Laura and Euna are free!

Ok, I need to let it out! I've been blogging about this case ever since it started few months ago. I was really so touched by this few months ago, that I felt I need to write something. These two lovely Asian American women, Laura Ling and Euna Lee, two journalists, who were snatched by the North Korean border and sentenced to 12 years of gulag, are finally free! Thank you, president Clinton and whoever was behind this, probably vice president Gore and president Obama and many others. I hope this is a start of better relations between Norh Korea and USA and that the tensions ease a little. Not only because I want to go to Korea next year, it's because the whole world gains from peace. I hope things really improve. I can't wait to hear the first words from Laura and Euna about their ordeal and their stay in Pyongyang. I want to see how they reunite with their families and I want to hear what is their take on the North Korea-USA relations. It is truly a happy day. And on top of it, it's president Obama's birthday. I'm sure the women will feel like they are born again. It's just unbelievable. Let's hope they reach safely in USA.

[Photo: Source]

Bill Clinton met with Kim Jong-il

My blog recieved this exclusive photo of Bill Clinton, who visited North Korea today. He met with Kim Jong-il, the dear leader, as this photo shows (sent by a friend from Pyongyang). The two statesmen discussed various issues, from diets to women to American beef. Apparently Kim Jong-il rejected the import of American beef, because he feared riots on the streets of Pyongyang. Apart from these differences, the two wise men got along very well. It is rumoured, that Kim Jong-il will be on the guest list of Bill's barbecue party in Arkansas, that is set for September. The tensions between the two military superpowers seem to be easing up.

Let's hope Laura and Euna can return home safely!

[Photshopped by me]

Aww, my first blog award, thanks.

"I've wanted more than anything to have your respect! The first time I didn't feel it, but this time I feel it, and I can't deny the fact that you like me!"

Oscar speech by Sally Field, 1984

I admit! I have been an Ebenizer Scrooge when it came to blog awards. I made fun of them just recently. And now... so unexpected, my dear fellow blogger friend Carina Blogarina told me that there's an award waiting for me on her blog. I was surprised :) Well, Zewt once commented that "blog awards give you a sense of celebrity-ness." But for me it's just a small token of appreciation by a fellow blogger. We're all happy for some recognition, right? And I am glad that I recieved it from the super cute and sassy Norwegian bloggete Carina Blogarina. I am really honored (no kidding).

Mange mange takk, Carina Blogarina ;-)

Ok, now I need to chose someone to pass this award to. Let me think. I need to pick someone who really has an adorable blog. I checked few blogs and I think I want to give it to... ta daaah: The Demigoddess! She's a smart and beautiful Filipina with a blog I really love to read, although I discovered her recently. Plus she's got many awards already and seem to appreciate them, so I hope she accepts this award from me, because I think her blog is really lovely and adorable. ;-)

What I learned from my Korean friends

Few days ago, when I was a tour guide to four Koreans (read here and here), who were backpacking across Europe, I got a lot of information on their country, the people and life there and on various other things. Let me share some of the things my Korean friends told me and also some of my personal impressions on Koreans:

1. Koreans seem to be very polite, a bit reserved, yet friendly (my impression).
2. They get along very well in groups (my impression).
3. Korean girls are "hard to handle", my friends say. I wonder.
4. Korean girls supposedly want to be treated like princesses all the time, I've been told.
5. Korean girls may not be as loyal as their reputation is, my friends say.
6. Many Westerners date Korean girls.
7. It's hard to get a job in Korea: You need like 50 interviews, I've been told.
8. Korean food is mostly spicy.
9. Koreans love soju, their national drink.
10. American military is not very liked in S. Korea, but my friends say if it was gone, S. Korea couldn't defend itself.
11. Koreans are crazy about cell phones and cameras (my impression).
12. Life in S. Korea is very fast-paced, many Koreans don't find time to relax.
13. Koreans study very hard and have many exams.
14. Koreans drive on the right side of the road (unlike UK and Japan).
15. Speed limit on Korean highways is 110km/h.

This is the info I got so far. I knew some of these things, but some other were new to me. I got a better picture, because the info came first hand. It's so different than reading something on a Korea-themed blog or article. Anyhow, I'm keen on learning more about Korea, because I was always interested in it, especially when few years ago I started to watch Kim Ki-duk's movies and later started to like Lee Hyo-ri.
After my Korean friends left my country, two of them offered me to go to Tokyo with me. We had a discussion where I want to travel and I said I wish I could see both: Seoul and Tokyo. If I had company, that would be so much better. And my friend, Hwan, is really a good planer. I'd totally trust him, if he organized a trip to Tokyo (from Seoul). I'm keeping my fingers crossed and hope I will make it at least to Korea, my newest passion.

[Photo of Han Chae-i by Clemens 2009: Source]

Guest blogger: Misha

Hello fellow friends and readers of My Kafkaesque Life. It's Misha, MKL's cat. I am writing instead of MKL today. Thank you, MKL, for giving me the chance to be the 2nd guest blogger on your respectful site.

I must add, I have hired a human, who translates my cat language to English. I want to share a little about my life and the current events. First I have to give a warm meeyow to all new MKL readers. I was told that there's so many new ones who come here and comment. Sometimes when I sleep near MKL, I see how he's blogging hard and he's always happy to get some appreciation for his effort by your comments. Many times he takes a small break and comes to me and rubs my belly. I really enjoy that. But I don't like when he kisses me. I don't understand the concept of kissing. Sniffing, yes. But kissing? It just makes my fur wet. Eew. Anyway, so MKL told me that lately there's so many awsome bloggers out there. So he asked me to be a guest blogger and now that I had the chance to check the blogosphere, I know that he was right. He said I should send some warm meeyow-wishes to all the awsome bloggers out there. Meeyow, my friends! I hope you keep coming on this blog, so that my master MKL will always be happy, ok? ^^
It's so hot these days. So I love to sneak into MKL's room, because it's cold and I can sleep there and nobody bothers me... Except MKL. But I like it. Sometimes I also snuggle with him... Oh, it's so nice to be a cat! And I have to tell you, a week ago, he bought Whiskas for me! Can you imagine? A small tin that cost 1,30€. Whiskas is the Mercedes among cat food. It had the salmon flavor. Me and my mummy were eating it like there's no tomorrow, but MKL's sister complained that the whole house smelled like salmon. I don't know why the big fuss. I love salmon. MKL didn't smell anything either. Some humans are so sensitive. I also have a very sensitive nose, but I never complain about human smells, but I could! Hmph! I think I'm gonna end this now. I heard something in the bush outside. It might be a mouse! Yummilicious!

Was nice to be a guest blogger today. Who knows I might become a regular writer here.

A long sweet meeyow from Misha

[NOTE by MKL: I don't think so.]

This is me after blogging. That noise in the bush was my mummy.
I didn't catch any mice today :( So I went to rest on bed and purr.

[Photo by MKL]

Out of luck this year! Why?

Today I was remembering this year's Chinese new year celebrations. I was thinking how many things I did to have a happy lucky year:

- I wore a red shirt.
- I attended the reunion dinner
- I visited grandma the second day
- I visited friends, always brought 2 oranges
- I said 农历新年 to tons of people
- I recieved a lot of angpau (red packages)
- I went to many temples
- I threw noodles in the air, ate the fortune fish
- I bought many suvenirs like on the pic, it's the Chinese sign fú 福 and it means 'good fortune'



Ok, to be honest, these are the things I didn't do:

- I didn't touch a fortune fish at a temple
- I didn't stroke a Buddha's belly at a temple
- I didn't pray at the temple

But nevertheless, did I deserve the misfortune I have now and all the bad things that happened this year to me? I really don't know, if all these things one does for good luck really work. This is a list of the bad things that happened to me this year so far:

- My grandpa died before my return from Malaysia
- My 11 years old cat died before my return from Malaysia
- A 40 years old willow infront of our house fell due to heavy snow
- My uncle caused a lot of stress after grandpa's death, inheritance issues
- My ex broke up, even though 2 months ago we seemed to be happy
- Severe hayfever disabled me for 3 months, on top I got heavy flu
- Unexpected heavy hail put a lot of dents on my car's bonnet
- Car's battery ran out, needed few days to fix
- Crazy weather, whole May and June was raining
- Our newborn kitten was killed by a vicious unknown tom-cat
- A lightning nearly missed our house, but it destroyed our phone line,
no internet 8 days

That's why I am very curious: Am I cursed? Did I ran out of luck? I was never a fan of celebrations, but for the first time, I was so happy to be part of one. It was Chinese new year. I know I will be in the mood of celabrating it next year, even I probably won't be around Chinese people. I have fond memories of this year's celabrations. And even if it's not a happy year for me, I will try to keep the good memories up and not dwell on the bad. I think now I have another 6 months until the next Chinese new year. Who knows, maybe my luck will improve. Maybe good things will start happening to me. I hope so. And I wish you, dear reader, the same!

[Photo by MKL]

Lack of (s)ex makes me emo!

I'm so emo lately. I don't know why. I don't even have ideas to blog about. I mean to write my own original stuff. Things piss me off. People piss me off. Some people.

I was thinking about my ex a lot. She messages me sometimes, but everytime she does, it makes me even more unhappy. It's just a simple "hi, how are you" message. I struggle to reply and usually it's something very shallow. I just do it because I don't want to get another message that will ask me why I stopped replying. I've been with this girl over 2 years. We've had a long distance relationship, but we had plans, dreams, expectations. But it just didn't work. I'm almost 3 months single now and I feel like crap. If she'd ask me back, I couldn't. If someone new hit on me, I couldn't. I don't even know, if some hottie offered me a one-night-stand, if I'd want to do it. I just don't know why am I in this state with no energy. I've been in relationships for almost 7 years in a row. It wore me out. I'll be 30 next year and I feel like love and relationship will become rational matters for me. I don't believe in romantic love for a while already. Romantic means unreal for me. It means you want to see the person the way he/she is not. Until you realize that... and get disappointed. That's why I wonder how will my next relationship be, if I take a rational approach. Is it even possible? Or will I be in a different state and back to my roots of being a highly emotional guy, that spreads honey around the girl's mouth and makes her melt? Someone who puts his whole heart into something? I don't know and I guess you will be the first one to know here. I'm just so emo. Someone give me a jab or something. Or just kick my ass. My sister has a new boyfriend 2 months after she broke up with the ex. So what am I waiting for? I donno leh...