Biking in Korea

Statistics Korea recently reported that bicycle prices in the country has risen 21% YoY, as the public’s interest in exercise grows and the economic recession that still plagues automobile sales is keeping the prices of cars at lower rates. There has also been an apparent increase in demand for bikes made out of the people’s desire in achieving a healthier and eco-friendlier way of living.

I find this an interesting piece of information and see it as a faint sign of how economic and environmental challenges are moving us more to consider a shift in our lifestyles. For one, I have never seen the world banner this much on reducing carbon emissions, and bicycles present a simpler and fuel-less way of providing transportation. Not only that, bicycles help us keep up with our physical fitness by giving us the right exercise for our legs. In Korea, where I have temporarily been spared of seeing dark car exhausts, breathing fresh air while biking may also prove to be healthier...

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On Taking Risks

I raved about Korea's fast internet service in my last post because I really wanted to see the movie that beat Avatar in the run for Oscar’s Best Picture and the director who beat James Cameron. I went ahead and took a copy using Torrent. I know, I am normally not in the loop, so I got to watch the movie only now. Haha.

Anyway, as to the winners of the 2010 Oscar’s, it’s the “Hurt Locker” for best movie and ex-wife of James Cameron, Kathryn Bigelow for best director. Wow, that’s straight-in-your-face International Women’s Day that the world is celebrating on this date. Bigelow is said to be the first woman ever to win the “Best Director” title in the Oscar’s. Neat!

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On Korea's Conveniences

Every time anyone asks me how I find South Korea, I would always say that living here is the conveniently rushed kind. And almost next to that, so as to emphasize more on the convenience (and avoid the pitfalls of the “rushed”), I would tell them how the country's efficient subway system has helped me a great deal with my existence here. Anyone should see me how I tell it to people, because almost always after I say that, they would ask me back if there actually exists a railway system in my own country. I sound that amazed (or rather foolishly primeval eh? Bwahaha). I think I have written a post about Korea's subway system before.

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What's An Average Seoulite Like?

I caught on this interesting article from the Korea Times. I've always loved reading stats and numbers, anyway. But I'm only up to the reading part, of course. I need not another stress on making computations, hehe.

You see, I've never really had the time to ponder about how life has generally been for me in Seoul-- have never really bothered with my surroundings given that I have to always rush things and inject everything in my numb and pre-occupied mind. It's getting pretty close to two years, I must say, of this so-called working life that I have strived to live by in South Korea's capital city. I should really get to know my current bread and butter by this time. The article could very well be a starter.

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In Search of Korea's Justin Bieber

This kid is just oh-so charming. It's the can-make-girls-cry kind of charm. I've been going through this guy's songs over and over that I am getting scared my appetite has not yet worn down. I've been stoked to a number of songs before, so at the rate at which I have so far gone with Justin Bieber's "Baby", I should have freakin' stopped.

It then made me wonder if Korea has created the Justin Bieber kind of package in its music industry? He should do just fine in letting me join the whole Korean pop fiasco. Haha.

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Jeonju City Trip

I went to Jeonju City today, which is the capital of North Jeolla, a province in South Korea. I first heard about Jeonju from a Korean who suggested a returning tourist to visit the place so as to confirm the buzz about this city’s special flare in serving authentic and delicious Korean food. The suggestion was not liked I guess, because the trip never pushed through. I was nevertheless given a chance to do a walking tour of the city and invited myself in. I personally wanted to have a feel of how it is like in South Korea’s smaller cities in the provinces.

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An Authentic Seollal Family Gathering

Koreans do spend time with their families, too.
And may even invite non-members to the kin, you know =)

The Koreans and the Chinese celebrate the lunar new year on the same day, but Koreans call their first day of the lunar year as Seollal (설날). It's one of the biggest holidays in South Korea and they are spent with lots of food and quality time with the family.

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A Valentine Visit to the Incas

I got hitched to a couple’s Valentine’s date to a museum. Yeehah! (LOL).

I was out with my housemates today, who thought it would be nice to relax in the evening and get some fresh air. So off we went to the National Museum of Korea (Ichon Station, Subway Line 4, Exit 2) and caught on the exhibit of the Incan-Peruvian Civilization. Some people may find this whole museum tripping such a boring idea, but you see, Peru and Machu Picchu will forever be a dream travel destination for me. I also happen to live with a housemate who is a History major, and she has always loved arts and the galleries. She felt the need to keep herself updated with her passion. Not bad, eh?

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The Winter Ski Experience

One important thing that I will always remember about skiing: It will forever be such a hard sport unless I eat a full breakfast and get more than three hours of sleep the night before I get on to it. Hahaha.

I spent the night yesterday trying out skiing for the second time with workmates. Quite redeeming, I must say. The first time I tried skiing was just two Saturdays ago, and it almost killed me as I geared up for the sport with barely three hours of sleep and very little food in the stomach. Then there were the slightly defected ski and ‘pole-less’ attempts to glide in my bloated ski outfit. These, along with the long lines for the lifts under the surprisingly glowing sun on that snowy weekend, really let me brand skiing as such an exhausting sport. Nah, but first time experiences will always be memorable for me.

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Happy 25th or 27th, your call.

Unlike last year when I went panicky on how to go about in celebrating my birthday outside the country for the first time, I was more willing to let my 25th year on earth today pass by just like any ordinary day. I wasn’t as excited as how I would normally be, recalling the 23 times that I have celebrated it in the Philippines. And I have my reasons: (1) instant pre-occupation with life and work in South Korea, and (2) acceptance of the difference in birthday norms here and my home country.

I remember sharing my February-4 birthday last year with my male housemate, lucky that the moon told him to take that date, too. For this year though, my housemate’s birthday has moved away to a later date, which I think as of writing, he still has not quite figured out when.

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