Kimchi .

OK, I know ; I know, time to update.

So here comes the Korea trip.
I remember someone told me as soon as you arrive Korea, you can smell the Kimchi in the airport. OK, that is not true.
I arrived on the 5/21 and started my adventure right away. My friend picked me up from the INC airport to his home near Seoul and I had my first home made Korean meal. (Thank you Mama Park !)
After dinner we went to this small downtown area in his city. It was busy and bright. 1:00 am and Koreans are still up and drinking. I wonder if they have nothing else can do in the late evening.
The first thing I noticed is how(look at the picture) they use every space of the building's wall. See how beautiful it is, and according to my friends. People are able to find " The special service" all over that area.
I started to love Korea. :]
The next morning I woke up and we went out again, this time I saw McDonald's. With the delivery scooters parked in front of the building. I could not stop laughing while holding my camera. It is funny how they turn a "Drive Through" fast food business into a "Delivery" restaurant. Unhh, Happy Meal came with Happy scooter. Lovely.

Speaking about the food. Woo, I ate many things that I don't even remember the name. They are mostly spicy and delicious. I will write another post just for the food.

Seoul is beautiful, well developed and convenient. The main transportation is the subway and private cars. The traffic?? ohh, let me put in this way, imagine South Chicago taxi drivers in NYC. Haha, yes, it is that bad. You are not going anywhere during the rush hours. There were some moments I almost believe the Taxi drivers' got a .45 in his glove box and a shovel in his trunk.
Other than the traffic, I say it is a wonderful city with cheap delicious food.
A five days trip should cover the city. Prepare some cash for street shopping and the food. They don't take credit cards on the Street.

Terminal H1N1 .

I left USA on 5/20. The 15 hours long flight reminds me how much I hate to be in the air without a pair of wines and sitting next to someone you don't know, this time it gets worse, you don't know if they have the swine flu.
Oh yeah,.. the swine flu....
Other than the flight, I love to travel, every once a while I have to go somewhere and feel the busyness of the airport terminal. People from everywhere in the world carry different stories going to different destinations. It is always an adventure after you say hi to a stranger and start the conversation.
After several years of traveling and moving, this is how I feel about terminal, a place people drop off their past and carry on to their future. A sitting area strangers meet only once in their life time but able to talk open minded. A gate opens to you and opportunities. A door you might not be able to look back after you walk through. If someone invents an emotion and thought collector, it should be placed either in a terminal or the Oprah show studio. well, the Oprah studio might still work better.

Anyway
Speaking about the H1N1 flu ( oh,..sorry thats the swine flu, I think it sounds smarter to call it N1H1) it is such a big deal in Japan now. Look at the picture. This was taken after our 747-400 has landed at Japan Narita. All 400 people remain seated for about one and half hour and waited for the health inspectors get on board and measure our body temperature. If you or anyone around you have the H1N1 symptoms, BINGO, they stick a red sticker on you and your seat. You will be taken to somewhere and do a list of health exams. Connecting flights? good luck witht that...


So, two groups of people were moved after they measure the temperature, seriously, I have no idea where they went, they were just gone and disappeared. It is kind of funny how I felt I was one of the aliens found by human and have to be inspected. I mean, look at them, they are all geared up like they can walk right into a nuclear explosion without getting hurt. lol. However, I actually felt a lot safer during the next flight to Korea. Thanks to the Japanese and thanks to how serious they are facing this flu crisis.

I have 10 more days until next time I have to enter Japan Narita. Cross fingers for me and wish I wont be tagged with a red sticker.

Ready . or not .

Leaving Champaign in a few days. Leaving the country in couple weeks.

Ready. or not .

I packed all my stuff, shipped all my toys, sold my car and sealed my memories. I hate moving, no reason. I think its just human nature makes me feel this way.

Few days ago I had dinner with my friend Yuji- A Japanese guy I found to learn Japanese with. He is 40 years old, an ESL student in UIUC. We had few beers and a light dinner. During the conversation I told him about my story, He told me his. Although the conversation between us wasn't that smooth due to the language barrier, but I do understand everything he said.

From him, I saw a 40 years old man's responsibility, I saw an experienced sales man, I saw a father and I saw a student. I also saw the invisable chane between him and his family. I learned.

We said goodbye in front of the bar, wish each other good luck and walked away in opposite directions.

I think I will never be ready if I don't step forward.

Ready . or not . Does it Matter?

About .

Channel Imagination is my first personal blog.
After almost 10 years away from Asia, I am finally going back.
In the next couple years I will post my life here and share with all my friends.
I hope this blog will keep me in touch with all my friends, or even make new friends.

Be ready for my up coming life.