Celebrate Life

i am very thankful for my birthday celebration this year. i am blessed with family and friends who love me dearly. i never thought i am treasured by a lot of people even with those who i haven't met in person yet.

at the eve of my birthday, my SOC/SEEUS team greeted me at the office. mhelie gave me a guess shirt and joy a lucky red girbaud wallet. it was also my first time that i reported to work on my birthday. but i didn't know it would be a blast!

at lunch, i met my friends marinette, generie and mangie who gave me a buffet lunch treat at cafe havana. i told them i should have gotten a zara outfit than that food trip! but kidding aside, i was really happy! i am used of giving birthday treat than receiving one. =)

reporting on midshift, i asked joan to order 6 boxes of pizza hut and kfc bucket meal for my IG team. it was a change from the traditional aling tonya's treat that i & rona used to give them. =)

dinner time. i asked my ecp team to a dinner at tempura only to find out that they prepared a dinner surprise for me at the pantry! it was my first time to receive such a surprise. i hate surprises because i don't know how to handle it - i always feel awkward.

and the highlight of them all, is a video birthday message from simon and edward from london!! i felt like in cloud 9. woot!woot!

and my special day ended with an e-card from mangie!

then, straight from work, i went to the airport for my early flight to bacolod. on the next day, my bffs from la salle and a highschool classmate were there to spend the day with me at the orphanage. it was the time in my life that i thought i need to give back to people that are less fortunate. this was also the first outreach program that i experienced from my religious studies class during my first year in la salle. since then, it is my dream to help the kids!

there were a lot of important people that i am very grateful for:

1) my former company, sca hygiene products, for sending 3 boxes of drypers diapers from manila to bacolod. special thanks to ms pinky, also a native of bacolod who arranged for this.

2) my bffs since la salle days, guia, grace and irene for giving me their time and efforts. guia who arranged everything from coordinating with holy infant, to birthday goodies up to jollibee. =) grace, for providing the transpo. irene, for helping out that day.

3) for vibes, my classmate in high school who brought her family to join the event too.

so on that sunny saturday, with our give-aways, pinata, balloons and other stuffs that the kids will like, we went to holy infant orphanage. the orphanage is run by private individuals and the home of the kids from a few weeks-old to 6 years old. they more cater for adoption and many of the kids are with their new parents abroad or here in philippines. the orphanage are also posting pictures in their bulletin board of the kids who are abroad with their adopted parents. this is to show updates of the kids and to assure the orphanage that they are in good hands.

it was a happy celebration with jollibee as our main attraction. bunch of thanks to guia for arranging it. we were surprised though because when jollibee came out, the kids went cried out lout and wails and shouts ruled all over the place. i was a bit worried because i might have traumatized the kids but dr. villanueva, the chairwoman, told me not to worry at all. it was just the kids are not used to see a mascott. but as the celebration went on, the kids gradually liked jollibee. =)

it was indeed a worthwhile experience. from the caretakers of the orphanage, we learned that they need more of diapers and pillows. so i hope i can continue to support them in my own little way.

i was very thankful for the time and effort that grace, guia and irene gave me so to the end that day, i treat them to Be Well Massage with their daughters. it was a girl bonding on the spot!

i am very thankful to our dear Lord for a very wonderful life!

Day 6 in South Korea: Best Buys at Nandaemun Market

Day 6: Last Day in South Korea

08:00         Wake-up call
09:00 - 10:00 Breakfast in Bukchon Guesthouse
10:00 - 15:00 Off to Nandaemun and Lotte World for last day shopping
15:00 - 17:00 Check-out and final wrap-up
17:00         Leave Seoul thru Airbus
18:00         Arrival Incheon International Airport/Check-In
21:35         ETD IIA via Cebupacific
00:35         ETA NAIA 3


After breakfast, we packed our luggages ready for our departure to Manila that night. But we still had last one thing to do in our list- flea shopping! The rain could not stop us in going to the flea market. So armed with our jackets and umbrellas, and some shopping bags, we walked down the street to the nearby Anguk Station. 

     Our destination - NANDAEMUN MARKET
     To Do - S.H.O.P.P.I.N.G

We woke up late than our usual wake-up call due to the drizzling weather and the comfortable sleep that Ondol mat gave us.

Ondol mat - traditional Korean sleeping mat

Two of my friends (who can cook unlike me) were already preparing our breakfast. In bukchon guesthouse, everything in the fridge is yours! From ham to egg, up to tea or coffee on the table,you can eat as much as you want for breakfast. 

the chef and the eaters

Nandaemun Market is the famous flea market in Seoul (like our own Divi in Manila). It was designated as a tourist zone by Seoul City Government after a statistics of 46.5% foreign visits in 2008. The market is famous for garments especially for ladies but we bought a lot of souvenir items like korean dolls, key chains, magnets and other display items. Also, imagine having faceshop in 168 or primeblock! haha!

along one of the market alleyways in Nandaemun Market

When we got there, we split the group so everyone can go around and buy things they wanted. We agreed to meet at a certain time in a certain place. This is my advice for those traveling in group. In shopping, we do have different tastes and preferences so rather than tagging everyone, split into groups and go around the market/mall on your own but just strictly stick to the agreed time. that's the rule! =)

how to get to nandaemun:
Nandaemun Market Gate 6 : Line 4 to Hoehyeon Station (Nandaemun Market) and take Exit #5

Nandaemun Map from Visit Korea Tourism website

A quick tip that I got from VKT website

After our quick but fulfilling (literally means overflowing souvenirs and emptied wallets!hehehe) shopping in Nandaemun, we then decided to continue our shopping spree. Anna and Joan went back to dongdaemun market while Vian, Lea, Ai and I went to Lotte Mart to buy some korean noodles and chocolates.

how to get to dongdaemun market:

exit 9 of dongdaemun station on subway line 1 & 4.

how to get to lotte:

connected to exit 4 of jamsil station on subway line 2

Unfortunately, that day was like a "mall holiday" and the department store was closed so we spent more in the supermarket instead. but the mall had this venetian themed display so we took another picture like we're in macau. =)

at Lotte Mart

For more shopping must-see in South Korea, check out Visit Korea Tourism website.

It was nearly 3PM when we went back to Bukchon Guesthouse so we hurriedly packed our shopped items.  Before we left, we had our photo taken with the owner. Will post this in their wall when I see Korea again.

with the owner

We then marched down the street to the bus stop pullling our trolleys with shopping bags on the other hand and waited for airport bus 6011 to Incheon International Airport.

that ends our trip in seoul!

More than the cherry blossoms and maple trees, i learned to love the city not because of their movie dramas or k-idols but because of the parks, their crafts, how they preserve their tradition and culture (maintaining the palaces in the center of the city), their truly being nationalistic (you can't see other brand of cars than their own manufactured vehicles only) and skinfood, of course =)

..and at the airport, we met some kababayans and Olyssa, of course, whom I still have contact with via Facebook.

My Traditional Dwelling Experience in Bukchon Village

In every travel that I plan, I always make sure that I can experience the locals' dwelling place.  

We decided to spend our last night in Seoul in Bukchon Village so from our Full House experience, we transferred to Bukchon Guesthouse via subway and as mentioned, it was excruciating lifting our trolleys from the stairs and pulling up in the subway under drizzling weather. 

a little uphill to Bukchon Guesthouse

Coming out of Anguk Station, we met Jay, the owner of Bukchon Guesthouse at the famous landmark, Mister Donut.  Going there is quite an uphill. It was like going back to the past and how a typical neighborhood of yesterday's Korea looked like. I loved it! It was so charming, so calm and so humbling.  I can compare it to our own Intramuros or Vigan during Spanish Era. Along the streets are a mixture of artsy and fancy stores from bookstores to souvenir shops, handicrafts to vintage decors, from noodles to pizza houses and one coffee shops to another. I really loved it - my old soul!

the street uphill

To stay in Hanok is one of our South Korea bucketlists. Described by Wikipedia as Korea's traditional houses which interior structure planned accordingly.  

Description copied from Wikipedia: This principle is also calledBaesanimsu (배산임수), literally meaning that the ideal house is built with a mountain in the back and a river in the front, with the ondol heated rock system for heating during cold winters and a wide daecheong (대청) front porch for keeping the house cool during hot summers.

Typical Hanok House is very homey and cozy. With jars (sometimes of fermented kimchi) in the garden

Koreans are very particular of leaving your shoes outside the house. This is also a gesture of courtesy to the owner of the house.

We occupied three twin-rooms and had our own ondol (heated floor map). Breakfast is free from 7am to 9am and computer/washing machine, iron and other facilities are free. 

Scene from "Personal Taste"
Photo credits: www.dramabeans.com

Am I in "Personal Taste"? another Korean drama starring Lee Min Ho.

One more thing I liked about staying in Bukchon was that we cooked our own breakfast.  The common area was very welcoming that we felt like we're just home away from home.

Dining area decorated with pictures and notes from guests all around the world.

The place is very cozy and homey. We had a good sleep that night. If you don't mind sleeping on the floor, then experience Ondol, the sleeping pad on the floor with heater. 

After a whole day of island tour, pulling and lifting of our luggages in the subway and walking on the streets under drizzling weather, we bought some soju and had our own drinking session to warm the cold night and celebrate our last night in seoul.

My Korea's Full House Experience

When we woke up on our second to the last day in Seoul, the rain kept pouring and the temperature was getting unbearable for an island trip. But the weather did not stop us to push through with our plan for that day.  We were were scheduled to go to Si-do Island located off coast of Incheon, South Korea.  I've never thought going to the island was more than seeing the Full House, the famous Koreanovela located near the beach.

Going there was an adventure - interacting with locals and with nature and the whole experience worth the time spent finding the famous  Full House  of South Korea.

Here I shared how to get there.

The sign that will bring you to Full House

some of the scenes in Full House and us in the actual location

I was too enthralled to see the house! This is exactly the same in the movie drama. More than the story, I'd really wanted to see the design of the house for my dream house near the beach or overlooking the beach.  I immediately had my photo riding the famous yellow bike. I even bought one but in pink here in Manila. =)

Song Hye-Kwon's bike

My bike

Ticket booth at the entrance of the house

The house has a very welcoming feel and I was amazed of the bright ideas of the architect who designed that house. It is located near the beach, very tranquil and very near to nature. 

the solitude of Full house

We took photos of almost all parts of the house where the drama was filmed. It was very, very spacious. unfortunately, we run out of batteries already and my camera is not an anti-freeze so we only captured as much as we can.

the famous spiral stairs

the lower ground of the house

Re-enacting the famous scenes in the drama

at the1st floor (bedrooms)

with Rain and Song Hye-gyo

South Korea Spring/Summer Trip: Nami Island

I had to include Nami Island in our itinerary because I want to see Metasequoia Lane, a kind of tree which name is foreign to me.  The arrays of other foreign trees such ginko trees, white pine trees and white birch trees serve like a long pathway that can make a living postcard of  how the four seasons of South Korea change in beauty and color. Peaceful green at summer, sparkling white at winter, translucent leafless at spring and vibrantly yellow and red at autumn.  

Metasequoia Lane
Photo from Nami website
(Was not able to take a good photo with so many tourists local & foreign in the island that day)

Our trip to the island is the most relaxing - sort of taking a break from the "Amazing Race" like travel that we had for the last three days. We took the direct shuttle bus to Nami from Insa-dong. The package rate already included roundtrip bus fare, round trip ferry ticket and entrance to Nami Island.  The shuttle bus operates from Jamsil and Insa-dong. Since we were staying near Insa-dong, we took the shuttle bus from there.  You can make a reservation a day before or take a chance to wait for any available spot.

If you want to take some route and more adventure, you may go to Nami Island via subway Gapyeong Station. Check out this link for more details.

From Hongdae hostel, we went to Tapgol Park where the direct shuttle buses to Naminara Republic are waiting for the tourists. It is scheduled until 9:30am but if the buses are already full as early as 8:30, they leave insadong right away. We were lucky to get the vacant spots since we did not make any reservation for the trip.

how to get to the shuttle bus terminal in Insa-dong:

get off in jongno 3(sam)-ga station 1then take exit 3. walk straight towards the bus stop which is next to tapgol park. before tapgol park, you will pass-by McDo and Skinfood. After Tapgol Park, turn right and there you'll see the shuttle buses. Better landmark? - It's just across the tony moly store =) and at the other side of the main road is the famous cheonggyecheon stream.

too early to open our eyes wide!

The travel took 1.5hrs but I enjoyed the scenery from famous world cup of seoul to the green fields and a lot of parks surrounding hangang river. From one town to another, I saw a lot of football fields and now I understand why Koreans love football so much.

Nami is an independent island, have their own visa!

When we arrived, it was almost lunchtime and saw the long queues of tourist to the port. I read from some blogs that it is better to visit Nami on a weekday. But since we had our all-inclusive ticket already, we were not worried at all. we can go directly to the Gapyong dock without hassle.

But before getting on the ship to Nami island, we had another adventure in South Korea - food trip! It was very difficult ordering from that certain restaurant without an English menu nor a picture, and they can only understand "chicken"as english word but I think the food is alright. I tried wrapping the meat with lettuce as what I saw in koreanovelas and put some chili paste. It was fun but not appealing though. I also tried the naengmyeon (cold buckwheat noodles).

After having another taste of korean cuisine, we proceeded to the dock and boarded the ship to nami island. It was like Philippines' version of "ro-ro" ship (Roll-On/Roll-Off vessels) and the travel time took 5-6minutes only.

Namiseon or Nami Island is a tiny half-moon shaped island located in chuncheon, gangwon province. It is named after General Nami who died at the age of 28 after falsely accused of treason during the reign of King Sejo, 7th king of joseon dynasty. Naminara Republic declared its cultural independence on march 1, 2006 and re-named itself naminara republic. it is an imaginary country but has invented its own passport, currency, stamp and telephone island.

The place is also the filming location of koreanovela, "Winter sonata", though i haven't watched this yet so i just wrote something on the wall near the male lead. the place is very beautiful - too small but with too many activities  to do- i can compare it to our version of potipot island, lakawon island or another island in Coron, Palawan where you can tour around the island in a short period of time. this place is best to visit during autumn where everything will turn to red/orange. 

After exploring around the island on our bikes, we went back to another long queue again to board the ferry back from Nami Port to Gapyong since we need to catch up the 5PM departure of the shuttle bus. i bought notebooks souvenir featuring four seasons of nami. i would suggest an overnight stay in the island to enjoy more the place.

the charm of nami - long stretch of trees

what's in nami:

1. tour the island on bikes - if you're a couple, you can rent a couple bike but make sure that your partner knows how to bike too.

2. if you don't know how to bike, then rent the electronic car

3. small themed gardens - very beautiful landscape!

4. unicef train strollers - ask for donation only - this is where i left my seoul book and print copies of my itineraries =(

5. herb world - bought some tea and tasted free samples too! =)

Important info for your Nami Trip:

Ferry Schedule:
From 7:30-09:00 - every 30 minutes interval (first ferry from Gapyong 7:30AM and from Nami 7:35AM)
From 09:00-18:00 - every 10-20 minutes interval
From 18:00-21:40 - every 30 minutes interval (last ferry from Gapyong 21:40 and from Nami 21:45)

Visa Fees include roundtrip ferry fare and tax:
Regular - KRW 10,000
Foreigners -KRW 8,000

Check out nami's official website for more info:

https://www.namisum.com/_ver01/_bbs_iw2000/?link_code=0900