Wanders and Wonders

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...