Meeting a Multi-Lingual Friend!

10 June 2011


I had lunch today with Hyunjoo and her friends because one of them was anxious to meet me. Jean is a Korean but has lived in the Philippines for 16 years and made it a point to set a lunch meeting with me through Hyunjoo. And what a cool gal! She can speak 6 languages well!


When Hyunjoo and I reached the restaurant, they have already ordered samgyeopsal and nengmyeon. At first I was hesitant to talk to Jean in Tagalog. Eventually I asked and we spoke in Taglish and mostly in English so that others could understand us too. She can speak Japanese, Chinese and Spanish! Hyunjoo and I somehow envied her cos Hyunjoo thinks Jean speaks English very well while I've always loved to learn Spanish. LOL. So Hyunjoo and I made a pact. This summer, we'll both practice with each other, language trade! I will practice Hangeul while Hyunjoo will practice her English with me. Yeah! Hopefully, by the end of summer, I'd be able to converse with more Korean friends in Hangeul and Hyunjoo can speak English more fluently and with more confidence. ^^


It's nice meeting a Korean friend who can speak in Tagalog. Jean and I are looking forward to our next meeting. c",)


After lunch, I treated Hyunjoo at CBTL. We both looked tired and needed coffee for energy boosters anyway. LOL. c",)

Budaechigae Bokkeumbap and Buzzer Beating Ride

03 May 2011


It was our first ppt presentation in Hydrosystems Engineering for our individual term project. So far, my report went well. After the class, I decided to have lunch with Lee Min Ho oppa since the other guys had to finish some TA work. Only Min Ho oppa was gearing up for lunch and I was also hungry already! I've always liked 부대찌게 so he brought me to this restaurant that specializes in 부대찌게.


The specialty of the house: Budaechigae 부대찌게 - 볶음밥 Bokkeumbap


Min Ho oppa is majoring in Transportation Engineering and it was good that he tries his best to speak in English even if he finds it hard. He even paid for my lunch! It was a really good lunch!!! ^^,


After lunch, he taught me the way back to the subway station (since I'm very unfamiliar with the area, the campus is really big and I can still get lost in it! LOL).


~Buzzer Beater Again~


By the time I got to the train ticket office, the ticket lady sold me a train ticket to Jochiwon which is 5 minutes prior to departure time (1320h)! I was already thinking of taking the next trip which is about an hour from then but she just smiled back at me when I saw the time and asked "Can I still make it?". She told me the platform number and I ran as fast as I could to make it to the train.


Got in the train within three minutes! Whew! Buzzer beater, almost! I was breathing deeply as I headed straight to the toilet, exhausted with my huge "explorer backpack". LOL.

Spiciest Dinner: OCTOPUS MUCH

02 May 2011


This is just a blog post of my dinner for tonight. It was an unusual dinner with the lab brothers cos we went out this time. Cindy and I rode in Jungeol oppa's car along with Kyeongjin oppa. We went to a restaurant that was somehow off the highway and was about 5-10 minutes away from school by car. Cindy told me that we'll be eating a very spicy dinner, a very spicy octopus that is. I guess it was just right that I didn't put on my sweater anymore!


There were 9 of us in the restaurant - Oppas - GJ, MJ, Jungeol, Kyeongjin, Changhong, Kwanhyeong, Wayne - plus Gwang, Cindy and I - the "kids", hahah!


When the dishes came, it was a mix of seafoods but with a huge octopus that the immonims had to cut first in front of us. It looked like a nice ritual. Unfortunately, I'm just to shy to take photos when I'm having dinner around a lot of oppas. It would have been a good photo op. Tsk tsk. There should be a next time - hopefully with Pinoy friends so that I won't feel restricted to take unlimited photos of the food. LOL.


A dish was shared by three persons so there were 3 of that octopus dish that was placed on our long table. After eating almost half of the dish, the immos came back to get them. Time for the "paella"! They get some of what's left on the pan and mix it with rice - which is called "bokkeumbap" 볶음밥. It's soooo delicious and still soo spicy! But while everyone else where wiping with tissues and sweating, I was still cool with just my t-shirt and kept digging in despite the hotness building up in my mouth! LOL. All I could say was: "HOT but NAMIIIIIIIIIT! Aaahhh!" *wink*

Insa-dong and Hyehwa

23-24 April 2011


Sidetrippin' and Sleepin' Over at SNU


My class in Anam campus ended at 4:00 pm. I was excited despite my tired self because I'm about to go on a photowalk! My detox time! ^^


I reached Hyehwa station by 5:00 pm and there I met Tin!


Just when we were about to go back to her dormitory to leave my huge bag, we saw a performance across the street. So we decided to go see it! Several people were dressed in white with red, yellow and blue designs on the shoulder area and they were going around in circles while playing drums and many other instruments! It was the Traditional Korean Music and it was out of plan but making this sidetrip even more its worth! ^^


After the mini event was over, I had a mini tour of Seoul National University - Hyehwa and went to Tin's dormitory to leave my backpack.


1800 h


Antique Shops Lined the Street
We went around Insa-dong. It was full of antique shops and stores that sold small stuff like trinkets and just about any kind of souvenir for foreigners. The main street already had some lamps displayed as preparation for the Buddha festival. A lot of stores sold statues of Buddha as well and the deeper we went, the more antique shops we saw. Some of the store owners were kind enough to let us take photos of their displays. ^^


Traditional Korean Dessert
On our way back, we went to some booth that sold the traditional Korean dessert made of honey. At the first store, we watched four guys recite in Korean, describing their product and showing customers how the dessert is made. The second store was more entertaining cos the four guys recited in English and the "lead" even knew about the Philippines' SMB and kept repeating "San Miguel Beer, delicious!" LOL. We were waiting for free samples, too bad there were none! Hahah! It was fascinating to see how the "dough" separated into multiple strings - starting from one, two, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64 ... and on it went until 16,384!


1930 h


Dinner at the best 토포키 place!


Menu: topokki with cheese, THE PIZZA, ramyeon and the free unlimited icecreeeeeam!
The pizza is to die for! I just gotta get back to that place and indeed, they had the best cheezy topokki! The chocolate icecream even had the hint of mint! ^^


The place has a very warm and inviting ambiance and it looked like a kindergarten classroom-turned-restaurant. ^^


We enjoyed the food so much that we realized how long we stayed ~ we wrapped up dinner for more than an hour! LOL.


Before we left, the restaurant owner asked where we came from and told us that he's a fan of Pacman! KEWL! ^^
love to go back again for the pizza, kindergarten ambience, cute pizza baker, really nice store owner :))


2100 h


Catholic Church at Hyehwa
We went to hear mass at the Catholic church and right after the mass, we each got a pair of Easter eggs! LOL.


2200 h


Photowalk at the University Street
If Manila has it's U-belt, Hyehwa has the counterpart. The place is also surrounded by numerous universities and is known as the "university street". After burning off some calories from walking, we went to a nearby hof for a round of Max beer and samgyeopsal! LOL. Yes, we foodtripped! That was one of the restaurants that served delicious kimchi so far, the second in my list. ^^ 


0130 h
Just before we headed back to Tin's dormitory, I did my trademark pose just outside the hof.LOL. c",)

Water Symposium

Environmental Engineering - Water Symposium
Location: Incheon


I lacked sleep but I tried to wake up at the first sound of my alarm. But I snoozed back. Meeting time was set at 6:00am at the laboratory. When I woke up, it was already 6 o'clock! Oh no! They must have left for the symposium already...But no one has sent a message or called me up yet. So I took a quick bath and prepared myself to go to the lab. I remembered that the weather forecast stated that the day would be rainy, so I brought my umbrella with me.


As I stepped out of the dormitory, MJ oppa called and looked for me. Again, I made it to the building just in time cos oppa has also just arrived! ^^


0650 h
I left the campus with MJ oppa and Changhong oppa driving the car. Even if I was so sleepy, I was also excited cos I will meet Joan and Ate Marla! And they will be presenting at the symposium, somehow, I will be able to understand at least two presentations cos most presentations are in Korean according to my oppas. LOL.

0930 h
We arrived at the research institute and I met Joan and Ate Marla. It was like an alumni meeting as Ate Marla was being teased by her professor that we're having our mini-reunion of alumnis. LOL.


Since most of my oppas from were staff of the event, MJ oppa suggested that I go with the Kongju students, Joan and Marla. Also for me to enjoy, I'll spend most of my time with my fellow Thomasians! ^^


Today is Good Friday and we're supposed to abstain. But too bad, both Joan and I were really hungry as both of us haven't had anything for breakfast and both of us also lacked sleep! So we ate whatever was served at the cafeteria even if the only protein source was meat. Awww...

1700 h
I had to go back to Jochiwon already and join Changhong oppa and Junsik on the way back. I bid my friends farewell then.


In the car, I met Yeongchoon oppa, a former graduate student from our university. He was a bit surprised when he first heard a Korean word that came out of my mouth, "oppa". LOL,


Changhong oppa drives fast! So we reached Jochiwon at around 7:30 pm and all of us were starving! I planned on eating some plain kimbap to abstain but oppa invited me to have dinner with them. The menu? - Unlimited Beef! Uh oh! LOL.


2000 h
We rode Ohkyung oppas' suv to the downtown and dropped Junsik off at the train station cos he had to go back to his hometown as soon as possible. So there were only four of us who ate dinner at the restaurant serving what seemed like a "buffet" of beef plus a bit of Cass and soju to warm up our dinner. LOL.


I was super full! Obviously, even without rice, that much beef that kept coming until they've decided to stop will really fill me up to the throat! It was Changhong oppas treat that night and as we went out, Ohkyung exclaimed, "Forget the name of the restaurant." LOL. The beef was just ok, at least for me, since I can't compare yet what a premium grade beef of that kind tasted like. LOL. Then in the car, I asked them to rate the food with 10 being the best and 1 being the lowest, they gave 0.5 for the rating! LOL.


Though I enjoyed the food as it filled up my stomach really well, their comments made me quite more curious as to what a premium beef would taste like. LOL


Til my next post! c",)

Typical Seoul Saturday

My first period class is Reaction Engineering. This is the course that I need to do a lot of catching up cos I never had this subject in college. During the class, our professor discussed only a few topics for today's lecture since he was not feeling well and decided to ask us to present the progress of our term project! Oh snap! I didn't bring a hard copy of my report, I just emailed it to him but he at least have already read my email. Still, I'm not prepared to present and I was still uneasy with the topic I'm working on cos understanding the equations and all were already taking much of my time in preparing the report! T___T" MJ oppa presented first and he was followed by KH oppa. Next was me! Oh no! Before the presentation, I scribbled all that I could remember from what I've emailed and the papers I've read. When I stood in front of the class, our professor who was just seated at the teacher's table on the side transfered in one of the nearby seats in front and was smiling at me as I was about to start! T___T" It made my feet colder! It was supposed to be a warm day but - dang! I was chillin' literally! So I started presenting and babbled whatever came out of my mind. The professor was so kind enough to guide me with the topic and offered suggestions as to how I can approach the project better! Whew! BIG WHEW indeed! It was "good" and as I walked back to my seat, MJ oppa made a silent clapping action. I smiled back and told him I didn't come prepared at all! And so was he! LOL.


After the class, I had lunch with MJ oppa and Badboi at the cafeteria below the gym. I had bibimbap again! I'm starting to feel like it's becoming my comfort food here! LOL. At lunch, I asked Badboi what his report was all about cos at first he started presenting in English and eventually spoke in Korean in order to express better and all I could figure out was that he drew on the board a stick drawing of a man and something with four legs. It was about some medicine concentration and that's all I understood. Then they explained to me that it was about a lab rat experiment on the concentration of medicine and the class was laughing at the topic. I was guessing the whole time what they were laughing about and I wanted to laugh back then at the fact that I didn't understand what they were laughing at and the drawing on the board. LOL.


My afternoon class was postponed to 3:30 PM cos Prof.JY had an emergency. I wanted to go see the flower festival at Yeouido but it seemed that this won't be a good time cos my class will end late. T___T"


1840h: I was walking out of the Anam gate and got a call from my professor asking where I was. So I hurried to the subway and there we met to take the subway together. At the subway we also met Tekken oppa but he was headed to another destination. My professor and I went to the Seoul Station and bought our train tickets. So there, I bought my ticket to Jochiwon and professor was headed to his hometown. Dang...I can't see the flower festival anymore T___T"


1920h: The train left for Jochiwon and I stayed at the cafeteria car again cos the seats were all taken. I plugged my earphones to my ears, sat on the carpeted floor, leaned on the wall and slept in the trip. ~~


2058h: Now in Jochiwon station! I went to my favorite kimbap restaurant and ordered 치즈라면 (Cheese Ramyeon) for a change - hahah! And to satisfy my cravings for something sweet, I was thinking of oranges but when I got to Buy The Way, there was no orange and all I can find to suspend my cravings was the Hershey's Roasted Almond Veil ice cream bar! Even if it was cold, I had ice cream! LOL.

치즈라면: cheesy, milky, creamy, spicy - YUMMY! ^^

Satisfaction Accomplished! ~~

Rendezvous at CBTL

"My First CBTL Ice Blended!"


1200h


Only Sok oppa and I were the people in the lab. The rest of the guys were in Seoul having classes. So for lunch, oppa invited me to join him and I'm glad that he's also not a fan of the cafeteria for the professors! I like bibimbap so much and so we went to eat at the place where I had my first bibimbap. I learned that oppa was planning to proceed his post-graduate studies in the U.S. and heard from my professor that he's one of the brightest students even during his undergraduate years. Seems like it cos he was a double major degree holder (Environmental and Civil Engg) during his Bachelor's.^^


At the resturant, oppa ordered spicy ramyeon and bibimbap and I didn't know that it was a treat! Cool! ^^, I was supposed to have lunch with a couple of friends but they had classes still. Because of that, I got treated for lunch! ^^


1320h


I met up with BJ oppa and Keo, who had his head shaved just before we met (LOL), in front of CBTL. They're the new friends I met at the English Cafe. BJ oppa bought coffee for us and since it was a very nice warm day (22 degrees), I decided to have white chocolate dream latte ice blended - my first ever ice blended drink at Coffee Bean here! LOL. We sat outside at the porch area and I was already brave not to put on a jacket or sweater. The warm sun was really such a bliss to my skin! ^^, I loved it!


BJ oppa told us about his interview with Asiana Airlines yesterday and when I found out he applied for FA, I was so amazed and said that that's one of the jobs I'd fancy and I definitely don't see it as a job, it's more of fun than work because it's traveling!!!^^ But it's funny that he doesn't like flying! Both Keo and him have phobias in airplanes! LOL. And so he's expecting not to get accepted, the experience of the interview was enough for him. kkk...

BIBIMBAP PLACE (not exactly the name^^)

2000h


Alone in the lab! Sok oppa already went back to Seoul so I have the lab all to myself and I can sing all I want! LOL. Just kidding! (Half - hahaha!)


I thought I would be having only oranges for dinner. But John came and so I went to dinner with him, Cindy and another friend of Cindy who's living in an apartment just outside the campus grounds. We went to a restaurant that's just a few steps from the apartment and Cindy told me to try the 청둑장. At first I was hesitant cos it was neither beef nor chicken and I didn't want to have pork as much as possible. Then she said something about beans. "Oh, soy beans?!" And I was thinking of tofu already - I'm not such a big fan of tofu. I was hopeful that the way the tofu was being cooked was tasteful even spicy cos I rarely eat plain tofu! When the dish arrived, it was a red soup filled with tofu! @_@ hahah! I didn't know what to say really and so when she asked me how it tasted, I just said "Ok". LOL. It smelled not so good too as what she said. Good thing there were lots of side dishes / appetizers and the seaweed wrap which they call "KIM". I preferred the sidedishes more than the main course we ordered. LOL. It tasted just well and blended with the kim and other appetizers at least, it wasn't that bad and it was just OK. c",)

청둑장

청둑장 (Ch'ong Dook Jang)

Just Scrambled Eggs

Oppas finally got tired of the cafeteria food today. For lunch, we went to a nearby restaurant outside the campus. Since I still cannot order food by myself, my friends would still suggest and describe the menu. Hyunjoo suggested that I either try the Pork Cutlet (동까스 "tong ka su") or the 오미라야스 (omi rice), kimchi fried rice covered with scrambled eggs on top (literally, it covered everything!). I decided to try the fried rice since the last time I ate there, I remembered ordering the port cutlet and only finishing half of it. When the dish arrived, I was like "Oh, breakfast - egg and rice in tomato ketchup for 4,000 won"...Hahaha!


This is how the 오미라야스 looked but with more egg on top!

Photo from: http://mybakingcottage.blogspot.com/2008/01/lunch-bento-tomato-fried-rice.html


This almost resembles the pork cutlet but the size of the pork they served at the restaurant was way bigger like 2 pieces of quarter pound pork! :))

Photo from: http://www.lastappetite.com/eating-japanese-food-like-a-complete-jackass/


For dinner, we ate at the professors' cafeteria. This time, I met another female grad student who is staying in Anam where she's doing her lab duties. She hardly spoke English but she is able to understand me anyway. We became friends from then on. ^^ After dinner, we went to Coffee Bean (I was about to go straight to the lab when an oppa told me to follow them at CBTL --- I don't want to buy an expensive coffee for now please T__T") and yey me! - It was Changhong oppa's treat for everyone! Cafe Mocha on the house! ^^,

Itaewon: The Unplanned Photowalk

It sometimes takes some courage to find things out by yourself. Yesterday, I simply had the perfect time to go on a leisure trip to a place I've never been. Another just-go-with-my-instincts-since-I-got-no-map impromptu trip! And that definitely was one of the most exciting trips I've done so far even just with myself and my beloved Daniella. ^^

02 March 2011

Let me start again from my first hour routine on a Saturday morning.

0610h

I rushed to the bus station in front of the campus. I almost thought that I would miss the bus but I arrived and was able to buy my ticket for 6,500 krw by 6:15.

The usual travel route starts with the bus in front of Korea University Sejong Campus at Jochiwon. For an hour and a half, I was on the bus. I needed to finish some readings since we were going to have a quiz in my afternoon class and I haven't finished studying half of it yet. For the first 25 minutes, I was reading in the bus. I never got dizzy at all! To think that I usually feel dizzy whenever I ride any vehicle and start reading even some text messages on a cellular phone! But it's different here, the bus simply has that smooth ride that I don't feel any dizziness at all. Just drowsiness because it's still too early! LOL.

0745h

The bus must have gone a notch faster since we arrived 5 minutes ahead of schedule at the Express Bus Terminal Station. I felt cold when I got off the bus and I badly needed something to keep me awake. I felt like I was sleep walking. So I rushed to get in the building to get warm and looked for a vendo machine to get me some coffee. I remembered the cappuccino in can that my classmate gave me last Tuesday, it was warm and all the while I thought that the Maxwell coffee-in-can that I saw at one vendo machine was the same, warm. But poor me, it was not! I needed a warm drink!

I saw a convenience store and what seemed to look like a heater that contained some Starbucks coffee and other brands that come in bottles. Ah! There it is! The warm coffee! And so I bought one, Cantata, and to my shock, it was 2,000 krw! The Maxwell in can was just 700 krw! T___T" I paid it with my T-money instead.

I walked my way towards Subway Line 3, used my T-money to get in and waited for the subway to reach Yaksu Station. At Yaksu, I almost exited the subway! I was obviously still half asleep! LOL. I literally laughed at myself and finally woke up at the thought that I almost went to the wrong way. I transfered to Line 6 to reach Anam Station.

0820h

I got off the subway and I remembered Exit 4. So there I went out at Anam Station Exit 4. Remembering the intersection, I would usually turn right to go to the main campus of Korea University. But while walking, I noticed that I passed by Etude House and I have never seen it before despite the fact that I have been going to and from Anam campus for several Saturdays already, and Tuesdays, of course but on another building (the other side of the road where I take another exit). Then I started walking backwards since the route seemed longer than I thought and I can't find Seoul Kitchen Cafe, the landmark to reach the gate going towards the Biotechnology Building. Ahemmmm... This seems wrong. Then I remembered, "Oh yeah! Exit 4 is the exit I take for my Tuesday route!". LOL. So I went back the subway and crossed the street.

Now, I was in the familiar route. I saw a pigeon on the rode, brought out "Daniella" and started shooting. Suddenly, a familiar voice called out my name. It was MJ oppa with his cup of warm Starbucks coffee. We walked together uphill towards our building where we would be having our first period class at 9:00.

1215h

We were dismissed and I decided to check out the Grazie cafeteria at the basement. It was open! I ordered again the same sandwich (doughnut shaped-bread / "soft" bagel with lettuce, cheese, tomatoes and ham) for 3,000 krw. While eating, I was also reading. I started to feel sleepy again so I bought some chocolate Kisses. A dozen costs 1,000 krw! I only wanted a pair of them but that's how they were sold. Take it or leave it. So I took them and gave a pair to the lady in charge of the cafeteria. LOL.

1330h

The afternoon class started. At least this time, my eyes were not drooping anymore unlike last week where I could hardly keep my eyes open. LOL. The class was supposed to end at 4:30pm but our professor dismissed us by 4:00.

1600h

MJ oppa had something to do and he thought I wanted to go back to Jochiwon early, so I went ahead. Along the road, I met my morning class professor and told him that I'm having a hard time with the pop questions since I've never had a background in that subject. We took the subway but he got off a few stations ahead of me and since he knew I wanted to go sight-seeing, he bid me farewell and enjoyment for the trip I was about to have.

1635h

Finally! I'm exiting Itaewon Subway! Since I had no map on hand and reading the T-map on my phone would sometimes take much time and might even lead me to small accidents like getting bumped along the busy streetsides of Itaewon, I asked for some tips from SK through Kakaotalk. He told me to check out the Ankara Picnic just right outside Exit 3 if I wanted good kebab and see the Islam Palace just a few blocks down the road. He sent me a photo from google map but it hardly had any information of the places.

I read the signs and saw that Itaewon Subway Exit 4 would lead me to the market. It caught my eyes and seemed to be more interesting than the ones written on Exit 3. So I decided to go for Exit 4 first. Anyhow, if I lose my way I can just go back to the subway and reroute again. LOL. As I got out of Exit 4, I saw more pigeons! They were all on the ground pecking at some crackers thrown by some passers-by. They didn't scatter despite my coming near them as I kept taking their photos. The lady vendor nearby was starting to get irritated since the pigeons were starting to get closer to her, as if she had the food they wanted to eat. So she shooed them with her stick. LOL.

I walked straight ahead on the sidewalk from then on. I saw McDonald's! I saw more familiar stores like Merrel... And I saw SUBWAY! My favorite sandwich store! I'm gonna come back for it next time. I only had enough money that day for a kebab and some extra for "emergency landings" (like getting lost). LOL.

I saw a sign that says "Art Gallery" and so I followed it. Near the end of the street, there is the "Welcome to Itaewon" sign over the road with the stoplights. At the corner of the streetside where I was standing, there was also a stage that had some portrait images with an invitation to have your photos taken there. I took some shots around that area and some Caucasian guy approached me and asked if I was an amateur photographer. He was creepy though cos he was being rude and asked if I wanted to take his nude photos! YUCK! How dare he! I simply and nicely told him, "No, I don't want." Then when I walked away, a few minutes after, he followed me and told me he has a big van (offering me a ride or something). Scary and freaky dude! I declined it of course! Then I decided to zigzag my way through a small alley so that he won't be able to follow me anymore.

In that alley, I saw an art gallery. The walls so colorful that I couldn't help but take lots of photos in that area. Just perfect! A few steps from the gallery on the other corner, there is a cafe and gallery shop. It is a great place for artists and art enthusiasts! The place itself, I cannot explain in words, I just find it so amusing! It gave a warm look despite the cold wind, the coziness, the puzzly-like way to go through it, the shades and shapes that can mesmerize the eyes, the playful spirit of that little corner...every bit of that place spelled F-U-N! Relaxing but energetic! It's so ironic in itself! *___* I'd love to go back to that place again. GALLERY GOLMOK --- bold, fierce, welcoming, blissful, inviting. ^^,

After the tour around that cozy area, I decided to go further and explore more of the small sidestreets and hidden alleys, the market along the main rode was not the only market at all! There's more! More shops, more fashion, more stuff to bewilder the eyes of the shopaholics! LOL. I wasn't there to shop though, window shopping probably, but more of canvassing and sight-familiarization. ^^

I saw cafes and some small restaurants along the way. Then I saw a huge building with an irregularly designed geometric shape. It looked so fabulously sun-stricken that I could not resist having "Dee" take her best shots! I went around it and found out that it was the Art Hall. I didn't know if it was open though and it seemed that I wouldn't have enough time if I'd go in and tour the place. So I decided to just take photos of it's magnificent exterior then. I was back on the highway and along the sidewalk, an old man was walking with his bike that read some sign. He also had some recordings played with his bike's speaker and all I could understand was "Kristu". He's probably a Christian too and it seemed like some proclamation being announced.

I went on and turned right, back to the street where I started the straight, long walk from the subway. I decided to cross the rode and check out the other side. This time, I was feeling it. THE FOOD! Good dining restaurants from everywhere! American, Italian, Mexican, Indian, Russian, Chinese, Japanese, Thai ---- there were so many of them and I couldn't help but take more photos of the place! I even stumbled over a restaurant that say's they're 100% vegan! Something to remember, I took a photo of it cos I plan to try it out. LOL.

I was hoping to find a Filipino restaurant and I would have eaten there even if it would cost more than my budget. I simply miss Pinoy food! Adobo, binagoongan, kare-kare, menudo, tinola, kilawin, laing --- "ohhh now I'm so hungry just thinking of them!". I walked on, more shots and saw even more pubs for soju and magkeolli lovers, clubbers and party-goers. Hmmm...^^,

When I reached the intersection and crossed the road, right at the corner was Dubai Restuarant.Outside it, an Indian-looking ice cream man was putting on a show for his customers. I went to see and took some photos as he flipped his scoop of ice cream upside down for several times and the ice cream never fell! He even made me part of the audience and pulled some tricky stunt on me by offering me the ice cream and getting it back up with his long stick. (I wasn't able to buy though, I didn't feel like eating anything cold since I was already hungry. But I'll be coming back for that next time!).

I remembered that the famous or must-try kebab at Ankara Picnic is just right outside Exit 3. I recalled getting out of Exit 4 so I decided to go back down the subway to look for Exit 3. When I got out of Exit 3, I simply couldn't help but laugh at myself because I was already walking along the side of Exit 3 before I went back to the Exit 4 stairway. LOL. From then on, I walked and saw ATM machines where I can finally use my BDO atm card! Also, there's a Western Union but I wasn't sure how the transactions would go since there was no officer since it was a Saturday. At least, now I know that there's that! ^^,

I saw a sign that pointed to the Catholic Church and I followed it. By the time I reached the church, it was already 6:30pm and the anticipated mass has already began. I saw the schedule outside and it read 6:00pm during Saturdays. Too bad, I took photos of the place instead and walked back to look for Ankara Picnic. I was already about to give up and ask the ice cream guy where Ankara Picnic is since I've been passing the same corner twice already. Then I decided to walk on and go near Exit 3. And amazingly, Anakara Picnic is just to the right of the Exit! I didn't notice it because there were so many people literally queuing just to buy the kebab! It definitely looked like a box office hit movie! So I followed towards the end of the line to order the so-called "delicious kebab" for 4,000 krw. The foreigners in front of me ordered like 17 kebabs! Wow! By the time I got my turn to order, I tried the LAMB KEBAB - and I had the spicy one, of course. ^^, In the small place, the kebab store had some free magazines and a map!!! I finally have a map to go with! Wooot! Thanks to Ankara Picnic! What a way to complete my day. But nope, my day isn't over yet! When I got out of the store, I saw some women having their autograph signed by some foreigner. I don't recognize the beautiful lady but I asked her permission if I can take some photos of them. LOL.

I walked back again and looked for the Islam Palace. Around that area, there you'd see the "LITTLE INDIA" of Seoul! They had their own bakery and a variety of stores, too. At the palace, I went up and took several photos. It was located on a hilltop that from there, you can see an overview of Itaewon. Probably if I went on top of the building, if it were possible, it would have given a way better view of Itaewon. I also wanted to see the inside of the palace but I didn't dare to cos it seemed inappropriate and there seemed to be only men inside since I never saw a woman come out of it. I took photos of the exteriors then.

I remembered the art gallery again and a lady back in the gallery shop, Suyoung, told me that there's going to be a show at 6:00pm. It was past 7 already but I knew they that it was the opening night of the exhibit. When I got to the place, I saw the artist, Eric Scott Nelson. I took some photos of the exhibit and had a good conversation with the artist. He was the person whom I've been using as my subject and background earlier in the afternoon while I was taking photos from the gallery shop! He is a very entertaining and funny guy and he talked a lot. LOL.

Now it was almost 8:00, I had to head back home to catch the 9:10 pm train to Jochiwon at the Seoul Station.

2010h

Back in the subway.

2035h

I reached Seoul Station. I walked towards the ticket booth and bought myself a train ticket. I was hoping to get the no-seat ticket so it would be cheaper and planned on seating at the cafeteria instead. But there were still a lot of seats left! Ohhh..So my train ticket cost 8,100 krw.

2100h

I went to Platform No. 4, went in the 3rd car and sat at my reserved seat, 46. I set my phone to alarm at 10:35 pm just in case I would fall asleep in the train. LOL.

Til my next adventure!!! -cathianne c",)

Ready, get set...Let's GALBI!

jumping garlic dancing kalbi, a photo by cathiannephotography on Flickr.

My first GALBI! And indeed it was 아주 맛있다!!! 11,000 krw for this belly-busting, mouth-watering Korean cuisine is worth so much worth it! Excited and looking forward to my next and more galbi with everyone else!!! ^^

CLICK HERE for more info about GALBI

Lunch at Truth Building Cafeteria

Cathianne's Journal:


Truth Cafeteria and Pick-nick Dinner
30 March 2011


Menu for Today:
Lunch - 돈갈비김지찌개 (Dak galbi kimchi jigae) for 3,000 krw

Dinner - chicken tomato green veggie salad, cold cuts, cut egg omellete, and rice balls

1210h

 I had lunch for the first time at the cafeteria inside the Truth Building. It was more spacious and cleaner compared to the usual cafeteria where I eat lunch with my oppas. I like the ambiance of the Truth cafeteria too! They had a good set of menu for lunch as well that I could not choose between the Dak Galbi or the Chamchi Bibimbap! But I wanted to have seaweed wraps so I chose the dak galbi even if I wanted some tuna bibimbap...If I could just switch some of the food then...LOL.

돈갈비김지찌개 (Dak galbi kimchi jigae)

This is my lunch! Dak galbi kimchi jigae^^
Photo from android

Two of Four of Today's Lunch Menu at Truth Building Cafeteria
Photo from android

It seems I'm already having SPRING FEVER. I learned the term from Jongchun yesterday. The feeling of being sleepy especially after lunch time. Being drowsy and all. The whole afternoon I was reading the same chapter of Fluid Mechanics then I would stop for a while and play some PVZ cos I got to the point of actually napping for several seconds already. LOL. That's not good...

1910h

Since this afternoon, the headset has been covering my ears to keep my mind awake somehow. MJ and GJ oppa called me to join them at the other table for dinner. It was from Kyeongjin oppa's girlfriend who visited the lab earlier. She left food for dinner. Everything was delicious! There was this rice ball that I'm not sure of how they call it, some cold cuts, sausages, egg omelette and the winning piece of all --- the chicken-tomato-lettuce-yellow bellpepper salad! That was really 맛있다 !!! ^^,

Doengjang Rice Ball
Photo source: SEMPIO 

*** Though I'm not sure if the one we had is similar to the Doenjang Rice Ball. ***

http://www.sempio.com/eng/recipencooking/recipe/view.asp?IDX=150

Here's a link for those who'd like to try this one out! Seems the same only that the one we had for dinner was really round and ball-shaped. ^^,

********************************************************************************************

That's all for today! Til my next blog! c",)

Hot Korean Soup Day

Cathianne's Journal:

Two Hot Free Meals for My Tuesday!

Korean Soups, Aja!

29 March 2011

Today's Menu:

Lunch: 설렁탕 (seol-leong-dang) - lunch treat from our professor's lab

Dinner: 갈비탕 (galbi-tang) - dinner treat from another phd student

After-dinner: CBTL Cafe Mocha from GJ oppa

0345h
I woke up really early to read the assigned pages for today's lecture.


0430h
I went to the lab so that I won't be tempted to go back to snoozing again and miss the bus! I won't be missing the bus anymore, not ever the sake of my all-nighters!


0600h
I walked to the bus station and bought my ticket.


0625h
On the bus now. Gone to Seoul - Gosuk Express Bus Terminal.


0845h
I was already in the building and the auditorium was still locked.


0900h
Class began. At least today's lecture were not so strange at all, a lot of the terms were familiar. ^^kk


1150h
We were dismissed early. My classmates invited me to join them for lunch. It was our professor's treat from their laboratory. 좋은!!! ^^


I met another oppa, Danny, who has already been to the Philippines!!! ^^ He's been to Baguio and Cebu two years ago for vacation. And he learned how to say "PARA". :))


1215h
With our professor and with the other graduate and PhD students from our professor's lab, we walked to a restaurant outside the campus. Another new place for me! I've never been to that part of Seoul before so that time, I was lost in directions. =)) So I just kept following them. We went in GOOD RESTAURANT, not sure but that was what was written, I'm not exactly sure if that's the name of the restaurant. Just like most traditional restaurants, shoes off! ^^,


Although I can already read somehow, still slow too, I still cannot understand most of the menu content so they just recommended the seolleongdang for me. When the food has been served, I was hesitant again cos the soup was still boiling! It was HOOOOOT! Haha! Although it's really 맛있 다, I had to eat slowly and blow the soup before sipping or else my tongue will get burned! T_____T" 
Anyhow, it was NAMIT, SARAP, DELICIOSO, délicieux, 맛있 다!!! ^^ 

SEOLLEONGDANG

Photo from: http://www.flickr.com/photos/pabo76

After lunch, I visited Jongchun's lab at the Innovation Building and had a cup of tea. My bus would be leaving in two hours yet so I still had time for some chats with 남동생 ^^,


A funny incident happened just before we left the building. I was introduced to his adviser and all the while I thought I should just give my name while giving a hand shake. My name sounded like greeting HI to a friend and the professor was a bit shocked and I wondered  why he didn't answer back with his name as well. Then Jongchun explained that I was actually introducing my name. WATTANAME to begin with anyway... LOL.


1400h
I took my time through the subway station and relaxed. When I got off line 6 at Yaksu Station, I almost went through the exit! I was not myself again and lost in the sounds of my sister's shuffle! Hahah...I went back and looked for the transfer to line 3 where I need to go to make it on time to the bus station. So I had to walk a bit faster this time cos I just lost a few minutes dilly-dallying around the subway. LOL.


1440h
I finally exited line 3 Express Bus Terminal Station and started following the crowd again. Because of the crowd, I found a store that was on sale and selling cellphone gadgets and accessories for ladies! It was fun looking at the items only to realize that I was losing time again! Haha! So I hurried to look for the subway's exit. And ooops...I almost went out to the wrong exit again. I had to retrace my steps until I found the escalator where I should be going up! LOL.


1450h
After 10 minutes of almost being lost again, I stopped by a hat/cap vendor. I had spare time since the bus platform is already visible from where I was standing. So I took some time looking at the interesting caps and bonnets she's selling until I finally bought one! There were a lot of cute designs and the seller was also making me try all of them. LOL.


1505h
I hopped on the bus with my stuff, the shuffle in my ear and the new cap on my head! KKK!^^


1645h
I got off at Sejong Campus main gate. I remembered that the Department Secretary told me this morning that my ARC (Alien Registration Card) was already available for pick-up at the main administration building through the Academic Affairs Team. I have never been to that building yet but while I was walking (I was also planning to ask one of the oppas to help me with it but) I also saw the Administration Hall. "There's not much difference between 'hall' and 'building' I guess", I thought and so I went in. Just the right place and the right time, the Academic Affairs Team was just on the ground floor. From the entrance, one has to turn right and look for the door with the Academic Affairs Team sign on it. When I entered, I asked the lady on the first desk about where to get the ARC and the one beside her immediately answered that it's with her. Perfect!^^ The ARC she was holding was also mine (so I guess I was the only foreigner who had that process then? kkk...). For the mailing fee, I paid an additional 4,000krw also. Not bad, at least all I did was submit the requirements for the ARC to my school and they had everything processed. It about two and a half weeks (approx. 10 working days) for my ARC to arrive since I submitted the requirements.


1800h
Dinner time! All of us in the lab went out. I only had enough cash for a regular priced meal so I wasn't expecting anything beyond 6,000 krw that night. BUT, when we went out, we didn't go to the cafeteria. We didn't go out to the restaurants near the school either. For the first time, I hopped in GJ oppa's car with Hyunjoo and MJ oppa. (Dude, those were hot wheels! Two-door black sedan! Neat!^^). I loved the sounds as well, at least I could relate with those songs (Jason Mraz, Karina, Hoobastank...) LOL.


So happy that Hyunjoo was there, she ordered for me since I had no preference on the food anyway. Almost all of us had Galbi-tang. KH, Teuk, GJ, MJ, Gwang, Wayne, Jungeol, Changhong, Hyunjoo and I were already seated and waiting for the dishes. Another boiling hot soup! Just before the main dishes were served, the usual appetizers were set on the table. HUGE GREEN CHILIES are dipped in chili pastes and eaten raw! WHOOOOH! I didn't wanna try anymore since the guys seemed to like it a lot anyway. If it was wrapped in cheese sticks I would have eaten them! LOL.


And the orders arrived. One meal costs 7,000 krw and luckily, I had 6pcs of 1,000krw bills and some coins which I believed would make more than a thousand, so I'm ok at least. The soup was delicious as well, and oh so HOT! Almost burned my tongue again! Then I realized that the practice of eating it was really to mix the rice into the bowl of soup! At lunch, I remembered seeing Jongchun, who had the same order as mine, place all his rice into his seolleondang. I just ate the rice separately. Ahhh...Now I know. LOL. After I had half of my rice, I also mixed it with the galbi-tang and indeed, it made the soup cooler somehow that I was able to finish up the whole thing! (tumpak! haha!) And to our surprise, the other student paid for all our meal tonight. Honey and I both had the same reaction that the dinner was expensive, but since it was a treat, then all is good! LOL.


GALBI-TANG

Photo from: aprilantipodal.wordpress.com

Upon reaching the campus, I had a last song syndrome of Karina's "Slow Motion", the last song I heard in oppa's car when we got off. Then he was directing us to go to Coffee Bean. Oh no. I looked at Hyunjoo and both of us were like "another expense???" T___T" Since I still had some cash, I ordered cafe mocha hot since it was only for 4,500 krw for the regular one. MJ oppa was teasing Hyunjoo that she could not reach the floor with her toes if she sat on the high stool. And we played with some pump / air regulator for the burette (we didn't know what it was called) while waiting for our coffees. Then suddenly, GJ and the other oppas went out already after getting the orders. So it's free! It's been paid already! Another free CBTL tonight! Thanks to oppa (whoever among them paid for it), Hyunjoo and I didn't even know. ^^,

Girly Talk

30 March 2011

0030h

It was already past midnight when I went back to my dormitory at Justice Building. Then Hyunjoo messaged me to visit her room at the 3rd floor and she gave me an orange. It was my first time to actually go up the staircase and see the other floors. I stay at the ground floor and the rooms are for two people with a private shower per room. But in the upper floors, they had a common bathroom and study area and each room had four people. The room is spacious at least compared to my room and how the fixtures and furnitures were arranges were a lot better in spacing compared to my room. At least now I've seen most of the dormitory. Hyunjoo and I went out to the terrace for some talk and since she wanted to smoke. We also went in their room where I met her three roommates. One of them spoke English well. They were all nice and all seemed to be busy with their laptops either typing, doing homework, or playing some games. LOL.

0230h

I used the elevator for the first time and went back to my room to sleep. LOL.

c",)