Oh My Janey

Budget Accommodation at K Hostel – Seoul, South Korea

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My Seoul trip last month was a bit rushed, having booked our tickets just weeks before the actual travel period. After emailing tons (and I mean, TONS!!!) of hostels around Seoul, only a fourth had available rooms.

I hoped to get a reservation at Backpackers Mr. Sea because that’s where we stayed at two years ago but received no reply from my email and there were no more available rooms in Agoda. But I think it’s okay that I ended up booking elsewhere, because K Hostel was great! (Backpackers Mr. Sea is awesome as well.)

I corresponded with Michael, one of K Hostel’s hosts, via email instead of Agoda. Though it’s quick to book through that site, I couldn’t rest easy because according to the site triple rooms are for two people. It was confusing, because the room has a double bed and a single bed, so how can it be just for two people?

Michael replied really quickly so I had a pretty easy time making the reservation. I also didn’t pay anything for the reservation and only paid in full (either cash or card) once we got there. We booked two triple rooms (with breakfast!) since there were six of us. They gave us a discount because there were two kids with us.

Also, I made the reservation two days before our arrival and confirmed my booking a day before. Our email conversation went smoothly so we luckily had a place to stay for four day. Thank you! [Read more…]

5 Favorite Activities in Seoul

Seoul, South Korea, Namsan

Achieving my dream of visiting Korea was almost a decade in the making. When my family had a five-day vacation in the Land of the Morning Calm, I was beyond ecstatic! Finally, I could step foot in my dream country! It was the best five days of my fangirl life, and how I feel about it can’t be put into words. Heck, it has been a year since, and I’ve written countless of posts already. But I still have more to stay. It’s a trip to remember, that’s why I’m always going back to that five days just reminiscing.

It’s difficult to summarize in one post everything I loved about Korea. There are countless things to see and do in Seoul and around Korea. To pick just five things of all the things I loved about it is difficult. But I only had five days and I did have to make a choice. We were in a limited budget and limited time. We had no choice but to make the life-changing decisions!

However, despite of having countless of things to do in Seoul, there are definitely things I would love to do over and over again.  They say that traveling in Seoul is expensive, but there are tons of things you can enjoy and love without burning a hole in your pocket! [Read more…]

Seoul Strangers

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My favorite thing about the strangers I met in Seoul was the fact that they’re all so well-dressed! My friend wasn’t joking when she said that Koreans follow cut-throat fashion! I seriously felt under-dressed. Nevertheless, they’re one of the nicest and friendliest people I’ve encountered in my travels. They always have a smile to give to strangers and they bow whenever your eyes met. I felt so kilig. Heehee.

Since I love kids, I definitely enjoyed oggling at all the pre-school students! It’s amazing how the kids seem so independent. I’m so used to seeing kids here in the Philippines always accompanied by adults wherever they go. So I was amazed at how a class of about 20 students were only guided by a teacher or two. I wished I learned that kind of independence early in my childhood years! (I gained my ~independence~ after college, and I fought hard for it. Haha.) But then again, there’s a sense of security in Seoul that’s quite hard to feel here.

Too bad I didn’t make any friends, though, the way my friends who went to Seoul did! So when I go back, I will make sure that I’ll make a Korean friend. Haha.

Spring Last Year

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My photography teacher back in college advised us to avoid cliche subjects such as flowers. But I can’t. How could I ever resist such photogenic subjects? 🙂

It was spring when we went to Korea last year. And everywhere you look, there were flower boxes and trees brimming with flowers! How could I not take photos of all the pretty flowers?

I have yet to experience winter and fall, and summer is pretty much the only season in my country. But I have this gut feel that Spring has all the potential to be my favorite. It’s like the perfect season to be outdoors. it seems like everyday is just perfect during spring, you know. It’s not too cold and not too hot , too. Perfect season is perfect.

I don’t wish for much but I wish there’s spring in my country. 🙁

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