Google just updated the Palm version of Google Maps, now we have My Location feature for Centro users. It's not as accurate as GPS, but is good enough to find your way around. Also it's fast enough even with EDGE to get updates on what's up ahead on the map.

Now if only directions (route) works for Malaysia, that would be great. No need to buy GPS enabled phone. Better yet, if Malaysian streets are enabled it would be perfect. The Palm version integrates with the Palm Contacts Lookup function to quickly paste addresses. Unfortunately this doesn't work yet.

These people driving by, their faces were so sad. It wasn't just the first one, but the next one and then another one... It was like they were dead.

They're commuting to work, they're not supposed to be wearing a grin

Paraphrased from "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance"

When an environment of creativity and enthusiasm is curtailed, rarely are projects successful. Instead they just get done, to the lowest level that is required to check it off. Of course you can then set this level as the measure of success.

To me projects need life, a human aspect to it. Something beyond check boxes and figures. The feeling you get when you see something and feel like somebody put a lot of care and effort into it at the least, and lives changed on the other end of the scale.

For me success defined by the latter. I can't work on projects when the human aspect is taken out as I don't believe they will be successful. I've seen it happen before. The bureaucratic project just gets by, the one with a team that cares from the top down and focusing on human and community values continues to be successful above and beyond their project deliverables.

One thing I like about Seoul is the great use of spaces in urban and building design. When you're in packed and crowded city, the idea of space is really important. So in a lot of the newer areas, there are nice spaces in between buildings for people to walk in and chill out. The sidewalks are also spacious, not like in Kuala Lumpur where sidewalks are afterthoughts and not built with the pedestrian in mind. With an efficient public transport system, it makes long commutes more bearable. Sit back with your take out coffee and chill for a bit while waiting for the next bus. Or take a breather before catching a crowded train.

The other great thing is that there is a law that in certain parts of the city (Gangnam only?) that all buildings must have outdoor sculptures. I think this is great for a city. Art is really important to give a feeling of culture and life to a city. These are just a sampling of the hundreds of sculptures in the city.

I was back at the train station I know well. There is still a queue of students for the bus to the university as it was before. There are quite a few new buildings. One thing that has changed is the increase in multinational brands. StarBucks is everywhere as are other common global brands such as TGI Fridays. For a short while I got to savour the care free world of my student days and sip coffee while watching the world go by on a weekday.

Met up with a friend, who is still studying. It may seem weird after so long, but Korean guys have to be in the army for about 3 1/2 years. So while I've been working, got married and had kids.. my friend is just about to think about his career. Sometimes I'm tempted to think about studying again, but it doesn't fit with my long term goals.

For those of you interested in studying Korean, it's always best to do it in the country itself. You will learn much faster and what is more important when learning a language is to understand the culture and how people live. SNU has a great intensive programme. It's only until lunch, which means you can learn language the best way, go out, make friends, have a chat with the ajuma (auntie) at your favourite eating spot and explore the city the rest of the day.

If you're about to graduate or just graduating, I think it's worth exploring this option. Work for about a year and save up as much as you can. Then do something you've always dreamed about.. backpacking through Europe, visit a Mayan temple, living and learning another language in another country etc. It can be scary at first, I remember having second thoughts about being a plane full of Koreans and wondering what I was doing, but it's worth it. Even if didn't have a chance to travel again after that, I wouldn't have any regrets about could haves, should haves and might haves..

For the past few days I've been at the UN Asian and Pacific Training Centre for Information and Communication Technology for Development in Incheon, South Korea. The site is being launched today and the DNS switch should take affect soon. Of course it's on a FOSS platform.

It's a bit bigger than OSCC, and Songdo Techno Park is like Cyberjaya.. but on a much more massive scale.

Now I'm in Seoul though for an OECD Ministerial Meeting. Now this is more like the Korea I know from having lived in Seoul before.

It's been 8 years since I've been here last, but I feel right at home and it only took a day or two hearing and reading signs in Korean to start understanding things again.