Forgetful Chris...

This is an excerpt from our interesting conversation last night.


Chris: My head hurts...

Me: Of course, you've been playing Starcarft for more than 3 hours now. Take a rest.

Chris: Ah! What do you call this in English? This... (motioning something and making weird faces). I forgot the word.. Come on, I'm sure you know it.

Me: My head doesn't work that way. I need details..

Chris: They look like this and they do this (again, making those weird moves and faces). Don't you know...?

Me: I don't know what you're talking about.

Chris: A-b-o... Don't you know? Give me a word.

Me: Abolish? Abode? Aboard? What??? Is it a verb or a noun?

Chris: No, I forgot. Wait, I have a picture somewhere. I saw them in Canada.




Chris: A-b-o....

Me: A-b-o-r-i-g-i-n-e?

Chris: Yeah, right! Good call.

Me: Why did you suddenly ask?

Chris: Huh?! Ah... I forgot already (going back to playing Starcraft).

Me: You know what? You seriously need help.



*******

Of Neutrogena and my sensitive skin...

The Neutrogena products I ordered last week was delivered here yesterday. It's cheaper to just order it online than buying it in stores.. I have really sensitive skin and it's difficult for me to find a product that suits my 'sensitivity-level'. I find Korean products too strong and too heavy for my skin. This rationale didn't come from a person who only tried a thing or two... cause if there's one thing I love splurging on, it's got to be skin care stuff. I've lost count how many different products I tried before, and my review would always be the same.

During a trip to Manila, I visited my sister's dermatologist/friend. I consulted my problems with her, and she offered to get my skin care product tested by their chemist. I think I was using DeAge at that time. My itsy-bitsy-tiny-little 'hunch' proved to be correct. It has very high alcohol content that makes my skin feels raw and red. Their moisturizer uses a lot of oil which blocks the pores, hence the annoying pimples. I cant remember the other stuff she mentioned cause she used a lot of 'medical lingo'. Since the product they were exclusively selling cost $80 a month (way too expensive), I asked her advice for a cheaper alternative available in the market. She said two things, Cetaphil (my sister is their biggest fan^^) and Neutrogena, whichever works. I chose Neutrogena and it clearly works. That's how my love affair with Neutrogena began, and I never tried any other product since then.



It glides on smoothly and it's absorbed quickly. It doesn't have that oily-sticky-icky-feel that I usually get from Korean products, which is a total hassle when you're applying make-up after. It's very light, and it doesn't give me that 'raw-skin' feeling. None of the paraben and other evil stuff that cause blocked pores and allergic reaction. Ok, I should stop right here.. this post is beginning to sound like a blog advertisement which is so not the case.

Save the Cheerleader, Save the World sucks.

Ok, I'm so done with Heroes... I'm never gonna watch a single episode again. It's too much of a jigsaw puzzle now that it doesn't make any sense. The plot doesn't have the 'oomph' like before, and excuse me if I say it's totally outrageous and ridiculously unbelievable. It's a far cry from the first season that totally gripped me breathless with their wild and unexpected turn of events.

I'd rather watch "How I met your mother". I just love how Neil Patrick Harris plays that heterosexual, womanizing Barney. He exhibits this unique vibe that makes him so believable. I was a bit skeptic at first cause he's one of the most openly gay celebrities in Hollywood, and for me that's one tangible reason that should hinder his believabilty as a performer (only for that particular role of course). But I was wrong cause he delivers the 'punch' unlike any other. To me, he's unmistakably one of the best actors on television right now. And no matter how idiotic, pugnacious, and obnoxious his future roles may be, I'd still be a fan... just like when he was still playing Doogie Howser M.D. ^^

"The Machiavelli Covenant"

Even with all those newly-formed callous on my feet, I somehow managed to go to Kyobo bookstore and check their wide selection of books. I was looking for some good history books like what Chris suggested, but I figured after I'm done with the first 10 pages, there's a very big chance I'm gonna get bored and the next 10 will be hard to endure.. So I opted for a good novel instead. I'm not really a book collector by any chance, I only have a couple sitting by the bookstand. But since I have a lot of free time in my hands, reading can be a good diversion. So I got "The Machiavelli Covenant" cause government conspiracies have always been interesting for me. The synopsis is good, promising I should say.. I just hope it delivers.

COEX.

After leaving the restaurant, I braced myself for the long and tiring walk we promised to subject ourselves into. It wasn't hard at first, not till we reached the 30-minute mark (and a couple of road under construction) that my feet started to hurt, and I blame my shoes for that. A sad realization dawned to me that cute shoes are ALWAYS bound to hurt, and those you would NEVER consider wearing for a date will ALWAYS feel so damn comfortable.. Now where is justice in that?!

After the long and painful walk, we reached COEX Mall. We went straight to the Aquarium like what we planned... Ticket costs 13,000 won.






A giant catfish.




I don't know this fish, but the tank is cute...




Ready for some fish lovin'?




This tank creeps the hell out of me. It boggles me why those fish inserted themselves in a very cramped and narrow space and stayed there.. still as a rock.




There's also a cute mini Koi pond...




Yup, those are fishes too...




A fish tank in the ceiling...




A phone-booth fish tank..









Apart from all the fish and creatures I saw in the Aquarium, this one takes the cake! When I first visited there last 2006, those Piranhas were still babies. But now, they're in their adult form... It would've been nice to see them eat.

The Date.

The weather was really nice yesterday, so Chris and I decided to go on a date in Kangnam. Saw a lot of good restaurants there, mostly serving western and fusion dishes. After a long walk, we finally decided to go to Carne Station (our favorite meat buffet restaurant).

There weren't a lot of people at that time... only a few couples and a group of Americans. But after we got our first serving, more people started to come and all the tables were filled.

Chris went straight to the meat section, and started grilling right away!




I opted for something light like sushi... This was my first entrée.



I love the salmon salad so much that I kept on coming back for more!




We also tried the shrimp and baby octopus...




For desert, we had a plate filled with fruits and other delicious treats. Chris love their rambutan so much, he ate a lot of those.



Food was great, but all too filling. The thing I don't like about buffets is that we tend to eat more than what we could handle. And that's always a bad thing... Just before we left, we made a pact to walk till our feet hurt to burn those inacalculable amount of calories! ^^

Of Salads and Stuff.

I love this Salmon and Shrimp Salad Chris brought home last night. It comes with a pack of yoghurt apple dressing which isn't really appealing to my taste, so I ate the salad without it. I love all kinds of salads and two of my favorites are Ceasar's and Avocado Salad. I used to go to Rack's back home cause they serve the best-tasting Ceasar's Salad in town. My father's Avocado Salad on the other hand, is the best among I've tasted... There isn't anything quite like it. He used to make it on a hot summer day, and nope.. I'm not referring to mashed Avocadoes with milk and sugar, although I'd kill for a cup of that right now! ^^ One of the best things about salad is that you could enjoy it anyway you want to. You could have them as side dish, as an appetizer, as a meal, even as a snack. It's just so uncomplicated, like how I want my food to be. ^^

Of Spring and Cherry Blossoms.

It is often said that the changing of the seasons is like the cycle of life. To witness the long dormant life of winter, beginning a new life in the ever turning wheel of time, Spring is the continual reminder that all things are re-born and that LIFE goes on.

I know it's still February but I am already in the Spring mood. I feel it coming, it makes me happy to think about it. There are so many things I'm looking forward to in Spring. It's a fresh start, a clean slate, and a new beginning.

Here's to Spring!

Adventure at it's finest.

'J' called Chris today inviting us to attend his son's first birthday party next month. Chris and 'J' were best of friends way back their college days in Hanyang. It wouldn't be an issue if he stays in Seoul or somewhere in Gyeonggi-do, but he lives in Geoje ~ an island located in South Gyeongsang province which is about 5 hour drive from where we live. He works there designing ships for Samsung Heavy Industries. I love visiting Geoje-do, and I really don't mind the 5 hour drive if I get to see those lovely places again...


We took a ferry to visit these rocky islets.. The boat goes inside a very narrow opening that leads to a cave. It was a pretty intense experience...





Going to Oedo Island was my favorite part of the whole trip... They call this "The Paradise Island", and I couldn't think of a better term more suited than that. Oedo is overwhelmingly beautiful that the word breathtaking isn't even operative. It's actually a botanical garden privately owned by Mr. Lee Chang Ho. We took a different ferry to come here... It's one of the most beautiful places I've ever seen in my entire life.






It was July then, and the scorching heat was unbearable. I burnt my skin so bad that I wasn't able to touch it without grimacing for a couple of days. But I did enjoy the trip, so much that I think it's worth all the pain.

Best I ever had.

If someone's to ask what's my most unforgettable birthday ever, I'd say my 24th. It was really special to me as I got to celebrate it with Chris for the first time. He picked me up from work that day, carrying a huge bouquet of pink roses which generated quite a number of "ooohs" and "aaahs" from the amused crowd of teachers and Korean students. I recieved flowers from some boys before, but nothing as big and intricate as that, so I held onto it awkwardly cause it felt so huge in my hands. Since it was my birthday, I get to choose the menu and restaurant I wanted. I chose "The Red Crab" in Tomas Morato, simply because I had a pleasant dining experience there, and I couldn't think of any other place that serves better-tasting crab dishes. I ordered the 'Spicy Szechuan-style' while Chris got the conventional 'Steamed' one, and we each had a glass of wine after that.

The next day was our trip to Baguio, our sort of 'extended' celebration. Two of my closest Korean friends from school insisted on coming when they knew about my plans. They tried to bribe me (disguised as birthday gifts) with a handbag, a huge teddy bear, and baseball cap so it was impossible for me to say 'no'. I also brought along a friend who also works at the language school. We didn't have a car so there was no other choice but to take the bus. It was a long and tiring 5 hours... We settled in our ancestral house which required a bit of cleaning as the caretaker wasn't exactly informed that we were coming. It was the same house where my father lived during his grade school days. They renovated it after the devastating earthquake that hit Baguio in 1990. Mostly, they used wood as it could withstand eathquake better than cement.

M and V (the two other Korean guys) tried their hands on cooking but most of their attempts were unsuccessful, so we resorted to simply ordering from Pizza Hut or KFC. During daytime, we'd visit different tourist spots... and at night, we'd all hang-out in Session Road. They love drinking so much that there wasn't a day that they didn't drink while we're there. M and V garnered a lot of attention from the local ladies whenever we went out. A lot of women (not necessarily sober) approached our table and introduced themselves which was quite a shock to me. I know the boys weren't used to that much attention in Manila, so they felt really awkward (but I can guess what it did to their ego).

On our last day, we all went to Burnham Park. It was mildly drizzling that night, and our clothes were stained from the rain. Chris was so impressed with Baguio that he said he wanted to live there in the future with our kids... I was in total shock as it was the first time he mentioned something about marriage and kids. I didn't know he was 'that' serious with our relationship. What he said made me really happy. I couldn't think of a better birthday gift than knowing the person I love, wanted to spend the rest of his life with me...

Happiness is...

This post inspired to make my very own list.


Happiness is...


* whenever Oppa kisses me on the forehead while watching a movie...

* the 'homey' smell of pandesal in the morning...

* the resonating sound of cicadas at sundown during our trips to the country-side...

* whenever my Mom brushes my hair when I'm sick...

* having long baths in the tub after a stressful and tiring day...

* the sound of the waves crashing through the shore...

* loving someone who loves you back just as much...

Of Fur Coat, Speedy Bag, and a Feisty Pair of Boots...

The weather got cold again, just when I was completely adjusted to the warm spring-like temperature. 'Imo' gave me a surprise call on the 14th. I thought she just wanted to greet me and see how my Valentine's Day turned out, but she had other things in mind. She asked, no actually she 'begged' if I could stay with her daughter for three days. And I'm the only person she knows who is young enough to reach out to her and who has unlimited time in her hands.. She and her husband are going on a company-sponsored hiking trip, and no one's gonna look after her 15 year old kid. Ok, I would totally understand if we are talking about a 9 year old kid here.. When I was 10, my parents could go back-packing in Antartica and leave me to fend for myself. But I can't see any logical reason to baby-sit a 15 year old, 165 cm middle-school kid. Maybe they just don't trust her that much. Now.. I'm starting to feel bad for her.

I always had a problem saying 'no' to people older than me, so in short I said yes without re-thinking my options. So last Sunday, after taking more Tylenol than necessary as I'm feeling quite feverish, I dragged myself (knees shaking while doing so^^) to the train station to take the 4:35 pm ride to Daecheon. Chris went there with me as he was worried about my condition. I hate hanging around the train station on weekends cause there isn't much space to move around. The place was flooded with people carrying luggages, boxes, and some other things. I sighed in relief when I finally took the train and settled to my seat. It was lucky that Chris made a reservation earlier to ensure that I could comfortably sit down, or I would have been one of those people who jiggled and bounced as the train picked up speed. When the train approached Pyeongtaek, I started to feel nauseated. I was glad I brought some Hershey's Kisses from home, and that significantly held the 'throwing-up feeling' securely at bay. I was munching three at a time when the train halted to a stop and more people started to come. Crap! I told myself.. There wasn't much 'elbow room' left, and I was beginning to hyperventilate. It was then a middle-aged woman came, wearing a fur coat and carrying a Louis Vuitton Speedy bag, and a sudden waft of fishy smell went through me while she was making her way to the empty seat beside me. A couple of teenage kids giggled a little when the woman passed by. Since she was conveniently close to me, I kept on glancing at her direction. She seemed to be taking a nap. I was scrutinizing her from head to foot, although my attention would always go to her fur coat and Speedy Bag (I wonder why?). I'm not the type of person who gives a damn whether the designer bag I'm seeing is authentic or a knock-off. I know a person like that back in College. Her name is Kriselle, and her hobby is scrutinizing all stuff that bear designer logos, making sure which one is authentic and which one is fake. And if ever she finds out it's fake, she's going to let out a full minute of bad mouthing and I would always feel sorry for the person she's referring too. I'm glad they couldn't hear any of her stupid, superficial thoughts. I learned a valuable lesson from her, and that is to never use a rip off/knock off cause unfortunately, there are Obsessive Compulsive people like Kriselle who scrutinizes stuff as a hobby. Ok.. back to my story. The ajumma seemed to be carrying an authentic one (not that I care).. Her boots are kind of fierce, something you would wanna wear while playing dress up. But with all those things she could afford, why on earth did she let herself stink like that? She reeked of onions and mackerel, the freaking grossest combination ever! The stench clung to the fabric of her clothes that everytime she moves, a waft of rancid air struck me that I was getting closer and closer to expelling my lunch. For a minute there, I deliberated whether she's a fish vendor cause it's the only logical explanation for the stench. But then again, how could a fish vendor afford a luxurious fur coat, an authentic Speedy Bag, and a feisty pair of boots? Well, she's probably not a fish vendor, and my reason tells me she must have eaten something like a raw fish for lunch (probably 'Hong Oh Hui' cause there's nothing known to man that stinks more than that). At that time, I felt really sick that I had to run and throw up in the nearest available restroom. I stayed there for more than 5 minutes, composing myself, till I'm confident I don't have anything to expel anymore. I felt much better after that.. But my knees were so week that I had to hold on to something for support.

When I came back to my seat, the ajumma was already awake. She got a piece of ginseng candy from her bag and started munching. Arrggghh, just my luck! The smell of ginseng candy revolts me as well (although not as bad as onions and mackerel). Chris has a pack of those at home which he didn't dare to touch for three years now, cause he knew how much I hated smelling ginseng candy. It smells too damn strong for a candy... That was it, I needed to cover my face or the nauseating feeling will come back, and I don't want anymore sessions with the restroom. I covered my face with the hood of my jacket that smelled comfortingly like Downy. I took my mp3 player out of my bag and turned it to high. Loud music helps me go to sleep... Maybe it's because of the Tylenol, but I fell into a deep sleep as soon as the 2nd song hit it's final note. The next thing I knew, the train was approaching Daecheon station.. The air was clear by then, the smelly ajumma got off somewhere while I was asleep.

My 3 day stay in Daecheon wasn't as easy as I thought it would be. The fever and nausea got worse that I had to stay in bed most of the time. The 15 year old kid usually stayed inside her room playing Pachelbel's Canon in her piano. She would just approach me when it's time to eat or when she wants to watch "Kkot Boda Namja" with me. Right now, I'm waiting for 'Imo' to come back before I head to the train station to catch my ride back to Suwon.

Valentines Day ~ Just another day to those who are romantic.

It's a little past midnight, so technically, Valentine's Day is finally over... It wasn't my best Valentine's Day experience cause regrettably, things didn't go as we previously planned. But it wasn't half bad at all... Chris had a work~related emergency so he had to report for work early this morning. That doesn't usually happen as he consider weekends as sacred... by sacred I mean purely and entirely devoted unto me, and me alone. Ok, I did sound like the hypocritical selfish beast there, but weekends are the only time we get to spend the whole day together. This could simply mean 'nothing' for some people, but it's a really big deal for the both of us... Good thing he got off from work before 5 pm, or I would have coaxed him to stage a rally in front of his company for messing up our precious weekend.

We opted for a simple dinner at a meat buffet restaurant, which turned out to be a bad idea considering I ate more than what I could handle, and it's BOUND to hurt sooner or later.. After the 'too-filling-I-almost-couldn't-walk-after' dinner, we went to Baskin and Robbins for some desert overload. I had my all-time favorite banana split but unfortunately, today it wasn't so good. Something's off with the banana... It wasn't as ripe as I would have wanted it to be. Chris enjoyed his usual dose of pistachio ice cream, and he subconsciously asked if I was enjoying mine. I nodded in a less-subtle agreement, but deep inside I grumbled (eyes narrowing to the girl that served it); "Give me a break here! It's Valentine's Day and I rightfully deserve a better tasting banana than this..." ^^





I didn't bother to buy chocolates for him like girls here would normally do. It's just that chocolates have always been included in my grocery list that our supplies never go dangerously low. Chris asked if I wanted to visit a good wine bar to sort of celebrate, but I just laughed at the idea... No, I don't have any issues with wine bar or wine in general. I just thought why should he bother paying for wine he hasn't even heard of, where sitting by the cupboard are good ol' wine (probably as good as what they're gonna serve) straight from the cellar of HomePlus. Yeah~ just like chocolates, wine is also included in my grocery list. ^^

The Kangwondo Trip. (part 3)

Our last day in Kangwondo passed by quickly. I was in a really good mood cause I was well rested the night before. When I opened the windows to check the surroundings, it was dark and foggy. 9 am looked more like 6 pm then. But it was comfortably warm that I could leave my thick winter jacket at the backseat of the car. We weren't able to wake up early as we previously planned to catch the sunrise. But I was glad we didn't cause the clouds were so thick then, that it would have been impossible to see the sun. Chris drove to 정 동 진 ("Jeongdongjin"), a famous place to catch the sunrise... But since we were late, the beach was almost empty. The rocky shore looked different from the last time I saw it... The air seemed fresh and briny that I tried filling my lungs with as much fresh air as possible, till I felt light-headed.


Those black things attached to the rocks are interesting looking mussels. It was a first for me to see that...


The next place we visited was 추 암 촛 대 바 위 ("Chuam chot dae baui"), it translates as Chuam candle-shaped rock in English. It's among the three best places to catch the sun rise in Korea. It's really a beautiful place and I would recommend others to visit there. The color of the water is emerald green, and the islets and huge rocks where migratory birds were comfortably nestling, made it even more beautiful. There was a small village nearby, and I saw several villagers drying squid and some other fishes to sell. Others were leisurely playing 'go-stop' in the sand while drinking soju.


The last place we visited in Kangwondo was 대 금 굴 ("Daegeum cave"). Chris knew how to plan well cause he saved the best for last. Tickets cost 12,000 won each and that includes a mono-rail ride that goes to the opening of the cave on top of the mountain. It took 50 minutes to walk around the cave.. Taking pictures was higly prohibited inside, but I saw several stubborn ajussis taking pictures using their phones and cameras.... The cave looked really cool inside. Some places were submerged in deep blue-green water.. but it was so clear that people can still see the gigantic rocks below. There were crystals shining like diamonds in the walls while stalactites and stalagmites hung like chandeliers. Here's the place where we took the mono-rail to climb high up the mountain.





After the cave tour, we stayed for a while exploring some other places there. There was a dry riverbed with shallow pools of water turned to ice. It was windy so when it was about time to go, I stiffly followed Chris to the car.



The rest of the afternoon passed in a blur. The drive back home was long and tiring and I drifted to sleep most of the time. Chris didn't talk much, he must have been concentrating hard not to fall asleep behind the wheel. When we arrived home, I was surprisingly energetic and not tired. Chris felt the opposite. He fell asleep as soon as he lay on the bed while it took me 14 songs before I was finally able to shut my eyes and fall asleep.

The Kangwondo Trip. (part 2)

I woke up the next day around 8 am, Chris tried waking me up much earlier than that, we were supposed to watch the sunrise. But since I was restless the night before, it was difficult to wake up early.. After securing breakfast in Family mart, we were on the road again.

Our first stop for the day was 경 포 대 ("Gyeong-po Dae"). It's the most famous beach in Kangwondo area, and I didn't wanna miss the opportunity to see it. The sand here was better and the water was clearer than the previous beach we visited. Waves were a bit strong too, so I could only imagine that it might be dangerous for the kids come summer time. There was a cool brisk of wind coming from the waves. It smelled briny, like that of seaweed. Eventhough it's winter, it felt more like late spring then. I was almost convinced I could let my feet touch the waves...





Seoraksan wasn't that far from the area, so it conveniently became our next destination. The parking area was full, so we had to look for another place to park. There were too many tourists at that time, and like us, they were also taking advantage of the warm springlike weather. The place where we parked was 20 minutes away from Seoraksan.. but the long walk didn't really matter cause the view was unbelievable. We stopped a few times and took some pictures...






Chris wanted to try and hike in the nearby area while waiting for the cable car ride. Hiking was definitely outside my range of abilities.. I kicked enough tantrum as I can manage, till he listened to my plea and rescinded.


After Seoraksan, we went to a different sea. This view greeted me... It's actually breathtaking when you see it personally... Pictures can't give justice as to how beautiful it really looks. I loved every minute spent here. But the wind picked up and got stronger that it felt difficult not to run for heater... ^^








Our next destination was my favorite among all of the places in Kangwondo. It's my first time to visit Samyang Ranch.. yes, it's a ranch and a beautiful tourist spot too. Countless dramas and movies were shot here. Samyang is also the same company that makes Ramyeon and Milk (although it's not really that popular). Their dairy products came from the cows they raised here. Unfortunately, I didn't see any cows. But I saw some ostrich, lambs, and a goat. I had fun feeding them with grass (I didn't know ostrich eats grass too^^)... It wasn't cold in Samyang, the weather was perfect.. the sky was clear, and it was warm and sunny. The snow was hardened a bit, so my shoes sloshed noisily as I walked around..





And finally... I was able to fulfill a childhood fantasy. And that is to lie down on the snow. Samyang Ranch was the perfect place to do it since there's infinite snow. I did look at the surroundings first before I lay down.. I don't want people to think I'm crazy or something. It felt really nice being able to do something you wanted to do ever since you were a kid. After that, Samyang easily climbed to the top 10 of my favorite spots on earth. Since it's located on a very high place, the view was astonishing. I didn't wanna go anywhere else, so I forced Chris to stay there for as long as possible.



At night, we drove to 주 문 진 ("Jumunjin"), another famous harbor for great seafood. We bought exactly the same sashimi again... We couldn't get enough of those. Chris knew how much I love Shrimp tempura so he bought 20 large pieces to go with our sashimi. As usual, we asked them to pack it.. We prefer eating it at another place.. Chris kept his promise the night before that we'll spend the night in a good place. I was traumatized by the dirty sheets from the condominium at that time. The name of the place is Pine Hill Hotel.. located in a strangely posh downtown district. I thought Kangwondo is a rural place, but seeing that place changed my mind a bit. The room was good, very spacious indeed. And the smell of clean and fresh new sheets, pillow cases, robes, and towels greeted me by the door. The couch was wide and inviting, the tiny little fridge was full, and the LG Canvas plasma screen was huge. I could just imagine how it'll feel like using that for XBOX. There was a whirlpool too, biggest among I've seen. I guess it could comfortably accomodate 3-4 people at the same time, and I had it all to myself. That night I slept comfortably and woke up well rested for our last day in the province...

The Kangwondo Trip. (part 1)

It's Chris birthday today, and I'm somewhat disappointed that we don't get to celebrate the day he turns 29. He's assigned to take his Chinese counterpart out for dinner. More or less, he'll be home really late and possibly drunk. It would have been nice if I could cook 미역국 ("Miyeok guk") or seaweed soup for him. It's a tradition I never had a chance to fulfill... He already knew beforehand that he can't celebrate his birthday with me, so our recent trip to Kangwondo became our earlier celebration... sort of. All in all, it was really a nice trip but not necessarily a comfortable one^^. We visited familiar spots and some other new places too. Here's the rundown... I divided it into three parts cause yeah I'm the OC type, and I like everything ridiculously organized. ^^


We woke up at around 8 am last Saturday. By 9:30, we were on the road going to Kangwondo. The weather wasn't good, the skies weren't clear and it was foggy. We had breakfast while we're in the car so we could save time. As we expected, there was moderate traffic... Our first stop was Yang Pyeong where I saw this beautiful icy lake.






For lunch, we went to a restaurant by the river that serves 빙 어 회 ("Bing Oh Hui"), it's a small fresh water fish that resembles 멸 치 ("Myeol Chi") or Anchovies, a local winter specialty in the area. But here's the deal, there are two ways they serve this; One is they serve it in a huge bowl filled with water and the fish are freely swimming around. I don't know how you catch it, but I don't particularly think that's an appetizing way to eat it. The other way is like in the picture below, there's a huge bowl filled with vegetables and sauce like that of a salad, buried underneath are the wriggling fish. It was hard grabbing them by chopsticks cause they move a lot and they tend to jump, so we used our hands instead. They wriggle and writhe a lot in my mouth so I couldn't stop giggling the whole time. It was a totally awesome and different experience! An order of this costs 20,000 won and it's good for two.






After the meal, we saw a couple of people selling fishing equipment nearby. We were told that the place is famous for ice-fishing. Chris wanted to try it so bad, but we couldn't agree as to how we are going to be able to break the ice on the surface of the river. So we just retreated to the car, as he slammed the door harder than necessary. I could see he was disappointed but we came fully unequipped that I think it was best to just go another place and try it some other time. I let him free to think undisturbed, so I yanked the mp3 out of my pocket and listened to songs in full blast. It wasn't long before I drifted to sleep...

I woke up feeling dizzy, we were driving on a familiar zigzag mountain road, and I was dangerously close to vomiting... I thought I needed some air, so we rolled the windows down, and I tried to absorb as much mountain breeze as possible. He stopped the car at a view point, and I hurried to take some pictures. The weather was strangely warm that day, but the wind blew so strongly that I still shivered. The view was familiar, but still breathtaking. I was completely absorbed, spellbound by the picturesque view that I didn't know Chris was looking all over the place for me.












Next stop was a familiar beach. I went here last summer, and at that time the waves were really big. This time however, was different. It was just a normal beach, no big waves or anything. It may sound silly to some, but I like visiting beaches in winter. Swimming of course is impossible, but it's the only time I could really appreciate it since it's quiet and peaceful.






Our next destination was the famous burnt temple called 낙 난 사 ('Naknansa'), it was under construction for as long as I can remember... Slowly but surely, they are rebuilding it. I noticed they recently installed this "foot massage pavement" where people remove their shoes and walk there barefoot. Chris was trying his best to convince me to walk there with him.. It looked uncomfortable but curiosity got the better of me, thought a foot massage can't be that bad, so I took off my shoes and socks and walked there with him. I winced and flinched midway.. the pebbles and stones were so sharp that it was a hell of pain every friggin step of the way. But I felt better afterwards, so I guess I shouldn't complain about it anymore... ^^






It was already dark when we got back to the car... We drove back to 석 초 ("Seokcho") area to see the Fire Festival happening there. I just saw it from afar. Parking was impossible cause there were too many people at that time. I was hungry and tired so we moved to 대 포 항 ("Dae Po Hang"), a famous harbor that sells different kinds of alive seafood for 회 ("Hui") or sashimi.. Chris let me choose what I wanted to eat commensurate to my hunger. He didn't have any idea how hungry I was, so his eyes popped out when I chose two large fish called 우 럭 ("U-reok") and 광 어 ("Gwang-oh"), and also two large 어 징 어 ("O-jing-oh") or squid. Like that wasn't enough, we even added some 멍 개 ("Mong gae") or sea squirt ~ this is a make or break seafood, not a lot of people can appreciate the taste and texture but I inexplicably like it.. ^^ Everything cost 35,000 won and the quantity was a lot! I didn't bother to take pictures as it was a bit gruesome to look at, they skin and slice them while they were still alive. The squid still moves even when all sliced up. The ajumma put everything in separate styros, then we headed out. We ate it in the condominum we rented, along with 상추 ("sang chu") or korean wrapping lettuce, 쌈 장 ("ssamjang"), and garlic. We also drank 백세주 ("Baekseju"), a mild korean liquor that goes really well with sashimi. I was so full with all the raw seafood that I worried about having stomach ache in the morning. Good thing I was ok. But the thing that got me all peevish were the bedsheets and blankets there. Obviously, we weren't the first ones to use them and that freaked me out. I immediately told Chris to complain to the ajumma and ask her to change the room or something. She came after a couple of minutes and saw we just finished eating. She said she can't change the room since we already messed it up. So I told her to just change the bedsheets and blanket cause I can't sleep smelling the stench from people (God knows how many of them) I don't know. She halfheartedly convinced me that she'll try to look for replacement, and I was not surprised when she called a few minutes later saying she couldn't find any available new sheets. How could that even be possible? I was dumbfounded how blatantly rude her response was... But I was tired and needed rest, besides Chris paid a lot of money for the condominium and I can't bear to just leave and waste it (the evil ajumma refused to issue a refund). So I looked for towels and arranged it on the bed to serve as cover. Fortunately, there were enough towels there.. Chris assured me that we'll sleep in a much better place the next day, as he saw how worried and anxious I was... I fell asleep imagining how that other place must look like.

The Banner.

Chris and I both love traveling together, it's an addiction both of us gladly and openly acknowledge. And since we grew up in big cities surrounded by buildings, gigantic roads, and traffic all our lives... we absolutely love seeing the country side. Both of us agree that the more rural and agricultural the place is, the better... We surely get a kick out of seeing rice fields, cattles, and small rural villages. That's why we love visiting Kangwondo.. The fact that it's so 'backwoodsy' and 'agricultural' make it a very interesting spot for the boondocks-crazed couple like us...

So our recent trip to Kangwon-do was all fun, except for one thing that made me feel revolted and sickened to my gut. As we were driving in some random road in Kangwon-do, we were caught up in a mild traffic in an intersection, with a bulk of tourist slowly inching towards the same road going to Seorak National Park... It was there I saw a huge banner, hung high above a post, strategically positioned so all passers-by would conveniently see... Written on the banner was the word 피 리 핀, scandalously printed in neon-pink. I have this bizaare habit of reading signages while inside the car.. It helps keep boredom in the backseat, and I get to practice my reading skills at the very least. Of course, reading the word "Philippine" in some random streamer would surely rise a huge deal of curiosity in me. I intently asked Chris to translate everything written on the banner. But he did the unexpected... he gritted his teeth and said "it's just an advertisement..." while sounding utterly annoyed. Since he refused to divulge any information about the banner, I idiotically read everything over and over again, looking for keywords I could understand. There was a certain amount of money written that drove me even more curious. I asked Chris again to translate everything for me, my voice threatening. My jaw dropped as he glumly explained what was written. It was an advertisement for young, beautiful Filipina brides for the price written.. For sure it came from those shameless marriage brokers that sell girls like a piece of meat. For a second, I thought about snapping a picture but Chris strongly asked me not to.. He said he didn't want to be reminded of it.

Our discussion mainly circulated in the issue for the next hour. I asked him a lot of questions, eager to hear his opinion. The law of supply and demand explanation surfaced. Korean women are scarce in rural areas so the logical thing to do is to import women from foreign countries. Out of this answer, several discussions about international marriage was brought up. It was an uncomfortable topic to begin with. Marriage for some is as simple as falling in love, but there are others who have different intentions. Sure there's a stigma about international marriage between Koreans and Filipinas. Koreans afterall are homogenous people, proud of their pure race, so marriage like that are bound to raise controversies... I'm not here to discuss those. I'm just here to bend that stigma a little..

I didn't come from a rich family... Ok, I know the word 'middle class'
is so overrated, but I think it's the best way to describe it. My dad was a University Professor, and my mom was an Accountant. I can say both of my parents are well-educated and capable of providing for our needs. I took up a 5 year medical course in college in preparation of being a doctor. It took me 5 long years before I realized that being a doctor isn't my true calling. My mom dreamed of having a doctor in the family so when it didn't work out for me, she forced that idea to my sister. She almost had an aneurysm when my sister rescinded and took up Computer Engineering instead. My parents were allergic to the fact that I was going out with a Korean. But I was stubborn and in-love so they couldn't do anything about it. Once, I forced them to meet Chris at a restaurant in Mother Ignacia. Chris thought it was just about time to meet them... My dad didn't show up that day and it took an hour of prodding before my mom decided to come. Chris wanted to impress her so bad, make her realize that he's not what they think he is. It wasn't easy to change her perception about Chris.. They see him as someone who'll take me away from them. Sadly, it was the day I saw Chris cry like a young boy for the first time. Not because of rejection, but he thought he wasn't good enough.

For me, he has always been more than enough, more than what I deserve... I've always been proud of him, although I don't necessarily show that side so much. Chris is the most educated and intelligent person I know. His relatives attest to that fact, and I'm sure his parents are very proud of him too. He graduated among the highest 2.4 percent of his class in Hanyang University... It may not be Seoul University, but 4th (based on mech. engineering major) or 5th best (based on overall standing) University at that time, proves to be 'something' in this education-crazed country. He got accepted to Samsung Electronics which is probably the biggest company now in Korea, and I could comfortably say that he's earning more than the average Korean in his age. His English skill is also as good as me, and I never had a problem with him not knowing a certain word I said. And the good thing about him, he tries to be even better, so he studies Chinese and Japanese language too. He's also the most down to earth person I know.. He never pretends to be someone he's not or isn't capable of. But the thing I'm most proud of is that he loves me... He's willing to sacrifice too many things for me, and I don't like that. If it means he has to work longer to guarantee he could support everything I need, he'll gladly do that. He has been my teacher too.. This may sound funny, but he noticed I'm so bad with Math that he decided to tutor me. Math is something he's very confident about, as his grade always belong to the highest 1% of his class from elementary to college. In my case, I couldn't really fathom how I was able to pass Math at school. He taught me not just Math but History, Economics, and Social Science too. He'd usually do that while I'm lying on the bed, munching on something and pretending I'm listening as he continously illustrate something on a piece of paper. I like ogling him as he teach.. especially when I see his dimples that resemble Mickey Cojuangco's... (sorry I can't think of any other person that has the same ones^^) Yeah, he still takes my breath away after all these years.

The truth is, I can go on and on with good things to say about Chris. I'm one proud girl so to speak. But even without all those things, I 'd still feel the same. I fell in love with him when he had nothing. He was just a student then, barely affording the constant need to buy plane tickets. He must have had a miserable student life, as he always had to pool all his allowance to buy those. I never saw him as someone who'll give me a better life, but someone who'll make me happy no matter what. For one, I don't think my life here is better than what I had back home. We weren't rich or anything, but at least we could afford to have some household help. Here, I have to learn and do all the things around the house.

It wouldn't really make a difference if he's a farmer or a fisherman... I can honestly see myself living with him in a small rural house, toiling in the field or raising cattles with our brown-haired children running around. Somewhere in Kangwon-do perhaps? But then again, it wouldn't really matter where...

About the Trip.

I got back last night from a three-day visit to Chunchong-namdo. I was prepared to feel relieved from the strenuous train ride when I reached home, but apparently, a huge mess greeted me by the door, and I stiffened at an instant. Clothes strewn all over the floor, dirty dishes piled in the sink, books were scattered, and I noticed the bed was all messed up too. For a second I thought we were robbed, and considered calling the police till I realized I couldn't speak enough Korean to talk to them coherently. I checked the valuables and found nothing was missing, so I decided to call Chris. He said he couldn't find his ID card that morning, so he searched everywhere, wrecking havoc as he left. I admit, I'm among those who suffer from Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, and I could never fathom why anyone could bear to leave such a mess. I didn't want to argue with him over the phone, but I reminded him that he recklessly came close to testing the limit of my patience. I robotically tidied everything in less than an hour, then the tension faded a bit. Chris came carrying the fried chicken I asked him to buy for dinner. I greeted him with a disparaging look, then scolded him for leaving the house so messed up. I sounded like my mother when I did that. I hated sounding like her, cause it painfully reminds me how it felt like whenever she grounded me for missing my curfew. I almost felt bad for Chris, cause I do realize how bad it feels when someone is scolding at you.. Inconspicuously, I looked at the calendar and did some mental math. I'm definitely PMS-ing... and that's the only intelligible explanation for my livid mood in the past couple of days. I'm not usually this freaked out monster I appear to be, but all hell break loose when I'm about to have my period. Is there some sort of a cure for this? I badly need one...

I woke up early today as usual, not that I don't have the luxury to sleep for as long as I want to, but I do have this freakish compulsion to clean everything down with a bleach or something. I started with the laundry, doing several batches of them. Then I sent stuff to the drycleaners. The others could wait, I still got the whole day to clean this place upside down. Chris was lucky to get a couple days off from work, so we're going on a road trip tomorrow. The enthusiasm in his voice, whenever he talks about the upcoming trip was catching. He's all worked-up on this trip, but I on the other hand, feel otherwise (hate this PMS bull***t). But I didn't want to disappoint him, so I agreed to his plans as cheerfully as I can manage. Mostly, it's up to me to decide where, so I deliberated hard between Kangwon-do or Cheolla-do. I carefully dissected the pros and cons of the two places... And after a much thorough thought, I decided Kangwon-do is our safest bet considering the distance, the myriad of beautiful tourist spots, great seafood, and a variety of winter recreation to choose from.

Chris persistently asked me to try ice-fishing, hiking, skiing, skating, or rock climbing while we're there. He's dauntless, needless to say.. while I flinch at the mere thought of subjecting myself to those things. I've always been bad at hiking, skating, skiing, or climbing.. basically everything that involves balance and stamina, but I'm willing to give that ice-fishing a try. There was a reason why I was never a cheerleader at school, or a varsity for that matter, I even didn't join the mandatory CAT in highschool. I can't even ride a bike without scraping my knees for crying out loud! When will he realize that I'm not an 'outdoor' kinda girl? But as much as I loath doing all those crazy stuff he wants to do, I wanna make him happy. Most of the time, I'd would just bite my lip really hard and force myself to try it, cause I know that'll make him happy. But it wouldn't take long till I start whining, and throwing temper tantrums like a 5 year old. That's his cue that I wont go any further. Chris loves to hike... and obviously, I don't. But there were those precious times when I really did my best to hike with him till we... by all means... amazingly... reached the top. He was always speechless, too proud that I was able to accomplish such thing. Little did he know that I silently cursed the place every step of the way, with every sweat that trickled down my forehead, and every moment I struggled to catch my breath. They say that when a hiker reach the top of the mountain, they sort of feel that exhilirating 'high'. But why can't I remember feeling anything remotely close to that...? It's probably the same feeling an OC like me gets, when everything looks squeaky clean, organized and tidy.. ^^

I should better start moving now.. I've got a lot of stuff to clean and things to pack... Chris already called me 4 times this morning regarding the trip. I wonder how could he manage to work like that?!

Reunions.

Sis called yesterday about the big family reunion I just missed. She is a known talker for all things negative, so when she enthusiastically narrated all those 'gory' details about the said reunion in Villa Escudero, I felt relieved that I conveniently missed everything... My father comes from a very big family.. They are 16 in total, and most of those 16 siblings are scattered to different parts of the world, so naturally reunions like that can be quite chaotic! Whew, must have been a pandemonium gathering all those people in one place. When I was younger, I remember we also had a reunion like that, and I heard 4 of my cousins talking... one is from Australia, one is from Belgium, and two were from U.K. and U.S. They were simply talking about coffee, but I almost got a nosebleed from trying to understand each and every one of them!

Most people would usually let out an inconvenient gasp whenever they hear that my dad has 15 other siblings.. And the next question they would always ask is if they come from the same mother. But I would say not. My grandfather obviously had issues with fidelity at that time. But the good thing was that he raised all of those 16 children in one roof, gave them the best education possible, and provided well for their needs.

The oldest among the 16 children named Myne or Wilhelmina who lives in Belgium was the one who organized it. I always thought her name is kinda pretty and classy, so I was surprised when my dad said she was named after Queen Wilhelmina of Netherlands. She was born during the 2nd World War, and Queen Wilhelmina played a great role in the Dutch resistance at that time. Must have been interesting being named after a very important and famed royalty... But not in Manny Pacquiao's Queen Elizabeth kind of way. I have issues with people named Queen, Queenie, Princess, or King. It's like their parents wanted their children to be the center of everyone's attention. But I do have one exception, when I was in highschool, I became friends with a girl named Majesty. Surprisingly, I didn't have any issue with her name, so I guess Majesty is fine. By the way, Queen Wilhelmina's mother's name is Emma, the second wife of King William III.. and that's where my name was taken from, according to my father.

My grandfather whose name is C.S.O., has a very interesting story to tell. He was a Chinese orphan who came from the province of 'A-moy' which is now called Xiamen in China. When he was a young boy, 11 or 12 perhaps, he detested the poor living condition of his province, so he tagged along Chinese merchants who did business in different parts of Asia. One day their boat docked in Aparri and my grandfather, C.S.O., decided to try his luck there. There were other Chinese settlers there who inter-married with the natives, so C.S.H. didn't have difficulty fending for himself as he worked for them selling bread and dumplings. It was then a Jesuit missionary priest saw him. They pitied him because he was an orphan at a young age, so they decided to adopt him... Soon after, they sent him to study in Ateneo and in return, he cleaned the yard and ran errands for them. C.S.H. was a very determined young boy and he spent most of his time studying. He graduated Summa Cum Laude with a degree in Commerce, something he was very proud of, considering how poor he was at that time. Shortly after, he met my grandmother who then works as a teacher in Saint Paul's University. Like C.S.H., she was also a very smart woman, earning a degree there in Economics as Magna Cum Laude. Shortly after the meeting, they tied the knot.. I'm not sure what were the pre-disposing factors why my grandfather went philandering, but one thing's for sure, he loved and provided for all of his children equally, to the best of his ability. And hats off to my grandmother who accepted and love all her husband's children as her own.

The idea of having 16 children all under one roof was amusing for me as a child. Whenever I hear my dad's tales, I really can't help but be amused. Like how they would use up a new bar of soap everyday for example. I did the math when I was younger, and including the 5 helpers and my grandparents, it was a fairly reasonable consumption. And of course, they took turns using the dining table. I still remember the old Lazy Susan table which they used before. It could accomodate 10 people all at the same time, but of course, since there were 16 children, some had to wait for their turn. I could only imagine that those 16 children were big enough to fill a children's birthday party! Also, my dad was the first one to drive, so my grandmother would always oblige him to go with her to the market. He was her personal chauffeur at that time... And my father fondly recalls how different her shopping list would be from other housewives. For one, she buys half of a whole pig each time and chickens never went down to a total of 10 with each visit to the market.

Since my grandfather was adopted by priests, he kept a rule to only enrol his children to all boys and all girls school run by nuns and priests. He must have loved those priests who adopted him that he even sent one of his sons to a seminary to become one. When my dad was a sophomore in Ateneo, my grandfather got sick with Cancer and died two years later. He must have been a great man when he was still alive considering all of his accomplishments. I wish I had the chance to meet him in person and hear those interesting tales of his life.

The Big Fight

Last night, Chris and I got into a heated argument, well.. I can't really call it a heated argument if I was the only one who was blabbing like crazy. Ok... a 'vehement discussion' sounds more operative for that matter. Chris committed a grave mistake when he tried complaining like a middle-aged wife at the worst possible time... during dinner. I absolutely hate any form of argument while eating so I got really annoyed and started swearing. I never used profanities before when we argue, so it was a first for me. Both of us were utterly shocked when I unleashed that 'ghetto' side of me. It wasn't so bad I think, I just used s**t and f**k a couple of times (and not unto him) and that was all. I didn't talk after blurting those profanities, felt a sudden twinge of shame and guilt, but still pissed as hell.

He apologized a couple of minutes later, but I made it clear in my expression that I didn't even the slightest bit accept his stupid apology. After I cleared the table and washed the dishes, I got dressed and told him I had to go out and clear my head. Innocently he asked if he could offer me something, a gesture to probably pacify my anger, so I told him sure... We walked as if we were total strangers till we reached "Roti Mum", a Singaporean coffee shop and deli nearby. I had macchiato and coffee bun while he drank herbed tea. For some reason, our peaceful discussion went back to our previous argument. Of course, I was livid and seething with familiar anger once again, but I remained composed. We walked quietly on the way home..

I watched "Memoirs of Geisha" on TV, while Chris was playing Starcraft. When the movie was finished, he asked inconspicuously if I was still angry without looking at my direction. So I told him bluntly that I can't stand seeing his face that night, and how I wish I had some other place to stay. It was then that I decided not to sleep at home. I hurried to get my bag and told him that I wouldn't sleep there. He was very surprised but he didn't stop me. I went out looking for a motel nearby, but it was somehow difficult to get a room cause it was Saturday, and apparently it's their busiest day of the week. Who knew such rule existed! It took me a long time before I could finally get an available room. Chris called as soon as I entered and dropped my bag, he was dead worried that something bad happened to me. By that time, I was in a better frame of mind. I told him calmly where I was staying and that I was safe inside my room. Less than an hour later, Chris came carrying beer. I wasn't surprised that he came.. I kind of expected that when he asked me where I was staying.

I was a bit hungry and we didn't have side-dish for the beer, so he ordered fried chicken at 3:30 am. That's right... Chicken at 3:30 am! We then watched 2 horror movies in the plasma screen while eating fried chicken and drinking beer. He must have learned his lesson cause he didn't try to talk about our previous discussion anymore.

I woke up at 11 am this morning... wrote a blog before fixing myself. Chris woke up at 12, our supposed check-out time, so he was in a hurry to take a shower and get dressed. We went out at exactly 1 pm and had a hefty lunch at a restaurant nearby. After that, we decided to go and watch a movie. I wanted to watch "Benjamin Button" but it wasn't showing yet, so we chose "Valkyrie" instead. It was a great movie and I sort of didn't expect that. But I was so sleepy that I dozed off for a couple of minutes during the early part.. ^^