A trip down memory lane | Mount Kinabalu Park, Borneo

It's been a while, I'm finally home ( weird because technically I'm writing this in Singapore but you get the point. I'm narrating. Moving on..)

The days went by and I practically just shut myself at home. Literally left the house only to run errands and a lil bit of work outs. But basically just relishing being back home.

This trip to Mt Kinabalu Park was a great getaway, I was able to witness the majestic sight of the mountain post earthquake as well as just spending some quality time with the parents. Without further ado, here's some of the pictures I got whilst up there in the midst of nature and it's beauty.

My dad brought us to this trail that apparently was the trail he used to bring my siblings and I to when we were kids. This is the stream that flows along a bridge at the main entrance to the trail. 

Everything just looks, so

Green. 

Oh, dad found this ant or termite trail and I thought it was pretty gross! Ha, I hate little crawly things. 

Dad was fascinated with the roots that provided natural steps for the trail

Green. Again.

Introducing my beautiful Omma! 

My witty Abba!

( Randomly picks up branches and asks ' Do I look like a deer?' )

No trip can be complete without a SELFIE

And, finally. Mount Kinabalu.

Scars from the recent earthquake that sent landslides, boulders and loose rocks crashing down the mountain side destroying anything in its path as well as taking some precious lives. Till this day I can't imagine such heartbreaking event to have ever occurred so close to home. 

As a child I've always looked up and saw The mountain sitting so majestically swathed with trails of pearly white clouds, the pride of our land. Now, as we look upon her scars it'll bring a new sense of emotions, different for each individual and as for me, it'll be a heartfelt respect for nature and what has came from it. To know that we don't own nature but we're just mere beings that gained a temporary gift to dwell in this earth we can call Home.

Mount Kinabalu will forever be sat on her throne, looking upon the city of Kota Kinabalu. And we can always look up from wherever we are and remember,

 Tinggi-tinggi Gunung Kinabalu, Tinggi lagi sayang sama Kamu. 

2015 Year in review

It's 01/01/2016 ! 

The New Year has arrived and all the anticipation and celebration of a new year and a new season will soon fade away. Life continues on and eventually some of us/ most of us will be too caught up in the busyness of our daily lives that we forget the little events/ memories and people we've come across that inevitably shaped us to be who we are.

I try to make it a point to reflect back on the past as a reminder of what I've experienced. It doesn't necessarily have to be life changing but I guess it's always good to just appreciate what I've got and to be grateful of the many opportunities that have come my way, Big or Small. 
* Or maybe I'm just procrastinating from studying for mid- terms 

Here's a review of my 2015~

1. Road Trip_Norway, Oslo- Bergen

Norway, words can't describe how beautiful this country is and how amazing it felt to be able to make a trip to this land full of richness and breathtaking landscapes.
The trip was made even special with the company that I had! A road trip from Oslo to Bergen where we drove through sketchy roads, sunny spells and mini blizzards.

Visit my blog post Norwegian Vibes for a more detailed entry of my experience
My travel video Norwegian Vibes | Road Trip

Ft. behind the scenes

The Crew

Our Trusty Companion Mr Polo

Travelling to Norway for 5 days was just a taster of what it has to offer and I can't wait for more adventures to this beautiful part of the world!
To be in the midst of nature and the elements of the surrounding makes it feel so surreal but somehow I feel more alive than ever before!

2. Building the mini Gherkin

As part of my 3rd year Civil Engineering module, we were given the option of choosing this 7 day construction field course after the end of term. Without any hesitation I jumped on the opportunity albeit daunting with the task ahead.
Few weeks before the field course were to commence, we went through the initial nitty gritty of pre-work that included choosing roles, work planning, team member meetings with supervisors etc. etc.

Then came the week of our field course with all our documents and permits approved/ signed off. The construction was underway. We had groups and sub-groups working on different tasks simultaneously. We were also blessed with sunny weather throughout the week which is rare in this country called E-N-G-L-A-N-D.
Each day we were up by 7am and worked all the way into evening or until our scheduled work was done. I think being out in the open and working as a team you just learn to SUCK IT UP and get on with work because given the time limit of just 5 and 1/2 days of completing our structure, it was nearly impossible.
Day by day we saw our structure taking form and finally the last day came when the crane lifted up our final piece (The Dome) in place and we were able to go into our Mini Gherkin and enjoy the view from up top.
Even though by the end of the week I was left with cuts( now scars still evident) and bruises as well as a bad cold as I look at what we've accomplished as a team in that short few days, I can't help but feel a sense of pride! Ultimately this experience gave me a whole new understanding and perspective of the industry i'm about to delve into.

It all started with a bare piece of land

The final hour before hand in of our project.

Lifting of the last structure Dome

3. LLLeeds club team

Throughout Spring - Summer I had the opportunity of playing Ultimate Frisbee with a local Leeds woman's club team! This was an amazing experience to play with so many amazing and talented Frisbee players. I was able to join and play in several Tours with the team. 

London Calling

4. Summer in South Korea 

As a university student, one of the best privilege I had was to represent the University of Leeds as an exchange student to Korea University, South Korea.I found myself flying 5000 miles from the UK to one of my must visit country South Korea. Long story short, I had the best time of my life there and wished I could've stayed longer!Highlights of people I met, places and my favorite cuisine- Korean Food

Summary of my trip and my picture blog  #KoreaVibes | Summer Highlights |Video Highlights #KoreaVibes | Summer in South Korea | 

These beautiful souls 

First Frisbee pickup in Seoul  with an amazing view

First Ultimate Frisbee Hat - Soongsil Hat (Team Kimchi) 

Photo credits: Oliver

Getting lost but treated with an amazing sunset

Graduating from the prestigious Korea University 

Arriving at Busan

Beautiful Sunset at Haeundae Beach

Lovely Seoul Frisbee People

Seafood goodness

BBQ Buffet

First time trying Cold Noodles 냉면 after Frisbee under the scorching sun 

My last meal: 육회비빔밥 Raw beef Bibimbap

I vowed to live and experience as much as I can

Lastly, my hopes for 2016.

'Less of What If's, More of Just Do It, Less of Maybe, More of Yes/ No'  

| Travel Essentials to Korea |

#KoreaVibes 

"My 10 essentials while in Korea"

There are countless of things one requires when travelling especially to a foreign country. Depending also on your personal needs and what satisfies your individual comfort.

Korea is quite a convenient place to travel to, however I've come to realize that there are some things that I was quite dependent on while living in Korea during the summer time.

The following are the top 10 list of things I found really helpful during my time in Korea:

1. Subway Korea App 

I would say I've relied on this app for most of my journey throughout Seoul and other districts during my time in Korea. It also supports other major cities i.e. Busan, Dajeon and few others.
It provides real-time transit information, easy planning from fastest routes to least changes for your journey as well as subway maps.
Languages included are English, Korean and Japanese.

 

Link: Here

2. Naver Map App 네이버 지도 
Speaking from experience navigating on your mobile is quite an impossible task through google maps. It is not as current and precise compared to this Naver map. Downside is that you'll need to be able to read & type Hangul to search for places and directions.
A very convenient and helpful navigating system especially when I was looking for places to eat, locating subway stations and finding my way when I wandered off the beaten path.
Another feature is pin pointing your location to a destination and it provides you with the easiest route, mode of transport and travel duration which is a plus point. I've grew quite fond of this app and highly recommend it.

 

Link: Here

3. Seoul Bus 3 App

This app provides local bus information where you can enter your bus number, bus stops and routes for easy navigation. It also shows real time information of where your bus is, the number of seats on board available as well as the real time bus route location.
It's easy to use and is English supported.
I've found this app really useful especially at places where subway transportation is inaccessible.

  

Link: Here

4. Umbrella/ Rain coat

This is a no brainer really, especially during summer time June- August where it rains quite often due to hot and humid high pressures from the surroundings.
I've personally been caught in an episode of heavy downpour that left me stuck at the subway station until I couldn't wait any longer and decided to just dash across the streets to my hostel which left me soaking wet. Bad luck on my part especially since that was the day I had my hair cut, treated and styled before the heavens decided to open its floodgates.

5. Cap/ Sun protection 

As mentioned before, during the summer time it gets really hot and the sun can be quite relentless. If you're one that burns easily I would recommend purchasing sun blocks. Korea and it's beauty brands such as Nature republic, Face Shop, Etude house and many others offer great cheap deals for sun sprays and hydrating mists during the summer time. So there's an array of choices to satisfy your personal needs.
Head to the Myeong-dong one of the busiest shopping districts where the streets are literally filled with Korean beauty stores, restaurants and boutiques.
One of my favourite brand is Nature Republic. They offer great deals and products for reasonable prices.
Bottom left: Sun spray with aloe and SPF 50
Bottom right: A very famous application soothing gel for hydration or sun burnt treatment.

 

6. Socket adapter

The standard voltage in Korea is 220 volts. The socket outlet has two round holes and is the same type used in France, Germany, Austria among others.
It'll be quite handy to have a travel adapter especially when you decide to bring along your laptop to get on with some work/ update your social life on-line.

In terms of phone charging I bought a power bank before going to Korea. However, there are several charging pods available in some subway stations. It is also possible to get your phone charged in the convenience store usually found in the subway stations such as 7-Eleven and GS25.

7. Shorts & Tank tops 

Seoul is quite a fashionable city, beauty and fashion is seen to be quite an important factor in day to day life. It's quite obvious to notice when walking around the streets or taking the subway as everyone is dressed well with make up on.
As for me I love comfort wear especially when it gets really hot while you're walking about roaming the streets. Also I took the chance to just soak up the sun because I was deprived of such blessings living in gloomy cold England.
I've resorted to sleeveless tops and shorts as well as my flip flops as my go to comfort wear. It's all about trying to stand out! *Not*
Wear whatever floats your boat is what I'll say.

8. Cash

Seoul is a very wireless city, it's possible to pay for everything with a card. However, I've found it really useful to have cash around to pay for small items, street food or drinks etc. Also as I rely on the Subway most of the time, my T-card money gets used up very quickly and the only way to top up the card is through cash payment.
ATM locations are spread out around the city and districts and are conveniently located at shopping streets as well as the subway station. However, there are only a few ATMs with English option that provides foreign card services I've came across namely Citibank, Korea Exchange Bank (KEB) and Shinhan bank.

9. Local SIM card

During my time in Korea I used the EG sim card by the provider Olleh. This sim can be purchased online and picked up in the airport or bought at the local convenience store such as 7-eleven, GS 25 and Ministop.
This is a traveller sim card that provides Call, Text and Data services.
In addition, it connects you to the Olleh wifi that is available at all subway stations, in the subway car, restaurants, cafes and most shopping alleys.
Once purchased it comes with a little booklet that provides step by step guide to register and setting up your wifi connectivity.
I bought my sim at the GS25 store costing about 29,900KRW for a nano sim (Iphone 5) (16 GBP)
More information can be found on their website here
There were some connectivity issues with the wifi that had to be resolved by email. However, their response was quick and I had no troubles connecting to the Olleh wifi soon after.
I relied quite heavily on the DATA especially for navigation and contacting friends.

10. Travel Card

T money card is a travel card that is easily purchased from any subway station and convenience store. It can be used for the subway, bus rides and even some cabs. 
Cost: 2500 KRW
There are numerous locations where you can use the T money card such as Seoul, Daejeon, Busan, Ulsan etc.
Top up can be only done by cash at most convenience store and top up machines in the Subway station. English guide option is provided.

For more information check here

Here's the end of my top 10 essentials that I found really useful while I was in Korea. Hope you found this post really helpful!

Alexis XX

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the above photographs 

#KoreaVibes | Summer Highlights |

#KoreaVibes

The kettle clicks off from the corner of the room; I'm munching on some marshmallows under my Primark throw because it's been raining since morning and the room is quite chilly (Typical Leeds ).

It's been 3 days since returning back from Seoul, South Korea and honestly I'm going through some Post Korea Withdrawal Symptoms- The real deal. 

But enough of my personal emotional issues, I'm here to  give an overview of my 2 months in Korea. I'll try to keep it short as this post is supposed to be sort of a picture Blog! YAY!

Prior to my summer break from university I applied for a student summer exchange program to the University of Korea (고려대학교) and I got in! Long story short I found myself in Seoul on the 25th of June despite the initial worries of the MERS outbreak.

Throughout the 8 weeks in Korea, I've tried to visit as many places I could; Met many wonderful souls and ate gobsmackingly good food!

These are just some of the highlights of my trip and it is almost impossible to fit 2 months worth of memories into one Blog post!

It's been an amazing experience, especially since Korea has been one of my must go destinations and my undeniable love of Korean cuisine!

Cut to the chase, here are some of the places and things I've done along the way: *Reminiscing the good times* *Whimpers*

Pictures may take some time to load, but I hope you will enjoy it nonetheless. 

~Links to more information by clicking on the title

1. Gyeongbokgung Palace 경복궁

This is a must go "Touristy" place to visit and you'll find lots of information about it on-line. Situated in the heart of Seoul city it is easy to access and tickets are only 3000won (1.6GBP).
One can get dressed in the traditional 'Hanbok' clothing and roam around the palace grounds.

Changing of guards

Signalling the changing of guards

One of the entrance from the inside

2.  Banpo Bridge Rainbow Fountain 반포대교 달빛무지개분수

Not a must see but it's definitely a nice sight when you just want to chill and relax by the Hangang (한강) river. There are many parks along the way and it's a normal sight to see families pitching tents and having picnics on the open field. If you have time to spare, cycling along the Han river should be a great way to unwind and get some exercise done.

Beautiful reflection

3. Daebudo Island 대부동

Only for the adventure enthusiasts! Not a lot of information online as it is mostly a local getaway. There are no taxis and bus is the main transportation. However, go to the information centre upon arrival to the entrance of Daebudo for the map of the island and there are several trails on the map that one can tackle. However, it is quite tough to locate at times but the main thrill is getting somewhat lost and discovering beautiful sights and sceneries along the way.  
Watching the Sun set was one of the highlights of this trip as well as meeting friendly people who speak no English but would go out of their way to help you.

4. Yongma Land (Abandoned amusement park) 용마공원

First thing that came to my mind about visiting an abandoned amusement park ? Killer clowns! But the hipster-ness in me was more intrigued by the place and photo opportunities. Not the usual touristy place to go but after reading several blogs about this place I decided to pay this place a visit. It was quite hard to find the entrance and was a long walk from the nearest train station but eventually with the help of 'Naver' map I got to the park and paid an entrance fee (5000won) to an Ahjussi and then the exploring began. As expected it was a run down amusement park, rusts and broken glass everywhere but many picture perfect locations. Friends, professional photographers and couples were among the few who visited the park while I was there.  
Also, this park was a music video shooting location for one of the K-pop groups but I don't remember who.

Control room

Went up a dodgy flight of stairs in an office to the roof for this view. Well worth it!

The sun began to set

At the right moment

Merry-go-round that still operates but with a fee

This piano had some artistic feel to it

Perfect setting

5. Professional baseball game LG vs NEXEN

One of the school trips organised by the Korea University summer school team where we got to watch the baseball game and take part in the chants/ singing and dancing with the supporters. It was a nice atmosphere as supporters sang and danced to different songs as different players turn came.

6. Soongsil Hat (Ultimate Frisbee)

This was my first ever hat tournament and to be playing it in Korea itself was a very special moment. Not knowing anyone or who my team mates were it was a pretty daunting feeling initially but everything panned out pretty well eventually. Until I landed on my good ankle and was out of the the game but pushed on to play on the second day. Really enjoyed playing with team Kimchi! I mean who wouldn't love a team with such swag?

Picture from team mate Oliver

7. Seoraksan National Park 설악산국립공원 

Seoraksan was one of the most picturesque places I wanted to visit. It's also a World Heritage site listed by UNESCO. However, luck was not on our side when the day we made our way to Sokcho it was pouring down with rain. The rain did not ease up the next morning as we pushed on to the park, I didn't bother taking the cable car ride up to the peak as I was sure there wasn't much to be seen and all hiking trails were closed for safety reasons. After enjoying a cup of coffee at a quaint little cafe in the heart of the park the weather slowly cleared and we went for a short trail (2.4km) to Biryong Falls. Along the way the scenery was pretty spectacular, with suspension bridges and the thundering roar as gallons of water came cascading down the mountain ravines. It's just a shame that we weren't able to hike to the top of the peak.

On the way to Biryong Falls trail

8. Caribbean Bay 캐리비안 베이

Cue the Cabi bay song ft. 2pm and SNSD hotness overload *ABS ABS ABS* 

Be prepared to spend a long LONG time waiting for rides that last for less than 2 minutes. A fun experience nonetheless. Would've been more amazing if Taec-ssi was there. 

Wave pool after closing time. 10 minutes ago this pace was completely packed.

9. Gwangjang Market  광장시장

Stalls after stalls of good food. Bibimbaps, snacks like red bean porridge called patjuk (팟죽), jokbal pigs’ feet and sundae (순대) blood sausage. And the famous Bindaetteok (빈대떡) a thick pancake made from mung bean and vegetables. Another must try is the Mayak Kimbap 마약김밥; sesame Korean sushi roll goodness.

Bindaetteok (빈대떡)

Side dishes that really caught my attention and the ahjumma was really kind to offer some of her chilli baby crabs. Taste wasn't that great as it was salty as well as too crunchy for my liking. 

10. Noryangjin Market 노량진 수산시장

Visited this fish market with a friend from home and had the experience of eating the highly anticipated live Octopus 산낙지, raw sea urchins, abalone, crab soup and steamed king crab full with mouth watering meat! 

We chose the seafood we wanted and was given a price, the stall owner then led us to a restaurant upstairs where they cooked the seafood to of your choice. It was a good and filling meal!

Be prepared to fork out a good amount of money for the meals.  

11. Solo travels to Busan

A more in depth post of my 5 days 4 nights trip to Busan will be up soon with details of my travels, accommodation and itinerary. In short, it was a great getaway from Seoul to sunny sandy Busan!

An amazing sunset on the first day at Haeundae Beach 

Where the rich reside

Yonggungsa Temple 해동용궁사

Taejongdae Park 태종대

Nike! 그냥해

Wish I had enough cash to eat fresh Sashimi on the rocks by the cliffs 

Hope I wasn't intruding 

Jagalchi fish market 자갈치시장

Korea is such a unique country that still holds on to its traditions and rich cultures. It is admirable that a country with it's own language has grown into a successful and developed country. Of course like any other countries it has it's own flaws.
2 months flew by so fast and there are still countless places and things I wanted to do but couldn't make time for it. Hoping I'd get the chance to come back to this amazing country soon!

I'm ultimately grateful to my parents for allowing me to go on this trip of a lifetime as well as the University of Leeds for the opportunity to study in one of Korea's prestigious university (Korea University)

Shout out to every individual I've met in Korea; Hope you're doing well! Peace out~