Last Day in Seoul, Home Sweet Home

I met with Cindy on my last day in Seoul. We had yakiniku and Korean traditional tea together. In the afternoon, me and Yanqi spent time together at the Cheongdam and Sadang areas, another window shopping and tried korean McDonald's. I left Seoul at 9 am the day before yesterday.

So now back at home. I was really happy to meet my whole family again, talking and eating. I must admit that afterall, I still love my home best. Then, my brother gave me back my computer ( but he changed to a new one already ), got my own room, new TV, still have my refrigerator. Aah, I am "spoiled" again.

Ua and Indra came to home that night and I met with Henry yesterday. When we finished our lunch, I forgot that I wasn't in Japan anymore and just walked to the cashier and wanted to pay there. The waiter got puzzled so we got back to our seat and asked for the bill from there.

I guess I do have to get used to Indonesian' life style again. At the airport that day, the immigration officer tried to find trouble with some Koreans and I saw them gave the officer $100 bill !!! Oh, how stupid ! I was thinking to tell them not to pay that much, but I didn't do it. I got mad and really hate the corruption in my country.

Myong-Dong, Insa-dong, Bibimbap,Bulgogi

So, me in Seoul now. Yanqi picked me up at the airport yesterday and even though it was only 2 hours flight, I felt so tired because I had to take another 2 hours of bus to get to her parents' in law house. But everything is going well.

Yesterday, we went to Myongdong and Insadong areas. Those are shopping places, traditional crafts, souvenirs, cafes, etc. Well, everything in Seoul is half of the price in Osaka, so I am pretty happy about it. Later, I couldn't be more happier to find out that the subway is only 600 won, or only 60yen. For that money, I can go to almost anywhere in Seoul. It's incredible cheap !!! Another example, the internet I am using now is only 100 yen per hour ! The movie here is also cost half of the price in Japan. We managed to watch " Road to Perdition" in the afternoon.

I like one Korean food very much : bibimbap. It's rice with vegetable, meat and raw egg. Just mix them together with korean chilli and it tastes like heaven ! I had it yesterday, very satisfied. Yeah!
For dinner, we met with Yanqi's friend : Charlie ( who can speak a very good of English ) and of course this time I'd like to try the BBQ beef ( in Korean, it's called bulgogi). Nyam, nyam, tasted very delicious !

But still, even though I like the foods here, but I can't say I like Seoul that much. Perhaps I can't speak Korean at all. I feel like I have a mouth but can't speak !

Last Calls, 5th/6th Farewell Parties, Last Exam and Thank You Note

I was surprised (again!) that Ken called when I was about to start packing last night. I was glad to hear his voice at the last moment before I leave, I was glad knowing that a friend would give me a long distance call just to say goodbye. I was glad I am remembered.
Today also, I got calls from Kaoru and Hideki. I was touched yet really glad.

Last night, me and all members of my class went to Chinese restaurant for dinner. We have spent one year together at the same class, having the same funs, complaining the same teacher, taking exams, and played jokes on each other. Guys, I am really touched. Today, once again, we had the same last exam, and hugged each other. That was the last goodbye and the last time we met.

Again, I didn't expect that it was the idea of Sanyon to celebrate my leaving at Izakaya again. With him, Ii, Kim, Paul, Wo, Han, Obi, Kim, we drank ( this time, I avoided beer at all ) and ate. You know, I did cry when you guys left this eveing. How could I ever forget all of you ?

Okay, this is the last post in Japan. I will leave tomorrow. I would like very much to say thank you to all of the people I have made friends with :
First, to Henry and Ken, thank you very much for taking a really good care of me, thank you for helping me around, thank you for being such good friends, thank you for letting me stay at your homes. I can't say enough thank you, really. I will always remember the trips we made, the jokes, the good and bad times we had. Henry, I am glad I will see you soon.
To Yamashita san, thank you for helping me finding apartment, thank you for helping me moving, thank you for all the talks, thank you for sharing. You are the best volunteer person !
To Tomomi, thank you for taking me to Kyoto and introducing me to Japan's cultures. Thank you for asking me to join in Asia Library. You are a really nice girl !
To Satoko, I can't say enough thank you. I can't describe how your helps and your cares, thank you for every trip you took me to, thank you for showing me Japan, you're the best !
To Kaoru and Hideki, thank you for willing to exchange languages with me, thank you for all of your kindness. Hideki san, your sport car was great !
To all of the Korean friends, especially to Sanyon. Guys, thanks for the parties. Wo and Han, thanks for letting me sleep in your room, thanks for the drunk night.
To Ii, I am really glad to know you during the summer classes until now. I will remember all the talks, I will remember you. Thank you from Chikoku chan.
To Guillermo, thanks for your advices on my trips, thanks for making party for me. To Mitsuo, thanks for the party ( I am really sorry about the phews).
To all members of my classmates, thank you for being together for one year, thank you for the party. Thanks guys !
To all my sensei, thank you for teaching me Japanese, thank you very much. Osewaninarimashita.
To all of chirimentei partners, thank you. Komura san, thank you. Fuji san, thanks for the gifts. You kun, thanks for necklace, thanks for everything. Hen kun, thanks alot ! To Sou brothers, thank you very much. I was really happy working with you guys. Thank you for the butterfly paper, thank you for everything. Guys, I will remember all the happy times in chirimentei !
Last one, thank you very very much to you, mom. Thanks for giving me such a great opportunity of coming to Japan. Thank you and I love you !

In the end, even though I can't say I am happy leaving here, at least I am truly happy knowing I have made so many great friends here, this is one of the best thing I ever had in my life. Once again, thanks guys ! I love you !

Sick,2nd/3rd/4th Farewell parties/dinners

I haven't been able to rest for such a long time already. Finally my body tried to protest to me and decided to force me to stay at home on Saturday. Yes, I was sick. My head was hurt and really lost my appetite on that day. I felt cold the night before and the next morning, I hardly could move because of the dizziness. But I was glad I was completely recovered on Sunday's afternoon.

So, the 1st party was followed by the second. On Friday's night, me, Obi, Yo and my sensei went to Izakaya ( Japanese style's bar). I usually don't go to bar since I can't drink, but one or two drinks would be okay as it was for my farewell.

Then the third one followed. But this time I went out with Yamashita san to Kobeya Restaurant at Minami Senri. We had spaghetti even though I really had no appetite because I still felt much of dizziness that time. But it was my last time seeing him, I tried to look as healthy as I could. We talked alot, and later sent me off back to my apartment. Yamashita san is one of the good people I met here, and I'm so lucky to know someone like him.

The fourth one was unforgetable. My Mexican friend, Guillermo made a party last night. There were Cho from Taiwan, Wo and Han from Korea, and one new student from China. After my last day working, I went to their apartement at Shin Fueka. Got there almost at 24pm, and was welcomed with "you must drink until you get drunk". I knew that even though I said I can't drink, they're not going to let me off that easily. We played the Mexican's game, called "3-6-9", everyone took turn counting from 1 to unlimited, and every time the number of 3 or 6 or 9 appear, one must not say that number but only clap the hand. The one that forgot to do so, lost and had to drink. I lost two times and had to drink 45% of alcohol ( vodka and scotch ). Guess what, one hour later, I phewed out everything in my stomach. Ach, what a bad feeling ! I stopped from the game and went to sleep while they went to karaoke. I couldn't move anymore, my head was hurt and early in the morning, I went back to senri yama.
And today, my body is ictching, and getting red. Yeah, I am allergic to alcohol actually. But the whole thing was great and unforgetable.

I will still have two farewell dinners for tonight and tomorrow's night. I didn't expect I would have so many but I am truly glad that I realize that I am cared and appreciated among friends and senseis. Thanks guys !

Feelings, 1st Farewell dinner and Sanyon

I can't believe that I have only 5 days left. I can't believe that one year is passing so fast, it's still like yesterday, it's just like the yesterday's autumn. I can't believe that I feel more sad than happy at this moment. I can't believe that I feel it so hard to let go everything here. I just don't know the reason.

This is the last country in the list that I would choose to live in. I complain about the prices, and the preasures of living here. But somehow, I just don't want to leave here, at least not now. It's so strange that some months ago, I just wanted to get out from this place and go back to where I came from, meet my family and friends.

Perhaps the reason is I can speak Japanese right now and I want to see more of this country, to know more of its unique cultures. I want to do more traveling and I am willing to take hours and hours of trains to get to wherever I want here.

Okay, yesterday was my first farewell dinner. With Sanyon and two Kims from Korea, we went to Kappa sushi at KitaTsusumi. Riding a bicycle ( actually it was Sanyon riding the bicycle, I was sitting at the behind), it was my first experience in Japan. Great feelings indeed ! Then followed by nice dinner, and nice talks. We took pictures, and talked about their plans to visit Indonesia this year's end. Yeah !

Well, I remembered very well that Sanyon was my first foreign friend here. We took the entrance exam at the same class, and sat right next to each other. With no ability of speaking Japanese at all at that time, it was such a relief that he can speak English. He spent about one year time in Sydney and made lots of Japanese friends ( I guess that was one of the reason he came to Japan ). Not long ago, he made a trip to Mt. Fuji and tokyo by bicycle ! I do very much admire his courage ! I like him as a friend, a very nice friend. Ok, come to Jakarta and I will be your host !

Spanish, anyone?

OK, so I changed my mind again. I don't think I want to learn German anymore, now I am much much interested in Spanish. Don't know why, but I guess I got influenced from my Mexican friend, Guillermo. Mexico seems like a very nice place to visit, so I am thinking of going there for a trip next year !
But of course, spanish in south America is a bit different with the one in Spain. It's just that I can't find Mexican spanish books here, so I am learning Spain-spanish. So far so interesting to me, especially words with "r", it's so interesting, but I need a lot of practices to pronounce "socorro", means "Help" ( this is an important word, just in case).

Again, I have to say this beforehand, I change fast, I don't know how long I can keep focusing in learning Spanish, but I am thinking of taking a course in Jakarta ( if I find one, if not, I might give it up ). Hah !

Meanwhile, I have less than 10 days here. One year is flying so fast and lots of things happened for the last one year. I wanted to leave Japan as soon as possible as I miss my family and friends so much but now, I wish I could stay just a bit longer, not long, just a bit. I just want to see more of another part of Japan. But I promised myself I will come back here again.

Ken's Birthday-Leaving/Hiroshima-Nagasaki/Sou Brothers

Ken left exactly one week ago, he's back to Thailand and will come back to Osaka again this month's end. Just two days before he left, it was his birthday and of course, he prepared the special menu (and needless to say), it was delicious !!! Now, he's not here, and I don't know when I would taste his cookings again. Sigh. But, to my surprise, he called from Singapore yesterday, kept his promise that he would call to tell me how bad the foods there ( I guess he's got influenced by me, telling him that the foods are bad there, but on the phone, he told me that it was not that bad, even though he can't say it's good).

For the last one month, we didn't do many things together, in fact, we were too busy with works. But his leaving does make me feel quite lonely here, but I can survive, anyway I will leave here soon too.

And now about my four-days trips.
# I left Osaka on the 4th at 6am on the JR train to Himeji, then Okayama and finally Hiroshima ( arrived there at 11.43am). First thing to do was finding a food, I was so hungry and reminded myself that I should try Hiroshima yaki ( kinda okonomiyaki but they have seafoods and sprout beans inside). I got one place in the station and had a big big hiroshima yaki. It's bad. What a disappointment !!
The next thing to do was going to the Atomic bomb dome and the surroundings, then going around the city, and finally in the afternoon went to Miyajima island. That was a very small island with lots of temples. The most famous one is Itsukushima shrine and just at the nearby there is Otorii gate, the floating gate. The view was nice, I can say.
Anyway, I couldn't find anything interesting about Hiroshima, I was glad that I only spent half day there before going to Hiroshima Youth Hostel for a rest.

# The second day, early in the morning, I took another train from Hiroshima to Nagasaki, passing through Ogokori, Kokura, Tosu, Hizenyamaguchi. All took about 10 hours!!What a day ! But I was glad that I could see lots of beautiful scenery : mountains and sea, great ! The scenery becomes greater when the train reached Kyushu. Wow !
I met and talked with a Japanese couple, good. I had companions. They stopped at Kokura and I changed another train to Tosu.
I stayed at ryokan that night, something that I was always waiting for. It's a Japanese inn. I had my own room, with tatami, a small veranda and garden. I took a bath in ofuro (Japanese people loves this bathing tube, more than using shower ), then wore yukata ( a cotton robe with Japanese style, people usually wear it in summer or after a bath ), had my dinner ( of course served with Japanese foods like sashimi, miso soup, rice and Nagasaki's speciality : Sara ramen). The feeling was extremely great !
After the dinner, I strolled around the neighbourhood, trying to find out the night life of Nagasaki.

# Before I left the ryokan, I had another heavy breakfast served by the ryokan : rice, fish, and half-boiled egg. But I didn't complain because that would be my only meal until night.
I love Nagasaki. It's a very small city with friendly people. The fashion is different there, more simple than Osaka's. The city itself has many routes of streetcars which I love to ride on them very much.
My first destination was going to the Peace park for the Peace Statue, and then the Bomb museum, Atomic Bomb Hypcenter and Urakami Cathedral. What I saw in the Bomb museum was only horribe things caused by the atomic bomb 57 years ago. One part of me were symphatized with the innocent victims, and another part of me telling me that if there were no bombs, perhaps the World War II would never end, and some parts of Southeast Asia, China and surroundings would still be under the power of Japan, suffering. It was a war, and nothing is unfair and fair.
The next one was going to the Hollander Slope, the Glover Garden and Oura Catholic Church (the oldest church in Japan). The Glover garden was great, with a great views of the sea. Glover garden is only one of the others houses in that area. There're also Ringer house and Alt house. Great architectures. All of them came from England to Japan for businesses at that time and built those nice houses.
Then, I continued to the Meganebashi ( the Spectacles Bridge), Kofukuji temple, Site of the Former Dutch Trading Port on Dejima, and Sinchi Chinatown.
I planned to stay at a capsule hotel but when I asked, they don't have the capsule hotel for women anymore. I was quite disappointed because I would like very much to experience sleeping in it. Sigh. But they introduced me to the Nagasaki Ebisu Youth Hostel and I went there. It was a very small place, run by a small family. My room had a tatami but I had to sleep with another two persons. Not a good place to stay, but it's cheap.
So, that night, again, I looked for another Nagasaki's speciality: Chanpon. Both Chanpon and Sara ramen are Chinese styles noodles. I love Chanpon, it's very delicious.
The only souvenir I got back to Osaka was only Castilla cake, famous there and of course very nice !

# The last day was crazy. Fron 6am in the morning until 23.00pm, I spent my day only in the train, changed from one train to another. My butt was hurt because of sitting too long. Oh, how much I wished I just bought the Shinkasen ticket, and going back to Osaka in less than 5 hours !
I met one annoying person on the train. This guy is on his 40s ( later I discovered he comes from China and heading to Kobe). I just wanted to stay quiet, enjoy the views and sleep, but this guy tried to speak to me all the times and not to mention, he sat so close to me, that I had to stick to the window to stay a bit farther from him. When he knew I can speak Chinese, the conversations became longer ( all in Chinese ). I was almost dead ! If only he's a young guy, it would be another story, right ? Just image sitting with him for 5.5 hours, I wish I could find a way to get rid of him.

That ends my trips. I never thought I would become a backpacker (even only for 4 days), but it was a great experience, and I guess I will do it again somewhere in the future.

Okay, now something about the Sou brothers. Funny but true, I used to dislike the younger one, but during the August, I worked with him, I discovered he is a good guy, with good humours and a very responsible guy in works. On my last day working with him, he made a butterfly from paper, nice and I really appreciated it.
Life is like that. You can like a person whom you dislike before, or you can hate someone whom you like that person before.