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Blogging Right No More

I was reading thru my old posts and couldn’t help but cringed whenever I read a typo or grammatical errors.

Granted that all my blog entries are usually rushed (I get to post too when I experience a bulb-lighting moment and there’s not much to do in the office), I should still be careful of such errors. I wouldn’t want my Journalism buddies to come across my post and end up laughing at my grammar and spelling. Nor would my English and Lit professors be happy to know that their lectures were all wasted on me.

But still, no matter how conscious and careful I am of what I write and post, I still find some misspelled or misused words. Sometimes, even using the F7 on Word is impossible since I write directly online (no time for drafts).

Sigh… it’s been years since I’ve actually wrote for my food. After graduation, I’ve started working/writing for magazines and PR firms until I joined the Government service in 1998 and became a regular pencil pusher. But before my current work, I tried PR work again until I can no longer expound on how much value for money you can get at this mobile telco or how sumptuous the meals are at this resto.

Now, most of my writing involves reports and memos. Gone are the days when those creative juices seems to flow non-stop (as if! hehe).

Anywho, the point of this blog is that since I’m no longer practising (writing professionally), I feel like I’ve forgotten the correct Grammar or English 101. Heck this post itself may have its share of errors… nakakahiya! Parang I wanted to go back to basics and start studying again.

Where the hell did I put Strunk’s The Elements of Style? Mahanap nga sa baol ;)

I’ve started watching this Taiwanese drama starring Vanness Wu (from Meteor Garden) last Saturday and I have to admit that I am hooked.

Why? I’ll give you three reasons:

1. Vanness is such a hottie in this drama – His fahfah-bility has just increased in my book. I luuuurve his smile, his hair (way better than the one-length bob he sported in Meteor Garden, methinks), his acting and how he can be a playboy, a romantic & sympathetic guy and then go all goofy in the series. I’m gonna stop waxing poetic now and just say that I really luuuuurveee, luuuuuuuuuurveeee him here hehe.

2. The storyline works for me – Watching it is akin to reading my favorite romance novels. It has drama, romance, comedy, revenge and all drama writer’s favorite twist… wait for it… memory loss haha.

Vanness plays the rich-slash-cocky-slash-playboy law student (Ren Guang Xi). He meets poor and orphaned Liang Mu Cheng (actress Ady An) fell in love with her (after a few fights here and there), became her savior and protector from her pervert stepfather and actually changed from a hateable to a loveable guy. But RGX’s mother objected to their relationship and when Guang Xi was diagnosed with brain tumor, the mom found a way to separate the lovers. Of course, the memory loss after the surgery was another factor why our hero forgot about LMU. And just to keep us viewers hooked, they also threw in a lovechild who happens to be a cutie and a very smart/mature 5-year old.

Check out the synopsis here

3. The kid is soooo cute – He’s soooo Bibbo that I actually look forward to seeing the kid onscreen, conversing with his mom (played by Ady An) and fooling around with his daddy alien (played by Vanness).

Still unconvinced why I got hooked? Check out this trailer…

The downside to this addiction is that I now have to wait for a few weeks before I can finish the series. I’ve watched up to episode 18 and hopefully the next one will be available soon (like tomorrow if not today, sana?).

Lost in Korea

This is when we got off the wrong subway station and four helpful officers actually escorted and showed us the way back to the hotel ;)

We followed the correct subway line (the purple one) but still we got off 1 station ahead instead of exiting at Dongdaemun Stadium or Euljiro-4 hehehe

Wow, Korea! – Part 1

These are just a few things I loved about my tour in Korea:

EVERYTHING, HI-TECH

Yep! Everything seems hi-tech from my point of view. From watching my favorite k-dramas, I noticed that most of the apartments have electronic door locks. Just imagine my delight in finding our hotel room’s door is like that too.

No ving cards to insert as keys. They just gave us this small remote unit (about 2-inches big, I think) and we press its button while pointing it at the electric lock to open the door. Unfortunately, I forgot to take a picture of that small gadget.

AUTO ON & OFF LIGHTS

My family (at least from the Manansala side hehe) and I are basically scaredy cats. We are afraid of ghosts and talking about scary things. Now, if I was not familiar with how the lights from entry ways would automatically turn on and off in every modern apartment, I would have been scared shitless in our hotel room.

The Hyundai Residence hotel in Jung-no, Seoul is set up more like a residence than an actual hotel room. Our room is equipped with a washing machine, kitchen area (where there’s an actual gas stove, cabinets for grocery storage, ref, and sink for washing dishes).

When you enter, on your right is the kitchen & washing machine while on the left is the door to the bathroom.

On our first night, I think my sister was a bit surprised when the lights in the entry way automatically turned on and off. She’s not a fan of k-dramas unlike me so she thought someone or something else turned it on and off wehehe.

TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM

I love how everything can be reached by subway so that traffic is not an issue. But I also love how spacious their buses are or is it because we were just fortunate enough to ride one during off-peak hours hehe.

And if you’re not up to taking the subway or the bus, you can always take the more expensive route: ride a taxi.

They have 2 types of taxi. The smaller one has a cheaper flag down rate (KrW 2400 if I remember right) while the bigger one and more expensive one (called Deluxe taxis or “mobeom” comes in black color with a yellow sign on top) has KrW4000-4500 rate (ata).

Oh, by the way, there are also some pasaway taxi drivers in Korea too who asks for a certain amount instead of using the meter. Just like some of the taxi drivers in Manila hehe.

But the drivers in Korea gets more points in my book because if you ask them to take you somewhere they are not familiar with and the GPS is not of much help (yep, all their taxis are equipped with GPS), they will whip up their cellular phones and personally call the contact number of the place at no extra cost to you.

This happened to us several times whenever we wanted to take a taxi going back to the hotel. Although we have the map and business card (complete with the landmarks, address and contact number of the hotel), they still can’t find our hotel and they had to call for directions pa.

YUMMY FOOD

Man 0h man, did I pig out in Korea!

Unlike in my previous trips abroad, I think I spent more on food during our Korea tour. It seems like we were always hungry, especially after being outdoors. Is it because of the cold weather or were we just really hungry hehe.

Anywho, I’ve finally tasted Odeng or fish cake, spicy rice cake or “tteok-bokk-i” and bibimbap, just to name a few. Would you believe I had to go to Korea before I can sample bibimbap even though you can buy in Manila too hehe.

Our favorite meals, of course, involves grilling beef and pork and eating rice or noodles. We discovered this Yakiniku place in Dongdaemun and we simply had to return there for lunch on our last day.

I discovered something the first time we ate at a Korean restaurant just near our hotel. Me squatting for long hours (the whole duration of the meal) is not a good idea. It’s a bit uncomfortable for me, promise! Just lead me to a Korean resto with actual tables and chairs and I’d be in glutton’s heaven bwehehe.

To be continued…

A Fangurl in Korea

When I went to Korea last December 2009, I really had no intention of doing historical or palaces tours. My goal is to see the various filming locations from my favorite K-novelas.

Although I wasn’t able to visit that many places (my companions are more into malling & shopping), I was still able to drop by the following places:

TEA US, MYEONG DONG – Kwon Sang Woo’s (KSW) own Coffee & Gelato shop. KSW is one of my many favorites and I promised myself that I’ll be sipping a cup of coffee in his store when I get the chance to tour Korea. I was also able to drop by Tears, his cosmetics shop in Myeong Dong, but didn’t have any photo opportunity there. (KSW’s kdramas include Stairway to Heaven, Cinderella Man, Bad Love, Sad Love Story, etc.)

Me & KSWbuying cafe mocha and Tea Us mugs for souvenir checking my souvenir purchasessipping cafe mocha

TONY MOLY SHOP, MYEONG DONG – Boys Over Flowers’ Ji Hoo (Kim Hyun Joong) is the model of Tony Moly cosmetic shop. While walking around the shops in Myeong Dong, we saw his big poster and went inside the store. Since my sister Chi is a fan (her daughter Sophia used to be a fan but she’s more interested in Big Bang’s G-Dragon these days hehe), nagpakuha siya. E magpapahuli ba naman ako?

Chi & Ji HooLot & Ji Hoo

N. SEOUL TOWER / NAMSAN TOWER – I first learned about the tower thru the series BOF. That’s where Gu Jun Pyo waited for Jan-Di on a freezing winter night di ba? That’s also the place where they had to spend overnight on a cable car. Remember the scene where GJP wrote their names in one of the cable car? My cousins and I were joking around that we would search for that cable car with the “supposed” writings. And if we can’t find it, we’ll write our own like: “Jun Pyo lurves Lot.” Unfortunately, we were pressed for time & the weather is not ideal for a cable car ride hehe.

Anywho, I went to the tower with Sophia and Chi the morning of our last day in Korea. As a souvenir, my niece bought a replica of the necklace which Jun Pyo gave to Jan Di for KrW 30,000. Me, I just bought a coaster with the image of the tower while Chi bought a keychain. Although the place is more memorable because of BOF, I’ve also seen the tower from watching other series like Witch Yu Hui and even 9 Ends 2 Outs ata.

hike up the towerpose munaview from the top

THE COFFEE PRINCE, COFFEE SHOP – I learned about the directions to this coffee shop from my favorite Pinay blogger in Korea and her site Buhay sa Korea. The place is near Hongik University station on subway line 2 (green line). Although only my niece Sophia and I knows about (and actually watched) the series, I was able to convince my sister Chi, cousin Angelie, officemates Reggie and Angel  and Angel’s daughter Shanica) to visit the place with us. Unfortunately, the shop was close to public that day due to a private party. So we just took our pictures outside hehehe. If you want a DIY Tour of this place, read about Betchay’s post here.

outside the coffee shop

shanica, me, angelie & sophia

TEDDY BEAR MUSEUM, N. SEOUL TOWER – I learned about Korea’s Teddy Bear Museum from the series Princess Hours starring Yoon Eun Hye and Joo Ji Hoon. However, in the drama, the Museum is located in Jeju Island. Imagine my surprise (and delight) when I found said Museum in N. Seoul Tower hehe. I’m guessing (but not sure) the Teddy Museum in the Goong S drama (starring Se7en and You’re Beautiful’s Park Shin Hye) was shot here.

with Prince Gian's Alfred

Bae Yong Joon also has his own teddy bears…

Even Mr. Bean’s Teddy was there…

STAR AVENUE, LOTTE DUTY FREE SHOP – I read that one can view some memorabilia from selected Hallyu stars by visiting Star Avenue. So after going around Myeong Dong, I dragged my sister, niece and cousin Angelie to Lotte Duty Free shop for more “picture-taking.” But my mistake was in going to the Duty Free Shop instead of the Lotte World Amusement Park where the bigger Star Avenue is located. So eto lang pictures namin.

Stranded

This is where the novelty of experiencing our first snow melted hehehe

First Snow

We were doing the Downtown City Tour when the snow fell on December 27.

This video was taken at the bus stop near Seoul’s National Museum.

H1N1 Scare?

Even before we applied for our Visa, I’ve been reading about H1N1 virus and how it has been affecting Koreans. Even Hallyu was not spared.

Incheon Airport

Anywho, since the outbreak of viruses like SARS and H1N1 locally and overseas, it’s been a constant joke between my officemates and I that when we travel, we should not be showing any signs of flu such as fever, cough or colds. Otherwise, we might be held up at the airport for health reasons.

On December 22, yours truly belted out OPM Christmas songs during our group’s presentation in the office party. But due (possibly) to the stress of wanting to win and (probably) as a result of my nervousness, I kept hitting the bar for… wait for it… ice cold water (hehe… kala ninyo booze?).

My solo

As a result, I began coughing again the next day and my throat was itching like crazy. I said again because I just got cured from coughing 2 weeks earlier.

The coughing comes and goes, particularly when my throat starts to itch. That, of course, did not stop me from drinking more ice cold drinks even on Christmas day.

Little did I know that I would become more conscious of my itchy throat during our flight to Seoul on December 26. I became nervous that with my coughing, they would think I have the H1N1 virus.

I was sooo scared that I would actually be held up for health reasons when my throat is just itchy because of the combination of my singing, screaming and drinking during the parties and celebrations.

And the more I held my breath, the more my throat would itch and the coughing would start. I kept praying during the whole flight that when it’s time to face the immigration officials, my throat won’t itch.

I think I sucked about one and a half pack of Strepsils while praying. I actually thought my tongue was about to fall off because it was already numbed from the candy.

Thank goodness prayers worked and I was fine in front of Korea’s immigration officials. May katarayan pa naman yung nasa lane na pinilahan ko hehe.

By the way, I was as anxious about my entry back to Manila as I was about entering Korea. And the more I stress about not coughing, the more my throat itched.

 

Whew! Buti na lang nakaligtas.

Annyeong, Seoul!

Who would have thunk that after watching Boys Over Flowers I would be itching to see Seoul, Korea? I have seen Lovers in Paris before (was it way back 2006 or earlier?) and even Fireworks and Hotelier but never got fully hooked to Koreanovelas, until BOF, that is.

Besides, my top-5 must visit countries are (not in any particular order) Ireland, Spain, US, New Zealand and Germany.

Ireland, because I’d like to think that I used to be Celtic (thanks to the influence of my historical romance novels). Spain because of our Kastilaloy roots (at least from the Rosellas side hehe)  and US, New Zealand and Germany because I have relatives there so that means I could easily save up on accommodations and food expenses hehehe.

Anywho, as a result of my addiction to Koreanovelas, touring Seoul became a dream early 2009. By June 2009, I started imagining stalking my favourite actors and actresses and having endless photo-ops in the various filming locations of my favourite series. As early as August, I‘ve researched about all the interesting places Korea has to offer and I’ve even downloaded materials so I can learn Hangeul.

My target was to tour Korea by the second week of January 2010. I figured, by December, I’d be able to apply for a tourist visa and providing financial documents would not be a problem thanks to the incentives from our office.

When there was a seat-sale from Cebu Pacific for Manila-Incheon-Manila in late October, I hesitated booking a seat. Imagine, the 2 way fare then was just around P8,000. But since I was not confident enough to get a tourist visa (although my sister has been telling me that those various visa stamps from our previous travels would be big factor for my approval), I still did not buy a seat.

In November, when my auntie-slash-boss decided to tour Korea by December 2009 with my uncle and cousins and invited some of her staff to join them, one part of me immediately became excited at the opportunity.

But I almost didn’t join them. The catch, of course, is paying P18,000 plus for the 2-way ticket. No more Go-fares by then. But my sister Chi, who was going with my niece Sophia, managed to convince me to go with them since it would be better to tour in a group.

You see, as an added incentive, my officemates (who are mostly my relatives) and our families gets to tour various Asian countries. From December 2006 up to 2008, we have been to Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong and Thailand. Our airfare, accommodation and even meal and transportation allowance, of course, was shouldered by the company.

So despite fears of risking almost P20k (if you include all travel taxes and airport fees) in case my visa application gets denied, my sister still booked and paid my ticket. My auntie even booked and paid for our hotel even before we started applying for our visa.

She was that confident that our application will be approved since she, thru her company, has been sponsoring our overseas trips since 2006. We can certainly prove that, individually, we (1) have enough financial resources to cover our trip; (2) have stable jobs waiting for us; and, (3) we love to travel as can be seen thru the many visas stamped in our passports.

So, aside from (individually) passing those visa requirements, our generous tita-slash-boss also wrote the Consul and vouched for us. And one week later, we finally got the visa stamp we need for entering South Korea.

And two of the many highlights of our trip, of course, are… drum roll please!

1.  Playing fan girl by visiting some of the filming locations of my favorite series; and,

2. Getting to experience my first Snow… lamiiiiig!

To Be Continued…

We really do not like having our pictures taken… NOT!!!

Here’s some of the many shots I luuuuurvve!

Me and My hubby

Me and My hubby

solo ko

solo ko

LotMaChi

Mama, Me & my sister Chi

Me, my sister & niece Sophia

Me, my sister & niece Sophia
Me & Darang Benny

Me & Darang Benny

Japan-Japan with my folks

Japan-Japan with my folks

pretty ladies

pretty ladies

The other pictures are already placed in the album in my FB account.

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