Raksotravel’s Weblog

Shopping in Singapore
Many visitors go to Singapore primarily for sightseeing, but seeing Singapore’s various items on sale and the locals’ passion for shopping (aside from eating), they end up bargain-hunting as well. Focusing on the shopping tourism, their country’s government allotted a huge fund for the development of the fantastic shopping places that we know of today.

Literally one of the few safest cities in the world, there is no problem for people going shopping even late at night. In fact, Singapore also has a 24 hour shopping mall ? the Mustafa Centre open every day within the Little India community.

Here is a list of some of the famous shopping malls :

Orchard Road
The place itself is synonymous with the shopping craze in Singapore , as it is the shopping hub lined with malls selling everything from local brands to international and designer apparels. There are also a lot of restaurants, snack bars and cafes to choose from. Orchard Road is also the venue for some of Singapore ’s annual festivals and events such as the Great Singapore Sale, Singapore Fashion Festival, Chingay Parade of Dreams and Christmas in the Tropics. International five star hotels are also strategically located in this area. To make the place more attractive and pedestrian-friendly, Orchard Road will undergo a $40 million redevelopment. Every Saturday, certain malls extend until 11pm to participate in the late night, last minute shopping. Some of which are the Paragon, Tangs Orchard and Wisma Atria.

Centerpoint
is one of the largest and most popular malls along Orchard Road . Robinsons & Co is also located here, the Tourism Awards 2002 winner for the Best Shopping Experience ? Retail Outlet category.

DFS Galleria Scottswalk
Offers many exclusive items only found at DFS or the Duty Free Shop. These products also come with a DFS 100% Worldwide Guarantee.

The Heeren
This houses HMV, the largest music superstore in Southeast Asia . This is also a high-end mall with fine dining available at its upper floors.

Tanglin Shopping Centre
On the other hand, has boutique shops selling exquisite items such as Persian, Pakistani and Afghanistan carpets. Basically, this mall offers Asian antiques and the like.

Mosque

Everyone deserves to have time with their spiritual lives in a spiritual place like this Mosque, even while having a nice vacation in Singapore.

Far Eastern look

Feeling a little down away from one’s Far Eastern home? Cheer up! Singapore does have treasures from the east.

China Town

China Town, China Town, certainly a fun place to shop and eat!

Images of Singapore

Curious yet? Well, images of Singapore will provide the answers to questions regarding everything about Singapore’s culture.

Hello India!

Saffron and red? Could it be, India? But isn’t this Singapore? It’s not a mistake. Yesiree there is a bit of India in Cheery Singapore.

Exploring Korea ’s Jeju Island (Part 2)

By Honey Jarque Loop
Monday, February 18, 2008 

Jeju island is southwest of the Korean Peninsula.It was created entirely from volcanic eruptions approximately 2 million years ago, and consists chiefly of basalt and lava. It has a subtropical climate that is warmer than the rest of Korea , with four distinct seasons. Jeju is filled with an abundance of natural attractions! The azure seas absolutely teem with fascinating underwater life. Jeju island is a delightful blend of cultures and natural wonders.

Another well-defined aspect of Jeju is the matriarchal family structures. The best-known example of this is found among the sea women called haenyeo, generally they are the heads of families. They earn their living from free diving, often all year round in quite cold water, without scuba gear in order to harvest abalones and a myriad of other marine products.

Of interest particularly to honeymooners and tourists alike is the Museum of Sex and Health considered to be the largest in the world. It is divided into the Sex Education Hall and the Sex Culture Hall. Very little is left to the imagination.

Loveland is possibly the world’s first sex theme park: It was built to cash in on Jeju’s highly lucrative honeymoon trade. Visitors can appreciate abstract sculptures, artistic statues and paintings.

The unusual Teddy Bear Museum showcases a fabulous collection of character bears such as Winnie the Pooh, Care Bear, baloo bear and take on internationally acclaimed personalities that include the Beatles, Lady Diana and Prince Charles, Elvis Presley, Marilyn Monroe and Charlie Chaplin. Incredibly awesome is the tiniest teddy bear at 4.5 mm that can only be seen through a microscope. The Louis Vitton Bear, was the most successful charity-auction bear. It raised US$ 193,000 and proceeds went to the abused children around the world.

Jeju offers visitors a wide range of activities: hiking on Mt. Halla , catching sunrises and sunsets over the ocean, viewing majestic waterfalls, cliffs and caves, riding horses, golf, scuba diving, or just lying around on the sandy beaches. Whatever you fancy, Jeju has earned the title as a paradise island for leisure and sports.

Rasko Travel, a Korean travel agency in the Philippines is offering PAL passengers a choice of 3-night, 4-day or 4-night 5-day package tours to Jeju. The package which is priced approximately $55o to $ 600 includes round trip airfare, hotel accommodation and tours.

Micheon Cave

You may enjoy this mysterious cave or enjoy the Artscenter and have a go with pottery, cloth dyeing and t-shirt making.

Samseonghyeol

These mysterious circle of stones commemorate the origins of  three founding demigods of Jeju island

Eorimok

A great place to hike and watch the local wildlife such as these roe deers.

Various festivals

Jeju has plenty of festivals and celebrations. Every season in Jeju brings a joyous events. It would certainly be grand to see it for oneself

Introduction:
The newest Korean TV series to hit Philippine shore, The Legend also known as The First King’s Four Gods is bound to be aired on March 10, 2008 in GMA’s Telebabad. It was the most anticipated drama ever since it was announced to be produced by two well-known filmmakers and starred by the famous male actor Bae Yong-jun.

The total production cost amounts to about 43 billion won including a set built only for the series in Jeju Island . It uses grand production outfits and props accompanied by its breathtaking computer graphic visual effects. It is a genre of historical fantasy drama that is totally different from any other drama. As the story goes on, viewers will be intrigued and captivated by its complex storyline.

Plot Summary :

Thousands of years ago, Hwan-ung descends from the heavens to create the country of Jyusin. The Tiger and Bear Tribe already existed even before he built his country. He is caught between two gods of fire namely Ga-jin of the Tiger Tribe and Sae-oh of the Bear Tribe.

The jealous Ga-jin then kills Sae-oh and Hwan-ung’s son which made Sae-oh lose control of herself and set the world on fire. With no choice but to save to world, he kills Sae-oh. On the other hand on top of a cliff, Ga-jin commits suicide. Hwan-ung then locks his four disciples into four objects telling them that the new king will be born when that stars of Jyusin lights up in the night sky before ascending back to heaven. When that happens, the four gods must help him to rule Jyusin.

After thousands of years had passed, the stars of Jyusin light up the sky and two sons were born from the two noblest families of the Kingdom of Goguryeo . Dam-deok who is the crowned prince of the royal family lived a lonely life until he met Gi-ha and Yeon Ho-gae who became his friends. But everything changes when Ho-gae’s mother attempted to poison the king. Dam-deok learns about the conspiracy with Gi-ha’s help. This turn of event later on lead to Ho-gae’s mother killing herself. Because of this, Ho-gae then started to hate Dam-deok intensified by the fact that his love Gi-ha loves Dam-deok instead.

As the battle escalates with the aid of the Hwacheon Group to Ho-gae to make him the king of Jyusin, Dam-deok then begins to meet four gods: Hyeonmu, Jujak, Baekho and then Cheongnyong in order for him to reveal if he really is destined to be the king.

Cast:

HWAN-UNG/DAM-DEOK portrayed by Bae Yong-Jun
 
He is the reincarnation of Hwan-ung who was trapped in a love triangle with Ga-jin and Sae-oh bearing them his sons. Because of the tragic events that happened, he returns to the heavens. Destined to be a king ever since he was born, Dam-deok becomes the Great King Gwanggaeto of Goguryeo and destined to be the King of Jyusin when he finds the four owners of the holy objects that confines the four gods.

He is a caring person, a sensible and intelligent scholar, a courageous and skilled warrior, and well respected leader by his people.
 

GA-JIN/SEO GI-HA portrayed by Mun So-ri
 
Seo Gi-ha is the reincarnation of Ga-jin who was part of the Tiger Tribe that worshiped a tiger that controls fire. She was the first wife of Hwan-ung but because of her bad motives, her ability was then taken off of her.

Gi-ha is the older sister of Suzini that acquires amnesia after the death of their parents. She then attends the royal palace at the age of 15 by the group who killed her parents. She falls in love with Dam-deok who is the reincarnation of Hwan-ung. She is also Ho-gae’s true love which is characterized as a willful, vicious, and jealous woman.

SAE-OH/ SUZINI portrayed by Lee Ji-ah

Suzini is the reincarnation of Sae-oh who belongs to the Bear Tribe that worshiped a bear. Sae-oh fell in love with Hwan-ung an bore him a child but later on forlorn when her child was killed by Ga-jin, the first wife of Hwan-ung.

Suzini became an orphan with her older sister Ga-jin, when her parents died at the hands of the Hwacheon Group. She was raised by the people of Geomul Village into a bright warrior excelling in archery, wagering and thievery. Inspite of this, she has a good person who always helps those in need. She meets Dam-deok and have accompanied him ever since though insensitive of his true feelings for him.

YEON HO-GAE portrayed by Yoon Tae-young

He is one of the prominent members of Goguryeo’s most noble family and the same as Dam-deok who was born on when the star of Jyusin was seen in the night sky. His mother who is a direct member of the royal family planned for her son to be the King of Jyusin by poisoning the present king. This conspiracy was then unveiled by Dam-deok which resulted to her untimely death.

In their childhood, he, Gi-ha and Dam-deok became friends but when he later learns that his love, Gi-ha loves Dam-deok and Dam-deok was the one responsibe for his mother’s death, he then became his rival.

Shooting Locations :

Park Southernland
157-4 Gimnyeong-ri san, Gujwa-eup, Jeju Special Self-governing Province

An enormous set built only for °The Legend” by Jeju Island and the production company of the series, Park Southernland costs over 13 billion won. It is complete with the king’s palace, king’s office and bedroom, gaekjan , shops, markets and ordinary houses. This is the main set where most of the scenes of the series was filmed.