Onward to Daegu via KTX

Seoul - We departed on time from the Hotel to the KTX station.   I was feeling under the weather because of residual smoke from inconsiderate smokers in the hotel.  Unfortunately, the hotel I was staying in Best Western Guro Hotel allowed smoking in the rooms.   I need to find a better hotel around that area.

For breakfast, I had raw beef Bibimbap on a hot stone bowl.   It was a good breakfast meal for me.

Bibimbap raw beef

After our meeting, we had lunch at a Shabubu Vietnamese Fusion restaurant which I was quite skeptical but was surprise with the good spread of food and it was delicious.  There was a buffet spread of vegetables except for the slice beef.

Shabu shabu slices of beef

Generous portions of vegetables

Spring is round the corner and a nice stroll in the nearby park was strewn with fallen cherry blossom flowers.  The trees were in full bloom displaying the magnificent colour of the flowers and was a sight to behold.

What's Cooking @ NANTA Musical Performance

Seoul - Since I read and saw on youtube about NANTA, I always yearn to watch their performance.  It was so cool watching on youtube or TV but on stage it was fantastic.   I booked the 8pm performance with Young Jin and Kiwon @ Myeongdong NANTA Theatre.   After dinner, we got there early to change our e-tickets to actual entrance tickets.

In NANTA, knives and other kitchen utensils are transformed into musical instruments in the hands of the performers.  They started on 10th October 1997 and have reached an audience of over 9m in 289 cities.

Stage before the performance

The performers were so engaging and at times invite attendees to participate in their performances.  Most of the time, the participants were made fun of but in good spirits.  Garbage were thrown at the audience with great laughter, then came balls and lots of them.

Bulgogi with good friends

Seoul - Met up with Kiwon and together we went for a good traditional Bulgogi meal over hot coals.   The taste of the beef is much delicious over hot coals than over gas stove.  The first course was tender beef over hot coals.  I simply love the generous fresh leafy vegetables that goes with this meal.   I just wrapped the cooked beef with the leafy lettuce and stuffed into my mouth.  Delicious....

Beef over hot coals

preparation for the Bulgogi

Kiwon

Kiwon having a good time.....

Best Bulgogi 

Young Jin and Kiwon

DropTop and Eel

Seoul - It was not difficult to find a coffee shop in Seoul.   There are so many of them in just a short stretch of road.   For our breakfast meeting, I chose Droptop much quieter and cheaper than Starbucks.

nice cheesy bread @ Droptop Coffee

Eel and Rice

A new office tower was just completed near my hotel and we decided to go there for lunch.   Young Jin recommended this Eel restaurant which he went before and like it.   The price is reasonable for standard price of W10,000 Eel and rice, free flow of soup, vegetables and of course Kimchi.

A special dish is putting some Eel and rice into the empty bowl and pour hot water to make it into Eel porridge.   This is like DIY Eel porridge but surprising very delicious.

Yummy Eel

Eel Porridge

It was a good choice as I love eel....

Sashimi for me

Seoul - I was hankering for some good raw fish and so my staff brought me to eat sashimi.   This will be my 4th time to this restaurant and the food is still fresh and really good.  Prices still remain reasonably affordable.   Korea is going through a time of deflationary pressure and Singapore is having inflation in every corner of the economy - food, petrol, property, etc..

Yummy sashimi

Today is a sad day for me - LEE Kuan Yew

Singapore - Today is a sad day for me as I shed of tears for my first Prime Minister and founding father of modern Singapore.   Every where I drive around Singapore is a tribute to the vision and determination of this man that lead his capable ministers and people through the tough and challenging early years of Singapore to what it is today.

Our annual per capita income at the time of independence in 1965 was $500 to roughly $ 55,000 today.

You have brought Singapore to first world in one generation and I thank you so much.

May you rest in peace.

“I saw the British people as they were. They treated you as colonials and I resented that. I saw no reason why they should be governing me — they’re not superior.

“I decided, when I got back, I was going to put an end to this.” Lee Kuan Yew

Laurent - Australia famous pastry store

Melbourne - Lesley was finding for this pastry store up and down the street - Laurent.   Famous no doubt as the store was immaculate in design and look upmarket.

Store front

My cappuccino

Our waiting number is 14, our table is 4 - seems like Lesley favourite number.