Rhea's Travel To Korea

Praise God for I have recovered the pictures from my broken hard disk or else all pictures in this blog wouldn't be possible.

Last year, our company sent me together with my team to Seoul, Korea for a business trip.

We stayed there for almost two months.

Two weeks before I went back to Philippines, Rhea visited me. She took the opportunity of having free board and lodging (since our client was paying my allowance as well as my apartment).

It was her first international trip and first time to travel alone, but I didn't have any worries because I already told her everything she needs to know, especially the subway Map (Map is very essential to foreigners whenever they travel) As for Korea, even Koreans checked out their maps all the time whenever and wherever they go places.

 

She flew from Manila to Seoul via ZestAir for 6hrs. She left Friday midnight and arrived at the doorstep of my apartment around 8am of Saturday. She rested for a while then I took her to places near from my apartment.

SK Hub Blue, Stay7, Mapo,

SK Hub Blue is where we stayed; located in Mapo near Aeogae station.

I like Korea because it is clean, people are organized and disciplined and especially the transportation. It is easy to go places because of their transport system. People regardless of their status used train or bus.

As far as our experienced in Korea, Koreans are nice people even though they don't speak English that much, they will help you as much as they can. +1 for you guys. :)

Okay so much for that, let's go back to Rhea. :)

On her first day, I took her to Myeong-dong. Should I say, the shopping district of Seoul? I guess every woman would love this place because all beauty products you can think of are available here in a cheaper price.

Aside from beauty product, lots of branded products from head to toes are also available here.

After Myeong-dong we went to Namsan, which is a couple of blocks away from Myeong-dong and where the Seoul Tower is located.

You can go to Seoul Tower in four different ways; Cab, Bus, Cable Car and walking. I remember the first time I went here with my teammate. We started walking from our apartment at SK Hub going to Seoul Tower. Just imagine that, we had fun though.

Anyway, Rhea and I took cable car going to Seoul Tower and vise versa.

The tower itself is already tall what make it taller is that, it is located at the top of Namsan mountain. I think you can see the tower anywhere in Seoul.

One of the attractions in Seoul Tower is the love lock or love padlock.

Before Rhea went to visit me, I told her to buy two pad locks and will put it on one of the fences around Seoul Tower.

So there, one for us and one for Kiel. :)

  

Pictures from Seoul Tower:

After Seoul Tower, we went home already. I think that would wrap up her first day. :)

The next day, I introduced her to the community that I've already been with for a couple of Sundays.

Ahyun Methodist Church, particularly the Seoul Grace Community formerly known as Amen English service. Located at 950-1 Bugahyeon-dong, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, South Korea. 1km away from SK Hub.

I found a home in this community. It was fun sharing faith with these people. Bless you guys. Rhea and I misses you so much. Checkout this site on how did I find this church.

After church I brought her to Gwanghwamun Square. Gwanghwamun is where our office is located. Gwanghwamun Square is just stone throw away from the office. Three stations away and 15 minutes travel time from Aeogae.

This place is the landmark and symbol of Seoul's long history. 

I remember while I was taking this photo, I said to myself  "If God allows us to come back to Korea, I definitely will bring my son Kiel on Gwanghwamun Square; together will experience the fun of bathing in the middle of busy streets, didn't mind the people around you. Just an ordinary father and son bonding." I hope Rhea will join us. :)

Checkout Gwanghwamun's story and tourism information.




then Insadong. Insadong is like the Divisoria of Manila. What we love about Insadong are the cheap souvenir items and the street food. :)

then we went back to Gwanghwamun for coffee.

Night at Gwanghwamun

Rhea stayed with me for five days then she flew back to Manila. During the time when I was in the office she would go to Lotte mart but most of the time she'll cook for me and never ending internet. :)

This blog is dedicated to my loving wife Rhea. Hope you like it. :)

Pancit Batil Patong

Thanks to Ate Tin for taking us to her favorite eatery to try the best Filipino Pancit.

Ruby's is an eatery located in Solana, Cagayan. It is also known for its antique motif.

Pancit Batil Patong

It is a common day to day food for Cagayan locals. Breakfast, Lunch, Merienda, anytime you want.

It tasted like the combination of Batangas Lomi and Pancit Lukban (hab-hab).
 
Never forget the sauce. Chopped onions with Calamansi to be mixed with soy sauce and chilli. It is like bagoong in Kare-Kare.

Unfortunately, In Manila, I haven't found any restaurant, fast food, eatery serving this delicious pancit from Cagayan.
 
P50 per serving at Ruby's. It can be good for two, but I doubt; you'll order another one if you made it for two. :)

The hottest place in the Philippines. Cagayan...

Together with my in-laws, we to Solana, Cagayan last April and stayed there for three days two nights.

We were invited (actually my in-laws only) by my father-in-law's cousin (our godfather) to attend their fiesta. Other relatives from Baler, Aurora were there also.

Even though it was not necessary for us to join them (but who wants to be left behind?), we joined them anyway.

Ea and I were more excited than my parents-in-law as we love to travel and this was our first time to see Cagayan province.

We took the Cebu Pacific 12PM flight bound to Tuguegarao.
After more or less one hour flight, we arrived at our destination. We were fetched then told that we were going directly to Sta.Ana, Cagayan (our side trip that worth our while).

Although we did not go the some popular resorts but still Sta. Ana, Cagayan deserves our second visit.

After more than three hours drive, we finally reached Sta. Ana; there we learned that one of their relatives (Kuya Rudy) wants to buy a second-hand car.

There were so many cars to choose from, i'm not sure if Kuya Rudy bought one. However, one car interests me; which is why I asked Rhea to take picture of me with this car. (you already know what car is it?)  :)

Traveling from Manila to Tuguegarao then Sta. Ana, was really exhausting, so they brought is some place where we can have a quick rest with quick tour.

(Sun City) Cagayan Holiday and and Leisure Resort

I never thought they have this very nice and luxurious place in the remote area of Cagayan.

It was a very long day, around 8PM when we arrived in Solana where we stayed for three days.

Callao Cave

Since it was the hottest place in the Philippines and most of the time we stayed at home, we still had an opportunity to visit some remarkable places in Cagayan. Special thanks to ate Tin-tin (Rhea's cousin) for being our tour guide.

It was our second day in Cagayan when Ate Tin took us to Callao Cave (located at Penablanca, Tuguegarao).  Avoiding the heat and humidity, we went to Callao Cave around 5:30PM.

A short walk from this site is the start of 183 steps before you reach the entrance of the cave.

We were told that Callao Cave had seven chambers, but we went only to the first (chapel) since it was getting dark already .


Basilica of Piat

Located at Piat, Cagayan; more or less one-hour drive from Solana.
As I've heard, this church is very popular for politicians from any part of the Philippines. Politicians visits this church (election time mostly), offer a prayer and next thing you know, they've already won the election. Hmm... :)

Disclaimer: Not everyone who visited and prayed from this church have won the election. :)

There's nothing more than talking to God directly, have faith whatever the outcome. God is sovereign...

 A small sanctuary of Our Lady of Piat was built in 1604 by the Itawis. But on 1700s, the people built a more spacious church of more durable materials on a hill about a mile from the parish church of Sto. Domingo. The present sanctuary was built by Rev. Fr. Diego Pinero and later restored by Fr. Jose Gurumeta in 1875.

On June 22, 1999, the sanctuary was lifted us Basilica Minore (Minor Basilica) and was recognized from Rome. It was the first basilica minore in the region and the fourth in the Philippines. The rites was officiated by the Vatican's representative, Antonio Maria Cardinal Javierre Ortas.  A santacruzan was also sponsored by Department of Tourism in celebration of the Basilica. A weeklong special prayers and services was also held in 29 parishes in the province, a Marian choral contest at the St. Paul University in Tuguegarao, medical mission, grand procession of all the images of patron saints and the Our Lady and a cultural show on the documented miracles of the Virgin of Piat.  Wiki

Kalesa

Kalesa is common means of transportation within Solana because of its cheap fare P5.

 Would you believed that this Kalesa (horse-drawn) can carry up to 10 passengers?

Believed it or Not? :)