, order more *LOL* Even the takoyaki was mainly flour.

All you can eat, so you can eat as much as you want but don’t put any high expectation on this place. I don’t think I’ll go back unless have to. However if you really want something cheap and not fussy about the quality, then why not? There is no way you can get such cheap Japanese food in Adelaide.

Remember, no wastage allow, don’t over-order. The food was not on the kaiten, you have to order them and then they will make it. Also, you only have 1 hour to eat!