Merry Christmas everyone!
여러분 성탄절 잘 보내요!
Note For You
The person who is suppose read this knows what I am talking about. Before I list down my 3 wishes for you, I want you to know that I wish we will be friends until we both grow older . Thank you for making life in the office better with good people like you around.
I got these 3 wishes for you…
- I hope you stay healthy that you won’t need to avoid booze and your favorite food.
- I wish that you enjoy every day spent with people around you.
- I earnestly wish for you happiness that even if ties may have to be cut for one reason or another, we still can face each other like we always do and exchange a good laugh.
I also wanted to say i enjoy talking sensible and non-sense stuff with you. Stay cool.
저 너에게 한상 친구를 되고 있어요. 만나서 행복해요…그래서 정말 고마워요 =)
Autumn Concerto
I have started watching a new Taiwanese drama entitled Autumn Concerto, it is also known as Next Stop Happiness. I came across this drama while looking at clips of Boys Over Flower in my Soju. It’s still airing in Taiwan and I am actually waiting for subbed episode 8 to come out.
The drama stars former F4 Vaness Wu and Ady An ( I hope I got her name right). Its got a typical plot but I just find it too addicting to watch. Can’t wait for the rest of the episode to come out.
Taeyang Comes Back with Wedding Dress
Just as I thought the live performance of Wedding Dress is just as great as the MV. Taeyang never fails to impress me with his stage presence — great dancing and singing from Yongbae.
youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Brw8i6JM6uU&feature=channel]
Thanks to alwaystaeyang channel for posting this performance in high definition. I really enjoyed it. Bet its going to be another 나만 바라봐 (Naman Parabwa – Look Only at Me) in the making. Taeyang also did an awesome performance of his earlier single released, Where U At.
Just lovin’ Taeyang’s comeback!
Taeyang’s Wedding Dress MV is OUT
Just recently Taeyang released Where U At MV and now another is out just in time for his official comeback today, November 15. He will make his first live performance of Wedding Dress over at SBS Inkigayo.
I love this MV and the song as well. Taeyang just keeps on getting better and better. I love how he look and that mohawk doesn’t bore me at all. The choreography of the song as expected is really good… Taeyang dances so well. I am now too excited to watch the actual performance.
Credits to alwaystaeyang @ YouTube, the MV they uploaded got subs so its really cool to know the entire meaning and feel of the song.
Nice one Taeyang…surely this will go up to number 1.
Depressing…
It was a turbulent the way November started for me. Aside from the storms that hit the Philippines… I just became a victim of estafa. One of our suppliers, AP Clemente Printing did not deliver the goods we ordered from them. So this leads to messing up 25th Sacerdotal of a Priest in my current town. I just wish this greedy person get struck by a lighting.
So now we need to refund the order of our own client which is the biggest realization of all the losses that is happening. The take up of sales last October was really bad. I can’t help but feel depressed to think that this month is supposedly my little daughter’s 7th birthday and likewise my better half’s birthday too.
My personal finances is now messed up as well…i hope i can go through all of these with little of the hurt.
Wheesung Is Back and So is Taeyang
Although a little earlier than Taeyang, Wheesung is back in the Korean Music scene with his 6th full album Vocolate. Another album worth every single won of its price. The album features 주르륵 (Chureureuk – Trickling) as its carrier single.
It was really good to see Wheesung comes back in his polished and stylish look. I just love the drama of the orchestra in the later part of the performance. Not my 1st favorite amongst the 12 songs but this song started to grew on me.
What makes this October even more special is the come back of another Korean artist that I like…Taeyang! He is performing his digital single Where U At which will also form part of his 2nd album.
Youngbae exudes hotness and great performance as expected. Very polished dancing while singing. Love it!
Credits to urasianpop for the Wheesung video and CodeMonmonSeason3 for the Taeyang performance.
Washed Out
Last week Ondoy struck the Philippines particularly Manila like a thief in the night. I have not seen the metropolis gets devastated this way. People were so helpless… even your strength is not enough to keep your things in place. It did not spared even the rich or the famous.
A lot of my friends were terribly affected. They lost house, car, clothes and household appliance. Two weeks ago i felt so washed out with losing the opportunity to go to the US. But now, after seeing what other people lost in this storm, I felt foolish thinking about the piece of cheese I lost.
Now, another storm is wrecking havoc a bit south of Luzon. How I wish this is the last for this year. The economy is not good this year and these catastrophic event is not helping people heal their lives from the difficulties. People now fear even the slightest rain pour. Lord, we learned things the hard way, please save our country from further being washed out.
Where is My Cheese?
Few days ago I was still in ‘high’ spirits reminiscing the good time that I had in Seoul of South Korea. How time flies that the much awaited vacation has just concluded. Admittedly this is one of the best things that happened to me this year, the other best is supposed to be near but its gone.
I just remember the book Who Moved My Cheese? It was about moving out of your comfort zone. This post doesn’t have anything to do with that but I instantly made an analogy using it.
I heard the news of possibly going to the US on October for a conference early this year. This brought excitement for me this year and I was actually anticipating for it rather inspired by it. I thought I was so lucky to be able to travel again to South Korea and 1st time in the US in the same year. Few days before leaving for Seoul I had a feeling that the US travel is too good to be true. And my intuition served me right.
Yesterday I was informed that there is no slot for our team for the US tour. The slots were all allocated to someone else’s team. I thought geez those guys took my cheese…but later on I realized my cheese was not stolen. In fact I don’t have a cheese to begin with. When I was informed about it the cheese is out there in the open. It will come and will definitely be given. Now it came but unfortunately not for me to have but for someone else *sigh*
I was actually anticipating for a the good thing that the cheese may bring. I am for once almost sure I will have a portion of the cheese. I have nothing to blame except my self for believing the cheese will actually be handed over to me.
Seoul Take 2
I once again fulfilled my wish to visit South Korea this year. Just like in April 2008 when I first settled my feet in this wonderful country, I was equally excited in this 2nd trip to Seoul. There is something in me that feels I belong there =P
This year I stayed in another hotel but still within Jongno area. Its a business hotel named Doulos Hotel. This hotel is value for money. The area is near Cheongye and Jongno 3-Ga subway station. In any future travel to Seoul I will readily opt for this hotel than New Seoul Hotel. The location is great the rooms are just as good as New Seoul plus it has free breakfast buffet. On top of it all, the hotel is 25 USD cheaper than New Seoul.
Doulos Hotel in Jongno Seoul
September was a good time to visit Seoul, the weather is perfect. The sun is shining but it isn’t hot. Late afternoon winds will make you wear a light jacket or shawl. Seoul still sparkles at night just like Hong Kong, you see a lot of people still hanging out.
Back to Jongno from Itaewon - The Green Line
Seoul is still as interesting as it was last year, i thought nothing has drastically changed until I took the subway. I initially thought I am just trying to re-orient my self with the Seoul subway station as I was confused on how to secure tickets. I learned that 3 months ago, the government has put in place an automated vending for subway tickets. Close to Hong Kong MTR, only, card deposit for single journey can be refunded at any station through machine. There are of course reloadable cards which makes sense for the Seoul residents but for tourist like me, the single journey tickets works perfectly fine.
DMZ Museum
As I am very interested in the Korean Culture and History, i took the opportunity to join DMZ tour. I was interested in taking the Panmunjom tour which actually allows you to get the closest possible contact with North Korea however, this tour requires 10 days reservation notice. Nevertheless taking the DMZ tour is a great experience. The first stop is in the DMZ museum where you can watch a short documentary on the history of DMZ which is of course connected to South and North Korean history. I could not help but shed tears in one shot where the little boy who appears to be naked was crying pointing to his lifeless mother. The war really created scars on people’s heart. Across the museum is the entrance to the 3rd infiltration tunnel. There are 3 other tunnels but these are not open to public for viewing.
Doorasan Observatory...sneak peak to North Korea.
Second stop of the DMZ tour is the Doorasan Observatory. According to our tourist guide this is the highest point within the DMZ area which makes the place highly coveted by both south and north. It ended up to be part of South Korea’s area where they can readily check their brothers on the other side.
Awaiting for the unification...
Third and the final stop is the Doorasan Train Station. This station has been reconstructed after it got devastated during the war in the 50’s. This station is symbolic of the longing of the South Korean to re-unite with their brothers from the North. Currently it carries raw materials to Kaesong province of North Korea, the place where collaboration between North and South Korea happens in terms of productivity.
Authentic Bulgogi
hefty side dishes present in all Korean Meals
In this trip i had the most native Korean meals. I tried all the popular dishes prepared authentically. I had bulgogi (beef strips), bibimbap (mixed beef, rice, vegetables and pepperpaste), samgyeopsal (pork grilled served with side dishes) and some street food. It is also first time for me to eat in an authentic Korean restaurant where you eat seated on the floor.
Deoksung-gung - Palace opposite Seoul City Hall
Seoul is such a vast city to wander around. The city center actually have 5 Palaces, two of which i was able to visit 2008 and only 1 for this year. This is the palace nearest to the City Hall called Deoksung-gung. It never fails to captivate one’s attention as it is nestled in the busy streets of Seoul City Center. It creates a perfect contrast to the modern city of Seoul.
I know there are still a lot of places to visit in Seoul and South Korea…so I am now starting to dream of my 3rd visit.
