It Happens Only In Korea... Part II

Every time we are out exploring the country, there is something amusing that we encounter. And some of those amusing things can be captured on the camera, so here goes the second edition of It Happens Only In Korea...

Only in Korea, they straighten the Leaning Tower of Pisa...

As it happens in India sometimes (like "Chilled Beer" becomes "Child Bear"), spellings here can atrocious sometimes... 

Will Sunil Mittal's Airtel file a copyright infringement case in Korea?

"Sick And Tired" of whom?

Newsweek with Modi on its cover sells in bookstore in a subway station in Seoul...

A case of Google Translate going wrong - the cafeteria in my office building has two menu versions - one in Korean and one in English. Now the English version is a Google Translate version of the Korean menu. That explains why "Abuses in the machine" is on the menu!!!

A Psy doll - remember Psy of Gangnam Style?

And the menu again - sticky rice got translated as "magnetic field of rice" - we do need a new field of science - gastronomical physics!!!!

Hello Kitty again, at Lotte Mart...

Himalay herbal costmetics from India in GS Mart...

What a coffee cup at Paris Baguette...

Dubai shoes, made in Korea, only at Gangnam Station...

Happinness is with Snoopy! That is why I love Korea...

Bang Bang Plaza on Tehran Ro, Gangnam - bang, bang?

Want a clean bum, get a electronic bidet!

A creepy looking coffee cup at Dunkin Donuts!

And I say, It Happens Only In Korea...

It Happens Only In Korea... Part I

Over the last few incredible months over here, I have realised how similar the Koreans are to us - most of them are indeed nice people. They are simple and fun loving people with aspirations similar to what we have.

Wherever I have been in Korea, I have experienced quite a lot of warmth from the people around. Even in the workplace, the locals did do a lot to help me adjust. That has made me respect the Koreans a lot!

One can only respect the ingenuity and the hard work of the Koreans - despite not knowing English, they did grab a huge share of consumer electronics market the world over and their products are good. Also Korean construction companies have quite a great reputation for themselves around the world.

But there are moments that are quite entertaining and funny. And these moments add a bit of spice to life. As we used to say in India, we end up saying the same here in Korea as well - "It Happens Only In Korea!"

Korea is renowned for its cosmetics and this shop in Myeongdong has a cosmetic line called "Modi". Well, every Indian would have smiled seeing this...

OK Bank! If we can have a Yes Bank in India, it's okay to have an OK Bank in Korea!

The boyfriend does the girl's hair at Paju! Men here are so protective of their girlfriends as though they were little babies...

Namaste India - a manhole cover in Itaewon...

A wonderful way to encourage the use of stairs...

"Choo Choo Pie", a bakery at Bupeyong Station - well the logo seems to depict a steaming piece of turd... arghhhh!

"There is a big difference between living and being alive. Things are never happened what is not not prepared before"

If you keep the grammar aside, this display outside a store in Myeongdong conveys a meaningful message about life...

Salman Khan wake up, there is a Dabang app here!

"English available" - is English on sale here? Or are they saying they can speak English?

Plastic surgery is a big craze here - this advertisement in a metro promotes cosmetic surgery. Very often you come across deals such as pay for one Lasik and get the second one free. There is immense pressure to look good here and CVs are incomplete without photographs... As we say It Happens Only In Korea!

The Lump In The Throat Moment...

And today, Neeti is heading back home to Mumbai for a month.

We had painstakingly planned this trip back home. Neeti is heading home now and I would follow in about two and a half weeks. We spent the last few days running around buying gifts for family and friends and completed the packing. And then, as Neeti's departure date drew closer, we were invited by friends in Songdo for dinner and tea, as is usual in expatriate life.

But there was a tingling sense of loneliness creeping inside me. Neeti will be away in India for a month and I will be alone here for sometime - that would be hard! There would be no one to fight with, no one around to talk to. But I steeled myself and tried my level best to be brave and help her out with the packing and the logistics.

And so early this morning, we headed out of Songdo towards Incheon Airport...

We reached there pretty early. After Neeti checked in and received her boarding passes, we decided to have a little date - we headed upstairs to the Paris Baguette outlet and ordered tea and some croissants as we sat down keeping a cheery persona. I knew she was also having similar emotions as I was having.

I got a few moments of Plane Spotting as our order was being prepared...

Neeti would be travelling to Mumbai via Hong Kong - her flight to Hong Kong, Cathay Pacific's CX-421, is a "Fifth Freedom" flight, which would touchdown at Taipei, Taiwan enroute to Hong Kong. And I just realised that would be incredible - Neeti would be in four countries today - starting from Korea, she would pass by Taiwan and Hong Kong before landing back home in India!

And soon I was time to say bye and that made me quite homesick. Hopefully, I would also make it home in a few weeks and would get to see her again. 

Have a safe and enjoyable journey back home, Neeti!

The Splendor Of Songdo! Part III

As we moved on towards Central Park, there was a tinge of disappointment among the entire group as we could not get a view of the sunset due to heavy clouds on the horizon.
Not to be outdone, we geared up ourselves in the very chilly 5 degrees below zero and enthusiastically moved on enjoying the sights of Central Park!

The lights came up as the sun set making for interesting reflections on the water...

Central Park apartments right ahead...

Anyone for a boat ride?

The City of Lights?

The clouds seem to be getting denser...

The boat marina...

Reflections...

It is really cold today...

The Tri-Bowl...

The magic of reflections...

The NEAT Tower, the tallest in Korea...

It's so cold tonight that we can barely hold the camera steady. And we must head back fast before one of us catches a cold. But undoubtedly, despite not being able to witness the fiery sunsets that we have become so used to in Songdo, it was an incredible evening, thanks to Brian and Jumi!

The Splendor Of Songdo! Part II

Thanks to a band of ethusiastic photographers led by our friends Brian and Jumi, we embarked on a photographic journey of Songdo this evening. And this was my second photographic tour of the city!

We wanted to view the sunset...

Incredible reflection in the stream...

Will we, won't we...

...be able to see the sunset!

A plane on its approach into Incheon...

Incheon Bridge...

Seems as though light is pouring down...

Another plane on its approach...

Orange hued clouds...

And the sun finds its way through the clouds...

Waiting for a shot!

Imposing clouds in the sky!

Nature is indeed incredible...

An amazing reflection on the water...

The sounds of Nature are so soothing....

Waiting for the perfect shot!

The viewing deck of G Tower...

Incheon Bridge again...

And we move on towards Central Park...