Flight back to Manila.

24th, Christmas Eve, I woke up early to do some last minute shopping for gifts to bring back home. When I was finally done with all the packing and preparation, I took the airport limousine bus that'll bring me to Incheon Int'l Airport. I was the only passenger at that time, thought it's a good thing, but it felt really awkward when the driver did the customary short speech and bowed at me. I was sleepy and tired so I dozed off while endless Christmas songs were being played on the radio. When I woke up, I heard the song "I'll be home for Christmas", thought it was perfect for the situation as I'm literally on my way home for Christmas.

I glanced at my watch every so often, calculating the time it'll take. The bus departed at 6:20 pm, and usually, it takes only about an hour to get to the airport, but considering the traffic I added another hour to my calculation. There was moderate traffic on the road that night, but I sort of expected that. Time and time again, I assured myself that there is nothing to worry about. At 7:30, I eagerly checked the surroundings for signage that'll show where my location was. I was more than surprised when I saw that I was still in Gyeonggi, still far from the airport. I patiently waited but unable to calm myself, my flight was at 9:35, it was past 8 and I was nowhere near Incheon. By the time the clock hit 9, I was in state of panic, and kept on calling Chris to inform the airline that I'm stuck in the worst traffic ever and I'm going to be late. He talked with them and they said they'll wait for me till 9:10, later than that, they wont accept me. I bit my lip hard, at that time I just entered Incheon area and all I could see are endless rows of red tail lights.

My head was in a frenzy of thoughts. Part of me says I won't be able to make it, too bad the ticket isn't rebookable nor refundable. I kept telling myself it's now or never, I can't bear to lose that much money, not now, not ever! I sweated profusely while I prayed for a little Christmas miracle. The bus barely moves and when it does, it's slower than a person running! At 9:20 the roads cleared as we entered the intersection going to the airport. The driver sort of recognized that there is a huge possiblilty that I'm going to miss my flight, so he sped up as fast as he could. As soon as I got off the bus, I ran to the airline booth. It was 9:32 pm when I checked the time.

Even before reaching their designated table, one of the ground staff called my attention from afar, asking if I was Manila bound and I said yes. He then asked if I was Emma, again I said yes while catching my breath (I knew they were expecting me). I let out a sigh of relief when they accepted my passport and handed me the boarding pass. They asked if I have any liquid items or gels in my baggage... Crap! I said to myself. I forgot all about that. I prepared a luggage for 'check-in', and not for 'hand-carry' so obviously I didn't have that 'liquid-thingy rule' in my head while packing. Since I'm late, they could only accept hand-carried ones and I do have wine, and some skin care set I bought as gifts for my family. He said I should give those up and people from the security gate will confiscate those items. I felt really bad but he didn't leave me with any other option, besides, getting on my flight is more important than those things. It was 9:36 so he asked me to proceed and got another staff to escort me to the gate. I told the security personnel who opened my luggage that those items were gifts for my sister's wedding. I was ecstatic that I didn't need to throw those gifts away, I didn't forget to say thanks and I greeted him a Merry Christmas. He must have seen me so stressed, anxious, and in a hurry so he let me pass through easily.

Since the boarding gate is located at the far end of the airport, the staff and I took the train, she seemed oblivious to my presence. She was on her walkie-talkie the whole time and kept on checking her phone so I wasn't able to talk with her. I finally showed up right in front of the gate 10 minutes after the scheduled departure. One staff took my luggage from my hand and stowed it somewhere while I was frantically searching for the ticket and my boarding pass in my pocket. Another staff then asked me to hurry up and enter the plane. As soon as I went in, I looked for my luggage but couldn't find it, so the stewardess had to call an airline staff again and asked about my missing luggage. A different staff came inside the plane and escorted me back to the gate upstairs. He called his crew in the walkie-talkie and at an instant, 7 people showed up, he then asked me to find the person who took it. One guy came forward, explaining to me that when he measured the bag, it wouldn't fit in the overhead compartment so he took the liberty to bring it to the cargo area. I couldn't bear to be angry at him for not informing me before hand, afterall, I'm the cause of delay.

It was way past 10, almost 11 perhaps when the plane took off. I didn't bother to check the time, I just kept my eyes closed, avoiding the stares from fellow passengers. I was so exhausted and it didn't take long before I fell asleep. A stewardess woke me up, handing me my meal and my immigration card. I couldn't be happier knowing I'll be home just in time. The plane arrived an hour late from the scheduled time of arrival. It was 1 am then, officially it was Christmas day, I couldn't help smiling as I go along the almost empty road back home.

Just in time for new year's day.

I just got back from Jeju today. I'm tired, have sore muscles and aches here and there... I'm dying to write stuff about my recent trip to Manila and Jeju, but right now, I badly need to sleep. For the last ten days, I was constantly on the go I barely slept. And due to exhaustion from keeping up with my crazy schedule, I've been floating in and out of consciousness that I can barely keep track of time... I almost forgot that it's Jan 1st today! It's probably late but I would like to wish everyone a happy new year.

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...