Day 1: Seoul Searching Begins

My first teaching job was as an English instructor to Koreans. That was 7 years ago. Since then, I've fallen in love with the Korean culture, food and people. My sisters and I would spend hours and hours watching many different Koreanovelas and movies. We would often dream of going to the nice places we see on tv and we swore that we'd eat authentic Korean food in Korea! Haha!

Eleven months ago, I went on a very special trip. I am a late bloomer when it comes to travelling abroad, so I was beyond psyched when me and two of my sisters decided to book a trip for Incheon. We had it booked on May and we were to fly a week after my birthday.

I was fear stricken at first because visa was required for this trip. After months and months of worrying, I finally got my passport on my birthday! And it appears that they approved the visa that same day too! :)

When the plane landed at Incheon International Airport, I was still in awe. I just can't believe that I was actually standing on South Korean grounds. A dream come true indeed.

Incheon International Airport. Beyond Expectation. Indeed! 

Looking down helped us find our way out. 

Hassle-free airport.

A sunny day greeted us as we head to the train.

Single journey. 

We took the long way to Seoul. I think we had to transfer twice to finally get to the train to Jongmyo district where we will be residing for 6 days. We landed early in the morning, so some train stations were packed with people. Rush hour. I was the one with this huge luggage so it wasn't really a breeze for me. And most train stations don't have escalators or lifts, so my sister had to help me carry my luggage when stairs were involved. When we finally reached Jongmyo, I was tired and hungry and my arms were starting to kill me. Finding Beewon Guesthouse wasn't much of a trouble for us. We came across two God-sent policemen and one of them led us straight to the guesthouse.

Friendly Jongno-gu neighborhood.

UNESCO World Heritage: Changdeokgung

Tourist mode on! :D

Students on their field trip.

After checking in at the guesthouse, we went on in search of the authentic Korean lunch experience. We walked to this business part of Jongno and we were greeted by office employees on their lunch break. There were a lot of restaurants to choose from but we chose this small family-owned restaurant. It was packed. So we went on with our adventure and decided to go back when lunch break is over.

It's tiny details that get me.

Small potted plants.

Vintage "thrift" shop. Their version of ukay-ukay. Still kind of pricey.

Selfie inside Superan.

We can no longer ignore our hunger. Time for us to go back to this restaurant. Gave our orders by choosing pictures displayed by the window! Good thing we knew that we really wanted bibimbap and kimbap and that we can actually know how to pronounce them! For all the food that we stuffed our faces with, we only paid KRW12,000! That's not even worth Php500. Not bad at all!

Feast for three!

Their kimbap is really something!

Generous serving of side dish.

Seafood soup with lots of bean sprouts and other veggies. So good!

This place didn't disappoint us. We kept coming back for more. It became our dining room away from home. The owners were really nice. The old lady who cooks never forgot that we only want mildly spicy soup. ;)

After our hearty lunch, we explored some more. My sister knew where she wanted to go next: Bukchon Hanok Village. It's this part of Seoul where hundreds of traditional houses called hanok stand. We found this cute little boutique, Anvil/Moroo, on our way to Bukchon. I can't tell you how much I enjoyed just looking at and taking pictures of the handcrafted stuff! The CEO/jewelry designer was surprised to know that we were from the Philippines. She said we were her first Filipino customers.

I just love this mirror!

Star struck! She bought a pair of earrings and took this very Korean photo with the CEO.

Koreans are such creative people. You can see it all over Seoul.

It's NOT only in the Philippines.

Nice, clean wall. :)

Ceramic shop.

Getting closer to Bukchon Hanok Village.

Oh how my heart skips a beat everytime I remember our first day! And I haven't even seen my most favorite place in Seoul! We're almost there! :D

Ilocos Norte: On My Own

Laoag bound on a Saturday night.

I was dying to post something on facebook about this solo trip to Ilocos Norte. But I didn't want to jinx myself. So I didn't mention anything about it until I've bought my ticket and on board.

I took the 8pm trip to Laoag via Partas bus (Bus fare is @ 797Php). I was happy the bus was new, unlike the one I rode on the last time I went there in 2012.

Assuming that it would be a 12 hour trip with no one to talk with, I equipped myself with weapons against boredom and self-destruction. I've been reading and re-reading The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald for the past year. I kinda hated myself when I found out that a movie about it is now showing and I still haven't gotten around finishing it.                                                   

Weapons against boredom and self-destruction.

So I brought it with me, together with my 'gastos' notebook, Gizmon Half-D camera, new pair of eyeglasses, new cheap sunnies, and bangles I haven't worn for ages!

To my surprise Manila-Laoag trip was faster than usual! We left Manila at 8:15PM and was in Laoag at 5:00AM, Sunday! 9 hour bus ride, not bad at all!

There's a catch: as soon as people started leaving the terminal, heavy rain poured down! I started questioning my decision. Why did I go by myself? I had no umbrella and no place to stay yet.

5 AM and the rain's heavily pouring.

I waited at the terminal for 2 hours before I made a move. Heavy rain is now just drizzle. I started walking to the city center to feel a little better. Still the same, clean and peaceful on a Sunday morning. I thought to myself: 'Why burden yourself with gloom? Enjoy the city!'

Helpful Laoag map from La Preciosa.

Windows at the Museo Ilocos Norte.

I go back to the La Tabacalera for this beauty.

At Ilocos Norte Capitol.

After walking around the city for an hour and a half, I suddenly felt hungry. I treated myself to breakfast, something not so healthy but so delish for me: 

Dawang's crispy dinuguan!

Dawang's is along San Nicholas national highway, I think. Tricycle fare from Laoag is 50Php.

Didn't feel so hot after having crispy d for breakfast, so I decided to walk the long San Nicholas highway to Airport Road, where the transient home is. I kid you not when I tell you it's a verrrry loooong walk plus the heat almost knocked me out.

I thought that Casa de Fulgencia (contact Mimi at 0909 369 1201 for more info. Room rate's from 450-500 a night.) was not that far away, I was wrong. After almost giving up, I finally hailed a tricycle to the casa. Take note that short distance tricycle rides around Laoag is only 11Php. If it's super short distance they charge only 10Php.

Rest is for the weak, I know! But I just had to rest awhile after all the walking I did in the morning. Got back on my feet at 2PM to have a Dap-ayan ti Ilocos Norte empanada. (Tricycle fare from the casa to dap-ayan is 11Php)

dap-ayan ti ilocos norte from my 2012 trip.

Unlike my last trip to Laoag, getting food or anything at all is so much easier now. There's Puregold, SM Hypermarket and Savemore!

I also went back to check out if anything's changed at Museo Ilocos Norte. Nothing's changed inside, but entrance fee became less cheap. Entrance fee for regular people is now 50Php. Teachers get a discounted fee. I am a teacher but didn't have my school id with me so I was charged the regular fee instead of 20Php.

Museo Ilocos Norte

Mga banga at bilao.

Gulong ng kalesa.

Balon.

Lampara.

Plantsa.

Sagapa.

Ang kisame.

I hung out at the park infront of the capitol the whole afternoon. If we only have nice parks here in Manila where there is shade and space, I'd be most glad.

Panoramic view of the Aurora Park

Quality time with F. Scott Fitzgerald.

Tobacco Monopoly Monument

Pamulinawen

Oblation

After relaxing at the park, I walked a few blocks to have dinner at Saramsam. This is my first time to dine here so I ordered what my sister has been raving about, Saramsam pasta! I would have tried more dishes, but since I'm alone, I enjoyed my plate of delicious and fresh pasta instead.

Alley to Saramsam and the beautiful sun.

Delicious and fresh Saramsam pasta.

Day One's over. I made sure that I'm home by 7PM. The city's safe but I still didn't want to be outside on my own.

Solo Flight: From the Beginning

There's always a first for everything.

I'm used to going around the metro on my own and I don't mind at all. Mainly because Manila is my turf, my comfort zone, my home. I rarely get scared walking around by myself even if I know danger lurks about anywhere.

My solo trip to the North was something very spontaneous. I got this 1 way free domestic flight for a delayed one to Caticlan last November. I really didn't give much thought to this free ticket because (a) I didn't know yet where to go and (b) I didn't have anyone to go with.

I was really sure that I won't have to use it (the free tix), but my friend reminded me that I only have until 21 May to avail of it. Besides my eldest sister kept kept saying: 'Sayang yun!'

Albay was my first destination of choice because (a) I have never been to Bicol (b) I am dying to see Mayon volcano and (c) I could easily hop on a bus and be there 14 hours tops. I don't mind looong bus rides.

At first I convinced a friend to go with me to Albay, but when he learned of the 'catch' (going there by bus together and leaving him to ride the bus back home and me boarding on a plane, easy breezy life), he backed out in a heartbeat. What a wuss.

I've made my Albay Myself itinerary. Asked some friends for 'Where to gos' and 'What to dos.' I only have 4 days left to have that Legazpi-Manila booking, when I realized that I am scared to go there all by my lonesome. I pondered, hard. I didn't want to go there and regret it, didn't want my parents to be worried.

So I told Ate my fears. She didn't think twice and told me that maybe I should go to Laoag instead because (a) I kinda know the place having gone there twice already (b) the food is awesome! (c) I can stay at a friend's transient home (d) I can also easily hop on a bus and be there in 12 hours tops.

I didn't think about it anymore. I only have 3 days left to call in that Laoag-Manila flight booked. Before I can change my mind and back out, I called Cebu Pacific and told them that I'd be using this free one way ticket. Please have it booked, Laoag-Manila, 20 May 2013, 10:30 PM.

After 10 minutes on the phone with a very helpful agent, I received an email confirming my booking. I am a day away from crispy dinuguan, empanadas, mikis and tupigs!

My first ever solo out of town adventure is set!

A Post about Posts

The highlight of my 2012 was my trip to Seoul, South Korea.

I was there 7 months ago and I still can't get over it.

Here's a few photos of posts (mailboxes) that I came across while walking around Bukchon St. in Seoul.

Ten Reasons Why You Should Get Your S**t Together

Something to read.

http://thoughtcatalog.com/2011/ten-reasons-why-you-should-get-your-st-together/

After a Year

Has it been a year already? I'm turning 26 on Monday, 13 Sept. 2010. Wow, how time flies!

This is an update.

I am currently unemployed, by choice. I don't want to do any other thing than teach. But I don't want to teach as of now. I am so stubborn because I know I can get a job, it's just that I don't want to yet.

How complicated is that? It's not, not at all.

Maybe I'm just really this lazy person. I don't know.

But I do know that I want to work overseas. I've finally ridden a plane (not scary at all!), I've been to another country and I loved it there. I'm thinking of working there. I'm keeping my hopes high. I believe.

So that's how I am these days. More to come. :)