Winter in Korea: Day 1 of 7 Itinerary

When traveling in groups, compromising is a key ingredient to prevent any conflicts from happening. I'm glad we (my travel buddies for this trip) have the common interests in the places we wanted to see. It wasn't difficult for us to plan and decide the places we wanted to visit. 

Another thing: photography skills!!! It  helps to have travel buddies who take great photos--the ones where people can't tell if it's an AD or you're just extremely lucky to take such a perfectly timed photo. Our group can be called a "power house" in  terms of traveling in groups because we have good navigators, photographers, creative caption-ists and fun models for ootds. We could have won JuanForFun competitions if we joined last year hahahah kidding!. 

Due to some changes in the schedule of my travel buddies, the first two days of this one week trip was spent with only half of the group. 

We arrived at Incheon International Airport in the afternoon and went straight to our Hostel which is just a five-minute walk from Hapjeong Station to unpack and settle. My body was not prepared for the 8°C weather that welcomed us as we leave the train station. I love the cold weather but trust me, it's better to enjoy the cold when you are appropriately-clothed. ;) 

First stop was to eat lunch! We were trying to find a restaurant suggested by our gwapito landlord but we got lost on the way so we decided to just eat at the tteokboki place we saw on our way. (I'm a terrible navigator specially when the person giving instructions of the place is gwapo--hahahah I tend to just nod even if I can't understand a thing he's saying HAHAHAHAHHA bad twinks! bad!)

This Tteokbokki Place serves flaming hot tteokboki. Try it only if you can handle the scorching taste of this food that Koreans can't live without on winter season. Ryan was crying half way through eating this food! 

Next stop was to see Naksan Park! If you love korean dramas, you've probably seen this place. I love how it overlooks Seoul's city lights. The walls of the park even add to the classy look of the view. We arrived there at around 6pm so we didn't get to witness the city's view on daylight but I think the night view was better.

Torn between Leaving or Staying

I always wondered how my life would turn in such a way that every person I love would benefit from it. Sad to say, that turning point has not yet arrived. However, as much as I would like to accomplish all the things that I wanted to do (eg. travel, staycation, bake, and just sleep in peace for one day), I can't because my plans depended on how much I time I have after work or if I still have the energy to enjoy them. 

Just recently, I have been offered a graduate degree offer overseas (the great down under) and I wanted (extremely wanted) to accept it. I feel so willing to give up my stable job to feel the thrill of living in a different culture and starting anew there despite having very limited resources to support my living. (I have parents who can help, anyway hahaha yes I still have backup but they would be my very last resort for finances). I can almost instantly be there and start the next intake for my Master's degree. However, I am so torn between pursuing it and staying for the job and my family. 

Why? The answer to that intimidating question is: I feel sad just by the thought of leaving everyone behind for who knows how long. I love my job, the people I work with, the place that I live in, my friends, and most of all my family. I have everyone here, why go somewhere far? Knowing that I am in my comfort zone, feeling safe and secured, I do not have any worries but I don't also feel my life progressing. I am in a stagnant case of living a routine without any space for a better change which leads me to the option of taking the offer and accepting it. 

Why oh why is life so difficult to understand?

It's true we can't always have everything, but at least I hope, we can have answers to every thing we needed. I'm still in the process of rethinking in accepting the offer. (I was given a year to decide if I want to accept it). Maybe, just maybe, I will have a final answer next time. 

P.s I'm sorry, I was caught up with all the paper works in my job. Mind you, this is my second job after resigning on my very first job. lol. 

P.p.s hope to hear from you, if anyone still reads this :)))

-Twinkle

Seoulid Adventures: The War Memorial of Korea

I am the kind of person who would prefer museums over theme parks (not because I'm not the adventurous type but) because I love finding out for myself how some things in the past, actually happened. I find it amusing to know interesting facts from the past that have impacted today's generation.

So, my Korea trip with my bestfriend will not be complete without visiting museums! I wasn't able to take a lot of pictures because I was so engrossed with the museum's beauty. And before I forget, this museum do not have any entrance fees!!! (that's a good reason for you to visit!). You can definitely give donations if you want to, but they don't charge for entrance fees.

The part that I love the most was the 3D short film of F-15. It was an exchange of bombs and bullets on air between flight jets of Korea and Japan. You have to see it!

 You will know that you are already within the vicinity of the war memorial if you see this. Walk a few meters from the subway station and you'll see this monument with a gallery inside.

A vessel that was used decades ago by the Koreans to guard the coast. 

  Some of the armored vehicles and planes were located outside the museum. They don't function anymore.