Burj Khalifa vs The Great Wall

And I am just so excited for my next destination, but where should it be? I have two picks this time but I am in the process of collecting data on travel month, my availability, and of course my budget. Also, the way of visit (group tour/go solo) has been taken into consideration.

Image source: Wikipedia
I would love to see both, if only I have all the means but as accustomed, I should only visit a place at a time. For the time being, let me lay back, think twice, or even trice, and it would all be a wonderful upcoming adventure!

Where are you going next?

The Many Facets of Korea

Not every Filipino gets a chance to visit countries that require visa such as South Korea. I didn’t expect either that I’ll be granted with one before I applied, but fortunately it wasn’t a hassle for me, of course via my travel agency! And plus Korea is first-world so it is expected that making a visit would cost a little fortune. However, I am very happy that once in my life, although not the number 1 in my bucketlist, I got a chance to explore several of its attractions – from nature to historic, to modern.

Now, follow me as I take you to another virtual tour … who knows you will be buying your plane tickets tomorrow!

First Stop: Nami Island
Nami Island aka the lovers’ island is famous of its vast canopy of mega sequoia trees. This is also one of the most popular film venues of the renowned Korean soap, Winter Sonata.

Second Stop: Everland
Everland is Korea’s Disneyland version, and the largest theme park in the country. It features five attractions namely Global Fair, American Avenue, Magic Land, European Adventure, and Zootopia. If you are a big fan of extreme rides more than the roller coaster, this park is for you. Flower persons would also enjoy the Holland village-touch at the Four Seasons Garden where a wide variety of vivid-colored flowers make a perfect carpet. You can fit in if you are an animal lover too while taking snaps at giraffes and other tamed animals of the wild at the Lost Valley. Oh well, it’s a theme park that’s all.

Third Stop: Gyeongbokgung Palace
Gyeongbokgung is the largest palace in Korea, situated in Seoul, and was built by the Joseon Dynasty. With its restored chambers, the country boasts of this historical site as the royal palace amidst modern world, featuring Mount Bugak as its backdrop.

Fourth Stop: N Seoul Tower
N Seoul Tower, also known as the Namsan Tower is amongst Korea’s tourist destinations, and it marks the highest point in Seoul atop the Namsan Mountain. Aside from its observatory deck, French-inspired fences and trees that are thickly covered with colorful love locks are its main attractions.

Fifth Stop: Cheonggyecheon Stream
Cheonggyecheon Stream is located at downtown Seoul, originally a local stream that flows through Jungnangcheon, which in turn connects to the Han River. After its completion in 2005, it has became popular among city residents and tourists. On the other side of the stream is the Gwanghwamun square which is also of historical significant as the location of royal administrative buildings, known as Yukjo-geori or Street of Six Ministries.

Sixth Stop: Myeongdong
Myeongdong is listed as one of the most expensive shopping streets in the world. International and local brands decorate both sides of the street, and it is populated mainly by commercial buildings.

If you love what you’ve just seen and would want to see all these attractions yourself, book a flight to Seoul and call it a lifetime experience.

Annyeong haseyo!

To view my exclusive travel gallery, check out my Instagram account.

Incheon International Airport: CHECK.

So this is it. Exactly twelve days ago, I set foot on the 2^nd World’s Best Airport – you guessed it – the Incheon International Airport (ICN), based on Skytrax 2014 rating.  Incheon International Airport also maintains its rank on Airport’s Council International as the 1^st Best Airport Worldwide since 2005 up to 2013.

On board Korean Air chartered flight KE9636, me and the rest of the tourists were all excited as our aircraft touched down the runway. I couldn’t help myself but to keep snapping my camera – the scene was worth capturing! Despite having a not-so-great flight due to turbulent reoccurrence, and plus flying four hours from 2a.m. to 6a.m., I had sufficient energy once I stepped on Korean soil.

At the airport, we were greeted with amazing series of LCD walls that display different highlights of South Korea along with several dynasty exhibits. It didn’t take us long to reach and clear the Immigration. At the arrival area were food chains and restaurants and cafés and kiosks of orchid gardens at the middle. The area was huge but I wasn’t able to roam around like I did at Changi Airport, as I was there in a group and wasn’t supposed to cast myself away. But I’ve heard there are other amenities inside the airport such as SPA and skating rink, and it is the fastest airport in the world when it comes to customs processing.


I want to explore Incheon International Airport – may be next time, who knows?

Top 10 World's Best Airports by Skytrax
I checked the ones I've set foot.



It spells INCHEON!



Sunrise and Korean Air



This way to the Immigration and Baggage Claim



Are those cherry blossoms?



Korea and Philippine Friendship flags :)



Have you crushed out ICN on your bucketlist? - I already did!

My Next Big Adventure is COMING SOON!!!

As soon as I got my passport back with a visa in it, I couldn't help but start Googling my hotel location including the places that my tour comprises, plus other good attractions nearby and how to get there through the subway. I got some local currency units in case I may find something worth buying, and I even tried learning basic conversational words just to show politeness as a foreigner. And I went shopping for my travel essentials (toiletries and clothes for my outfit). So, No! I'm not excited at all! LOL

Now, can you guess where am I heading in less than two weeks?

Here's a hint...

Once Upon a Time in CHIJMES

Night life! This is not my thing and I’ve never been in a bar before except when I got invited by a childhood friend to watch a Filipino live band at Victoria St., a place where white people hang out, and they call it CHIJMES.

Being a first-timer in a bar made me feel awkward and at the same time curious of what is there inside this dark room filled with colorful lights and people standing next to each other, each enjoying their drinks… Actually, I had zero idea of where we were going that night, after my friend asked me to wear her pair of wicked Charles & Keith wedges [by the way, I’m a flip flop and sneaker gal]. When we arrived at our destination, I didn’t even bother to check how the building looks like outside, and since it was dark, all that stood up in front of my eyes were bright lights… then there were white people, mostly in their 30s to 60s. As we entered the bar, we headed to the counter to order drinks [so then I got my first tequila, yay!].

The live band was playing and people started to muster at the center of the room, each with their own unique moves. Yes, it was a bit noisy and I guess I was the only one that’s quiet [though I giggled at times cause of an elderly couple's amusing dance moves] but I enjoyed watching them, and no there were no explicit moves as I thought is all there is in a bar. May be because these people were professionals – I may have concluded it this way since I figured out that these Caucasian men and women were there in Singapore for their jobs and nothing else. A few Asians seemed to be tourists, and they were well-behaved. So, for an old school like me, I was thankful that my first bar encounter wasn’t a rot, and I called it a night.

Recommended place for a first class night life experience.

Google Maps Generator by RegioHelden