A 'lone-some' journey indeed...

I officially started my journey for PhD on 24th October 2011 with official registration today. I received my new and latest matric card with confusion as I know this will be the starting point of glory or doom. I spend the whole day for the last week, venturing into the unknown of scholarly journals and articles hoping to find something that enable me to progress. Yes, the keyword here is progress. I found numerous articles talking about so many things, from construction technology, bidding and my fondly searched items, the BoQ. Its like searching a mountain just to find so little that really match the hopes. Spent half day today in a library, with the new matric card, downloading so many articles which I really do not know is it the things that i'm looking or something else. Lone-some is a disease which I start to feel with wife and family hook imbalance over a small strip of string. I'm raising 2 kids, infant to be true, and it is not an easy task. The last thing in my mind is fight between me and my wife over dozens of issues which I really hate to admit that it is sometimes happening. Here in this place, I really do not have much friend to share the loneliness and sometimes the bored I endure in most days. The only day that I really enjoy is the day when I suppose to meet my supervisor. She do not help much at this stage but meeting her would at least clear something and give me some directions. I know it still too early to decide on something but I know I have to explore on daily basis. For this, I created a small system which I recorded all information I collected through my readings. I put in proper reference, excerpt and also comment hoping that this piece of work will help me finding my direction. I do not know whether the system will help me or not, but I guess that would probably shed some directions and record all information that I collected throughout this period.

My biggest concern now is to strike a balance between my family and the study that just started. I really do not know, if I were in my wife position, whether I'll be behaving good and understand the next 3 years will be difficult or adamant that responsibility is a responsibility, no break or study lining between it. I just hope that my wife will be more open to an issue, put aside personal interest and help me with this journey. I felt the pressure every night when I tried to put myself to bed and wonder what am I doing on bed rather on my desk, reviewing the mountainous articles and continue pondering my fate for the next 3 years. I do hope that this period of boredom will soon be over and replaced with directions, seminar paper maybe or even part time work. I'll continue reading for the next 2 or three months and see whether luck will be on my side. I always pray to Allah that he will show me the direction and help me out from this blurring situation.

InsyaAllah...

SEOUL - tips for couple travelling with infant

Yehaa!!

We managed to visit Seoul from 6th to 14th October 2011 and we went there with our daughter who is just 16 months old. Yup, no pre-arrange ground trips, no guide and we were there just 3 of us armed with the latest subway map and maps found and collected from numerous information desk available throughout Seoul. Our study on the routes took us back a year ago and we collected information mostly from blogs on the internet.

Korea for Muslim - without travel guides and pre-arrange ground tours will be somehow challenging, the only place in Seoul where halal food are easily available is in Itaewon which pressing intensively to the deepest pocket. We tried once - 2 sets of Korean authentic Bulgogi and such and it cost us 27k (approx. MYR 70) for each meal. That cost will be so decent looking at the set that we had. As Itaewon is somehow far from our lodging, we resorted to eggs - 3k for 10 (almost MYR 10 or MYR1 for each egg) and pre-packed instant rice easily available at GS25 or 7-11 for about KWN 1k each. We have prepared our self with canned food (brought from Malaysia) ie. Sardine (Adabi brand preferred - taste good and without that fishy smell), instant curry Yeos, we got 3 canned, raw rice - for our daughter's porridge and 10 packets of instant noodles. While in Korea if you always converted how much you spent if its in MYR, you wont be able to buy anything as the standard of living is so high and a bottle of coke - 1.5L cost MYR 7 as compared to MYR 2.5 we have here. We stay in a apartel type lodging comes with its own kitchenette and hot plate. We cook most of our meal, and eat just bread when we were out for tour.

Food is one thing, the other will be the mode of transportation. Thank goodness, Seoul has 1 of the most efficient public transport and compared to bus we do most of our tour using their great subways. Seoul subways are mostly operated by Seoul Metro and is a mix of old and new lines. Other train services are operated by Korail and those rails network runs mostly outside Seoul. All subways/trains services use T-money as a mode of payment and it was very convenient. There was never been an incidence where problem occur and I couldn't enter. I experience once in KL when I tried to use the Touch n Go and it failed. I spent 23KWN for the subway and that was an extensive travelling for a week plus rail service to Gapyeong for Nami Island, their subways are really cheap. One thing that I think is less efficient is their transfer line, most lines will intersect with one another at numerous points but the walking to the transfer line is so exhausting. With stroller that we were carrying, there were so many instances which we have to carry the stroller up and down the stairways just because elevators are not available. The following are my general tips for those planning to visit the vibrant Seoul with their little one.

Stroller on AAX KUL to ICN

My advised is bring your stroller. Preferably the easy to carry and stroll around. I'm using Maclaren triumph and it weight just 4 kilos. So far it really heavy duty, we move around Seoul using this and it pass all the road conditions Seoul has to offer. Stroller bound for ICN will be tagged during check-in at the baggage drop counter and collected at the baggage carousel. I think the general rule is that, stroller that is tagged will join the baggage at the carousel and stroller given a pass at the entrance of the departure hall will have to be collected somewhere upon arrival at the destination (most Indonesian destination).

When I was in Seoul temperature went as low as 15 degrees during day time. Using stroller like mine will mean that your baby is facing the cold wind first hand. My child experience dry lips and its good to prepare a hood like apparatus just to keep your child away from the cold wind. I experience dry lips also and my lips just turn to normal 2 weeks after coming back. it's very painful.

Pre-book your seat

Not many people welcome child on board. They are considered menace and disturbed the peaceful conditions inside the airplane. I think bringing an infant on board is a bliss. 1st - nobody would like to sit beside you - they'll move to other seat if available, sparing the 3 seats just for you, 2nd - if you travel with premium airlines chances are - front seat with extra leg room, but not in AAX the most you can do is to book seat just behind the hot seat (empty during our flight) and consider having a close distance with the loos.

Travellers with infant may check in online

This is new. When i bring my d/ter to Indonesia last April, infant cannot be checked in online, but when i tried ICN, things change. Perhaps since check in at counter will involve extra fee.

Muslim - try Coop Residence

My d/ter only eats porridge with carrot and soup. I found it expensive to buy rice in Seoul so i meticulously bring an exact quantity of uncooked rice and chicken cube stocks. Minus the carrot she ate the porridge and went well. As halal food could be an issue in Seoul we brought ourselves instant mee (fried mee - can last long), few cans of chicken curry, sardines, instant congee and some fried anchovies. The hotel that we stayed has microwave oven and stove. We also bring a cooking pot (small size). We save a lot from cooking our own meal. We normally eat before we went out and eat just bread on tour. On our trip to nami, we even packed some spagetti and enjoy picnicking ala backpack.

Korean elderly are child friendly

Same in vietnam, Korean elderly love child very much. They wont speak English to you but sometime it's quite fascinating to see how caring they are with your child as they try to ask you to do something in Korean. Sign language is the language in Korea! just do what they ask you to do, perhaps they think the way you carry the child is not right to them, DO IT. There are so many elderly in Korea.

'Wrap' your child

I enjoy Korean weather. Cold but bearable. Wrap your child extra as the cold weather may affect the health.