Korean Travel 2016 | A few hours at Seoraksan National Park

Guess who's back after a mini hiatus after each post which seems to be a trend on this blog but I recently transferred my holiday photos onto the computer and I'm getting reminiscent of this trip already.

When you think of Korea, people often think about the hustle and bustle of Seoul with it's booming beauty and fashion trends where a shopping-lover would mistake it for paradise or a foodie may get overwhelmed with all the different streetfoods and eating culture where everything is instagram-worthy but I often think the natural face of Korea is neglected. Through this small snippet of my trip, I was able to appreciate nature and where my tour guide said it would be a 'cleansing experiencing'.

A Mini Pre-Holiday Haulin'

It's summer holiday season and I've taken a cheeky trip to some high street stores to buy some totally unnecessary yet, totally necessary things that spark my interest.

Most of these items would be diving straight into my suitcase which would lugged around South Korea and Hong Kong for the next 3 weeks. I hope you're prepared for a travel diary in the near future :)

Brighton 2016 Photo Diary

'I shall dismiss you row by row, starting with row C'. I don't know whether I should be thankful that my exam is over or terrified because my exam is over. As soon as we scurried pass the daunting door at the end of the hall; it was officially holiday season- even if it's only a few days.

Brighton was a blissful 2hr journey away and contrary to my expectation, it was a lot more fun than I had thought. I've never really understood the appeal of travelling on trains by themselves. I find it relatively depressing and melancholy where a smile may be considered endangered in the morning crowds.

From London Kings Cross we pushed our way through the crowds some striding with intent whilst others are greedily observing the surroundings with their darting eyes filled with both adrenaline and worry. A sandwich in one hand and crisps in the other, I was content, as content as the elderly lady who sat next to me knitting with thick grey wool.

NCS EXPERIENCE- Week 3

The ritual end of week photo. 

The weeks are whizzing past at the speed of light and before I know it, I've already completed week 3 of this programme.

This week was mainly used for planning our social action project! As a team we needed to choose a charity that we would raise awareness and fund-raise for. We chose 'The Honeypot Children's Charity'. This charity tries to give young carers the childhood they rightfully deserve, by providing them a weekend service to simply let them be just children.

It's Logic..
With our charity set, it's time to plan our event. Our group has a profound love for all things meat and sport therefore we did the logical thing which is to combine them together and Family Fun Day was created.

This event would be aimed at different types of people with a variety of stalls from hook a duck to a raffle which would suit different age groups with the main star of the event being the BBQ.

Connections. Connections. Connections. 
I guess the things we learnt from week 2 came into use earlier than I had expected. We had a session on networking and how knowing a few people, who know a few more people can help you further to your goals. I cannot stress how important these connections were, every connection pushed us a tad further and a bit closer to our main goal.

Within our group we had many different types of connections to many different types of people. It ranged from an employee at Tescos to a owner of a rugby club. By using our connections we got the venue, the food and the activities sorted.

Rejection hurts but keep on moving
One of the first aims that our team established is that it would be great if local business supported us by giving donations which will contribute to the grand raffle prize. In return, we would promote their business to people who would come to our event.

We mainly went to independent stores purely because we thought they would be more flexible and willing to donate, we also thought it would be great for them to gain some more recognition over the chain stores. Many shops welcomed the idea of donating raffle prizes to the charity and they thought it was for an excellent cause but not everything goes as smoothly as we had planned.

Managers were more than willing to promote our event in their shop windows however whenever you mention the word 'donation' you see their smile falter a little. Sometimes they just can't donate because it would be unfair if they chose one charity over another and many other reasons . It's understandable. Despite the disappointment you have to put a smile on your face and say thanks and just move on.

If you just need a break, take a break. 
I know planning an event is some serious work but we all need a little bit of fun. If not, people would start to get demotivated and not want to actively participate in the planning. We were instantly transported to our younger selves when we played games on the field which all of us hasn't played since primary school.

Admittedly this wasn't the most exciting of weeks in my NCS series  but it was necessary to ensure the success of our event for next week. So just power through and try to have fun.

 Stay tuned for week 4 of this series! 

NCS EXPERIENCE- Week 2

Let's get week 2 on a roll!

The second week is mainly centered around learning new skills which will be useful for the fourth week of the programme (The Social Action Plan).

We were located at a local university, living the notorious life of uni students-well, only for a week. In comparison to the first week, it was much more chilled and relaxed. The days weren't as jammed packed, there were more time to spend with our groups and I definitely gave a sigh of relief when I saw our en-suite bedrooms.

Cooking is not my forte 
All meals were cooked by our group. We split our team into 3s and each mini group is responsible for a particular day, their duty is to cook 3 meals for 14 people. Admittedly, some meals were better than others. When the day came for my group to cook-well, should I say 'attempt' to cook, it was less than successful. With such a simple menu, you wouldn't believe the struggles we faced.

Menu: 

Breakfast: Pancakes with a variety of toppings

Lunch: Burgers or Chicken Nuggets with a side of fresh salad and chips

Dinner: Pizzas with chips and vegetables 

Breakfast- Imagine our shock when we realised that we forgot to put eggs on our shopping list; we were determined to make pancakes so we got into some eggy business. Sneakily, we creeped into another team's kitchen and slyly opened their fridge, I swear I could hear angels sing because in this ordinary fridge was 5 full boxes of eggs. After some quick calculations, we concluded that they had 60 eggs for 14 people, that's more than enough eggs when there is only 2 meals left for the week. We decided to 'borrow' some eggs and put them to delicious use. Truthfully, I still don't know whether they had realised that some of their eggs had gone walkies but thanks!

Lunch- Time dictates our lives. Maybe we were a bit optimistic or maybe we are just slow or maybe we're just bad at time management because a cooked lunch was laughable. In the short time span we had, we were expected to cook for 14 people as well as eat. Nope.

Dinner- We ordered 5 pizzas but only 4 came. Is my group destined for failure? Even after devouring the meal there were still 14 hungry people lounging in the kitchen.

A group who deserves a notable mention in this section is the group who cooked Chicken Tikka Masala it was truly fantastic. Thanks guys!

Movie Binge
There's nothing better than curling up on your comfortable sofa with a batch of freshly made popcorn and have an endless movie marathons. Since we had so much free time we watched some movies from different genres. We watched horrors like 'The Conjuring' & 'Anabelle' then we switched to more light-hearted comedies like 'Ride Along' & 'Inbetweeners 2'.

Annoyingly, there was a lack of seats in our common area therefore somebody always had to sit on the floor and after a couple of hours by no means is it comfy. I swear some of the people in my group are walking furnaces, they just radiate heat and it got so hot. Despite these minor problems, our movie nights were enjoyable and fun.

'Fun' Lessons
In a day there were around 3 lessons- first lesson starts at 11am then the second starts after lunch and after that, there's a little break before the third lesson. I was absolutely dreading these lessons. I feared that we were going to be sat in a classroom and just listen to the teacher ramble on and on about their life. Thankfully, there was only 1 session like the one I described above, it was mostly interactive and physical which made the lessons much more engaging and fun.

What Team Am I On? 
One evening the leaders decided that all the groups at the uni should go to the local park. It's amazing what you can do with one football and just a piece of land. Initially, we had a playful kick-about within our team, then our competitiveness came in. We split into 2 teams, Rock-Paper-Scissors and let the games begin!

The words  'Can I play?' was hesitantly asked by a guy from another NCS group and we quite happily welcomed him into our match. As the game progressed, more and more people flocked to the rapidly growing game that eventually we just gave up dividing the teams. Occasionally one would ask 'what team am I on?' but I gave them the most basic reply-'choose a side and shoot'  Who knew 3 words would lead to this jam-packed football match?

This week hasn't been as adrenaline filled as the first but none the less it was still as great. The days laced themselves together like it was one big movie about some kids just trying to have fun. That's what we are, kids- who want to have a great summer.

NCS EXPERIENCE- Week 1

It all starts at yes.. so I said yes!

So I just finished my GCSEs and with an extended summer holiday, I decided to take part in NCS aka National Citizen Service. I chose the 4 week programme purely because I had loads of time. I'll write a NCS Expereince series which will give you an insight into my experience and what I have been doing with my very very long summer.

The first week there are many opportunities to get to know your group through team building exercises and other activities which will make you more comfortable with one another and make some thrilling memories.

The build-up 
I was excited yet nervous for the first week. Packing and preparing going into a new situation was scary. With the lack of information I had received regarding this week away at Kingswood I was instantly bombarded with a billion 'what if' questions.

Thankfully my nerves vanished when I found out I was in the same group as some of my friends. We were all very eager to meet our group, make new friends and create some fun memories. My group consisted of 6 girls and 6 guys as well as 2 team leaders who are all very friendly.

Ice-breaking can be uncomfortable but persevere 
The first activity all teams have to do is the 'Ice-breaker' but realistically it did not break any 'ice' for my team. It was more uncomfortable than an ice breaker. If I could describe my group with one word it would be awkward. Unknowingly, the whole group sectioned into their smaller comfortable groups which mainly consisted of people they had already known. We realised that we needed to mingle and chat to each other to truly become a team.

We were big kids playing with little kids toys. My group's true ice-breaker was playing laser tag, it required toy guns and shooting other people-what could be more fun? We decided to pair up with people who we haven't worked with and naturally whilst playing laser-tag it required us to talk and break the ice little by little.

Activities and more activities 
Everybody's daily timetable was crammed with different activities- admittedly, some more enjoyable than others. My day started at 7:00AM and finished at 11PM. No, we didn't watch movies and no, we stay up all night talking which I had naively imagined because as soon as we crashed onto our beds we were instantly in dreamland.

Some of the more memorable activities which we did over the week was 3G Swing. Basically, it's a giant swing that holds 2 people and is the creator of massive wedgies. If you decide to go on this, you must go up to the highest point; you may be nervous going up but you will feel so proud afterwards.

Another activity which was surprisingly enjoyable is Raft Building. At first I was skeptical about this activity because let's be honest, how much fun could one have with a couple of barrels and a few pieces of string but I soon learnt that it was a great team work activity.

Reflection Sessions AKA 'Group Therapy Sessions'
Within our group we all had one aim: mingle! After a long day of activities we had a session  to reflect on the day that we just had. Learning what we're proud of and what aims we hope to achieve for the next day. We soon became accustomed to these so-called 'Group Therapy Sessions' but it really isn't as bad as it sound since we all joke about having them.

After these 'Group Therapy Sessions' we would mingle in the dining room, slurping on powdery hot chocolate and try to get more comfortable with one another. It seems we loosen up by having fun so we decided to play truth or dare- a bit cliche but so what. This game allowed us to learn more about individuals as well as having a laugh because inevitably one would choose a dare.

The Soppy part
As we neared the end of the 5 day residential trip at Kingswood, you can truly see we were a changed group. We've learned to communicate, listen and trust each other. This was evident when there were activities that needed teamwork, we did everything efficiently and took in ideas proposed by individuals. After this eventful week, I can say we have each other's back and that we will make a great team for our social action plan of this programme.

If you want to find out more about NCS click here

Have you taken part in NCS or would you like to do it in the future? 

What I really thought about prom

This short post will tell you about my experience at prom and what I really thought about it.

Prom is an event which will cloud the thoughts of a majority of students who are graduating. It commemorates the end and also new beginnings. Behind the facade of glamour and extravagant dresses it truly is a bittersweet event.

The location where I had my prom was breathtaking. The prom committee decided that the location would be very photographic therefore we had our prom at a barn, It looked like one of Taylor Swifts' music sets.


Getting ready- An Olympic Sport?

How long does it take you to get ready for a special event? Months, weeks, hours or just a matter of minutes. If you are one of the few who get's ready in minutes, you deserve a big pat on the back.

Foreign yet familiar faces surround me. Everybody looked like princesses. You can clearly see how much effort everybody has made to make sure they looked and feel great in what they were wearing.

The varying colours of dresses were amazing. The different shades of purples and blues made it seem like I was part of a carnival.

You don't need to pile on loads of makeup to make yourself look good. Smiles are the best makeup of all. So embrace those teeth.

Here are a few of my friends who I had the pleasure to take photos with. At this point I can say some are becoming blog regulars.

Do not mess with my food
Upon reflection I do think the tickets were a tad expensive- approximately the tickets were around £35 per head. That night after my prom I slept over my friends and I could hear a distant rumble when I started this at 6 am in the morning. Sucks to be the first one to wake up. The location promised a buffet, did we get a buffet?  A measly selection of food. Clearly, they have the wrong definition of 'buffet' cause it was a pathetic buffet.

If you go to a fancy event, please eat before you go, by no means do I mean that you should have a massive feast like a bear right before a hibernation but a fulfilling meal.



Take photos early 
I know people might think that you are a bit annoying when you keep hounding them for photos but it's really worth it.

The dark lighting is not as flattering as the natural light and the shadows casted can draw away from the picture. Also I assume very few people want to look back at photos and see that you're a sweaty mess from dancing.

Instead of having hundreds of selfies, it's nice to have a few full length photos. I'm sure if you ask anybody they would be understanding and help you take it, if needed you can also return the favour.

What was your experience of  prom or any fancy events that you have been to?

Wall revamp

Plain white walls can look so boring and bare. I decided to add a bit of character and flare to the dull looking walls around my desk, in hope that it will make my desk space a happier and possibly an inspirational place.

I got a majority of these postcards from Paperchase and many of them were on offer at 30p per card but normally they are priced at 60p per card.  I absolutely adore the 'Meow do you do?' post card, it's cute, witty and a cat- A winning combination.

The 2 postcards at the bottom are from trips that I have been on so you can remember some of the fun times you had. On the left is a postcard from PGL in 2011 and on the right is a postcard from Universal Studios in Singapore.

It's a fun activity to scour shops for some postcards or some cute prints, it's like you're a Pirate looking for treasure. Every time you visit some place new, buy a post card and before you know it you will have a wall full of memories and fun.

Do any of you collect objects  to add to your growing collection? 

SUMMER UPDATE#1

I've finally started my Summer Holiday and to my surprise I have been fairly productive. Setting the alarm for 8:00 AM can be torturous but  I can assure you that at the end of the day you would be amazed by how much you have accomplished. So here is a round up of what I have checked off my summer checklist here.

Well, one thing I learned from my baking crisis is that I am not going to be Marry Berry's successor.

Despite my parents both being chefs, I cannot cook, bake or fry a thing. Even when I follow the recipe exactly, it still turns out to be a big burnt cake of disappointment.

The only positive thing about baking is that it fills the house with a warm vanilla aroma which give the illusions that I'm actually a baking goddess.

I followed this particular recipe which had sour cream to create a moist sponge- when it mentioned 'sour cream' I knew I should of stayed away. Even if I wanted a moist sponge there was no need for the masses of liquids that the recipe acquired.  

One of my many faults is that I do not plan ahead. As I went scavenging for some Vanilla essence, you can imagine my shock that it ran out. How do we make a vanilla cake when there is no vanilla essence? You don't. This is where improvisation helped...well kind of. Thank the heavens for the gift of coffee, it couldn't do any more harm to this cake than I already have so in it goes. Considering the bizarre recipe and the difficulties faced with baking a simple vanilla sponge, I guess it can be considered decent.  

I am so so so pleased with how this turned out. The glistening sequins, bold colours and the striking image really made this worth spending time on.

It was a DIY gift given to me by a family friend a few Christmases ago because they knew I loved art. I was deciding what to do for my DIY project therefore I looked on Pinterest, Tumblr and Youtube nothing inspired me to do any projects. As I was going through my drawers for the big cleanup I found this piece of work and was determined to finish it.

When I opened the box I saw that it was 70% finished therefore I only needed to pin a few of the sequins on. So there I sat with my windows opens. blasting out my new found love for Korean music. It was pure bliss.

If you have time I would definitely recommend doing a DIY. The sense of accomplishment that follows the completion of your project is exhilarating. It's also nice to get creative and have a little 'me' time.

Is there anything you would recommend to do in the Summer? 

Books to read on my bookshelf

I am guilty of hoarding books.

After making my Summer Checklist here I thought it will be a good idea to see what I needed to read.
Sadly, I have many DNFs (did not finish) on my bookshelf but I'm determined to finish them along with a couple of new books that I just bought by some of my favourite authours like Jenny Han and Paige Toon- 'The Sun In Her Eyes' and 'P.S I Still Love You'.

My Summer 'To Read' list /5☆ :

1. Insurgent By Veronica Roth

2. Allegiant By Veronica Roth

3. The Host By Stephanie Meyer

4. City Of Ashes By Cassandra Clare

5. City Of Glass By Cassandra Clare

6. Kite Spirit By Sita Brahmachari

7. The Forever Song By Julie Kagawa

8. The Iron Legends By Julie Kagawa

9. The Scorch Trials Series By James Dashner

10. I Heart Paris By Lindsey Kelk

11. The Sun In Her Eyes By Paige Toon

12. P.S I Still Love You By Jenny Han

13. Teardrops By Lauren Kate

You can follow my Goodreads account here where you can see the progress I have made as well as read some of my reviews:)

My Go To Summer Base

Currently I've been going for a lighter base and a bronze eye because luckily my skin has been very happy which makes me very very happy.

Primer
I've been using 'That Gal' by Benefit as my primer so that my makeup stays on all day, it also helps the mineral foundation stick better to the skin. It is a pale pink thick creamy consistency which also has a delectable raspberry scent perfect for summer.

Concealer, Foundation and Perfection
 I use Clinique's 'Even Better Concealer' to cover up my acne scars and any redness, it's best used with Real Techniques detailer brush to get into the nook and crannies.

Then I use 'Original Mineral Foundation' by Bare Minerals and really buff it into the skin to create a light matte base. I've chosen to use this because as time progresses I sometimes find that liquid foundations and BB creams gets a bit sticky and slips around your face and me being me, I'm just too lazy to powder or blot.

Eye
Eye oh eye!
Since we went very basic on the face I think it's only acceptable if we made our eyes the focal point. So put on a nice wash of Maybelline's Colour Tattoo in 'On And On Bronze' to create the perfect base for the eyeliner.

I think winged eyeliner is one of my favourite parts of my makeup routine. The flick should be considered an art form - a bold flick, a peek-a-boo flick or the perfectionist flick. I use the 'Extreme 24hr Felt Tip Liner' by Collection to create equal slanted flicks because it has a firm felt tip end and it's as cheap as chips. I skip mascara because my eyelashes aren't appreciating the clumpy dried out mascara that I currently own. Voila, done!

Products that create the perfect summer base are 

.That Gal by Benefit 

. Even Better Concealer by Clinique

. Original Mineral Foundation by Bare Minerals

.Maybelline Colour tattoo in 'On and Bronze on Bronze'
.Extreme 24hr felt tip liner by Collection

SUMMER 2015 CHECKLIST

With the last of my GCSE exams coming to an end I thought I would make a summer checklist to make my extended summer holiday a fun and productive one. I have also signed myself up for the NCS programme which is going to take up 4 weeks of the holidays and I am so freaking excited!
So here is the list of things that I attempt to do:

1) Finish Beyond 2 Souls
2) Become a Vegetarian for 1 week 
3) Do a DIY  (22/06/15)
4) Draw and colour a picture
5) The BIG cleanup
6) Go on a bike ride
7) Plant (12/06/15) and harvest vegetables
8) Rewatch the entire 4 seasons of Teen Wolf
9) Read some classics
10) Donate clothes to charity
11) Keep Healthy
12) Spend a day in Cambridge 
13) Bake a cake  (19/06/15)
14) Go for a picnic
15) Finger Paint
16) Write a few chapters of a book
17) Make a pizza
18)Watch something in the cinema
19) Do some charity work
20) Go bowling
21)Improve photography
22) Read all unread books on my shelf
23) Pick berries in a farm
24) Do something adventurous 
25) Have fun!

Once I have completed a task I will cross it off  my list and I will do updates on how my summer is going along with some pictures :)

What are some of your goals/ plans for the summer?