Unforgettable Things About Korea.

Korea has grown on me in so many ways. I never knew I'm gonna miss even the most trivial things about the country. And like many foreigners who got to live in Korea, I miss eating Korean food. But I wouldn't go as far as saying I miss Kimchi cause the smell of it is freaking seared in my memory and I'm still having nightmares about it. It just repels me and why others horde and manage to keep tons of it sitting in their fridge never fails to confound me. I swear, the smell reeking even from air-tight containers every time I open the fridge in the morning summons my inner-bitch and make me act all schizo.

Other than Kimchi, all the rest serve to add a different appeal that makes life in Korea more alluring and enriching. Say for example the wide array of side dishes served in restaurants. That has got to be one of the most unforgettable thing about Korea. The tiny portions of side dishes they serve are all well thought of and carefully calculated to accentuate the main dish. Not only does it give you a buffet of different taste and texture, but how they present each one of them also give your eyes something to feast on.

After going through the health scare, I started this semi-vegetarian diet to get healthy. But for some reason, veering away from meat makes me think about Galbi more and more. This dish rightfully falls on my list of unforgettable things about Korea. I'm sure everyone knows why Galbi is world famous. It's inarguably delicious and could surely impress anyone who isn't a fan of Korean dishes. So if you know someone who can't stop ranting about how everything in Korea is spicy, bland or plain smelly, take him or her to a Galbi restaurant.


Third on my list is Western Bar in Korea. They call it Western Bar because it serves western liquors and beers from around the world. Whenever I'm having a nightmarish-ly bad day, Chris takes me to our favorite bar. I love it cause it's spacious and they serve free (refillable) side-dishes. They also have this small button at the edge of the table that you could press to call the waiter. It's a far cry from the crampy, dim, and noisy bars I'm used to.

For me, life in Korea is far from fairy tale beginnings or endings. I call it a life-changing and temper-taming adventure laced with pain, joy, and a bit of humor. Sometimes it's blissful, sometimes it's really tiring, and other times it could truly push the limits of your sanity. But the important thing is that I've grown to love it flaws and all. But as far as flaws go, the smell of kimchi still bothers me and I need a few more years to fix it. Have a happy Monday you all!

Music Fix.

My playlist desperately needs an update so I added a couple of fresh new tracks. The previous songs makes me wanna reach that box of Kleenex, so this time I wanted some feel-good music, easy on the ears and nothing depressing.

Toasted and Thirsty.

I must be mental for choosing to spend this month here in Manila. The heat is unbearable and each day that passes is more like a battle. I'm desperately trying to keep myself from packing my bags and flying off to Korea. I'm sure all Pinoys share the same sentiment about the weather, and all are dying to get whisked away to some frozen nowhere land.

On days when the temperature tips at 35 degrees, I focus my energy on cursing the weather and binging on sour mangoes and bagoong. And because wardrobe choices boil down to only two things: short and shorter - I feel obligated to flex my stubborn, lazy muscles in the gym. It's hard alright, but let me tell you, working out in a sauna-like condition definitely pays off. I've lost some weight and it's something I feel really happy about. I still have a long way to go so you wouldn't see me in a teeny-weeny swimsuit mode anytime soon.

As for my health, I'm still recuperating. It turns out I have something simple but it pretty much binds me to long-term medication. And although it's disheartening as it is, at the crux of it all, I've realized that life is too short to let one's dreams go to waste. I've decided to live that dream, so I'm putting up a small business with the help of some people close to me. I'm still in the planning stage, but hopefully this July or August, we'll be ready to roll.

Amidst all these things that get my thoughts flying in all direction, I'll be lying if I say that I don't miss my Korean life. As a matter of fact, I miss it everyday (especially in this heat!). I'll be coming to Korea after the holy week is over, and I can't wait to hit the beaches there, and bask in the cool spring weather while sipping a sweet bubbly cup of Hoegaarden. In Korea, I just buy it at big supermarkets. Unfortunately, I don't know where to get it here in Manila. I sooo miss drinking this beer with my favorite beer-buddy Chris!