flight.

7 hours before my flight back to Manila. I'm feeling anxious to finally see my family. It has only been a month since I went away but somehow it feels much longer than that.

I woke up early, did some final shopping for gifts to bring back home. I forgot to prepare gifts earlier so I was sort of cramming. I didn't realize that there are so many people I need to prepare presents for! I'm glad I was able to get what I needed in a short amount of time. Two hours to be exact! I decided to stick to my original plan and give my sister the wine... with permission from Chris of course! I had it wrapped nicely with peach and gold shimmering ribbons. I know she'll like it.

Time to pack things up...

Of Christmas, weddings, and gifts.

It's decided, I'm going to spend Christmas back in Manila! I haven't really claimed it till I got my hands on the ticket today. It wont be long though, I have to get back here on the 27th. Chris and I are flying to Jeju a day after I come back. We'll probably stay there till New Year's day.

On the 26th, my younger sister will get married at a lake resort just outside Manila. I have to attend, although I cringe at the thought of seeing some of my relatives I hated for so long. It's a deep, deep hate but I don't exactly have a choice. Out of sheer diplomacy, my sister invited them... I was groaning inside after she told me the news that they're comin but I'm good enough to hide my disgust. It's her wedding afterall.. I don't wanna ruin it with my childish idiocy. I have two big problems though... First, I don't have a wedding gift for her yet! I know it's stupid not to think about that since they were engaged for a year and a half. It should've been enough to gather my thoughts and get her something special for that special day. But all along, I thought I wouldn't be able to attend her wedding so I let this one slip. Right now, I don't know what I should give her... I haven't been really attending weddings that much and I don't have any idea what kind of gifts do people give. Should I give her a quilt? A comforter perhaps? But those are too big.. I'd look hideous carrying a gift that big! Plates? Cups and Saucers? But being a klutz is second nature to me and I'm not sure whether she'll recieve it in one piece. I've got my eye on a bottle of Blanco Semi Dolce wine sitting by the cupboard for ages. But Chris is saving that special wine for New Years Day. What will he think after he discovered that it's gone? That I took it. I just hope he wouldn't be that disappointed. Second, I don't have anything to wear! This poses a bigger risk of humiliation. Her motif is peach and gold... I remember reasoning to her about this. I always thought peach and gold are just too debutant-like.. She thinks it's sweet, nice, and 'safe', but if it makes her happy, I can live with that. To make her feel better, I complimented her choice for the wedding cake.. It's blue with gold trimmings.. I thought it's young, fun, and 'edgy'. Right now, even if I try my hardest to remember if I have anything peach or gold, stashed somewhere to wear for the wedding, my head goes blank. I know for a fact that peach has never been my 'color', but gold? I'll surely question my sanity if I bought something sparkly and glittery like gold to wear. I'm running out of ideas right now. I'm landing a little past midnight and I'm absolutely sure I can't buy a 'livable' peach colored dress at that time. We're leaving as soon as I arrive home, to go to the resort and do some final preps. Thinking about it makes me frantic, almost hyperventilated. I'm bound to stick like a sore thumb donning too casual clothes or probably a too formal one. My backup plan would be staying out of the spotlight and cameras.. I'll probably survive.

Other stuff are just minor and insubstantial like whether I should wear mascara or not.. Weddings can be a melodramatic event.. Especially in her case.. My Uncle is going to bring her to the altar... And it will surely bring tears to the whole family considering my father died last year. Waterproof mascaras are no good for me when I start to well up.. I think I should stay away from any eye-makeup for that matter...

So much for craving an action packed adventure in my boring life! This is more than what I asked for...

Slideshow.

Since I got plenty of time in my hands, I tried making this slideshow video of Robert Pattinson from the movie "Twilight" and I posted it on Youtube.. I got tired watching other people's video so I tried making it myself, hoping I could come up with something even better. But I'm totally a newbie so please bear with me. And I know I'm not supposed to rant about this, but the windows that I use here is in "K-O-R-E-A-N"! I could change it to English but I didn't want Chris to feel uncomfortable cause afterall, it's his computer.

Absurd as it may seem, but I can't shrug Edward's face out of my head. He has affected me tremendously that I bought all four books from the Twilight Saga. I finished the first book "Twilight", 3 days after I got it. I'm looking forward to start with the next book "New Moon" hopefully by tomorrow. I acknowledge my addiction instead of fighting it, he has been my fix, keeping me sane (or insane?) throughout the day. And it aint gonna stop till I set foot in London, and I get to breathe the same british air as he does.



A lousy update:

I started reading the next book "New Moon" last night and I'm done by dinner time today. I wish it could've entertained me longer.

Purchases.

As much as I would love to update my blog often, I can't seem to find the time (and the creative inspiration) to write things that has been happening lately. There are a lot of things going on in my life right now.. wait, that is a L-I-E.. not much has been happening in my boring life. There.. I said it. It wasn't easy to get it right out of my chest. I'm officially bored. I hate to admit it cause all along I thought my life is full of zest that I'd be the last person (among the people I know) who'll get bored. I'm basically bored with everything! The food I eat, the clothes I wear, even the color of the walls and floor. Everyday is a sickening routine.. Waking up early, tidying the house, doing the laundry, doing the dishes, sleep, eat, surf the net..

I need to get out, see other people's faces, breathe some fresh air; a very good excuse to go out and shop ^^. So I went to the mall (as if I'm gonna get some fresh air there..), it's the only place I know that can cure boredom. When I'm at the mall, I like looking at people's faces (in a discreet manner of course) and their expression, they always look busy and stuff. It's hard to find people who walk here leisurely as I do cause they're always rushing. Most people here don't walk.. I call it prancing.. they walk really, really fast as if they're running!

To make the long story short, I bought this cute little jacket.. ^^ It's nice and comfy and it doesn't make me look fat. I hate the extra pounds I gained so I'm kinda looking for something that would accentuate my curves and not actually make it look bigger. It's warm and comfy.. perfect for the cold weather.

My face looked really pale these days. I know it's my fault for staying indoors most of the time and evading myself of Vitamin D. I think my face needed a boost of color so I went shopping for makeup. So I got a 'moist' powder pact. If not for the gracious saleslady today, I would never know that there are different compact powder for people who have oily and dry skin. Silly me... I'm used to spending not more than two minutes whenever I buy a compact and I'm pretty sure, I didn't read the specs... My case, I needed a moist pact cause the winter air makes it dry.

I was only planning to buy a face powder but there are so many stuff that enticed me. They're on sale (another good excuse!) so I got a couple other items more like some liner, eyeshadow, mascara and lipgloss (I can't seem to get enough of them^^). I'm particularly happy with the lipgloss I bought in lovely peach color. It's actually a lip balm like what the saleslady said. It's very light, with a very slight hint of color, and it smells nice; more like a bubblegum and strawberry parfait (luscious indeed!). It reminded me of those "Born Lippy" lipbalms I used when I was in high-school. It doesn't come in tube like that of a normal lipgloss so you have to use your finger or Q-Tips to rub it on your lips.

On my way home, I sweated profusely doing some mental calculation of won-dollar-peso conversion. I was so engrossed counting zeroes and stuff that I missed my stop!

I'm so~ not over him yet!

I can't, I just can't seem to shake this whole Robert Syndrome thing right out of my head. I badly need an antidote...! I've been looking at his pics, videos, interviews, and even his songs.. What more can I do...?

It's totally outrageous how hot he is! I can't believe I would ever see a guy (well, not in real life) as beautiful as he is. It's not fair, if all men are just like him then there will be no poverty, nor crime or war... People are just gonna be busy looking and droolin at his face.

Sigh, I need to go to London. I want to... I have to experience breathing the same British air as he does... ^^

A random video I found courtesy of windycrazy... I recommend you skip the intro and fast-forward to 0:17...

The Twilight Phenomena

Well, I'm not one of the crazed fans raving about their favorite book turned into a movie. But I guess I'm a bit psyched knowing it has so many fans out there. So last night, I dragged Chris to go to the theaters and watch "Twilight" with me. He wasn't exactly thrilled and he didn't even try to conceal his dismay, just kept on lamenting that it's a teeny-bopper, high-school flick and he wasn't even the slightest bit interested in movies like that. But since I grabbed him strongly by the arm, he didn't exactly have a choice. So we finally got the 7:20 pm tickets and since the show was about to start 2 minutes after he purchased it, I didn't bother to buy some munchies. Glad I didn't cause as soon as I sat comfortably, it started.

What can I say...? I realized three things.. 1. Just like Bella, I'm irrevocably and unconditionally in love with Edward Cullen(Robert Pattinson) 2. He's a vampire 3. Yes, it's a typical teeny-bopper flick (with a slight twist) and I don't care. If I'm going to rate it in a 10 point scale, I'd give it a 10.5! It's not actually the best movie there is or does it have the most exceptional story of all time.. but it caught 101% of my attention and with every minute that passed, I silently wished it wouldn't end soon. How's that for a movie?! The story is so-so, mediocre... Acting was good, they portrayed the roles quite convincingly. Sound effects was not bad at all and I like the music they played. But the cast is exceptional, they did a good job getting all those actors and actresses.. they were all good looking, (eye-candy all the way esp. Edward!).

I'm not sure what is happening to me.. I'm not really acting like myself after watching the movie. It sort of has some spell on me.. I'm smitten, I know... I couldn't sleep last night, I was wide awake at 2 am, watching Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire just because Robert Pattinson is there and I'm not even a Harry Potter fan! And in my deranged mind, I'm thinking.. He's 6'1 and I'm 5'5, He's Brit and I'm (gulp!) Asian...(so on and so forth..). Oh God, I need a cure.














And the kiss that got me all twisted!!!!




Check the trailer here...

Friday fun.

Chris finished his 5 day work related training in Seoul last friday. On his last day, he asked me to meet him there. Like any obedient girlfriend, I said yes and waited for him but there was a sudden last minute meeting that he had to attend to and he was an hour late. For the whole hour, I decided to spend it walking around the neighborhood till I came across Deoksugung palace nearby. The fee is 1,000 won and the place wasn't all that bad.. I enjoyed checking the place out and taking some pictures. Here's what I saw...







Overall the palace tour was actually fun, except for 2 unpleasant (minor and extremely petty) things I experienced. Before I went to the palace, I dropped by Holly's Cafe and got a tall cup of coffee. It's really nice having something warm to drink while leisurely strolling someplace right? However, they don't allow food nor drink at the entrance. Other palaces didn't exactly have this rule.. Instead of throwing away the cup of coffee, I decided to drink it as fast as I could.. mind you, it's really hot and it left me with a scalded tongue. I was a bit disappointed when I saw several vendo machines that sells beverages and coffee inside.. The other thing was at the restroom.. There were a lot of Chinese tourists and the restroom was packed. While I was freshening up in front of the mirror, a middle aged Chinese woman accidentally poured soda on my skirt while hurrying to get some tissue. It's winter and soda was cold so I let out a mild scream. I didn't get an apology or a 'sorry-look' from the woman. Nothing at all.. I was totally ignored.. She left as if nothing happened while I was helplessly cleaning my skirt with a bunch of wet tissues... pissed, but I didn't say a thing although my gut tells me to demand an apology from her. With a scalded tongue and a wet skirt, I went to our meeting place and met Chris.. We then went to Jongro area and passed by Cheonggyecheon.



For dinner, we went to a well-being samgyeopsal restaurant near the area. The restaurant had at least 20 people waiting in line for a table so it must be popular. We had to wait for 35 minutes before we could actually get a table. I know I made a promise to stay away from soju but on that night, I had a couple of shots. I was extra careful not to get drunk so I filled my stomach with a lot of side-dishes and meat in between. One good thing, it was cold that night (extra cold since I'm wearing a mini-skirt) and soju warmed me up a bit. I was able to get a picture of our dish but it wasn't clear enough so I was thinking twice before posting it here...



The food was interesting.. Instead of sangchu, thin strips of ddeok was used to wrap the meat. It was my first to see this... There are also a couple of sauces and powder like seasoning that you put together with the usual garlic and ssamjang. I still prefer the old fashion way of using korean wrapping lettuce for samgyeopsal.

After eating, we went to a music bar and had a bottle of western beer each. The place was nice, they played songs which I like... It was almost midnight when Chris and I decided to go home.

Dreams...

Chris and I are unusually arguing a lot lately. Just minor issues that are totally unnecessary like his frequent drinking spree with his co-workers, how long it takes for him to shop, or his interest in playing online games and stuff like that. I should know better cause I've known him for more that 3 years now, but why does it feel like I'm still in the whole adjustment period...? Is relationship about never-ending adjustment? Why do I feel like there are still so many things I have yet to know about him, his country or his culture...? And why can't I still speak in Korean so it wouldn't be awkward whenever I meet his parents? Why can't I feel any sense of belongingness whenever I'm with his friends or his family? Ehyu, have a lot of questions in my head but I don't know where to get some answers. Being with him is just so overwhelming..

Can't help but think of the time when we're still in the Phil. Everything seemed easy back then. All we could think of is love and nothing else. We didn't want to be separated and all we wanted is to stay close to each other... But now, why do I sometimes wish I can be anywhere but here? I guess I'm just overwhelmed with all the things, the house chores, meeting his friends, meeting his family and relatives, our cultural differences, everything.. But I know I love him, and he loves me. It is what keeps us together. And I know that I can't possibly live without him so I chose to have a rather complicated life here.

Last night, just before he went to sleep, I asked what his dream is, he answered to live in Phil with me so I wouldn't feel difficult anymore. Suddenly, all my insecurities and hatred went away... I understood him more. Then I remembered how much I miss him whenever we're away from each other and how much we're willing to spend just to talk to each other on the phone. We have to be together even if it meant a thousand more arguments to come... I'm really sure that I fell in love with the right guy, someone who'll go the extra mile just to make me happy and have a comfortable life. I really hope one day, he'll be able to accomplish his dream.

Life is a do-it-yourself project

Got an interesting message from Christine, a former colleague... Just thought it's worthy for a post.

Life is a do-it-yourself project.

An elderly carpenter was ready to retire. He told his employer-contractor of his plans to leave the house building business and live a more leisurely life with his wife enjoying his extended family.

He would miss the paycheck, but he needed to retire. They could get by. The contractor was sorry to see his good worker go and asked if he could build just one more house as a personal favor.

The carpenter said yes, but in time it was easy to see that his heart was not in his work. He resorted to shoddy workmanship and used inferior materials. It was an unfortunate way to end his career.

When the carpenter finished his work and the builder came to inspect the house, the contractor handed the front-door key to the carpenter.

"This is your house," he said, "my gift to you."

What a shock! What a shame! If he had only known he was building his own house, he would have done it all so differently. Now he had to live in the home he had built none too well.

So it is with us. We build our lives in a distracted way, reacting rather than acting, willing to put up less than the best. At important points we do not give the job our best effort.

Then with a shock we look at the situation we have created and find that we are now living in the house we have built. If we had realized that we would have done it differently. Think of yourself as the carpenter. Think about your house. Each day you hammer a nail, place a board, or erect a wall. Build wisely.

It is the only life you will ever build. Even if you live it for only one day more, that day deserves to be lived graciously and with dignity.

The plaque on the wall says, "Life is a do-it-yourself project." Your life tomorrow will be the result of your attitudes and the choices you make today.

Lesson to learn from this story -> "What you sow is what you reap." -Bible

Confessions of a desperate 'travelholic'.

I love travelling as much as I love writing here. It's like a constant obsession, an addiction, and a persistent desire. It's an absolute cure for boredom and a perfect way to blow up all my savings. I've never met a person in my life who doesn't like to travel, probably because it's relatively in our nature to quest for far-away lands and to cross seas. My love for travelling actually came late as it only started when I was in college. Me and my friends would often have out of town trips to far places. I still remember the first time I set foot in Boracay. It was then that I made a promise to myself that I'll explore foreign seas and put an end to my domesticity. I thought I needed conviction (and motivation) so I bought a pink luggage to symbolize my new found pursuit. Pictures are indeed worth a thousand words. These pictures tell tales about my most unforgettable experiences.


Off to Singapore with Sis. It's my first day wearing braces. That explains my swollen lip and awkward smile. Milestone to ha...




At Changi where one of our bags got lost.





The guard that never moved... still in China






Taipei 101






Inside the former tallest building in the world... (medyo blurred ^^)






A first look at Japan stormy skies...






Still, the weather wasn't clearing up...






Akala ko ba 'Land of the Rising Sun' to?






Hong Kong Harbor...





A beautiful church in Macau...




A view of the Strip where the famous casinos are located.




Top view of Macau inside the famous Macau Tower...




Just when I thought I'm done with Asia, I fell in love with Korea. I do believe in the slogan "Sparkling Korea" cause it sparkled the hell out of me.., kidding aside, it's the country I've grown to love. This is where my heart is... and this is where I had my greatest adventure...







If only money isn't an issue, I'm so gonna pack my bags now and head somewhere in Europe or North America...

Death of a Survivor.

I'm shocked to read the news that Marky Cielo was found dead yesterday... Sad, sad, sad.. Read it here.

First snow.

While in the middle of doing the laundry yesterday, I looked outside and saw snow all over the place. Although this may not be the first snow this season, it's my first time to witness it since I got here. Don't get me wrong, I have seen snow multiple times before but there's always something magical with the first snow that makes me feel like a kid all over again.. So I told Chris that we should go out for a walk. And since his empty stomach was rumbling from hunger, he readily nodded.

We haven't eaten anything all day, so we had lunch first at the resto nearby. I'm feeling all japanese and got some pork cutlet, 'tonkatsu' in japanese, 'tonkasu' in korean (you drop the 'T'). They serve it in gigantic plate (double the size of your regular plate back home) with some 'udon' in mildly-flavored broth on the side. The restaurant was feeling a little generous that day so instead of giving me one, they gave me two pork cutlets! Wow...



After lunch, we walked for about 20 minutes while it's snowing till we arrive at New Core Department store. We need to buy a few things, not exactly 'we'.... but Chris has to get a few things and since I'm a 'very' impulsive buyer, I would probably end up with a shopping bag as well. Before we entered, we saw a cute spot and Chris volunteered to take this photo (before the snow totally melts)...

It took him 2 hours to buy a pair of pants, a sweater, and a long sleeved shirt!!! I was fuming mad that it took two hours when he can all do that for 15 minutes. But of course, I controlled my despicable temper so I just let out a sigh every now and then. He knew I'm terribly upset that he made me wait that long, so he sort of offered to bribe me with a cup of latte and a slice of cheesecake.. Isn't that a little childish? But the soft-hearted me (eeew.) prevailed and I just couldn't help but lean on his shoulders while walking. The air was romantic, there were christmas lights everywhere, we could hear some christmas songs being played, and it's snowing a little; everything felt like it was taken right out of a movie..

Before going home, we went to HomePlus to get a few things but ended up getting a cart-full of groceries instead. I'll be forced to show my kitchen flair (if there's any...) once again and cook him some good home-cooked meals. I'm terrified just thinking about it so enough of that. We then went to have dinner before heading home. Dinner was 'bossam', and as usual.. it's good to the last bite...



Just before entering the house, I saw this...



Neutrogena finally arrived. What a great way to end the day!!!

The argument.

Yesterday, Chris and I had our first argument this season. We fought over a 'very petty issue' and because I'm being such a brat, I refused to talk to him for a couple of hours. He eventually felt guilty and said he's sorry (eventhough it's my fault!!!). To make me feel better, he asked me out. Earlier, I thought about just ordering 'jok bal' and watch a movie cause it was really cold outside. I didn't know he'd ask me out in a weather like this so I reluctantly wore my jacket and went out. While walking, I felt guilty looking at him. He's really a nice guy trying to keep up with a bratty little girl. I silently scolded myself for making him feel bad...

First stop is... meat restaurant. By this time, you'd have a clearer picture how much we love meat. We haven't had dinner so we ordered quite a few things. Chris asked to take my picture... Regrettably, I looked like I just got out of the bed. Which is true by the way... I just got out of bed, brushed my hair about 4 times, wore my jacket and was good to go.

Then our orders came. The meat is called "so-gum-gu-ui" or salt-cured meat cooked in fire. It's the first time I've heard about this kind of meat. It wasn't salty at all and doesn't taste much different from moksal. So it's probably a kind of moksal, I'm not sure though...



A bowl of "Su-je-bi" after, then we went on our next destination. I didn't know he wanted to drink that night so I'm suprised he took me to an ice bar. He ordered a bottle of San Miguel Beer.. I couldn't stop giggling the whole time he was drinking cause he reminded me of the 'villains' I watched in movies when I was a kid. I felt so full so instead of ordering beer, I had a glass of martini with extra olives. The place was huge so I looked around and saw this...It's like a small water-fall adorned with colorful lights. It gives the 'zen feel' of the place. I really like it. You can't normally find that in bars around here.



Our last stop was the music room. I have a persistent cough but that didn't stop me from belting my favorite songs out loud. We stayed there for almost two hours then we decided to go home. My hands were frozen a bit while going home... but I had a lot of fun!

Of rib dinner and strawberries.

It's part of our friday couple ritual to eat outside for dinner, so last night we went out searching for a new place to eat. My thought is Italian, he likes Korean.. Lucky for him, Italian restaurants are scarce in the area, and we're surrounded by a million restaurants serving all kinds of Korean dishes... I sometimes forget this is Korea.

We found a newly-opened restaurant nearby that serves a special kind of 'galbi', and since we both like all kinds of galbi, we agreed to enter the place. The restaurant's specialty is barbecued-baby-back ribs, really similar to what you'll get at Bennigan's. I ordered the smoked ribs in barbecue sauce and Chris got the plain one. Mine tasted much better so he couldn't stop asking for more..

Overall, the taste was mediocre, and the price is about average. I think it's worthy for a second visit but Chris thinks otherwise... On the way home we passed by a store selling fruits. The strawberries looked plump and pretty that I bought a pack and went home. I like slicing them and adding it to cereal for breakfast or eat it as it is.

Of Neutrogena, Shopping, and Christmas

So I went to Aekyung today looking for Neutrogena Toner and Moisturizer. I forgot to pack my old one when I came here and this cold weather makes my face so dry that I rushed to buy a new one. Too bad, Aekyung only had limited Neutrogena products... I was only able to buy a facial wash which I don't exactly need so I resorted to just ordering those stuff online. It's kind of urgent so I wanted to buy it in the mall and use it as soon as possible but now I would have to wait a couple more days... with uber dry and itchy skin, almost unbearable.

Since I've got plenty of time to waste, I decided to go window shopping which turns out to be a bad idea. I ended up buying some tights and underwear which (again..) I don't really need. I don't know what's wrong with me but everytime I go to malls some different person possesses me and I always end up buying something impulsively so as much as possible I stay away from malls and department stores.

I saw a lot of 'eye candy' Christmas decors and trees lit with bright lights which entertained me while walking. I totally forgot all about the Christmas season ever since I came here but the nice decors of Aekyung reminded me that it's just around the corner. It hasn't been a week but I kinda miss the carols I hear back home. I miss feeling the 'anticipation' of the coming holidays, the preparation, the food and everything that has to do with Christmas. This will be the third year I'm spending it here.

Then I remembered the last Christmas I spent in the Philippines. It was last 2005, Chris and I had dinner first at Italianni's before I came home for noche buena. It was our first Christmas together so I nodded when he asked me out..


At home, I was assigned to do the barbecue while my brother and sister were helping my mom prepare the dishes. My dad came home carrying a 'mango bravo' cake from Conti's and we just couldn't wait so we ate it as soon as we saw it! I lost count how many servings of buko salad, spaghetti and ham I ate that night (and how many pounds I gained..^^). Then at stroke of midnight, we all went to the rooftop to watch the firework display and in the middle of all that noise, we greeted each other "Merry Christmas".

Chris perfectly understands whenever I get lonely come Christmas time so he tries his best to celebrate it in a special way. But of course no matter what he does, it wont be as special as the Christmas back home.

An old pair of gloves.

I was rummaging the closets and cabinets hoping to organize the things inside and look for my winter clothes from last year. In the middle of upheaving my long lost sweaters and jackets, I found an old pair of gloves. It's nothing fancy or anything but it holds a special place in my heart. It's one tangible thing I kept that kind of reminds me how kind koreans can be... strangers to be exact.

One winter night, I went out to meet a friend in Seoul. Back then, I wasn't exactly familiar how confusing the subway system can be. On my way home, I got lost in Geumjeong (didn't know I had to switch to a different line..!) and it didn't help that I was surrounded by people who can't speak English. I finally gave up looking for my way around the subway so I headed to the nearest exit thinking I should get a cab to go home. Instead of seeing the usual road where taxis frequently pass by, I was led to a dim-litted back alley. I felt nervous so I tried walking really fast praying a taxi would pass me by. But there wasn't any and I lost my way even further. I kept calling Chris but he wasn't picking up till my battery went dead. Out of frustration, I couldn't help but cry. It was cold and dark, and I'm alone sitting in what seems to be a bus stop sans the buses. A guy then came, noticing a sobbing foreigner and asked why. I thought he was a rapist or something so I was a bit alarmed but he was gracious enough to lend me his phone to call Chris (who eventually picked up while in the middle of a conference). They talked for a few minutes then he led the way back to the station and we took a different line. I finally arrived where I'm supposed to go while Chris was on his way to pick me up. While waiting outside the station, he offered me his gloves. My hands were frozen and I couldn't say no when he asked me to keep it. I was so relieved to finally see Chris, and we couldn't thank the stranger more for going out of his way and taking me to where I'm supposed to be... Glove-less in a very cold winter night, he headed back to ride the subway again....

I've had a few brush with koreans wo are prejudiced and judgemental but things like this reminds me not to lose hope in people. I sometimes over-criticize koreans for the occassional unpleasant remarks, but one thing I've realized is that I've never met a stranger in my country who would go out of his way to lend a helping hand, even if it meant losing a piece of their clothing...

One lazy tuesday afternoon.

It was almost 12 pm when Chris finally got out of bed and fixed himself. His phone kept on ringing, most of his co-workers are probably clueless that he took the day off from work... I forgot how busy he is. While he's lathering up in the shower, I was watching "Sex and the City" re-run on TV and eventhough I watched the same old episodes a dozen times already, I still find it funny...

Before the clock hits 1:30, we were on our way out of the hotel. Chris asked if I wanted steak for lunch but I declined. I just thought of eating korean dish instead. We went to this restaurant that serves "stone galbi", a place we visited last summer.



We didn't have much choice cause almost all the places were closed at that time. The galbi was great including the 12 banchan, I even finished the 'pickled pollack innards' they served!!!

After eating, we went to CGV... We planned on watching a movie the whole time but we sort of changed our minds and went to a park instead. The weather was great! It was warm and sunny, perfect for long walks. On the way to the park we sipped some iced caramel macchiato he got from Starbuck's while talking about the future. The park was basically empty, I totally forgot that it was a lazy tuesday afternoon where most people are either at work or at school. Still it was a good choice that we went to a park instead of watching a movie.

We passed by a store selling clothes and shopped a little before heading home. I asked why he's being 'extra-nice' to me today, and he answered he's just making 'lambing' cause he'll go back to work tomorrow and I'll be alone most of the time. He wakes up early and departs at 7 am for his japanese lessons and he goes to work till 9 pm... sometimes much later than that when he's out drinking with his co-workers. I hate thinking about tomorrow when he'll be busy as a bee again.. I wish he could have more day off to spend time with me.

Back to the place I call my 2nd home.

So I'm finally back here in Suwon... It was a bit cold when I arrived at the airport but not as cold as what I expected. I was so excited to see Chris, we haven't seen each other for a long time ( 3 months felt like forever!!!). He hugged and kissed me a couple of times before even saying hello... I'm not sure why but he looked a bit cuter than the last time! Maybe it's the haircut or he's just wearing a different coat.

I'm glad he liked my hair... I was a bit depressed that the guy from the salon cut it really short, well... he basically did everything I didn't want. See, I had really long hair and I specifically gave instructions to layer and cut it past my shoulders. He gave me a bob instead..

When we arrived home, Chris told me he reserved a room in the hotel nearby so that I could rest comfortably. So right after towing my luggage in place, we went out. We were talking about a lot of things (like how much he missed me while I'm gone and other 'cheezy' things like that) while going to the hotel, it was cold so good thing he held my hand.

I woke up early today... Chris is still in bed. I decided I should just tinker with the computer for a while... He didn't have to go to work today so we made plans about going on a date, watch a movie and go to my favorite family restaurant... Too bad "Twilight" isn't shown here yet. I was suppose to watch it with my friends in Greenbelt but I changed my plans. I think we'll settle for "Quantum of Solace" instead when we hit the theatres.

It's a little past ten in the morning and he's still tucked in bed. I feel happy seeing him sleep like a baby although I'm dying to wake him up now. I wonder what's in store for us today...

A predicament on Drinking.

Whenever I think of Korea, I would always think of the drinking culture. I think it goes hand and hand. Koreans drink so much that they should have a city named after 'soju' (their most prized drink..).

There are a couple of occassions I fell victim to this infamous drinking culture. But before anyone start to judge me, I'll stress the fact that I am not an alcoholic nor a heavy drinker. I always think that drinking comes with occassion, in relation to this, I acknowledge that I drink occassionally.

Studies show that there is nothing wrong with drinking, unless you become a slave to alcohol. I regularly drink a glass or two of my favorite Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, or Sweet Wine. It helps me relax a bit when I'm tired or stressed. From time to time, my friends and I would would go to a bar to unwind and would drink beer (I leave the 'hard-stuff' to the boys). I hate the calories it gives, but it's all part of socialization.

But this changed when I got to Korea. I'm not really good at drinking hard liquor so there were several occassions when I got really drunk. One time with my old friend Mcqueen (an english name he took from Alexander McQueen), a student from the academy where I taught in Q.C. He introduced his friends from Anyang over grilled meat and soju. It tasted like vodka and it went down pretty easy. After a couple of shots, I felt dazed. I had to take a taxi from Ansan to Suwon cause taking the subway felt difficult. Another occassion was with B.J., a university guy who befriended me at the plane.. Together with 3 of his friends, we went to Jongro for a swig. I was surprised how well korean girls drink. Bottles after bottles of soju and the worst they got was slurred speech. Again, I got drunk after 4 - 5 shots. I had to meet Chris in Bupyung with his high-school classmates at that time and I was drunk. So I took a taxi from Seoul to Incheon and fare costs a staggering 40,000 won. Two more occassion came, but good thing it wasn't far from home. But in those two occassions, I woke up not remembering how I was able to go home that night. After that, I sort of made a promise to myself to stay away from soju.

It has been more than 3 months since I last tasted any form of alcohol, but I'm about to break that tomorrow when I go to Embassy for a girls night out. I'm actually not in the mood to party.. But I'll be away for a while and wont be able to see them, so might as well enjoy my time while I'm still here.

A girl and her surgeries.

So I finally met an old friend over a cup of coffee. She was my group-mate in prosthetics/orthotics class back in college. She has gotten so much prettier from the last time I saw her years ago! There was definitely something different in her face but I thought it's rather impolite to ask if she went under the knife.
I guess she noticed my puzzled expression, so she disclosed she had surgery ( and I think some skin bleaching too.. ) not too long ago. She had her nose done and some chin implant to balance everything out. The plastic surgeon did a good job cause it looked really natural...

This started rumors in our college reunion early this year. I guess 'crab mentality' is one classic filipino trait that will always be present in our society. I can't understand why some people can't be happy for others. Plastic surgery is more than just being vain or dissatisfied with what God has given us. It's being happy and feeling good about yourself. It's a personal preference, and it's not for others to question, speculate, or see as debatable. I'm sure given the right finances, a lot of people would readily jump to the bandwagon to feel good about themselves and the way they look at the mirror.

In Korea where plastic surgery is as normal as getting a haircut, this wouldn't stir any discussion. In this light, I remember an interview of a famous plastic surgeon in Beverly Hills regarding plastic surgery being insubstantial and superficial (or something like that..) What he said next surprised me... "yes it is superficial", "but nobody walks down the street showing their inner beauty".. and I couldn't agree more.

Off to see a Doctor.

So today I'm going to the doctor's office to check my condition ( have cold symptoms for 2 weeks now! ). I'm leaving for Korea very soon so I have to make sure that everything's fine. As much as possible, I don't wanna be sick when I'm there. Foreigners aren't covered by the national insurance so we have to pay a lot for the doctor's fee and medicines.

During the 2 years of going in and out of Korea, I've been sick countless of times, usually during the summer season when it gets really hot and in winter when it's cold. Chris and I love going on a date or traveling almost every week but extreme temperature makes me sick. As a result, I visit the doctor's office quite often and it costs a lot of money.

My most recent visit to a doctor's office happened last October. It was a clinic in Maetan-dong near Samsung. For a check-up that didn't last more than 30 minutes (including the waiting time and a shot in the tushy^^), I was charged 45,000 won and the medicine (mostly antibiotic) was around 12,000. The other clinic I usually visit charges 40,000 won however, they have such unfriendly nurses. But in any case, it's still expensive. For those who have insurance, it'll be much cheaper, although I'm not exactly sure how much. Dental Care Clinics are also expensive. I remember a time when some of my brackets were displaced after eating crabs for dinner. They charged me just as much for gluing it back. The dentist, a beautiful woman (despite an obvious addiction to plastic surgery) in her early 40's asked what happened and after I explained to her, she blurted... "CRABS?" in long and winding tone. Her eyes widened in disbelief then she said.. "you know you're not suppose to eat crabs." Till now, I still remember her face vividly.

With these experiences, I can't help but think of those foreigners working in Korea. It can be tough for them to get sick. So it's really a blessing that some NGO's created 'goodwill clinics' to help migrant workers. I heard consultation and medicines are for free... But what about those who are working illegally? I'm sure there are a lot of 'undocumented' people who need medical attention and treatment but are not getting any. I hope the government can do something about it.

The Underage Dilemma.

Fact is, a lot of people in Korea have mistaken me for being an underage girl. I'm not sure why this thing happened a lot, but sometimes it can be embarassing (especially the part where I have to reveal my real age and people gasp in disbelief).

I'm pushing 30 in a couple of years, still young like others would say. But when I was younger, 30 was my idea of being old. Well, not now..

My first brush with the 'Age Dilemma' was at the plane, during my first time to visit my bf. A korean university guy befriended me. He kept on talking and telling me stories in his broken english, which I thought was very funny. After a while, he asked me how was I able to secure my parents permission to visit my bf in Korea... He also asked about school and everything, and if my parents are ok with me missing school. All the while he thought I was a high-school student (strange but true, blame it on my hello kitty bag!!) and was shocked to find out I'm older than him. I told this funny story to my bf and he explained to me that most Pinay look younger than their real age, and the fact that Koreans aren't well aware of foreign people's age just by looking at their faces.

Another occurence was at my bf's grandmother's house. The first time I met his 'halmmoni', she fondly called me "hakseng". I didn't know what it meant at that time so I just let it pass. Until now, she still calls me "hakseng" even if the people around her kept telling I'm not.

Sometimes, it can be quite inconvenient too, like for example going to Ministop or Family mart to buy cigarettes or beer has always been a hassle. They would always ask me for an ID card so whenever Chris would ask me to buy those things while he's at the office, I always recline. Another funny story was when we went to a nightclub after dinner to celebrate our 3rd year anniversary and we couldn't enter the place. The 'bouncer' asked for my ID card (which I left at home) so Chris told him I'm already at the legal age to drink. He kept on looking at Chris who was wearing a coat and tie at that time and towing a girl who seems to be under-age. The bouncer was suspicious that he might be a 'teen-age predator'. He was asking a lot of questions, and Chris was utterly embarassed that he decided to just go home. On the way home, I was laughing like crazy.

But it has benefits too, like discounts and cheaper entrance fees, whenever we travel. Who wouldn't want that?

Truth is, there isn't anything youthful looking with my appearance. It's just that, I always maintain a cheerful disposition which makes me feel and look younger than I really am (and also the fact that I'm wearing braces at this AGE..!). It beats all other age-defying and anti-wrinkle creams available in the market!

Just Venting.

Today has been tough. I had fever (yet again!) from yesterday. I can barely move out of my bed. But then I had to go out and drag myself to Chinabank and make an urgent deposit. It couldn't wait so I called up my mom who is doing her grocery at the supermarket nearby and told her that I'm going to the bank. The place is near, about 5-8 minutes away from home. I should've taken a tricycle but my mom insisted that I should get a taxi to go there.

Hailing from a cab, I arrived at 11:22 am. The branch where I went is fairly small so there are only few people there (about 3 including myself). As a customary, I sat down and waited till my number appears on the screen. Finally it was my turn, I hurried to get to the teller's booth (with ailing ankles and elbows!) and to my surprise the woman (teller) didn't budge and just continued doing whatever she's doing. Politely, I waited till she finishes, thinking I have enough time before 12 pm. 2 minutes have passed, 2 precious minutes wasted on the most uncomfortable silence there is. I finally told her, "I need to make a deposit before 12, it's important", then I handed her the money and the deposit slip. Before she could answer, one middle-aged Chinese woman came and went directly to the teller without securing a number first. She gladly entertained her while I'm standing there, looking annoyed. I was in awe when she asked me to sit down and wait. 10 minutes later, the transaction was done and the Chinese woman went outside. I hurried back to the teller and calmly asked what's the reason why I needed to wait that long. She then answered, "we prioritize our account holders more than anything else". I answered, "Am I not here to make a friggin* deposit?!" while fighting the urge to bad-mouth her even more.

When she handed me the reciept, it read 12:11 pm. With an angry face I asked her, "didn't I tell you it's important?", again, she didn't budge. I got her name then stormed my way out of the bank. I was more than pissed when I narrated the story to my mom. She's clearly the worst teller I have ever known!

To ease whatever I'm feeling, I decided to get a massage. After an hour, my head is clearer and felt better, but I still can't forget the incident with the teller.

A picky-eater and a cook.

I don't consider myself a picky-eater, but people close to me think otherwise. My bf would always complain how difficult it is to feed me and how choosing a restaurant becomes a tedious task. I don't cook a lot at home so we don't have choice but to eat outside most of the time. Imagine spending an hour or so, deciding on which restaurant we should go to. This happens most of the time so he can't help but complain. I'm really not like him when it comes to food. He's very adventurous and I haven't seen an occassion, where he refused to eat something. When he was in the Phil, he heard from someone that eating 'balut' would increase his virility and it didn't take much prodding before he took his first bite. In my case, I never had the courage to eat balut, so the taste still remains a mystery.

So we wouldn't argue anymore, we came up with an agreement to let me cook whatever I want to eat. I liked the idea at first, but then who knew finding ingredients in the supermarket can be tough?! I'm not in any way a great cook, I think 'decent-cook' sounds more operative. I wanted to impress him with my so-called kitchen flair, so once I tried cooking adobo but the end result tasted nothing like it. When I heard from a friend that there are several kinds of soysauce and vinegar in Korea, I was dumbfounded! From then on, I started to scrutinize the labels first before putting it in the cart.

I already gave up cooking pinoy dishes to impress him (there was also a case of 'Beef Caldereta gone bad' where I put spaghetti sauce cause I couldn't find any tomato sauce!!!) and to feed my 'food-sickness' issue. Now, I just cook korean dishes for him, it's somehow easier to prepare and I know he'd appreciate it more. As for me, I make a schedule of what I should cook in all 7 days. We have what we call Kimchi Chigae mondays or Sundubu Chigae sundays.. like that. Those 7 dishes (the only dishes I can prepare..) will then be rotated the next week. But I get tired of eating the same 7 meals week by week and I would really love to try something else. Back to square one, we'd eat outside. Now, arguing on where we should eat takes an hour and a half!

Love knows no boundaries...

Since I consider my blog as a journal of my life, I write things that I wish I wouldn't forget. And among hundreds of posts I wrote, I almost never mentioned about my bf. I'm actually saving our story for one 'special' post like this one.

He is a Korean and I'm a Filipina. His name is Chris and he's a year older than me...He was a senior engineering student at Hanyang University when we met. I call him my greatest love, my happiness, my everything. We've been together for more than 3 years now and been working on getting married in the future.

It all started when I'm still working as an English Teacher at a language school in Q.C. It was right after our lunch break when I first saw Chris. He was walking towards the travel agency nearby when some of my colleagues started calling his attention. He was carrying a big luggage at that time and he seemed lost. Out of goodwill, my friends offered help. I admit, he looked really cute that day, that's why my friends kept on talking to him. I was the only one who seemed distant and quiet. In my head, I hated all the attention my friends were giving him cause I didn't want him to think that we were so into him. He kept on glancing at me and asked a couple of things. I was surprised how well he speaks in English, probably the best I've ever heard (he didn't sound a typical korean at all!)... For some reason, my friends disappeared and we were left talking to each other.

When the bell rang, I said goodbye and I thought that was it. After the next break, my friends and I gathered to the same exact spot. I was surprised to see him again... He looked as if he's waiting for someone but I didn't know he was actually waiting for me. After I finished my work, he was still there and that's the time he asked if I could have dinner with him. I didn't think twice cause I secretly liked him a little bit so I said yes, provided that I get to bring along a friend. So all 3 of us went to the restaurant and ate. It was raining hard at that time and the air is a bit cold. I don't know why but he offered his hooded jacket. I politely said no but he kept on insisting. That night, I felt that he's really interested in me.

He was supposed to enter a boarding house before meeting me. But he ended up renting a unit in the same condominium where my sister and I are staying. We then became inseparable. He made each day special and then I slowly realized I'm falling hard for him. Each day I grew more and more nervous as his departure day gets closer. The night before his flight, I cried so much. I woke up the next day with swollen eyes from too much crying. Still, tears ran down my cheeks as we said our goodbyes at the airport. I thought, that was the end of it till I recieved a mail from him. In his letter, he mentioned how crazy in love he is and he can't wait to come back for me. True enough, 2 months later he's back but he stayed for only a week. Still, I cried so much when I took him to the airport. True to his word, he came back frequently (5 times in a year) to see me. The last time he visited Manila, he stayed for a month. After he entered Samsung, it became very difficult for him to visit me so he asked me to visit him instead. From then on, Korea has been my second home.

Being in an inter-racial relationship is not easy. There are so many things to think about. I spent so many sleepless nights thinking whether this relationship is worth the fight or not. Chris would always say yes... I hold on to his answer and would just brush this idea away from my head afterall, love knows no boundary, nor culture, nationality, or even race.

Done with it

I'm finally done transferring my humble friendster blog here.. Now, I'm happy how things are going..

Mixed thoughts

As my departure day gets closer and closer, I'm having mixed thoughts. I absolutely hate not being here for Christmas, and this time it'll be more than that. My younger sis is going to get married on the 26th and I won't be here to attend the ceremony.

There are so many things happening here that l somehow feel depressed to pack my bags and leave. One of the things I do to fight this feeling is to think about the things I'm looking forward to do in Korea.

I'd love to visit Busan again in winter... then take a boat-ride (while drinking some lukewarm beer..! I've seen a lot of people doing that so I would like to try it next time^^) and go to Jeju perhaps?! I heard it's possible... it'll be a nice change to take the boat instead of the usual crampy plane that only serves juice : )

Camping in front of the beach sounds good hmm.. probably too cold. Camping by the river or lake and go fishing? Ice fishing perhaps or fish sleeps in winter? It's probably too cold to go camping and should forget about it. Hm... I know, log cabins..right! I'd love to visit a log cabin in the middle of a forest and sit in front of a fireplace drinking some wine while it's snowing hard outside. That sounds cool.

Should I visit a themepark? Lotteworld, SeoulLand? No those two are a waste of time to visit, should stick with Everland... but for the 9th time? Fact is, I haven't visited Everland in winter so it's probably worth the visit... even for the 9th time. The Safari there is good, I had fun with the bears.. which makes me think about visiting a zoo. Right! There's one huge zoo beside SeoulLand... should definitely visit there next time.

Visiting a Hot Spring Resort has always been my plan. I know that in Japan, hot spring resorts are luxury-leisure activity that a lot of people love but not all people can afford to. I'm not sure if that's the case in Korea.

Need Haircut ASAP

I need to get a haircut soon! I'm tired of living with my 'style-less' (read: no style) hair. The lenght basically weighs it down, making it look dull and lifeless so I'm thinking of cutting it really short, sexy, and bouncy. The problem is, I don't know what type of haircut I should get. Or should I just have it permed, rebonded or relaxed? In any case, it should be low-maintenance cause I hate fixing my hair in the morning (I'm a wash and brush kinda girl...).

My idea of a nice haircut is something like shoulder lenght, layered, with side swept bangs. I've done it a couple of times and it clearly works for me... but it's kinda boring. I want something edgy, funky and has an attitude but I don't wanna end up looking futuristic, wannabe rockstar or emo babe.

I really can't decide on which haircut I should have. I browsed thru different website but nothing applealed to my taste. I'm so lost now I'm even considering having my hair bleached and dread-locked for a change.

Boob-tube blues.

It's such a pain watchin my favorite 'idiot box' these days. It's just loaded with crap all day long! Nobody can't stop talking about Bolante and Dela Paz who are obviously guilty but the government isn't doing something about it other than their so-called investigation. F*ck due process in cases like this! They are the reason why people commit crime cause of poverty. The Senate is just one big stage where everybody is acting out, pretending they're doing something in front of the media. And then there's this senate coup d' etat they're talking about, which make them look like a bunch of elementary school students fighting over who is smarter. Having the faces of everyone involved, plastered in every channel makes me wanna gag.

I'm plain numb to everything, almost indifferent. But who can blame me? Being bombarded with things like recession everywhere, corruption, crime, war, and a whole lot more on a daily basis is just too much! I need a break, but it seems like TV is no fun anymore. I hope they allot a day for good news alone, cause people are sick and tired of hearing bad things happening all the time.

Hamasaki Heaven.

I'm currently hooked with Ayumi Hamasaki's "Heaven". When I heard this song, I kept on thinking where I heard it first cause I can't seem to remember. It turns out, it was the theme song of "Shinobi, Heart Under Blade", a Japanese movie I watched not so long ago. Yukie Nakama played the lead girl here and she's also my favorite Japanese actress. I first saw her in "The Ring", then I watched her in Tokyo Wankei (again, a personal favorite) where she played a 'Zainichi Kankokujin' (how can I forget?). I even tediously downloaded all of Gokusen cause she's in it.

You can go check out this song here, I'm sure you guys will like it!

http://www.imeem.com/ska8boi/video/iNVYr41r/heaven_ayumi_hamasaki_music_video/

Ayumi is such a talented singer, some would even say she's the best in Japan. So I hate it when others say she's too old cause good music doesn't come with age. I totally dig her voice! To me, it's like a lullabye... soft, calm and soothing, doing something more than just putting me to sleep!

Love Defined

What does love mean to me. The dictionaries meaning is to have a strong attachment induced by that which delights or commands admiration, pre-eminent kindness, a devotion to another person, of deep affection and tenderness …The only way for us to truly understand the definition on love is to present you with my current situation. I’m in love, yes and it hit me like an avalanche. I never expected it to happen; all I wanted was a bit of change in my life. What a drastic change! He told me for the first time he loved me, they were right to say that missing each other is a test of love; I get so emotional sometimes and I started to cry, why? cause no one has made me feel this wanted, needed and loved. Love is all about sharing, understanding and allowing someone into your “personal space” of your heart, I know it does not always work out this way. Love is about sacrifice and compromise. I myself gave up on love, was tired of chasing it and not finding what I desired so much and in the end, it found me in the most unexpected place. And why I chose to fall in love, even though it’s been so difficult now, with him a million miles away, the answer is quiet simple, and the heart does not ask how to feel. The heart was not meant to wither away and by allowing one to open up ones heart to another, it’s the most splendid feeling of all. What would the purpose of ones existence be without love and appreciation, without sharing your sorrows and pleasures with, without having the opportunity to express yourself in more ways than one. I know love and relationships can be difficult, but I look at it like a business, if you don’t work at it, you will not succeed. There were times when I thought, to hell with this, why let yourself feel all these need and desire, when you don’t know whether it will succeed or not, but then I look within and found that once you start loving yourself, others will notice and feel and love will soon come knocking at your door …wait, I’m not yet done. Whether my present relationship is only for us to be together so that we can give each other support and understanding, to be each other pillars of strength, to be there for each other when life just gets too much or for some other deeper more meaningful reason, this I can’t answer. Our paths have crossed for a reason, but what lies ahead, well, no one can say. You never loose by loving, you only loose by holding back, really. I have noticed one major difference in myself and the way I love now, compared to the way I did. You know when you're younger, you think you’ll live forever and you think that when you have someone in your life, you feel as if you will never feel about another person the way you feel about that specific person that very moment and when your paths divide you feel like your whole world is going to fall apart, you promise yourself not to allow love to ever knock on your door and what happens, the heart heals and you fall in love all over again. I’m not saying I fall in love with each and every guy I meet, NO!, to me it’s a special bond and my degree of love for each is different in a way. I can honestly say that right now, my love is more mature, we have a greater understanding of each others needs, wants and desires. We basically are ready to accept each other with our lives. I am basically at a stage in my life where I feel I need to share my life and my love with someone. I’ll end off by saying: ‘To love is to admire with heart, to admire is to love with the mind”.So there you have it, my definition on this phenomenal factor called love, a question no human being can ever define properly, only accept it and learn from it as life goes on.

Facts about blogging...

I'm not a total newbie when it comes to blogging and I'm currently maintaining a humble friendster blog. I think, I just need to expand my horizon, having another venue for writing down my thoughts.


I have a lot of things goin on in my head and I wish to put that into words. Someday when I'm old (if this is not yet obsolete by then^^ ), I would love to read all my blogs and remember vividly how I lived my life. It may not be a big thing but the way I look at this, it's some sort of an achievement in my part.

Ramyeon fix gone bad?!

Earlier today, I was craving for something hot and spicy. After a strenuous workout on an empty stomach, I craved for something hot to warm me up. It's really hot these days and eating a bowl of piping hot soup seems a bit far-out but I still thought of getting my ramyeon fix, so I went to the grocery and got a pack of Ramyeon.

I felt really hungry as soon as I open the door home, so I immediately boiled water and excitedly waited till it's about time to put the noodles in. It's done in less than 8 minutes, then I brought out some familiar chopsticks and started eating. While I'm in the middle of sipping the hot soup and chewing on the noodles, I examined the wrapper and saw something weird. The expiration date looked different! It's as if someone erased the original date and printed another one. Judging from the ink smear evident in the wrapper, I felt suspicious. The prior date is still embossed while there's a newly printed one on the right side. Then I remembered reading from a friend's blog about expired korean goods here in the Phil.. and this might just be the perfect example. Read on http://www.buhaykorea.com/2008/10/16/expired-korean-products-in-the-philippines/

My bowl was already half-empty before I realized the scary fact. I really regret buying that ramyeon cause I'm now nursing an upset stomach, and who knows what more will I get from eating a probably expired ramyeon.

The Notebook (2nd round)

Just finished watching "The Notebook" and eventhough it was my 2nd time, it was still worthwhile. It's probably not the best movie I have ever seen but it scores high in my list.

The story is predictable and even sharing the same concept with couple other movies. But there's something extraordinary about it. I guess it's the proven and tested familiar storyline (rich girl meets poor boy) which all people can relate, made more vivid and moving. But that's not all... The places where the scenes were shot are all beautiful. So beautiful that I totally agree when Allison said, "Like a dream". I also admire how they came up with the music that accompanied each and every scene... It's very moving.

I can go on and on with the things I love about this movie. But the thing that captivated me the most is the script. I think it's well thought of. Especially the part where Noah said, " So it's not going to be easy. It's going to be really hard. And we're going to have to work at this every day. But I want to do that because I want you. I want all of you, forever, every day. " Isn't that the sweetest line ever?

All of this wouldn't really matter if not for the people who played them. Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams cleary make a good pair (reel/real life). They look so good together that my knees feel limp whenever they kiss, so I'm not surprised they even won an award for it! ^^

Check this video out if you got a few minutes to kill...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kTLDLWhgV1c

A view on Assisted Suicide..

Endless controversy hit Oregon when they made a law called Death With Dignity Act of 1994 and it was all over the papers a few years back. I happen to brush on this topic while making a special report back in college where I'm taking up a 5 yr medical course. I actually forgot all about it till Washington recently passed a similar law and therefore, stirring similar controversy again in all parts of U.S. This particular law is all about helping terminally ill patients die with the assistance of a doctor or what is now called assisted suicide.

I searched Wiki for a narrative description about this law to give a better insight, and so it says:

***

" Under the law, a capable adult who has been diagnosed by a physician with a terminal illness that will kill them within six months may request in writing, from his or her physician, a prescription for a lethal dose of medication for the purpose of ending the patient's life. Use of the law is voluntary and the patient must initiate the request. Any physician, pharmacist or healthcare provider opposed on moral grounds does not have to participate. "

" The request must be confirmed by two witnesses, one of whom cannot be related to the patient, be entitled to any portion of the patient's estate, be the patient's physician, or be employed by a health care facility caring for the patient. After the request is made, another physician must examine the patient's medical records and confirm the diagnosis. The patient must be determined to not suffer from a mental condition impairing judgement. If the request is authorized, the patient must wait at least fifteen days and make a second oral request before the prescription may be written. The patient has a right to rescind the request at any time. Should either physician have concerns about the patient’s ability to make an informed decision, or feel the patient’s request may be motivated by depression or coercion, the patient must be referred for a psychological evaluation. "

" The law protects doctors from liability for providing a lethal prescription for a terminally ill, competent adult in compliance with the statute restrictions. Participation by physicians, pharmacists, and health care providers is voluntary. The law also specifies a patient's decision to end his or her life shall not "have an effect upon a life, health, or accident insurance or annuity. "

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The nature of this law is inescapable to a lot of argument as it defies certain moral standards in our society. We were brought up knowing that suicide in all forms or ways is basically unacceptable, but for people who are ill and suffering, think of it as a deliverance from all the pain.

I understand why some people would like to end everything because death can sometimes be convenient. But in my opinion, a lot of things can happen in those 6 months so I do not agree a hundred percent. Having 3 months to live is a rather different case and I think it's the most appropriate time if a patient wishes to undergo this certain procedure. By this time, the patient may be experiencing the greatest pain and suffering.

Experiencing someone very close to my heart taken away by sudden death is unbearable. Like what I used to say, I can give up everything to have my father's life 'extended' for one more day and be with us. I'm sure, people who are close to the patient feel the same way so why cut everything short?

I'm not in the position to judge a person whether this is acceptable or not for I didn't experience the pain they're going through. But isn't knowing you're still gonna see the faces of your loved ones, talk to them, and touch their hands worth living even just for a little bit longer?

The Peel

So I recently had derma peel for my face to get rid of those annoying dead skin cells. Little did I know, that it would create a great deal of discomfort while I'm hitting the gym and getting all sweaty. I didn't have any problem with it right after the procedure, problem arises when I'm working out. It still feels kinda raw so when it gets in contact with perspiration, I feel a certain kind of sting all over my face. And since I love going to the sauna every so often, the discomfort gets even worse! I tried washing my face with ice cold water to help lessen the redness and soreness and it helped a little. But the weather is so hot and humid that sweating (my biggest pet peeve!) is inevitable. How I wish I could just stay in a cold room with AC in full blast the whole day...

Notions on leaving and holidays...

I'm leaving in 2 weeks to spend the winter season in Korea, but I'm yet to purchase my tickets cause I'm still waiting for the dollars to drop again. I thought there will be a significant change on the foreign exchange right after Obama was elected, guess I was wrong. I'm not sure what to expect, except that it'll be a nice relief from the scorching, blazing, draining, and excruciating heat of Manila.

Hm.. This will be the third time I'm spending the Christmas season in Korea. It makes me sad a little that I wont be here for that special occassion. I surely missed noche buena and everything that has to do with Christmas cause spending Christmas Eve in Korea is boring... Spending New Years Eve in Korea is even more boring if you're not going to Jongro to hear the ringing of the bell. I don't know what's the significance of that but going there looks fun on TV cause there are so many entertainers performing while thousands of people are gathered, watching nearby. At the stroke of midnight, they'll bang the huge bell for reasons God only knows. Then there'll be fireworks display and that's it. Time to go back home... tired, sleepy, hungry. In any case, I would rather spend the New Years eve beside the bell than spend it beside the computer.

Red Hot Room

After a good workout, I just love going to the red-hot room where it reaches 57 degrees! I'm sure by now, you guys know what I'm talking about. The first time I tried it was at Clark Hatch Fitness Center located at the 2nd floor of Dusit Hotel. Sis and I were members there for a year, and we visit the sauna each and every time we were there.

The current gym I'm going to doesn't have a spacious sauna unlike in Clark Hatch... But it's decent enough to accomodate 4 people, maximum of 6. It's nice and quiet so sometimes I can't help but doze off for a few minutes!

Other than breaking a good sweat, what is really going on when we enter the sauna room... here are some facts I read..

* During a 10-20 minute sauna session, your heart rate increases by 50-75%. This provides the same metabolic result as physical exercise. The increased cardiac load is the equivalent of a brisk walk. There is a nominal effect on blood pressure because the heat also causes the blood vessels in skin to expand to accomodate blood flow.

* Blood vessels become more flexible and there is increased circulation to the extremities. During a sauna, blood flow to the skin increases to as high as 50-70% of cardiac output (compared to the standard 5-10%). This brings the nutrients to the subutaneous and surface tissue reulting in glowing healthy skin.

* Steambaths and Sauna induce sweating to provide a comprehensive cleansing of the skin and sweat glands. Skin is the largest organ in the body. 30% of the wastes are passed thru the skin. Profuse sweating enhances the detoxification capacity of the skin y opening pores and flushing impurtities from the body.

* When taking a sauna, skin temperature rises to 40 degrees celsius and internal body temperature rises to about 38 degrees celsius. Exposure to the high heat creates an artificial fever state. Fever is part of the body's natural healing process. Fever simulates the immune sysytem in resulting in increased production of white blood cells, antibodies and interferon (an anti-viral protein) with cancer fighting capability.

* Spas and other such therapeutic facilities utilize saunas and steambaths in conjunction with massage to loosen fatty tissue and sssist in the battle against cellulite.

* Many regular steam and sauna users claim that 'a good sweat' at the onset relieve and ward off the most severe symptoms of cold or flu.