Foreign Adventures in South Korea

Websites for runners and those into fitness sports

Cecilia — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 02:20:19 +0000

I haven’t updated this site for sometime now and I thought I’d add these sites since Mike and I are into running and I’ve just completed my first Half-Marathon last November 22.

RoadId – essentials for runners , hikers, and cyclist/bikers

Runner’s World

Tabo.ph – For those interested in races in the Philippines

Project Runway Korea

Cecilia — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 16:12:42 +0000

The other week, while running on a treadmill at the gym and watching TV at the same time, I was surprised to see a TV commercial about Project Runway Korea. Project Runway is one of the design-themed reality shows that Mike and I watch, second to the newer reality show Top Design which features interior designing. We both just marvel at how these people can come up with ideas and designs in a short span of time and produce amazing creations… well… most of the time. Mike and I love Top Design. We often talk about how we are going to design our house once we settle in Canada.

Anyways, going back to ‘Project Runway Korea, when I saw the show’s commercial I was excited at first but then I realized it’s going to be in Korean language so my excitement turned into disappointment. But, thinking more about it, I’ll give it a chance and watch, and because I don’t really like the ‘backstabbing’ and the ‘catfight’ parts of the show I can skip them. I read that the local version will stay true to form so I am guessing that it would also have a fair share of its ‘fights’ among the contestants. Mike and I skip most of them. We mostly watch the part where designers are about to show their finish work.

According to The Korea Herald, ‘Project Runway Korea’ will start airing Saturday (February 7) at midnight on On Style.

Korea-Related Links, Blogs and other Resources

Cecilia — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 14:38:08 +0000

Important Links for Expats

Ministry of Labor

Korea’s Official Website

Korea Immigration Service

Hi Korea-eGovernment for Foreigners

English newspapers in Korea

The Korea Herald

The Korea Times

The Chosun Ilbo

Transportation

Gwangju Bus Terminal/Destination and Schedule

Korail (Korea Railroad)

Other Korea Resources

South Korea’s Marathon/Fun Run/ Race Dates and Websites

Korea’s All-English Radio Station

WWOOF Korea (World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms)

The Korean Blog List

Korea Law Blog

Gwangju International Center

Filipinos in Korea

Buhay sa Korea (Life in Korea)

Other Links

Hang out with friends and get paid!

Korean parents will soon be allowed to know their unborn child’s gender

Cecilia — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 05:05:39 +0000

A few months ago I wrote about what Sunny (my Korean language teacher and friend) told me about how doctors and nurses are not legally allowed to tell parents the sex of their unborn child. But seems like this is going to change pretty soon. According to this newspaper article, currently doctors and nurses may face up to three years’ jail term and up to 10 million Korea Won (US$1=W1,390) but seems like the government is going to ease up a bit on this medical law.

The travel agent who swindled money from clients

Cecilia — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 07:32:13 +0000

Some of you might have heard of Blue Travel, a travel agency in Gwangju, owned by Mansil Lee. I know this is old news but as I was writing my long overdue post about our December 2007 visit to Jeju Island (still a draft…sigh!), I remembered some things he did that Mike and I did not particularly like.

Anyways, we thought he was a decent agent but it turned out this guy has absconded with over 70 million won of other peoples’ money. Two of my husband’s co-teachers were actually among those who lost money. I don’t know if they filed for a police report and I don’t think they were able to recover their money.

Another unbelievable thing he did was to let another co-teacher of Mike use his credit card without us knowing. Mike booked our flights to Jeju Island plus our hotel with this travel agent. Everything was paid using Mike’s credit card. Then Mike’s co-teacher also wanted to visit Jeju at the same time we were going there so he thought he’d (Mike’s co-teacher) talk to the same agent so we would be on the same flight.

Mike’s co-teacher mentioned to this travel agent that he wanted to be on the same flight with us and possibly the same hotel. Now, when it came to how he would pay, since I think he did not have a credit card, Mike’s co-teacher told us that the agent told him that he could use Mike’s credit card and that he ( the agent) would just let us know about it. It’s like… yeah the guy wanted to travel on the same date and on the same flight and stay at the same hotel with us but how could he(agent) have been sure that we know the guy???!!! To suggest that he (co-teacher) could put his reservations on Mike’s credit card??!!

And yes, we know the guy but even so…!!!!!!

Mike’s co-teacher called Mike telling him what happened at the travel agent and because Mike just wanted to be nice about it he told his co-teacher that it was OK. We were told that the travel agent would give us a call first before anything is put in Mike’s credit card. But we never got a call. And yes, the co-teacher’s hotel stay was charged in Mike’s credit card. Mike’s co-teacher paid us the amount charged on Mike’s card but don’t you think it’s just unbelievable? Not to mention, illegal!

Anyways, that’s the story we got from the co-teacher. We never got the side of Mansil Lee’s story. I wanted to confront- well, maybe just talk – to the travel agent but Mike won’t let me. He thought I was gonna start a fight with the guy but all I wanted was to set him straight about what happened. Mike promised he would deal with it but I don’t remember now why he never got to doing it.

So this is just a little reminder for people to be careful before entrusting their hard-earned money to a travel agent.

Korea’s all-English radio station

Cecilia — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 12:41:50 +0000

Frustrated about not having much English to listen to in Korean radios?

Don’t be anymore because Korea’s first all-English radio station (tbs eFM (http://tbsefm.seoul.kr) was launched on December 1, 2008. It is supported by the Seoul Metropolitan government and headed by Mr. Lee Joon-ho, CEO of Seoul TV and TBS Radio.

The newsletter of the Philippine embassy in Soul mentioned that “the all-English radio broadcasts 20 hours of all-English programming daily at FM101.3 MHz. The Channel can also be heard via internet at its web address – (http://tbsefm.seoul.kr/) click “On Air” on the upper left corner. This channel provides useful information, up-to-date news and entertainment to the English speaking community in Seoul and the Kyonngi area.”

And according to the station’s website it will be the ‘daily living partner for expatriates living and visiting South Korea’.

Happy listening!

Cheap Flights to Philippines

Cecilia — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 17:06:27 +0000

Mike and I were able to get cheap roundtrip airline tickets for South Korea(Incheon)-Philippines(Manila) and I thought I’d share it here so anyone who is thinking of travelling to Philippines may still be able to avail tickets at rock bottom prices.

I have forgotten the exact amount I’ve paid and I am a bit too lazy right now to look for the receipt but for 2 roundtrip tickets from South Korea to Philippines we paid an approximately 430,000 Korean won!!!!

Yes, you read it right….for two people, for me and Mike, we paid a total amount of approximately US$ 330! So, each of us paid only an approximately US$165 for a ROUNDTRIP ticket to Philippines!!

If that is not what you call rock bottom prices, I don’t know what is anymore!

So anyways, check the CebuPacific websites to see if you can still avail their cheap tickets to Philippines. And if you are in the Philippines, I think they are also offering the lowest possible prices for flights to other Asian countries.

If you are a Korean, check this website.

If you are an English speaker, check this website and go to Help and Info dropdown menu and click on Contact Us and you will find the contact numbers for International Sales Offices.

Happy Flying!

Filipino Absentee Voters

Cecilia — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 10:38:37 +0000

If you are a Filipino citizen living in South Korea and wishes to vote on the May 10, 2010 national elections, register at the Philippine embassy in Seoul.

The registration will be from February 1, 2009 to Ausgust 31, 2009.

You need to bring your passport, Oath of Allegiance or Order of Approval (for dual citizens) and Seaman’s Book (if seafarer)

If you want to know more about absentee voting check the Philippine Embassy website.

For all the Filipinos overseas check the following related links for more information regarding absentee voiting:

Commission on Elections

DFA (Department of Foreign Affairs)

The cold, the sneeze and the pills

Cecilia — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 10:35:54 +0000

It’s been snowing here almost everyday and seems like my sneezing is worse than before that I had to go to the doc to get some prescription pills for my allergy. In the Philippines, most of the times, the pharmacists will give you the pills/medicines in separate packages and they’d tell you which ones and how many of a paticular pill to take at certain times.

Here in South Korea, when you bring your prescription to the drugstore, the pharmacist will give you pills in these small packages- all the pills you need at a certain time put together in one package. Tthey even have morning, lunchtime and evening written on the packets to make sure you don’t get confused because for a simple cold/cough they often prescribe 4-6 pills. Other pharmacist would write on the packages like 1 (for morning), 2 (for lunchtime) and 3 (for evening time). And if you will look at the packages below you will notice that aside from numbers, the pharmacist also wrore morning, lunch and night.

I guess I looked pretty dazed and sick back at the drugstore and he was being helpful by making sure I am taking the right drugs at the time. hehe.

And since I sneeze a lot, the doc prescribed me a nasal spray too. I was reluctant to use this because I had a terible experience the first time I bought an OTC nasal spray. Every time I would spray my nasal cavity my mouth and lips would get so dry.

The one you see below is not as bad but I don’t use it as often as the doc told me to because it has steroid. For some unfounded reason, I don’t want my body to get use to steroid. I think that if my body does, I may need a stronger prescription if ever I really need one.

Mama in South Korea

Cecilia — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 10:32:59 +0000

I have been lazy in updating this blog and I promise myself I’ll write here more often from here on. I’ll start with Mama’s visit last October. I’ve written a little bit about her visit in the other blog but these are some of the pictures I’ve taken while she’s here.

Here are some pictures of her visit: