2014 Year of the Blue Horse

                                           [2014년 갑오년 : 2014 Year of the Blue Horse]



Happy New Year to all Korea Fans.

It is the 갑오년:Gab Oh Nyeon, which means The Year of the Blue Horse. Traditionally horses has been known as a mystical creature that brings good luck to people. Celebrating the year 2014, we are marking the Year of the Blue Horse. The Blue Horse comes every 60 years, which is drawing much excitement and attention for the new year. Horses and humans have shared joy and sorrow for many years.

Ever since people tamed the wild animal and trained and used them for transportation, they have become attached to each other. When horses were used as a means of transportation, they were important assets managed by the government. Only people with status could ride horses and a horse was equivalent in value to two or three servants.

As a symbol of status or wealth, horses were used as a means of transportation when they were alive, and after death, their mane was used to make traditional hats, their skin was used to make shoes and their tendons were used to make bows.

In honor of the Year of the Blue Horse, many museums and galleries across the country are hosting horse-related exhibitions. Koreans in the past would say that “Women who are born in the Year of the Horse tend to be aggressive and nagging.” As a result, they were shunned by matchmakers. Although, this superstition is no longer believed today.


                                   

Day 3 Romantic Winter Tour at Pyeongchang skiing

Wow after the wonderful Awards that we got it was time to have some more fun so we all took the Limo Bus from Somerset Place Hotel at 8am to Pyeongchang which was a 3 hrs ride.
While going in bus we got glimpses of beautiful N-Tower/Seoul Tower.
Driving 2hrs we stop at a shopping mall/mega store there we halted for 15min or so & then proceed to our destination.

We stopped by shops which rental the ski equipments.







Finally Got ready to Ski

                            

But before skiing I don't know how to ski So there was a Teacher who taught us of the tricks how to start, Stop N how to get up after falling down with those heave shoes.
But it was not enough for me I fall down 5 times while trying to ski.It is tough to Ski.But be enjoyed a lot & laughed on each other ohh its was awesome experience.



                                       

                                        

With All the Awesome Friends !!

Then we returned back to our new hotel Intercontinental Alpensia Pyeongchang Resort & I had a Italian Pizza for the Dinner & Other Went to have beef except Me & Seolki.

                        

After dinner I had plenty of time to watch The MAMA 2013 Awards Live from Hong-Kong where Girls Generation Won Best Female Group.

                          

                                   Well Its was a Very busy Day with so many activities!!

Day 2 of Romantic Winter Tour The buzz KOREA Awards 2013

Yeah after shopping it was time the Awards which we all are waiting for which was held in fradia

                                     

We all reached there at 4.15pm & awards function was going to start at 5pm we had free time to get ready into some charismatic dress but before that we meet OMO Ricky Kim who was our host for the evening !!


                               

After meeting Ricky Kim it was the time to get ready & have some snacks N get energized.First performance was of "Dal Shabet" which was Very Hot & Sizzling they set whole stage of fire Wow it was amazing.

                              


After Dal Shabet performance we had our big event the awards for the category
1.Video of the Year
2.Blog of the Year
3.K-Spot of the Year
4.buzz of the Year

Here are the pic of all the Winners including me

                          

Finally for the Performance for which all the girls were waiting for ZE:A & all girls just went crazy when they arrived on stage.

                             

                             

Wow it was an amazing stunning award ceremony of buzz KOREA Awards 2013.

                                
                                  Me With Ed the Video Of the Year Award Winner

My Happiest Memory in Seoul

Hello Friends The Big day had arrived finally for which we have come. At 8.30am after our breakfast we were seated in a Super luxurious Limo Bus from Somerset Hotel to KTO HQ in Seoul.Where we reach within 15mins as soon as we reached the HQ of KTO we were greeted by the KTO staff.

After the quick Orientation & Introduction with other participants we went to "The National Museum of Korea" which is newly created & opened last week.There were amazing Art Forms never seen before.

With Shuchan from Japan

Do Check out my Video "The National Museum of Korea"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9amfMMGT7V8

After seeing the museum we went have our lunch where we had Octopus Rice & Pork.

Wow then we went for shopping in the famous Myeongdong everyone was going crazy but 

especially girls to buy there best friend cosmetics products.

But i was crazy about buying K-pop cds. I bought Girls Generation "the Boys" & 2ne1 

"Crush"

Happy Faces after Shopping....

Check Out my Video of Myeongdong

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PIKs0SvPbBk

After Shopping we went to FRADIA .

It is a cultural floating space on Hangang River with excellent riverside view.

Well it was my luck day i meet Ricky Kim our host for tonight.

Finally the big time has came for which we all came for yes its the

"Awards" Night with power packed performances from Dalshabet & ZE:A.

Watching Dalshabet perform live it was a dream come true for me never thought that i could see any K-pop performance. I was just mesmerized by the moves of Dalshabet just can't take my eyes off them.

To watch the video click below

check out the Dalshabet & ZE:A performances

After DalShabet performance we had our big event the awards for following category

1.Video of the Year

2.Blog of the Year

3.K-Spot of the Year

4.buzz of the Year

I won the Buzz of the Year award for my blogs on KTO website Buzz Korea now Imagine your Korea.
This was my first award of my life that I received in my favorite City Seoul in front of so many people.
So this was my Happiest moment of My life spent in Seoul which I will never ever forget in my entire life time.




From Left Liliy From Cambodia,Alyna from Philippines, Rini from
Indonesia, Junyi from China, Seolki from Singapore, Lichee from China, Viru(Me :)) , Tim From Australia, Edvard from Lithuania, Little Amy from China, Shuchan From Japan & John from Philippines.  

But that was not all for the night KTO had in store more for all of us.After awards we went  for dinner in Samwon Garden,Gangnam-gu.

It was very beautifully decorated.




A huge feast was arranged for us^^  with various Korean delicacy.




So Happy & Hungry to see Various Korean Food items in front of us. Just cant wait to taste them all before this we have just seen them in pictures.

So this day i.e 20th November 2013 was the Happiest Day in My life spend in Seoul with experiencing its various expects such as meeting locals & interact with them, saw Korean modern architectures in National Museum of Modern Art,Seoul, Tasted various Korean Food & Sweets, watching K-POP performance live which was like my dream come true. And the main event receiving Award in Seoul in front of so many people.
So many things in just one day. So this is undoubtedly my happiest  & unforgettable memory ever spend in my life that too in Seoul. That I Cherished for long long time.

I ❤ SEOUL U 

Romantic Winter Tour Day 1

Hello Friends Finally I arrived in Korea feeling like a dream come true on 19th November Tuesday in Incheon  International Airport after a 15hrs long flight via Thailand.After getting my bagged I came out side of airport at 4.10pm & there I saw a board saying Romantic Winter Tour In hands of Kathy.
When we went to take our ride outside the airport it was Wow freezing cold. I took almost 50 mins. to reach our hotel in Seoul from the airport.

With me it is Shuchan from Japan & the Cute Amy Zhao from China

After that we arrived at the Somerset Place Hotel at 5.30pm We had some rest & a refreshing shower.
At 7pm me & Shuchan Went to the Bukchon Hanok Village it was very cold out side.












On the way back to the hotel we had Tteokbokki in a Pocha.



And there was our day 1 ended !!

Tripitaka Festival Showcases Buddhist Marvel - Buzz Korea

Buddhist scripture

                                                             

                                     Tripitaka Festival 

What is Tripitaka ??
Tripitaka is a Sanskrit word meaning Three Baskets. It is the traditional term used by Buddhist traditions to describe their various canons of scriptures.The expression Three Baskets originally referred to three receptacles containing the scrolls on which the Buddhist scriptures were originally preserved.

The festival have began celebrating the Tripitaka Koreana, a priceless collection of Buddhist scripture that is currently housed at Haein Temple in South Gyeongsang Province. It will run until Nov. 9.

                           

The collection was carved onto 81,258 wooden printing blocks in the 13th century seeking divine intervention to ward off an invasion by the Mongols. It also ranks as the world's most comprehensive and oldest preserved version of Buddhist canon written in Chinese characters. It was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1995.

Surrounded by the towering Mt. Gaya, the temple has served as the home of the Tripitaka Koreana since 1251. Its Janggyeong Panjeon was specifically built in the 15th century to store the woodblocks, given the beneficial effect of its natural surroundings in helping preserve them. It faces southwest to avoid the damp southeasterly winds from the valley below, while the cold north wind is blocked by the mountain peaks. Meanwhile, differently sized windows on the northern and southern sides provide adequate ventilation.

During the festival, a rock carving of the Buddha will also be unveiled to the public for the first time in 1,200 years.

Near the temple is a six-km road that includes a Buddhist-themed path running beside a mountain stream. The colorful fall foliage adds to its beauty during the fall.

Various pieces of art relating to the Tripitaka Koreana line the path, inspired by the works of artists who spent months meditating at the temple.

Apart from exhibiting some of the oldest wooden blocks, the festival includes a movie theater featuring advanced technology and special effects, and an exhibition about the history of the Koryo Dynasty, which governed the country when the Tripitaka Koreana was created. In addition to historical relics, the main exhibition hall details how the wooden blocks were made and preserved.

Those who purchase tickets can also enjoy discounted meals and accommodation, as well as special promotional prices for local baseball games. Tickets cost W10,000 for adults.For more details access its website at www.tripitaka-festival.com.