Five Charm of Vietnam

NATURAL're not friends, as well as floods that occurred in Vietnam some time ago. Even so, the country still has the other side of the beauty that is reflected in the beautiful rural scenery, temples, and cultural values.

If one day you have vacation plans, here are some places which would be a pity to miss.

1. Van Mieu Temple

Located in Hanoi, a beautiful temple in the heart of the city is an oasis of calm and one of the oldest structures in town that was built to honor Confucius. Over the years, the temple serves as a place of education and the first university in Vietnam.

Adventures in the temple was started after passing Van Mieu gate, where you'll find five pages that point to a variety of magnificent classroom temple. In this temple, you can also see some sculpture, literature, and various other artworks of centuries-old.

2. Thien Mu Pagoda

Built in 1601 between the river and pine forest, Thien Mu Pagoda in Hue is one of the oldest and most beautiful religious buildings in Vietnam. So, when touring the country do not miss the opportunity to admire the building.

Thien Mu Pagoda is rooted in a local legend in which an old woman appeared on the hill and said that the Lord will come and built a Buddhist pagoda for the prosperity of the country. Hearing this, King then ordered the construction of Nguyen Hoang Thien Mu pagoda

3. Marble Mountains

Da Nang was the site of five hills, known as the Marble Mountains, and although not technically said to the mountains, hills this five stores a local legend in Vietnam.

Marble Mountains are named after the recognition of the five elements of metal, water, wood, fire and earth. All these hills have a cave that leads to the tunnel, some of which extends up to the top of the hill.

In addition, in the Marble Mountains are also many Buddhist holy places that are considered sacred by the Vietnamese. In one of the hill even sits a statue of Quan Am Buddhist.

4. Hoi An Ancient Town

Home to one of the largest port in Southeast Asia, this city is a strategic site in the seventh century. While maintaining the charm throughout the years, recently the ancient city of Hoi An was chosen as a historical site by UNESCO. In this city, you can explore the ancient shops and restaurants in an open space.

5. Minh Chau Island

Known as the "island lovers," the island is like a white pearl on the water. Beautiful island with lush forests around also accompanied by a local legend in which the island got his nickname.

It is said in legend, a young woman loses her true love in a battle. Still, he remained standing at the edge of the island waiting

for his girlfriend back until our last breath in grief.

Behind the sad story that enveloped him, Minh Chau Island is a waterfront area that is still pure and beautiful with white sand. In addition, the beach on the island is also a favorite location for sea turtles laying eggs in about May and July.

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Legend of Bali truncated - Belitong

Each time peoples called Belitong Islands, are not a few people always ask, what is right Belitong or Belitung? The same reaction when called Belitong. This attitude was reasonable because during these two names that are always spoken of people, whether they live on the island as well as those living in other islands so that confuses many people.

There are a number of versions of an explanation of the island area of 480,010 hectares or 4800 square kilometers. However, according to Regent Pacific Islands Darmansyah Husein, Billiton is only used to mention the name of administrative region. For example, Sub Belitung, Belitung province, or East Belitung province, or province of Bangka Belitung.

Instead, special Belitong name of the island or region. "If you call Belitong mean for the entire region of this island. That is, the Pacific Islands are part of the K, "said Darmansyah.

Belitong also anonymized with Bali truncated. It is said that the thousands of years ago the land was located on the peninsula island of Bali. However, this area is then cut, and big waves washed away toward the north, forming islands in eastern Sumatra. "That's why the first person to mention the cut K or Bali," said Regent East Belitung Basuri Purnama.

Legend says that in thousands of years ago lived a king who was just and wise on the island of Bali. He is very respected, revered, admired, and liked the people. This charismatic king who had a daughter just beautiful nan.

Beautiful

Beauty of the princess that made the crown prince of the kingdom's crazy neighbor, and one by one came proposed. However, all such applications are always rejected. He did not move toward a morsel of wealth, luxury, good looks and charm which is owned by the crown prince.

The attitude of the princess that makes both parents amazement. The king and queen continues to ask: why their daughter was not interested in any proposal from the son of the crown? What is less than the young prince so that their only daughter would not open the door of his heart one bit?

Following days the king's curiosity continues to clot. She then tried asked the empress, but obtained no answer. However, empress to believe that there is something to hide their beloved daughter. King was eventually assigned his wife to try to find out the cause.

After a heart to heart talks, the princess finally informs her mother that she actually was suffering from venereal disease. That's why he chose to reject all applications from the princes.

Hearing the news, the king like a lightning strike. He then asked for help among medical experts. For those who are able to cure diseases only daughter, the relevant permitted to marry the beautiful girl. However, this contest failed because none of experts capable of treatment.

In order to prevent the spread of viral diseases, the king and queen consort of their daughter chose exile to a forest on the peninsula which is located in the northern island of Bali. The commander immediately deployed to build a special hut for shelter of the princess in exile location.

After all the preparations completed, the princess was delivered to the peninsula of Bali. There, he lived alone and only accompanied by her beloved dog named Tumung. The princess received this choice for the safety of residents in the kingdom.

Curse king

It is said, was so close with Tumung, the princess was letting his dog was licking the source illness. In fact, the more often licked, the illness is finally healed. This fact makes the relationship between the princess and Tumung grew close. In fact, both are also frequent physical contact and finally pregnant. That said, the princess was eventually gave birth to a boy who tailed.

The news was conveyed to the king of the district chief. At first the king was very happy because her daughter is free from disease. However, he exploded with anger when he learned his daughter's pregnancy from the relationship with Tumung. The act was considered insulting the king and royal dignity. King was immediately sworn and cursed her daughter's actions.

The next few days going strong winds, tides, and land on the peninsula that was vibrating. Not long later, the mainland peninsula was cut off or disconnected from the island of Bali, even directly brought large flows toward the north.

At that time, to the east of Sumatra, two fishermen were at sea using traditional boats. Suddenly seen a huge mound of dirt with big trees and little carried away and crossed in front of them. The two fishermen were finally approached the mound, and threw the anchor on one of its parts.

Moments later, a giant mound that was stopped and stuck in the water. Since then the site became one of the island itself. Local people then give the name of Bali Belitong or truncated. "I do not know the exact relationship between the legend and the presence of the influence of the kingdom of Mataram on the island of K, but this fact may have a correlation," says cultural Belitong, Ian Sancin.

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Gili Trawangan, From a place of exile prisoners to be beautiful destinations

Who would have thought the garbage people in Mataram kingdom era was incarnated as a tourist who missed a lot of tourists. Gili Trawangan is the former as the location of the shelter when his prison full of convicts. Based on historical records, there are 350 inmates a variety of criminal cases are disposed of there.

Just around the 1970's this island of Sulawesi visited residents who later settled. "We just opened the area into a tourist area since the 80s. Previously, if there are foreigners who come here, being chased by residents because of alleged invaders who want to return to power in Indonesia, "said Aaron, a local resident who worked as staff at the Granary Cottage where I stayed.

During the second world war, said Aaron, the island is also used as a defense of Japan for the allied forces could not freely enter. "On top of the hill, there are caves built by the Japanese," he said.

Currently Gili Trawangan each month visited by 9000 and 12,000 foreign tourists tourists.
Therefore, there is the discourse of North Lombok regency government to make this region such as Sentosa Island, Singapore, and mountains in the Netherlands by making the cable car as the air bridge linking the area of nature tourism Peak Pusuk with third dyke. For investments such facilities, has offered to businessmen from Germany and Qatar.

Head of Transport Department of Tourism and Information Communication Klu Suranto Eko said, hanging ketera path Pusuk - Winner - Ward - Gili Air - Gili Meno - Gili Trawangan takes nine stations. From Pusuk to seven miles away Winner, Winner - Ward one kilometer, and Ward - Gili Trawangan sea distance of five miles.

Not only that, local governments also proposed investing floating hotel facilities equipped air transportation using amphibious aircraft.

The local government believes it can increase the investment attractiveness of visiting there. Officially open bidding has been done on the implementation of the Tourism Indonesia Mart (TIME) or the Indonesian tourism market in 2010 which took place October 15 and then on Gili Trawangan and tourist area of Senggigi which was attended by Minister of Culture and Tourism Jero Wacik.

Some local tourism entrepreneurs claim to be happy when we met on that investment offerings. But they asked that the investment was arranged so as not to reduce the revenue boat transportation businesses, and damage the environment in these three areas are very beautiful dyke. (Aries Wijaksena travelyuk.com)

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Sungkyunkwan Scandal and the Jalgeum Quartet

The Jalgeum Quartet 

From left: Moon Jae Shin (Yoo Ah In), Lee Sun Joon (Micky Yoochun), Kim Yoon Shik/Hee (Park Min Young) and Gu Yong Ha (Song Joong Ki)

Me heart Jalgeum Quartet of Sungkyunkwan Scandal!! Among them, I love Moon Jae Shin (Yoo Ah In) the most. Just because he read all the books at the library - my kinda men..hhahaha. I  mean, a sexy man in ninja suit who loves books? Where can you find a man like him, right? LOL

Omo..omo..I should go back to reality.

For the past one week, I tried to cram all the 20 episodes of Sungkyunkwan Scandal in a few days. That's the reason I was kinda lazy to post anything in my blog. I was infected by Sungkyunwan Scandal fever. Argghh..I need an antidote, please!

Truthfully, most of the time I stray away from watching sageuk (historical/period) drama especially those with heavy plot and Korean dialects which are not familiar to my ears. Rest assured that Sungkyunkwan Scandal does not fall in that category. ^^ It dictates the life of four students of Sungkyunkwan University and how they tackle missions given by King Jeongjo during Joseon Dynasty.

If I should say, the plot consists of:

20% friendship

20% Joseon history

20% academic and life values

20% Ha In Soo's piercing stares ^^

20% Kim yoon hee / shik's and Lee sun joon's intelligence or...love story?

Hence, the story is not a heavy sageuk for me. I am glad no one is dead at the end! ^^

Although I hate history (as a subject in school), but I would like to point out the historical plot in the drama.

(Spoiler Alert: Don't read if you just want to enjoy the drama).

The story started during Joseon Dynasty with Kim Yoon Hee (a lady) entering Sungkyunkwan University bearing her ailing brother's name Kim Yoon Shik and cross-dressed as a man. Women was forbidden from entering university back then and it's a big no no for women to be cleverer than men especially academically. (Hmmm..I wonder how women would turn out to be now if they already start learning during that period?).

Joseon Dynasty is considered one of the great Korean Dynasties during Korean historical period. The four students: Kim Yoon Shik/Hee, Lee Sun Joon, Moon Jae Shin and Gu Yong Ha bonded well in Sungkyunkwan University during this period and later their friendship was tested because of Geum Deung Ji Sa; precious remnants left by the late Crown Prince Sado.

The ruler at the time was King Jeongjo the son of late Crown Prince Sado; whose death is forced upon by King Jeongjo's grandfather - King Yeongjo. The Norons were believed to be the prime suspect behind the death. Hence, King Jeongjo requested the jalgeum quartet to find the Geum Deung Ji Sa in order to clear his father's name and consecutively create a new Joseon Dynasty (perhaps letting women to enter university? ^^). He intended to move the current government to Hwaseong because of his late father as mentioned in one the episodes but was opposed greatly by the Norons.

I will write about Hwaseong Fortress in Suwon and King Jeongjo more comprehensively at another post later.

IMHO, finding Geum Deung Ji Sa is the sole reason why Kim Yoon Shik/Hee and Moon Jae Shin could or SHOULD be together hehehe.. I am their worshipper instead of Kim Yoon Shik/Hee with Lee Sun Joon. Dang! ^^ Anyway, that's about it..I don't want to spoil the story further for the rest of you who haven't get addicted to this drama yet.

Isn't Park Min Young lovely? Put her plastic fantastic aside, I would like to applaud her for her acting ability and how well she commanded the screen as the witty and bright Kim Yoon Hee/Shik. Funny how she wore the student robe with the fur shawl, eh? I bet this picture was taken when autumn reached Naju/Jeonju - where they filmed the drama.

About the drama

The drama is based from the novel The Lives of Sungkyunkwan Confucian Scholars 1 and 2 written by Jung Eun Gwol. Bad Milk has written a comprehensive translation of the novel in his blog here.

Drama download - Medium Quality

Subtitle download - Sungkyunkwan Scandal Soompi Forum 

Official Website: KBS

Dramawiki

Sungkyunkwan University Official Website

I got a glimpse of Sungkyunkwan University with my good friend Chi Won in December 2009. Read all about it here.

How to go to Sungkyunkwan University / SeongDae (Seoul Campus)

Go to Hyewa Subway Station, Line 4, Exit 1. Then, walk to SKKU / Sungkyunkwan University bus stop in front of Dunkin Donuts. Ride the shuttle bus for 300 won.  The shuttle bus runs on Mon. - Fri. 07:00~23:00 / Sat. 07:00~19:00.

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