Wanders and Wonders

No, I am not giving here any tips on how to be single. It is the title of the movie released earlier this year starred by Dakota Johnson who played Alice in the movie. After four years of college she broke up with her long-term boyfriend. She thought she needed a break. She worked as a paralegal in a firm where she met Robin, who helped her navigate life in a strange city and taught her to enjoy a single lifestyle. It's not a heart-tugging movie, but I learned something. I realized something. First, my lifestyle is totally far from what was shown in the movie. I do not go clubbing, hooking up with strange men nor getting free drinks. I have so many responsibilities. Well, I realized I have never been truly and totally single. I am always tied up to a relationship whatever form they may be - bf/gf, friendship, family, work. I do not know either if I can be really single. I am so used to having someone to talk to and with especially when I am sick. I badly need someone to take care o

“Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself.” – Leo Tolstoy I couldn’t agree more. In the Philippines alone, the people are hungry for a change in the country. People are sick and tired of the government system – slow process of making transactions, rampant bribery, an apparent disrespect of the law by not following even the simple rules. We keep on changing our president every 6 years hoping that the new president would bring about the change the people have been waiting for. Sad to say though, the people who demand for a change in the government leaders are not very much willing to start change in themselves. We want OTHERS to change, but we don’t like to change our habits and attitude. A national change starts from an individual change. Why is it hard for people to turn over a new leaf? First is unwillingness. Change comes with pain and responsibility. People, as much as possible, avoid pain and refuse to be responsible for their actions. We are unw

Someone says, " to know your identity is to know your history." Aside from Myeongdong and Namdaemun, the famous shopping districts in Seoul, tourists both locals and foreigners flocked to the historical places in Seoul. One of which is Gyeongbukgung Palace. She dragged herself out of bed not wanting to get up especially in a cold day. But, she has to 'cause it would be another busy day again. And, of course, she did not want to waste her time in Korea sleeping. She can sleep as much as she wants when she's back to her country. She took a quick shower, packed her suitcases, had breakfast, and got dressed. She packed only the necessary ones - a few shirts, two pairs of pants, a pair of comfortable shoes for the walking, and a trench coat to keep her warm. She and her friend went to the bank first to do some important things. She wanted to renew her card. Yeah, she's a foreigner, yet it was so easy to do any banking transactions in Korea than in her home country. [ca

Trip to Korea & Japan: Day 1 It was already past 8 in the morning. When she opened her eyes, she gazed around the room and felt the familiar feeling - sweater and warm pajamas on, curling up under the thick blanket despite the hot feeling underneath. "Oh, I am in Korea", she told herself with the excitement still evident in her voice. She got up and opened the wardrobe. She was looking for something she hasn't worn nor seen for a couple of years. It was something that kept her warm every time she went out on cold days and nights. She excitedly browsed the clothes hung in the closet and Viola...there you go!!! [caption id="attachment_330" align="alignnone" width="275"] I missed you!!![/caption] Just like many others, she did not enjoy wearing a parka on top of several layers of clothes. It was uncomfortable. What else did she miss? Of course, the Korean breakfast that was always prepared by her Korean mom. Like the old days, she woke up w

Suitcases - checked Travel documents  - checked Is she all set? A BIG Yes!!! On her way to the airport, she remained silent in the cab clutching the travel wallet that contained all her travel documents - airplane tickets (onward and return tickets), COE, ITR, hotel voucher, company ID, even a bank statement just in case the immigration officer would need a proof. For the complete list of the requirements should you want to travel to Korea and Japan, please check out www.relitours.ph and http://www.thepoortraveler.net/2013/12/korea-visa-requirements-manila-embassy-application/. As soon as she arrived at the airport, she headed to the travel tax counter right away, paid her tax, then went straight to the check-in counter. She was asked by the usual questions, plus her itinerary and onward ticket to the third country, which was Japan. Then, it's time to face the 'immigration officers' who made her knees grow weak. While waiting in line, she muttered a prayer pleading the Lord

Prologue:   The incident that happened last Feb 2013 haunts her every time she passes through immigration. The interrogation and the unfriendly faces of the immigration officers made her palms sweaty and heart racing. But, this doesn't stop her to see new horizons and experience foreign culture. All the more, her wanderlust grows even stronger after every trip. December 2015, she made up her mind to set foot in The Land of the Rising Sun. It has been her dream to visit Japan since five years ago. She told her friends that by the first quarter of 2016 she will have traveled the country of her students. She read many blogs about Japan tourist visa application. As soon as she received the ITR from the company, she wasted no time to prepare the rest of the documents. She submitted them to www.relitours.ph in SM Megamall. (Check out their site, and you will know the requirements needed.) This is one of agencies accredited by the Japanese embassy. FYI, the Japanese embassy does not accep