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Seoul LG Blogger Forum 2010 Video – Amazing Race Event

Posted By: Mr.Gadget Published in Events

Feb

My buddy Beatrice Tan, who I met along with many others at the Seoul LG Blogger Forum last month, just tagged me in a YouTube Video that shows some of the awesome fun we had on the day we did an Amazing Race type event.

Each team had a dedicated professional video and camera man assigned to capture the major highlights of each team’s adventure for the day!

For those who want to skip to the parts where I’m running around like a crazy lunatic, singing Karaoke or playing my role as Sneezy Dwarf (Our team was called SW7 – Snow White and the Seven Dwarves and I actually had a cold too) – jump to 2:49 and then to 7:03.

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Seoul LG Blogger Forum – Day 4 – Gyeonbok Palace

Posted By: Mr.Gadget Published in Events

Feb

After 3 action packed days in Seoul, Sunday would be the day where the Australian bloggers would part from their new found friends. And what better way to end a visit to the magnificent city of Seoul than to one of its most regal locations, the Gyeonbok Palace.

About Gyeonbok Palace:

Built at the beginning of the Chosun Dynasty when the Yi Dynasty moved the capital to Seoul, this palace remained the main seat of power for Korea kings throughout much of the time to the present. Gyeongbok means Shining Happiness. The main gate (Kwanghwa-mun) separates Gyeongbok Palace from one of the busiest areas of Seoul. Gyeongbok Palace was built as the primary palace of the Chosun Kingdom by its founder, King Taejo in 1395, the fourth year of his reign. (Ref: LifeInKorea Website)

By this point we had been all BimBimBapped out and missing our loved ones and family back home. But we rallied up our remaining energy reserves and jumped on the tour bus to be amazed by another bit of Korean history.

Here are the last batch of photos:

Here's our friendly tour guide already briefing us on Korean's rich history

In the bus and so far not motion-sick

On the path to the palace. I couldn't help but noticed this tree. Seemed like a very large manicured bonsai.

Palace with the lovely mountainous backdrop

Other tourist admiring the palace atmosphere

Another perspective of this once grand palace

The front of the palace. Imagine, hundreds of years ago there would be far more guards protecting the entrance. I'd have to use supreme ninja skills to get this close in reality.

Here they come - palace officials of some sort?

Flying the flag high. These guys seemed to like wearing the color red.

And here are the green guards!

Filing in - archers ready for action.

Flag before the palace.

This is my friend Rannie aka @photojunkie from Canada. You'll see some of his handiwork in the photos further down.

This is Nick from Gizmodo.com.au. Too much glare in this one. Sorry buddy.

Ceremony over and now headed back out again.

New guard meets old guard.

That's one big weapon man. You should be smiling...

I'm at the palace, I'm at the palace!!

Singaporeans meet their new Korean friend.

As you can see it was quite a busy tourist morning.

And so it begins - this is where @photojunkie started showing his photography skills. I love how captured the mountain and palace in this frame.

And of course I had to return the favor

Canadian posers!

Alone in the snow

I forgot what this read. Any helpers please?

Here's the whole gang getting their photo taken - Canada, Australia & Singapore. Frank actually invited some other tourists to join us in the photo. Funny man.

Golden dragons emblazoned on the ceiling.

Stonified chicken? Magic spell cast as punishment for not laying eggs?

Patterns in the wall

See what I mean? @photojunkie kicks ass!

@photojunkie applying for his new role...

I too tried to get a role in the Korean Imperial Guard - failed though due to not perfect eyesight.

The lovely Beatrice as captured by me! This place in the palace was perfect for glamor shots!

Even the great @photojunkie wanted a piece of the camwhoring action

Even Singapore's LG Manager asked if he could get his photo taken! LOL - Look at that serious pose...

Another sub-section of the palace - I'm sorry for not listening to you guide!

This guy rawks. Frank from LG Canada.

What is it with all the LG Managers?! Here's Wayne wanting another photo of himself. He really needs to learnn how to smile...is this a Singaporean man thing to be so serious?

Aah, here's Beatrice showing the guys how to smile

And of course, I had to get a profile shot here too. Hey it was MY camera!

Each of those little statues represented an animal of some sort with a benefit to the household - again I apologise to our tour guide for being distracted by my freezing toes...

Believe it or not, but this is a chimney.

More chimneys that decorated the Queens own personal garden (yes I was listening at this point)

I am not vain ok? It's just not everyday you got a proper photographer with you in your tour group. Gotta make the most of it!

Mini-palace gate

Palace tour ended and we were headed for last minute shopping at tech place. Looks like the whole river is frozen over. Never seen anything like it.

TechnoMart, home of shop keepers who will call you over and try to sell you all types of warez. Pity I couldn't understand Korean...

Interesting people statues at the front of the TechnoMart

Shopping Mall elevators!

Lunch at TechnoMart food court - BimBimBap!!!

Having BimBimBap with my new found Singaporean buddies. I think I have too many Singaporean friends now - it's affecting my speech la.

Farewell my Singaporean comrades. It was a blast! Hope to see you in SG soon! (Beatrice, Wayne, Shawn and Andy)

Tim from www.gizmag.com couldn't help but pick up this Microsoft Arc Mouse. Nice and red!

Last photo of Korea. Tribute to the guy who took awesome photos and helped make the whole trip fun -> @photojunkie . Smile dude?!

Again I would like to thank LG Electronics for giving me the chance to attend the 2010 Seoul LG Blogger Forum. Special thanks especially to Mr.Chang Moon and Kelly Choi for organising the trip and for the fantastic hospitality.

Life’s Good.

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Seoul LG Blogger Forum – Day 2 – Amazing Race

Posted By: Mr.Gadget Published in Events

Jan

I knew that this was going to be the start of a hectic yet fun day. After an hour or so checking out the N Seoul Tower and having a delicious traditional Korean Ginseng Chicken it was time to head back to the hotel to get our brief for the next part of the day.

We were huddled into the boardroom on level 19 of the Ibis Hotel and given instructions on the Amazing-Race-type event where LG would help us learn about Seoul in a fun and interesting way. It was a day I’ll never forget. Particularly as it involved losing one of our team mates (Arnoud!!!) on the Korean subway line.

As you can imagine, I slept like a little baby that night.

Check out the photos below:

Mr.Chang Moon commencing his presentation on what the rest of the day would entail

Netherland Bloggers and @photojunkie slightly nervous about the Amazing Race!

Canadian bloggers plotting a way to win the challenge.

French tech bloggers already causing trouble

The mission was to locate landmarks, answer questions, interact with eachother with the goal of winning prizes!

Here's one sample question - we needed to find this statue in Seoul...

Although we didn't come first, we were the best team Here's Karin (Sweden), Frank (LG Canada) and Ulrich (France) strategizing.

All five teams had a dedicated Video and Camera man with them. Here's our video guy pestering Ulrich

Not sure what the local Koreans thought of all our running around. But here they seem quite content to carry on as per normal.

Here's my french buddy Ulrich who I got lost with after being distracted with photographing some unique buildings. We eventually found everyone else, after 30 mins or so

Here's Frank from LG Canda, doing what he does best - making friends and getting people to direct us to Seoul landmarks. As you can see they were willing participants albeit shy. Thanks girls!

Our dedicated paparazzi sneaking in some shots of the group

See Arnoud (in red)? That was the last time we saw him before he got lost...too busy playing with gadgets! Typical tech blogger! :)

See Arnoud (in red)? That was the last time we saw him before he got lost. He was too busy playing with gadgets! Typical gadget blogger!

At last! We reach one of our last locations, Gyeongbok Palace.

Where old meets new

Hit that thing soldier!

Mr.Gadget at the Imperial Gates

Karin and Andy living it up in the Korean cold

Here's Eric (@pressecitron) who leaked Windows Mobile 7 information that LG shared and asked for us to keep silent. Tsk tsk Eric.

Here's Karin and Ulrich doing a quick take on where we were at in the challenge.

Statue of King Sejong, the Korean king of the Chosun Dynasty who reigned from 1418 to 1450

Not sure of the name of this building but architecture was fascinating.

In case you missed the other days, here are the links:

Seoul LG Blogger Forum 2010 – Day 1

Seoul LG Blogger Forum 2010 – Day 2 – N Seoul Tower and Ginseng Chicken

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Seoul LG Blogger Forum – Day 1

Posted By: Mr.Gadget Published in Events

Jan

I’m back! Actually I was back yesterday but did not have time to blog at all due to work (went from airport to meeting!) and catching up with family.

Below are some of the photos that I took on Day 1 of my 4 day trip to Seoul, Korea for the LG Blogger Forum where we discussed the latest LG news (looks like some of it was leaked already) and share our feedback on LG’s first Android phone the LG GW620.

In summary, I’ll say that we had a blast.

Huge Thank You To LG Electronics

LG showed us exemplary hospitality thanks to the organisation of Mr.Chang Moon and other LG representatives from France, Sweden, Netherlands, Canada, Russia, SINGAPORE (thanks Wayne) and of course the ever so lovely Kelly Choi from LG Australia. They did everything to make sure that we thoroughly enjoyed both our Seoul and LG experience. Thank you all!

So here are photos from Day 1 of my Seoul adventure: