A Challenging 2019

When there's darkness, there's light

Every year brings a lot of surprises may it be a sudden trip somewhere, a long lost friend who emerges on messenger or an extremely unexpected responsibility at work. 

As human as I am, I have been through a lot of "sudden" this year which I say have tested my patience and my perseverance to an exponential level. However, these challenges make me thankful in the long run due to the fact that it will definitely be useful, it may not be in all aspects but most aspects of my life. 

Don't Trust Anyone But Don't Distrust Everyone

This has been ingrained in me for more than a decade of handling people virtually. However, this year, it was put to the test how well-versed I am in this. I used to shed tears whenever I am disappointed on how people perform at work because I put my full trust in them.  This year however, made me care less on whatever they feel but cared more on how they perform. You sign up for the job, better do it the best you can, or you hear from me, friends or not. Learning to read people made me become more efficient on what I do. On the contrary, I also make sure that I don't generalize people as I am aware everyone didn't come from the same mother. 

Guard Your Secrets

Social media nowadays is becoming more of a place to gossip instead of becoming a place to inform, learn or educate. There are things that need to stay private for there are people who are just waiting to make stories about you. This also applies to a workplace; it is fine to be friends with your co-workers but learn to isolate personal relationship from that of work. There are those people who lose respect because they think you are friends. 

Be Firm When You Say "NO"

We are in a society where we lean from each other, friends, family, or colleagues. I really had difficulty saying no to a request especially if they are close to me. My attitude of being generous had taken a toll on me a long time ago however, this year, I have said "NO" to a lot of requests. There is a big difference between asking for a help and taking advantage thus saying no to someone who is already taking advantage of you doesn't mean you are being selfish.  

Just Do It!

Many of us get scared to do what they are passionate about maybe because of having no resources or just simply because it will mean getting out of their comfort zone.  I, too, have been scared of starting new things in my life. I was scared to take other responsibilities at work because I was scared to fail. However, I realized, I will never know if I won't try. As they say, trying and failing is better than never trying. If you plan to do something new, it is fine to be doubtful but don't be scared to try. Often times, we are afraid of the unknown.

The year 2020 is almost beginning and may these lessons remain executed to become better.  No matter what happened in 2019, good or bad, those are already part of life. Learn to never regret anything you have done and only then you know how to think before you do.  

South Korea: It Has To End To Begin

My battle for finding time to write is endless. I know it just boils down to having time management but it's just difficult when there's really no time to manage. LOL! And, again, it's long overdue!

To continue from where I left of, some of my days in South Korea were idle. It's because I still needed to work. Working in a totally opposite timezone make me feel exhausted when traveling. My body reacted badly to the point where I felt sick I just needed to sleep to regain my strength. I was lucky enough that my colleagues covered for me. One thing that's really annoying was when my laptop refused to turn on! I bet is was also reacting to the different weather!

Anyhow, may last few days went well even with all the blisters I have on my feet due to long distance walking. This is what I get when I have a hermit life!  

As scheduled, my sister and I met up with my former boss and his family. We visited The National Museum of Korea which educated me more of their history.

What fascinated me more is that, they discuss the things they see inside the museum to each other which is enriching their knowledge more.

This is the Gyeongcheonsa Pagoda which is on the first floor of the building. It has a very rich history which was discussed to me by my former boss during our tour but I won't discuss that here. LOL

The museum houses prehistory and ancient history of Korea which includes evidences of Korean culture and civilization, the medieval and early modern history which include Goryeo Dynasty, Joseon Dynasty and Korean empire. These are the three important period in Korean history and here you can trace the happenings during those times.

What's really interesting to me is how the Hangul was developed. Well, the story was known to me a long time ago when I first became interested in Korean culture which was way back 2002. However, seeing those artifacts just gave a different feel and fascination. This gave me the interest in visiting more of our country's museums. 

Again, I don't have my tripod with me thus the photo I want to capture was never achieved! LOL

Moving on, we decided to go to Dongdaemun then to Myeongdong but since he isn't used to going around, he was lost when we were on our way to Myeongdong. I'm not into shopping, well, I would say, this is one thing I really hate to do, so just passing through Dongdaemun made me tired.

Doing street photography while finding our way to where we want to be is absolutely fun! It actually occurred to me to just sit there, take photos and watch anything until it gets dark.

The next days were spent going around nearby places. My sister told me to visit a park near her apartment, the Nakseongdae Park, when she is in SNU however, the cool weather made me stay in bed instead.  So, we decided to visit together. It such a very good place to run!

At night, we went to watch the Moonlight Rainbow Show at the Banpo Bridge where the famous Han River is.

It was a cold, windy night which makes it a lot better to watch due to the cold wind touching your face. I love that feeling! I maybe the person who likes taking photos but for events like this which I know it will take a long time to convince myself to visit again, I take a moment and pause and just immerse myself in it. The show was almost over here, it's just taken with my iPhone. Not a good photo but it will do.

I wonder how much energy is used with those lights! Photos can't really show how awesome it is in there! The sound of the waves of the river, the cold wind together with the glistening lights is spectacular to make your mind run free.

The next day, my sister told me we are going somewhere and I have no idea where it is.  We got on the train, I saw the train to Busan, of course without the zombies, rode the bus and finally we where there! It's Kyung Hee university! It's considered one of the best universities in South Korea and a European inspired one just by looking at the buildings.

I wondered how much to they pay for tuition fees. This must be for the elite students, just seeing the outside like this means only one thing, the facilities must be excellent! I can't avoid to imagine studying there without having any financial worries. Oh well, not bad to imagine.

Having a society like South Korea which puts pressure on everything, this kind of environment, having trees all over, could help combat depression, that is, if majority knows how to be thankful of the little things. Sadly, this only applies to the selected few.

The last place we went to was at the Gwanghwamun Square, where the statue of King Sejong The Great is and the Gyeongbokgung Palace. It was difficult for us to find the statue although it was towering to a height of more than 6 meters. It's probably because we were already tired from walking.

The palace gate was swarming with so many tourists hence the difficulty in taking a photo of the entire gate. A clean shot is zooming in some parts of it.

Overall, although I never expected my visa to be approved but it did, I had fun experiencing what Seoul could offer. From the cleanliness, well-developed transportation system in which a good chance to experience no traffic to the silence of the environment.

Though it seems an almost perfect place to live, I, being a very observant tourist came to love my country and my culture even more. I cannot imagine Filipinos being detached to everyone else, losing the characteristic of always ready to lend a helping hand, may it be on the bus, climbing the stairs or even just crossing the street and to lose the ability of choosing to smile in the middle of a natural disaster. 

However, it is the honesty and the discipline of South Koreans that will always captivate me to visit again! 

South Korea: Day 2 and Day 3

It's been a long time since and this time I am going to try to walk down memory lane. My second day in Korea was a bit gloomy as the weather was not really that good. We didn't want to go out in a rainy weather so I stayed indoors while my sister did her school activities at Seoul National University. I wanted to go with her but I didn't have enough sleep yet due to work schedule. Talk about going on a trip and bringing along work with you! That's just me!

While at home, my former boss called me for a possible meet up. He also didn't like to go out in a gloomy weather so we scheduled some other days.

My third day came and fortunately, the weather was really nice! My sister decided to show me COEX Mall's Starfield Library in Gangnam, Seoul. After getting off the train, she mentioned that this place is where most KPOP fans gather to have a glimpse of their favorite KPOP stars. Well, the walls are filled with TV Screens with Korean famous actors' faces on them.

The structure of these buildings are so fascinating it seems your photo is not enough to tell how good it is! Well, it will never be enough though!

Since the sun was too hot, we were too in hurry to go inside the mall. My sister is scared of the sun. hahaha! She's lived in Korea for so long she already adapted the Korean culture. As for me, I love the sun due to the fact that I rarely go out and enjoy it. I am living a hermit life which makes me stuck in my home office with my eyes glued on the computer screen. There are time I am being reminded to take my morning coffee outside the house just to catch the first rays of the sun. LOL!

Upon entering the COEX mall, I was stunned by this ginormous library! I was told it's 13-meter tall with more than 50,000 books in them! I was in owe!

Starfield Library is really fascinating my mind goes into thinking, "this must be a good place to work."

Time is running so fast in South Korea for me so we moved on and went to Seoul Forest. Can you imagine there is a forest in the middle of big city? Yes, there is, in Seoul, South Korea!

Even the locals are enjoying the nice weather, there are so many of them when we went there. 

This flower stood out from the rest. It's just so beautiful and so big plus my favorite color I wanted to pick one and bring it home. Haha! But of course, I'm a very good tourist so I just took a lot of photos of it in different angles!

I was trying to capture the bee but then again, I kept cursing myself for not bringing my tripod, again! 

When two photographers go together, expect for stolen shots since both are busy taking photos! haha!

So we ended up having selfies together. 

This grass as I call it, is just so picture perfect but difficult to get a good one since it's just grass! LOL! But you gotta try no matter!

This one is famous for reflection photography but then again, I didn't bring my tripod I can't hold my breath for that long to get a clear photo so this is the best I can get. 

There are many couple who were doing prenup photo shoots here so I had to be fast in taking photos. I would like to take a stolen shot of those couples but I might be sued if it got posted! 

My second attempt in getting a reflection photo but still not successful! No tripod! At this point, I gave up!

I'm not photogenic so let's play hide and seek, well, unless you are a very good photographer. 

These are just some of the things I saw in Seoul Forest that fascinated me.

After we got tired of going around here, we went to Understand Avenue. It is a shipping container store which brings support to teenagers, artists and local vendors. It consists of 115 shipping containers and of which offers various things from foods to coffee shops and arts. 

I think it's an awesome concept for aspiring entrepreneurs. We could have gone around more but the heat of the sun is already unbearable for both of us at this time. 

After a long, tiring yet fulfilling day, we decided to take a rest and enjoy a cup of coffee near my sister's place at BEOLS Floral Factory and Cafe.

Nothing is more relaxing than the combination of the coffee aroma and the flowers. Imagine drinking a cup of coffee while you are smelling those flowers on top of your coffee cup! 

If you just want to relax and forget how your day went, I highly recommend this place in Seoul!