few more peeks in Jeonju

Early in the morning, first thing I did was take a look outside our window, scan the TV channels and charge my mobile phone to check Facebook! lol. And then I stumble upon Pororo's show! yay! so adorable! can't help but watch it. I had an early dose of Pororo marathon on TV! I was smitten and wanted to buy a stuffed toy so badly! After a while I already got up and took a shower while unni is still asleep.. It was too early to wake her up yet so I tried my best not to make a lot of noise.

Here goes my dilemma again.. How do I repack my things back to how it was before??? I've been fixing it since the time we arrived from our mini excursion around the area and still I can't figure out how in the world my things won't fit back in my suitcase???! And then we're just laughing about it and making jokes out of it! toinks!

Today's agenda was to look for the Hanok Village parking lot where we were to catch our free shuttle bus back to Seoul. After my fuss on my "cannot-pack-back-things" and after unni did her thing we went out to grab breakfast and look for the said Hanok Village. hmm.. it was quite a walk, thank goodness it was cold that I'd loved it more than hate it. :)

Paris Baguette everywhere

PORORO

Frozen Fountain

When we finally found it, we headed back to our hotel to laze around some more til our check out time.. *sigh* Life! oh Life! And then just in time for lunch we headed towards Anne house..

It's a cutie coffee shop, Victorian inspired I think with the privilege of privacy! We sat in one of the booth beside the glass window overseeing our hotel and other restaurants around it.

Finally succeeded in leaving a mark!!! lol.

the tissue have hearts!♥

love the coffee..

And this is where another funny story happened. We ordered for a cup of coffee and another waiter came in and ask for our choice of cake. So we chose one for each of us. Then we got confused if it was complementary to our meal or an add-on. Mr. Cutie waiter asked "Ah. can you speak english?" and we were like stunned, unni and I looking at each other like, "woah... isn't his tone a bit too proud??" lol. we responded yes, and I answered him in English. And I added "Can we have another glass of water?" Here comes the moment!!! He looked so puzzled with my request and then asked "Another glass of water?" with an action implying if I am asking for another glass literally a glass for water! whereas what I am really asking is a refill of our water. I'm bad.. but it's funny! It was soooo difficult to hold our laughs! i'm sorry.. We stayed there for a couple of hours until 3 pm when it is time to go.. 

At the hotel lobby to pick up our luggage and wait for the cab to arrive.

Free shuttle back to Seoul. Our stop in Seoul is in Gwanghwamun.

The plan was to meet Kuya Abs in Myeongdong then head to his place. Wow! It is then when I realized how difficult it was to take the subway with our luggage!!! Goodness! It was so heavy!! Joanne-unni has her own things and I had mine. She really wanted to help me so she walked ahead and try to help me back leaving her things a couple of knots away. But to my surprise, Korean ladies were really nice. A few of them had offered help. Yay!! They saved me! good thing I knew the language a bit because they offer me their help in Korean! Ok, now it makes me wonder, do they know I'm a foreigner and not a local? Because Joanne-unni didn't receive the same treatment? or do I look so bad as in super helpless?? The first two ladies who helped me were both young but the last one in the escalator was an older ajhumma. I was shocked of her strength! She really can carry. We are still far of from the ground down in the platform yet she is already lifting my suitcase and I was saying "Gwaenchanayo. Gwaenchanayo." (It's Ok. It's ok.) She was really nice and I am really thankful. At that time Joanne-unni is already waiting for me in the platform. When we arrived in Myeongdong station, we decided that we can no longer meet Kuya Abs in Angel's coffee shop because of our, or maybe, my unfortunate circumstances. So I just texted him to meet us in the train platform while Joanne-unni went out for awhile to change our money for tomorrow's tour. I have attempted to ask where the lift could be with the girl sitting beside me. And this was how the conversation goes:

Me: 실례지만, 엘리베이터가 있어요? (excuse me, is there an evelator here?)

Girl: 에스 컬레이터 괜찮아요? (is escalator ok with you?)

Me: 아니예요. (no.)

Girl: 미안해요. 엘리베이터가 몰라요. (sorry. I don't know)

Me: 감사합니다. (thanks)

I tried but they don't know.. It seems like only a few uses the lift. And then there came Kuya Abs! saved me! He helped me with my things and I tried to help Joanne-unni but she insisted that she's alright and need not my help. So I walked with just myself with them. Upon arriving in Ssangmun station, we alighted the train and found the lift.  할머니께서 (Grandmother) in the lift is talking to me, again in Korean. And I was like, "미안함니다만, 한국말로 몰라요" (Sorry, I don't speak Korean) then I thought I spoke Korean and corrected it with "아니요, 한국말로 조금 알아요" (No, I know a little.) Then she offered to help us. At first we misunderstood then when she waited for us in the next lift there we understood. She is so sweet. She asked us if we are to meet a friend (in Korean of course and we replied in Korean too), and we said yes, and he is with us. I think she was confused because the person we met was not a local from there. Yay! what a long day. We had dinner in Choice 21! awesome meat all you can! Love ittt?!!!! after my gigantic bowl of vegetables, I mean bibimbap, I really want some meatttttt!!! 

In the end, it was another tiring yet fun day! Need to be up early again for DMZ tomorrow! ^_^

Valentine's date!

It's the Hearts' day!♥

I arrived in the Express Bus Terminal just in time for our agreed time to meet. Unfortunately, I don't recognize this terminal from the picture we searched in the web. It's a whole lot different! Plus I can't contact Joanne-unni. What happened?? my phone is working but I can't contact her rented hand phone. So I tried my luck looking for a payphone to try to call her. I saw a guard and talked to him. He answered me with a puzzled look and said "어디에 가세요?" (where are you going to?) and I said, "아니요. 친구가 만나요. (no, I'll be meeting a friend.) Do you know where I can find a payphone to call her?" this and charade-like actions he understood and escorted me to the payphones. Thing is, I don't know how to use it.. My goodness! It's no use at all.. So i tried again my luck and texted Cecile-unni! Thanks to her I met Joann-unni and found out that there was two different terminals and the one we have set as a meeting place is across the street! my bad again! But glad we're just in time for the next trip to Jeonju! and here is where my Heart's day began!!! We are both excited to talk. Her mini adventures in Seoul alone for a few days before I arrived and my funny little encounters in the airport.

It was a really long drive I thought. Hours of driving without traffic??? Goodness, it is really a good long miles of travelling. For sometime we weren't tired of talking. How cold it was. How our flight to there was. How I did my mini presentation of itinerary to Mommy and Daddy. How she did hers. Our plans in Jeonju. What to do next after arriving to Jeonju. How to spend our whole day and a whole lot of expectations for the days to come! Our talks were endless! ^_^

Strike a pose unni! ^_^

Stopover!! stopover = halfway! I was so excited to feel the cold air again! and Joanne-unni was like, "Dongsaeng, aren't you feeling cold?". No, I so like it! I don't know why. Jeong-an Service Area is really nice. I saw this one spot with left over snow. It's cold and clean.. 

Left over snow..

This was just so adorable. While unni did her thing I took the liberty to walk around and saw this. =D

After 15minutes, were now back in track. And a few more hours, we're already tired and hungry!! We want some hot rice! It's past lunch and yet we're still on the road.. =( How terrible is that? another change in plans. Check in our hotel and look for good food is the first thing to do! We got there at around 2pm. and here goes another funny story. We don't know where our hotel is, we tried asking the bus driver and he answered "서울 사람" (I am from Seoul). And we're like, okay, so you don't know. We said our thanks and head outside, hailed a cab and ask to bring us to Benikea's Hansung Tourist Hotel! (http://www.benikea.com/_eng/hotel/hotel_detail.asp?hotelCode=1066) yay! super like the Hanji wallpaper! it's a win for a nice interior!

in the Lift

 It was just nearby and in the middle of the shopping district near the Hanok Village. Thanks to 하늘오빠, Noh sonsaengnim's dongsaeng, for the great recommendations! We got a nice, clean hotel within the proximity of the shops and the traditional village. One thing I dislike about it is their creepy lift!!! In the few times we used it, we almost got stuck in there for more than two times! I think they should fix that. ^^ After checking in we checked out the ever famous Jeonju's bibimbap.

generous side dishes

more like a "POT" than a big bowl

Banya Dolseotbap

After filling our stomach, it's now time to burn it and do some site-seeings! yay! hello streets of Jeonju! The atmosphere is friendly.. I like it there. ^_^

Lovely Hanbok

Catholic Church

 And here came the moment we were tempted to carve our names in one of the bamboos too!!! *envy*

how very tempting?!! Our theory on this one, the person who carved this was caught and wasn't able to finish it or he just wanted to leave a mark just like what we were thinking of doing! =P

 My date aside from unni on a Valentine's day! This lovely tree!♥

Loving the blue sky! what a nice day! ^_^

We planned on trying Makkeolli, but we failed to because we were already exhausted from the long drive, and from walking around. We decided to just stay in the comfort of our room under the sheets of our warm ondol with soju and a couple of street food. And this is how our day ended! Tired from the whole day trip and wasted from soju.. just perfect!



the corn dog we craved so badly when we came back to Seoul!

Alone.. (02/13/2012)

hmm.. waiting for my flight alone is really boring! you need to be early and wait alone, it's so sad..
Waiting with lots  of 한국 사람 and only few Filipinos. Feels weird..

So this is what happened..
I came in the airport check-in my bags and got hold off because of my umbrella! How can I forget that detail!!! Umbrellas are not aloud to be taken-in in my handcarry.. and so the lady in there stopped me and told me "Ma'm hindi po pwede ung payong nyo. Pakitanggal nalang po." I understood it so I am waiting for my bags ready to take it out when the other man in there with her said "Hindi ka yata naintindihan. Korean e." wah! I wanna laugh out loud just then and there... but I can't.. so I just said "Po?" and it's enough to say I do understand them and I am a Filipino too.. lol. then the lady said "Naintindihan naman ni ma'm e." My gulay! really funny! and so I went on.. without my new umbrella.. huhuhu.. and I don't know where the boarding gate is. so embarrassing! It's not my first time travelling yet I'm lost. Gosh what's wrong with me! so I kept walking.. found a 7 eleven and bought water still I can't see the boarding gate..  then finally I realized I'm walking towards the wrong direction. lol. hello arrows and signboards! Thank goodness you are there!!! I picked my seat and waited quietly! dang! I'm bored and I don't even have a book or anything to keep me busy. Nobody to camwhore with and nobody to chat endlessly with just nonsense. I was bored to death but i can proudly say, I survived my flight smoothly and sleeping!

And then there goes the forms needed to be filled up again! And guess what? they gave me the wrong one again!! English please! l'anglais s'il vous plaît! 영어로 주세요! the same mistake again.. Aigoo! =P

We landed in Incheon airport pretty much earlier than expected. Nice one! I still have time to get lost! On my way out in the airport while searching the counter where I can buy the bus ticket to the Express Bus Terminal I can hear an ajeossi kept on saying "Annyeong haseyo...." I didn't know he was talking to me.. because the last time I checked I am a foreigner and therefore, if anybody would have thought of talking to me it would be in English. I only noticed that it was me he was talking to when he kept following me and said, "Hello! Hello?" *what an encounter* and I was like, "oh hi!" then I learned that he is a taxi driver and he is offering me a ride.. But I can't take it. Taxi in Seoul plus traffic is expensive! so no thanks. I politely told him that I'll be meeting my friend and that she'll pick me up in the airport. I said thanks and left off.. Gosh! Ajeossi is a really persistent man, I can tell! super kulit that I need to walk really fast! then finally I saw the ticket counter, got my ticket and bus number and finally felt the first breath of winter in my lifetime! woah! loving the coldness!!!♥ waited for a few minutes in the bus stop for the limousine bus to arrive and then settled in the second row seat alone. 운전사 아저씨 (Mr. Driver) also spoke with me in Korean.. my gulay! whatever people! can't you see I'm a FOREIGNER???? T.T

Fixin' n checkin'

Few more days and few changes in plans.. now I'm confused where to go and who to be with...
It's busy at work and I'm feeling sick. One week before my trip and how great that I caught a cold! 어떻게?! 어떻게?! this can't be! I can't be sick... I'm drowning of water and other fluids just to make sure I feel better for next week! Yet the stubborn me won't even touch any kind of meds.. hehe.. (speaking of scolding, I already heard a lot from my mother just because of that) and there are those little decisions to make.  I need to double check my routes and meeting places with friends since I'm sooooo good with directions and maps that I rarely got lost! *ahem* I mean I always lose my way even with maps! lol. Arriving alone in Seoul is a challenge, and going to the Express Bus Terminal (www.lifeinkorea.com) with all my things will be really really be.. hmm.. a huge gigantic challenge! *now I'm overreacting* First off I am an over packer! I need tutorials on how to pack lite by the way.. *i die* I'm hopeless! hahaha.. Travelling on my own in a foreign land with a language barrier plus my huge suitcase, a hand carry and a huge personal bag.. How can I survive commuting somewhere unfamiliar is my first worry.. I worry but I'm more excited!!! how ironic it is! Then I wish my roaming phone will work when I get there.. Then I need to choose whom to be with after Busan. I also need to make a choice on whether to go back to Seoul with Ate Jo after Busan or join Ate Karen and Ate Heidz to Suncheon then back to Seoul.. *i'm torn* waaaah!!! really can't choose!! and yet I still haven't got a hold on my perfect pair!!! I hate going back and forth to different malls and every shop in there to see if my love will be there.. It's freakin' me out and draining my patience that I'm readily willing to take an "okay" pair over the "perfect" pair I am in search of.. T.T Yet mom is not giving up.. and Finally we found it!!! Mom worries with my clumsiness and we had a hard time looking for a pair of flats with rubber soles! hahaha.. And when we finally got it, another shopping to add up.. one more jacket, leggings, socks, hair accessories, etc.. oh no! another bill to pay up!!! hahaha..
and more free spaces occupied! *overpackkeeddd!* I need to weigh again my suitcase!!!

nooooo! the hassle of travelling! toinks!

Cleared!

Everything's clear now about my "rant-y Monday".. well, I think I just didn't understand at first.. my bad.. She's just doing her part and it's not her fault.. hm.. Facebook's IPO is creating a headache for many of us.. whew! wish it to be over soon!!! overworking before vacation is no fun!! I can't help myself thinking about vacation.. the coldness of winter and the beauty of doing nothing but fun! guess who's "lazy"???! hahaha...

i am the "precious jewel"

I am not bragging but as my mommy puts it I am her "precious jewel"! hehe.. I'm not bragging, I'm just proud! lol. Today is mmy-mmy's birthday.. I don't know what to give as a gift, however, I've been thinking for a while now to buy her roses. And I did. I hope she liked it. ^_^

happy happy birthday Mother!! I love love love you!♥

♥

rant-y Monday!!!

I just felt the need to rant! I just thought when you are honest you don't need to explain just because you only give what you truly have. Today, I was a bit confused with things and knowing that a few changes will be made within my working environment, I wish I can adapt even just until the duration of my stay here since this year should be my year of CHANGE. There are a lot of possiblities and my chances of leaving things behind is high. Plus I also will it! Provided I was given with the right timing and everything in place. Mom likes it too and she's been pushing for it for quite some time now. Anyway, I have a different issue today. It's not about my leaving or whatever, it's just about work. I'm just confused with some things. Doing this before and doing the same thing now seems different on ones point of view. Now I'm not sure how it should really be. Like I'm not sure if ms. jay is just lacking trust on us or if the person just really needs extra explanations and reasons for those things to be understood, cause I don't see the need for it. I don't know. This makes me feel even more confused and uncomfortable. And uncomfortable for me means green light. Thinking about it now.. hmm.. Why am I even here? I just remembered two years ago while hunting for a job and I thought while I wait for my real goal, I can have a stop over for an income. My first job, well, it happened so fast ended just two and a half days later. My second job, hmm.. quite an improvement I may say, I made it three days! lol. and now this.. Two years! I've been waiting for more than two years.. and thinking  about it.. I don't regret but I felt it might have been different if I waited a little longer. It's good that I was with a great company, but then it's not my passion. It is what it is, a job, a work. A daily task that I am obligated to do. I don't dislike it but I don't like it either. It just falls under my category of "bearable".

And now, I'm seriously thinking about what 2012 should be for me. Surely, I'll push through with my plans of leaving! I should! cause I crave for something else. I want more. I would! cause I wanted change. I must! cause that's what I need. I want a new space to grow.. I want a new place to explore..


♥

Almost all set!

My first trip flying alone... wiii!! couldn't wait any longer.. few more days and I'll be free of stress from work..
had my shopping list and I'm almost done packing.. few more things to check.. haven't found my perfect pair of shoes and one nice pretty coat.. just one.. ^_^ one more week for work then I'm off for a 10 day trip around Korea.. Korea again! will be practicing my speaking skills! nyahahaha..! plus lots of reading.. can't wait to tour around with just friends and the map! try different things and explore the other cities!

Proposed Itinerary:

Day 1 Land in Seoul then go straight to Jeonju on a Heart's date with Joanne-unni
Day 2 Abit more of Jeonju then back to the big city Seoul
Day 3 Panjumon / DMZ tour
Day 4 Hello Dynamic Busan
Day 5 more of Busan!!! Beach babe on a winter!♥
Day 6 Anyeong Busan...
Day 7 until Day 10 N tower and shopping spree around Seoul!

fully booked! woot! ^_^
Valentine's away from home! Let's go Seooul-searching!!! yay!♥

Ciao BF!

It was sad not being able to see her one last time before she left for Africa. But I firmly believe that our next meeting will not be that long! I miss you BF! I'm missing you! And I'll be missing missing you more!

I wish everything to be great for you there... Sending my love over! Take care and be safe always! xxoo

See you soon!

♥

just a wondering thought...

Loving and Missing...

*If you're missing a lot,,

Malinta Tunnel '10

then perhaps you're loving a lot..*

♥