Some Ranting & Busan Summer Loving

It's past 10 already and I'm really, really sleepy but I must do this (motivation please?). Usually, it takes about two hours for me to finish and be satisfied with what I write here. Lately, it's just hard for me to find time because when evening comes I'm already tired and there's nothing better to do but sleep or give in to my once again facebook addiction. Yes fb addiction, man! You know the feeling when you uploaded some pics and you're just so excited to see new notifications (LIKEs, comments) and you're like checking your fb minute by minute? I hate it but I just couldn't help it. Oh well, that's life. Maybe one simply feels happy when others notice and give nice compliments to him/her in fb. But I really have to divert myself from checking my fb starting from now. You see, that's the problem when you have internet connection 24/7 for free - Facebook is just a click away. Phew.

So, enough of my fb rants. Let's discuss about the adventures in my life, travel adventures specifically. These past two weeks I was such a busy traveling bee. The other Sunday, me and my friend went to Busan, the summer capital of Korea (at least to my perspective). It's our first out-of-town/out-of-Daegu trip on our own because most of the time we just explore the areas in Daegu or we join the tour organized by the KNU International Office (it's free or sometimes you only need to pay a little amount, therefore who says traveling can be so expensive?). Busan, I must say, is such a beautiful place. The beach, oh the beach! Maybe that's the effect when one lives in a place surrounded by mountains (hello Daegu), seeing a beach is like a miracle. Haha!

Of course, this never fails...my cross-legged/feeling fashion blogger pose. I've always adored fashion bloggers. They are my inspiration when it comes to "everything fashion". So now, I let myself feel like one.

I'm not a fan of indoor establishments, I  prefer to be out in nature and breathe fresh air but sometimes if there are some galleries with something worthy to look at and with an added bonus of free entrance (okay so that's how thrifty I can be), I walk in. But in the case of the  Busan Aquarium, we decided not to go and  probably taking a picture would suffice. But if you're one big fan of marine life, I say go ahead, stash some cash, and please your eyes with the diversity of organisms the sea has to offer.

Spot the mermaid. Never thought I'd see a mermaid. Reminds me of the beach with a mermaid statue back in the Philippines. Oh, and look at the rocks. Aren't they amazing? And that wooden path and stairs? Just perfect while walking on the coast of Haeundae Beach. That's one of the many things I love about Korea, they have these wooden paths in the mountains and in the coast. They just make life easier!

And this hanging bridge is just awesome!

Loving the view of the beach with skyscrapers. I feel like I'm in California! Haha!

Spent the whole day with these two lovely girls. The one in the middle lives in Busan and oh boy, she's just so good speaking Korean with a Busan accent. Busan accent is kind of different from the accents in other parts of Korea. If you know Bisaya, you'd know what I mean.

Oh, Gwangali Bridge! *insert the song California Girls in the background* 'Coz this reminds me of the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco. Such a serene view. Beautiful.

So all in all, I really had a great time in Busan even just for one day. Still got tons of pics in this trip but I'll just reserve them in my coming posts. By the way, these beautiful flowers I saw while walking in a bridge in a highway. Oh, did I just say there's just a lot of surprises in Busan? Even in highways!

Summer Lovin'

The blazing sun, the brown sand, the still waters, the skyscrapers...

such a perfect start of welcoming you, SUMMER!

It was those eyes. Something in those dazzling eyes...

A Strong Spirit

It’s been almost three months since I last saw you. I couldn't believe what I’ve seen. I came to realize how fragile the human body is; that in just the nick of time everything can change, everything can get worse. But then, I saw something special. Outside, I saw a weakened body. But inside, I saw a strong spirit.

Remembering that night is heartbreaking. You were telling me so many things. Although you’re having difficulty, although it required so much effort to pronounce even just a single word, you still kept on going and I just sat there listening to you. I got teary eyed but I tried my best not to let those tears flow from my eyes because I don’t want you to see how sad I am, how emotionally shattered I am. You don’t deserve to see how weak I’ve become because you yourself have shown me how strong you are amidst your condition.

 And then I asked, “Tita, okay lang po bang makitulog dito ngayong gabi?” You said it’s okay and you let Mau fix the bed in one of the rooms. I even heard Kuya John asking you which bedcover to put. It made me smile. The next day, I was supposed to pay for the chicken inasal that I ordered last night but Ate Kim told me it’s okay, “Sabi ni Tita wag na.” It’s like nothing has changed, you’re still the same Tita I used to know - so welcoming, so kind, so generous.

My two and a half years of stay in the place I consider my home away from home is full of fond memories of you and your stories and love letters and vintage pictures. I think every dormer knows you and Tito’s love story. We even got hold of the handwritten love letters he sent you way back in the 1960’s or 1970's.  And oh my, I often get “nosebleed” reading all those letters written in straight English! And I must say I admire how articulate Tito was in expressing his feelings for you. Maybe simply because he’s just so in love with you. But what I admire the most is how the two of you nurtured that love. I’ve never seen a couple so in love just like you do. Although you are already in your late 60’s, I can still see and feel the sweetness and that pure love. Me and my fellow dorm mates often get so ‘kilig’ whenever Tito comes home from work. You would always say, “Kamusta Love?” and Tito would respond, “Okay lang.” and then he would lean down and kiss you. And one Valentine’s Day, we were all sitting in the TV room when a choir came and serenaded you with love songs and one of the songs was Kahit Maputi Na Ang Buhok Ko. It’s just perfect. And you and Tito were just there, sitting beside each other.  We were all like, “Tita, gusto rin namin nang ganyan.” We also want to have a love story like that. Thank you for reminding us that even though people grow old, they should never grow tired of loving.

Thank you also for treating us, your dormers, not just people who are occupying a space in your place but thank you for treating us like your own children. You’re like a mother to all of us. Whenever we need something, you’re always there to provide. I would never forget that moment I got sick and I needed to be confined. I was not prepared and didn’t have enough money but you didn’t think twice, you and Tito lend me a big amount of money for the downpayment for my hospital confinement. You two are such a blessing. Thank you for all the concern and care and provision.

There are still a lot of things I can write here- all those memories I will forever cherish.  But I just want you to know that wherever you are right now, I hope that you’re filled with happiness. You have fought a good fight and all your sufferings are over now. I pray that your soul may find comfort in God’s loving arms. And I pray that your family, your children and Tito, may also find comfort knowing that you are already up there, with God.

We send you our love, Tita. ♥

Goodbye Month of April

Just a quick post before April ends.

Been very busy in the past few weeks. I needed to redeem myself (once again) in the lab, thus I filled my days and nights with hard work and really focused in my experiment. And I think it is starting to pay off. I've been getting good results lately. Well, what can I say? I'm just a haggard but happy girl!

I'm also now trying to be a one-heck-of-an-organized person. With the help and suggestion of the prof last lab meeting of me writing down the things that I should do and putting it somewhere where I could easily see it to remind myself of the tasks and deadlines. Oh, I think everyone is familiar with it. It's one good old advice but it really struck me. I've been doing it before, you know all that To Do list but I guess I became too familiar and got tired with it and just started to ignore it. But now is the time to take it seriously, those To Do's written in the yellow post it paper using a neon-colored hot pink pen (define colorful, haha).

Okay, time check, 11:55 pm. 5 minutes before 12 midnight. Will be signing out now.

Goodbye April!

Hello May! Please be AMAZING!