South Korea: Jade Garden

The reason I wanted to go back to Korea, to see this place from That Winter, The Wind Blows, SBS and Love Rain, KBS.

On my way to Incheon last month, I was able to finish the movie, You are My Pet (last scene is also taken there).  

English Boarder and Italian Garden:

Love Rain - KBS 2012; That Winter, The Wind Blows - SBS 2013

South Korea: Former Seoul Station

Former Seoul Station

2014 Feb: South Korea: Seoul Food

There is nothing to worry when it comes to food – I did not plan anything for lunch or dinner, since good food is anywhere in Seoul.

  

Restaurant found on the second floor open until 2am (near GS25, Myeongdong Exit 8)

Food: 9 out of 10

Value: Affordable

Atmosphere: 9 out of 10

Location: near GS25, Myeongdong Exit 8

Glad that this decent restaurant is still open to welcome us on our first midnight in Myeongdong.  I love the man-made cherry blossom tree inside. 

Underground Hole in the Wall Japanese Restaurant

Food: 9 out of 10

Value: Affordable

Atmosphere: 9 out of 10

Orders:

Location: Seolleung station Exit 1, turn left before Posco, on the third block, take the stairs to go underground of Italian Bistro (along Teheran-ro 78-gil, Daechi-dong, Gangnam-gu)

Unique experience that reminds me of Gion, Kyoto - we were actually seating on the floor while eating.  I miss it.

2014 Feb: South Korea: Seoul: Drama Cafes

It’s been two years when I last stepped at Korean peninsula, and with that I have gathered the places I wanted to visit from the dramas and realities I have been watching.  Let’s start with coffee shops I wanted to try.

Café De Chocolate

Food: 9 out of 10

Value: Average

Atmosphere: 9 out of 10

Orders: Orders= White hot chocolate (5,200 KRW = 208 PHP), Real dark hot chocolate (5,800 KRW = 232 PHP), Hotdog (7600 KRW = 304 PHP)

Location: Chungmuro Station Exit 3

Drama: That Winter, The Wind Blows (2013).

Website: https://www.facebook.com/dechocomania, http://www.dechocolatecoffee.cn/

I did not bother to research on which store they used on the drama, but the one I visited is in Chungmuro Station Exit 3.  We got inside still a bit dark, welcomed our orders and but the service strictly started at 9:00am. 

Cozy and offers a lot of magazines and books to read.  They also have a separate room for the smokers.

2014 Feb: South Korea: Seoul: K-pop Residence

My fouth time in South Korea, third time in Seoul and third time to have the base camp in Myeongdong.

Taking an AREX for the second time is less expensive than taking a bus, but I personally prefer the bus since I don’t want line transfers and its hard to bring luggage in stairs (2011-2012).  Unexpectedly, the plane is delayed on its arrival fro 2 hours to pick-up passengers in Manila hub.  That makes our arrival in Incheon delayed from 20:05 to past 22:20.  We still need to take the shuttle train going to main terminal, queue at the Immigration, wait for the luggage, and we can no longer take the airport bus 6015 going Myeongdong.

I still wonder for a while if there is a possibility to take a night bus, until with a snap I got to process my thoughts immediately - "I need 10000 each (thanks to the extra won we have from our previous trips), I need our old T-money." Rushed to 7-11 to top-up, get down to lower ground take the connecting walkalator, rushed to the train entrance (not sure if I did take AREX, but looks like not, it is an all-stop train going to Seoul Station.  We were able to find our way out and we were literally running, Im pushing our 2 4-wheel luggage to speed us up.  When we get on the station entrance, there are already guards, I said "to Myeongdong Station", and they let us pass - this is the last trip from Seoul Station for Line 4 going to Myeongdong.

This year (2014) on Exit 8, there is already an escalator, but because it already passed the operating hours it is no longer moving, we still have to take the stairs.  After crossing 3 sub streets, we were able to find our hostel.

K Pop Residence II Myeongdong

http://md2.kpophouse.co.kr/?lang=en 

Book K Pop Residence II, Seoul, South Korea in Agoda
Reception hours 07:00~23:00

4-2, Myeongdong 2(i)-ga, Jung-gu, Seoul

Price: Average for an accommodation in the middle of Myeongdong.  If you prefer cheaper accommodation outside shopping district, there are lot to choose from. 

Location: Good – On the side street of Myeongdong, it is the 4^th and 5^th level of the building, just above Kang Ho Dong’s Baekjeong BBQ restaurant.  Just outside the main street, you’ll immediately see Etude, Face Shop, farther left, you have Forever 21, and GS25 (25-hour convenient store).

2014 Feb: Philippines: Manila: Travel Expo

Philippines: Manila: Wicked

I learned Wicked from Chico who flew to Singapore just to watch the musical sometime in its showing dates on Dec 6 2011 til Feb 26, 2012.

As it is in Manila this early 2014, we bought in at an early bird discount and able to watched it on its first weekend.  Tomorrow is the last night of its showing, be Galindafied with the Ozians!

"Defying Gravity" 

– Elphaba, Glinda, Guards and Citizens of Oz

It's time to trust my instincts

Close my eyes: and leap!

...

So if you care to find me

Look to the western sky!

As someone told me lately:

"Ev'ryone deserves the chance to fly!"

And if I'm flying solo

At least I'm flying free

"As Long as You're Mine" 

– Elphaba and Fiyero

I've lost all resistance

And crossed some borderline

And if it turns out

It's over too fast

I'll make ev'ry last moment last

As long as you're mine

"For Good" - Galinda

I've heard it said

That people come into our lives for a reason

Bringing something we must learn

And we are led

To those who help us most to grow

If we let them

And we help them in return

Well, I don't know if I believe that's true

But I know I'm who I am today

Because I knew you:

Who can say if I've been changed for the better?

But because I knew you

I have been changed for good

A story of friendship, love and forgiving - a must see musical!

March 9, 2014 is the last showing day of Wicked in Manila.  On my recent trip to Korea, it is also being shown in Charlotte Theatre (http://www.wickedthemusical.co.kr/).

Date Watched: 2014 Jan

2014 Jan: Philippines: Tuguegarao: Callao Cave, Penablanca

How to get there: Take a tricycle going to Penablanca terminal (as the locals say, "parkingan") going to Iguig.  There are 2 options, take a tricycle going to the port for the boat ride or take a tricycle directly going to the cave.  From our research, it would cost 500php for a special trip, we tried to huddle, but the cheapest we can get is 700php for a direct tricycle ride.  It is almost less than 40 minutes ride going up, until we reach the gates.  It is a safe trip, but the only scary thing I notice is there is landslide on a side of the mountain, where the road was limited to an alternate passage of the vehicles.   

As a new policy of the cave officials, no guide no tour.  It started with 183 steps going up to reach the entrance of the cave. 

1^st Chamber known as Aviary because Nido birds are staying there and now getting they are tying to prohibit those getting the bird’s nest.  

  

Passage going to the small chapel is already easily accessible as it is already flattened and in concrete.

2^nd chamber is “Divine”, this is the chapel area. 

3^rd chamber is “Dark”.  Simple concrete stairs are built to easily reach Chambers 4 and 5.

4^th chamber is “Cream”, there is rock formation that looks like 3 scoops of ice cream.

rock formation above the chapel

5^th chamber is the “Jungle”, there are rock formation of mushroom, king kong and rice terraces.  You'll also see the forest and greenery area.

Chambers 6 and 7 are slightly difficult to reach at first, but still accessible with a help of a guide.  (difficulty level? Sagada is much challenging, so I say, Callao is much friendly).  You’ll see there rock formation of merlion and motor boat.

Looks like Chamber 7 is the lowest point but also the closest from its opening on the ceiling.

2014 Jan: Philippines: 3 Churches to Visit in Tuguegarao

Iguig Calvary Hills and St. James the Apostle Parish

How to get there:

Take a tricycle (10ph/pax) going to Don Domingo Van Terminal. Take the van going to Iguig (25ph/pax) its about 30 minutes, remind the driver to drop you off on Calvary, because we missed it even if we have reminded the driver and the conductor.  So we have to walk back by around 10 minutes.  From the main street, we walked another 10 minutes inside a smaller street.

Behind the cross is the river - The Cagayan River, also known as the Rio Grande de Cagayan, is the longest and largest river in the Philippine Archipelago. [Reference]

We were welcomed by an old brick church (feels like the one from Fr. Adriane's drama). This is St. James the Apostle Parish.  They say that the place became one of the pilgrim sites specifically during holy week.

Going back: 

Find your way back to the main road, vans going back to city centre with sign boards "Tuguegarao City" will be passing by.

Saints Peter and Paul Metropolitan Cathedral

Located in Rizal Street.  It is another made of brick church.  On our visit, they are still restoring the church and noticed that they allowed shops inside the church grounds.

Basilica Minore of Our Lady of Piat

How to get there:  Take a tricycle going to “parkingan” (parking area, terminal) going to Piat.  Take the van and it will take less than an hour to reach town of Piat.

2014 Jan: Philippines: Tuguegarao: Holiday Plaza Hotel

Arrival in Tuguegarao Airport
Flight from Manila to Tuguegarao took only 60 minutes.  Since it is only a national airport, do not expect much, there is no conveyor belt and if you are just travelling in short time no need to check-in your things (grab that seat sale!).

For airport transfer, there are tricycles or better yet ask your hotel if they offer airport transfer service. 

Accommodation: Holiday Plaza Hotel

Hotel lobby is very stylish, from the seats, to mirrors, wall decors, to chandeliers and clocks.

Itinerary: Iloilo, Philippines

Itinerary: Places to go, Things to see, What to do in Iloilo?

Day 1

Museo Iloilo

Jaro Cathedral

Angelicum

Calle Real

Smallville

Day 2

Molo Church

Miag-ao Church

Guimbal Church

2014 Jan: Philippines: Iloilo: Days Hotel

Where to stay in Iloilo?

I prefer the boutique hotels in Smallville area, but these are pretty much new so they still have fewer reviews online and much are not yet found on printed maps.  If you stay here, there is unending night parties on the streets.

We also considered Sarabia Manor Hotel & Convention Center, but decided to stay in Days Hotel Iloilo.

Price: Above Average. 110USD for Classic Deluxe Room 

2014 Jan: Philippines: 7 tasted restaurants in Iloilo

Tibiao Bakery

Food: 8 out of 10

Value: Affordable

Atmosphere: 7 out of 10

Food: Chicken Mami with Egg (37php), Ham Sandwich

Feels like Pan De Manila inside because of the brick wall.  They are very generous on vegetables and ingredients for the soup.  It tastes so good as well.  It is commendable that they served the sandwich hot and yummy.

Floyd's Famous BBQ

Food: 7 out of 10

Value: Affordable

Atmosphere: 7 out of 10

Order: Country Sausage Meal, hot chocolate, four season’s juice

The one in Atrium closes early, but the one near Small Ville area stays open late in the evening since it is place for late drinking.

2014 Jan: Philippines: 5 Churches to Visit in Iloilo

Jaro Cathedral (Our Lady of the Candles National Shrine)

Take a jeepney with “Jaro Ikot” as a signboard, drop by the corner of E Lopez St, before the jeepney takes right turn at Graciano Lopez Jaena Park and walk to the church’s entrance gates.  Otherwise the “Ikot” means it will still go to other areas before returning to the park, and passing the front area of the church.

I would say, “where modern meets the old architecture”.  The 2 bell towers are newly constructed and the front walls of the church are being restored with cements.

The walls and good looking ceilings in the church are newly painted with green, blue and yellow.

2014 Jan: Philippines: Iloilo: In My Eyes

Airport

From Manila it is about an hour and 15 minutes away to reach Iloilo International Airport.  Yes, you read it right “international” and it speaks for itself.  Part of Region 6 (Western Visayas), it looks better than other local airport terminal in other provinces. No need to walk in tarmacs but instead has a decent connecting bridge.  Rotating belt is powered and working well.  The transport going to the city is organized too.

Airport Transfer

Two options are available, take metered taxi (flag down rate is 40php) or take a van going to city proper (SM City Iloilo terminal) for an affordable fare of 50php.  From the mall, you can take jeepney going to different areas in the city.

In your return to the airport, you can take the same van for higher fare of 70php.  There is also SM Traveler's Lounge where you can leave your luggage at the Baggage Counter for only 30ph, then, spend your remaining hours buying pasalubong (returning presents).