Suwon Fortress

Before my deputation in Korea, I was more or less living a sedentary lifestyle. Sure I did participate in a few (almost nil) fun runs which wete limited to 3k but other than that, I was pretty much a lame klutz. Of course, my apartment, Poong Lim I-won in Seohyeon, being so close to the Tancheon river jogging path and while mending a broken heart, jogging turned into a most favorite and healthy diversion especially at night.

Then I met these really cool people who became my family there and we ended up sharing one adventure after another. Some of these adventures were on the physical side. It was a struggle for me at first and this Suwon hike/climb was one of those initial struggles. Why? 

For starters, we came from an all-nighter at the jimjilbang (which was quite an experience by the way). I was definitely sleep-deprived. We then 'danced' on the blazing 3pm Korean summer in the middle of a soccer field.

And then, since it was still a Saturday and we were trying to kill time, three of us decided to explore the fortress since it was supposedly nearby the train station we were at already (Suwon). Cristy, who is from Suwon, pointed out that we can just walk to the Fortress instead of taking a cab. She can remember parts of it but not all. However, she had an aversion to these huge tourist maps so to make the long story short we probably had to walk a good solid 2-3km (or maybe even more because of the wrong turns here and there) to get to our starting point, which was a steep set of stone stairs! I was definitely thinking to myself at that time 'What did I put myself into?' My two companions were exercise freaks who were doing the insanity workout while I had little physical training. 

I don't know how but somehow I was able to pull through sacrificing the speed of the group in the process as I really could no longer keep up. Reaching the top and seeing the vicinity at the fortress was rewarding though.

The pictures are lousy but they're the best I could manage with my phone and my condition at that time. We walked a few more and ended up at some gate.

Unfortunately, we weren't able to go around as much due to my pace so my two companions finally decided to refuel. Finally!

In the end, I was really proud of myself and I still am. I'm really glad I did it.

It was that memorable I guess but I just didn't have the time to write since the hike last July 2012 until now upon seeing this twitter post which was very nostalgic:

 

Biking in Suwon! That would be great! If you're out there, you should give this a try.

P.S. I miss Korea so much, the adventures and the people I shared these experiences with.

Saying Goodbye to 2012

So apparently, 2012 was a leap year. I've forgotten about it until I read another customary year-end post from an acquaintance. Looking back, 2012 was indeed a year of making leaps for me - leap of adventure, love, and life.

Coming to Korea and spending most of 2012 there was quite life-changing for me. In many ways, it has triggered me to come out of my shell and take several other leaps. I wouldn't be where I am right now, physically, mentally, emotionally, financially and spiritually if it weren't for Korea. It was not love at first sight, however. If I had to write this post during the first quarter of my stint, it would have been filled with everything negative. I got my heart broken twice, almost ruined my career,  felt alone, helpless and terribly inexperienced with "independent living", cried buckets (almost every night or every other night), struggled with the language barrier, the inefficient and extreme workaholic (but disorganized) work ethic - a taste of the OFW life. How sheltered, naive I have been and life has been pretty easy for me back home. I quite honestly thought it was a very bad decision (if not one of my worst) to take the assignment and for the most part cursed it. I wanted to escape it so bad (hence almost ruining my career). You don't really realize how lucky and blessed you are until you go through the pain, sorrow and hardships.

Paradigm shift. Then everything turned and now I am a firm believer of the saying "everything happens for a reason". God has been and is so good in taking care of me, I can't thank Him (and His instruments whether people, things or experiences) enough for always being there for me as He continues to teach me lessons - helping me grow as I experience life. The second-half of the year went by as if I was in a dream that coming home felt like waking up from it. Just when you thought that you have already experienced a lot that you are at the plateau of life - you realize there is so much more to experience, feel, meet and do. You start to fall in love with life all over again and suddenly think as you look back how you've lived a monotonous and boring life during the recent years. It's like starting to live more: I started to "dance" Kpop, "sing" without the influence of alcohol, be "physically active", do photo shoots (a little frustrated on this though), get wasted so bad, cooked, all the personal and attitude adjustments. I know I am still a pessimist but somehow, I'd like to think that I'm becoming more mellow. As I experience pain, I heal in a beautiful way by turning (trying very hard through the help of friends and loved ones) it into a positive experience. So far, it's by looking forward on the benefits that keeps me going. Living in Korea has been one of the best decisions and experiences in many aspects for me.

As I've mentioned in my FB post, "2012, you've been great! Definitely no regrets... I'm ready for you 2013! And to everyone who has been part of this awesome 2012 (especially new friends), thank you! Cheers for another great new year!"

I hope especially for my friends that 2013 will be another great year for us and that we will always be able to overcome and look past the pain, sorrow and hardships - that somehow everything will be alright and turn out for the better. May we always be on the lookout for opportunities to take leaps whether of faith, love, adventure or life in general. And when that time comes, we are ready to take the risk (while keeping in mind and heart the lessons learned). Carpe Diem!

Boryeong Mud Festival 2012 Field Demo

Mannam spearheaded a mass performance of Wonder Girls 'like this' during this year's Boryeong Mud festival in Daecheon. And I was fortunate enough to have been a part of it. So yeah officially they call it a flash mob but it was too organized and anticipated that I think of it more as a field demo.

I don't know much but for around 14 years now, Boryeong has been hosting this mud festival where people mostly foreigners play and paint themselves silly with mud. The mud here are supposed to be good for your skin aesthetically. (no surprise there given the vanity of the locals.) Of course, there's a whole lot of drinking everywhere regardless of the time of day. So ok maybe not until 12 noon when it's almost a ghost town due to the din of the day before. It's my first time to go to Boryeong for the mud festival but going there while being a part of the mob was double the fun. I certainly had a blast.

mud galore!

Never in my wildest dreams did I think that I will voluntarily dance in front of people. Sure there are a whole lot of us (maybe hundreds) but still. Definitely, another jump out of the comfort zone for me. And I am more than glad and thankful for it. Definitely one of the best experience I had so far here in Korea. I have Mannam and new friends/acquaintances to thank for it. Cheers to more happy, fun memories!

while waiting for the "event" to start - in between practice.

woot!

Stop!

Mannam Victory!

after the field demo, it turned into an instant insane beach party. we got soaked/drenched in mud as they hosed the crowd with muddy water.

the beach is not much really. It's the mud and the crazy, fun people/times that you'll be having which makes this a must go!

Don't tell my mother...

This is the story of how I got smashed "alone" and lived to tell the tale.

Hongdae or the area around Hongik University is known to be the young generation's go to place for the night life. Since the area is surrounded by 3 (as far as I can remember) universities, there are a lot of young folks here having a good time. And if you're going out on a budget, this would probably one of the cheap places to go to.

First off, do it like how most of them locals do. Start the night with a bottle or two of soju or maekju or combine them aka somaek over dinner (samgyeopsal is a popular menu).

I'm not really a fan of soju but it's strong enough for me to give me a buzz after a few shots. Once done, go around hongdae to find a bar of your choice. We found this BB bar that played my kind of dance music (the one I can bob my head to) in English. I thought the vibe was quite nice. Door charge costs around 10,000 KRW but I got in for free (not sure if it was ladies night). Then down a bucket cocktail (which didn't seem to have any alcohol in it) and some three or four shots of tequila. The bucket cocktail costs around 10,000 won and 6 shots of tequila was also the same. By this time, if you have a low tolerance like me, you are buzzed bordering on drunk enough to dance like crazy just as the bar started to get crowded before midnight. If you're pushy and unlucky, you'll find that you have a companion who downed prolly 9 shots of tequila in quick succession just to get that instant kick himself. After which, he'd get so drunk and will hit on you and start to try and kiss you. You don't mind much as you're having a good time just dancing the night away and settle on evading the crazy kid who somehow you're not surprised fell for your charms (no i'm not being proud because it's not really something to be proud of).You just think, this crazy kid is too immature and just a boy who didn't hear any word you said during dinner. You were obviously sending him signals that you're here to have some fun while still trying to fix your broken self up. No, you didn't plan on getting smashed to forget someone or because you got your heart broken. You just wanted to have be crazy/high and experience the night life elsewhere as you've done on your other assignments (ex. Austin's 6th street). By then, he would probably look to be too close for comfort and harassing you that the bouncers will come escorting your companion out of the club. Of course, while you still wanted so bad to keep on dancing and being chatty to foreign strangers in the club, you had no choice to stay with your companion.

Then, all hell breaks lose. For some odd reason, you are too drunk and high already while your companion is dead drunk puking and lying on the side street. You being the girl, who got so used to your friends taking care of you, end up having to take care of someone. But what can you do, you are high yourself. At that moment, you think you still know what's happening. You think you are still lucid. Then you can't tell the rest of the tale because the memory lapse starts. For all you can remember, you went around the streets of Hongdae by your lonesome self looking for your companion for two hours or so. You apparently lost him. You remember sitting on a step that's wet, embracing a door or gate. You remember talking to a handful of foreigners. You remember handing out your business card to a random friendly guy who probably thought you were hitting on them when in fact you were just too darn friendly and happy to be making acquaintances while talking in English. You have a natural tendency to turn into Oprah when drunk. You remember a group from South Africa. You remember some guy escorting you to his group of friends taking pity on your state. For some reason, all foreigners you talked to (the ones that speak English) are kind and did not prey on an obviously vulnerable drunk (probably high - I honestly can't tell) girl alone in the streets. When you finally give up and decide to go home, you crash a group of foreigners and randomly ask for their help to go home (approaching the girl in the group). Somehow, you know you were still having fun while at that state.

Then you wake up the next morning to find that you have two business cards from the taxi that took you home, that your business cards on your wallet are gone, that you half undressed, that you posted a status on facebook which you never do, that you checked in on foursquare. You know you almost drunk texted someone but thankfully you have deleted the number way back. Then the hangover hits you for a whole day after some delay just when you have been asked to report for work as well. That's my side of the story. It wasn't really that bad. It was actually fun and one for the books... until I learned what happened to my companion...

He was not that lucky and ended up getting robbed: his cellphone together with his cards, his watch and even his glasses. So while I know of someone who pretty much got dead drunk here as well but got back unscathed, it's still not that safe. I thank my lucky stars, my guardian angels and Him most especially for taking care of me. So as a friend said, it was a great experience though dangerous but I should not push my luck. So would I do it again? Maybe not anytime soon but probably in better company. :)

June 30. A crazy night in Hongdae indeed! You should try it once. (not necessarily in Hongdae and try for a little safer option)

Good life

I just got back from another awesome day/night and it is such a good feeling I have right now. It's been one adventure after another. More on those next time maybe when I have the time (teaser: photoshoots, crazy hongdae night, mannam, peak, etc.). Somehow I have this feeling that I'm back in college again and I am kind of wondering what happened between then and now. Of course, I've had several great and fun times especially with my college friends but I kind of feel that I missed out. Those lull moments in my life, should have been filled with moments like this before. I played safe and went with the flow too much I forgot how good I am in different aspects. But then again, without the triggers and the past to compare things with I wouldn't be able to tell. Now I am able to appreciate and see things in a whole different way especially when taking risks and embarking on adventures. I can do more and be more. I am just glad of the experiences so far. In time, I have to think more for the long-term (aka settling down) and the personal but while I'm still here might as well do more and live more - exerience life to the fullest. Everything really happens for a reason.
I hope this feeling would last because right now I am in love with life. I think I am actually starting to love it here. ❤

P.S. I still can't help but sing songs like long gone and moved on sometimes. Maybe there are things you just don't forget but it's all good.

love, life.

Nami island - May 2012

"Life is too short to wake up in the morning with regrets.

So. love the people who treat you right

and forget about the ones who don't.

And believe

that everything happens for a reason...

if you get a chance - take it;

if it changes your life - let it.

Nobody said that it would be easy...

They just promised it would be worth it."

Side note: Life changing indeed. Amazing how one can grow and evolve with the coalescence of events that time is immaterial. It has been 104 long days It's just been 104 days of South Korea but it's been the greatest teacher so far.

Spring is here. Day 41

While I have yet to see spring in all its colors, the temperature has finally gone up and hints of blooms and colors are peeking everywhere. I am so excited to see those cherry blossoms and take pictures. I hope I can get around maybe at least in the Namsan area: http://www.korea4expats.com/events-in-korea-Cherry-and-Other-Blossom-Sites-April-2012-Seoul-Area-6124.html (i do hope I have time during weekends as it has been pretty busy so far trying to catch up on pending work on weekends not to mention chores and series galore haha.)
After about a month, I managed to cross the street from my apartment headed in the opposite direction from AK Plaza along the Taechan river (I hope I remember the name right) and it surprised me that the trees there might just actually be cherry blossoms. I may not have to go far after all just to see them. I am keeping my fingers crossed.

this one was right on the sidewalk of my apartment building!

please let them be cherry blossoms



i hope to jog or even bike here one of these days



Day 29. Touring Seoul

So today, a colleague of mine took me out sightseeing in Seoul. I felt like a tourist and in ways, it felt good. My options in case boredom/homesickness gets a hold of me in the coming weeks are at least somewhat widening. We took the 8100 bus to Jong-no although I think M4102 and 9000 would also make a stop to where we took off. From there we did a quick check of this little park where there was a stone monument/pagoda encased in glass dating to as far back as the 1400's. I didn't note the name but there were at least two national treasures in that little park but it was well-maintained and did not come with a fee.



unedited

From there we headed over to Gyeongbokgung Palace where I felt right at ease what with all the tourists around me. I am not the only one lost in translation anymore! Of course, it helped my colleague and I were from the same country. Too bad, he'd be leaving in a few days time but at least he got to show me around somehow. The fee was just 3000 KRW which was not really bad I think. Before heading inside though, one can take a quick tour of the museum under the statue of King Sejong. This underground hall was for free and it was actually quite spacious. I can probably take a lot of time here just to learn more about Korea in the next days when I am back to being alone on weekends. The inside of Gyeongbokgung was pretty nice and if you have time to kill, I think it would be a good place to stay in, relax and take pictures. As it turned out I failed to wear thermals/layer for my top that my head actually hurt a little from being out in the open too much. The wind made it worse but come noon, it stopped. I actually appreciated the sun's rays to help ease out the cold.



behind this monument is the entrance to the museum under.



inner lake

After lunch, we went to Jamsill station where there was this theme park called Lotte World. We didn't enter anymore as the ticket was quite pricey (KRW 38,000). From the outside, the place looked nice though with decent thrill rides. I guess the highlight for me really was this sort of cultural show at the back of the department store at one side of Lotte World's Magic Island. I was really amazed by this set of guys with the ribbon spinning using their heads. I was not paying attention at first but when I realized it I couldn't get over how difficult (to me at least) what they were doing. Unfortunately, I was not able to catch it on video but they were also doing some sort of acrobatics while spinning the ribbon. Amazing!