5/30/12

Nitpicker

Before the trip to CEBU, I could find lots of worthless information. Ok not worthless but not as detailed say as traveling to London or Berlin. I'm realizing that Asia is a underdeveloped when it comes to blogging. Information is sparse, un-detailed. Reviews mainly deal with resorts on TripAdvisor--which is lowkey suspicious in my opinion. How do you know if the person reviewing the place is getting a commission to write their opinions. With a blog it's a bit neutral. Some people are lucky enough to get paid to write their initial thoughts but most are not.

So in a series of parts, I'll detail from beginning to end my trip to CEBU and I'll do the same for BANGKOK. Get ready for lots of info peoples, cuz I have a lot to say haha.




5/28/12

3 am bonding moments

Just yesterday I was warm, safe, sleep with my husband. Today I'm sitting at the gate waiting to board for my trip to Cebu. My legs & feet are killing me due to yesterday's excessive hiking adventure. PT and I hiked Mt. Soyasan in honor of loosing carbs but was swept up in the embrace of Buddhism.

May 28 is Buddha's birthday and We were treated with such hospitality and warmth. It was inspiring the laughter we shared as we were moderately encouraged to climb to the top (we tried) and mayhap to enjoy life.

Now 17 hours later I am again encouraged to Carpe Diem. Traveling is a huge passion of mine--budget traveling to be exact... I'm looking forward to my trip and I only wish my husband could attend next time.

Ps. On May 28, we celebrated our 7th month anniversary of marriage. Love u babe :)

Pss. Switching currency at airport blahhh

5/23/12

Could you be a patriot for your country?



Result of Finger torture

wax figures in cell
Yesterday PT and I visited the Seodaemun Prison History Hall in Seoul, it was PT's first time visiting a prison museum, a couple years ago I visited Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial site in Germany, yet still I found it unsettling and disturbing that less than 90 years ago people were tortured and killed for no reason at all. Granted it happens today in ways I can't even imagine but to walk in a building or within a solitary cell just makes me feel so.... I don't know. I didn't like it. I couldn't imagine it. Would I have been able to withstand the pressure? Would I have held onto my convictions whilst experiencing finger torture or water boarding? These Koreans were patriots/martyrs for the sake of gaining freedom for Korea. Could I do it?

PT and I agreed that attending the museum definitely made us appreciative and guilty of what we have acquired through life and how we moan about superficial mischievousness. It's day 3 of PT being in Korea and I can't stop thinking, "what would I do" if faced with being bold versus complacent. Is it wrong to be complacent? Is it wrong to be bold?
wax figures in cell

Korean Patriot: Lee Byeong-hee

5/21/12

The Eagle has Landed

PT walks out her bedroom and the first things out her mouth are "I'm so hungry I want hash-browns." She walks over to the fridge, and sees a Korean flyer "omg FRIED CHICKEN". See this is what happens when you deprive yourself in order to loose weight/get healthy. And you know what, it feels GOOD.. kinda, I really wanted to dip wheat crackers in spinach dip.. yes for breakfast lol

My hubs is so sweet. He got PT a welcome to Korea basket; filled with a bottle of Nuvo, a can of Korean bear, Soju (cheap Korean alcohol), Korean & American chocolate, a card, flowers, and finally a cake..that he didn't know was an icecream cake until it started melting on the table lol. I got PT a mini bottle of Patron. ... I told PT she has a party-girl rep and I think she's perfectly fine with it haha.

Clearly excitement and relaxation has kicked in. I don't start my Leave Without Pay until Friday or Monday, but I'm almost tempted to begin today. So tired of 4 hours of work and all I wanna do is play. Inexpensively play of course.

So PT and I are off too see the sights of Korea but we'll first start the day with 20 minutes of cardio and a fruit/veggie smoothie. yay  -_- :)

PT's arrival in Seoul yesterday

5/5/12

Do you absolutely need this (fill in the blank) in your life?

Furniture. Beds. Mattresses. Curtains. Rugs. Chairs. Art works. Cups.

I can't make a decision. My current apartment is not decorated or furnished by my individuality but by of the typical foreigner based apartments. We have butterfly wall paper in one room, a air conditioner with intricately laced flowers, faux wooden floors, all white cabinets, and butterscotch curtains. Oddly enough it fits. I'm not against it. I like my Korean apartment a lot and I could see myself growing into it and supplying it with my personality. Unfortunately we'll be leaving Korea in the next 4 months and resettling elsewhere --location TBA.

 So now my fingers are constantly pinning home decor, comparing color schemes, and pondering why a chair costs 300$. It's hard to live in style. I already have difficulty with decisiveness but its becoming worse because Sam and I are not in unison on what we want.

 HE has an idea, minimalism, muted colors, pictures of us, pillow top mattress, a super comfortable couch, 42' tv, xbox, 2 bedroom, 2 bath, spacious
SHE has an idea, bohemian Parisian, muted colors spiced with oranges & purples, 4-5 dressers/cabinets, a living room with a couch, several chairs, a sitting room, tea sets, art work, painted doors, book shelves etc

Clearly we want specific things. Sam has an issue with clutter. I have an issue with not having enough coat rack stands. Everything I can see myself living. He can't.

Recently we've come to an agreement, when we do move into our new location. We'll get the bare essentials and buy furniture as we live, that way we can save money and aren't forced to buy items we don't geniunely like.

Our current furnishments include:

  • wooden expandable dining room table and 4 wooden side chairs.
  • microwave
  • crock-pot
  • dell desktop
  • dell laptop
  • acoustic guitar
  • pots & pans
  • silverware & cooking ware
  • 4 plates, 4 bowls, 4 mugs (all blue), 4 glasses (clear)
  • 1 baking dish
  • armories 
Essentials we need :
  • mattress
  • car
  • dressers

Essentials we want:
  • headboard
  • sofa or sectional
  • chaise ** all me**
  • 30-42' screen tv **all sam**
  • xbox **all sam** .. I'd rather get a wii
  • book shelves
  • coffee tables
  • lamps
  • living room chairs
  • sofa table
  • art work --paintings/posters
  • coat racks
  • rugs
  • accent pillows
  • accent cabinets
  • chandeliers
  • decorative items
  • vases :)
  • leaning mirrors
  • dresser mirrors
  • vanity
  • guest bed
  • cedar chests 
  • arm chairs
  • china cabinet 
  • media cabinet 
  • computer desks & rollie chairs
  • etc, etc, etc, etc,
My bff suggested that since we did not have a wedding, we should have a reception whenever we come back to the states. IDK.. it seems a lot to "ask" of people. I'm also of the gypsy mindset where I don't like to be tied down to material items (excluding my laptop and phone) ... so we'll see.

I'll continue to wander the furniture websites but I'm more interested in thrifting items.... although I'm going to need someone else to refurbish or paint it.

http://pinterest.com/87pages/decor-interior/ <-- my pintrest fantasy
http://www.ourfirst100days.com/2011/12/01/day-30-chief-inspector-of-russia/ <-- home inspection checklist for those moving into a new place

ps. I really like the "Our First Day Blog" I get great insight and relevant topics that are happening in my life or things I'm thinking about. I used sentence from their blog post for my own post.. and even my discussion today is somewhat mentioned in their blog... For instance, the "Monk Chat Room" post concerning :...

On Detachment From Materialism

The second oldest monk, 32, gives us his interesting take on why wearing the saffron robe helps him to refrain from want of possessions.
“When a leaf falls from a tree and dies, it becomes an orange-yellow color. The same color of our robes. Wearing this color is a reminder to me that all things die. I will die, too. There is no need to be attached to anything.”
...this is a great view to have and I know I need to subscribe to it

pss. I may be disenchanted with school but I got a 3.5 for my first graduate semester.. 1 A, 1 B <--- :)

psss. only 16/17 days until my bff PT comes to visit me in SoKo:)