I had already told myself that I was going to stay at a hostel (for the very first time) in Seoul. $30/night for a private room in an expensive city? That's definitely a score. Plus, I'd get to meet new people, find a travel buddy or two, or at the very least, have someone to eat lunch with.
But, I researched too much and found a picture of the hostel's bathroom on flickR and now I'm considering the $70/night option at a hotel instead.
Tsk. How much does an arm or a leg sell for these days? ;P
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Friday, February 20, 2009
Booked 'Em, Danno!
Mon, March 30: Leave Seattle
Tue, March 31: Arrive Incheon
Tue, April 7: Arrive Narita
Thu, April 16: Back to Seattle
I'm in pure bliss right now. Oh the possibilities!
Tue, March 31: Arrive Incheon
Tue, April 7: Arrive Narita
Thu, April 16: Back to Seattle
I'm in pure bliss right now. Oh the possibilities!
Thursday, February 19, 2009
The Geeks Come Out at Night
So after a month of receiving Tuchie (the iPod Touch), I finally decided to take it out of the box last weekend and let it do its thang. But little did I know that I had to do more than just hook those darn cables from Tuchie to Papa (the PowerBook G4).
It turned out that I needed iTunes v.8, but I couldn't upgrade it because Papa has an older operating system which can't take iTunes v.8 (did you follow all that?). Sneaky Mac folks trying to make more dough. And stupid me for not checking the specs before buying!
After much stress and counting pennies out of my piggy bank the last few days, Allen came to the rescue tonight and upgraded my OS to the latest and greatest Leopard (rawwwwwwr) OS. We got to the library at 7:30pm, but the library closed at 9pm so us two geeks were outside of the library doors, cheering Leopard to hurry up and prowl Papa already. Empty library, locked doors, two geeks, and one laptop emitting light from its screen. Talk about the geekiest thing I've done lately. Ahh, but it was all worth it.
Tuchie is now ready for international travel and Leopard on Papa is just plain s3xy. I'm officially cool, people.
It turned out that I needed iTunes v.8, but I couldn't upgrade it because Papa has an older operating system which can't take iTunes v.8 (did you follow all that?). Sneaky Mac folks trying to make more dough. And stupid me for not checking the specs before buying!
After much stress and counting pennies out of my piggy bank the last few days, Allen came to the rescue tonight and upgraded my OS to the latest and greatest Leopard (rawwwwwwr) OS. We got to the library at 7:30pm, but the library closed at 9pm so us two geeks were outside of the library doors, cheering Leopard to hurry up and prowl Papa already. Empty library, locked doors, two geeks, and one laptop emitting light from its screen. Talk about the geekiest thing I've done lately. Ahh, but it was all worth it.
Tuchie is now ready for international travel and Leopard on Papa is just plain s3xy. I'm officially cool, people.
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Facts of Life
I have exciting news, but I'll save them when things are finalized by the end of this week. :)
My latest epiphany (while in bed the last five days because of the flu) is that life is about making your dreams come true, fulfilling those deepest desires of your heart. When our life becomes miserable, it's most likely because we're straying away from those dreams.
However, whenever we're in a miserable state, we often just want to get out and look for the fastest way. So soon enough, we're in the same miserable state, but just in a different environment.
I'm so tired of this cycle. I hope that I can mix in some honest-to-goodness soul searching in the latter half of the next two months. When I come back after my trips, I hope to be able to be on the right path again, more determined and much happier.
Until then, job-hunting and house-buying are on hold. Pogi-wanting? On-going, of course.
My latest epiphany (while in bed the last five days because of the flu) is that life is about making your dreams come true, fulfilling those deepest desires of your heart. When our life becomes miserable, it's most likely because we're straying away from those dreams.
However, whenever we're in a miserable state, we often just want to get out and look for the fastest way. So soon enough, we're in the same miserable state, but just in a different environment.
I'm so tired of this cycle. I hope that I can mix in some honest-to-goodness soul searching in the latter half of the next two months. When I come back after my trips, I hope to be able to be on the right path again, more determined and much happier.
Until then, job-hunting and house-buying are on hold. Pogi-wanting? On-going, of course.
Monday, February 9, 2009
This Love
This week's to do list, in no particular order:
The best thing about life...is loving yourself...during a Hallmark-created holiday. No angst, just all love. Kung may pogi akong kilala na single, baka feeling sawi pa ako this week, but since I don't, it's business as usual. Happy na ako na maganda ako. ;P
- facial or 1-hour massage
- window shopping
- trip planning
- bake mango oatmeal cookies
- spend quality time with Johnny Bravia (the HDTV)
The best thing about life...is loving yourself...during a Hallmark-created holiday. No angst, just all love. Kung may pogi akong kilala na single, baka feeling sawi pa ako this week, but since I don't, it's business as usual. Happy na ako na maganda ako. ;P
Monday, February 2, 2009
Travel 2009
With the big (material) purchase of the year behind me, I'm now ready to plan my international trip of the year. Two options: March 3-17 or March 31-April 15. The latter might be more appropriate if I want to catch the blooming cherry trees.
But the date is only second in my list of details to worry about. More importantly, I'm trying to figure out my itinerary. I know I want to stay in Tokyo for 5-7 days. That's a given. My dilemma is what to do with the other week: Do I take the train to Kyoto and spend a week checking out Kyoto/Nara/Osaka or do I spend a week in Seoul?
The Japan Rail Pass for two weeks is a whopping $500. Yes, $500! Plus, I'm scared to go to Kyoto/Nara/Osaka alone. Yes, I, who traveled alone around SE Asia for three weeks, am scared of all the katakana and hiragana that I'd be encountering in Japan. Go figure! But really, the $500 rail pass is what's killing me softly. However, my plane ticket to Japan is free (free miles, woot!) and my accommodations in Tokyo will be somewhat taken cared of. And since I'm already in Japan, shouldn't I go all out visiting the country that I have always, always, ALWAYS wanted to visit?
On the other hand, there's Seoul. I promised Cathy that I'd be back to see it all since my 10 hours in Seoul in May 2007 didn't do me or Seoul any justice. With more Kdramas under my belt, there are more "tourist spots" to see. Plus, my goal of finding a hot oppa in that city is still unfulfilled. So if I fly from Tokyo to Seoul, it would be cheaper than my flying from Seattle to Seoul on a future date. And this is cheaper than that darn JR Pass!
The final option is to go all out and do all three. I have the vacation days, I don't have a mortgage yet, I'm getting a tax refund, and life is so funky these days that any distraction from my day-to-day life would be a good thing. I just have to sell a kidney or an arm after all is said and done. ;P
It's so true that the hardest part of a trip is deciding to go. Ugh! But I'm thankful that I'm single and all the expenses is only times one. Imagine if I were married with two kids: that's $2,000 for just the rail pass! See? It's good to be single. Say it louder, Mina. IT'S GOOD TO BE SINGLE! ;P
But the date is only second in my list of details to worry about. More importantly, I'm trying to figure out my itinerary. I know I want to stay in Tokyo for 5-7 days. That's a given. My dilemma is what to do with the other week: Do I take the train to Kyoto and spend a week checking out Kyoto/Nara/Osaka or do I spend a week in Seoul?
The Japan Rail Pass for two weeks is a whopping $500. Yes, $500! Plus, I'm scared to go to Kyoto/Nara/Osaka alone. Yes, I, who traveled alone around SE Asia for three weeks, am scared of all the katakana and hiragana that I'd be encountering in Japan. Go figure! But really, the $500 rail pass is what's killing me softly. However, my plane ticket to Japan is free (free miles, woot!) and my accommodations in Tokyo will be somewhat taken cared of. And since I'm already in Japan, shouldn't I go all out visiting the country that I have always, always, ALWAYS wanted to visit?
On the other hand, there's Seoul. I promised Cathy that I'd be back to see it all since my 10 hours in Seoul in May 2007 didn't do me or Seoul any justice. With more Kdramas under my belt, there are more "tourist spots" to see. Plus, my goal of finding a hot oppa in that city is still unfulfilled. So if I fly from Tokyo to Seoul, it would be cheaper than my flying from Seattle to Seoul on a future date. And this is cheaper than that darn JR Pass!
The final option is to go all out and do all three. I have the vacation days, I don't have a mortgage yet, I'm getting a tax refund, and life is so funky these days that any distraction from my day-to-day life would be a good thing. I just have to sell a kidney or an arm after all is said and done. ;P
It's so true that the hardest part of a trip is deciding to go. Ugh! But I'm thankful that I'm single and all the expenses is only times one. Imagine if I were married with two kids: that's $2,000 for just the rail pass! See? It's good to be single. Say it louder, Mina. IT'S GOOD TO BE SINGLE! ;P
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