사소한 뉴스이지만.....It's Trivial yet Impoorttaaantttt

아마도 다른사람에겐 사소한 일이지만 노량진역에서 1호선 9호선 왕래...갔다 왔다 하는 사라에게는 너무 중요하고 화제가 주목될 만한 일이죠.

이것은 바로 1.9호선의 연결하는 환승지하통로의 개통소식이죠.^^

저같은 사라은 매주 여러번 갔다 왔다 해서 얼마나 고마운지...^^ ㅇㆍ...신난다.

Asyiiiiiiik banget. Nggak perlu keluar stasiun lg utk transfer....I don't need to go out gor transfer anymore.^^

Sekitar Rumah. . .

Hampir tiap hari hrs lwt eskalator ini jika ke mana-mana. 

Sangat nyaman krn hanya 200 m dr tmpt tggl kita, lngsng bs cabut ke mana pun kita mau. Sampe bandara pun bs jg!!! Apa nggak asik tuh?

En...yg lbh asik lg, bnyk yg ada di sktr sini. E-mart tentu. Baskin ono. Paris B. Welah yo iyo. Walo nggak.ada J.Co...DD bolehlah. Blm.lg pasar....resto-resto...hmmm...

Bike + Subway: A Great Way to Travel Around

On weekends and holidays, bikes are allowed to be brought along via Seoul subways. Today...after biking along the river, we decided to go home by subway.

Which means that we got to bring along our bikes into the subways. Yup...it's Friday...but it happened to be a national holiday celebrating Hangeul Day.

So...four of us took the first compartment where bikes are allowed to be brought in.

It's not jammed packed. ..thankfully. so we had enough space to put our bikes.

And....then..the most challenging part was carrying our bikes up.and down the stairs. Gee.......we're not supposed to take elevator and escalators!!

But....we got to.pull our bikes up.and down via a specially designed bike track.

Still...it's a struggle for me....since I got to manage all bikes.....since not all stations are equipped with bike-friendly facilities.

Thank God....we decided to take subways...otherwise...we'd. ..

Subway Exit....

iseng-iseng saja sambil pulang jeprat-jepret tsngga-tangga saat menuju rumah.

sepi. Tak ada orang lain.

pas menuruni tangga pun demikian.

ketika naik eskalator pun juga sama saja.

한적했다.

But....begitu keluar...terlihat ada 'kehidupan' seperti bapak ibu penjual ini.

oh...bahkan ...tak terlihat orang lalu-lalang menuju atau keluar dari Emart dekat rumah.

Gasping for Air Conditioner...

I was on my way to Yeouido (as usual). But, boy..the heat..summer heat really drenched me in sweat..that I just couldn't wait to get into the subway......bracing myself....

just to get a glimpse of clean air....soaked in air conditioned atmosphere.

So, the other day...even a simple daily transfer from line 5 to line 9 had done me enough of ....trying to reach out for fresh air.

Was it the heat? was it my fasting? was it me all along?

Couldn't tell..or wait...a combination of them all?

One thing for sure....my tired-looking face summed up what just happened the other day on my way to Yeouido.

A Unique Invitation into an Aging Society

Yes...in 2018 Korea is expected to reach an era of an aging society where more and more people attain longer longevity and life expectancy, which means that the number of senior ..and very very senior citizens increases. 

The other day, I found this unique public service advertisement endorsed by the Seoul Metro. Here is how it is roughly translated-->

Whose seats are the reserved seats?

A 70-year-old-looking man is giving a seat to an 80-year-looking man.

The 80-year-old man waived his hands saying no. 

--

A 70-year-old-looking woman standing nearby

thinking that one should not ignore one's act of kindness

pushing the 80-year-old-looking man into the reserved seat. 

--

A spectacle of thoughtful act among senior citizens themselves,

is a likely circumstance in an ageing society 

whose senior citizens keep on increasing in number.

--

Reserved seats are, indeed, our reserved seats in the future. 

As of 2013, senior citizens covered 12.2% of the population and...

 by 2018......the dawn of an ageing society.

National Subway Graphic: The Limited Edition NOT to be Missed!!

I love how Seoul Metropolitan Management found its creative side of portraying the social phenomenon at subways. First, let me get this straight, well..at times I did see couples hugging and kissing (although some would be blietzkrieg-like kiss). Not that I am naive or being hypocritical, but..yest...there are kids too in subways.:)  

and that's what prompted the Subway management to create this public awareness campaign ad.

what a great way to 'nudge' those couples:-) 

Then...the second edition that I like is also about how some people would just behave like the king of the subway..hehehe.:)

Well, some may not be aware of it..but the fact that some do exist....has prompted (once again) the Seoul Subway Management to come up with this brilliant idea of 'portraying' misbehaved passengers as gorilla or Kingkong. 

Then..what about those who sneaked out of the system...get on and off the subways without paying. I was alarmed to find this, too.

Some are just using the children card instead of adult-fare card. (so they say).

but...this is what makes it even more interesting...

these limited editions of National Subway Graphics are what keep me glued to wait and expect more 'insanely' creative ways of 'nudging' those kinds of people out there.

hmmm I hope I am not one of those...:) 

Something's Changing @ Seoggye Station's Transfer Corridor

Well, though we usually take a bus to go from home to campus or school, at times we take subway. It's been a while since the last time we got to transfer via Seoggye station. Along the transfer corridor, it used to be so dull...but now..the dullness is somewhat reduced by the effort of the management. 

Yup, they put lots of flowers in arrays of pots along the walking elevator. 

Just when we're walking pass the corridor, the flowers were being watered.

Nice effort, though.

Poetry on Display for Public Literary Awareness(?) @ Subway Station

One of the characteristics visible in almost every stations of Seoul Subway or SMRT (Seoul Mass Rapid Transportation) is poetry.

Yes..poetry displayed on the sliding door, fixed door, walls, corridors of the stations.

"Over The Bridge of Madison County" Well, yes...it's a Korean poetry but the title itself ..has an American-touch in it. Sorry..for not translating it. Just wanna give a highlight of what it is.

From long ones to short ones like the one shown above "봄눈"...or...

One of the greatest poems, i.e. 아이들 'Children' written by the famous Kalil Gibran is also on display. Of course, it is in Korean. After all, the purpose of setting up all of these poems is to let any passengers at least read the title...or read some parts of them..or even read them fully ..while waiting for the train.

What a way to 'educate' people.....

well..who says that literary acquisition can only be achievable through classes?

In fact...the whole wide spaces available on subway stations are nonetheless ...the perfect space to spark ideas and let knowledge (poetry included)...to be spread out....

Highlights of Dharma Wanita UGM's Visit to Seoul

Note: 

One-day visit to Seoul after a week-long visit to Japan seemed to be not enough, 

but..this was pretty much what we could do to make the most out of it.

---**---

First: Riding a subway would surely give a first-hand experience of what Seoulites mostly do to get round the city. As many as 4 million (more I guess) people use subways each day in Seoul and its satellite cities. That's how important subway is for a bustling city like Seoul. 

So, taking a seoul Metro would be the first choice for anyone who wants to know how this effective system of transportation works in the heart of the Korea capital.

I insisted that the guests from Dharma Wanita UGM should take this one, too. 

A bit tiring and sometimes...energy-consuming, but once again, this might give a deep impression

 of what the city has to offer.

Second: since they did not have ample time to visit most places in just one day, there was no other better way to enjoy what kind city Seoul was....but to take the 2.5 hour ride on Seoul City Tour Bus--a kind of hop-on and hop-off transportation primarily made for anyone who has not enough time to visit Seoul.

So, for only a mere 9,000 Won (a 1,000 Won discount for coming on a group more than 10)^^, we could use the best and effective time of enjoying Seoul. The bus tour would take its passengers to as many as 38 more attractions in Seoul in just one day. ^^

Third: Out of so many attractions that I could write about...I just wanted to tip this on. Changdokgung palace. This palace located right in front of the Seoul City Hall is a must-visit site should anyone wants to enjoy the cultural show at daylight. But, too bad, due to some circumstances, we could not see the show. Instead, we just visited and got around the palace.

Fourth: it seemed that going somewhere without bringing some oleh-oleh or souvenirs back home....

would be like something in vain. 

So, I took the whole group to Namdaemun market--famous as well as infamous for its vast and endless ranges of Korean brand--be it the original and the counterfeit ones. But, what makes Namdaemun famous is surely its charms in bringing in numerous Korean traditional products: ginseng, tea, etc etc etc. 

This time around: Korean souvenirs were what the whole group was looking for. 

So, a 2-hour shopping seemed to be not-enough to dig into the Korean souvenirs.

Got me to ponder: Shop till we drop (literally and figuratively).

Nice experience, I guess. Right, Ibu-ibu? ^^

Seoul Metro: Environment+Health Campaign

I wonder if many people would notice this signs patched over the exit-entry door of some subways in Seoul. Of course, it looks too simple and not-that-eye catching. But, since they are mostly put on the doors of subways, those standing in front of, next to, adjacent to the door, or those waiting in line to exit from subway must've or might've seen or read at least once about this one. These are posters or public advertisement made by the Seoul Subway or Seoul Metro Management. 

So, what's so eye-catching and good about these? Let me start to scroll this down!

First:  지하철 계단을 오르면 생활이 곧 운동이 됩니다.

10계단을 오르면 1.2 Kcal, 1분이면 12 Kcal

...freely translated into

'Use the stairs in subway (stations) and you'll have your exercise'

'10 stairs equals to 1.2 Kcal, 1 minute equals to 12 Kcal.

The next one is also interesting......

It deals about environment-awareness. 

전철을 타면 매일 매일이 식물일입니다.

인천역에서 서울역까지 전철로 출되근하는 고객님은 

오늘도 2그루의 소나무를 심으셨습니다.

freely translated into...

'Riding a subway everyday is the Day of the Plant' (?)

Those passengers who take subway from Incheon to Seoul Station everyday to their offices

are like planting 2 pine trees each day.

The last one that I found is:

 고객님께서는 <1회용 교통카드>를 사용함으로써

환경보호와 물자절약에 앞서고 계십니다.

freely translated into...

'Any passengers using one-time reusable transportation card 

are the front liners in environmental protection and resource conservation.'

I think this kind of public ads is one of the coo ways to promote such awareness. 

As for me, it also tricks me to learn more about Korean language.^^

한.미 FTA (Korea-US Free Trade Agreement)

I will not--of course--talk about something this heavy -a-subject on my blog^^. Instead, I will just want to share what I found on subway advertisement. Well, it is about FTA--okey. But, the way it is projected in such a way is something that attracts me.

First, I know that some Koreans did oppose the implementation of Korea-US FTA for some or so many reasons. I still remembered last year's long rallie being held in Gwanghwamun and Chongno area around downtown to oppose its implementation. With no avail. 

Well, as the fact suggest, the official implementation of this FTA did initiate itself on March 15, 2012. So, there are no other choices but to get along with this. So, this is when the role of government to make sure that its people understand and support its agreement. This ads suggests that at some point, Korean government tries its best to make sure that its people will understand this hard decision. Look at the ads: it is in cartoon, not real people....that would appeal more for passers by or subway passengers in this case..to at least to give it a thought. 

This ads suggest that this FTA would make one's family's daughter changed. How and what changes that would possibly be fell upon her, then? 

The ads says that  thanks to FTA, the prices of oranges, jelly, lemon are getting cheaper and cheaper...which later on eventually would help her solve her diet problem and of course...her skin would be better, too. 

FTA would also boost foreign investment in Korea that would eventually create more jobs and make her get her job that she wants.  etc...

I love learning Korean and Korean society through ads or any other medium I find on the streets or at any other places where I would bump them into. It kinds of helps me to understand more of what's going on or what Korean people are talking or buzzing about...

Oh, this ad has different theme, too: this one talks about how FTA affects a daughter's life. Other ads deal with their Mom, Daddy, Son.....

I think this is a cool way to disseminate the awareness of what FTA would hopefully bring about to Korean society.^^

Book Vending Machine

Coffee Vending Machine? I've seen that. everywhere. Beverages, be it cool or hot, sold through vending machines are common visage in every public corner in Seoul. And I bet in any other cities in Korea.  But, book vending machine? Yes, I have heard about it before. But never have I actually seen it with my own eyes. Well, there are lots and lots and....numerous.......arrays of bookstores--be it small or big; not to mention the second-hand bookstores. There are a lot right here in Seoul.

But..then....I found this unique vending machine that solely sells books. I was at Seoggye station waiting for my train when I deliberately walked around the platform to see what it had to offer.  That was when I saw this. Quite an interesting sight to see. The books being sold: They are mostly 2000 Won or roughly US$ 1.8 or Rp 15,000. Cheap!  And..the books are mostly about trivial stuffs that might make people get interested in buying them simply out of their curiosity or out of their boredom of waiting.

Here are some of the unique titles of the books: 

젊은 시절 꼭 해야 할 77가지 (77 Must-Do Things When You're Young)

유며 영어 ( Humor in English) 

IQ 도뇌 쿠이즈 ( IQ Brain Quiz)

타로를 알면 사람이 보인다 ( You Know Tarot, You See People)

관상을 알면 사람이 보인다 ( Understanding People's (Fortune) through Their Face/Visage)

유머의 기술 ( The Art/Technique of Humor)

2012 지구 종말 (2012 The End of the World)

유머의 팝콘 (Popcorn of Humor)

대화의 기술 (The Art/Technique of Conversation)

A 혈액형 인간학 (A Blood Type: Study of Man)

B 혈액형 인간학 ( B Blood Type: Study of Man)

AB 혈액형 인간학 (AB Blood Type: Study of Man)

So, the next time you feel like reading something light while  waiting for your train in Seoul subway, why not try to buy these books out of the vending machine? (But, they are --surely-- in Korean^^)

Got Lost/Trapped in Seoul Subway

I was going to Uijeongbu with my friends that day. Since we were busy talking, we did not have the slightest idea that the train we were taking was only going until Seongbuk (way too far from Uijeongbu^^).

There are some trains whose destinations are not the last stations on the line-track, instead, they just stop in between, so passengers should keep it in mind that they should be aware of it. Well, of course the authorities or the train  would always announce all about it to the suspecting passengers. But, for unsuspecting or better yet.....indifferent passengers like us....we did not even hear the announcement! It was our fault of not listening to the announcement.
So, that was exactly what happened.
 

 We were so busy talking and chatting that we did not realize all of other passengers had got off the train...while.....we were trapped inside the train...which was going to its parking ground!!!!
aha...that was when we realized the eerie feeling of as to why we were the only people on the compartment. Luckily, it was in the morning. Can't imagine ...had it happened at night.^^
So, to make the best of our moment, we captured the amazingly empty ride on Seoul Subway. ^^
So, we were not LOST...but ....TRAPPED inside the subway...

...it's the best experience to date.
NEver have we been able to be in an empty subway like this.....because it is always crowded and fully jammed packed with people.
So...it WAS indeed a nice day ---if I looked at it with a different perspective in mind.

Two Families on the Go

We were taking the Metro from Namdaemun on our way back home to Imundong when we bumped into a family of six from Malaysia who turned out to be having their Winter vacation in Korea. Wow what a coincidence. We felt like brothers already since we came from Southeast Asia. What struck me most when we met them was the fact that the family of six came to Korea for their Winter vacation to see the snow...but unfortunately..they did not see any, yet.

We chatted along the way on the Seoul Metro and got a chance to exchange address and promised to keep in touch.

I was touched by the fact that they did enjoy having their one-week trip in Korea.

and...what's more interesting than that....was the fact that they brought up 70%  of the family members. (I mean: two stayed home due to their jobs back home). But.....the idea of having a trip for the whole family to Korea was more than intriguing for me.

Before saying goodbye..we managed to take a picture as a token of memory at the Dongdaemun Station.