Winter, whites and wreaths this week!

This week, winter has really set in in Seoul. Temperature is plummeting to -18C makes me crave for sun and sand :) I am waiting impatiently for the trip to the beaches of Taiwan this weekend.

Last week we had white lily, white rose and white lace flower and eucalyptus leaves at the Korean Flower Arrangement. Not only beautiful, it smells so good!

White rose, white lilies, white lace flower along with the eucalyptus leaves

Interesting shadow it made!

Frozen white. I wanted to grab some sketch pen and fill in the colors here! :)

I caught this in Itaewon while walking back home after picking up my son from school. Looks like they were selling shirts and other stuff branded with Frozen. It started snowing!

White Christmas decorations at the Express Bus Terminal

Express bus terminal is the place to be to do the Christmas shopping or just gaze around the shops that are bedecked with such pretty things that it is so hard to look away! Namdaemun and Dongdaemun markets are great with Christmas presents as well but they are open air markets! While the express bus terminal market is a toasty underground one :)

More whites

Wreaths made of winter berries, poinsetta, baubles and all! 

I was tempted to buy something. Everything was so pretty! But too many choices and pretty things just overwhelm me and I ended up going home just taking home the pictures and the memories of this pretty place in Seoul.

Purple Christmas trees seem to be in this year!

W for Winter, whites and wreaths for ABC Wednesday

The sign of the V

Nobody can miss the V signs that people in Korea make when posing for a picture here in Korea. All people young or old, male or female can be seen flaunting the sign of the V. Though many Koreans whom I talk to did not know why they did the V sign when they pose for the camera, I heard that the V may stand for victory, for the peace sign or (possibly in the olden times) the symbol of chopsticks to indicate that they were going for a meal presently.

The V sign :) V for Victory/Peace/chopstick/just a quiky pose?

Though the above below is the typical example of the V sign, with many variations in various levels of cuteness involving both the hands as well.

V makes the picture complete!

Typical poses made with fingers for the camera

 < ^^ > V signs made with both hands close to the eyes. 

<3 The index and thumbs of both the hands are curled to make the heart sign. (sarang he 사랑 해)

Thumbs up for wishing the best of luck or as the Koreans say it, Fighting!

I have not seen any Korean keeping the V behind anyone's head to form a horn, which was the main way to pose when I am with friends :)

V for The Sign of the V for ABC Wednesday

Live the movies!

I am a Geminian. Colorful dreams and vivid imagination are a mandatory part of my package. Books and movies have been the vessels of transportation by which I have become a princess living in a castle, an adventuress discovering new treasures in uncharted places, and also by which I take a peek at the luxuries ways of the world. Airbnb, I believe, is about to transform all my fantasies into reality!
If you like movies and living the movies or if you are thinking of travelling for your vacation, you can get Rs.1,500 off on your rentals for your next vacation anywhere in the world through my link here.


Lady of Pemberly

Count me in. Even for a day, I would love to live in an English Castle in the countryside like the one described in Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice. It would be a dream come true to walk the estates, sleep in the four poster bed, feel the stone walls, to be waited upon and have a ball at that place! Will the dreamy Darcy be included in the deal, do you think?

An English Castle ~ Pemberly Style is first on my list

Swiss Family Robinson or Robinson Crusoe inspired : Private Island

All the comforts of the home with a bit of adventure and stunning views! I could immensely enjoy solitude of a private island living for a week  or even more, drinking in the peace, watching the world move by.

Private island living~ Robinson Crusoe style but with the comforts of home

Titanic Luxury

What could be better than spending a few days rollicking in the sun and blue waters, reliving the luxury of a private yacht in the Titanic style (skipping the tragedy at the end, of course)? Sharing the luxury with the soul-mate, of course!

Titanic Luxury

Hobbit-hole, and that means comfort.

It is not a dirty wet hole, nor yet a dry, bare, sandy hole (~from The Hobbit). With perfectly round doors, ample space and comfort within, overlooking a meadow, sloping towards the river. Very similar to the hobbit-holes portrayed in The Hobbit and the LOTR movies, this place cannot be missed by its true blue fan!

Hobbit-hole, and that means comfort

Ewok's Nest

Remember the cute little teddy bear creatures in StarWars VI with whose help Leia and Han Solo overpower the clones to destroy the shield generator of the Death Star? They lived in such cute little nests up in the trees! I would love to live high up in the air, catch in the first drop of the rain, take in the first rays of the sun, wake up listening to the call of the birds, surrounded by lush green vegetation!

Ewok's nest

Now to live the life in the movies... Thank you Airbnb.
Check out my list: Live the movies
My referral link for you to get discounted rates: My Referral link

This is an entry to the Indiblogger Happyhours #AirbnbWishList
All the pictures used are from Airbnb.

Teen-Aged?

This post is a part of the #WillYouShave activity at Blogadda in association with Gillette.


This cute teenage boy I know, who had recently sprouted more than-the-average-amount of facial hair, was flummoxed. He was trying to conduct the games at his little brother's birthday party. Last year his party games were a big hit with the 5 year olds thronging for his attention and enjoying every minute of the party games, even refusing to go home. This year, his cracked voice was not making any kind of impact on the kids. They were totally wild and distracted. As he was striving to get their attention, I noticed one little girl crying to her mother in the corner. As I go near her, I hear her say, "Where is Darshu Anna(brother)? Why is this uncle boring us?".

My heart heavy, I resolve to turn the tables for the Darshu, the furry yet sweet teenage boy. Mustering as much innocence as I could, I ask my husband why this handsome yet bristly teenage boy was sporting so much stubble giving him a scraggy, shaggy and shabby look. Before he could answer, I coax him to share his secret of smooth-as-a-baby's-butt face. Bursting out with joy and pride, he walks straight towards the disconcerted, hairy teenage boy.

"Ok, kids! Cake time!" cries my careless husband, much to the bewilderment of the hostess and pulls the nice yet stubbly teenage boy aside. "You want to play in the big league from now on, my friend, " he says, "you better get ready for it! I recommend Gillette." And, walks straight away to try the cake.

Few days later, I notice the clean shaven, smart teenage boy at a potluck luncheon, merrily chatting with his friends. It was obvious that he was getting favorable attention from the pretty girls around as well.

Later on, when the little ones were cranky just when the adults were trying to fall into the daze induced by good food and great company, my husband calls out to the smooth faced, well groomed teenage boy. "Darshu, why not conduct some games for the kids?", which sent the kids to a joyous spree. "Sure uncle, not a problem. I can manage the little kids as well as the big sharks", said the confident young man.


IPLgeek, TangyTomatoTwist, I nominate you to take up the Gillette challenge. Enjoy! Read the contest rules here.

Eyes on the floor

Yesterday, I had been to the Ewha women's university Museum for a quick tour of the Women in Ancient Korea. It was an interesting museum but I was happy because I had captured some unique pieces of art that was on display.

Eyes on the floor, i name it :) Unique, don't you think?

This piece of wirey reindeer was nothing when I went in the museum but its shadow around noon was too beautiful to ignore! 

U for unique pieces of art for ABC Wednesday. Found at Ewha university in Seoul, Korea

Throne in Seoul

The Gyeongbokgung (palace greatly blessed by Heaven) built in 1395, is the biggest palace in Korea. It was totally reduced to ashes during the Japanese invasion in 1592. It was then rebuilt again in 1867. Again, it was torn down in 1915 by the Japanese. It is from 1990 that the palace has been restored and renovated to its present glory. Korean history is such a sad story. Always filled with war, slavery and fear... Even now, North Korea seem to pose a pertinent threat to the South.

The palace was a must visit place when my parents visited Korea in August. They liked the Korean building structure and were impressed by its size but were totally tired by the amount of walking involved in seeing it!

Long walk in the Gyeongbokgung subway station which was filled with pretty patterns

Entrance to the Gyeongbukgung 

Throne Hall of the Gyeongbokgung

Guardians of the palace find their place in the top of the palace structure

Artifacts from the palace

The King's Throne at the Gyeongbokgung
T for Throne for ABC Wednesday

The golden dragon, symbol of good luck at Gyeongbokgung

Beautiful decorations adorn the walls of the throne room at the Gyeongbokgung

Slopey roofs of the Gyeongbokgung

This is where the king entertained important guests, in a beautiful place in the middle of a lake. 

The changing guard ceremony in front of the Gwanghwamun

Gwanghwamun gate encloses the palace and demarcates it from the skyscrapers in Seoul

Changing Guard ceremony in Seoul

Beautiful blue sky at the Gwanghwamun Palace in Seoul - For Skywatch Friday

Sea shores in Korea

Sorting through the files of pictures taken previously, I found myself reminiscing over these photos taken close to seashores in Korea. Such wonderful memories it brought with it! Sea shores are truly amazing places which always just seem to put my thoughts into perspective and also lets me appreciate the power, grandeur and permanence of nature. I just found some interesting quotes which just amplifies the beauty of the seas and also just how I feel about them.


The cure for anything is salt water- Sweat, tears or the sea. ~ EE Cummings 
Oh, yes! How true. My favorite seaside quote ever :)

Golden waters of Seonyudo beach

To go out with the setting sun on an empty beach is to truly embrace the solitude. ~ Jeanne Moreau 
It eventually happens, doesn't it? Walking out in the beach with sand crunching between the toes, simply brings me face to face with my true self. Also brings out my emotions, passion and ultimately, a smile.

Sunset in Seonyudo beach

We are all tied to the ocean. And when we go back to the sea, whether to sail or to watch- we are going back from whence we came.~ John F Kennedy.

Rocky beach in Busan

Our memories of the ocean will linger on, long after the footprints in the sand are gone. ~Anonymous

Playful times in Jeju beach

 

http://highlifeinthelowcountry.wordpress.com

Beach in Seonyudo

Catch a wave and you're sitting on top of the world! ~ Beach boys

Haeundae beach in Busan

The sea, once it casts its spell, holds one in its net of wonder forever~ Jacques Yves Cousteau

Sunrise from Haeundae Beach

S for Seashores ~ ABC Wednesday
Skywatch Friday

Weirdest of weathers in Seoul

Very cold a snowy start on a glorious sunny day!

It was a snowy start today with snow on red leaves.

I totally need to get ready for winter now!

Fall colors and snow adding beauty and enigma to the Seoul weather. Skywatch Friday

Reds of the week

Looking back at the last few days, I just discovered that that I had clicked a lot of reds. Warm color for this cold season :)

Red Alstroemeria in my latest Korean flower arrangement

Happy Pepero day! 11/11

Dried fruit for the soothing winter tea. 

Had an amazing time listening to the Samsung Philaharmonic orchestra play and the lady in red making magic with the piano

Dried fruits, other sweets which form the wedding essentials at the Gwajang market in Seoul

Crab Kimchi anyone?

Colorful veggies for Bibimbap  

Awesome reds in nature

 R for Red~ABC Wednesday http://abcwednesday-mrsnesbitt.blogspot.kr/