Hongkong Family Getaway

It was February of 2010. When we had our first ever family out-of-the-country bonding. Though we are not complete as a family it was the most awaited moment of my life.

FEBRUARY 7- Departure from our NAIA terminal 1 via HONGKONG EXPRESS. The usual picture taking....

While waiting for the counter to open

My Mom: sleeping while standing and waiting called multi-tasking

My Dad: Can you turned on my roaming

My brother

                                 

       

My Dad is tired of waiting

My brother proudly present the scale

And of course: Yours Truly while waiting for the gate to open!!!

Of course Picture in the airplane!!!! Weeeehhhhh!!!!

Amazing view Mom?

Mom: "Look it's our house!"

At exactly 10AM, we arrive at the HONGKONG

Angas pero first time!

Welcome to HK!!!

Lovers in HongKong!!

Tourist!

 INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT. Since I am not yet fond of DIY TOURS we avail the usual package tour from T and J travel and tours. While waiting for our Guide of course we will never forget to take pictures. 

Check-in time at PANDA HOTEL. Me and my bro in this twin room. Then my mom and dad in the double room.

At night, freetime..We ate at the restaurant beside our hotel since it's raining pretty hard.

CHOWTIME.

After munching the chicken chao fan. we decided to go to the mall and do some groceries for our rooms snack. I was really shock how expensive their snacks (but of course i converted it to peso). Then the non-stop picture taking occurs inside the mall.

sleep time.

How to get a Korea Visa in the Philippines

K-Pop Invasion. Isa ito sa mga dahilan kung bakit maraming Pinoy ang gustong pumunta at mamasyal sa bansang Korea. Ngunit isang bagay ang kinakailangan upang makapasok sa bansang Korea. Ito ay ang Korea Visa.

Hayaan niyo akong ibahagi sa inyo ang aking karanasan sa pagkuha ng Bisa sa Korea. Bago ang natakdang araw kinumpleto namen ang kailanganang papeles para sa pag apply ng visa.

REQUIREMENTS FOR TOURIST VISA TO KOREA
Ito ang mga papel na aking hinanda.
1.) Application form (with Passport size Picture)
2.) BIR Form 2316 (2010)
3.) Bank Certificate (Pesos and dollar account)
4.) Clearance Certificate from previous employer (dahil kakaresign ko lang)
5.) Photocopy of first page of passport
6.) Latest Passport 
Noong Disyembre 12, ako at ang aking kaibigan ay nagbalak kumuha ng Bisa para sa aming nalalapit na paglalakbay sa Korea. Dahil hindi kami pamilyar sa lugar nagdecide kami magtaxi pero sa kasawiang palad hindi din alam ng driver ang embassy (o baka nagoyo lang kami). So from three world building sa upper mckinley. Nilakad namen hanggang Korea embassy. At dahil wala pa kami picture ay nagdecide na lang kami mag greenhills at bumalik kinabukasan.
Pero hindi pwede si Monica kaya kinabukasan ako na lang ang nagbalik.


December 13, when I decided to go back to embassy to file my visa application. Hindi ganun kahaba ang pila at ang mga gwardiya ay friendly. To make this easier to understand I'll enumerate the steps.


1. Isulat ang pangalan at mag-iwan ng valid ID sa may harap ng embassy.
2. Pagpasok ng office sa kanang bahagi may malaking lamesa lumapit at humingi ng numero. (Tatanungin ka muna kung may visa ka na from OECD Countries)
3. Umupo at hinataying tawagin ang numero (magfflash sa taas ng windows ang number, kapag nag flash it means kayo na ang kasunod nun nakaupo sa window).
4. Ibigay sa Consul ang requirements. (sagutin ng tama kung may tanong ang consul)
5. Kunin ang iaabot na slip na naglalaman ng date kung kailan kukunin ang inyong visa.


In my case ganito ang nangyari. Pagpasok ko ng embassy binigyan ako ng numero. Hintay tawagin. Habang nakaupo double check ng mga requirements. Biglang tinawag ng guard by 10s ang number so pila. Pag-upo ko sa may window 2 inabot ko ang requirements ko at ibinalik nia ang car registration ko. Sabay tanong "So, you don't have a job?" ang sagot ko naman ay "No" sabay bigay ng white slip at babalik ako ng December 20.


So December 20 na ang releasing time is afternoon. Same process Nag-iwan ako ng ID sa gate at inspection ng bag habang naka smile si kuya sabay sabi sa akin "Manlibre ka ma'am for sure approve na visa mo". Buti pa si kuya positive ako hindi (dahil nga wala akong work). Binigay ko ang slip sa same table at binigyan ako ng numero. More hintay matawag ulit. Window 1 pangalawa ako sa pila (hindi naman ako masyadong excited). Pag bigay ko ng number ko sa consul tinanong nia ako kung ano pangalan ko sinabi ko naman at sabay inabot niya ang passport ko. Pag-scan ko ng passport tumambad na sa akin ang susi patungong South Korea. 


Abangan ang aking SOLO Trip sa SEOUL OF ASIA. (one of the best trip ever).

Getting ready for the Winter

Isang buwan na lang at magsisimula na ang aking Seoul-Searching Winter Madness. First stop Winterhaus at Cartimar. I've read a few blogs about this shop selling cheap winter clothes so I give it a try.

Actually sobrang dami nilang winter jacket and they are making their own jackets. They also accepting made-to-order jackets, shirts, coats, etc. Meron din silang second-hand jackets for sale all you need is patience to look for a jacket you want. I saw this red bubble jacket on top of the rack when a lady grab it (when I found out isa siyang PEXERS, no hard feelings naman). Buti na lang lumapit si ate at may dalang kaparehong jacket sabi nia tinatahi pa daw nia kasi un strap. Then ikot ikot muna sa shop check ng thermal clothes, gloves, scarf at marami pang jacket. Nang matapos na ni ate ang strap ng jacket at nakapili na din ako ng mga bibilhin. Ito na ang total:

Bubble Jacket: 1,500

Thermal: 800

Gloves/mittens: 350

Php 2,600 ang binayaran ko may discount pa akong 50 pesos. Hahaha. Dahil wala akong budget for very expensive boots nagdecide akong mag ukay na lang. So wait na lang for further information about this madness. Parang kung mag ukay ako malayo ang mararating ng 2,600 ko. nevertheless okay na din yun kesa wala.

Ito nga pala un picture ng jacket at mittens. Un knitted shirt sa tatay ko yan hihiramin ko lang at un money bigay ng kuya ko. hahahaha..

Minsan excited minsan hindi. Pero at least may progress na ang gamit ko.

Winter Seoul-Searching Madness

So here I am again. Trying my very best to finish my itinerary for my first ever solo international trip for 2012.  So many things to consider, so many activities to do, so many places to go and I still need a good winter boots. I still need to update this blog for our S.E.A. trip last year and. let me just organize my thoughts and I will get back to you.