MY KOREAN KIDS

Year 2001-2005, my family and I had the privilege of hosting a number of students from South Korea with an average of 2-4 students at one time in our house. Having homestay students had taught me and my family a lot about Korean culture and traditions. I even learnt how to cook Korean food to please my Korean sons and daughters. 

It's not easy having homestay kids in our house all year round but definitely, the relationships and camaraderie formed all throughout the months that these Korean students stayed in our house was simply rewarding and will last a lifetime.

It was also a plus for these kids to stay in a homestay house since they also get to witness, observed and feel the Filipino way of life. Much so different from their own culture. And, I pray that while they stayed in our house and share our day to day life, they became more open-minded and more understanding of the culture of other nations.

Sebastian and Dean eating pork adobo which they found delicious

with Kevin during Phil-Korea's yearly christmas party

one of those house parties when our home-stay sons
enjoyed a bottle of San Miguel beer

Jin, Cindy and Tim

with Kelly, Tom, Tita Tina (host mom too), Monami andTeacher Ricardo
during the departure our Korean kids  

with their teachers and friends at home

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THE NEW DANCE CRAZE IN KOREA - PSY - GANGNAM STYLE

FIRST MEAL IN SEOUL

When I arrived in South Korea, my itinerary is already done by my boss and he only need to drop me off somewhere for somebody to pick me up. My first drop off is at Seoul Train Station. That's where we meet Mr. Kang Chang Oun, my travel companion for my first 3 days there.While waiting for our KTX ride to Busan we ate breakfast at the Lotteria (Korea's version of Jollibee). I had a shrimp burger and coffee, my first meal ever in Seoul, and I find it interesting that older women are hired to work in a fastfood joint. 

Shrimp Burger and Coffee at Lotteria

Sugar sticks

Senior Citizens working at the Lotteria. Awesome!

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NAMSAN TOWER

The N Seoul Tower, officially the CJ Seoul Tower and commonly known as the Namsan Tower and Seoul Tower, is a communication and observation tower located on Mt. Namsan in central Seoul, South Korea.

It opened in 1980 and had since then become a landmark of Seoul. I was brought there by my boss one afternoon and was amazed how people, locals and tourists alike trooped to this place especially in the late afternoon. We rode a cable car with a rate fare of W7,500 each going up. 

We weren't able to go up the observation deck since there was a long line of people trying to go up there and we had a dinner appointment to keep. However, I enjoyed looking at the city scape at twilight. It is such a awesome place to be.

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LOCAL MARKET IN JEJU-DO

To really experience the culture of another country, one should try to visit their local market. It is  because for me the local market is the soul of each village, town or city.

It is so amazing to find a giant radish in the market

The ajjuma’s selling various vegetables and dried fish 

in the dry section of the market

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STREET SMART

When I was in Busan, I was amazed to find cotton candy being sold on the street much like in the Philippines. And for the first time, I get to buy bottled water in a vending machine. Cool!

COTTON CANDY IN THE STREETS OF BUSAN-SI

GETTING MY BOTTLED WATER FROM THE VENDING MACHINE 

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JEJU-DO

On our way to Mt. Halla. Magnificent scenery along the way
especially since its autumn when I went there.Trees were changing colors.

I never found a place so enchanting as Jeju Island. Dominated by the magnificent Mt. Halla, Jeju-do is host to the natural World Heritage Site which is the Jeju Volcanic Island and Lava Tubes.

Museums, heritage parks, waterfalls, orange farms, dol hareubang, mysterious road, crater lake and other tourist attractions abound in the island.

This is dol hareubang. Prominent statues that
you can find almost anywhere in Jeju Island.

Things I love about Jeju-Do? The small restaurants that offers kimchi tchiage (my favorite) as their specialty, the outdoor coffee shop where one can sit on top of a cliff overlooking the sea while sipping a cup of coffee, the coastal road where you can go walking, run, bike or take a leisurely drive and just enjoy the seascape, mountain trails, Mt. Halla, orange farms, subtropical climate.... I guess I love all of Jeju. 

Wasn't able to catch the sunset though, much more the sunrise..but I really really wish to go back there to experience this "must see" beauty of nature. According to my chin-gu (friend) I traveled half of the island and he said...I have to go back there to see the other half. I am keeping my fingers crossed.

As I shared with my Filipino friends  - "I left my heart in Jeju Island". 


By the way, I heard from a friend of mine that Filipinos can fly direct to Jeju Island for a tour without a need for a visa. This privilege is good for 30 days only. You can check this out at http://www.booknflytravel.com/2011/07/countries-filipinos-can-travel-without.html 

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South Korea Jeju Island 제주도 濟州島 Preview